“It must be Omen’s doing, an oracle from a god who doesn’t exist.”

“There is no way the prince would do such a thing…….”

“It’s just what he does, isn’t it? Sordid, dirty work.”

The two men moved from the study to the throne room.

It was Entry who stopped Denver, who wanted to go to the Great Hall immediately.

“You could be putting yourself in danger, Denver.”

“It doesn’t matter if I’m in danger.”

He could tell how agitated he was now.

An uncontrollable black energy flooded the room.

“There must be a way…. A way we can get the Grand Duchess out without endangering you, can’t we?”

Denver sighed deeply and buried himself on the couch.

Leaving Flotty in such a dangerous place and not being able to do anything about it.

“I think I’ll go see Flotty first.”

“Denver, you know you can’t go into the Great Hall right now, so I’ll speak to the Emperor and see if I can get a little…….”

“Your Majesty.”

“…….”

Even the Emperor can’t help us.

He’s just a pathetic human being playing into the hands of the Queen.

“I will go.”

“…… Denver.”

The brothers exchanged a wordless glance.

Entry knew there was no stopping him.

And that speaking to the Emperor would solve nothing.

He finally broke down in self-pity, pressing his forehead.

“It’s because I…, it’s because I didn’t get the Black Lion.”

“……Your Majesty, why do you say that?”

“Because I have the golden eyes, I should have inherited the black lion.”

“…….”

“I have no power, and yet I seek to wear the crown, and I cannot stop either Omen or the Queen.”

Denver let out a small sigh.

How could it be his fault that he had no power?

It was just a whim of the Black Lion.

How could a mere mortal deal with the antics of a god?

“Don’t say that. You must not be weak.”

Denver placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder.

How hard he must have tried to wear the crown, being born with golden eyes.

He couldn’t stand to see the Queen undo his efforts.

“I’m sorry, Denver.”

“……No, don’t speak to me like that.”

He grabbed Denver’s hand.

“Be careful. If Omen did this, it won’t be easy.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Devereaux scrambled to his feet as if he had a long way to go.

***

‘Damn it, what the hell is going on?’

I had been dragged down the stairs by the priests for a long time that day.

I don’t know how far down.

I found myself trapped in a white, grated room.

“H, hey, you’re leaving, now? What’s going to happen to me?”

The priests clamped their mouths shut and said nothing.

“This is crazy…….”

I don’t know what the hell this is.

It’s dark and dingy. It’s a prison.

I grabbed the grate and caught the priests trying to get out.

“What’s going to happen to me? Am I going to die?”

I asked desperately, but they were silent.

The priests looked at me as if I were the devil.

My shoulders slumped under their icy gaze.

“No, I mean, how can I destroy an empire…….”

You have to make some sense before I believe you.

I can’t believe they’re so set in their ways.

“This is ridiculous, really.”

Eventually, all the priests who ignored me left.

I’m the only one left in the white prison.

After that, only one priest comes in to bring me food at mealtime.

I was completely isolated here.

“Excuse me, how long do I have to stay here?”

Even today, the priest is silent.

I know I’m not in a situation to be polite to him, yet I’m here, and I’m incredibly polite.

I shuffle to my seat, loosening my hair from its ponytail.

I’d brought the bell, but it’s useless against this grate.

“Ah, what am I really supposed to do?”

I didn’t want to stay here and get killed.

‘Let’s think, think.’

Surely, there must be a way out of this.

But how?

There’s no clear evidence that Omen did this, and besides, this is the Great Hall.

“Ha…….”

I let out a deep sigh of frustration.

I leaned back against the wall, bent my knees, and buried my face in them.

I can’t think of a good idea.

All I can think about is the tingling in my dagger-cut fingers.

“Ha….”

I let out another short sigh, and with a click, someone opened the door and stepped into the white prison.

“Wow, it’s pretty in here.”

It was none other than the prince, Omen.

He looked around as if he’d discovered something new.

What’s so relaxing?

Omen kept smiling.

“Oh, I hope you don’t mind me saying this when you are locked up.”

With that, he chuckled to himself.

“Ha!”

Crazy, but crazy as hell.

Now he’s going to try to pull a fast one on me?

Omen appears in front of me, all too confidently, and stands in front of me.

He leisurely circled once, then sat down on one knee in front of where I was trapped.

“I have many questions for the Grand Duchess, may I ask?”

His red eyes glowed dangerously.

“Who are you?”

His eerie voice echoed through the prison.

The smile vanished from Omen’s face.

It was as if his eyes were glowing red.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about, my lord, and besides, how did you get in here?”

“Ah, did Your Excellency have many questions for me, too?”

He relaxed again, as he always did, and smiled. His outstretched tongue flicked across his lips once.

“You have no idea how much I’ve been wondering about you, Grand Duchess, ever since my brother took you in, the Princess of Bevenia.”

“…….”

“Because my brother is not one to keep worthless humans around.”

Omen ran his finger over his moistened lips once more.

“So I was wondering, just how useful a person you are to my brother.”

“Love doesn’t care how useful a person is.”

“Love?”

Omen twitched the corners of his mouth as if he’d heard a funny answer.

“Love?”

“Then what is it if a couple isn’t in love? What’s the answer you want to hear, my lord?”

An invisible war of words ensued.

Omen being Omen, me being me.

We were both probing each other.

“We need to be a little more honest.”

There was a burst of light from him that seemed to fill the prison’s entire interior.

“Agh!”

My body, sitting with my back against the wall, was pulled forward in an instant.

Within reach of Omen’s outstretched hand.

Only the bar stood between us.

“That’s strange. You could have stopped that.”

Crazy, real crazy.

Omen reached out and grabbed my chin.

‘Get your shit together. You use your powers in front of Omen, and you’re done.’

I barely suppressed the urge to jump at his unpleasant snake energy.

The energy from Omen’s hand sparked and crawled over my skin.

“Let go. I am the Grand Duchess.”

“Even my great brother won’t be able to defeat the oracle, Grand Duchess.”

Omen smiled smugly.

“Public opinion is already wavering. A part of the imperial family is going to destroy the empire? That’s quite a statement.”

“…… That oracle, is it true?”

Omen snorted curiously, his eyes narrowing.

“I’ve heard it said that there has never been an oracle sent down from the god, Solar.”

“That’s true. It would be the first and last.”

“That’s fake, isn’t it?”

I can feel the hand holding my chin tighten.

Omen’s mouth curled up into a small smile as if he knew it.

“I knew you’d be an interesting person.”

“…….”

“Especially when you made my gift so terrible.”

I felt a shiver run down my spine.

Omen rambled on like a madman.

“I’d like to keep you alive because you’re interesting.”

“…….”

“But you seem to be in my way.”

With those words, Omen’s hand fell away from my face.

The unpleasantness that lingered on my skin quickly dissipated.

“I hope this is the end of it.”

“…….”

“As long as the Grand Duchess lives.”

Omen stood up, straightening his knees, a smug look on his face.

He looked down at me, his face as arrogant as ever.

“When you say it like that, I feel motivated to live.”

“Ha, hahaha!”

Yeah, that’s how you laugh now.

I was about to lose motivation because I couldn’t think of a way out.

That’s where intuition comes in.

Omen bends down to his waist and laughs heartily.

“I look forward to you getting out of here, then.”

With those words, Omen walked away from the prison.

I grit my teeth.

I’m going to get out of here for that bastard’s sake.