Chapter 32: Do You Desire Power?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 32: Do You Desire Power?
Could she have noticed that Desmond was inside the doll?
I hugged the doll tightly, my heart racing. Even Desmond, who would usually whine about being smothered, remained silent, perhaps sensing the tension.
I froze, clutching Desmond, who felt exceptionally stiff today.
"The doll... is a bit dirty."
"..."
"Would it be alright if I gifted the child a new one?"
At the Empress Dowager’s words, I let out the breath I had been holding.
Thank goodness. She didn't notice. Relieved, I loosened my grip on the doll.
"It would be the highest honor if Your Majesty would do so."
"Very well. I shall have it sent soon."
The Empress Dowager gave a soft smile and turned her head. She spoke in a benevolent voice.
"Crown Prince, may we speak privately for a moment?"
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Dantalion nodded and glanced toward us. Understanding the cue, Veronica bowed while still holding me.
"Then we shall take our leave. Your Majesty, Your Highness."
"Yes, get home safely."
"We will."
Veronica answered softly, her eyes lingering on Dantalion one last time. He spoke with a smile.
"I'll be in touch, Lady."
"...Yes."
Veronica nodded shyly, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. I narrowed my eyes as I watched the exchange.
Phew, I thought we were caught.
Once we were out of the room, I muttered to myself and let out a long sigh. That was an experience I truly didn't want to repeat.
[H-Hmph. Of course she didn't. No matter how great an Ancient Demon is, they are no match for the power of an Archdemon.]
'...'
You were just as terrified as I was.
I stared flatly at Desmond as he blustered. He avoided my gaze, looking pointedly in the opposite direction.
By the way...
Veronica had been dazed for a while now. She was definitely thinking about Dantalion.
At this point, I had no choice but to fully accept the two of them. It seemed Veronica had feelings for Dantalion as well.
My heart didn't seethe with anger like it did when I saw them hugging, but I still felt a bit complicated.
Had I started thinking of Veronica as my mother without even realizing it? Even though I’m not the real Claudia.
Feeling a bit gloomy, I wiggled deeper into Veronica’s arms.
"Our Dia must be very tired."
"Mmhmm."
"Sleep tight until we arrive."
Lost in her own thoughts, Veronica gently patted my shoulder. Her warmth finally allowed me to relax.
[Master! Do not worry. You have me, do you not?]
[That's right! An Ancient Demon is nothing but a snack for us!]
Perhaps thinking I was upset because I was worried about the Empress Dowager and the Ancient Demon, Desmond and Bibi raised their voices, acting tough.
I let out a small chuckle and gave them a tiny nod.
Regardless, discovering that the Empress Dowager had made a contract with a demon was a major find. Perhaps I could use this to my advantage.
I fell into thought as the carriage rattled along.
*
"Whew..."
Late at night, finally alone, Dantalion sat on his sofa and let out a long sigh.
It had been a long day. After challenging the Marquis of Lionel to a duel, he had become the biggest topic of conversation in the Capital, and his surroundings had been noisy ever since.
Countless people sought him out day after day, and among those he met today, there were some who were far from pleasant.
"...That snake of a woman."
Dantalion muttered, recalling those shimmering orange eyes.
Some described the Empress Dowager’s eyes as a warm, gently glowing flame, but to Dantalion, they were nothing of the sort.
They were eyes like trash, filled with every foul thing imaginable. Every time Dantalion looked into them, he felt like he might retch.
'Do you still intend to go through with the duel against Lionel?'
The Empress Dowager had asked, feigning concern.
However, Dantalion understood her intentions better than anyone. If he had changed his mind and said he would forfeit, she was the kind of woman who would have bound him hand and foot and thrown him before Cedric herself.
Ever since he became the Crown Prince, he had lived under the constant threat of her attempts on his life.
Despite that, her ability to shamelessly act the part of a worried elder in front of others was almost impressive.
'...But you resemble him more and more as time passes. It is as if he has returned to life.'
'...'
The "he" the Empress Dowager referred to was Dantalion’s father, the former Emperor.
With eyes that seemed to be dreaming, the Empress Dowager had scanned Dantalion’s face. That gaze made his skin crawl.
