43: Journey to the Afterlife to Find His Wife

Kael stared blankly at the man who called himself a “celestial being” before snapping back to his senses.

“Are you… truly a celestial being?”

“That’s right. My role is to oversee the life and death of all living beings.”

“In that case… please, I beg you… bring Aella back to life. If you save my wife… I will do anything.”

Kael dropped to his knees and bowed his head. Derek, who had been silently watching this scene unfold, couldn’t close his gaping mouth.

‘A god… actually descended.’

“Aella!”

“!”

Hearing the familiar voice, Derek turned around, his brow furrowing. His son, Julius, who was supposed to be in the imperial palace, was standing there in tears. Derek was not pleased to see him here.

“Aella!”

Julius, calling out desperately for Aella, tried to approach her, but Derek blocked his way.

“Step aside.”

“Let’s go outside for now.”

“I said, step aside!”

Raising his voice, Julius was met with Derek’s hand—not a slap, but a punch to the face. Julius, struck by his father, was then dragged out of the room by the emperor.

Click.

The door closed, leaving Kael alone in the room with the celestial being. Kael looked at Aella and spoke.

“If you truly are a god, please help me bring my wife back to life.”

“…”

“Please, I beg you!”

Kael knelt once more, bowing his head repeatedly and shouting desperately.

“Do you truly wish to save her?”

“Yes! I want to save her. Sob… I must save her. I absolutely… must bring Aella… back.”

“…”

“Celestial being, if I can save Aella, I will do anything.”

“Anything, you say?”

“Yes.”

Kael straightened his back and looked at the celestial being with determination.

“Even if it costs me my life, I want to save Aella.”

“Tsk tsk.”

“Please…!”

“Lift your head.”

“…”

Kael, his hands clenched tightly, raised his head to meet the celestial being’s calm gaze.

“Celestial being, please. Help me save Aella.”

“That poor child is currently wandering in the Middle Realm.”

“The Middle Realm…?”

“The boundary between the living world and the afterlife. That is the Middle Realm.”

“…”

The celestial being, who had been floating in midair, gently descended before Kael, who was staring at him in a daze.

“Only souls that have left their bodies can enter that world. If she ascends to the heavenly realm from there, she will be completely dead.”

“!”

“Do you still wish to save her?”

“If it’s possible to save her… I absolutely want to.”

The celestial being smiled faintly as he looked at Kael.

‘He has such sincere eyes.’

The celestial being nodded slowly and commanded Kael to stand, placing a hand on his chest.

“If you wish to save your wife, you too must die and reach the place where she is.”

“…Are you saying I have to die?”

“Yes, because the Middle Realm is a place only souls can enter.”

“If I go there, can I meet Aella?”

Kael bowed his head deeply before the celestial being, who nodded silently.

“I’ll go. Please tell me how to get there.”

“Are you saying you don’t mind dying?”

“If I can meet Aella, I’m not afraid of death. If I can save her, I’ll gladly do it!”

“Lift your head.”

“…”

The celestial being placed his hands on Kael’s shoulders and smiled warmly.

“I understand your resolve. Your desperate wish to save your wife is truly admirable.”

“…”

“Keep one thing in mind. I will only send you to the Middle Realm. Returning is entirely up to you.”

“…”

“Even so, will you go? If you fail to return alive, you too will die.”

“If I can meet Aella, I must go. Please send me.”

The celestial being, who had been silently observing Kael, spoke as Kael lifted his head.

“Even if you meet your wife in the Middle Realm, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to bring her back. Will you still go?”

“Yes, my resolve will not waver.”

“Very well. I will grant your wish.”

“Thank you. Please give me a moment.”

Kael bowed his head to the celestial being and stepped outside. Spotting Matteo nearby, he called him over.

“Matteo, I’m going to the Middle Realm to save Aella.”

“What?! The Middle Realm… where is that exactly?”

“It’s the boundary between the living world and the afterlife.”

“What does that even mean…?”

Kael placed a reassuring hand on Matteo’s shoulder as he looked flustered.

“If I don’t return, I’m entrusting the estate to you.”

“What?! Your Grace!”

“Kael Hormons.”

“Your Majesty.”

Kael bowed his head before the emperor, who stood with a serious expression.

“What do you mean by what you just said?”

“Your Majesty, I must go to the Middle Realm to save my wife. The place I’m going to can only be reached through death.”

“You…”

“I will bring Aella back. But if, by any chance, I fail to return, please appoint the deputy commander as the new commander.”

“Kael Hormons.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Kael met the emperor’s gaze with more seriousness than ever before.

“Make sure you return alive with the Duchess. That is an imperial command.”

Kael knelt on one knee, placing his hand over his chest, and bowed his head.

