story summary

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Notes

【Please read to be informed of potentially triggering topics. There will be no more warnings past this point. The story begins with a horrific case of child abuse. Though Abel isn't the child being abused, he becomes very involved; this isn't his story to tell but under very specific circumstances, he may allude to it. Furthermore, the story has several cases of near-rape. Abel very likely won't bring this up. Finally, there is mention of cannibalism. 】


History

An unknown number of years ago, the world was nearly destroyed by dragons. Before the humans were destroyed, however, a dragon fell in love with a human knight and came to their aid. Once the dragons who wanted to kill the humans were destroyed, the knight and dragon became cornerstones of the kingdom. The dragon blessed the knight, and the ruling family received the power of a dragon. This was passed down throughout the generations, but with the power came the cruelty of a dragon. To bring balance, each generation would also have a Regas, otherwise known as a dragon tamer.

As the generations passed, the power of the dragon became weaker and the Regas more of a ceremonial role with beauty being chosen over any other attribute. While each king had a ‘true’ Regas, finding them became of less importance. Some kings had more than one during their reign.

Able, our lead and POV character, was born in a border village. His family was poor, and Abel had a lot of siblings, but he found joy in playing in the surrounding forests. Though he learned how to forage berries and other animals, he became best known for his ability to find magpie eggs.

At a young age, he found his home destroyed and himself orphaned during a time of war. He was taken in my Master Wiedel and trained to be a Regas though his master believes his skills should encompass physical skill and an awareness of nature. Large and rough-looking, he certainly didn’t look the part normally played by pretty boys.

When Able was 12, the prince was born from a loveless marriage. With eyes like a snake, the Queen, someone already pushed to breaking, rejects the prince and regrets his birth. Though the dragon mark was visible, he showed no signs of manifesting his powers.

In a bid to control the Queen, she’s given drugs and coerced into hurting the prince. Her fear and hatred were fueled by the drug and the abuse became more severe. With the king pouring his focus into the Regas, the prince was left with nothing but a cruel mother and fearful servants.

Sir Melmond, an ex-Regas in training, is offered a chance to enter the palace as a librarian. His master urges him to take the position to continue the work done by the man previously in his position: find proof that the King’s Heart – a group made up of five noble families and tasked with assisting the royal family – is secretly working to damage and control the king. However, he’s unable to find proof among the pages and soon focuses solely on building a life in town.

Canon

◦ A simple boy goes to court

Abel is now 20 and has been raised by Master Wiedel. Unlike other Regas trainees, his focus has been communication with natural and physical wellness. Peace is disturbed when his master has a dream of the kingdom, burning, as a dragon with gray eyes sets it aflame. The dream also showed the people inside of the palace, drinking a black potion and laughing as if they felt no heat. The dream persists for a month.

Melmond comes to visit. Though his own master has since passed, Melmond is a friend of the two and in his mid-thirties, seen almost like a son to the 50-year-old master. Though Melmond sees the king and his unsightly activities because of his role as castle librarian, he nonetheless keeps much of the story to himself. When he hears of Wiedel’s dreams, he dismisses the idea until Able adds an important detail: Melmond is seen in the dream, running with his child, Roy. Though they have no children, the librarian and his wife had secretly already chosen that name for their first child.

In the castle, the prince has become impossible to control. In just a month, 30 Regas’ have left. The King’s Heart discusses their concerns. Duke Truyde has only recently joined the group but commands a lot of their respect despite many of the men of higher rank – a fact that has no bearing within King’s Heart. He accuses Marquis Norhox of training weak Regas… Regasi? Regases? and plans to look for a Regas outside of Norhox’s control.

Now terrified of the dragon foreseen in the dream, Melmond sends the Duke a letter and relays the vision seen by Wiedel. However, the Duke is more interested in the Regas mentioned by Melmond and agrees only to meet with Able. Though the librarian sends a letter that day, he arrives home to find the two of them waiting for him as Weidel had felt a sudden need to visit Melmond.

When Able arrives at the palace, he conveys the dream to Truyde once more, but as the attendant in attendance listens, he becomes outraged at the mention of a black potion and has to be calmed by the duke. However, again Truyde’s focus is on testing Able on his abilities as a Regas, and by the conversation’s end, he accepts Able into the role with the caveat that he’d be removed should he fail to show results within a month. Excited to share his news with his master, Able rushes back to Melmond’s home, but they find Wiedel dead and signs of a break-in.

Ashler, a 19-year-old skilled but low-ranking knight of only - is called to shadow and protect the new Regas and the prince. While he’s hesitant to accept, his otherwise poor background means this may be one of his only chances for real advancement.

Optimistic and determined, Abel finally meets the prince. Immediately, he’s appalled by the chains holding the prince in place, the filth in his room, and the boarded windows. Though he approaches with kindness and patience, the prince has been so abused that he only knows how to communicate with violence. Yet, for a man who’s been injured by bears and boars, the attacks of the prince may draw blood but don’t solicit a reaction. Immediately, he orders the room to be cleaned and the boards removed as he takes the prince to bathe and have his wounds cleaned.

