I Became Crown Prince's Wife
What seems to change does not change (14)

Blake and I will soon arrive at Forens Palace.

I went into my room first to get changed and Chelsea came in after knocking.

Most of the nobles attended Sir Ron's wedding, but Chelsea remained at the imperial palace to oversee the renovation of Sephia Palace.

I told him that he didn't have to do that, but he was stubborn, saying that they should start fixing it and that he should keep an eye on the renovation itself.

I think he used the renovation as an excuse not to attend the wedding.

Chelsea is not engaged yet, so if she goes to the wedding, people will nag her about it.

Although the marriage was about to end, she could leave if she wanted to now.

I heard that many of his friends and relatives living in rural areas traveled all the way here to attend Sir Ron's wedding.

Did he use this opportunity to avoid it?

"No, I have no intention of leaving the palace today."

He said firmly.

"More importantly, I heard something big going on at the Westin residence."

“Don't worry, I'm fine.”

"I'm glad to hear it."

He breathed a sigh of relief. He seems to be worried about me.

"Thank you for your concern."

"Of course."

"But what is it?"

I asked while staring at the bottle in his hand. There's black powder in it.

“Oh, I was cleaning at Sephia Palace when I found it in your office.I thought it was suspicious so I brought it here. ”

Since I have not yet begun my duties as crown princess, I rarely use that office in Sephia Palace.

But I haven't seen him in as long as I've been there…

Did someone hide it there?

I took the bottle from Chelsea.

At that moment, my vision turned black and countless memories, sights, and sounds entered my mind.

“Richard, here we go! Here goes!"

The children from the orphanage shouted at Richard. Richard, who could not stand the children, looked at Ser, who turned into me.

“Ancia..?”

He took Ser to his house, thinking it was me.

He then cast a brainwashing spell on her.

“Ancia, we have to kill the crown prince so we can be together.”

Richard gave Ser a bottle containing poison.

"Don't worry. It was a perfect poison that neither the doctors nor the palace magicians knew about. ”

"But I'm afraid…"

“No need to fear. If it was really dangerous, I wouldn't have told you to do it. I love you, Ancia.”

The words he spoke sounded insincere.

Richard left and Ser cried while holding the bottle in his hand.

Then I regained consciousness. I saw a bottle with black powder.

This was the poison Richard had given Ser and Ser left some of his memories in this bottle.

'Philip, why did you do that to me? you don't have to do that.'

'Do you hate me? Is it a sin to die, and to expect your love?'

'Tell me you're sorry, please. That's all I need to hear.'

I felt the sincerity of his words in his memory.

Richard apologized to Ser and he forgave him. It was not because he still had feelings left for her.

However, Richard uses Ser to kill Blake in the end.

"I'll never forgive you."

My hand tightened its grip on the bottle.

I can't forgive him. He hasn't changed a bit since a thousand years ago.

He was still the same even when he did not remember his past life.

I'm definitely gonna get Richard. I'll catch him and make him pay for everything.

***

A wanted poster with Richard's face was posted across the empire.

He had committed many crimes, but the worst of all was the attempt to poison the crown prince.

Richard was angry.

He was just a step away from taking the marquis' seat. Using his title as a stepping stone, he dreams of taking over society and becoming emperor.

However, his dream was shattered overnight and now he is a fugitive.

He had never expected Ancia to have the power of light.

It was not a small amount of mana he had. He was also skilled enough to use the power of light freely.

It was actually Ancia who lifted Blake's curse.

Ancia was indeed a blessed girl and not a delusion made by a fool. Lifting the goddess curse that had lasted for a thousand years was enough proof.

Richard fell into endless regret during his escape.

Where's the harm? What's problem?

He tried so hard, yet why did he end up as a fugitive?

He looked for an excuse and found an answer.

His life started to go awry when he met her.

'Although I was the first one that Ancia liked.'

As a child, whenever he went to a party with his father, he would always look up at Richard up close. He couldn't take his eyes off her.

If he accepted her love back then, everything would be different.

The power of light and the language skills that Ancia possessed must already have. The curse of the goddess will never be lifted either.

