David hurriedly blocked the door with his hand when someone knocked on his carriage.

“Wait. I’m still praying, so don’t disturb me.”

David didn’t just hold the carriage door. His other hand held a white handkerchief that was soaked with a nosebleed. Gladly, the servant outside didn’t dare to go against his words.

“Sir, now we’ve entered the Empire territory. We will arrive at the Imperial Palace in three days.”

After hearing the servant’s report, David leaned back on his chair, waiting for his nosebleeds to stop. His skin, which was already transparent and dazzling, now was as pale as a colourless plaster figure.

He recalled the past that he didn’t know when. The last moment of his teacher, who left him after giving him the title of guardian, was the same as him now, pale and cold.

“How much time is left .....”

David muttered in a low voice. After barely stopping his nosebleed, he saw that his handkerchief was stained with blood and he hid it like it’s nothing.

His body had deteriorated rapidly since he used the time magic. All the magic effects returned to his body after he had spent so many hours using his power to turn back the time.

“One more time.”

It’s the word that kept him alive until today. David couldn’t forsake his mission as a guardian who had to protect the balance of this world.

His time magic was half-failed, but there was still a chance to fix the result, and he believed it was God’s will.

“Even if it’s the last.....”

The world had changed. As proof, David didn’t get a disciple. That’s exactly what his teacher, the previous Guardian, said.

The fact that there’s no more disciple appeared meant that David was the last person who had to put an end to this karma. But, his body didn’t follow his mind, and he only had a little power left.

“I have to find the fragments. And the time-gap..”

David moved his dying body with great effort. The reason why he had to go to the Imperial Palace because it was the place where he cast time magic.

Evelyn, the party concerned, hadn’t remembered it yet. Still, David’s magic at that time was weak, and he was unable to close the time-gap in the Empress’ Palace.

After that, David’s power disappeared gradually, couldn’t return as before, and the time-gap that he left, was still remained in that place.

“Which comes first .... to which direction does it flow?”

David didn’t know himself. A guardian only mediated the balance, so he couldn’t predict the future or plan for it. It was just his actions were the will of this world.

The fragments and time-gap were the two most important things for David right now. It was easy for him to find the latter because it’s existed in the same place. But the fragments were different.

“Do I still have any power left to collect the fragments?”

His voice sounded helpless. Unlike his sacredly beautiful appearance, David’s palms were full of wrinkles like an old man.

The fragments were part of the pure Ether Crystal that belonged to the first guardian. The first guardian used that Crystal ball to seal the King’s madness and to rule the demons.

Inevitably, Crystal’s power had to be divided, and half of Crystal’s fragments had been granted to the Imperial family.

‘Kid, you don’t have to worry.’

His teacher’s voice suddenly emerged.

‘You just have to keep going.’

A voice that was always gentle.

‘And the place we’re going to is the center of the balance.’

During the reign of the Emperor-three generations ago, the guardian’s face, who had died after exhausting his remaining power, was solid white like a stone statue.

David witnessed the moment of his death without missing a single thing, watching every part of it. His teacher’s face wasn’t old, as he was now.

“Teacher..I’ll keep going without stopping.”

He whispered softly..

As if he was praying..

---

***

The Palace’s atmosphere became noisy in many ways when the news of the Vatican entourage arrival spread widely and reached Imperial palace.

Fabian had alerted the Elders about David’s presence and the serious situation. Whereas Liam and the other Black Hawk Knights were assigned to carry out a thorough investigation both politically or under the shadow.

“Your Majesty, everything all set. Even if there’s another demons besides him, we’ll be able to overcome it.”

“Well...you should.” Fabian said with an exhausted face.

“If I had known that remarriage was so difficult like this, I wouldn’t have let her go then.”

Though he said that, looking back, it was true that the long journey back home was more precious. At least, they could see and get to know each other better. It wouldn’t be possible if they weren’t separated.

“What about the hawk?”