Though he seems to shock the castle with his entrance, the excitement dies down as more days pass. The prince hides beneath the bed when Abel is nearby and yet, the regas does nothing but sit nearby and carves. Unlike others, Abel has never shown fear of the yellow eyes and doesn’t see the prince as a monster waiting to kill but as a weak creature striking out in fear. While it may seem nothing has changed, it’s notable that aside from attacking Abel, the prince is more subdued and less violent when the regas is around. This is highlighted when Abel steps outside to speak with Asher concerning his approval to enter the Dragon’s Forest and when he returns, the prince has managed to catch and kill a bird.

The Dragon’s Forest, aka The Forest of Death, is a forest sacred to the royal family. Surrounded by thick fog, it’s said that only a king and his true regas can enter without becoming lost unless the king has direct contact with the person. Though Asher can see the fog when they arrive, Abel sees only the forest, but this is easily explained by the tiny prince in his arms. Here, they find a magpie and while Abel is amazed at the way it stays still in front of the child, the prince strikes quickly and kills the animal. Though the regas has been taking his lessons slow, he begins to teach the boy how to make friends and why killing is wrong.

The trips continue and Abel soon becomes a mockery as the prince continues to show no changes. His skin now shows a lot of signs of damage including pus and other indicators of infection. The regas is losing strength and stamina, but he doesn’t cease their trips. During one of the outings, while telling the prince another story about his master and remembering a time that Abel had gotten dangerously ill, the death of his Wieldel finally hits and the regas begins to sob. The boy climbs from his shoulder and watches, but it’s the first time the two have been ‘apart’ in the forest.

Slowly, the prince starts to open up. He’ll walk beside Abel and hold his hand instead of requiring the regas to carry him. He agrees to keep his ‘scary’ eyes uncovered when in the forest with Abel. However, even more amazing things begin to happen. During three separate trips within three days, Abel mentions a boar, a bear, and wolves before they seem to just emerge from the foliage and chase him – this is especially notable as it isn’t a bear’s usual territory.

Though these odd events continue to happen and are reported to the Duke and other members of the King’s Heart, they’re either dismissed or blame is placed on Abel. However, the regas has realized the truth: the prince can summon animals within the forest. Melmond supports the theory after finding stories of past kings with the same ability, but their minds refuse to change. With only two days left, Abel realizes that he needs to take drastic measures if he wants to remain by the prince’s side. Once inside of the forest, he tells the boy of his greatest fear: wolf spiders. Almost immediately, one falls from a nearby tree, and Abel faints in shock. When the prince is unable to wake him, he runs to the entrance of the forest and demands Asher’s help.

During the rescue, the prince begins to talk and finally, they believe in Abel’s influence, but the greatest victory comes when Abel wakes up while recovering in the prince’s room. Unable to say his name correctly, the boy calls him Eppel, but Abel is so overjoyed that he plans to happily adopt the name. When Asher enters the room to tell the regas of the new plan – proper training for the prince – he notices that the look in the prince’s eyes has changed. Though the coldness isn’t new, he notes that it seems to now warn him away from the regas and not the boy himself.

With the prince’s condition more favorable, The King’s Heart set many moves into motion. The first is the arrival of several tutors and a record keeper tasked with recording Abel and the prince’s every move. The second move comes when the pair are allowed within the forest again. The king appears and while those pulling his strings meant for him to strike terror and shame into Abel, the man kinds something within Abel and whispers a mysterious sentence: the spring of prayer was his only hope.

Their final move is more fatal: Abel is being poisoned. A talk with the duke first reveals that the regas is aware that he’s being used and that soon, his influence will be removed from the prince so he accepts every condition Truyde throws his way, much to the duke’s chagrin. Soon, the record keeper begins to poison Abel’s meals. His condition weakens, but the regas doesn’t immediately die. They up his dosage.

Melmond finally discovers records that expose the King’s Heart and the cycle of abuse they’ve inflicted on the royal family, but Abel’s body continues to deteriorate until he’s unable to leave the bed. Proceeding three days of unconsciousness, Abel wakes to find an attendant with more soup with the promise of ‘making him feel better’, and to his surprise, the food works. Their motive is clear - the prince has run into the forest, and the marquis needs the regas to retrieve him.

Inside the forest, Abel gives the boy his pendant – shaped like a dragon, it’s the last memento from Abel’s master and is said to have been carved by the kingdom’s founder. While he doesn’t believe the story, Abel hopes the prince understands the sentimental value.

After they return, Melmond is waiting for him. He reveals the records he’d found in the library, records his predecessors left detailing the horrific treatment the royal family has suffered for such a long time. Instead of running away, Abel reveals that for the past 20 days, he’s had the same dream as Wiedel, but as time progresses, the dream has been changing for the better after meeting the king. Though he doesn’t explain, after meeting with the king, the dragon in the dream becomes a person, and, as Abel manages to endure day to day, the range of the burning palace also decreases. Thus, the regas insists on staying for the prince’s sake, for the kingdom’s sake, and Melmond sadly replies that he has to think of his wife and child.

