I Became Crown Prince's Wife
Following the Light in Darkness(10)

"Laontel, tell me whatever you want."

"Destroy Ser's seal."

It was even harder for me to speak now, but I forced myself to say those words. Phillip's expression hardened.

"I can't grant that wish."

I'm not disappointed. I expect that from him.

"Then, please give me a stone."

"Stone?"

"Yes. A very large stone.”

"Why?"

“I thought it would make me feel like I was in the mountains because I couldn't go there.”

“I told you I'd heal you! We can go to the mountain together!"

She was crying while hugging me.

I wanted to push her away but I couldn't even raise my hand.

Even if I get better, I'll never go to the mountains with Phillip.

Phillip really gave me a stone. That's pretty big too.

That day, I put the necklace I received from Ser in the hands of my servant.

“Give this necklace and letter to Count Bellacian. Secret it from the Emperor.”

"What's? But I'm…"

He became my servant under Phillip's instructions, so he was reluctant to accept my request.

“This is my first and last request. Please help me."

"Lady…"

I handed over the jewelry box that Phillip had given me earlier.

"I'll give you this too."

"really?"

“Ya, so you have to fulfill my request well.”

"Yes I understand!"

After I die, the Power of Light that Ser gave me will be inherited by one of the Bellacian families.

I want to entrust this necklace to the Heir of Light because this necklace will connect them with Ser.

And one day, they'll be able to release Ser.

It would be best if I could write everything down in a letter but there was a high chance Phillip would intercept on the way.

Even if it was a secret, there was a chance that he would find it. But I still hope it will get into my father's hands without anyone knowing.

Phillip will read my letter.

So I just wrote a thank you letter and apologized to my family.

I also left a small letter about the necklace.

I was never a good aunt and gave my niece a decent present, so give this necklace to Athena. This will be my first and last gift, so I hope you appreciate it.

Because the content is not clear, Phillip does not want to understand it.

I want to hand this necklace to my niece, Athena.

Athena is a smart boy. He will realize the meaning of this necklace.

“Ser, forgive me,”

When I saw the servant who left with the necklace, I apologized to Ser.

I couldn't save him anyway.

The servant went and gave me the big stone.

I poured my last strength into the stone. The large stone was broken into pieces and shaped like a stone plate.

I carved a sentence on it.

***

While I was sitting on a chair in the park, Phillip suddenly walked in.

“Laontel, what are you doing here? It's chill. Let's go in."

"I've been waiting for you."

"Me?"

Phillip's voice shakes.

What exactly does this man expect of me?

“Philip, do you love me?”

"Yes I love you! I've only ever loved you!”

"Then put this in front of the Emperor's palace."

I pointed to the stone slab I made.

Phillip had just noticed those stone slabs.

"It's…"

on September 5, the 3rd prince, cursed by the Goddess, died. Soon after, the curse was transferred to the 6th prince.

- In November of the 5th year, the sentence engraved on the body of the 6th prince changed. The 6th prince died. Soon after the curse was transferred to the 7th prince.

When Phillip saw the writing on the stone slab, he froze.

"You didn't write anything about your son, so I made it myself."

"Laontel, what is this?"

"Why? Is something wrong? Though the information is correct.”

“What do you think? What are you planning?!"

“You said you loved me. Just help me this once. That's not even the full truth.I'm just saying that the curse sentence has changed. ”

"You!"

Phillip's almost blown up now.

“Scary cat.”

"What?"

“Even if a few vague sentences are enough to scare you? Why would you do it if you were going to be like this? ”

“I didn't do it because I wanted to! It's because of Ser!”

I don't have time to listen to the reason.

“Phillip, unseal Ser.”

"No."

“You must do it for your own good. Ser will do it again to your heirs. Your descendants will suffer.”

“I've covered it with another curse. Moreover, there would be no one who could read Zelcan's writings to leave immediately. No one will know what Serphania said!”

“Your descendants will suffer. The curse will not end until Ser's seal is broken.”

“When Ser returns, the truth will be revealed. Everything I've built will fall apart. The Asteris Empire will be destroyed. Better to sacrifice it for the greater good. ”

"No, you sacrificed him to satisfy your own selfishness."

“...let us enter first. It's cold."

Phillip covered me with his coat first before heading to the stone slab. He thought about breaking it first before we went inside.

But, it won't break no matter what. After all, I put the last bit of my power into it.

"No matter what you do, it won't break."

“You really suck.”

He gritted his teeth.

However, he was not so angry compared to before.

“Even if I can't break it, I can hide it.”

He placed his hand on the stone slab and he poured his strength into it. However, the letters only lost their shape but did not disappear.

He smiled triumphantly at the sight.

“I poured my strength into this. I can't believe you fooled me like that.”

He used his power to erase letters, but he couldn't.

“This will be a piece of cake for anyone who has the Power of Light to understand it.”

"Serphania is sealed, now there are only two of us who have it."

"You don't know what's going to happen in the future."

"If anyone comes close to this, I'll kill them."

He put a spell on the stone slab and threw it into the lake.

The stone slab immediately disappeared into the lake.

I was expecting it, so I didn't feel any emotions.

I just want to annoy Phillip with my last strength.

"It won't work."

As soon as I opened my mouth, blood flowed out of my mouth and I staggered.

“Laontel!”

Phillip hurriedly hugged me before I could fall to the floor.

“Laontel, no! Stay put! I'll find a way to save you. Hang in there a little longer, I'll.”.

He cried and begged like I did to Rakshul before.

“Philip.

“Laontel, speak. I'll listen to you.”

I said my last words

"I hate you."

***

Turns out, the stone slab under the lake was mine.

I poured my last strength onto that stone slab.

When I closed my eyes, I could still hear Phillip's scream.

Phillip said he loved me, but he was the one who led me to my death.

Does he really love me?

I don't know.

But I can say one thing for sure.

He's terrible and evil.

Every memory of Laontel reappeared in my mind.

From those memories I learned about everything that happened all this time. Now I know what happened years ago.

When I died, the power went to Athena, my niece.

Phillip actually gave the necklace and the letter to Count Bellacian.

But neither Athena nor the other heirs who received the power succeeded in unsealing Ser.

Instead, the heir gradually forgot how to use the Power of Light, and after a thousand years, his strength gradually weakened.

Over the years, the necklace came to be called 'The Tears of Light' and became rumored as a tool to identify the Heir of Light.

Phillip is a very thorough person.

He sent the necklace to Count Bellacian, but did not let go of his doubts until the last minute.

After that, he watched over the necklace and ordered his subordinates to hide it after he died.

Therefore, the necklace was sealed in a secret warehouse under the western tower.

Phillip wants to be known as a hero.

And as time went on, his wish came true.

Everyone who knows the truth and doubts it has gone while Phillip's heroic actions become a fact for people.

Meanwhile, Ser was still sealed in the Valley of Chaos.

He gathered his strength to escape, but every time he managed to open the door a little, it was once again sealed shut.

Phillip called the place where he sealed Ser the Door of Darkness and only those with the Power of Light could close it.

He said that if the door opened it would bring destruction to the world.

There was only one mistake he made.

Phillip uses most of his powers to hide Ser's message.

In the end, his descendant who inherited his Light Power was none other than the 'Heir of the Curse'.

So, Phillip created another way to close the door.