“I, Kael Hormons, swear to His Majesty the Emperor… I will return with my wife.”

“Good. I will wait for you.”

Kael stood, patting the still-confused Matteo on the shoulder. As he turned to re-enter the room, he saw Ian and Kina standing nearby.

“I’m truly sorry to both of you.”

“Your Grace…”

“Kina, I will definitely bring Aella back.”

“Sob… Your Grace…”

“Until then, please take care of Charlotte.”

Kina nodded firmly, tears streaming down her face. Ian, who was comforting her, met Kael’s gaze. Kael gave a faint smile and nodded before entering the room and approaching the celestial being.

“How do I get to the Middle Realm?”

“Lie down.”

Following the celestial being’s instructions, Kael lay flat on the floor. When told to close his eyes, he did so. At the celestial being’s command to relax his entire body, he exhaled deeply and let his body go limp.

‘Aella… I will save you, no matter what.’

Kael felt a large hand cover his forehead.

“There will be a moment of pain. But it will only last briefly.”

“Yes.”

“I wish you luck.”

“Thank you.”

Before Kael could finish his sentence, he felt his breath catch.

‘Ugh! What is this?!’

The pain was unlike anything he had ever experienced. He wanted to scream, but no sound came out.

‘Ah… so this is what death feels like…’

As his consciousness faded, he heard a voice telling him to open his eyes. When he did, he was shocked.

“This can’t be…!”

Kael was looking down at his own body, lying on the floor.

“Am I truly dead?”

“You are only temporarily dead.”

“Temporarily… dead?”

“There’s no time to waste. If you linger too long in the Middle Realm, your wife will lose all memory and attachment to the living world and ascend to the heavenly realm.”

“How do I get to the Middle Realm?!”

The celestial being placed his hands on Kael’s arms, calming his urgency.

“True sincerity always reaches its destination. When you meet your wife, tell her what you wish to say. That will make her soul want to return.”

“Yes.”

Kael watched as the celestial being created a portal.

“Enter through here.”

“Thank you.”

Kael stepped into the portal without hesitation, and it disappeared instantly.

“Let’s hope he doesn’t take too long.”

The celestial being murmured softly before turning to face Derek and the others who entered the room.

“Kael Hormons!”

“Your Grace!”

“Shh, quiet. All you need to do is wait for this couple to awaken.”

The celestial being addressed the group as they stood frozen in awe.

“Emperor of this empire.”

“Yes, celestial being.”

“This is not the end.”

“!”

“That pitiful soul who once served me has harbored a deeply malicious intent.”

Derek’s brow furrowed as the celestial being continued.

“The grudge that soul holds cannot even be undone by me. Its effects will soon reach you as well.”

“Then we must find that woman before—”

“Emperor, the wheel of fate has already begun to turn. When that pitiful soul makes its final desperate move, I will come to claim its spirit. Until then, endure as best you can.”

“Yes, celestial being.”

The celestial being, now floating in midair, turned to Kina, who stood beside Ian.

“Your earnest prayers have moved my heart.”

“Ah…”

“Cherish what is precious to you.”

“Yes! Thank you, truly, celestial being!”

With a soft smile, the celestial being gradually disappeared. Ian called out urgently.

“Will the Duke and Duchess awaken?”

“That, even I do not know.”

“What?!”

“If you believe in them, they will surely return. That is all I can say.”

Leaving those words behind, the celestial being vanished. Ian gently lifted Kael’s body and placed it beside Aella on the bed.

“Your Grace… sob… Your Grace…”

Kina, stroking Aella’s cold cheek, clutched her hand tightly.

“I believe in you… sob… I believe you’ll wake up. And the Duke… sob… I believe he’ll bring you back. Your Grace…”

Ian, holding Aella’s hand in his, watched Kina sobbing. Natasha, Ian’s mother, patted Kina’s shoulder comfortingly. Ian smiled faintly and turned his gaze to Kael.

‘I believe in you too, Your Grace. I believe you’ll return with the Duchess from that Middle Realm.’

—

Outside the mansion, a cold wind blew between the emperor and his son.

“You’ve truly disappointed me.”

“…”

“Do you not pity the crown princess?”

“…”

“You fool. Mark my words, Julius. If you cannot get your act together, I will not hesitate to strip you of your title as crown prince.”

Derek, glaring at the silent Julius, let out a frustrated sigh and left first. Once his father’s carriage disappeared from view, Julius muttered curses under his breath. Mounting his horse, he turned to look at the Duke of Hormons’s mansion.

“Aella… please wake up. If you wake up, I’ll ask for nothing else.”

With sorrowful eyes, the crown prince stared at the mansion for a long time before walking away with heavy steps.