Chapter 308
Chapter: 308
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 308
>Chapter Title: Demon King No. 2 (6)
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>After a period of back-and-forth, Seongjin managed to fully take over painting commissions from Isabella. In exchange for her complete sponsorship, he would receive priority for portraits.
In a world without cameras, it was a sensible decision to keep a skilled painter by his side.
"I'm glad for you, Moreth."
Amelia, blissfully unaware that she had been tentatively selected as the model for his next portrait, was overjoyed to hear that he had found an artist he liked.
"Now it's time for you to take an interest in the cultural arts. You should start attending famous salons and even form your own social circle."
"Do I really need to go that far?"
When he asked reluctantly, Amelia replied with a mock-stern expression.
"Of course, Moreth. To lead the young talents who will become the pillars of the capital and truly hear their voices, you can't neglect those circles from now on."
"Uh, yes...."
"Our Holy Imperial Family all have that tendency. We care for the people and seek their welfare, but we often overlook the inner workings of the nobles and high priests who serve as our hands and feet in between."
So you must become a ruler who looks after everyone equally, Amelia added.
"......"
Seongjin stared blankly at Amelia without responding.
He had thought this before, but strangely, this sister seemed utterly convinced that he would become the crown prince.
Why was that?
"Of course, I might not be one to talk. I've only recently started paying attention myself. I'm still clumsy in many ways, but Lady Scarpino has been a great help."
To her?
Seongjin turned in surprise, and Isabella made a pouty face.
'See? Even the princess seeks my help. This is Isabella Scarpino, queen of high society.'
Seongjin was dumbfounded by her confident expression. Where had the trembling, terrified guy from earlier gone?
In any case, even after the portrait matter was settled, Seongjin stayed on at the Silver Rose Palace for a while longer.
She might seem utterly incompetent now, but Isabella was essentially the same personality as Sigurd Sigurson. He was too uneasy to leave her alone with Amelia. Needless to say, Isabella's face crumpled more and more by the minute.
Amelia, oblivious to all this, simply expressed pure joy at Seongjin's prolonged stay.
"Your Highness. Administrator Dorian requests an audience."
After some time had passed, a maid cautiously reported to Amelia.
"Administrator Dorian?"
"Yes. He mentioned it's regarding recent matters in Cypress, and that Your Highness would know what he means."
"...I see."
Amelia nodded gravely and rose from her seat.
"I'm sorry, Moreth, but I have to go. If he came all the way to the Silver Rose Palace himself, it must be something urgent we need to discuss."
Seongjin was somewhat acquainted with Administrator Dorian. He was someone the Holy Emperor trusted enough to occasionally entrust with the imperial seal.
He had noticed his father diligently helping lately, but it seemed Amelia was involved in state affairs more than he thought.
"Don't worry about me—go ahead, sister."
"Alright."
Amelia's regretful gaze then fell on the flustered Isabella.
"That said, it's a shame to end our time so early, Lady Scarpino. I was hoping we'd spend the evening together and go to the salon. What ever shall we do?"
What? Spend the evening with that guy? That was absolutely out of the question.
Before Isabella could open her mouth, Seongjin quickly replied to Amelia.
"Don't worry, sister. I'll escort Lady Isabella back to her estate on my way out."
"......!?"
As Isabella looked on in shock, Amelia brightened.
"Oh, would you?"
And so Seongjin and Isabella ended up leaving the Silver Rose Palace together.
"Come to think of it, it's been ages since you two last saw each other. Take your time chatting on the way."
Under the innocent princess's cheerful send-off, Isabella stiffly boarded the carriage with Seongjin, her earlier bravado vanished once more.
Seongjin couldn't help but chuckle to himself.
'What a simpleton....'
Her pathetic demeanor was enough to lower his guard involuntarily.
If Sigurd Sigurson was putting on this act deliberately, he'd have to admit it was impressive.
Clop-clop.
The carriage began to move in this awkward atmosphere.
"......"
Isabella furtively glanced at Seongjin, shrinking back.
Having been caught off guard without time to prepare her Isabella act, she now seemed worried about the missed opportunity.
Seongjin, sullenly staring out the window, scowled at the nagging gaze.
"What? Spit it out if you have something to say."
Isabella cautiously spoke up.
"I... I'm not usually like this."
"What?"
"It was a mistake because I was so flustered today. As you heard from the princess earlier, I'm normally the impeccable Isabella."
Yeah, that seemed about right.
Seongjin replied halfheartedly without turning from the window.
"Got it. I'll let this one slide. For now, since Amelia thinks you're useful."
