Chapter 103: The Chariot [I]
[Note: The next few Chapters are important flashback Chapters that reveal key events from the past timeline. Please read them carefully.]
***
[The Spirit King Is Impressed By Your Will]
[Blessing of the Spirit King Received]
As darkness claimed my vision, several status windows appeared before me and among them, at last, was something strange.
[Eye of Usurper Is Activated]
[Showing you a fragment of hidden history]
Before I could even react, my consciousness was pulled into an entirely different space.
***
"Duchess... Duchess, Lord Zenith has returned from beyond the Crimson Mist."
An ordinary looking knight with pitch black hair hurried into the throne room of the Dukedom of Ophidia, a fief bestowed upon Seles for being the beloved sister of the current Emperor.
Although the title held almost no real power, she was still a Duchess.
Her cold violet eyes rested on the knight with barely any interest but the slight change in her breathing was enough for anyone paying close attention to know that she was...
Excited.
"Where is he?"
She kept her voice cold, refusing to let any of her emotions slip through.
"According to the preparations, since all the allegations against him have been cleared, he is being taken into the custody of the Awakened Association. They wish to ask him what lies beyond the Crimson Mist, since he and his party appear to be the only ones who returned without losing their sanity."
The knight continued.
"The Association is also interested in his relationship with the Catastrophic Beast Nyxara, particularly how she sacrificed herself to help him escape seven years ago when the entire Three Continents were searching for him."
"Is he... well?" Seles tried to keep her tone indifferent but the concern slipped through despite her efforts. "He doesn’t have any injuries, right?"
"He appears to be completely fine, Your Highness."
The knight hesitated before continuing.
"But... he seems to have brought several foreign individuals with him. They appear to be at the peak of the Transcendent Rank despite being roughly the same age as him and he himself... also seemed to have changed significantly according to the reports."
"The officials couldn’t measure his strength."
"That is also one of the reasons the Awakened Association is attempting to apologize to him rather than pursue the crimes they once accused him of."
Finally hearing everything, Seles let out a sigh of relief that she hadn’t even realized she had been holding for years.
She had always blamed herself for what happened all those years ago. For how Zenith’s brother had framed him for something he had never committed.
And, more than that, she carried the guilt of not trusting her own husband when he had needed her most.
But he was back, back to where he belonged and back to where she was. She no longer cared about strength or about politics and all she wanted was to be with him.
"Make preparations. Ask Eliz to send a letter to the Emperor and pressure the Association into bringing my husband back as soon as possible."
She paused before adding,
"And inform Hope about his return. I am sure she will be glad to hear the news as well."
Her expression softened.
"Keep me informed of any further developments."
"You are dismissed."
The knight bowed once more before leaving the throne room and as Seles watched him leave, her steps somehow felt lighter. For the first time in years, a genuine smile appeared on her face as she carried herself to her room.
***
A day passed like that.
But instead of Zenith returning from the Awakened Association, even more disastrous news arrived.
Seles returned to her throne room to find the same black-haired knight who had brought her the happy news yesterday waiting for her.
This time, however, he looked hesitant.
"What happened?" Her expression tightened. "Explain everything in detail."
The knight swallowed before speaking.
"According to the reports, my lord Zenith was responsible for the slaughter of the entire Ruinbringer family within a few hours of being released."
Seles’s expression froze.
"He even killed Prince Ruvian and Lady Amyra, who were present for the family celebration."
The knight continued, his voice becoming heavier with every word.
"The entire Awakened Association is in chaos. The Emperor himself is concerned that this may have something to do with the Crimson Mist... or perhaps the hatred my lord has always carried."
"The Eternal Radiance and the previous Holy Emperor have decided to personally head to the Ruinbringer estate. They are bringing countless top-tier experts gathered by the Awakened Association to eliminate him and the monstrous allies he brought with him."
Seles’s heart thundered within her chest.
"Where is my brother?"
She asked immediately.
"The Holy Emperor is currently in the Imperial Capital, preparing for the worst. He intends to join the battle at the Ruinbringer estate soon."
Seles gritted her teeth.
Her mind raced through countless possibilities but only one thought remained clear.
"Prepare the Teleportation Gate to the Imperial Capital immediately."
***
Within a few minutes, she found herself within the cold walls of the familiar palace where she had grown up.
She immediately barged into the throne room, ignoring the guards who tried to stop her outside.
A meeting was already underway.
Most of the Empire’s high nobles had gathered, whispering among themselves like snakes, just as they always did.
"What are you planning to do with my husband, Brother?!"
She barely cared about her appearance or the countless eyes turning towards her.
Her brother, the current Emperor of the Empire and the strongest human across the Three Continents, looked at her with a bitter and almost pained expression.
"We don’t have a choice, Seles."
His voice was softer than the stern expression he wore.
"He crossed the line this time by slaughtering a long-standing high-noble family, his own family. Not to mention he also killed a member of the Royal family."
"Didn’t you say the same thing the last time he was accused of a crime he never committed?" Her voice trembled. "How could you make the same mistake again?"
She clenched her fists as tears began forming around the corners of her eyes.
"How could you decide to eliminate him without even giving him a chance to explain himself?"