The two are interrupted by a soldier who races to the room to inform Abel that the queen has been released on the prince. He immediately rushes to the boy’s side and shields him with his own body. Outside the door, Asher can only listen on as the abuse continues. Soon, he notices that all of the guards are unfamiliar and connects the dots: they intentionally involved Abel so that he can be arrested for harming the queen. Yet, inside, the man has yet to raise a hand to her, even once she begins to stab him, repeatedly, with a broken chair leg. Asher creates an excuse and scares the queen into retreat by claiming the king is coming. As she flees, the regas finds a bottle of black potion and hides it in his garments.

Abel is arrested for interfering with the queen. Due to his injuries, he’s allowed to remain in his room, and Nanny – a soldier who’d befriended Melmond – helps the man enter the room. Abel previously asked him to research the spring of prayer, and the librarian was able to find a map, exposing its location.

Serene – a maid who serves the prince and has grown very close to Abel – has been helping the record keeper poison Abel. Believing the prince to be poison and the ‘medicine’ the antidote, she continues to add the poison to his food until accidentally revealing the truth when delivering food to the regas. However, he’s finally able to convince her of the truth. Nonetheless, Abel eats half the food to keep up appearances.

Desperate for the block potion, the queen returns to the prince’s room. Angered by its absence, she stabs a pen into both of the boy’s eyes, blinding him. When Abel hears the news, he immediately races to the prince’s side and takes him from the palace. Knowing it’s his last day, he finds the spring of prayer and has the boy drink from the water, unimpressive as it is. Against his very nature, he warns the prince not to easily trust anyone and then allows the prince to smell the black potion. Knowing the potion can only be mixed with food that has strong odors due to its own strong smell, he warns the boy as well as he can.

The King’s Heart is burning the forest – with no forest, there’s no magic. As morning sets, they find Abel, dead, holding the sleeping prince in his arms

◦ Born again

Abel’s presence is felt almost as strongly after death. Melmond, who was arrested shortly after helping Abel escape despite their attempt at hiding his involvement, is released but dismissed from his job as a librarian. As the attendant mocks his termination, he mentions the dragon with gray eyes – the color of the dragon’s eyes was intentionally kept a secret. It’s this detail that allows Melmond to realize something: they’d killed Wiedel.

Keeping his calm, Melmond continues to pack and the attendant storms off in anger. Finding him alone, Serene approaches him and confesses everything. After asking her to retrieve some of the potion when she’s directed to add it to the prince’s food, Melmond returns to the last book he’d found on the situation. It relays the existence of an herb that can stop the conditions caused by the poison from worsening, but the author believed the next person to read the text – Melmond – would perfect the antidote.

Due to Abel’s warnings, the prince has refused to eat anything cooked and has instead been surviving on fruit. Despite their attempts to force different meals, he continues to resist the food until the king himself pays a visit. His Majesty understands the situation but sees no way out until Asher enters in response to hearing the loud noises inside. Realizing his son has support that he did not, the king fakes an attack on himself and orders the prince to be exiled. If he’s not in the castle, he’ll at least have a few years of relative safety.

Serene, the prince, and Asher are exiled. As the knight begs the prince to allow him the chance to change bandages that have yet to be replaced, the boy finally trusts him enough, though with a warning, to show him the truth: his eyes have returned though now, instead of golden, they’re a pale gray. The exile lasts for six years.

In time, the king dies and the prince ascends to the throne. Together with Asher and Melmond, he works to keep himself out of the potion’s control though he does consume it on occasion. Instead of a fuzzy, lust-filled mind, he focuses on violence and very quickly starts declaring war on nearby countries. Soon, the kingdom acquires enough land to become an empire and the king becomes an emperor. One by one, their enemies fall, and His Highness becomes known as the Prince of Slaughter.

The King’s Heart is desperate to retain its power. While the emperor was still within the castle, they continued to offer him faux Abel’s and some even pretended to be the man reincarnated. However, the man knows them to be fakes and soon comes to hate anyone who'd even try to play the role in any capacity. It's almost a guaranteed instant death.

Even the potion fails to control him. He manages to financially attack them by focusing on importing salts from conquered nations, crippling the King Heart’s salt mines until they agree to simply hand over the potion. As their power weakens, various men rise in the ranks thanks to the profits of war, and some of the members find their positions to be in danger. Six years into the war, two are nearing, and eventually fall, into bankruptcy. Since the emperor has no desire to follow tradition and has yet to experience sexual desire, the regas palace has also faded into the background, now used more by the highest-ranking nobles.

With their wealth and power in danger, the King’s Hand devise a plan, against Truyde’s will, to have the emperor killed on the battlefield. Their most notable attempt comes while the prince is still very young. With traitors stationed in his army, even his allies betray him, leaving the boy and Asher alone to defeat the large group of men. When Asher is knocked unconscious, he considers himself dead, but when he wakes, only the king remains, now surrounded by a pile of corpses.

12 years later, Abel dreams. The castle is burning, but those he cares for are safe. The prince stands outside, watching. By his side is a small, blonde man. It’s surely one last, fleeting dream. But instead of drifting into nothingness, his eyes open. Around him, people weep for the deceased young master. The crowd that surrounds him is just as shocked by his sudden resurrection, but Abel is more focused on finding the prince. The staff pleads for him to slow down and claims there is no prince, but confusion and desperation leave him no time to analyze the situation. Not understanding that he’s been reborn into the body of a young man, named Liliah Aretrin Chloride, who only recently passed, Abel finally convinces them to allow his trip to the capital.

