I Was Adopted by the Villain Grand Duke Who Killed My Favorite Character - Chapter 98

The secret archives were not far from where we were now. However, getting there was the problem.

Michael suggested going out disguised as a servant. I stopped him when he immediately offered to find a suitable servant and take their clothes.

“I have this.”

I showed Michael the mask I had received from Tristan. There was no better stealth tool than the magical artifact made by Tristan, who was serious about sneaking out to play.

Michael clicked his tongue as he examined the functions contained in the magical artifact.

“Presence concealment magic, stealth magic, and even invisibility magic. So this is why he disappeared periodically.”

“Even a grand magician would find it difficult to make something like this.”

“I knew Tristan’s genius was being displayed in unnecessary places, but this… is a waste.”

Michael added that with such a tool, one could even enter the Empress’s bedroom. The promising Tristan had already visited the Empress’s bedroom before.

That was when he visited the imperial palace for my debutante event.

‘It’s better not to know.’

Once Michael seemed convinced, I put on the mask. Michael helped activate it by infusing it with magic power instead of me.

As a considerable amount of magic power was absorbed, he frowned.

“Magical artifacts are supposed to be used without magic power. In this state, an average person couldn’t use it.”

“Come to think of it, didn’t you say you could also infuse magic power into swords?”

“Not at your brother’s level.”

“We all know Lucas is beyond the norm.”

Michael told me several famous anecdotes about Lucas in the capital. I could tell that Lucas was not the type to tolerate provocations.

‘No wonder they call him a mad dog.’

My mood improved as I chatted with Michael about trivial things. If Michael hadn’t offered to help, I would have lost my direction again.

I would have felt the helplessness of not being able to do anything.

“Thank you, Michael.”

At my words, Michael lowered his head and covered his face. His awkward demeanor, unbecoming of a crown prince, gradually revealed glimpses of his past self.

Made invisible by the mask’s ability, I playfully asked.

“Do you still collect garbage?”

“Isn’t it unfair to tease me about childhood things?”

I could see his reddened face through the gaps between his fingers. His inability to meet my eyes suggested he still kept that memory in his heart.

“I was sorry I couldn’t give you a pleasant memory that day.”

“It was plenty enjoyable.”

Michael told me that after that day, he often snuck out to buy lizard skewers. He said such small changes remained as joyful memories for him.

“I’ll repay you this time. Follow me carefully without getting caught.”

“Yes. Please take me to the archives.”

Michael, having agreed, left the room. The moment he stepped into the corridor, an air of indifference overlaid his expression. A regal arrogance befitting a member of the imperial family emanated from his cold countenance.

I could understand why he was called the most perfect crown prince.

‘It must be the product of effort.’

Because he was in a position where he needed to receive others’ reverence without showing any weaknesses.

Throughout our walk, we encountered various people moving around the imperial palace. They greeted Michael.

“Good morning, Your Highness.”

“How gracious it is to encounter Your Highness in the imperial palace.”

“We are grateful for the grace of His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Most were servants or knights, but occasionally there were nobles. In such cases, he sometimes had to stop and acknowledge their greetings.

Especially when it was a noble whose position was comparable to Michael’s, he couldn’t refuse the conversation initiated by the other party.

One of those few cases was the Marquis Ramiet right in front of us. As the Empress’s father, he frequently visited the imperial palace.

Marquis Ramiet bowed to Michael first.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

“It’s been a while, Marquis Ramiet. You look healthier than before.”

“With the Saint by our side, I feel all worries washed away. Once the Grand Duke is placed under the imperial family, Your Highness will have no enemies.”

“The Grand Duke is not an enemy, Marquis.”

Despite Michael’s firm correction, the Marquis did not hide his smile. Michael’s expression darkened, perhaps conscious of me listening behind him.

The Marquis, who resembled the Empress, was small in stature with sharp features.

Seeing him looking down on the Crown Prince with clear disdain for someone beneath his station, I could guess the Empress’s position. Michael’s voice lowered even further.

“And it’s inappropriate to speak of such matters so openly.”

“Isn’t it true that the Grand Duke is not as docile as other nobles? Putting a leash on a fierce dog is a favor.”

“Marquis Ramiet!”

Despite Michael’s rebuke, Marquis Ramiet didn’t budge. While readily apologizing for his rudeness, he pointed out the Crown Prince’s behavior.

“To become Emperor in the future, you’ll need to control your emotions.”

It was laughable to listen. Who was advising whom?

In a place with many listening ears, the one who spread malicious gossip about the detained Grand Duke. Out of indignation, I used my invisibility to trip him.

The untrained Marquis fell with a loud noise.

