HBWnovel Chapter 11
Chapter 11
The Crown Prince walked toward the shining core of Orpheus, glowing brightly within the pitch-black mental landscape.
Around him, Orpheus’s past unfolded, appearing one scene at a time, as if projected onto an invisible screen.
‘Is this the story of what happened afterward?’
To his right, he saw children who appeared a year or two older than the boy and girl he had glimpsed earlier.
“Kate, Kate...! You can’t just come in like this!”
The boy panicked at the sight of the girl who had sneaked into his room.
“Oh, come on, what’s the big deal? As long as we don’t get caught, right?”
The girl winked, clearly unbothered by whatever feud existed between their families.
“Our Ian. Why are you so adorable?”
Her small, delicate hands cupped his cheeks and stretched them playfully.
“Uwahh....”
“Pfft. You look like a frog. It’s so cute.”
“...You’re calling me a frog again.”
Could he never be a prince?
...Even if he couldn’t, it didn’t matter. Even as her pet frog, every second spent with her brought him happiness.@@@@
The boy and girl kept their distance from the concerns of adults, cherishing their own little world.
“I went to Rai’s concert yesterday,” the girl said, breaking the peaceful silence.
“Rai? Is he a boy?”
The boy’s eyebrows rose sharply.
“Yup. Rai Berdolt. He’s a boy our age,” she replied nonchalantly.
“...He’s our age and already holding concerts?”
“Yeah, he’s a musical prodigy. He’s amazing with the violin.”
The boy felt a pang of annoyance.
“I can play the violin too.”
It was just a secret hobby he practiced in defiance of his parents, but he was confident he could outperform this so-called prodigy.
“...Really?”
“I’ll show you.”
With a soft hum, mana gathered in the boy’s hands, forming into the shape of a violin.
“Wow!”
The girl’s wide-eyed amazement filled the boy with a rush of satisfaction as he began to play.
The melody was simple yet beautiful, carrying the essence of mana as it resonated through the room.
“This melody is so pretty.”
“...You think so?”
Encouraged, the boy repeated the melody several times, improvising variations to show off his skills.
“Wow!”
The girl clapped her hands excitedly, cheering. Embarrassed, the boy scratched his head.
“...This is called an ostinato,” he explained.
“Ostinato?”
“It’s when you repeat the same melody over and over.”
“Wow! That’s so cool! Ostinato is beautiful!”
“...You really think so?”
“Yeah! Usually, even if I like a melody, it just passes by as the music plays. But with ostinato, you can keep listening to a melody you don’t want to let go of.”
“...I never thought of it that way....”
The girl responded to even his smallest comments with a radiant smile. The boy lowered his head to hide his flushed cheeks.
“...If there’s a melody you’d like to hear, just let me know. I’ll play it for you.”
The vision dissolved into smoke before the Crown Prince’s eyes.
“Hahaha! Today’s a good day. I’ll let it slide.”
“Your benevolence knows no bounds, Your Majesty.”
Surrounded by his close aides, Count Carlyuga stood atop thousands of magitech golems, creations of unparalleled genius, laughing and joking as they celebrated their triumph.
The golems, crafted by Ian’s extraordinary talent, had crushed the Holy Knights—the divine army—and even the kingdom’s forces, turning the tide of the war.
With control over the golem army, Count Carlyuga had vanquished all his enemies and seized absolute dominion over the kingdom.
“Father.”
“...Isn’t this a day to celebrate, Ian? You should be smiling.”
“I have a request.”
“...Very well. Given your immense contributions to this victory, I’ll grant it. Speak.”
“Give me Kate Vilgames.”
“Vilgames... You mean that Saintess?”
Count Carlyuga fell silent, pondering.
“She’s a war criminal and should be executed... But fine. Here’s my condition. Go to her prison cell right now and propose to her.”
“...What?”
“If she accepts, I’ll spare her. Even as a war criminal, no one will dare lay a hand on the wife of a war hero. But if she refuses, judgment will be carried out.”
“...Understood.”
Ian rushed to the underground prison.
At the deepest, darkest level of the dungeon, in a solitary cell hidden in the damp and muddy depths, she was there.
“Kate.”
Her blank gaze lifted to meet his.
“...Ian.”
Though her beauty had faded after years of war, she was still breathtaking.
‘...If only I hadn’t created those golems, things wouldn’t have turned out like this.’
He never imagined that the technology he had crafted so casually would back her into such a corner.
If he could go back to the past, he’d never make the same mistake again.
“Kate, I’m here to get you out.”
“Ian. If you free me, your position will be jeopardized.”
“I don’t care. My father promised. As long as you agree to marry me, you’ll be free.”
“...So that’s how it is.”
Kate let out a hollow laugh as understanding dawned on her.
“I’m sorry, Ian. If that’s the case, don’t free me.”
“...What?”
“I’ve decided. I’m going to die here.”
“...What are you saying, Kate?”
“I am Saintess Cartecia, devoted to the god I serve. I won’t disgrace myself by begging for mercy from my enemies to survive.”
“Kate, if you stay here, you’ll die.”
“Even if I die... there are things I must protect.”
For hours, Ian pleaded, argued, and even threatened, but Kate remained steadfast.
When desperation overwhelmed him, Ian tried to force the cell door open, but a hand gripped his arm.
“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that,” said Count Carlyuga with a cold smile.
“She seems to have a death wish. Guards!”
The guards escorted a distraught Ian out of the prison.
“Wait! Kate! KATE!”
Bang!
The heavy door to the underground cell slammed shut. Ian couldn’t hear Kate’s muffled sobs from inside.
“I’m sorry, Ian... I’m so sorry...”