When he arrives at Melmond’s residence, it isn’t his old friend but a 12-year-old boy who answers the door. Abel’s confusion increases when the boy introduces himself as Roy, Melmond’s son. While pieces of his brain are screaming that something is wrong, all other worries and doubts are pushed aside so that he can focus on the prince. This concern shows when Melmond finally appears. Though he’s initially angry at this fairy-like boy insisting that he’s the once-large, robust Abel, the ex-regas has such a unique personality that he’s convinced within the first conversation.

Melmond finally forces him to look in the mirror and with the butler’s help, they’re able to piece together everything that happened. Abel also learns of the emperor’s history and love of war. Yet, Abel is sure that he has deeper reasons and doesn’t want to believe in his violent nature.

Melmond’s wife is currently pregnant with their second child, and he knows this signals the timeline depicted in Abel’s dream. Before heading to find the emperor on the battlefield, Abel takes the time to cut his long hair, causing the butler to emotionally break down. After apologizing and even burying the hair, the butler seems appeased and their long journey begins.

In contrast to the healthy, hearty body, Abel’s new form is fragile. While he works to improve his stamina, small frights can sometimes cause him to faint, and he’s provided various medicines for various ailments. It’s difficult to adjust, but Abel focuses on building a body that can be more useful to the prince though nature limits his goals somewhat.

As they draw near to the battlefield, they find a group of men, mostly deceased but with one still breathing. Recognizing them as allies, Melmond approaches and they learn that His Majesty is being lured into a trap. With limited time, the ex-librarian decides to hurry ahead and find Asher’s men, leaving Abel in the butler’s care. However, Abel requests the butler fetch water when the dying man complains of thirst. When the two are alone, the man manages to tell the now-small boy that the trap lies in the old fortress southeast of their location. Fearing no time to spare, Abel rushes to the fortress.

Karas - we finally learn of the emperor’s name though Abel remains ignorant of the man’s true identity as he’s always known him simply as ‘the prince’. It seems that Abel arrives just before Karas but faints due to his health condition. When he wakes, the entire platoon of soldiers is dead and Karas is torturing the last man alive. Their current enemy is the last country to conquer and once they’re defeated, the war ends. However, their king remains in hiding. Abel believes the emperor truly wants to end the war and so he decides to help find the king so that the fighting can finally end.

The soldier reveals the king’s location: Crimson Valley. Without being able to recognize Abel in his new body, Karas plans to kill him as well, but Abel thinks quickly and offers to help the emperor find the hidden king, using his tracking ability to his advantage. With Melmond’s warning that the emperor has no patience for anyone claiming to be Abel, the ex-regas knows it’s best to hide his identity. Mistaking the emperor for a loyal commander in the emperor’s army, the small man attempts to establish a pleasant relationship, but Karas continues his cruelty.

In addition to hiding his name, Abel knew he had to hide his personality from the emperor as well, but misunderstanding the situation, he allows his true nature to show to Karas. The man is initially annoyed at the reminder of a man thought to be long dead, and his personality becomes worse. Throughout the journey, he pushes Abel past his physical limits, denies him food, and chooses to empty his water onto the ground over sharing with Abel. Yet, he’s unable to deny the similarities between the small man in front of him and the lumbering regas that he once held so dear. Abel hides nothing aside from his name and openly shares details about the prince and his past life, omitting only the parts he spent with the prince.

A tree is like a kingdom – it’s a story Abel once told to the small boy, and it’s the same idle comment made 12 years later that sets the first bit of unease in Karas’ stomach. As reincarnation is almost impossible to accept, the emperor instead decides that he’s a convincing fake and plans to have him sacrifice himself to the trap once they arrive in Crimson Valley.

Three thieves find a sleeping Abel and plan to assault his unconscious body. Karas returns with food after finally having mercy on the poor boy and discovers the men’s intentions. After making swift work of two men, Abel wakes and convinces Karas to spare in return for his help.

As Abel continues to share more information about the prince, including incidents that a stranger could never know, Karas finds his unease growing and when Abel describes Asher as a handsome knight, he feels the sting of jealousy. Perhaps it’s that jealousy that causes the bears to appear as the blonde reminisces about the bears he’d met in the forest. But, the mood is restored when he finds pomegranates nearby and offers to share with the Command-in-Chief ((Abel’s newest, still-wrong title for Karas). The emperor is surprised by the taste of the fruit and finds himself craving more after sharing a few, Abel informs him that he has to save a couple for someone special.

They arrive in Crimson Valley where the king awaits with his army. Karas is sure that Abel would hesitate when asked to trigger the traps himself to help the emperor, but knowing his body is weak and likely has limited uses, the blonde instantly agrees, surprising even the cold, hard man. After offering up the pomegranates he’d been saving for the emperor, Abel approaches and manages to catch their attention – and annoyance. Instead of advancing themselves, they instead ‘release’ another man. As the prison advances, the chain still around his ankle, both men instantly see the ploy: his appearance and mannerisms are identical to the original Abel’s.

