Chapter 16

Still, there were those who rebelled against Lyle. They were the powers on the side of the mothers of the dead princes. There were so many, hiding everywhere, that it was difficult to find them all. As he gradually eliminated them, much time passed.  

Now, only the Crown Prince’s children remained. The children named Lisi, Ain, and Ruby. Lyle spared only those children.  

Seisil wondered about the Emperor’s intentions.  

“Why do you leave them alive?”  

“Children are innocent.”  

Seisil thought Lyle was being naïve.  

“It’s because they’re children that it’s dangerous. What if someone explains everything that happened to them? For the future, it would be best to deal with them now.”  

“Well. If I actually did that, wouldn’t I become a tyrant in an instant?”  

“With all due respect, Your Majesty, tyranny has already begun. You must be thorough.”  

“Seisil. Someone has to keep my rampage in check. That’s what the children are doing, both those children and my own child.”  

Seisil thought Lyle’s reference to “my own child” was interesting.  

The Emperor’s child, Gin, was being raised by Ethea. She knew nothing of these dark events, and simply believed the world had changed under Lyle’s reign.  

Seisil recalled the past and felt a chill.  

“Whew, who could have predicted it? That you would gain power because of that child, Your Majesty.”  

Gin’s existence was truly extraordinary. Though the child was born as a Homunclepet, he served as the unexpected source of power for his father, Lyle.  

It was at the time of Gin’s birth. The pure power within Lyle’s body—the exorcism ability inherited from his ancestor Drenai—flowed along his blood and transferred to Gin. That was why Gin was born with golden eyes.  

But the exorcism power Lyle possessed must have been enormous. In an instant, Lyle lost a great power, and a huge vacancy appeared inside him. It was like a ring with no gem in it. All kinds of powers began a silent war to fill the center of that ring and shine.  

If the master of good and righteous power had won, Lyle’s body would have become a splendid jewel ring.  

But the victor was Sadea, the evil god of sl*ughter and hatred. Sadea made Lyle his host and began wielding his wicked power. Every time Lyle felt negative emotions like hatred or anger, someone would die or be driven to death because of it.  

The reason Lyle saw the whole world as red was the same. Sadea took away every color except blood from Lyle. It was intended to make him see only blood, and think only of drinking blood.  

Lyle had to control Sadea’s power. He had to soothe the evil god trapped inside him, or else his whole body would be taken over.  

To tame the evil god, he had to feed it. Over the past few years, Lyle invoked every possible justification and eliminated countless enemies, offering them as sacrifices to Sadea.  

Living as the host of an evil god was like that. He had to endure and overcome the feeling of becoming a monster from time to time.  

Having obtained the Crown of Orodium he desired, and being able to protect Ethea and their child safely, he brainwashed himself that this was nothing. Only then could Lyle go on living.  

“Honestly, watching over you up close makes me nervous.”  

As the only friend who stayed by his side, Seisil couldn’t help but know that.  

Just as Lyle’s situation had changed over the years, so had Seisil’s.  

Seisil helped Lyle for his sake, but also wanted to break free from being his father’s puppet and pioneer his own life. Of course, the fact that he himself became the head of the Mage Tower by usurping his father’s power was contradictory and amusing, but still.  

Thanks to that, he could now access far more materials than before, and through those materials, he could understand most of Lyle’s symptoms. The same went for his suffering.  

Lyle needed to escape Sadea’s power. He had to recover his original exorcism ability, the power of the Orodium spirit, and expel Sadea. Only then could he see the colors of the world with both eyes, stop killing people, and find peace of mind.  

Seisil spoke not as a subject, but as a friend.  

“Did you know? I lose sleep over it myself. Lyle, as your friend, I’ll say this: that power will kill you someday. Or maybe it’s already slowly eating you away…”  

“I guess I should sleep now.”  

Lyle yawned, feigning indifference.  

Perhaps he already sensed it. To drive out Sadea, he would have to recover the power of the Orodium spirit he once possessed, and for that, Gin, who had taken that power, would have to disappear.  

Seisil bit his lips in distress.  

‘I really don’t know what I’m doing.’

Lyle was excessively gentle toward Gin and Ethea, who cared for Gin. For the peace and safety of mother and child, he would do anything.  

The first thing he did was to visit Javir Parazia. He told him that he knew well about the vile deal he had tried to make with his daughter, and that the only way to atone for it was to stop tormenting her. He demanded that he send her far away and stop interfering. All of this was done by Lyle.  

