Chapter 1. Kill the Empress
***
Not only was the schedule delayed due to Perharz’s appearance, but also because they met Hans Helio.
They communicated with Orkins in advance, but it was well past the expected time.
Tamon reorganized his luggage and hurried off.
The rest of the work after this was up to Tamon’s men.
They always did their jobs well, so there wasn’t much to worry about.
Gallop. Gallop.
Asha and Tamon ran vigorously.
It seemed that if they quickened their pace, they would be able to arrive before the sun set.
They ran for about two hours without saying a word and stopped for a while to quench their thirst.
Tamon, who was glancing at Asha as she watered the horses, asked her to check.
“Are you sure it’s okay to give that dagger to that person like that?”
He was talking about that dagger that he took from the merchant of the red octopus.
“Oh, that dagger….It was fascinating.”
She, who was laughing, recalled what happened a while ago.
Asha had asked why Hans was there, and he told her that he was there under orders from the Emperor.
Hans didn’t know why Gillotti was given such an order, but he ordered him to bring the dagger anyway. If Hans went back without the dagger, the Emperor might send him back.
Or he could use this as an excuse to give Hans another cruel order.
“I don’t mind. Lady Asha can have it. If you’re going to give the dagger to the emperor, I’d rather I get in trouble.” (Hans)
Hans wanted Asha to keep the dagger. But Asha had a different idea.
“I’m going to Tanatos anyway, and I want it there when I get there. For that reason, it would be better not to leave the eyes of the emperor.”
If she entered the Imperial Palace, she knew where Gillotti would hide the dagger. If he hid it anywhere, she was confident she could get Gillotti to bring it to her. Provoking Gillotti was one of the things she was best at.
“By the way, I don’t know if this is really the Sword of Decipherment. How does it decipher poisons?”
It was not a symbol of recovery or healing, but a tool for killing. However, Hans wondered how this dagger could “decipher” poisons. If the red octopus pirate had given the wrong object, Hans’ position could have been rather embarrassing.
“Then let me prove it to you…”
Tamon, who had been waiting, came with a box made from the skin of a silver deer. Asha couldn’t help but stare with downcast eyes at the white fur that wrapped the box.
But as soon as the box was opened, the worry that weighed on her heart burst out.
“Is this ……?”
“Yes. It’s Perharz’s horn.”
Hans was startled out of his seat by Tamon’s words.
“Ha, you mean that Perharz has appeared? I’ve never heard such a report….”
“Of course you didn’t hear about it. Because I took care of it a few days ago before anyone else knew about it.”
“….!”
Hans seemed more shocked to hear that a single person handled it alone without any commotion than Perharz’s appearance.
Why wouldn’t he be surprised? Asha understood Hans’ reaction.
Perhaps if it hadn’t been Tamon who had said those words, he might have thought it was just some bluffs from some crazy people in the city.
Tamon calmly lifted Perharz’s horn, which was placed in the box.
Even though it was a dead Perharz’s horn, Tamon’s hands slowly began to turn black, even though he was only holding the poisonous crystal.
“Tamon..!”
Asha grabbed Tamon’s arm in surprise. Tamon only smiled at her when she told him to let it go quickly.
“You have a tool to decipher it.”
“You don’t have to use Perharz’s poison!”
“Since we have the most powerful poison, shouldn’t we test it out?”
Asha bit her lip at Tamon’s stubborn words and glared at him.
Tamon, who had tried to endure the horrible look in her eyes a little longer, had no choice but to let go of the horn.
“…You have a much scarier look in your eyes than Perharz.”
The horn fell from Tamon’s hand and Asha could finally feel relief.
But after only a minute or two of holding it, Tamon’s hand had taken on a sinister black color.
What’s more, she could see that black poison slowly creeping up his wrist.
“It hurts quite a bit. There’s a slight burning pain.”
Tamon casually described his symptoms about Perharz’s venom.
Asha pulled out the dagger, grinding her teeth as if she was about to kill Tamon. The use of it was to cut his skin.
It was not yet clear, but in order for the sword to have an ‘antidote’ effect, it had to cut through the wound.
Finishing with her thoughts, Asha cut the skin of Tamon’s blackened hand without hesitation.
She didn’t know how far she should give strength, and the wound was quite deep.
Tamon frowned in one eye as if that was quite painful, but that was all.
He was a strong man, not a single moan, despite the knife cut deep on his hand.
The amazing thing happened next.