Seeing what could’ve been his former twin with identical mannerisms, even the real Abel pauses. However, when he sees Karas approaching, he stops the man and assures him there’s no such thing as reincarnation, willing to sacrifice his chance at being believed to keep Karas safe. With their plan failing, the soldiers begin to shoot at both real and fake Abel, but the small man manages to drag them behind a rock though not before receiving an arrow to the knee. Realizing the chain is still connected to the faux Abel, the king begins to pull them in, but Karas finally steps out into the open and the trap is sprung.

The boulders fall from the sky, directly onto Abel, the imposter, and Karas; The enemy army celebrates, and a hooded figure leaves to inform the King’s Heart of the emperor’s death as they’d been the driving force behind the trap. Yet, within moments of his departure, the ground begins to rumble again, and the boulders reverse their trajectory, somehow ascending back into the air. The soldiers watch in horror as Karas emerges with only a single scratch across his forehead. An unconscious but alive Abel is draped across his shoulder.

A slaughter follows. Controlling the boulders through nothing but magic, Karas begins to crush the entire army. The king watches, helpless, and waits for his own death. But angered by the ruined pomegranates and his energy, his plan extends beyond the battlefield. The king will live so that the war can continue, and he will see his kingdom brought to ruin. Not wanting to see his people suffer to that extreme, he mentions a ‘something’ Karas is looking for and promises to tell him of its location in exchange for his death and a quick end to the war.

When Asher arrives, the king has been beheaded, and Abel is still unconscious. The butler and Melmond have informed him of the man’s situation, but Asher believes them insane. It’s only when he arrives and sees Karas holding the body in his arms that he begins to believe in the validity of the claim. The idea lasts only for a moment as Karas admits to not knowing Abel’s – soon to be known as Lil’s – identity.

Abel remains unconscious. In the camp, politics never stop. The command of the 3rd Brigade has been planted by the King’s Heart, but Asher and Karas have been using him to their advantage. With the emperor thought to be dead after the trap, they plan to send the commander ahead, have the 1st battalion follow behind, kill them, and use their deaths as a message for their return.

Even with high stakes, Karas’ mind is still on Abel, and Ashler listens with shock as the emperor seems to express curiosity about someone for the first time since the death of his regas. His interest even leads him to ask Asher if he believes in reincarnation as he didn’t previously, but Abel had given him pause and then thrown further doubt onto the theory by claiming there was no such thing as reincarnation.

Abel’s presence, fairy-like as it is, becomes rumors among all the men as they start their trip home, leaving the butler, Melmond, and Nani – who knows of Abel’s real identity as he remains steadfast by Ashler’s side – to guard his carriage. Yet, he sleeps for a little over 10 days and is only awakened when Karas sneaks into the carriage and uses Abel’s old nickname: Eppel. As they’d never told anyone of the affectionate nickname, Abel’s unconsciousness begins to fade, but when his eyes open, Karas has left.

Asher and Abel finally reunite. They’re unable to tell the blonde that the cold, cruel man he’d been traveling with is his beloved prince due to his body’s weak heart and poor health. With Abel’s decision that it’s best he not meet the emperor as he could then be used against him, they agree to keep his identity a secret for now.

◦ The fairy is the regas

With the possibility that Abel really is the regas he knew from childhood, Karas begins to treat him slightly better, but the emperor has already left a poor impression and has no social skills. His attempts to show interest and hold a conversation come across as threatening and Abel finds himself looking forward to the day they finally separate. Karas’ treatment of Asher also becomes a little less trusting as he assumes Abel’s feelings for the man may have been stronger than friendship.

With Abel’s appearance, Karas’ plan has changed. They’ll return to the palace as planned, but the political war against the King’s Heart will be much more aggressive than originally planned. The need for an antidote is discarded as they’ll instead rid the kingdom of the potion. Karas wants Abel to remain with him so he commands that they also travel to the palace.

Two months; within two months, Karas plans to defeat the King’s Heart. As part of his plan, he uses the 3rd Battalion Commander to send a message regarding a regas with blonde hair and green eyes: Abel’s description and Truyde’s perfect type.

As the Butler, Melmond, and Abel travel, Karas and the 2nd Commander appear in disguise and join the trio, but the trip is made awkward by multiple misunderstandings. Abel believes Karas has threatened to kill him should he show any familiarity, and Karas believes Abel is acting shy due to the audience. The awkwardness only intensifies as Abel is forced to share a room with him while on the ship. The emperor’s plan unfolds well when the mention of a Wolf Spider causes Abel to lose consciousness and finally, Karas knows that his old regas has returned. While the blonde sleeps, the emperor marks him with bites on his neck.

Now determined to win Abel’s heart, Karas asks some merchants for advice and spends the next night simply listening to Abel in their room. With his eyes closed and head against the wall, he can imagine the new voice transforming into the voice of the Abel he knew and for the first time in a long time, the emperor finds himself sleeping well. Abel starts to realize that Karas may not hate him after all.