"......"
But that wasn't the end of it. After gauging his expression, she asked again.
"Why don't you ask me anything?"
What was that supposed to mean?
Seongjin turned to meet her eyes, and she continued with a strangely resolute look.
"Why aren't you trying to get more information out of me? You must have tons of questions about Sigurd Sigurson."
"......"
"I can understand the Holy Emperor leaving me be. As an oracle, he has no need to learn more about a dimensional storyteller. He spared me out of mere pity for the puppetized Isabella. But you're different, aren't you?"
"Different?"
"Yes. You don't have any of his past memories at all, do you?"
It was a valid question. Sigurd Sigurson was like a parasite hopping from body to body without a physical form. He wouldn't leave many traces in the world.
Right now, Isabella was the sole clue to catching him.
"The vast knowledge he left behind is fading, and memories dim with time. If you want to ask about the dimensional storyteller, now is the perfect chance."
Seongjin looked at her sullenly.
Sure, she had a point. But the Holy Emperor father probably already knew everything worth knowing anyway.
Besides, he had a bad feeling that prying from her wouldn't end well.
What Seongjin was curious about was something else.
"Why are you bringing this up to me on purpose?"
Isabella replied with a desperate expression.
"I want you to guarantee my safety in exchange for cooperating. I don't want to live in fear of dying by your hand at any moment!"
What kind of lame excuse was that?
"Who said anything about killing you right now? I told you before. Just act like Isabella properly in front of me. Or pretend to be her. Then everything's solved."
Isabella cried out in horror.
"That's truly impossible. It might work in front of others, but not you!"
"What? Why?"
"Think about it. You know who I really am, and I know too. Yet I'm supposed to pretend to be your clueless fiancée, flirting and all? It's utterly embarrassing for both of us!"
...Flirting? The real Isabella didn't do that with me. And we're not even officially engaged.
Seongjin was baffled, but since she was willing to talk, he decided not to miss the chance.
"Fine, then. One question: Do you know which puppet Sigurd Sigurson is hiding in now?"
Isabella answered firmly.
"I do, but I can't say. He put minimal safeguards on his puppets for his own safety. The moment I try to reveal it, Isabella loses consciousness and becomes a complete vegetable."
"...Then can you tell me his next plan?"
Isabella shook her head again.
"I have my suspicions, but the same applies. Attempting to directly interfere with his actions would turn Isabella into a vegetable. So I can't say."
Useless.
His thought must have shown on his face. Isabella snapped indignantly.
"Can't you at least use indirect questions or metaphors? I'm trying to cooperate here—ask in a more refined way!"
Hey, don't drag me into that.
Seongjin rolled his eyes fiercely.
"If you can't answer anything anyway, what's the point of cooperating?"
"How about events from further back, not immediate issues? Those should have fewer restrictions."
"What's the cutoff for 'further back'? You want a full background check? Start with family history?"
"Sigurd."
"What?"
When Seongjin blankly asked back, not grasping at first, Isabella repeated in a low voice.
"His family. His only family was his father, who made a living selling stories to people. He was called Sigurd, just like the dimensional storyteller."
"......"
"His father, and his father's father before him—all were Sigurds. Sigurd Sigurson wasn't just for the dimensional storyteller; it was an ancient name passed down through generations."
No one knew when his ancestors began bequeathing the name.
Sigurd's son, Sigurd.
That son's son, Sigurd.
Over long ages, the name echoed in people's mouths, gradually becoming synonymous with storyteller.
By the time the dimensional storyteller was born, the name Sigurd Sigurson itself held immense power. Power to cross dimensional boundaries, as long as one was part of the stories he created.
"All stories hold strong power to evoke imagery. Intense imagery especially becomes solid dreams, and even singular phantasms."
The storyteller, able to freely induce desired imagery in listeners, wandered dimensions performing countless miracles with that power.
With three-inch tongue, he could easily raise a nation or plunge the world into utter chaos.
This superhuman power could rival a dimension's king.
Emboldened, Sigurd had no qualms calling himself the 'Demon King of Dreams.'
"One day, while wandering the Phantasm Realm as usual, he discovered it. This world wasn't just about evoking transient phantasms—it had great laws that created and sustained dimensions themselves."
"...The Realm of Laws."
Seongjin murmured absently, and Isabella nodded.
"You're right. While Sigurd squandered time reveling in the dream power from his stories, the world had birthed laws forming the beautiful Realm of Laws. And...."
Pausing briefly, Isabella continued with deeper eyes.
"There was the enigmatic being who created it: the Oracle."