Chapter 2
Translator: effe

His dark brown, almond-shaped eyes brimmed with tears, which then dripped down. As soon as one drop fell, another drop followed. Then another drop came even before the tears could fall.

The dry cheeks were now drenched with tears that flowed silently. Benedict stared at the weeping man, thinking about the last time he shed a tear. He could easily recall it. As he recalled his memories of that time, his mood subsided a little more.

“I think there is one thing I need to make sure of before I go back.”

Benedict’s pale lips moved slowly.

“Since the former head of Sernotti, Valtri, has passed away, I must call you, the only son, as head of the household. Walter Sernotti.”

Walter, whose name was called, turned his gaze towards Benedict. Walter’s eyes, staring at him with a tear-soaked face, lost it’s light and were empty. When Benedict appeared, he felt like he was holding an angel’s hand in the fiery circles of hell. Walter believed he would surely be able to save Eden. But now everything was over.

“A shadow of light that exists for the sake of the master. Head of the legendary Sernotti family. As the Pope of the Empire, I implore you. Do you really deserve to be called a shadow of light?”

The body lying under the linen was bandaged all over, but Benedict knew what wounds she had.

Two on the left side of her chest. One long, horizontal cut from her shoulder to her abdomen, a last sharp stab in the neck. These all showed how horrific the conditions at the time of her death were.

“The master who should be protected by the blood oath died in this way, but how dare the shadow live.”

Benedict’s pale blue pupils dilated, emitting a cool light. It was the eyes that made the surroundings creepy. As an archmage, it wasn’t only his healing powers that were formidable. His eyes intimidated people. A normal person would not have been able to even move on the spot due to the sheer magical power he exuded.

“…You’re right. I should have died with her.”

Walter drew his sword again and let out a hoarse voice. As she lay with her eyes closed with a relaxed expression, it seemed as if she would immediately open her eyes and call his name. He thought she was going to say it was all a joke, that he was too surprised, that he was too much of a coward, that he was an idiot. She would look at him like she used to, with her mouth wide open and laughing out loud.

“I thought it was my last hope and waited for you. But if there is no hope, my existence would be meaningless, as you said.”

Because there can be no shadow where there is no light. Watching Walter raise his sword in the air, Benedict added firmly.

“I do not heal people who are not members of the Imperial family. It means you are foolish to try to commit suicide by relying on my mercy.”

“Haha…”

Walter laughed, his voice low and his eyes hazy. When he had gone to the Stone Mountain with the dying Eden on his back, he managed to reach the mage there, but it was already as if he had already lost his mind.

The old mage had been stunned to see Eden, whose body had been mutilated and barely had the appearance of a body, the jewel of the imperial family that was losing its shine.

[ “We need to call the Archmage… No, Lord Benedict might already know…” ]

The old mage was right. Benedict already secretly left the papal headquarters for this reason. As Walter waited for him, Walter felt his chest burning to black as charcoal.

“I have never once wanted to be part of the Imperial Family, but…”

It was a suffocating pain to watch beside her, who couldn’t open her eyes.

“This is the first time I am as grateful for that fact as I am now.”

At the end of the last murmur, Walter’s sword swung one round in the air.

‘Sorry to keep you waiting, Eden.’

The well-forged sword moved quickly, creating an illusion-like blue light.

‘Please understand that I cannot stab my heart. Because my heart is yours. When we meet again after we die, you can directly stab my heart.’

Benedict watched without blinking as Walter’s sword neatly cut off its master’s neck.

It was indeed the appearance of the head of Sernotti. Walter did not hesitate or feel any fear. As if he had been waiting for this moment, he slashed his neck with his sword, without even closing his eyes until the end. It was a choice that left not even a single chance of survival.