“Ugh!”

Thud!

Michael gripped his arm as he watched the Marquis with his rear end up in the air. It was his effort to suppress laughter.

The Marquis’s appearance as he barely got up was pitiful. He hurried away, afraid someone might see him.

“I’ll be going now!”

Only after the Marquis had completely disappeared did Michael burst into laughter.

“Hahaha.”

After laughing so hard that tears formed in his eyes, he whispered softly. It was hard to hear through the laughter, but it sounded like he was saying thank you.

‘It’s nothing.’

I should have kicked him hard instead of just tripping him. Michael, with a much-improved expression, continued walking toward the archives.

***

There were no separate guards at the imperial palace’s secret archives. Security seemed to rely on the magical device attached to the iron door.

“Wait a moment.”

Michael placed his palm in the recess of the massive iron door. In that state, he smeared a drop of blood on the crystal sphere, and the locks began to unlock one by one.

Rumble.

Massive magical power could be seen flowing through the iron door.

‘Divine power is included too.’

The function responsible for the core security was divine power. Knowing the truth that the imperial palace had stolen the power of the divine beasts, I felt conflicted. It was unpleasant to think that, as Heishar had said, this function was also made using the corpse of a divine beast.

As light spread throughout the door, Michael took a step back.

“This is the archive.”

Michael picked up a magical lantern placed at the entrance of the archive and guided the way inside.

“I don’t know what book you’re looking for, but there’s no crystal ball here.”

“So I have to walk around and find the materials I need myself.”

“Almost all the materials are research documents on divine power. The imperial family places great importance on divine power.”

“They can’t rely on the power of divine beasts forever.”

It was obvious that the power to foresee the future would help in governance. However, it was a kind of cheating.

One couldn’t take a test with an answer sheet in hand. Otherwise, one would forever lose the ability to solve problems on their own.

Michael was silent for a while, taken aback by my words. Slowly removing the hand covering his mouth, he smiled with rounded eyes.

Speaking with the confidence of someone who had contemplated this matter extensively, he spoke without hesitation.

“I agree with that. Even without seeing the predetermined future, I, no, we can do well.”

“Yes. You would do well.”

An invisible cat tail seemed to sway behind Michael. With sparkling eyes, he told me about the future he dreamed of.

‘It will all come true.’

I could see the foundation of the reform policies Michael would push for in the future. While appropriately responding to his words, I reviewed where the book I was looking for might be located.

Michael’s voice, excited like a child’s, was pleasant to hear.

“I want to establish the foundation of a country where people can be recognized for their abilities regardless of bloodline or status.”

“How about lowering the academy’s admission requirements to allow commoners?”

“Establishing related scholarship programs would be more urgent.”

“Yes. In the early stages, it would be better to separate commoners and nobles into different classes. They need time to adapt.”

In the original story, this process happened late, causing serious bullying problems and many victims. There was no need to cause unnecessary pain that could be avoided.

I had roughly walked around the bookshelves once, but couldn’t find the book I was looking for.

“Michael, are records about the Saint gathered in one place?”

“They’re in a separate room. But how did you know these materials are here? Usually, people would think anything related to the Saint would be in the temple, wouldn’t they?”

“Somehow?”

Reading my intention not to explain, he changed the subject.

“…This way.”

Michael twisted a painting hanging in the archive to the right.

As the wall crumbled, another archive of almost the same size as the first appeared. Inside the circular archive were plenty of records of past Saints that I had been looking for.

To think there were this many records for only six Saints who had existed so far.

“Is this what you’re looking for?”

“Yes. It might take some time.”

I picked up a book shelved at the very top. The first book would likely be the diary immediately after being appointed as the Saint, so there was a high possibility that it contained information about revelations.

[Month X, Day XX.

God has warned me about a flood that will occur in the future. I decided to do my best to prepare, thinking that preventing disasters is my purpose.]

It was said that the first Saint foresaw a flood in her oracle. The diary, which was full of hope at first, became increasingly depressed as it went on.

[Is preventing disasters really God’s will? I’ve developed an obsession that no matter what I do, I cannot escape the scenes I saw in my dreams. God demands that I move as predetermined.]

The Saint’s diary repeatedly emphasized that oracles were immutable facts.

It was as if the diary itself was warning future Saints not to go against it.

“Michael, about the oracle the first Saint saw. What exactly was it?”

“I heard it was about the submersion of Hessen village.”

Hessen village was submerged as prophesied, and many people died.

Perhaps the Saint could have identified the village in the prophecy over a long period. But why didn’t she evacuate the villagers?

Maybe the Saint didn’t want to change the oracle.