CH 41

“It would be fortunate if it ends at the level of being caught.”

“T- then what?”

At the ominous answer, Yul pressed his thumping chest with his small hands. He could feel the beating of his non-existent doll heart.

“It’s the death penalty.”

“Gasp.”

Yul doubted his ears. Of course, from hearing it, it seems like black magic is not a good thing, but does that mean it was a mortal sin? The word black magic somehow made him feel uncomfortable, but his instincts were always right.

Mikael did not use black magic, and he himself had nothing to do with black magic, but hearing that about the death penalty made him more than uncomfortable and worried.

“Mikael, as you know, I can defend even a charge of treason. But black magic is a no no.”

Mikael did not respond to Andrei’s words. Even though his body was here, he seemed to be looking far away from his eyes, probably because he was deep in thought.

Yul looked away from Mikael who was silent and ruminated on Andrei’s words.

In an absolutist country, treason was the greatest sin. Andrei said that he could defend even a charge of treason from his side. However, he drew the line at black magic. That meant, at least in this world, black magic was a more serious crime than treason.

And the reason for reminding Mikael, who couldn’t not be aware of this fact, was probably… It might be because he seemed to have something to do with black magic, or because he might look like that in other people’s eyes.

""

“What will happen to Yuri when this fact is revealed?”

Mikael, who had been silent for a long time, finally opened his mouth. However, what he asked was related to Yul, not his own safety.

Yul looked at Mikael with surprised eyes at his unexpected words.

“What do you mean ‘what will happen’? He will be tied to the temple, undergo various purification rites, and eventually be burned alive.”

“Eek.”

To put it simply, ‘to be burned alive’ was burnt at the stake. One of the greatest pains a person can feel was burning pain. The pain of being burned. Thinking that he had to go through that pain, fear overwhelmed him just by imagining it.

“Of course, you too, Mikael. You know that high-ranking nobles die as gracefully as possible, right? However, when it comes to black magic, they are always burned at the stake. Even if it’s the imperial family.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Doesn’t matter?”

Andrei asked in amazement.

Although he didn’t show it, Yul completely agreed with his feelings. It looks like it’s going to burn alive, but what ‘doesn’t matter’? No matter how much gwanggong lived like a thug and died like a thug, this was too much.

“Mikael, it’s burning at the stake, you know, burn! To death!”

“I know.”

“Then why doesn’t it matter?”

It’s probably not going to happen, but maybe that person didn’t know what burning was, so he emphasized it. Still, Mikael’s reaction was calm. Yul was at a loss as to what the hell that person was believing in and behaving like that.

“Yuri is not a product of black magic.”

“I wouldn’t know about that.”

To Mikael’s words, Andrei replied coldly. It was a voice he had never heard before, so Yul swallowed dryly.

Andrei glanced at Yul with cold eyes, then moved his gaze back to Mikael.

“Andrei.”

“I don’t know what you used, but you insist. So if that’s not black magic, then what on earth do you think?”

“That…”

“Wake up. If it isn’t, you could die because of that.”

Yul blinked his big eyes without saying anything. It was because the conversation between the two did not feel realistic. Did it make sense that the seemingly indomitable Mikael could die because of him?

He himself was not even a supporting character in this novel, he was just an extra who suddenly fell in one day. It was absurd that Mikael, the main character of the novel, would die because of himself.

“Throw that away. Tie it to a stone and throw it into the river, or tear it apart. Oh, it’s better to throw it in the fireplace without being troubled.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“What’s nonsense? If you can’t do it, I will.”

Even when Andrei told him how to brutally murder him right in front of him, Yul remained aloof. He still couldn’t believe this situation.

But when Andrei jumped up and stretched out his hand to him with frightening force, he instinctively rushed into Mikael’s chest and avoided him.

Clang!

At the same time, a sharp sound of metal crashing pierced his eardrums. Surprised, Yul raised his head slightly. Yul, who soon grasped the situation, opened his mouth wide in fright.

Isaac was blocking Mikael’s sword with his own.

He didn’t even have the mind to think about where the sword suddenly came from Mikael. It was just that Yul could not close his gaping mouth in surprise at the fact that, no matter how close Mikael was with Andrei, he had pointed a sword at the emperor.

“Archduke Orlov, what the hell is this…”

“Isaac Frolisa, withdraw your sword against my lord immediately.”

Isaac’s words were cut off by Caleb.

It seemed that the sword Mikael pulled out belonged to Caleb. Instead of a longsword, Caleb took out a bow and arrow he didn’t even know he had and aimed it at Isaac.

“Mikael, are you pointing your sword at me?”

“No matter how much you try to harm Yuri, I won’t tolerate it.”

“Ha… You’re crazy.”

Andrei burst out laughing as if he was dumbfounded. But Mikael was not laughing at all. He just stared at him with eyes as red as drops of blood. Yul looked back and forth between Andrei and Mikael nervously. It seemed that at any moment, Andrei’s body would pour red blood like Mikael’s pupils.

“Mikael, I thought we were close friends.”

“That’s right. That’s why I stopped at this point without harming you.”

“…”

Andrei said nothing. A dangerous silence mingled between them, like sharp metal pointed at each other.

“Mikael, Mikael. Stop it.”

Yul grabbed Mikael by the hem of his clothes and begged. It was because he was really afraid that something would happen.

""

Of course, in the original work, Mikael did not threaten Andrei with a sword like he was now, but he did rebel because of Levi. However, it was an action he, the main character, did for his sake, and was the biggest highlight of the novel. It was an unavoidable setting in the development of the novel.

But it was not like that now. He wasn’t even the protagonist himself, and this situation couldn’t have been an important development in the novel.

Even if Andrei was really angry and punished Mikael, he could not dispute it. It was scary to think so. Yul sincerely hoped that nothing bad would happen to Mikael. And if the reason why the bad things happened was because of him, he hated it even more.

“Archduke Orlov, if you don’t withdraw your sword right now…”

“… Alright, I apologize.”

“Your Majesty!”

Isaac, who had warned in a cold voice, called out to Andrei at his apology. His face was tangled with emotions such as embarrassment, anger, and sadness.

Of course, he wasn’t the only one confused. Yul was also greatly surprised by Andrei’s apology. He didn’t expect him to apologize to Mikael for pointing his sword at him.

“I didn’t know that doll was so precious to you.”

“…”

Instead of replying to his apology, Mikael quietly drew his sword. With a chilling sound, the sharpened sword disappeared into the scabbard. Only then did Isaac insert his sword, and Caleb also pointed his arrow toward the floor.

The blades pointed at each other disappeared, but the air was still sharp. Even if the blade didn’t hurt the body, it was clear that it left a scar on his heart.

“It is true that I made a mistake this time. But you should know for sure that the doll could pose a threat to you.”

Andrei said sternly, then turned around and headed for the door blowing the cold air. Isaac hurried after him.

Bang!

The sound of the door being slammed loudly echoed through the room. Only then did Caleb put down his bow.

“Archduke! What have you done!”

After making sure Mikael was safe, Caleb shouted. It was a natural action to reflexively protect his lord, but when thinking rationally, it was true that his lord did something wrong.

“Caleb, leave.”

“However… !”

“I ordered you to leave.”

“… Yes. Please rest then.”

Caleb’s voice was indignant, but he no longer protested and obeyed Mikael’s words.

After he disappeared, a terrible silence settled in the room. Yul lowered his head, feeling as if it was all his fault that Mikael confronted Andrei and his anger at Caleb.

Then, a large hand wrapped around Yul’s head.