'I did not expect my father’s name to cross Your Majesty’s lips.'
'...'
'I doubt my father would appreciate being part of Your Majesty’s memories.'
At the very least, he wouldn't want to remain in the memory of the woman who killed him. Dantalion frowned, thinking of how the Empress Dowager had maintained her gentle smile even at his sharp words.
The day he first met Empress Dowager Gabriella was when she first entered the Imperial Palace as an Imperial Consort.
The Emperor at the time—Dantalion’s grandfather—had opposed bringing Gabriella in as a consort until the very end.
However, due to a series of unfortunate events within the Imperial Family at the time, public sentiment had surged, demanding that the Saintess be brought in as a consort. That was how Gabriella entered the palace.
'What a cute Imperial grandson we have here.'
'...'
Embarrassed by the gaze staring down at him, the young Dantalion had hidden behind his mother, the former Empress.
The relationship between Gabriella, who was then a consort, the young Dantalion, and the former Emperor and Empress—who were the Crown Prince and Princess at the time—was quite awkward.
It was only natural. In an empire that practiced monogamy, having an Imperial Consort when there was already a clear Empress was unheard of. No matter the political reasons, the Imperial Family couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.
Furthermore, when the former Empress suddenly passed away and Gabriella was elevated to Empress, the awkward relationship turned into the worst possible dynamic.
Dantalion had realized long ago that Gabriella harbored special feelings for his father.
He had seen those snake-like eyes greedily watching his father many times, like a predator eyeing its prey.
But the former Emperor, who loved his wife dearly, never gave in to Gabriella, and in the end, he lost his life alongside his beloved wife.
'He surely met his end because he rejected the Empress Dowager.'
The current Imperial Family was nothing more than a group of puppets moving according to the Empress Dowager’s whims.
With the Temple and public opinion behind her, the Empress Dowager had controlled the Imperial Family for far too long. Now, most of the nobility followed her.
The only ones truly concerned for the Empire’s well-being were House Winston and a few other families.
The Western Faction that followed Dantalion only did so because of their contract; they were the type to betray him without hesitation if he showed any sign of losing to the Empress Dowager.
'I shall look forward to your duel with Lionel.'
'...'
'I pray no great harm comes to that precious body of yours.'
The Empress Dowager had scanned Dantalion with that characteristically sticky gaze before turning away. He felt as if her unpleasant eyes were still lingering on every part of his body.
Challenging Cedric to a duel had been largely impulsive.
However, it was now the greatest opportunity to flip the board. Therefore, he had to win the duel against Cedric Lionel no matter what.
'What am I supposed to do if something happens to you, Brother?'
Suddenly, a pair of tear-streaked, crimson eyes came to mind.
Some said the blood-red eyes of House Winston were terrifying. Since red was the symbol of demons, it was natural for people to fear them.
But Dantalion knew better than anyone that those red eyes held the warmest temperature. Since a very long time ago.
'I promise I'll come back to you.'
'Brother...'
'So, believe in me and wait.'
'...'
The body he had held in his arms had been so warm and soft.
Recalling that moment, Dantalion involuntarily shuddered.
Thud.
"Hm?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Dantalion looked down at the small box that had fallen to the floor.
'You have to win, okay?!'
He could almost hear the voice that had shouted those words with a bright smile.
Dantalion chuckled and picked up the box from the floor.
"A Demon's Gem, is it...?"
Muttering softly, Dantalion held up the brooch he took from the box.
The brilliant black gem sparkled as it caught the light. Feeling as if he were being pulled into it, Dantalion stared at the gem for a long time.
"I truly feel like I'd even borrow the power of a demon right now."
Dantalion gave a dry laugh and lowered the hand holding the brooch.
If there really were a demon inside this gem, it would certainly help with the duel.
But there was no way such a dream-like thing would happen. Even House Winston, who supposedly had a contract with an Archdemon, hadn't been able to summon the demon trapped in the gem for hundreds of years.
Just as Dantalion lost interest and was about to place the brooch back on the table—
[Do you desire power?]
A terrifyingly low voice flowed out from within the gem.