I Became Crown Prince's Wife
Following the Light in Darkness(4)

Rakshul's condition quickly worsened. His skin was filled with black spots and he could not even move due to the fever.

I stayed by his side all day.

I'm sure he'll handle this. Rakshul can't die like this.

If I find Ser, I'm sure he can cure his illness. But no matter how much I cried at the necklace, Ser did not answer me.

“Laontel.

It's been a long time since he's called me by my name.

I put down my necklace and clasped his hand tightly.

“Rakshul.”

"Laontel, thank you for everything."

He could not open his eyes properly due to his fever, but there was a smile on his face.

Heart's sinking. Rakshul said goodbye.

I could barely smile, squeezing the last remaining strength to smile at him for the final farewell.

“Don't say it!”

“I think I should go now!”

"Where are you going?!"

He stroked my cheek with his hand.

"I'm sorry. I want to be with you all my life. I want to grow old together with you.I want us both to share the burden.”

“Then don't go! Stay with me!"

i wail.

Even though I knew he was saying goodbye to me, I couldn't accept it.

“If only I had expressed my feelings earlier. If we have another life and I meet you again, I will tell you that every day.”

“You can start now! Say it every day!”

“You must live happily. Always smile and have fun.”

“How can I be happy without you?! Don't die! If you want me happy, don't die!”

“Laontel..

His eyes began to close.

"No! Raksh! Open eyes! Please open your eyes. Don't die! Don't leave me!”

I pleaded with him and prayed fervently, but Rakshul did not open his eyes.

***

I was in the dark again.

Tears flow like waterfalls. I sat in the room and cried.

Rakshul is dead. The sadness was as if tearing my heart apart and attacking my entire body like lightning.

Even though that event had passed a thousand years ago, I could not stop crying.

I can't do anything.

Laontel could only see helplessly as he lost Rakshul.

But I can't continue to be sad like this.

If I don't save Serphania, the curse won't go away.

I can't lose her again this time.

I wiped those tears.

***

Rakshul is dead. The Crown Prince died but no funeral was worth holding for him.

After his death, the plague spread throughout the capital and even the Emperor who escaped from the palace.

People keep getting sick and dying.

The entire capital was in chaos, so how could there possibly be time to hold a funeral?

I understand, but I'm still sad.

My brothers and I prepared a funeral for Rakshul instead of the Imperial family.

“You shouldn't cry like that at a funeral.”

I wanted to let Rakshul go with a smile but the tears would not stop.

I have too many regrets.

'Why didn't I express my feelings before? If he had not dealt with that monster, he would not have needed to become the Crown Prince. If he's not the Crown Prince, we don't need to stay in the palace, and he won't die.'

I stood in the room, overwhelmed with despair.

Meanwhile, many changes occurred in the Empire.

Emperors position is empty. Not only did all of the Emperor's children die from the plague, his brothers also left, so no one could be chosen as the next Emperor.

Suddenly, Philip appeared.

People cheered him on as he used the Power of Light to treat the plague.

Although he did not have the black hair that symbolized the Zelcan Royal family, he was crowned the new Emperor with the praise of the people.

I didn't attend Phillip's coronation.

The next day, he came to see me.

“Philip.

The man I was looking for stood in front of me.

“For a long time no see, Laontel.I thought I would see you at the ceremony yesterday, but not come.

"I greet the Emperor."

He was now the Emperor of the Zelcan Empire.

I bow my head.

“Oh, thank you, but it's not necessary. After all, our relationship is special, right?”

The corner of his mouth lifted in a smile as he spoke. My expression remains stiff.

"Are you angry with me?"

“No, why should I be angry?”

"I heard Rakshul died."

He called out Rakshul's name without hesitation.

"Yes." Yeah."

"I understand."

The Valley of Chaos was an abandoned place and no one lived there. No wonder I couldn't find it.

"Do you hate me?"

"No…"

I shook my head. I don't hate Phillip. She just went with her lover and has now returned home.

And he's also treating the plague. He didn't do anything wrong.

"I just hate myself."

But I hate myself for not being able to save Rakshul.

“It wasn't Laon's fault!”

I looked back, started by that voice.

At that moment, Ser suddenly appeared in my arms.

“Ser..”

“Sorry Laon, I'm sorry.I didn't know it happened to Rakshul.I'm sorry. It's all my fault…"

He cried and cried bitterly.

They didn't know it at the time.

But I hate Ser and Phillip, for not showing up until the last moment and just saving his people.

Of course I know it wasn't their fault, but the hatred piled up as time went on.

"No, don't say that."

“I'm sorry Laon.I'm sorry. Do you hate me?you hate me, don't you? I'm sure you must hate me so much.I'm sorry."

"I don't hate you, I'm glad you're back."

"really?"

"Yes." Yeah."

But the friend I once knew was different.

***

The name of the Zelcan Empire was changed to the Asteri Empire. The name of the Altar Palace was also changed to Tenlarn Palace.

The plague was completely gone and the Empire gradually recovered.

But that peace did not last long. Phillip went on to build a new palace, make stone slabs and statues to honor his achievements and throw a royal feast every day.

Each time, he spent a large amount of budget and the commoners had to struggle to bear the huge taxes.

I went to visit Phillip. Rakshul loves this country and wants to protect it.

It doesn't matter if the name changes, but I can't see people suffering.

If Rakshul were still alive, this would not have happened.

"How many more royal balls do you want to hold?"

“Why did you suddenly say that? Don't you think you're being rude to this Imperial Emperor? ”

“Do you know how much should be collected in taxes at any time? People are starving while you also take all their crops!”

"What?"

His response was lukewarm, as if he did not care.

“Many people died from the plague. There are still a lot of corpses strewn everywhere while you just aggravate the situation. ”

“I am the Emperor of this Empire. Why should I care about any fool? ”

His attitude made me silent.

“You've changed, haven't you? Or am I just realizing your true nature now?”

“Jaga. No matter how close we are, I will not forgive you.”

He said to me arrogantly.

My words don't seem to reach her, but I can't back down like this.

"When are you going to announce Ser as Empress?"

Phillip is hiding Ser's whereabouts.

He did not announce their marriage and sent her away to stay in the seedy pavilion.

I protested him many times, but he never answered.

"Are you going to start with that again?"

He said that again.

“How long will you lock Ser in such a place? I heard you haven't even visited her lately.”

"If you're so upset, bring her back with you."

"You ... Ser gave everything he had to you!"

Phillip covered his ears as I snapped at him.

“Yes, Ser gave me everything. And now he has nothing left. He lost his power and he had no wealth or status. She's just an incompetent woman. Do you think such a person could become Empress?

Phillip said it so arrogantly that I was speechless and could barely find the words to answer.

"…are you crazy?"

"Find the reality of the situation."

“Ser lost all his strength to you! It's all because of you!”

“What is the use of the past? Currently, she is not suitable to be Empress.”

"What's? Have you forgotten how you got your position? It was all thanks to the plague!you cure disease with the power of Ser! Thanks to him, you became the Emperor, and yet, you will just throw it away ?! ”

"Be careful with your words."

Phillip said to me coldly.

“You are absolutely crazy. Do you have amnesia?”

"I told you to be polite."

"Huh."

I snorted at him.

At that moment, Phillip grabbed my wrist.

“Get your hands off me! What's this?!"

I screamed in surprise but he didn't let go.

"I have decided who will be my Empress."