Chapter 234
As Arsen’s performance reached its climax, the murmurs of awe that had filled the hall gradually died down to complete silence.
What stretched long and luminous on the stage was unmistakably the light and shadow of the Oracle’s Radiance. But no matter how hard they looked, Arsen’s shadow was nowhere to be seen beside it.
Isn’t that strange? If something exists, it should naturally cast a shadow. Even the faintest spiderweb shows a shadow when the sun stretches low.
So then, what about Arsen?
There he stood, under the intense light, as if he didn’t exist at all.
“Am I seeing things wrong?” someone whispered.
“No, I see the same. There’s no shadow.”
“Could the Magic Department have done something…?”
“The Oracle’s Radiance is the only light here. There’s no reason for the Carbo Temple to interfere. And if another mage had intervened, wouldn’t His Highness Arsen know? Mages can sense each other even from afar.”
“Then, could it really be…?”
“Truly…”
Just as Ian had intended, the strange phenomenon—Arsen’s missing shadow—cast doubt on their denial of the suspicion that Arsen might be a monster. For some, it even became a certainty.
“He’s acting like that because he’s a monster, right?”
“Monsters in the royal family of Bariel? Impossible.”
“…God, are you watching? What should we do? Please, watch over Bariel.”
Thud!
Arsen was intoxicated by the Oracle’s Radiance he had summoned, and the orchestra, facing away from the audience, failed to sense the tense atmosphere in the hall.
The music swelled. The conductor’s commanding baton moved passionately, and the orchestra’s hands followed with fervor. You could feel the artist’s soul breathing life into the Oracle’s Radiance.
Boom! Thump!
Everyone’s hearts seemed to beat as one. But whether it was the majestic music or the approaching truth that made them race, no one could say.
“Recore! Tio!”
The conductor shouted, grasping at the air. The musicians ended in perfect unison, and silence fell over the hall.
“…?”
No applause came. Arsen wiped the sweat from his brow and stood, but the crowd remained cold, even stunned. It was an utterly unexpected reaction.
Clap. Clap-clap. Clap!
Breaking the silence was a single applause—Ian’s. He clapped slowly and elegantly, as if appreciating a magnificent performance.
Arsen’s brow furrowed deeply. A strong intuition told him something was terribly wrong.
“A performance you only see twice in a lifetime.”
“Sir Ian, what was that just now?”
“Please, tell us.”
Arsen flinched and looked down at his palm. Still pale and flawless. He had wielded the Oracle’s Radiance himself, yet no side effects appeared. Then, his eyes met Delaina’s, who was watching him with an unreadable expression, her hand covering her mouth.
“The suspicion that Arsen is a monster began with the testimony of the Carbo priests. The voices from the Oracle’s Radiance were different. So, my aides and the priests searched ancient records to verify.”
With a smooth motion, Ian pulled out a sheet of paper from inside his robe. Though the contents were hidden, the official seal of the administration was clear on the cover—proof that this was information formally preserved by the royal court.
“And then, we found something very significant. It was a record of Priest Raju, who was executed for blasphemy at the Hamangmer Temple. He reportedly said this:”
“Priest Raju was summarily executed, and that was the last we heard. The key point is this: monsters standing before the Oracle’s Radiance cast no shadow.”
Arsen lowered his gaze. A long shadow stretched beside his feet. Had it not appeared during the Oracle’s Radiance? He couldn’t remember. All he knew was that he had felt joy.
“The Carbo Temple desperately hopes the prince is not a monster. So, any claim that there is a problem with the Oracle’s Radiance is politely rejected.”
Ian smiled lightly, placing a hand over his chest. His gaze fixed on Arsen, and naturally, the nobles followed his eyes to the stage. The boy stood there like a doll, showing no emotion.
“Ah, well, since the Carbo priests are here, why not conduct a more thorough examination?”
“Exactly. If His Highness Arsen truly is a mo-monster! The priests should be able to tell, right?”
Voices of agreement echoed around. Once suspicion takes root, it grows until uprooted. They wanted to know the truth of Arsen here and now—whatever it might be.
“Duke Haiman, what shall we do?”
“This is a problem.”
Haiman stroked his beard, troubled, while his supporters exchanged uneasy glances. The duke glanced at Delaina, whose shocked expression suggested even she didn’t fully grasp the truth.
If Arsen really was a monster—
It was over.
After the Marib and Gale rebellions, it meant he had made a pact with a demon. Haiman felt a pounding headache as he whispered to Delaina.
“Best to leave the hall for now.”
There was no other way. They had to escape and somehow spin this as a conspiracy by the Magic Department.
The truth didn’t matter. Whatever Arsen’s true nature, he was not a demon. No matter what.
Bang!
At that moment, the door slammed shut. The Magic Department’s will was clear: no one would leave until Arsen’s demonic nature was confirmed.
Romandro, standing guard by the door, solemnly ordered everyone to stay put. The mages flanking him formed the core of the enforcement.
“…Li-Lily!”