“That’s.. is not yet time to be separated from its mother.”

Fabian sighed deeply. His promise to give Adrian a black hawk wasn’t a lie, and actually Fabian had prepared it too. But the baby bird’s growth was slower than expected.

Even the hawk breeder at the Imperial Palace had to endure Adrian’s trustless eyes every day because the babies weren’t all big yet.

“I’ll take a look at it later when I have time.” Fabian felt hopeless. Even if he saw it by himself, it didn’t mean that the hawk would grow big in a flash.

Serus swallowed hard, “It looks like the night before the storm.”

“I know.”

Serus nodded in silence. The atmosphere in the Imperial Palace was tense. Not only Fabian’s aides, but the same was true with the guards and all the Empire’s army. Depending on how things worked out, there might be a situation beyond the war.

Historically, of course, the Emperor had never been defeated in such a situation. So the moral of the Emperor’s army was full of confidence and enthusiasm.

“But, Your Majesty’s opponent isn’t the Vatican.” said Serus.

Fabian’s expression was already stiff as he heard his true words.

“Your Majesty?”

“....I’ve a feeling .”

Serus’ face looked perplexed.

“I’ve a strong feeling that it won’t pass by a simple storm.”

Fabian’s intuition was usually close to the future’s prediction. His instincts could read the air in other dimensions that couldn’t be predicted by normal humans. Unfortunately, that wasn’t a piece of good news right now.historical

“It will change.”

“Pardon... what do you mean, Your Majesty?”

Fabian’s dark, clear eyes gazed out into the air. “Nothing, or everything....”

Once again, Serus swallowed a dry gulp. It was still unclear, but it’s well conveyed that Fabian instinctively took this situation seriously.

Since he had served Fabian, there had never been anything like this before. Yet, Serus wasn’t afraid, because there was a strong belief in him, which was the instinct of the people who had served the Emperor.

“Everything will be fine as long as there’s Your Majesty.”

“I think so, too.”

Fabian was the person most suited to be the ruler more than anyone else. Whether his opponent was human or not, he had no intention of losing from the beginning.

If that person were aiming for something precious that Fabian never had before, even if the opponent was a demon, he would bring him to his knees.

“But, when Evelyn struggles with her worries.. .. .”

Serus was startled when Fabian abruptly said that.

“Why? did I say something I shouldn’t say?”

“No, but Your Majesty is not like your usual-self.”

For Serus, it was a manly answer he had to say before he died. Fabian also knew it well, so he let it passed.

“Your Majesty. Should I bring my mother as you ordered before?” he asked.

“Ah....I was supposed to call Duchess Perth.”

Before his meeting with the Empress Dowager, Fabian had chosen Duchess Perth as his trustee to assist and arrange the Imperial marriage.

She was Serus’s birth mother and the one who raised Fabian, whom he also considered as his real mother. In a sense, Duchess Perth presented herself as a trusted surrogate-mother. Perhaps, more than the Empress Dowager.

Duchess Perth was a principle person. She was well versed in etiquette and qualified to organize major ceremonies.

If Fabian selected her, there wouldn’t have been any special requests, and he wouldn’t have to worry about anything. That was until Empress Dowager, the one who never cared about him, unexpectedly volunteered.

“It’s confusing....”

Fabian rarely felt worried. If he were his old self, he would mindlessly choose Duchess Perth right away.

But Evelyn’s warm love was like a drop of paint that spread in clear water and stained his colourless heart. With just one drop, Fabian’s world was painted in brilliant colours.

“Evelyn believed the Empress’ words.”

“Is that so.”

Serus didn’t give an opinion on this matter. Fabian used to be like that, but now was the time for him to change.

“But Duke Metis won’t stay still. If it turned out that he and the Empress Dowager were a team, this troublesome situation would become even more complicated.”

That’s what made Fabian hesitate. Since he believed that his mother had no reason not to deceive him.

