At the same time, the old woman was hiding in a corner of Manakin's cave.
She took advantage of the chaos caused by the puppets and knights a little while ago to escape the tower.
She made eye contact with Grand Duke Cedric for a brief moment, but for some reason, he didn't even try to catch her.
She had some doubts, but wasn't saving his wife's life the first priority?
She ran away in a hurry and came straight here.
The old woman seemed like she had already lost her senses.
“After all I’ve done to have Lillian’s heart, I can’t let it go now... Now..."
The old woman, who was crouching behind a large rock and muttering to herself like crazy, glanced over to the rock for a moment.
Beyond it, the ancient dragon Manakin was crouching with his huge body.
'Fortunately, it looks like that monster hasn't noticed my presence yet.'
There were many enemies who secretly entered the demon world, aiming for Lillian's heart.
That was why she was the first to discover Rebecca, who had been killed by Vincent and was able to bring her back to life.
Of course, everything was in vain now, but that didn't stop her from regretting meeting Rebecca as she was dying that day.
Thanks to her who revived Rebecca, she now knows the place where Lillian's heart sleeps.
While she brought Rebecca's soul back to life several times, she began to visit the demon world more often, but this was her first time entering this cave.
Lilian's heart, she was told, was guarded by the giant ancient dragon Manakin.
They also say that if you approach it incorrectly, you will be scattered in the flames it spews out.
So, she tried to obtain it using Grand Duke Cedric's engraving, but all her efforts just ended in failure.
‘Tsk. It's been so hard trying to please that crazy woman, but it's so futile...'
So now there was no other way.
No, it would be correct to say that she had no other thoughts.
The old woman, who had seen all her plans go astray before her eyes, had long since lost any self-control to suppress her long-standing greed.
Of course, for a moment, she had a reasonable thought that her life could be in danger due to Manakin.
However, that judgment was destroyed by the irrational courage of thinking that she could somehow escape the dragon's eyes.
The desire to have Lillian's heart paralyzed her thoughts.
‘How on earth can I beat that monster...?'
That was the only thing that came to mind.
The old woman repeatedly tore off her thumbnail with her teeth.
It was around this time that her fingernails began to gradually turn black.
An insidious voice came from beyond the rock.
"Hey."
The old woman felt a chill run down her spine.
She immediately shook her head, saying she must have heard wrong, but the same voice was heard again as if it was laughing at the old woman.
“I already know, so why don’t you come out? Don’t hide behind rocks in vain.”
That monster... He noticed her presence.
The old woman unconsciously trembled her lower jaw.
Then, for a moment, she pretended to remain calm and slowly stood up.
Then, she was greeted by the large eyes of Manakin, who was as long as an adult woman.
The old woman immediately trembled, like someone facing a great nature.
“Come closer.”
The monster's low voice echoed throughout the cave.
The manakin was neither surprised nor wary at the appearance of the old woman.
The old woman, who was looking up at it with a nervous expression, soon swallowed dry saliva.
Then she moved forward a little and finally spoke.
“You don’t have any... You don’t look surprised.”
As soon as she opened her mouth, she felt like she gained courage.
The old woman squeezed both of her hands tightly and spoke again.
“...Please give me Lillian’s heart. This old woman is confident that she will not use it in vain.”
Manajin snorted softly at the words of the old woman, who had barely mustered up the courage.
“In human time, would you have lived at most seventy years? What about the old woman?”
Then he removed his front paws that were covering the floor.
At the same time, a small earthquake occurred nearby.
“Take it and see. The wicked thing you seek is right down here.”
Manakin, who spoke harshly, even opened the seal himself by snapping his fingernails.
Then, she finally saw ‘the thing’ appear.
A red gem the size of an adult's fist.
It gave off a brilliant light and immediately blinded the old woman with greed.
“What do you think? Is it as beautiful as you thought?”
In response to Manakin's curious question, the old woman slowly nodded her head.
However, her gaze was still fixed on Lillian's heart.
In the old woman's mind, bewitched by the wicked jewel, all the things she desired reached out to her as if tempting her.
Manakin looked down at the old woman, her head bowed at his feet, her attention completely focused on Lilian's heart.
Manakin soon smiled slightly at the familiar sight.