Yeah, that's how things got messed up.

But there is no point in finding the cause.

Ancia is already Blake's wife, and Richard becomes a fugitive.

“Master, don't go like that. There are knights in front.”

Connin, who returned after analyzing the situation, reported calmly.

The faces of Richard and Karan were installed throughout the empire, so only Connin could move freely.

“Then where should I go?”

"That ... there are knights everywhere ..." Connin's speechless.

“Who doesn't know that? It's your job to find a way!”

Richard shouted in frustration. For now, getting out of town is the most important thing, but it is not easy to move around due to tight security.

"I'm sorry."

"Pathetic."

"There! There's a guy who looks like a villain!”

"The woman was with him!"

At that moment, he heard the voices of the knights speaking urgently.

Damnit damnit!

Instead of leaving the city, they were almost caught by the knights.

Richard run. Karan and Connin also use black magic to create a way for him to escape.

"Through here, sir."

Richard clenched his fists and continued running. However, the knights were getting closer to catching him.

Richard kept running.

He could hear Karan screaming, but he ignored him and ran.

Then suddenly, he stopped. A large river was in front of him.

Richard tried to find another way, but before he could do so, the knights had already surrounded him.

“Running away is futile, Richard Cassil. Don't add this to your crimes and let yourself be arrested!”

A knight shouted as soon as they surrounded him.

Richard put on a cynical smile.

Don't add this to his crime.

Richard could not avoid punishment for trying to poison the crown prince. Whether his crimes increased or not, the only ending that awaited him was death. There's no way out.

Richard looked at the river.

The water level is high and the current is strong, probably due to heavy rain that lasts for several days.

If he were to be dragged by the knights now, he would be tried and sentenced to death. However, there was a chance for him to survive if he fell into the river. Of course, the possibility of his death was also great.

While Richard was suffering, the knights rushed towards him. Richard turned.

But when he saw the strong current, he did not dare to jump in.

At that moment, he saw a female figure in the water, like an illusion.

'This is it! That fake woman!'

He had no resemblance to Ancia, but in Richard's eyes, the woman seemed to be the fake Ancia who tricked him.

Richard had forgotten about his current situation and his fear of a strong current. He plunged into the water to get her.

The knights shouted in shock at his unexpected actions, but Richard could not hear anything.

His senses and mind were captivated by the woman's vision.

As he fell into the cold river, a name appeared in Richard's mind.

'Serphania.'

The woman is Serphania, the goddess of light who gave her power in the past.

Richard's memories of the past began to pour out one by one.

"You became emperor thanks to Ser, and now you're going to throw it away?"

“Be careful what you say. I became an emperor with my own strength.”

“Philip, what's with this stone slab? You crazy? you need to get out of your mind! How can you do this? Are you still human? No, it's been a long time since you gave up being human.”

Richard is Philip.

He used the power of light to kill Rakshul, overthrow the Zelcan Imperial Family, and establish an empire with his power.

He was the emperor who founded the Asteris Empire.

"Ha ha ha ha! That's her! I won! I won! This is my victory! Serphania, did you see him? You lost! No matter how many messages you leave, no one will know!”

He was the one who sealed the goddess and in turn, he cursed his descendants.

“The Queen's seat is still empty. Laontel, if you want to leave this place, be my wife.”

And Laontel is the woman.

Ever since she was very small, no, ever since she was born, she had always been by her side. He loved her for a long time.

“Laontel, no! Stay put! I will find a way to save you, so if you last longer, I will.!”.

“Philip.

“Yes, Laontel, tell me. I'll listen to you."

"I hate you."

“...Laontel? Laontel…? Laontel! Laontel!!”

Philip mourned when Laontel died. Richard felt Philip's grief all over his body.

No matter how much Phillip shouted, Laontel did not move.

Richard looked at his lifeless face. Then, as time passed, his face gradually became filled with life.

No, he's not Laontel.

Golden blonde hair, a pair of sparkling green eyes, and a soft and pretty face belonged to Ancia.

Laontel is Ancia. That means Ancia is the woman.

Richard's eyes sparkled when he noticed it.