TPITT - Chapter 4

The place where Michael carried Eve's body was the 'Emperor's Room'.

The center of the hall where a haze of light sways mysteriously. There is a red mineral stone there.

A huge obelisk-like structure was erected.

An artifact that reacts and makes everything possible through alchemy. Only Hadelamid descendants can react to it. It was the philosopher's stone.

It seemed like an instinct for someone who desperately wanted a miracle more than anyone else to visit the Philosopher's Stone.

Michael laid Eve down gently and had her head on his thighs as a pillow.

A haze of light shaking like a water plant. Michael and Eve inside seem to be taking a sweet rest.

They looked like lovers.

A hollow voice came out of Michael's mouth.

''You never allow me to be by your side even once in your life.''

Michael stayed motionless in the Emperor's room, completely deprived of food and drink. One of his confidants, worried about this, requested an audience with the Emperor in his room.

That happened three days ago. Because the flow of time was stopped by magic, Eve's body did not decompose at all.

Michael greeted the Chairman of the Privy Council, holding Eve in his arms as if she were still alive.

Before the Chairman of the Privy Council could say anything, Michael began by explaining his business.

''Assemble all the wizards and alchemists of the Empire. Let them bring Eve back to life. It doesn't matter how much time or money it takes or what materials it uses.''

''Well, Your Majesty, it is impossible to bring a dead person back to life...''

''Isn't it the Philosopher's Stone that makes the impossible possible? Ah, that's right. To use the Philosopher's Stone, you will need imperial blood. Bring Rosenit in right away. I will cut her neck and drain every drop of her blood.''

''Your Majesty!''

Michael's purple eyes sparkled with madness. Since his intention to live as he said was clear, the Chairman of the Privy Council was appalled and tried to dissuade him.

''Calm down, Your Majesty! Her Highness the 8th Princess is the last remaining descendant of the Hadelamid Imperial Family. Didn't you decide to keep her alive until you gain control?''

''Why do I have to do that?''

''Yes...?''

''Eve is dead, so I don't know what use the empire and the Philosopher's Stone are to me now.''

Michael was serious.

At this moment, the Chairman of the Privy Council realized that his master's obsession with Eve was beyond imagination.

It occurred to him that perhaps the driving force behind his ascending to the position of Emperor might have been a naughty Princess named Evienrose.

''Hurry and carry out my orders.''

Not long after, Rosenit was brought to the Emperor's room, locked in an animal cage.

It's hard to believe that she was of noble rank, but her clothes were shabby and her hair was a mess.

''Alright! Now it's all her fault, Evienrose! That woman took everything I had! She ruined all my happiness! It's unfair! Ugh!''

The immoral murderer who poisoned his flesh and blood showed no signs of remorse. Rosenit, who was struggling with self-pity and even pretending to cry, found Michael.

In an instant, the eyes that were filled with tears changed into eyes that were shiny with venom.

''Michael! Michaelis Agnito! You, you, you... How could you do that? How dare you hold that woman in front of me!' Get that girl out of my sight right now, get down on your knees in front of me, and pray. How much will you regret now? Do you know what you're doing? Who became Emperor thanks to me! There's someone's baby in my belly right now!''

In fact, there was nothing in Rosenit’s stomach right now.

Rosenit, who was taken out of prison that day, hurt herself and went on a rampage to get Michael's attention, and rolled on the floor, causing a wound in her stomach.

The ‘homunculus spirit’ that existed had been extinguished.

Rosenit, who was the only one unaware of this fact, continued to vent her resentment against evil until she was hoarse.

''There's your baby in my belly! I had your baby, not her!''

Michael said nothing to Rosenit.

He didn't respond. His violet eyes had completely lost their human glow.

Rosenit was left in a corner, gagged.

In the Emperor's room, the homunculus monarch, an incorrupt corpse, and a jealous Princess were together.

At the same time, a notice was posted throughout the empire recruiting skilled wizards and alchemists.

Many people applied like bees to the forbidden task of ‘resurrection of the dead.’

Most of them were intended to steal alchemy and magic knowledge monopolized by the imperial family or to gain access to the Philosopher's Stone.

The only person who showed interest in the research itself was a suspicious female alchemist whose face was covered with an eagle-owl mask.

She called herself the ‘Sage of the Spruce Forest’.

''I heard that you have a way to save Eve.''

''Your Majesty, I beg you to resurrect the dead, but Your Majesty is just a breathing doll. You will get it. The 7th Princess's soul has already completely separated from her body and dispersed. Finding her soul and binding it back to the body is beyond the realm of alchemy and magic. So, the true meaning that His Majesty desires is achieved. The resurrection of a lion must be considered impossible.''

''It's no different from the answers given to me so far. Are you trying to waste my time too?''

''No, Your Majesty. I would like to limit other methods to Your Majesty.''

''What if there was another way?''

''It's about turning back time.''

Upon discovering a new possibility, Michael's purple eyes, which had been dead and dull until now, brightened.

''Is that possible?''

''Of course. However, it is expensive. Because we have to use up half of the Philosopher's Stone.''

''Does not matter. As for the price.''

Michael said firmly. The alchemist bowed her head.

''Then we will start preparations now.''

The sage of the spruce forest took a full week to draw the alchemy formula in the Emperor's chambers.

Only after the floor as well as the walls and ceiling were completely filled with alchemy formula, time regression finally occurred.

It was the day of the ceremony.

''Oh, Your Majesty. I forgot to tell you one thing.''

The alchemist who placed her hand on the Philosopher's Stone opened her mouth as if she suddenly remembered something.

''The magic and alchemy that we will practice from now on require the Philosopher's Stone as an offering. And the Philosopher's Stone is the imperial stone. Because it is a relic belonging to the bloodline, the central axis of time regression will not be Her Majesty, but Her Highness the Seventh Princess.''

A suspicious person with a mask covering his face was not a good person to trust.

The alchemist has finally revealed the important fact that when he returns to time. He was a con man.

Michael, who had heard the truth just before consciousness, seemed quite shocked. However, he quickly regained his composure and answered calmly.

''Then I can't meet her, but she can meet me.''

''Yes, that's right."

"Will she not choose me again and will I get frustrated and make bad choices again?"

"Well, I don't know."

Michael soon made up his mind and gave a command.

"It doesn’t matter, just perform the ceremony."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

While the alchemist was reciting the spell that activated the formula, Michael held Eve in his arms.

The touch was more affectionate than ever, knowing that this would be his last hug.

Michael placed his mouth as if to kiss Eve's lips and whispered.

If Eve comes back to life, then it would be better for you to either kill me or choose me.

After the words of advice, a red light spread across his vision.

It was the miraculous light created by the philosopher's stone, Lapis Philosophorum.

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