“My lord.”

“The man who taught me how to handle the divine beast, my father, said something.”

“Sir?”

“He said that while it is not the custom to make prophecies using the divine beast, he could not bear to stay silent.”

He did not seem to expect an answer from Maili, and Carlisle’s murmuring continued.

Important words concerning the late emperor who had passed began to flow out, and Maili looked around. Some of the merchant company already headed to the imperial palace to announce their arrival in the Wintergrass Empire, and Kuz, who remained, went to gather information.

Maili confirmed that the only ones in this place were the noisy Wintergrass citizens, Carlisle, and herself, then looked back at her liege. Carlisle’s words were being swallowed up by the surrounding noise.

‘Well, who would dare think that His Majesty himself had come here.’

Even in the Astrux Empire, Carlisle’s absence was being kept secret. Maili was thinking of the close friend who remained behind in the imperial palace when she missed the last of Carlisle’s words. They were that difficult to hear.

“To reclaim your power, swallow the flame. Even if that burning flower consumes you whole. Something like that, I believe.”

Carlisle’s relentless gaze followed the deposed crown prince as she was dragged away by soldiers.

Within her blue eyes, which did not lose their light, lived defiance and a will not yet broken.

Carlisle, who loved to gather talented people around him, cherished those who carried that kind of look in their eyes.

Those with eyes like that did not easily betray others. Especially not those who showed them kindness in their time of hardship. They were different from those who could say anything with their mouths.

“Roelia Wintergrass.”

The deposed crown prince’s silver hair, caught in the light of the setting sun, looked like a red that swallowed a burning flame. That alone was reason enough to take notice.

* * *

“When an emperor, who shares the same fate as the divine beast, dies, the divine beast of that generation dies with them and vanishes.”

Roelia’s father’s gentle voice drifted to her as she gazed with wide, curious eyes at the divine beast resting nearby in her childhood.

Roelia looked around and realized she was standing in a summer afternoon, a bright sun shining high in a clear sky.

“Roelia?”

“So that means, if misfortune comes, both Father and the divine beast will leave my side at once. Forever.”

The late emperor gently brushed aside the hair of Roelia, who was making a gloomy face, and spoke again.

“Do not worry about being alone. When you, who hold the right of succession, are chosen by the divine beast, a new divine beast of that generation will be born. And that divine beast will remain with you until the end of your life.”

“Father.”

Still young, Roelia nuzzled her face against the late emperor’s knee in a childlike plea for affection. She wanted to think neither of her father’s death nor of the divine beast’s absence.

The late emperor looked down at her with gentle eyes as she squeezed them shut, then reached out and lifted her face.

“You are the most gifted heir I have ever seen. You will be able to become a magnificent emperor.”

“Do you really think so?”

“If not you, then who? So tend well to the divine beast and protect the empire for me.”

The voice that drifted in through the swaying breeze wrapped around Roelia with warmth. She was rubbing her face against his palm, on the verge of answering, when it happened.

Pitch-black darkness swallowed everything around her.

“It is your fault.”

A grim voice drove itself into her mind. When the startled Roelia looked at the late emperor, he was already soaked in blood.

The day she became the empire’s witch. The late emperor’s chest overflowed with blood, exactly as she had seen it that day.

“You killed me!”

“No, I didn’t!”

Roelia tried to wave her hand at the late emperor, who suddenly began to pour out words of blame, and was thrown into confusion. A dagger was in her hand, and fresh blood dripped from it in a steady stream.

“You killed him! Traitor!”

Just then, Silena appeared from somewhere and screamed at Roelia.

“Acting so arrogant, as though every victory was thanks to you alone. And now you’ve murdered the late Emperor.”

The voice of a noble she heard somewhere before also reached her.

“It is all Your Highness’s fault. Your negligence and foolishness disappointed everyone. That is why you have ended up alone like this.”

Russell, turning his back on her coldly, was visible too.

Roelia gasped and flailed. She cried out whatever words she could to undo what she lost, but no sound came out.

She fled from the countless words condemning her. But all that lay before her eyes was pitch-black darkness.

As though this were her future. Like a prophecy that nothing but darkness awaited the one who killed her own blood, a thick, clinging darkness breathed out a raw, metallic smell.

Running and running, Roelia heard a faint voice drifting in from somewhere.

-Accept me.

It was a whisper, hot and intense, carrying within it the energy of fire. Following the voice, the magical power of flame she forcibly suppressed seemed to stir.

A blinding light poured down with dizzying intensity, and hot flames wrapped around her. Roelia could not even scream as she was engulfed in the fire and could not break free.

“Ngh.”

The sensation of something repeatedly striking her body brought Roelia’s eyes open.

“You must have been really exhausted. How do you not wake up no matter how much I poke you.”

Through blurred vision, Silena came into view, seated in a chair. She rested her chin on her knee and withdrew through the bars the staff she had been pressing against Roelia.

Before Roelia could react, the magical restraints coiled around her wrists pulled taut and forced her upright. Her wretched state, ravaged by blood and filth, was laid bare in full beneath the torchlight.

Wrists scraped raw by iron. Bruises and scars visible through tattered clothing. A forehead split open so many times that blood crusted over it.

Silena stretched the corners of her eyes and smiled.

“What a state you’re in. Not a trace of that dignified bearing you used to have. Who would ever think you were once that glorious heir to the throne?”

The sight of that face, so chillingly gentle in appearance, made Roelia’s jaw tighten. If she did not clench her teeth, she felt she might scream at any moment. Get out of my sight.

She no longer wanted to look at Silena, who deceived her all this time behind those innocent-looking eyes. But there was nothing Roelia could do, imprisoned as she was and bound by magical restraints.

“It’s because you’re so weak that Russell chose me instead of you.”

A clanking sound filled the prison at Silena’s mention of the traitor. Silena confirmed Roelia’s reaction and laughed brightly, mocking her.

“If you don’t want to suffer anymore, give up the right of succession so I can receive the divine beast’s choosing.”

The voice that whispered while blowing softly on her neatly manicured nails was honeyed and coaxing. Roelia could not endure that whisper, which seemed to be trying to seduce her.

“And after I give up the right of succession? I’ll be useless to you, so I’ll be treated worse than livestock. No, you’ll kill me the moment I give it up, won’t you?”

If Roelia gave up the right of succession to inherit the divine beast, the divine beast would naturally have to make a new choosing. The only one of Wintergrass blood was Silena, so she would obtain the right of succession.

If that happened, Roelia would simply be killed.

If she gave up the right of succession, the method Russell and Silena would use to dispose of Roelia was plain as day.

And furthermore.

“The divine beast’s power is sacred and dangerous. There is no way someone who is not its true master can wield it! And to think that those who have stained their hands with the divine beast’s blood would try to defile the mark. Do you truly intend to bring the gods’ wrath down upon the empire?”

Roelia’s voice continued toward Silena, who let out a scoff. The voice came out rough and hoarse, but it rang clearly through the prison.

Silena’s brow twitched, as though it grated on her.

“There you go again, talking about things that don’t exist. Right, the knowledge of the divine beast and magical power was passed down only to you, the ‘true heir.’ Such precious knowledge, and you’re locked in here unable to use any of it. Wouldn’t passing it on to me be what’s best for the empire?”

When Roelia maintained complete silence, Silena let out a sigh and manipulated the chains. The magical restraints pulled taut, and Roelia’s body was wrenched up into the air.

“Urk!”

Silena lowered her voice toward Roelia, who was gritting her teeth against the pain.