The past can be known. So naturally, Truyde’s secret can also be revealed. Because those secrets are sothing that happened in the past. Not only that, but it would also reveal the last monts of his master—whom he could not protect in the end—and how the prince had lived for the past twelve years.
As ti passed, Abel realized how much he still didn’t know, even after the lord’s wife had told them what she knew. The idea of knowing everything about the past felt like a lie. At first, he thought it might be records—but records have limits. Not everything can be written down. And if it truly were a record, why could only one specific person read it?
Then is it magic?
That didn’t quite make sense either. The emperor was the one who inherited the power of the dragon. He possessed a power that seed like magic. But now, it was a Regas who could see the past. Abel looked down at his still-bandaged arm, which hadn't healed. It didn’t feel like he had any power at all.
“Are you scared?”
Abel looked up at the quiet question. lmond was watching him from across the campfire with worried eyes.
“Does it burden you that only you can find out the past?”
“No,” Abel murmured under his breath and shook his head.
“I just can’t believe it.”
lmond nodded faintly.
“Well, I still can’t believe it either. Sothing that can see everything about the past?”
He glanced down at the snoring butler beside him and continued:
“At first, I thought it might be a book with recorded mories. But even that can’t cover everything. You can’t write down the entire world.”
lmond tilted his head slightly.
“So even if it’s a book, maybe there’s so kind of magic to it—sothing only a Regas can read or perceive? Like how only the Regas can enter the Dragon’s Forest.”
****
Ah, the Dragon Forest.
Only then did Abel nod slightly.
“That makes sense. It’s not that I have so special magic, but that the object itself is enchanted. I’m just... the condition for it.”
“That’s right. And if it’s an object, it’s better to search for it than to try uncovering the secret of the black potion from Truyde. Of course, we can’t let Marquis Yan find out. He’s dangerous.”
“Is it even possible?”
“I heard that Marquis Yan has been reclusive ever since his son died a few years ago. Like a tiger without its fangs. He won’t be easy to deal with, but if Truyde has more weaknesses, we might be able to steal the object secretly.”
“And we can find out what else we need.”
“What do you an by that?”
lmond asked, and Abel hesitated before answering.
He glanced a little ways off. Kin and Karas were talking alone by another campfire. It was mostly Kin doing the talking. Karas seed uninterested, looking away. For several days now, Kin had been trying to speak to Karas alone.
Was sothing going on?
Abel had been feeling uneasy ever since they left the lord’s manor. Their plan had been to et the emperor’s army near the capital, but there was still ti before the agreed date. Yet the journey had been harsher than when they first went to the manor. Whenever they got a short rest, everyone collapsed like they were completely drained.
Especially for the frail Abel, the bumpy carriage had been tornt. It had been days since he’d had a proper conversation with lmond. The whole situation felt as though they were being chased. No one said it aloud, but everyone suspected it.
The reason? The soldiers they saw at the inn after leaving the manor. Though they wore the insignia of the emperor’s army, the way they looked at Karas and Kin had been... strange.
But nothing had happened. They just kept moving. Fast. And the two gave no explanation. They all endured it in silence. But today was different. Despite being close to a village and the sun not yet set, they had stopped in the forest.
They had a little more ti to rest. And ti to talk. But instead of easing their anxiety, it made it worse.
Were they not being chased at all?
Or did Kin and Karas think it was fine because they’d soon et the emperor’s army?
There were many questions, but what truly troubled Abel was sothing else.
Karas.
The man who had made him feel heavy and grim for days now. Sitting across the fire, listening silently to Kin’s rambling. The sa unreadable face he'd had when he killed the lord’s young daughter—blank and detached.
Even though Abel had been told that the fake’s sins justified the deaths of the lord’s family and servants, sadness still clung to him. Not just because of sympathy. Because of Karas. Because when he killed, he didn’t look angry. He looked empty. And it suffocated him.
****
“What past do you want to know?”
lmond, tired of waiting, asked again.
Abel blinked and turned his head.
“Like how the prince spent those twelve years.”
lmond frowned in worry, but Abel offered a faint smile.
“I’m just... afraid the prince might have grown too accustod to war.”
Though he said that, Abel actually wanted to see the past of soone else.
Karas.
Before, Karas had reminded him of the prince. But now, his concern had nothing to do with that. He was worried about him, regardless of resemblance. And that was a problem.
As they traveled together, he’d tried to bla the growing curiosity on proximity. But his reactions were too strong. He caught himself stealing glances. Like now, when he felt eyes on him, and quickly looked away.
But when he t Karas’s gray gaze, he flinched and lowered his head.
lmond said sothing—sothing vague about how the prince was doing well. But Abel barely registered the words. He could still feel Karas watching him.
Why did he keep worrying about the Commander-in-Chief, when worrying about the prince was already more than enough?
****
Abel raised his eyes only after asking himself that question.
“When we arrive at the palace, I will go to Marquis Yan’s house.”
lmond’s eyes widened, and he glanced toward Karas.
“Let’s think carefully about that. It’s better to decide after seeing the situation instead of rushing in blindly. Marquis Yan won’t necessarily help us just because we seek him out.”
“But if the prince enters the palace, he’ll have to face the King’s Heart right away. No... he’ll be poisoned before that.”