“….!”
A dim light spread from where the dagger had cut, purifying the black poison.
What was even more amazing was that where the poison had disappeared, the wound that was made by the dagger was also gone.
The white light that was spreading gradually finally spread to the entire palm of his hand.
“The poison of Perharz, said to be the most poisonous in the world, was gone in less than 10 seconds. …… This makes it clear that this dagger is a holy relic.”
After confirming the truth about the dagger, Tamon handed the dagger to Hans.
Hans then decided to take the dagger with him, and as soon as Tamon walked out of the room, his foot was stepped on by Asha. Very hard.
“I’ve never seen anyone as reckless as you in my life.”
Asha got back on her horse and rebuked him.
“You’re stuck with me because I’m reckless.”
Tamon chuckled and kissed the back of her hand as she mounted her horse.
“Instead, why don’t you give me a kiss to make sure I’ve healed properly?”
There was no mischievousness in the way he looked up at her.
The infinitely serious look in his eyes tickled her heart.
Tamon was right.
If he hadn’t been so reckless, he wouldn’t have stolen the dying empress in secret.
Thus, he would not have encouraged her to live again and seek revenge.
His recklessness had shaken her and finally overturned her.
It was all because of this man’s recklessness that Roselyn was able to become Aranrosia Asha.
Looking down at him with her expression habitually muffled, Asha lifted his chin just before Tamon retreated.
“…”
It was a flash.
It was a miraculous moment that passed in a flash, as if something that shouldn’t have happened had happened.
Pushing away Tamon, who was mesmerized, Asha kicked the horse on the side with her foot.
The sound was silent and Asha departed ahead of him without turning around.
Tamon, who was briefly mesmerized, hurriedly chased her after touching his lips as if he couldn’t believe what just happened.
(*Roselyn kissed Tamon!)
***
“Asha!”
Despite their hurried run, Tamon and Roselyn finally arrived at Orkins after dark.
Everyone was waiting for the two without sleeping, perhaps because they had been informed in advance that they would only arrive tonight.
The person who jumped out before the sound of horses’ hooves could be heard was Arsene and Hannah.
“Asha!”
Arsene and Hannah, who had been standing on the ground, jumped towards Asha, who was dismounting from her horse.
“I’m sorry. Something unexpected happened.”
“We’re fine! We were just resting here! Are you injured anywhere? What happened?”
Arsene stomped his feet to see if Asha was hurt.
Asha smiled graciously and left the children to look at her condition for a while.
The Knights of Platanus, who had been waiting in the cabin, also rushed out.
As Tamon handed them their horses and luggage, the knights moved busily.
Tamon said he had something to discuss with the Knights for a while and went into the cabin first.
Asha entered the resting place with Hannah and Arsene.
“I’m glad you’re not injured. Asha.”
Hannah grabbed Asha by the scruff of her dress, her eyes shining.
She seemed to be very happy.
“It’s a relief that you didn’t get hurt.”
“It’s late today, so we’re going to stay here for the night. We’ll leave early tomorrow morning.”
“Still, I think we’ll be up all night if we leave now. It’s late and you couldn’t sleep because you were waiting for us.”
“We slept like crazy for two days! You two need more rest than we do.”
Arsene said as he took Asha’s things and put them away himself.
Hannah took the role of showing Asha to the room.
There was one large villa with two cabins attached to it, as if it had been converted from a hunter’s hut.
Hannah led Asha to the best room of them all.
“I’ll ask for some hot water. You can rest here!”
Seeing the twinkle in her eyes and the swiftness of her actions, Asha felt touched.
With gratitude, Asha took off the cumbersome outerwear.
Hannah, who was going outside, held the doorknob and suddenly looked back at Asha.
“Why?” (Asha)
Hannah, who was shaking her head as if it was nothing, smiled and said.
“Asha, there will be more precious things in the future.”
“…What?”
“More, much more than now.”
After saying that, Hannah was about to close the door.
“Hannah?”
Asha hurried to call Hannah.
Between inside and outside, Hannah standing in the doorway looked back at Asha.
Hannah’s eyes turned golden.
Even after calling her, Asha hesitated.
‘Can I ask you what it is?’
As if she had read Asha’s mind, Hannah smiled and shook her head.
“No, Asha.”
A still young voice whispered.
“Not yet.”
Hannah closed the door and left the room, as if he had nothing more to say.
Asha could only look with wonder at the door where Hannah had disappeared.