Chapter 131
I stood before the full-length mirror, staring at my reflection, and fell into brief contemplation.
‘Is this really okay? Not attending the social functions.’
Even Lycian—and even Her Majesty the Empress—had told me there was no need….
But it still nagged at me. The fact that in the Empire’s social circles… I didn’t know a single person…!
‘Still, I did memorize all the names and faces of the invited guests.’
Behind me, the maids adjusted my hair, smoothing it into neater lines.
Dressed in the pale pink gown newly tailored for today, I looked radiant.
‘Hmm…. Even I have to admit, I look kind of pretty today….’
I was secretly praising myself, forcing down the twitch at the corner of my lips, when I heard someone call my name.
“Muriel, are you ready?”
“Yeah, you’re—”
I turned to answer—then froze at the sight of Lycian stepping out from behind the partition he had just moved aside.
‘H-Huh… what is this?’
Lycian had always been handsome.
But now, unlike his usual light attire, he was properly dressed for the occasion….
‘Th-That’s not even human.’
It was as if a god of beauty had descended to earth.
I forgot all decorum and stared at him, mouth hanging open in awe.
This wasn’t a joke—his looks genuinely deserved to be designated a national treasure.
“Lycian…. Do you really need to be this handsome? It’s getting kind of terrifying at this point….”
“What are you even saying?”
Lycian laughed as though my words were absurd, but he looked incredibly pleased.
Probably because today was our engagement ceremony.
‘At this rate, he’s going to be floating on air at the wedding.’
I let out a soft snort of laughter and asked,
“You’re that happy?”
“Of course I am. Aren’t you?”
“I….”
I had a bad habit.
Whenever I felt embarrassed, I couldn’t say what was truly in my heart.
And right now, I was on the verge of doing exactly that. But this time, I told myself I had to answer properly.
If I snapped at him for no reason… Lycian might get hurt, you know?
It’s not like he doesn’t have feelings.
So this time—just this once—I broke into a bright smile and answered honestly.
“I’m really happy too!”
“…!”
The moment the words left my mouth, Lycian’s eyes widened.
His lashes trembled. His lips parted slightly.
Then he clenched his fist and covered his mouth with it, avoiding my gaze.
“?”
What kind of reaction is that?
As I stared at him, puzzled, a deep flush spread from the nape of his neck all the way up his face.
Oh…?
Is he… embarrassed?
“…This is driving me crazy. The ceremony’s in ten minutes.”
His voice came out rough and strained as he muttered under his breath.
Watching him, I felt my own face heat up as well.
Embarrassed, my ass! Of course not!
‘He’s thinking something dirty again! This pervert!’
“I-I don’t know what you’re thinking, but just hold it in! There’s only nine minutes left…!”
“You really don’t know? What I’m thinking?”
I averted my eyes and changed the subject.
“No idea at all. Let’s just go already! We can’t have the main couple running late!”
Avoiding Lycian, whose eyes were practically blazing, I hurried toward the door.
As I grasped the handle and glanced back, his shadow had already fallen over my head—he’d crossed the distance in a few long strides.
“Muriel…. We can’t push the engagement back by an hour, can we?”
“Nope. We can’t.”
I grabbed his hand firmly and flung the door open.
The engagement ceremony was held in Celeste Hall, considered the most beautiful structure in the Imperial Palace.
More than ten thousand fresh flowers had been used to decorate the vast banquet hall, and even the ceiling mural had been newly painted just for today.
“Congratulations, Your Highness the Second Prince!”
“Congratulations!”
“Purifier, congratulations!”
“You two look wonderful together!”
Cheers and well-wishes poured in from every direction.
The ceremony itself was brief, as only a simple procedure was required—but engagements of the Grastea Imperial Family included one special ritual.
“It is an honor to meet you, Purifier. I am Lapisril, First Mage Tower Master.”
The one presiding over it—was this man, the Archmage Lapisril.
He was strikingly handsome, with an ageless face that made it impossible to guess his years.
Dark skin, indigo hair flowing all the way down to his waist, and silver eyes.
In contrast, the Second Mage Tower Master, Ganesha, stood beside him with her vivid red hair.
Ganesha smiled at me sweetly.
“And this is… the Second Mage Tower Master, Ganesha. I hear you’ve already met.”
“That’s right. It’s good to see you again, Ganesha.”
“Hehe. Have you been well, Purifier? The tomato you gave me has been carefully preserved with preservation magic and is now part of my collection.”
No, I gave it to you to eat….
“Ohhh…. Such a beautifully crimson tomato! And with the Purifier’s sacred power infused within it, it’s easily the most precious item in my collection!”
I gave up trying to understand. Sure. Let’s just go with that. Hahaha….
“Ahem! Ganesha has rather… unique hobbies, so I ask for your understanding. In any case, we’ll now use this magic tool I developed to measure the bond between His Highness the Second Prince and the Purifier.”
Clearing his throat, Lapisril explained in a crisp tone.