After that, Lyle sent soldiers and mages to the village where Gin and Ethea lived, guarding the entire village. He made sure no suspicious people could enter, and also prevented non-human beings who coveted the Homunclepet from approaching.  

Lyle was always discreet and quiet regarding her matters. It was likely that Lyle, through Javir, provided their house and living expenses as well.  

Seisil was curious.  

“I just can’t figure you out. Are you satisfied with just protecting them? Don’t you want to visit? Don’t you want to see them?”  

The answer he received was astonishing.  

“I can see them whenever I want. But I….”  

“But what?”  

“I still can’t guarantee how well I can control Sadea’s power.”  

“……”  

“When I feel intense emotions or perceive someone as an enemy, I get the urge to kill. I can’t let that happen when I see Gin.”  

“Sigh. At least you’re aware that the child is the one who took your power.”  

Lyle shook his head.  

“Then what is it?”  

“I just think he’s so cute I want to nibble him, but what if something happens to Gin?”  

Seisil was so dumbfounded he couldn’t even laugh. Was that really the reason? Was that why he wouldn’t see his child? He couldn’t understand it at all.  

“It’s the same when I see Ethea.”  

“So you think Miss Parazia is so cute you might nibble her to death?”  

“No.”  

“Then what?”  

“Ethea is just… just so beautiful and lovely that I feel like I’m going to die.”  

Seisil stood up.  

“Well, I should go home. I’ll be off now….”  

“And Ethea suffered so much because of me. She had to give up so much, and was lonely. When I see that child, I might end up hating myself to death.”  

Seisil felt uncomfortable. Ethea’s suffering was partly Lyle’s fault, but also because Seisil had carelessly handed over the recipe.  

‘He’s really triggering my guilt.’  

Of course, the ones who set things in motion were Ethea’s father and the former Emperor.  

On the other hand, Seisil found Lyle frustrating. Was she really that precious? She was just a friend he met in childhood, yet how could he be so devoted? Seisil had no such memories, nor had he ever felt such desperate emotions, so he couldn’t understand. He felt a bit petulant.  

“Your Majesty, you’re a fool.”  

Lyle replied,  

“It’s because I’m a fool that I made it this far.”  

***

What he said to Seisil was all a lie.  

He wouldn’t kill his child just because he thought he was cute. He wouldn’t commit s*icide just because he hated himself. At least, not him.  

It’s just… he was disgusted with himself. He was horrified.  

Could a monster like him ever meet you? Was it okay to smile when meeting you?  

***

Tap.  

Tap tap tap!  

Tap tap! Tap tap tap tap!  

At dawn, Lyle woke up because someone was furiously hitting his arm. He had fallen asleep leaning against Gin’s bed, and the one waking him was Ethea, with a very angry expression.  

Ethea, not wanting Gin to hear, yelled at him—though only with her expression. Her voice was extremely quiet.  

“Are you crazy? What are you doing here?”  

She was clearly shouting in anger, but to Lyle, it sounded like a sweet whisper.  

“Ah. Well….”  

“Shh! Shhhhh!”  

Ethea gestured for him to be quiet, not wanting to hear his answer. Then she grabbed him, stood him up, and dragged him outside. As he was being dragged, Lyle gradually woke up.  

How did he end up sleeping against Gin’s bed?  

It was thanks to the invisibility cloak. He had been watching Gin and Ethea secretly, and when they fell asleep, he had boldly climbed in through the window. He watched Gin and Ethea for a long time, lost in memories, until he fell asleep without realizing it.  

The invisibility cloak turns into a normal cloak if the wearer stays still for a certain period. It was inevitable that Lyle would be discovered by Ethea when she woke up.  

Ethea, worried that someone might see, spoke firmly to Lyle.  

“Get out, now.”  

Not wanting to leave, Lyle protested with a hint of sadness.  

“You speak harshly to me, the Emperor.”  

“Your Majesty, would you please get out?”  

Lyle just looked at Ethea silently. Ethea paused, wondering if she had spoken too harshly.  

‘No, don’t think like that!’  

Sneaking in and sleeping there—even for the Emperor, it was a crime, wasn’t it? If Gin had woken up and asked who he was….  

Ethea shuddered.  

“Get. Out. Please. Your. Majesty.”