Throughout the trip, bandits pretending to be in the emperor’s army begin to cause trouble and even impersonate Kin, the 1st Battalion Commander, but they’re spared as they realize their leader has some connection to Truyde. As their focus hones on Abel, they realize the plan to kidnap him and offer him to the duke. Their move comes just before Abel and Karas kiss after yet another misunderstanding, and the two are taken to the deck of the ship. Now with no choice but to defend themselves, Karas and Kin kill all of the thugs. However, the mood shifts from an act of heroism to slaughter when one of the fake soldiers takes a hostage. Karas begins to kill the innocent bystanders to prove he doesn’t care before Abel is finally able to connect a previous lesson about letting things live, but it only gives the man pause. It’s only once the blonde promises a gift that Karas takes the remaining thug prisoner and the carnage ends.

A few days later, while they spend the night at an inn, Abel makes good on his promise, and Melmond belatedly realizes that Abel gets very drunk, and very seductive, when he drinks the wine. Karas has the same realization, but before the night can progress, the trio’s fight outside interrupts them. In his drunken state, Abel mispronounces his words and calls Kin the ‘Captain of Pigs’ – it makes sense in Korean – which causes the captain to become somewhat angry with him

They arrive at the bandit’s village. Ahead of their arrival, Karas cuts off the man’s finger and sends it as a greeting. The family fares no better. At their manor, the guards attack the group, but Karas and Kin make quick work with the group. He offers a quick death in exchange for their information on Truyde, but death will come, even to the daughters of the family. The thug’s dad refuses the information, but when they realize there’s someone left inside, Abel quickly volunteers to search for them, knowing it’s his only chance to save anyone. Inside, he finds a small baby and while Karas is outside with the rest of the family, Abel manages to place the baby in the nearby barn hoping it will be found when someone goes to care for the animals. As he returns outside, Karas is about to torture the women, but the mother realizes Abel is hiding the baby and agrees to give them the information should their deaths be quick.

‘Information’. There is a secret, Truyde’s weakness, but it’s held in the hands of Marquis Yan, the only member of the King’s Heart that openly opposes Truyde, but even the Marquis doesn’t know the secret as in some way, only the real Regas can read it. By killing the kings’ first regases… regasi? Truyde has also managed to successfully keep his family’s weakness a secret for so long.

Realizing the danger the emperor will be facing in the palace, Abel plans. Melmond rejects his first place – blindly approaching Yan – but then he decides that he’ll need to get to the emperor again, not as Abel but as Young Master Lil. Surely, that’s why he was reborn into such a beautiful body. He’ll seduce the emperor, and since the relationship will be so shallow, His Majesty won’t be as hurt should he be killed. Melmond loses a few years of his life when he realizes Abel believes using his body simply means becoming friends because the emperor thinks he’s pretty.

Ashler arrives near the capital a day ahead of schedule and immediately summons his aides and commanders. The mood is tense as disturbing rumors circulate: the emperor and Commander Kin are accused of burning villages and murdering civilians. Though Ashler dismisses these claims as fabrications by the King’s Heart, Karas’s absence and silence raise alarms and further fuel fears. Determined to act, Ashler decides to search for Karas himself, taking the Captain of the Royal Guards while instructing Roster to guard the camp.

Meanwhile, at a mansion owned by Norhox, a hedonistic party rages. Truyde, unmasked and basking in excess, is interrupted by Marquis Yan. Furious at Truyde's indifference to the looming threat of the emperor’s army, the marquis demands answers. Truyde brushes off the concerns, arrogantly claiming the emperor will soon be neutralized with a potent black potion, fed to him during shared meals over the next month. However, Truyde is confronted with the accusation that his household, too, has been cursed—obsessed with someone who resembles the king's Regas. The Marquis suggests that the true Regas, the real emperor, has yet to appear and that Truyde's obsession has only deepened the curse. Truyde dismisses the notion but is left uneasy by the Marquis’s cryptic remarks about the black potion and the true Regas.

At a distant campsite, Abel wakes to a light touch on his lips, realizing Karas is sitting close by. Embarrassed and confused by the intimate moment, Abel tries to recover, only to watch Karas disappear into the dark forest under the vague excuse of seeking "fun." Uneasy, Abel considers following but hesitates, his body frail and unsure of the danger.

Before he can act, Kin emerges from the shadows, his clothes and sword drenched in blood and reveals that the "fakes" —impostors pretending to be the emperor and the 1st Battalion Commander— are behind the attacks. They are targeting them because they know they are the real ones. Kin suspects the King’s Heart is behind the plot to discredit the emperor and sabotage his return to the capital. He shares his frustration with how the King’s Heart manipulates the situation to gain power, while also reflecting on his loyalty to Karas.

Abel, visibly disturbed by the recent revelations, becomes more concerned about Karas’ eyes and their connection to the dragon’s power. Kin reassures him, revealing how Karas fought in the war and was the one who killed the most enemies. But Abel, in a fragile state, stumbles, prompting Kin to help. However, with Kin distracted, Abel chases after Karas despite his weakened state. When the Regas finally find him, Karas is in the heat of battle. As he watches the prince's brutality, guilt overwhelms him -- he'd failed to fully teach Kara love and sympathy and in leaving him alone, he left the child to fend for himself among monsters.

