Chapter 18
Chapter 18
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: The Prince's Revolt
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Smelling the incense, Darsi propped his chin and glanced at the magic circle drawn on the bathroom floor.
The teleportation magic circle was his salvation, whisking him away to a place in this empire that couldn't be tracked.
He had poured in every magic crystal Marso had given him, plus the ones he'd secretly hoarded bit by bit, before finally completing it.
The magic circle, made by crushing and compressing magic crystals, worked even in this palace where no magic could be used.
But it was something he no longer needed.
'That doesn't mean magic crystals have no other uses.'
He pulled out the bag he'd placed in the bathtub.
He picked up the weapon he'd crafted based on what Marso had told him.
It was a weapon designed to fire compressed magic crystals.
He took chunks of magic crystals from his pocket, selected the small ones, and loaded them into the gun one by one.
It was the only weapon Darsi could use inside this palace where magic was forbidden. Without Marso's tip, he never would have dreamed of it.
Click. Darsi shoved the bag and magic crystals into the bathtub, then tucked the gun into his side. He donned a black robe that blended with the shadows. A faint glint of madness flickered in his eyes, then vanished. Darsi emerged slowly from the bathroom and locked the door. With a click, Emperor Kies's voice pierced his ears.
"It took you quite a while."
Darsi flashed a grin and shot back.
"Having a good time."
In an instant, Kies's eyes narrowed at him. His furrowed brow made his thoughts obvious. Impudent bastard, he was probably thinking. Kies claimed the chair Darsi always sat in as if it were his right and said.
"Say your goodbyes before you die."
In the unlit room, people hidden in the darkness revealed themselves. Hostile faces, aggressive stances. It was harder to imagine why they'd come here than to understand it. He'd brought a full lineup: assassins, mages, swordsmen. The funniest part was that these were people who'd fought alongside him on the battlefield until now. Though Darsi had never been able to show his true face. Kies's actions weren't surprising. No, he would have been shocked if they hadn't happened. The curse embedded in his heart. One hour remained until the curse that would burst his heart if he disobeyed the emperor's orders was lifted. Kies had dangled the promise of letting him live, but Darsi had never fully believed it. If he survived, Kies would live in fear forever that he might die someday. Kies watched leisurely as Darsi locked eyes with the others. It was like the mercy bestowed on a caged beast. Darsi blinked with an expressionless face. He chose change over escape. The headaches were just beginning. But his mind felt refreshingly clear. Truth be told, he hadn't felt some burning urge to do something if he ran away. He just wanted a different life. Yet his listless existence now felt like it had gained some value.
"Would you mind waiting a moment?"
Darsi bowed his head toward Kies, his voice polite and refined—vastly different from how he spoke with Marso. Honorifics had been seared into his brain by Kies. Through repeated torture and commands. That was why he loathed them so much.
"You're giving up quickly. Fine, I'll grant that much on your final road."
He must have finished searching the room, save for the locked bathroom. So he'd allow it, out of the victor's leisure. Kies always loved giving him hope, then crushing it.
"You've done well."
Darsi chanted a spell inwardly as he gazed at the face doling out condescending praise. He'd endured worse. Pretending to resign, Darsi closed his eyes and reviewed the situation. Five assassins to the right. Five mages in the center. Five swordsmen to the left. Fifteen in total. 'Twenty magic crystals.' He recalled the number loaded in the magic tool he'd invented. 'Now's the time.' Darsi's hand moved swiftly. In an instant, he gripped the gun and grinned. The magic tool spun in his hand.
"Then we'll start negotiations first."
With that, he embedded a magic crystal bullet in the center of Kies's palm.
Before Kies could react, Darsi jammed the gun barrel deep into his temple. The magic crystal gun was quite sturdy.
"Arghhh!"
Kies screamed belatedly upon realizing blood was pouring from his hand.
But no one dared approach.
They knew the moment they moved, Kies would die.
"So, shall we talk again?"
Darsi whispered in a delighted voice. His heterochromatic eyes curved prettily.
His face, lit by moonlight, brimmed with vitality.
Everyone in the room held their breath. As if synchronized, silence fell. Tension thickened until it was suffocating.
In the hush, Darsi felt ecstasy.
Ah, how long had it been since he'd felt truly alive!
"Wait. I should at least see what face you're making."