“The ‘bond value’ refers to the cumulative measure of a connection carried over from past lives. Through this magic tool, we can estimate just how deep your connection runs.”
The magic tool Lapisril set down on the white table took the form of a large crystal goblet.
He tapped the rim lightly, channeling mana into it as he continued,
“Shall we begin? Please place your hands against the sides of the goblet.”
Following his instructions, I placed my hand against it—and a rush of heat surged up along my skin.
‘Whoa, what is this?’
It looked like nothing more than an oversized glass, but… there was something ominous about it.
Lapisril then began casting a complex spell. I couldn’t follow the details, but it seemed to be one of the soul spells he had invented.
Brilliant blue mana streamed from his hands, extending like a long ribbon that wrapped around Lycian and me.
It formed the shape of ‘∞’. In a paper of Lapisril’s I had skimmed once, he had written that ‘∞’ was the symbol that best represented the soul.
The soul, he said, was eternal within its endless cycle.
“It’s nearly complete….”
Soon, a pink liquid began to slowly fill the large crystal goblet.
The volume and density of that liquid seemed to represent the “bond value” Lapisril had mentioned.
‘It’s amazing that magic can measure something like this.’
As I stared intently, the steadily rising liquid began to darken.
‘Huh…?’
From a vivid scarlet red, to a deep wine-like crimson… and then it took on a dark, blood-soaked hue.
“…This can’t be. I’ve never seen a color like this before.”
W-What is this?
The liquid turned pitch-black—like ink—and began to overflow from the goblet.
Startled, I pulled my hand away and stepped back.
Lycian did the same, though unlike me, he looked calm.
The inky liquid, which had been gushing upward like a fountain, trickled down beneath the table—then abruptly stopped.
A murmur spread throughout the banquet hall.
Lapisril looked utterly shocked, and Ganesha stood with her eyes wide, a hand covering her mouth.
In the growing commotion, Lapisril hesitated before speaking.
“This is truly… a terrifying result. Your bond is, ah, beyond anything I imagined.”
“…….”
That sounded loaded with meaning.
‘The system said the black heart meant madness, obsession, longing….’
So this is the same…?!
“Ahem! With a bond so deep and dense, the two of you will never part—not in the next life, nor the one after that. Congratulations!”
Is that something to congratulate?
Isn’t that basically saying I’ll be obsessively pursued for eternity?
When Ganesha took the lead in clapping, the guests followed suit, offering awkward exclamations of admiration.
“W-Wow~”
“How grand~ ha, haha….”
Everyone looked visibly flustered. Some even glanced at Lycian as if slightly afraid of him….
‘I’m scared too….’
When I cautiously glanced beside me, Lycian smiled with his eyes curved sweetly.
There wasn’t a trace of dark intent visible—just a bright, refreshing smile.
He wrapped a firm arm around my waist.
As though he intended to make sure I could never escape him.
From a distance, Lycian watched Muriel chatting with the Empress and the other noblewomen.
If it were up to him, he wouldn’t have left Muriel’s side for even a second.
But the Empress had dismissed him, saying, “Men don’t insert themselves into women’s intimate conversations.”
So he had no choice.
For now, he would simply content himself with leisurely admiring Muriel, who looked especially adorable today.
As he stood there alone, many people cast curious glances his way….
Yet not a single one dared approach him recklessly.
Even his father, the Emperor, and his older brother, the Crown Prince, were subtly avoiding him.
They cherished Lycian dearly, but there was something about him—something extraordinary—that made them slightly wary.
And yet.
The troublesome friend who had grown up with him like a brother… Dante approached without much hesitation.
Dante had seen through the fact that the recent “drunken confession” incident had been Lycian’s scheme, so there was still a bit of resentment lingering….
“Congratulations, Your Highness the Second Prince.”
Still, he tossed out the congratulatory words.
Then, in a more serious tone—
“Let’s step somewhere private. Nigel brought back some important information.”
Lycian responded with a slight nod.
The two of them moved out onto an empty balcony and continued their conversation.
“The Philome Empire’s movements aren’t normal.”
At that, Lycian’s eyebrow lifted slightly.
Dante went on.
“It looks like the Roblet Royal Family is involved. No—more than that, it’s certain. It seems the Tierney Ducal House is cooperating as well.”
“…Are they planning a war?”
“I don’t know. Even if they draw in the Philome Empire’s massive army, it wouldn’t be easy to wage a full-scale war against Grastea…. Do they have something up their sleeve?”
Dante folded his arms and gazed out over the garden, his expression troubled.
The world often produced events that defied all common sense.
There were countless fools—and when such people seized power, they committed unimaginable madness.
Of course, no matter what came, Lycian remained unshaken.
“If the Tierneys are involved, then this might actually be an opportunity for me.”
“…An opportunity for what?”
“A chance to tear that trash of a house to pieces.”
Lycian’s golden eyes gleamed with a chilling light as he smiled.