After finishing his battle, Karas notices Abel crouched in the shadows. Initially thinking it might be an enemy, Karas is surprised when he recognizes him. Abel’s sobs, which Karas isn’t used to hearing, catch his attention. He kneels in front of Abel, unsure how to react to what he sees. Softly, he asks why Abel is crying. Abel, struggling to hold back his tears, claims he just tripped and hurt himself, forcing a laugh, though it’s clear to Karas that there’s something more to his distress.

Abel’s physical state deteriorates as he struggles to keep control of his emotions. After pushing his body beyond its limits, he feels his heart burning with pain, signaling that he is on the verge of collapsing. When Melmond and the butler arrive, they find Karas trying to resuscitate Abel through mouth-to-mouth in a desperate attempt to save him.

The urgency escalates when they realize that Abel's health has been unstable before and that he may have a specific medicine for such moments. The butler, weak and in pain after being kicked by Karas, directs Melmond to the brown bottle containing this medicine. It seems like the only hope to stabilize Abel before things get worse. Meanwhile, Karas' actions are puzzling to Melmond and the others, especially since they don't fully understand Karas' attachment to Abel.

Kin, who knows Karas well, begins to notice something deeper at play, hinting that Karas might be acting out of more than just concern for Abel's health. His icy demeanor and lack of emotion make it hard to understand his motivations, but it's clear that his behavior toward Abel is different. Kin’s internal reflections provide insight into Karas' character, hinting at a past connection with someone who had a profound impact on him. After injuring the Butler, Karas disappears with Abel.

Ashler and Nani are searching for clues regarding Karas and Abel's whereabouts. They discover several dead bodies, likely victims of a fight involving Kin, and surmise that Karas and Abel are nearby. Ashler finds Kin with Melmond and the butler but is taken aback by Kin's suspicion regarding young master Lil's identity. Kin presses Ashler for answers about Lil’s real identity, and Ashler finally reveals that Lil is the reincarnation of the Emperor's lost Regas, who died twelve years ago. This revelation shocks everyone, but Kin remains cold and unmoved.

Kin deduces that the Emperor must have gone to see a doctor for treatment, given the circumstances. Ashler, realizing his mistake in not thinking of this earlier, is ready to move quickly, but Melmond hands over a medicine bottle, which might help in finding the Emperor. Kin takes it upon himself to deliver it as Ashler prepares to search for Karas.

After discovering multiple dead bodies from a recent skirmish, Ashler and his team conclude that Karas and Abel must be nearby, but they find no sign of them. Kin, the 2nd Battalion Commander, reveals he doesn't know where they went, but he is deeply suspicious about the relationship between Karas and Abel, particularly regarding the identity of Abel, who has been traveling as "Young Master Lil." Ashler, concerned, presses Kin for answers, leading to a revelation: Young Master Lil is actually the reincarnated Regas, the emperor's lost companion from twelve years ago.

The news shocks Kin, but he remains stoic. Despite the shock, he urges Ashler to focus on the immediate danger: the King’s Heart, which will likely take advantage of Karas’ absence to strike against the emperor’s forces. Kin hypothesizes that Karas and Abel have likely gone to see a doctor due to Abel's deteriorating health, which leads Ashler to realize the obvious—Karas must have taken Abel to seek medical treatment.

Meanwhile, at the King’s Heart headquarters, Truyde is plotting to send a group of "Regas" to the emperor as a gift, but his plan to control these Regas hits a bump when Norhox, the Marquis, realizes that Truyde has enlisted a war profiteer to handle them. Norhox is forced to accept the arrangement, but he is seething with anger and frustration. Truyde, meanwhile, is plotting to prevent Karas' forces from entering the palace by any means necessary, hinting at the dangerous political maneuvers at play.

Back in the search party, Ashler prepares to follow the lead that Karas and Abel must have gone to see a doctor. As they head off in search of them, Melmond gives Ashler a brown bottle containing medicine, which he believes could save Abel. Kin quickly takes the bottle, leaving Ashler with a nagging sense that something more is going on with the enigmatic commander. While the search continues, Kin also learns of Abel's true identity.

At the King’s Heart headquarters, Truyde's plan to send a group of "Regas" as a gift to the emperor faces complications. Norhox, who has been tasked with managing the Regas, is furious upon learning that Truyde has enlisted a war profiteer to oversee them.

Karas stands alone in a dark forest, cradling Abel in his arms as the latter’s life hangs by a thread. Despite having visited multiple doctors who all claim Abel is beyond saving, he refuses to accept this fate. He seeks a legendary herb rumored to revive dying hearts, but after finding no solution, he settles into an abandoned hunter's cabin, determined to keep Abel alive, even if he doesn't know how. As the night passes, Abel’s breath fades, and Karas, in a moment of desperation, calls out the name "Eppel," triggering a thick, impenetrable fog to surround them. The fog, reminiscent of the Dragon’s Forest, signifies something mystical at play. Just as Karas is about to call out again, a mysterious man emerges from the fog, holding a strange plant, and is startled by Karas’s intense gaze.

