Chapter 83
Chapter 83
Chapter 83.
The Imperial Princess stared at Aiden in silence for a long while.
Then, with a slight curl of her lips, she propped her chin on one hand.
"The preparations are thorough. But tell me—why should I go with you?"
Aiden shook his head.
"Don't test me. You know full well that you need me."
The cursed labyrinth slumbered, and only the blood of the Imperial Family and the hero of the scriptures could enter together.
If either was missing, passage was impossible.
That was why she had sent him so many scriptures.
"So you do know something."
"I do."
The princess was puzzled.
Knowledge of the curse was restricted to the first in line to the throne—not the crown prince or eldest legitimate heir, but the Imperial Family member acknowledged by the gods. In other words, one who wielded the Kingdom's lifeblood.
In this era, that was Lafellia, the First Imperial Princess.
So how did Aiden know? The only explanation she could think of was that the gods had granted him a separate revelation.
Slowly, she spoke.
"I must be fortunate. My ancestors could only pace in frustration, but thanks to you, I've been given this opportunity."
Aiden was the first hero in two hundred years. Had he not appeared, she, too, would have been barred from the ruins like her forebears.
Lafellia wiped the amusement from her face and spoke seriously.
"For that, I sincerely thank you."
She considered it only proper. Aiden gave a slight nod in response.
Then she spoke again.
"That aside—you mocked the Imperial Family. Do you realize that?"
"Of course."
Aiden had stormed the Levana Grand Cathedral and exposed the Imperial Family's shame. The princess had a rough idea of his intentions.
"You don't seem the least bit remorseful."
"I'm not. If you find that disrespectful, I'll apologize."
The princess let out a dry laugh. Such a reaction was unfamiliar to her.
The Vacheksar Imperial Family was fundamentally different from other royal houses. They were of divine blood—that fact alone granted them absolute authority.
No power in the land could openly show them disloyalty. Yet Aiden was toeing that line dangerously.
But the princess found it awkward to call him out for his rudeness.
Because the Valenstahl family might yet ascend to godhood. Though neither the Church nor the Imperial Family had acknowledged it, if the Feydna Scriptures remained unchallenged, Aiden would claim the divine throne. Otherwise, he would fall as a criminal.
For now, the outcome was unpredictable. Thus, the princess couldn't definitively categorize Aiden's identity.
Lafellia waved a hand dismissively, as if she couldn't be bothered to think further. In any case, she didn't rebuke his attitude.
Leaning back in her chair, she said:
"You intend to seize control of the Imperial Family."
"Not quite. Don't bind me. Grant me what I ask, and none of this will ever come to light."
The princess smirked.
"If 'binding' you means politically, you're mistaken. You'll either become a god or die. Either way, I won't have any means to restrain you."
She was right. The moment Aiden ascended to godhood, even the Emperor would be powerless against him. If he became a criminal, political leverage would be impossible.
The suddenness of his divine ascent had led to this outcome. In a way, the weapon of history's greatest heresy had lost its meaning.
At least for now.
Aiden nodded.
"Just remember it."
"As if I'd forget."
Her gaze darkened slightly as she studied him before shifting the topic.
"Anyway, let's hear your proposal. You said you'd seat me on the throne. What do you gain?"
There were many things he could list, but ultimately, it boiled down to one possibility—victory in the final battle.
Aiden answered calmly.
"The gods and humanity will gain hope."
The princess was baffled. Hope for the gods and humanity? Such lofty words didn't suit the man before her at all. She sensed no sycophancy in him.
Narrowing her eyes, she said:
"So you can spout empty flattery."
Aiden ignored the jab and continued.
"I will attain divinity. Once you become Emperor, declare me a god."
The princess stared into his eyes for a long moment before speaking.
"Fine. But what if I change my mind once I'm on the throne? Will you blackmail me with those secrets?"
"That won't happen. I've already stated my conditions for silence."
"Hard to believe. Then what gives you such confidence? If I break our agreement, you'll have nothing."
"You won't break it."
"And why is that?"
Aiden replied in a composed voice.
"What was the first thing Vacheksar did upon settling on the continent?"
"What a sudden question."
"They suppressed every Transcendent on the continent. Yet—were any gods slain?"
The sea god Shailan, the spirits of Ain, and other surviving Transcendents—all still lived.
The princess's eyes flickered.
"What are you implying?"
"When I visited Atlantis, Shailan referred to Vacheksar as 'that one.' She also asked me—'Has the Sun forgiven me?'"
It meant she had already submitted to Vacheksar. Two hundred years ago, the sea and the sun were equals. No longer.
Crushed, Shailan had spent two centuries in the abyss, resigned to her fate.
Now, she was a lesser deity beneath the Sun. Just like Aiden.
He continued.
"The other Transcendents are likely no different. You already know what this means."
The Sun desired countless gods beneath its feet. At least until the Holy Land was reclaimed, that would remain its will. That was why Vacheksar hadn't slaughtered the gods.
