David felt his body getting paralyzed. He had lived in this world for a long time but never before had he felt this way.

It seemed he was too arrogant, thinking he was beyond human beings. For a moment, he forgot that he also could die and lose his life.

“I’m not…… wrong.”

David still believed he was right, even though from his voice, he knew that he might die at any moment.

The senate elders who visited the dungeon to interrogate him looked indifferent with his face full of wrinkles. His eyes stared calmly at David as if he looked at a picture or a book.

“It’s no use to resist.”

The elder who rarely spoke opened his mouth. He was a descendant of the founding family and was one of the prominent figures in the Empire.

He lived in seclusion according to tradition and only appeared when the Emperor called him.

“The sacred stone that’s binding you is called the Stone of Truth. “

The older man’s grey eyes stared at David, hanging with his body tied to a huge stone.

“The sacred word attached to the name of this terrible thing is too saintly and unsuitable. I’m sure you’re feeling it yourself right now.”

He kept a little distance from the stone where David was tied. Because once he narrowed the distance further, he could feel a poisonous air emanating from it

“Whether you are human or not. The stone sucks up the life energy and emotions. It has been almost 50 years since I saw this thing in person…..”

When the Imperial family wanted to know the truth of something, they would use this cursed stone.

The method was simple. Didn’t have to dirty hands by torturing them, they just needed to bind the prisoners to the stone. The power of the stone would rip their stubbornness.

“I’m the guardian of this world. I won’t be defeated as easily as you think.”

David still had the energy to speak like that, but it looked like he had reached his limit. The elder looked anxious because somehow, he must dig out the whole secret before his condition got weaker.

“The results are fixed. From the moment you were tied to the stone, your confessions were confirmed.”

David, who had been closing his eyes, slowly began to lift his eyelids when he heard the old man speak in a cold voice. The elder’s figure was faintly creeping up in front of him.

“That voice….. Cornell….Lius.”

David’s words greatly shook the elder’s eyes all of a sudden.

“No, it’s not.”

He unwittingly took a step towards David to confirm the unbelievable words that he had heard just now.

David looked down and took a careful look at the elder’s appearance.

“Is Russell dead?”

The elder tried not to display his shocked expression, but he could not conceal his astonishment in his heart. Russell Cornelius was his grandfather. People also saw him as one of the greatest wise men of this Empire, but this was a long time ago story.

“Russell has scars around his eyes, and his face …… Looks like yours. Are you his son? “

“Russell Cornelius is my grandfather.”

“Yes….. many years seem to have passed.”

David said in a hushed voice. The elder recounted the story about a mysterious figure written in his family’s memorandum that was passed down from generation to generation.

Russell, his grandfather, to whom David referred, was obsessed with studying a figure claiming to be the “guardian” before him now.

“He jumped into the fire of hell to find out the truth. It was a testament of human greed and ambition. Like thirst in your eyes right now.”

The elder couldn’t deny it. As a sage, it was their life to know the truth and the wisdom for centuries.

“Have you ever met my grandfather?”

“Yes, I have…..It was a long time ago.” David recollected his memory. “Oh, yes…Russell said his grandson was born. Now I remember your name.”

The elder then glared at David questioningly.

“Donovan. That’s your name.”

The elder’s name was Donovan Cornelius. His body was shivering now with curiosity that was stronger than his fear.

“During his lifetime, my grandfather devoted himself to studying the existence of a mysterious figure until before he died. And that being is now in front of me. I, perhaps, will witness a new truth in this world.”

David chuckled at his nearly extinct breath. Wondering, why were humans so greedy? In their eyes, people like David were only used as an object of research to satisfy their desires.

“I have also been involved in my grandfather’s research … Yes, I believe you are the “guardian” that’s the conclusion I can draw.”

David’s violet eyes gazed at Donovan intensely. “Then what am I going to do…… I’m sure you know.”

Donovan’s eyes flickered. Initially, his purpose was to dig up information about the incident from David by the Emperor’s order and save the Prince, but now, his intention was blurred in the face of truth.

“Your grandfather fully understood my purpose. The fall of the Leicester Republic ….. Did you know that it was your grandfather’s doing after he predisposed and manipulated the Emperor?”

The conquest of the Leicester republic was more like a brutal massacre that tarnished the continent’s history.

“It was also for the balance.”

Over the years, David had made countless efforts to balance this continent. When he couldn’t carry out his plans, he would look for mediators who had the power to become the centre of the world. Just like what he had done now to the Pope.

“Descendant of the Great Sage Cornelius . Are you an Emperor’s servant or a seeker of truth?”

“I’m not on anyone’s side.”

This question unexpectedly tore Donovan’s identity. But he couldn’t turn the truth around, either.

“Your grandfather also said that.”

“Even my grandfather, the Great Sage, never found the truth.”

Donovan knew very well; he couldn’t get beyond human limitations no matter how great the Sage was.

“There’s truth that I must reveal now. We senates have been granted the right to look into all the wisdom and knowledge of the world. In return for our pledge of allegiance to the Imperial Family.” Donovan at the end made a wise decision as a Great Sage

“What have you done to the Prince?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t underestimate humans. With your Majesty’s intuition, we will soon be able to reveal the truth.”