“Yeah. We need to be more cautious. His Majesty believes everything must be settled within a month after entering the palace. That’s proof he takes the danger seriously.”
“Within a month? Did the prince say that? But lmond, you made an antidote. With that, can’t he endure it even in the palace? Isn’t that why he’s been fine so far?”
lmond sighed softly.
“Yes. It’s been fine until now. No matter what anyone says, the battlefield was His Majesty’s territory. Even if the King’s Heart poisoned the food, it was only in small doses. I made it look like that was the full extent of the poisoning. The antidote I created could only handle that amount.”
Abel could tell, even without hearing lmond’s next words. Even without seeing his face, which had darkened.
“He’ll be caught the mont he enters the palace. And Truyde will increase the dosage of the black potion beyond the limits of my antidote. What worries ... is why His Majesty set a one-month deadline. I wonder if that’s the longest he can survive.”
Abel stared at lmond, montarily speechless. Then he whispered,
“So, the prince intends to fight... with his life on the line?”
lmond gave a short nod.
“Seems like it.”
“That’s insane.”
Abel’s voice, rising with agitation, dropped again as he moved closer to lmond.
“That—! That’s far too dangerous. Since we know Marquis Yan has a weakness, we should find it before entering the palace. Either way, His Majesty must not step into that place. Not until we have a way to stop the black potion.”
“I know that too. But it’s what he’s decided.”
“lmond, please... stop him. He doesn’t know anything yet. When you et him tomorrow, talk to him about the Marquis. Convince him!”
lmond grabbed Abel’s arm as his panic surged and whispered softly,
“There is no one who can persuade him.”
“......”
“He listens to no one.”
The two fell into silence. But the silence ant only one thing—they were thinking the sa thing. That even if Karas listened to no one... there might be one exception.
That one person was Abel.
But neither dared say it aloud.
Abel worried about the wounds he might leave behind again if Karas were to die. lmond, on the other hand, feared he was placing too heavy a burden on Abel. He already regretted what he’d asked of him, even now.
But in front of him still stood that sa Abel—the one who used to smile so brightly twelve years ago.
“What lmond said is right.”
After a while, Abel finally opened his mouth. lmond turned toward him, puzzled. Abel stared into the space ahead for a mont, thinking, then smiled suddenly, trying to lighten the mood.
That smile brought lmond back. To the boy who used to laugh even when he knew he was going to die. And he hadn’t changed.
“It’s not a good idea to go see the Marquis without a plan.”
“Yeah. That’s a terrible idea.”
“Yes. I’ll et the prince first.”
“Right, the prince... Wait, what?”
lmond stiffened and turned to Abel, his voice trembling.
“But... didn’t you say you wouldn’t reveal that you’re Abel to His Majesty?”
“I won’t. ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) I don’t plan to reveal it.”
Abel nodded firmly and leaned in, lowering his voice.
“Mr. lmond, do you know why I was born into the body of young master Lil, and not soone else?”
lmond blinked. Of course he didn’t. As he tried to hide his unease and shook his head, Abel clenched his fists and declared:
“It was so I could seduce the prince with this face. So I could persuade him... while keeping my identity hidden!”
lmond’s brow twitched.
It sounded absurd. But also strangely plausible.
Abel doubled down.
“If I just say ‘Aing~’ once, anyone would fall for it. And since the Emperor’s a man, naturally he’ll give in, right?”
[T/N: 'Aing~' — Abel implies that a bit of cuteness or aegyo will easily soften or manipulate the Emperor.]
“Besides, just by keeping around for my looks, he’ll get bored eventually. And if he gets angry and tries to punish ... well, my frail body won’t survive the scolding. I’ll probably collapse right away. Then he’ll feel bad and forget all about punishing .”
lmond’s eyes trembled.
It sounded like total nonsense.
But... he couldn’t deny the logic.
Abel’s sickly body was frustrating, yes—but it never made him angry. Just incredulous.
Unbelievable.
Is this guy a genius or sothing?
lmond sighed.
“Fine. We’ll go with your plan. Lure him in with your appearance, and once he likes you... persuade him.”
Abel grinned brightly.
“Yes. I’ll make him like .”
“...With your looks, yeah. He’ll probably embrace you with open arms...”
lmond’s voice trailed off. A dreadful realization struck him.
Abel still didn’t know.
Didn’t know that the prince was Karas.
And if he kept trying to win him over with his looks... the path ahead could only lead to one thing.
“...Mr. lmond? Is sothing wrong?”
“You—you don’t know who the prince is. More importantly... are you okay with that?”
“What do you an?”
Abel tilted his head innocently.
lmond swallowed. As he feared, the boy really didn’t know.
“Do you understand what it ans to push through with your looks?”
“Of course!”
Abel nodded confidently, as if the answer were obvious.
“It ans becoming close friends by pushing through with my appearance.”
“......”
“If that doesn’t work, we’ll just be friends.”
“...Hey. Shut up.”
lmond flopped down with a groan, regretting every second he’d spent on this conversation.
Abel blinked beside him, confused.
“Why?”
But lmond couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud—
That Abel would have to endure Karas’s fiery morning erections, which lmond swore felt like a damn wooden bat every ti they sailed.
Genius, my ass. He’s still an idiot.
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