Because one day, the Sun's proxy would appear—and free the sealed gods. Together, they would retake the Holy Land.
That day had come.
Over two centuries, the gods of the continent had surely reflected enough. Of course, some still harbored hatred for the Sun.
They would be Aiden's offerings.
His divine authority—Godslayer.
Those who refused repentance would become his flesh and blood.
In short, this was Vacheksar's design.
And in the original story, the first to realize this truth and act upon the Sun's will had been the princess.
Aiden had merely given her the bait to understand sooner.
But judging by her reaction, she had already pieced it together.
After a long silence, the princess spoke slowly.
"...Very well. Once I ascend, I will declare it."
She had just confirmed a hypothesis she had long held. Though emotions flashed through her, none showed on her face.
With her usual air of arrogance and mild boredom, she said:
"We'll formalize titles and protocols after this is over. Does that bother you?"
At the moment, it was irrelevant. Aiden shook his head.
"That's the Church's concern. We should focus on the task at hand."
The princess chuckled.
"I think we'll work well together."
Aiden stared at her. She waved a hand dismissively.
"Not politically, so don't misunderstand. I remember our agreement."
"Good. Don't forget."
With that, Aiden rose and approached the princess's desk.
He picked up the map of the Trapelga Kingdom lying there and returned to the sofa.
The princess watched silently.
Aiden placed the map on a small table and looked at Lafellia.
Meeting his gaze, she let out another dry laugh.
"...From start to finish, I can't make sense of you."
Shaking her head slightly, she placed her palm over the map. A crimson glow enveloped her hand—radiant as the sun.
As the light faded, the map had transformed.
Now, it displayed the underground labyrinth beneath the royal capital.
Aiden spoke.
"Let's go over the plan briefly and depart immediately."
The Imperial Capital
If one were to name the largest, wealthiest city on the continent, the Imperial Capital would undoubtedly take the crown. Adjacent to the Holy Empire, its cultural and religious prestige was unmatched, and it served as the political and administrative heartland.
Thus, the capital housed countless high nobles—most of whom Yuriel recognized. That was why she couldn't roam freely outside.
Right now, the Church was watching her, too.
Whenever Aiden stirred up sensitive topics, she had been at his side.
The liberation of Atlantis was a prime example—and she was still officially missing.
In a shabby inn room in the capital, Yuriel sighed. She was brimming with worries.
What if negotiations with the princess fell through? She had an escape plan, but afterward, she'd be a fugitive. The worst situation of her life. Even the Sachiliere family wouldn't be able to protect her.
Still, she had no regrets.
The knight Gaybol, who had just regained consciousness, growled in a low voice:
"Release me. Now."
His face was bare. Bound tightly to the wall, he glared at Yuriel.
"...I'm sorry, Sir Gaybol."
"Damn it! Let me—ugh!"
Thwack! Yona, the mermaid of the Seirun tribe, knocked him out cold again with a sharp blow to the head.
Then she turned to Yuriel.
"Don't worry too much. Lord Aiden—no, Saint Valenstahl—always prevails."
Yona had come here at Aiden's summons.
Yuriel smiled faintly.
"Of course. He said it would take about a week, so I'll wait patiently."
Just as Goth nodded silently, a creaking noise came from outside the door.
Footsteps on the rotten wooden floor. Could it be Aiden? But he had left less than a day ago.
Tension was inevitable. Everyone except Gaybol shot to their feet.
A moment later, the door groaned open.
Someone in a hood stood there—with Gaybol behind them.
Just as Yuriel sighed in relief, the hooded figure stepped forward and faced her.
They removed their hood and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Red hair and platinum blonde intertwined. Sunlight streaming through the window painted their locks brightly.
"...Your Highness?"
"Yuriel. It's been a while."
They were old friends. The reunion seemed heartfelt.
Aiden strode in, removed Gaybol's skin mask, and placed it back on the bald knight's face.
Watching this, the princess remarked:
"How do you plan to leave the capital?"
"No need to walk."
Yona approached and offered her scales.
Aiden said:
"Eat this."
"What?"
Yona explained carefully.
"Your Highness, this will let you experience being a mermaid—briefly."
Lafellia smirked in understanding.
"So you're Yona."
"For my humble name to reach your ears... I am deeply moved."
"No need. By the way, this is my first time eating a mermaid."
Without hesitation, she swallowed the scale.
Aiden turned to Yona.
"Clean up here and head to the Holy Land. Your power will be needed there, too."
"Understood."
Yona stepped back as Aiden pulled Yuriel close.
"Your Highness, come here."
He wrapped an arm around both their waists. The princess's face twisted in bewilderment—
Then Aiden stomped down hard.
BOOM! The floor collapsed.
The three plummeted into the abyss.
A hidden route to the Trapelga capital's labyrinth—known only to Aiden.