“When Sir Bennet and Count Gray’s soldiers found preacher John, he seemed to be on the verge of death. His once-stout body had vanished; they said his frame had shrunk to the size of a young child. His appearance was far from human, even if you looked closely.”
“Wait, when John revealed his true form in front of me, he was huge. His head almost touched the ceiling.”
Joel asked, recalling the horrifying sight he had seen.
If John had been as small as a child, he wouldn’t have been so terrified.
The Crown Prince accepted Joel’s counterpoint readily.
“Is that so? That makes sense. Because they said that in the brief moment Sir Bennet and the soldiers were discussing how to handle him, John’s child-sized body shrunk again to the size of a newborn baby.”
According to the Crown Prince’s explanation, John used his remaining strength to draw an inverted pentagram on the floor with his finger.
Suddenly, the ground split open, revealing a landscape of hell with boiling lava.
It was the moment that proved John’s identity as a demon beyond any doubt.
Taking advantage of the people’s shock, John quickly threw himself into the pit, and by the time a soldier rushed over, the ground had closed up without a trace.
Priests and monks sent from Count Gray’s estate put their heads together and concluded that if John’s true identity was a demon, he likely hadn’t been completely extinguished.
If so, couldn’t John jump back out at any time to try and take their souls?
Joel felt uneasy, but he was able to relax a little after hearing the next part of the Prince’s story.
“However, there is one piece of good news. A member of the 4th Knight Order guarding Sir Bennet’s office witnessed a stack of contracts suddenly burst into flames and vanish. We suspect that happened around the same time you drove the knife into the demon’s back. So, you no longer need to worry about the safety of Sir Bennet or the people of the estate.”
“If the contracts burned… does that mean the deals made with that bastard John are completely void?”
“Probably. We need to investigate more, but the priests believe that even if John didn’t die, he must be in a state near death. They say he won’t be able to use his power on the surface for at least several hundred years.”
“I see…”
Joel nodded.
He guessed that the exact moment the contracts burned was actually right before he stabbed John—the moment John was struck by something and collapsed.
‘Did he pay the price for acting so recklessly and turning back time based only on his own power?’
He had a feeling that was the case.
Joel wanted to tell the Crown Prince his theory and discuss it, but he hesitated to speak because doing so would require telling the Prince that he had sold his soul in a past life to turn back time.
Joel knew that the current Crown Prince had no memory of that lost past.
If he told him the truth, the Prince would surely find it absurd that he almost lost his soul for the sake of a mere Omega.
The Prince might even feel unpleasant, thinking he almost died because of a pathetic Omega.
Fearing he might earn the Prince’s resentment, Joel concluded he would not tell him about the time reversal.
Though details would only be known after the investigation, it seemed safe to assume everyone was out of danger for now.
Relieved, Joel was about to sink back into the bed when a thought crossed his mind.
“…Wait a minute. Then what happened to that dagger, the holy relic?”
“It fell into hell along with John.”
‘Gasp.’
Joel felt his sleepiness vanish for a second time.
Did that mean the precious holy relic passed down from the First Emperor was lost forever?
The Crown Prince watched Joel with an amused look as Joel pulled the blanket up to his nose, peeking out sheepishly.
Joel looked like a puppy that had caused trouble and was now terrified of being disliked.
The Prince pulled the blanket down and tucked him in properly.
“It was unavoidable. And since the dagger defeated the demon and saved me, the value of the remaining scabbard has actually gone up. So, do not worry so much,” he reassured Joel.
Only then was Joel able to relax.
As he surrendered to the hand gently stroking his hair, his eyes began to flicker shut.
However, it felt like such a waste to sleep when the Crown Prince he had finally recovered was right in front of him.
As Joel forced his heavy eyelids open to stare at the Prince’s face, the Prince gently closed Joel’s eyes for him.
“Joel, I don’t want to leave your side for even a moment, but I think I will be very busy for a while. Even though I ordered everyone to keep quiet, word of the underground mansion has already spread, and nobles are flocking here, slowing down the investigation. There are many who want to meet you and hear your story firsthand. So, you should go to Count Gray’s castle with Benjamin and get some rest.”
