Chapter 888
Chapter 888
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 888
Chapter Title: God's Atlantis
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I entered the reception room.
Two men were waiting for us.
One was a familiar face. The third prince, Kidin Yustria. He was lounging back in his chair and gave me a casual wave when he saw me.
The other man sat with his legs crossed. Golden hair cascading down to his waist. Sharp eyes and a composed aura. It was the second prince, Herix Yustria.
"A pleasure to meet you for the first time, Your Highness Herix. And an honor to see you again, Your Highness Kidin."
"So you're Sung Yu-jin, the knight who won the hunting tournament? More ordinary than I expected."
Herix spoke bluntly. His calm red eyes scanned me up and down. It rubbed me the wrong way. Part of me wanted to smash my fist into that smug face right then and there.
"Brother, judging people by appearances isn't a good habit. He conquered and claimed Zone 2,350—a place even the imperial family couldn't touch."
Kidin spoke up. At a glance, it seemed like he was defending me, but his eyes were studying me like some exotic specimen.
"Your Highnesses, are you ignoring me? I'm quite hurt."
Elena stepped forward with a smile playing on her lips. Herix and Kidin both let out sighs almost in unison. They rose from their seats and exchanged formal greetings with her.
"Duke Baldert... You haven't changed a bit since I last saw you two years ago."
"Your Highness Kidin seems a little more mature now. Truly the empire's good fortune."
Elena replied leisurely. She then took a seat quite naturally.
Herix's expression turned a touch uncomfortable.
"I didn't expect you'd come with Sir Sung Yu-jin. You must value him highly."
"Yes. He's a treasured knight. As you can see, he's quite capable."
"Winning the hunting tournament is one thing, but conquering Zone 2,350? He does seem competent."
I stood beside Elena. It felt too imposing to take a seat myself.
"Sir Yu-jin."
Kidin called to me. He handed me an ornate box.
"Thank you, Your Highness Kidin."
"No need for thanks. It's just the prize for winning the tournament. Open it and see for yourself."
All eyes turned to me. It would've been awkward to just take the box and leave. So I opened it right there in front of them.
A red cape lay inside. Even at a glance, it exuded luxury. I pulled it out of the box. The fabric was incredibly soft.
"Hecate Cape. An SS-rank cloak."
Kidin said. He eyed the cape in my hands with a hint of regret. If I hadn't been the anomaly here, it would've been his.
I'd known about it, but as expected of the grand prize, it had impressive abilities.
"Sir Yu-jin. Do you know the name Hecate?"
"The goddess of magic, as I recall."
Hecate was a goddess from Greek mythology. Not one of Olympus's Twelve, but a deity even the lord of the skies couldn't trifle with lightly.
"You know your stuff. Every mage reveres her. Do you know? The imperial family offered treasures equivalent to ten years of a major city's budget to the goddess Hecate just to obtain this cloak."
"An incredibly valuable item. I wonder if I even deserve to accept it..."
It was already in my hands, though. No way was I giving it up.
"You're the winner, so you deserve it. Use it wisely."
Kidin said, masking his disappointment.
"Speaking of Hecate..."
Herix spoke up. He glanced once at the red cape in my hand, then shifted his gaze to Elena.
"Isn't she the divine seat contracted to you, Duke Baldert?"
"Yes, that's correct. Only a select few know that, including Your Highnesses. I'd appreciate your discretion."
The divine seat contracted to Elena was the Waning Moon in the Darkness. Her true name: Hecate.
"My apologies. I have a habit of blurting things out as they come to mind... I'm trying to fix it, but no luck."
Herix said shamelessly. Yet he was still watching my reaction.
"You don't seem surprised. Did you know who Duke Baldert's contracted divine seat was?"
"Yes, I knew."
I answered calmly. Truth be told, I'd only learned recently myself. All I knew beyond that was that the skill Elena received from Hecate involved illusions.
"Unexpected. Duke Baldert must value him greatly."
"I said from the start he's a treasured knight."
"So you did."
A chill hung between Herix and Elena. They eyed each other warily. Kidin just glanced around without saying a word.
A moment later, a maid brought in black tea and pastries. But no one touched them.
"Duke Baldert. No one would believe you came to see us without reason, just for one knight. Isn't it time you told us the real purpose of your visit?"
Herix said, crossing his arms. Elena looked at him, then turned to Kidin.
"Your Highness Kidin. I heard your life was targeted during the hunting tournament."
"...Yes. If not for that exile Kang Myung-jin, I might've been in real danger. Oh, right—Sir Sung Yu-jin, you're in the same legion as Kang Myung-jin, aren't you? What a mysterious coincidence."
"Do you really think so?"
"What do you mean by that, Duke Baldert? You think I had something to do with Sir Sung Yu-jin and Kang Myung-jin being in the same legion...?"
"No, that's not the coincidence I mean. The terrorist attack at the tournament. The assassination attempt on Your Highness Kidin. Do you really think it was that dangerous?"
"...I nearly lost my life to those assailants. Without Kang Myung-jin, I might not be here."
