Rinael led Rashiel to the palace’s underground level.
In the quiet below, only their footsteps echoed coldly through the halls.
Amid the awkward silence, it was Rinael who spoke first, leading the way.
“Please allow me to apologize on Sir Luke’s behalf. He’s not someone who lacks manners, but… I suppose, because I’ve failed to uphold my role as sovereign, he overstepped in worry. It’s my fault.”
It seemed “Luke” was the name of the deputy knight commander.
Rashiel silently studied Rinael’s back.
Born a princess, raised in nobility, her posture reflected the grace and pride of someone of high status.
But she had no strength. Her body was still too frail to bear the weight of a nation.
“May I offer a word of counsel to Your Highness?”
“Eh? Y-yes.”
Startled, Rinael stopped and turned to him.
“Though the deputy commander’s actions were quite displeasing from my perspective, thinking of the monarch before all else is, in itself, the behavior of a loyal subject.”
“Ah…”
“If you dismiss that loyalty—even with kind words—you may belittle him and make him feel wronged.”
Rinael’s eyes widened.
She hadn’t realized until now that her actions might have diminished the loyalty of her knight.
Rashiel continued in a detached voice.
“From now on, no matter who it is, do not bow for something that isn’t your fault. You are the future ruler of this empire, and your words and actions will become the dignity of the realm.”
It was advice she had never received—from neither her late father nor her brother Cedric, the crown prince before her.
Rinael understood: Rashiel, who clearly disliked the empire and its throne, was offering this advice to keep himself as far away from royal affairs as possible.
Even so, his words gave her strength.
With a soft smile, she responded,
“I still have much to learn… but I’ll do my best. I want to become a worthy sovereign.”
Rashiel didn’t reply. He simply looked at her—but Rinael found herself more at ease in his silence than before.
At the end of the long underground corridor, they arrived at a massive stone door.
In front of it stood a portal.
Rinael ran her fingers through her hair, plucked out a few strands, and handed them to Rashiel.
“This portal only reacts to my mana. Also, it can only transfer one person at a time.”
Which meant this was as far as she could guide him.
“I can open the portal for you, but the forbidden text is bound to the palace. You won’t be able to take it out. You must read it inside.”
“If I try to take it out, will the building explode?”
“Yes. And even if magic is detected inside, the building will collapse.”
Rashiel accepted her hair.
Given the forbidden text held knowledge that could throw the world into chaos, he had expected such strict security measures.
“Thank you for guiding me. Since Your Highness has shown trust to the Tower, we shall honor the Empire as a true ally in return.”
As Rashiel stepped onto the portal, Rinael looked at him and asked,
“But… what’s in there is only half of the full text. Will that be enough?”
“It’s fine. I’ve already memorized the other half.”
Her eyes widened.
He memorized half… of a forbidden text… written in Ancient Tongue?
Just memorizing that much content was astonishing—but doing so in a language so few could even read?
Rinael finally understood how Rashiel had become such an unparalleled Archmage.
Still, a new curiosity rose within her.
“…May I ask what you plan to use the forbidden text for?”
Realizing too late that the question might sound accusatory, she quickly added,
“I-I know… the Tower Master has done more than anyone for this world. I don’t mean to doubt you. It’s just personal curiosity. If it’s a sensitive matter, you don’t need to—”
“I plan to use it for the woman I love.”
At the words that felt so out of place coming from Rashiel’s lips, Rinael blinked.
After finishing his answer, Rashiel dropped one of her hairs onto the portal.
A moment later, a pillar of blue light surged up and swallowed him whole.
As she stared at the now-empty portal, Rinael found herself wondering—
What kind of person was the woman this cold man could so easily say he loved?
****
At that very moment, Elsez and Ruel were en route by carriage to the square, where the Hero Appointment Ceremony would soon take place.
Ruel slightly lifted the curtain covering the window to peek outside.
The square was packed with people. The whole city radiated a festive atmosphere.
She lowered the curtain and turned to Elsez, who sat across from her, and opened the conversation.
“You must be nervous, Miss Elsez. It’s your first time at such a public event, after all.”
“You’re the one who should be nervous.”
As always when they were alone, Elsez’s reply carried unmistakable hostility.
“Doesn’t it make your heart pound? Faking your identity in front of this many people?”
“…”
“Well, I suppose someone bold enough to steal another person’s body wouldn’t flinch at something like this.”
At her snide remark, Ruel’s expression immediately turned cold, as if her polite mask had never been there.
Elsez frowned as she looked at her.
…Creepy.
The way she wore Elsez’s face, constantly shifting expressions and pretending to be her—it was disgusting.
The gentle “hero” mask now dropped, Ruel spoke in her true voice.
“You can call me a fake all you want, but who do you think people will believe?”
Watching her drop the formal speech she’d insisted on using in public, Elsez gave her a crooked smile.
“No matter how hard you try to tear me down, I’m Ruel. And you’re the Demon.”
“…”
“You’re the absolute evil of this world, the enemy of all.”
At that, Ruel’s expression twisted.
“And what, you’re good?”
“That’s right. I’m a hero. The one who will defeat the Demon and save the world.”
“Even after you killed innocent people to revive the Demon?”
“…”
“Even after falsely branding someone with no malice as the Demon and making her the enemy of all?”
Ruel’s face contorted at Elsez’s brutal words.
“That was all for the greater good of this world—”
“‘Greater good.’ That’s what villains always say to justify their crimes.”
Elsez’s mocking tone and cold, deadly gaze pierced into Ruel.
Pressed by her force, Ruel bit her lip.
Just then, the carriage stopped, followed by a knock and a knight’s voice.
“Ladies, we’re ready to escort you out.”
The two stepped out of the carriage.
Beyond the ring of knights surrounding the platform, countless people had gathered to witness the birth of a new hero.
Ruel smiled in satisfaction at the sight of the crowd.
Lots of witnesses. Perfect for announcing the return of the Demon.
The ceremony was similar to a knighting. When called, the honoree would step onto the platform, make their hero’s vow, and receive the blessing and title from Dike.
People’s eyes would be on Elsez the moment she ascended.
But today won’t mark the birth of a hero—it’ll be the return of the Demon.
She had stationed sacrificial offerings and black mages nearby, ready to open a dimensional rift.
Now that the Demon’s power had partially recovered, the moment another rift opened, it would be impossible to keep that power hidden.
Then everyone would see the truth about Elsez’s power.
Even the other heroes present—Cassian, Tezette, and Astaire.
She looked forward to seeing how those three would react upon discovering Elsez was the Demon.
…Wait, where is Astaire?
Ruel looked around in search of him.
At that moment, Dike finished her speech and called Elsez to the stage.
Ruel watched as Elsez stepped up.
A Demon appearing at a hero’s appointment ceremony. Ironic.
Dike lowered her sword to Elsez’s shoulder as she finished the vow.
“To the one who has chosen a difficult path—I bestow upon you unyielding courage and unwavering strength.”
When Dike lifted the sword, Elsez rose from her knees.
Now, it was time to turn toward the crowd and greet them as a hero.
All eyes were on her.
This was the perfect moment for the Demon’s power to be revealed.
And yet…
Why isn’t the dimensional rift opening?
As Elsez turned toward the square, a murmur rose from the crowd.
“Huh?”
Expecting to see a rift open, Ruel also looked toward the square—
But what she saw made her freeze.
“What… is this?”
From every inch of the square beneath the crowd’s feet, radiant light began to shine.
And as the light spread, Ruel’s pupils shook violently.
This is…
Holy power.
A large-scale healing spell.
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