“Yes…”
“And, once the situation is settled, I have something to tell you. It’s very important.”
The Crown Prince gave Joel a light peck on the cheek. Half-asleep, Joel answered obediently, “Yees.”
However, he didn’t particularly expect much from what the Prince might say.
It would probably be a reward of gold coins for saving his life, or perhaps a title for his father.
Joel had no interest in wealth or fame, so he wasn’t the least bit curious about the reward.
It was enough that the Crown Prince was safe.
Because the Crown Prince was looking at him with such loving eyes, Joel felt shy even in his drowsy state.
He wished this moment could last forever.
As he was about to fall into a happy sleep, Joel realized there was one fact he hadn’t told the Prince yet.
“Oh, right. Your Highness. I think I saw something strange.”
“What is it?”
“Preacher John was wearing a ring that looked just like the heirloom ring of the House of Lucas. I’ve seen a portrait of my stepfather wearing that ring, but I’ve never seen the ring in person…?”
Joel suspected that the ring John was wearing was the heirloom of the Lucas family.
The Lucas heirloom ring featured a large diamond in the center with two rows of tightly set sapphires along the edge; it was such a flashy and rare design that it felt wrong to just brush it off as a similar ring.
‘If so, didn’t my stepfather also make a deal with that John guy?’
Joel tried to ask that, but he was so sleepy that he fell into a deep sleep before he could finish.
“Hmm, is that so…?”
Fortunately, the Crown Prince looked as though he already understood what Joel meant by bringing that up.
After Joel fell into a deep sleep, the Crown Prince carefully closed the bedroom door and stepped out.
“Your Highness, a carrier pigeon from the Imperial Palace has just arrived. The message says His Majesty the Emperor’s illness is recovering at a surprising rate and requests your immediate return.”
As soon as the door closed, Abe, the Knight Commander, reported. For a brief moment, the Prince looked at Abe with a cold gaze.
On the day the missing Prince had regained consciousness, Abe had confessed to how he had recklessly blamed and interrogated Joel.
The Prince decided to forgive Abe given the circumstances, but he still harbored regret over Abe treating Joel so harshly.
Feeling his guilt, Abe lowered his eyes submissively.
“That is good news. However, I don’t think we need to go. Once my father hears what happened here, he will surely travel here himself.”
“That is likely true.”
Knowing the Emperor would certainly want to see the massive mansion built by a demon beneath Sir Bennet’s house with his own eyes, Abe nodded in agreement.
In fact, Sir Bennet’s tiny estate was already crowded with outsiders who had come to see the demonic architecture.
“And perhaps, we might find a clue in the basement of that mansion that Count Lucas was involved in Heath Hales’ rebellion.”
“What? But Your Highness, hasn’t that case been over for twenty years?”
“Joel said he saw John wearing the Lucas heirloom ring. Until the investigation is complete, do not let any outsiders into the tunnel. Especially anyone associated with the House of Lucas.”
“Yes, sir.”
Abe bowed his head with a serious expression.
It was a known fact to Abe that the Emperor still suspected Count Lucas even after twenty-five years.
As the Prince hurriedly walked down the stairs with Abe to further investigate the underground mansion, he suddenly stopped.
“By the way, Abe. You haven’t been going around spreading the news of Joel’s pregnancy, have you?”
“O-of course not! How could I dare?”
“Good. Then keep that fact a secret for the time being.”
The Crown Prince nodded with a satisfied face.
He planned to propose to Joel properly as soon as things were settled.
A grand banquet and a romantic confession felt a bit cliché.
If he prepared the process secretly and surprised Joel on the day, the emotional impact would be doubled.
The Prince wanted to confess the depth of this affection—which he hadn’t even realized himself—to Joel as soon as possible.
It was uncertain if Joel would believe the ridiculous truth that he had sacrificed his soul to turn back time, but since Joel had seen the demon with his own eyes, he wouldn’t be able to flatly deny the words.
The Crown Prince was busy smiling foolishly while imagining a happy future, completely unaware of the catastrophe his choice to keep Joel’s pregnancy a secret would bring.