Delaina, panic-stricken, called out to the High Priestess. She had known Arsen and Jin since childhood, had witnessed their births, and oversaw Carbo. Surely, she would declare the Oracle’s Radiance a mistake on Ian’s behalf.
Delaina’s voice trembled as she cried out in a shrill tone.
“High Priestess, please speak! What is going on? Arsen just used magic! He definitely did! Did you feel any evil? How could such bright, warm light be the power of a monster? Priests, swear to the god and tell us the truth!”
Clink!
A nearby glass fell, shattered by her agitated gestures.
The situation was dire. The crowd slowly backed away from Delaina, including Haiman. As everyone retreated, only one person stepped forward.
“Mother.”
It was Jin. He looked up at his mother with worried eyes full of sorrow. Delaina, unaware, trembled and stammered. Just as she was about to speak, Ian cut in.
“Arsen has multiple abilities. The Oracle’s Radiance we saw earlier is similar to what I displayed at the New Year’s ceremony, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I definitely felt that.”
“I thought all mages were similar.”
“Me too. Isn’t the Oracle’s Radiance always like that?”
Arsen had only been imitating a mage’s power, so he could easily hide the foul, sinister essence beneath.
Ian nodded, and the High Priestess and Avidel ascended the stairs. Arsen remained silent, watching the unfolding scene.
“Your Highness.”
“…”
The High Priestess knelt before Arsen, carefully raising a vial of holy water—a sacred proof created through prayer.
“This is to prove your innocence. Please drink this and take my hand.”
If he were a monster, the pain would burn his insides and end his life. If not, it would quench any thirst.
If there had been even a shadow in the Oracle’s Radiance, the High Priestess wouldn’t have done this. Lily bowed her head repeatedly, clinging to hope. Please, please…
Slowly, Arsen took the holy water. Relief blossomed deep within the High Priestess’s heart.
Splash!
Without hesitation, the boy poured the liquid over the High Priestess’s head instead. The clear water soaked her robe and dripped onto the floor.
“Ridiculous. You try every trick to poison me. Do you all really believe that? I don’t know when the Carbo Temple became so corrupt. I deny everything.”
Though he denied it all, the atmosphere didn’t shift. The priests rushed forward and grabbed Arsen’s arms.
The High Priestess wiped the water from her face and stood, holding a fresh vial of holy water. Her voice was low and heavy. She too felt a truth she wished to deny.
“…It’s not poison. I will drink it myself to prove it.”
Then, boldly, she drank half the vial. The priests, ignoring decorum, pried Arsen’s jaw open, but the boy thrashed and resisted violently. His screams sounded more like agonized howls.
“Let go! Let me go! Do you know who I am?!”
“Arsen! Arsen!”
“Mother! Save me! Save me! Aaaah!”
“Everyone, what are you doing? Get these priests off him!”
“No! If His Highness Arsen is truly a monster, we can’t just stand by here in Karbo! Lady Dilaina!”
“Right now! Get him away immediately!”
Like the other nobles, Dilaina’s guards were all waiting outside the council chamber. Though Dilaina shouted for them to intervene, they hesitated, and no one stepped forward. After all, they were all from the Magic Department.
Her mother gritted her teeth and tried to rush toward Arsen.
“Arsen!”
“Mother!”
But this time, Jin blocked her with his whole body. Wrapping his arms tightly around her waist, he pleaded desperately.
“Please, please just wait and see.”
“Jin! Let go! Step aside!”
“No! I won’t let go! I can’t let go of my mother!”
The room erupted into chaos in an instant. Bewildered gasps echoed from all sides. Five priests pinned Arsen down, restraining his limbs, while the High Priest poured holy water into the gap. Just as the water began to spill—
Ziiiiiing!
Ziiing!
“Ah…”
The High Priest clutched his head and staggered. Suddenly, it felt as if heaven and earth were swirling together, shaking violently. His mind went blank, and dizziness overwhelmed him. The holy water he’d dropped shattered on the floor.
Clang!
“High Priest!”
“Why all of a sudden…?”
“Ah, this…”
“Ugh! Ughhh!”
The priests closest to Arsen covered their mouths and retched. Soon, they too collapsed sideways, unable to fight off the dizziness.
Avidel held the High Priest, then looked at Arsen—the boy lying flat on his back, staring up at the ceiling.
“…This is annoying.”
Arsen muttered, and a strange sense of déjà vu washed over him.
That was a clear, slender voice…
“Ian. This is no fun.”
…the voice of the oracle. The very same voice he’d heard ten years ago. Avidel covered his mouth, tears streaming down his face.
“His Highness’s aura…”
“Why are the priests acting like that? All of a sudden?”
Not only the priests but even the mages sensed something was terribly wrong and hesitated. Arsen brushed the dust off his clothes and stood up, fixing a sharp glare on Ian.
Ian signaled Romandro to evacuate the others, then unleashed his magic. A sharp flow of power shimmered alongside his golden eyes.
Ziiiiiing!
Ziiing.
“That’s a shame. I find this very entertaining.”