Darsi grabbed Kies by the hair and yanked his head back sharply.
"Urk," Kies groaned, neck arched backward. His terror-stricken face filled Darsi's view.
"Oh dear, that expression doesn't look good at all."
Whispering so only Kies could hear, Darsi furrowed his brow in mock pity.
As Kies opened his mouth to spit venom, Darsi warned flatly.
"One more word, and you'll join all the mages you've killed so far."
"...!"
Seeing Kies tremble like a cornered rat was thrilling.
The moment he'd decided to leave, long-buried emotions began resurfacing one by one.
Yes, he wanted revenge. He wanted to inflict pain beyond what he'd endured.
He wanted to see this twisted face on Kies.
Even when he'd resolved to abandon everything and vanish, or when he'd realized he'd die without enough magic crystals—this face had haunted him with hatred.
Kies had never shown him anything like this.
He'd only ever used him, eyes gleaming, dictating the next task.
"You bastard, you really think you can kill me—"
"I said I'd make you join them, but you still haven't grasped the situation... Just one more time."
Darsi realized he'd slipped into honorifics out of habit and scowled.
That was why he hadn't used them with Marso. He hated anything that reminded him of Kies.
Kies thrashed about.
Darsi clicked his tongue and shoved the barrel deeper into his temple. Suddenly, Marso crossed his mind.
'Marso might prefer honorifics.' Honestly, he hadn't been polite, so she probably didn't think well of him. Troublesome. He'd be seeing her often for a while; he didn't want to tank the goodwill he'd built. He wanted to raise it, if anything. 'I'll practice five or six speech patterns.' He planned to match whatever tone Marso wanted. There'd be plenty of time together ahead; he wanted every moment with her to feel comfortable. Snapping back at the sight of Kies shuddering, Darsi lowered the emperor's head to its original position and said.
"Forget trying to save yourself with commands. I'll shoot before my heart bursts. If you're still unsure... I can embed it again."
He could almost hear the gears turning in Kies's head. He'd spoken as if dying together was fine, but his true intentions differed. He had to live. Live to meet Marso, beg her to keep using him, to let him stay by her side and help. If seduction was needed, he'd do it. Marso was weak to his looks. If not... 'I'll create the opportunity myself.' Just like now. It was a neat conclusion that pleased him. Tick-tock. The clock echoed. Darsi and Kies's gazes turned to the wall clock. The hands pointed to 1:30 a.m. He was born exactly at 2:00 a.m. Until then, the curse would persist. Kies would try to kill him somehow in the remaining thirty minutes. Darsi eyed the men Kies had brought, scrutinizing them. Having fought beside them, he knew their styles well. Of course, all his achievements had been credited to Kies. He took the initiative, issuing a threat.
"If even one of you steps forward, I'll shoot. You've seen my weapon's power, so I trust you won't do anything foolish."
Darsi met each person's eyes in the room, reciting their names one by one.
"Sailun, Katroth..."
As the names flowed effortlessly, their faces turned ashen, like they'd seen ghosts. They couldn't fathom how a man cooped up in this room knew their names.
"Answer me. Or the emperor dies."
"Ah, understood."
"Yes, sir."
No one dared challenge the sudden roll call. Once he'd frozen them in place, Darsi turned to Kies.
"Now, how about I make you a proposal? No, more like a command. Like all the tiresome ones you've given me."
Darsi smirked, revealing his intent.
"You need to properly announce that I'm a prince. And credit me with all the achievements you've stolen over the years."
Darsi had always worn armor and a helmet, hiding himself. The armor tailored to Kies's build was nothing like his, but it had to fit. The one on the battlefield was always Emperor Kies. The lion of slaughter. A merciless knight without blood or tears, defending the nation with unmatched skill. He'd never lost once. Even as blood splashed his face and soaked his body, not a single tear fell. Because he was the perfect emperor. If anyone ever suspected Darsi's identity, he'd brainwash them into forgetting. That life-draining brainwashing was used solely for Kies. The people cheered for Kies, ignorant of who he was, chanting his name as he executed mages. It repeated endlessly. No more. Never again. As memories of the past surfaced, a shadow of death clouded Darsi's face.
"Kies Hector Rodrigo, you can't kill me."
Darsi muttered to Kies through gritted teeth. Fierce hatred poured from his gaze upon the emperor.