The Imperial Emperor couldn’t be killed, and he had an intuition and insight beyond ordinary humans. It was the truth that it also seemed a little irrational.

“Then, I will change the question.” Donovan said.

David was now dragging the time until the little Prince couldn’t endure the poison that was creeping through his body and died.

“Why should the Prince die?”

“The reasons is the same as why the Leicester Republic must be destroyed. For the sake of continental balance … that’s all.”

“What has the little prince done to this continent?”

“Don’t the tree branches sway if they’re blown by the wind?”

David gave a silly reply. Although Donovan vaguely grasped the meaning that everything in this world had influenced one another

“Listen, Cornelius.”

David mustered his remaining strength and spoke aloud. He had a hard time holding his consciousness since the stone that bound him continued to suck his life energy.

“A Prince is a life that shouldn’t be born in this world. So his existence has been against the fate.”

Donovan cautiously blinked.

” I didn’t try to kill the Prince. I tried to revert everything to the original place……because of the Prince, Princess Evelyn returned to the Emperor’s side. I was trying to stop the catastrophe.” David managed to keep talking as he recalled the tragedy.

“This world is a world where I’ve turned back the time.”

Donovan’s eyes were stained with surprise. “Time, time magic…… Does something like that really exist?”

David didn’t answer as he didn’t care about Donovan’s desire for knowledge.

“The reason I did forbidden magic was because the continent was covered in blood in its original world. There was no other way. Once the Emperor’s madness awakened, nothing could stop him.”

Donovan’s hands trembled. The Cornelius family did have a story about the Emperor’s ancestors. So far, he regarded it as a mere tale because it hadn’t proven yet. But he never thought that David’s mouth itself would expose the truth.

“Slaughter, despair, destruction, hatred, vain…”

All of them were the sights David had seen, and Fabian did everything with his own hands.

“To prevent the destruction of this continent …… the only way to stop the Emperor from going insane is to cut his ties with Princess Evelyn.”

“So what does that have to do with…….”

Donovan suddenly stopped talking. He was a wise man, so he realized what David meant.

“Yes.” David responded. “After the Emperor lost the coldness on his blood. After he opened his heart and had feelings for others …… If he lose the most precious thing.”

All the tragedy began with Evelyn’s death. This continent became hell only with the death of one person.

“I failed. Princess Evelyn should have returned before she met the Emperor….and the result she came back after she was pregnant with the Prince. The Prince should have died in her womb without having had time to see the light of the world.”

“So, were you’re trying to get rid of the Prince to cut their ties so Princess Evelyn could leave?”

It sounded not like a question. Donovan now understood everything David wished for. Losing her beloved child would plunge Evelyn into depression, and sometimes, there was something that couldn’t be overcome by the couple’s bond.

“But you failed again this time. Your Majesty will soon find out your purpose.”

David chuckled helplessly, “I’m waiting.” because he expected it as well.

His plan wasn’t over yet.

“Especially, the meeting with Princess Evelyn.”

Even he was trapped here, David could foresee the situation, and it was something that Donovan was afraid of.

***

Donovan had no time to think long because suddenly the Emperor called him. He then told Fabian all the details of his conversation with David.

Unlike Sagan, he wasn’t as foolish. Fabian knew that he only needed to wait if he wanted to find answers. A rushed intervention could ruin everything.

“He’s a very strange person. I can’t believe everything he said.” Fabian spoke firmly, but there was also anxiousness in his eyes.

“That’s what I thought. But I don’t think everything he said was a lie.”

“Evelyn said she wanted to meet him in person, and I allowed her.”

Donovan’s expression darkened in a flash, as he felt that it wasn’t a good idea. “Maybe that’s part of his plan too.”

Fabian shook his head. “But I don’t want to let it go as his plan.”

He recalled Evelyn’s deep eyes staring directly at him. Evelyn should be as strong as him at least to defend Adrian.

“I believe in Evelyn.”

Donovan looked at Fabian with his eyes full of a surprise than when he heard the existence of time magic. He never imagined he would listen to that words came out from the Emperor while he was living.

“She won’t get caught up in that lunatic’s plan. Absolutely not”

Donovan’s anxiety intensified. David’s words seemed to be right, as he witnesses it firsthand how the Emperor, before him believed in someone.

“There is no time.”

The poison in Adrian’s body couldn’t be deciphered so he could not give the antidote to him.

Fortunately, King and Queen Felice helped him look after Adrian, but the child’s condition was deteriorating little by little.

“First of all, save the Prince.” Fabian sighed, “I’ll take care of the rest after that.”

For Fabian, David was nothing more than a madman, but he was eventually forced to go to save Adrian. Not because Adrian was his replacement but because he was Adrian’s father.

“I can do anything to save him.” said Fabian in a solemn voice. “Even if he isn’t an ordinary human, he won’t be able to last long on the Stone of Truth.”

Donovan agreed quietly because David was becoming more haggard now.

“Let’s go.” Fabian rose from his seat “When he still can talk, Evelyn and I will face him.”

Donovan bowed down and went after him.

The time was running out.

Soon, they would see what the truth was and what was the end.