"Your Highness Kidin. Yesterday, I discovered suspicious individuals and interrogated them to extract information."
"......"
Kidin's face twisted. Herix's demeanor grew icy as well.
"Your Highness. I am Elena Baldert—the Illusion Duke, as they call me. When I personally interrogate someone, nothing stays hidden. Their mind is laid bare in my palm. I can force out even what they don't know or have forgotten. I have that power."
"...Are you saying you'll interrogate me right now?"
"If necessary, I'm considering requesting an interrogation from His Imperial Majesty himself."
"......"
Silence.
A heavy silence later, Kidin sighed and shook his head.
"You're as terrifying as ever. You wouldn't flinch no matter what I said. So I'll ask just in case. Illusion Duke, have you cast illusions on me?"
"No. But... how do you distinguish whether you're under illusion? How do you tell if this is a dream, a mere delusion, or plain reality?"
Kidin and Herix reacted. Kidin fiddled with his necklace, Herix stroked his bracelet. I realized those items countered Elena's illusions.
"...This is undoubtedly reality right now. To doubt if reality is real... You truly are frightening, Duke Baldert. I'll be honest with you. You must have calculated everything to come see me and my brother. However..."
Kidin glanced at me.
"Your knight doesn't belong in this conversation. No matter how treasured he is."
Herix said it outright.
"Yu-jin. Step outside for a moment. Wait at the palace entrance. It might take a while... not sure how long."
"I'll wait at the palace entrance."
I bowed to them and left. Stepping into the corridor, the heavy air lightened considerably.
'Better behave. Wandering the palace could drag me into unnecessary trouble, and I'd be the one suffering.'
I could guess what they'd discuss anyway. Elena planned to pull the second and third princes to her side this time, to drag the crown prince from his position.
'...Think it’ll work?'
I recalled the original story.
In the original, the crown prince held onto his position until the end and ascended as emperor. But he didn't enjoy power for long. After all, the protagonist was Kang Myung-jin, and the emperor was one of the villains.
I leaned against the wall at the palace entrance, waiting obediently for Elena.
Then. An overwhelming pressure hit me.
"Welcome, Duke Ronmasid!"
The imperial knights bowed deeply to the approaching figure. They tensed like lowly soldiers before a general—more deferential than even with Elena.
I looked at the man they called Duke Ronmasid.
A colossal 2.2-meter frame. Short crimson hair and scars across his face. His body rippled with bulging muscles.
One of the empire's five dukes, like Elena. The Iron Duke. Holland Ronmasid.
Known as the guardian of the Yustria imperial family, he was the most loyal of the five dukes and resided permanently in the palace.
His brown eyes turned to me.
"A new face. You carry some real power... Who are you?"
"A pleasure to meet you, Duke Ronmasid. I am Sung Yu-jin, knight of Duke Baldert."
"The hunting tournament winner? Congratulations on your victory. Looks like you've already claimed your prize. Why wait at the palace entrance?"
"Waiting for my liege."
"Duke Baldert is here? With His Majesty?"
"In discussion with the princes."
"Hm. I see."
Ronmasid showed no interest in Elena or the princes. He stayed politically neutral. He protected only the imperial family and served only the emperor. Even the crown prince couldn't command him.
'Perfect timing.'
Running into him here was lucky. Meeting him separately later would've been tough.
"Duke Ronmasid."
He paused mid-step into the palace and turned back to me.
"Something to say?"
"Will you hear me out?"
"I can listen. But don't think it'll sway me."
"A simple question. Do you know of the Pelsman family by any chance?"
His brown eyes flickered.
"...No."
His voice was firm. I shelved my plan to provoke him. He was more sensitive than expected. Pushing further could've put me in danger.
"Understood. Sorry for wasting your time, Your Grace."
"Where did you hear the name Pelsman?"
"Just stumbled upon it."
"......"
Ronmasid turned and walked back into the palace.
Thirty minutes later, Elena emerged. She looked quite pleased. Things had gone her way.
"You seem in a good mood. Got what you wanted?"
"Not perfectly, but I've gathered a decent hand."
The Decennial Festival was nearing its end.
With tonight's ball and tomorrow's finale, it would all be over.
Clop-clop-clop.
The opulent four-horse carriage of the Baldert family raced along. Our destination: Yustria Imperial Palace, where nobles gathered in droves.
Inside the carriage were Elena, me, and Kang Myung-jin.
Elena attended as one of the empire's five dukes. I was her partner. Kang Myung-jin came as the master of the legion she sponsored.
Dressed up, Kang Myung-jin looked pretty sharp. Not that I thought I fell short, of course.
"......"
We didn't chat.
Each of us needed to sort through our plans in our heads.
Kang Myung-jin aimed to leap his legion forward with this chance.
Elena was set on toppling the crown prince.
And I was pondering how to get Elena into bed. She was too perfect—no cracks to slip through emotionally. We'd built basic trust, but anything more felt out of reach.
"We're here."
Elena said. We disembarked.
The dazzling palace welcomed us.