“But I don’t know.”

“Is there anything Your Majesty doesn’t know?”

“Yes. Looking at Adrian, I can’t tell.”

Initially, Fabian never considered his son more than a successor. Maybe because he never had a child before. But now he understood the feeling of being a parent.

Even when he didn’t know that Adrian was his son, Fabian remembered that he was naturally attracted to him. Now, just seeing that child breathed with his tiny nose and smiled brightly at him, had made everything in this world new and wonderful.

“....I will invite Duchess Perth.” Fabian spat out his decision.

“Yes.”

“But, as a guest. I’ll leave the matter to the Empress Dowager.”

“Okay.” Despite the unexpected order, Serus bowed his head faithfully.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever made a choice close to gambling like this since I was born.” Fabian sighed.

“Your Majesty has been doing a lot of new things lately.”

Serus’ words suddenly swept Fabian’s heart. Indeed, Serus was afraid of his change, who didn’t care about himself, but he couldn’t say anything.

Now, Fabian sometimes daydreamed, looking up into the air with a warm smile on his face.

Serus, who grew up with Fabian in the Perth family, was aware of that, but this was the first time he saw Fabian’s face as a happy man.

“Your Majesty....” Serus stopped thinking for a moment. There’s a word he didn’t want to bring out, but he couldn’t help as it’s his mission.

“The King Felice and his wife have already crossed the Empire’s border at full speed.”

“Oh....I almost forgot.”

Fabian could tell Arthur’s passionate nature. The arrival of his annoying father-in-law wasn’t good news for him. But it wasn’t too bad when he thought about Evelyn’s happy face.

“There’s one more thing.”

“Another thing?” Fabian asked with a confused look.

“King Felice and his wife.... they come by warship through the sea separate from the land route.” said Serus.

“Are they going to prepare a wedding celebration too?”

Looking at Fabian’s innocent face, Serus tried to maintain his calm expression. “That..they will.”

Seeing King Felice and the Queen, it seemed that their use of warships wasn’t for artillery. If they were against their remarriage, King Felice would have shot a cannon to take his daughter back.

However, it was too hasty to say. Of course, except Fabian, everyone, and even Evelyn knew exactly what King Felice and the Queen were doing.

“Then Your Majesty, they would like to ask your permission to open the port. Port 4, no ... It must open to Port 6. “

“What, so many?” Fabian looked shocked.

The Empire had the largest port in the world. It was eleven port in total, but it was ridiculous to open six of them.

Fabian immediately dismissed the request, “There must be a mistake, they’re not going to war, are they? what kind of ship do they get on?”

“I’ve checked it three times just in case it’s a mistake ... And now I think ... we should open up to port seven.”

Fabian’s eyebrows wriggled at the remark. He didn’t know King Felice and his wife’s true purpose yet. However, Serus was able to accept their request easily because he had once dealt with Evelyn’s parents in such a short time.

Serus then began to explain one by one, “First of all, three ports for the Prince’s gift who will soon celebrate his birthday.”

Fabian nodded, he understood for this one.

“Two ports for Jewelries and dresses for Princess Evelyn.”

Fabian was also fine with that.

“The royal chef, gardener, tailors who will make dresses for the Princess who will miss her homeland, jewelry cleaners, bath supplies made of Kingdom specialties, hats and shoes from eastern countries, 70 boxes each.. .. .”

“Stop!”

Fabian began to get scared of Evelyn’s parents. If he read the list until it’s finished, it seemed he need a whole day until tomorrow.

Only

“I grant him permission.”

“And the rest will follow later .....”

“I allow it! Permission granted!” shouted Fabian.

Fabian then recalled something. He did hear that King Felice loved Adrian like his own son.

Then, suddenly, a wave of anxiety arose inside him.

“I allow him to bring anything. But he can’t take anyone from my Empire.”

Fabian made an urgent declaration towards an opponent who was more fearful than any other enemy.