Then he slowly opened his mouth.
“Actually, he had told me in advance when I met Cedric a few days ago.”
“Ah, this is Lillian’s heart...”
“This day will come soon, so don’t kill me, just let me go.”
The old woman, who had always been fascinated by the wicked jewel, slowly raised her head.
Then a huge yellow eyes greeted her.
“Wasn’t it strangely easy to escape from the tower where Cedric planted the barrier and get here? Cedric, there's no way that poisonous bell will let you go so easily...”
“...?”
“It’s as if the barrier was intentionally released just for you.”
The old woman's lower jaw trembled unconsciously due to the sudden overwhelming feeling.
“Do you think I connected Rebecca and Cedric without knowing anything?”
“Well, what is that...”
“The original Rebecca came back to life several times because of you, and in the process, she summoned other people’s souls... It means that everything was preordained.”
“Then Rebecca...?”
"Yes. It was not the original Rebecca, but the true mate given to Cedric, the innocent soul you would summon through your evil powers.”
“...!”
“So this life for Rebecca is the true end of their story.”
As Manakin said that, red flames began to flicker between his teeth.
The old woman, who sensed death, continued to breathe heavily.
“And your end in the prediction is... This is the moment.”
With those words, Manakin spewed flames at the old woman.
The old woman was engulfed in the fierce fire and scattered without even a chance to scream.
***
Cedric and I left the tower first, got into the prepared carriage, and headed straight to Twins Castle.
All along the way, Cedric looked nervous, as if he was worried about my condition.
When the carriage finally passed through the castle gate and stopped in front of the Mansion of Light, several people rushed out as if they had been waiting.
“Your Highness the Grand Duke, Your Highness!”
“Are you both okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
Most of the employees ran to the tower where Lobelia was to rescue us, so the number of people left in the mansion was smaller than usual.
However, they moved smoothly as if they had prepared in advance to welcome us quickly even with a small number of people.
“Please come inside first. The attending physician is waiting for you two.”
The workers seemed very urgent.
As I entered the Mansion of Light with Cedric, I held on to the scurrying head butler and shook my head.
“Don’t call the doctor yet. First of all, more than that...”
Cedric shook his head before I could finish speaking.
“You’ve put too much effort into your current physical condition. You need to call your doctor right away.”
I looked at him resolutely and nodded my head.
“I guess so. But first, I want to make sure my baby is okay.”
Cedric frowned for a moment as if he was thinking about what I said, but then he nodded his head towards the owner and gave a signal.
The head deacon quickly went upstairs and soon came down the stairs holding the baby.
Beside him was Bianca, holding the nanny's hand.
“Your Highness!”
The round eyes of the running child were filled with water.
Bianca was immediately placed in my arms, and I hugged the still small, and delicate child tightly.
“Bianca!”
After holding my baby in my arms, I felt like I was finally reunited with him.
I knelt down on my knees, brushed away the tear-soaked hair from Bianca's round cheeks, and made eye contact with her.
“Your Highness... Are you okay? That bad girl didn’t hurt you, right?”
“I’m fine, Bianca. How have you been?”
"I am... I...sigh...”
Bianca came into my arms again and shed tears.
“I missed Your Highness so much, huh...”
Cedric looked down at Bianca and gently stroked the child's head.
Then Bianca suddenly raised her head, wiped away her tears with her sleeve, and continued her words.
“I’m so glad you two came back safely. Maybe the baby will think so too.”
Bianca smiled slightly and she said.
Then she turned around and glanced at the owner of the house who was holding the baby.
The deacon smiled happily and slowly walked towards me and said.
“How beautiful he is, just like you two. I was so happy the whole time I was watching him. The more I hoped that you two would return safely.”
I slowly got up and received the baby from the head deacon.
The baby was sleeping quietly and breathing softly.
I caressed his soft, white cheek and gently kissed his small forehead.
“It’s really over now, baby...”
As I said that, it really dawned on me that all the beings that threatened us were now gone.
As I kissed the baby's small hand, Bianca hugged me by the width of my skirt, and Cedric wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
Then, a calm air that I had not felt in a long time swirled around us.
After traveling a long way, I finally arrived at the side of my family.
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