The sound of water filled the room, and steam rose gently into the air. Adrian sat in the bathtub, washing himself, while amid the silence and the rising waves of steam, his thoughts focused on the time gap that had occurred during the summoning of the Lord of Magic.
"Even though I've thought about it more than once, I still can't figure out why I didn't notice the passage of time…"
He gazed at the rising steam and whispered, "Perhaps I was mistaken? Maybe I didn't notice because I wasn't paying close enough attention."
He furrowed his brows in slight annoyance. "But I was certain that only twenty minutes had passed… So how? Could this be an effect of the summoning?"
After much thought, he closed his eyes and sighed before getting up to finish his bath. He put on the clothes Albert had brought him as a temporary replacement and stepped out.
He headed to Albert's room and entered.
Albert, who had been sitting and gazing at the sky through the window, stood up and said, "Are you done? These clothes look good on you."
Adrian frowned. "Are you making fun of me? They're oversized."
Albert chuckled lightly. "Hahaha, don't be upset. They're just bigger than you… The head butler will bring you clothes in your size later, so just put up with them for now."
Adrian silently looked away, then walked over and sat on the sofa.
Albert followed him and sat opposite him, saying, "So… are you going to tell me exactly what happened? It seems I've missed some pretty spectacular events."
Adrian sighed deeply and began recounting what had happened in the palace, how he had confronted the Empress, and then her execution… When he finished, he said calmly, "And that's everything."
Albert placed a hand on his chin, deep in thought. "Hmm… I understand what happened now. But there's something that's puzzling me."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "And what is that?"
Albert hesitated for a moment before speaking. "According to what you've told me… the Empress was nothing more than an angry mother doing everything in her power for the sake of her son."
Adrian tilted his head in confusion. "And what's wrong with that?"
Albert replied firmly, "It's just a hunch… but I believe the Empress wasn't acting of her own accord. She was… a puppet."
Adrian's expression stiffened. "You mean—"
Albert cut him off in a decisive tone. "Yes. Someone was pulling her strings from behind the scenes. Her erratic actions don't seem like those of someone who plans things out. There's no doubt that someone pushed her into all of this."
Adrian clenched his fist in anger. "Could it be… the Emperor?"
Albert shook his head confidently. "No. Not him. The person behind this… might be the last person we'd ever suspect."
Adrian's gaze lowered into a dark silence.
Albert tried to change the mood with a faint smile. "Anyway… you're late. It's been several days since the Empress died. Did you stay in the palace despite the danger?"
Adrian slowly shook his head. "Not exactly. I encountered some strange things in one of the districts of Sector Zero… on my way here."
Albert's eyes widened. "Sector Zero?! What took you to that place?"
Adrian answered in a low voice, gazing toward the window. "A long story… and a troublesome one."
Then he suddenly turned toward Albert. "Albert… do you know anything about forbidden magic?"
Albert's expression darkened, as though the very words themselves were tearing something apart inside him… Then he forced a faint, lifeless smile. "I don't know. Why do you ask?"
Adrian noticed the change in the atmosphere and decided to drop the question. "Nothing… Just curious."
But Albert was thinking anxiously, his thoughts in turmoil. "Why would he ask that?"
A memory flashed through his mind… A woman standing in the middle of a magic circle, laughing as tears streamed down her face in sorrow. He whispered inwardly in a trembling voice, "He… won't do what I think he's going to do, will he?"
Silence filled the room.
The cold air coming through the window made the curtains tremble… as though the room had lost its warmth.
Then—there was a knock at the door.
Albert turned around, while Adrian remained motionless, gazing at the sky through the window.
Albert opened the door, revealing one of the maids. "Young Master… the meal is ready. The Count and Countess are waiting for you both."
Albert nodded politely. "Alright." Then he turned to Adrian. "Come on, let's head down to the dining hall."
Adrian replied in a calm tone, "Ah… I'm not hungry. You go ahead. I'll stay here."
Albert raised an eyebrow and said, "Even if you're not hungry… you still have to eat."
Adrian stared into the void for a moment, then sighed and got up from his seat.
The two entered the banquet hall, where the Count and Countess approached Adrian.
The Count bowed in greeting and respect, saying, "Glory to the Empire. This is the first time I've had the honor of meeting you in person, Your Highness, Prince Adrian… It is truly a great honor for me."
The Countess bowed beside him and added, "I was truly shocked when I heard that you were here. It is a tremendous honor for us, so I hope you will find comfort in this humble place."
Adrian looked at them with a calm, silent gaze, which only made them more nervous.
The Count spoke again in a firm tone. "Now then… I heard from the head butler about what happened this morning. I truly don't know how to apologize to Your Highness. I failed to raise my son properly, and this is what happened as a result… I deserve to die."
The Countess stood in tense silence without uttering a word.
Adrian said calmly, "That boy… so he's your son."
Albert asked in astonishment, "Wait, what are you talking about? And what's this about Freddy?!"
Adrian replied coldly, "It's nothing important… just a minor insult directed at one of the princes."
Albert's eyes widened in shock. "What?!"
He placed a hand on Adrian's shoulder, restraining his anger.
"Why didn't you tell me about this until now?"
Adrian gave him a cold look. "There was no need."
Albert suppressed his anger and turned his face away, then withdrew his hand.
"I see…"
Adrian stepped forward and passed the Count and Countess, then pulled out a chair and sat down, leaning back. The Countess finally breathed a sigh of relief after a long period of fear, and the Count sighed in temporary relief before everyone headed toward the table and took their seats.
The Count said, "Your Highness, Prince… please, help yourself."
Adrian glanced at Albert, who looked worried as he watched him. He sighed, picked up his spoon, and ate a little.
Deep down, he wondered, "I wonder… has Lucia already returned home? I didn't want to send her away like that, but… no one must know my next destination."
~~~
At the Imperial Palace.
The scent of ink filled the room, and papers were piled high on the desk. The Emperor sat reading and signing documents one after another. Ever since Adrian's appearance and Kieran's appointment as Crown Prince, the nobles had begun sharpening their fangs in secret. No one wanted the Second Prince as the heir to the throne, and everyone was demanding that Adrian be appointed in his place.
Such was human nature… annoyingly strange. Those who had once rejected and shunned Adrian because of his inability to use magic were now fervently supporting him. The reason was clear to everyone: his return alive from the jaws of death. No one knew what had happened there, but no one believed that a weak human could have survived that terrifying place.
Thoughts multiplied, and theories proliferated. Some believed Adrian possessed a hidden power, others thought he had learned to use magic, while still others believed he had been chosen by the universe itself and granted its protection. And yet… no one knew the truth, and everyone remained unaware that Adrian had already died once.
A soft knock at the door broke the silence, and Advisor Aileron entered, saying, "Your Majesty… Duke Pristan requests an audience."
The Emperor replied while signing the last document in his hand, "Let him in."
The advisor bowed and left, and moments later, the Duke entered. The Emperor set the papers aside and raised his gaze toward the Duke, his expression calm yet sharp.
The Duke offered his greeting in a low voice. "Glory to the Empire."
The Emperor asked coldly, "What brings you here at this hour, Duke?"
A faint smile appeared on the Duke's lips, concealing more than it revealed. "Well… I do have an important reason for coming."
The Emperor's eyes gleamed with interest, and a sideways smile formed on his lips.
"Hmm… It seems something interesting has begun to stir."
The Duke's smile widened for a moment before disappearing, and a cold determination gleamed in his eyes.
"The planets have begun to appear."