Despite the man's playful and bizarre behavior, he presents the herb to Karas, urging him to give it to Abel. As Karas feeds Abel the herb, the man watches, initially unfazed by Karas’s cold demeanor. However, when Abel doesn't immediately awaken, the man panics and begins a comical countdown, claiming that Abel will wake up soon. His attempts to revive Abel seem to fail, but the tension increases when Karas, frustrated and on the edge, draws his sword and threatens the man. The man, in fear, runs off into the mist, causing Karas to give chase as Abel’s fingers twitch. Unbeknownst to them, the herb also heals 'Li's' aliments, leaving Abel with a stronger body.

As he slowly regains consciousness, Abel fears that Karas might have abandoned him, as he had been left behind in the past. However, when Abel calls out to Karas, the prince appears, and the two share a brief, emotional moment. Abel, now awake, approaches Karas and joyfully grabs his hand, relieved that he hasn't been abandoned and quicky tries to brush off the incident, claiming that he often faints and is fine afterward, though he is deeply moved by Karas' worry. However, the situation takes an unexpected turn when Karas reveals that he performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on Abel when he stopped breathing. This leads to an awkward, yet intense, moment between the two as Karas kisses Abel, both to revive him and seemingly out of concern.

Abel is initially stunned, feeling conflicted about the kiss. Though he is embarrassed, his body reacts in ways he doesn't fully understand, feeling warmth and a strange sensation of drowsiness rather than discomfort. He tries to push Karas away, feeling guilty for the intimate act, especially since he believes Karas is still innocent and unaware of the deeper implications of their actions.

Despite Abel's embarrassment, Karas continues to inquire whether the kiss is unpleasant, and Abel stammers out that it isn't, though he insists it is dangerous because of how his heart races. Karas, still confused, doesn't fully understand why Abel is so flustered, viewing it with childlike innocence. Abel tries to downplay his feelings, rationalizing that it's dangerous because his heart could stop if he gets too excited, and he pleads with Karas to avoid further touching or kissing him.

When Karas casually asks Abel to come with him, Abel assumes it’s a request to help in a battle, perhaps against the King’s Heart. However, Karas speaks of a peaceful, unknown place, one where they can live freely, away from the burdens of power—a place Abel had once described to the young prince. This revelation shocks Abel, as he realizes Karas may remember their past connection. Karas admits he’s taking Abel with him because of what Abel had once told him, but before Abel can process this, Karas collapses from exhaustion.

Meanwhile, Ashler and Kin arrive near a dense fog, recognizing it as unnatural and linked to the same strange fog Abel had encountered earlier. Ashler presses Kin for the medicine that will save Abel's life, and although Kin is reluctant, he eventually hands it over. The two rush toward the forest, sensing something is wrong.

They find Abel staggering while carrying the unconscious Karas on his back. Abel is exhausted, but he manages to tell Ashler that Karas recognized him. Ashler already knows this, and Abel feels guilty for not recognizing the prince sooner. The realization of his failure weighs heavily on him, especially as he sees Karas collapse after trying to help him.

Abel attempts to walk but is overcome with excruciating pain in his chest, causing him to collapse again. Ashler quickly administers the life-saving medicine, hoping it isn’t too late. As Abel loses consciousness, Ashler wishes for him to survive and be with Karas, even if it means disappearing with the prince.

◦ Injured and divided

Another Regas - in the manmade role - is introduced: Erei. Norhox uses Erei to gain favor with the profiteer -- who secretly works for Kin -- and through their interactions, he learns that the "real Regas" has not yet appeared. He also learns that the emperor is seeking someone with blonde hair and green eyes—traits that match Erei. This revelation sparks hope in Erei, who starts to believe he may be the person the emperor is looking for.

Meanwhile, in the emperor’s camp, an unexpected crisis unfolds. Emperor Karas, known for his exceptional stamina, collapses, sending shockwaves through his commanders and guards. The camp's soldiers debate what to do with Abel, as they must keep Karas’ condition a secret from outside forces, including the King’s Heart. They decide to move Abel to a safer location, hoping to keep his presence hidden while also protecting the emperor’s health.

At the same time, Norhox arrives at the camp, demanding to see the emperor. His arrival is met with resistance from the camp officers, but Norhox reacts ruthlessly, punishing an officer who dares to oppose him.

The commanders, including Ashler, Roster, and Kin, gather to discuss the emperor’s mysterious condition. They reveal that the emperor, Karas, is deeply interested in Young Master Lil, who is believed to be the reincarnation of Regas which causes skepticism among the commanders, especially Roster, who questions the idea of reincarnation.

The mood darkens when a soldier arrives with urgent news: an officer from their unit has been gravely injured by someone from the King’s Heart, Norhox’s faction. Norhox is aware of Karas' condition and contemplates eliminating him while simultaneously using the emperor's fragile state to secure his position. His immediate goal is to pressure a war profiteer into sending a Regas to serve the king, demonstrating his control over the situation.

After moving Abel, who is also unconscious, to a discreet location, the commanders gathered at Melmond’s quarters, situated at the edge of the camp, to discuss in private. The tense atmosphere stifled introductions, especially for Nani, a nervous newcomer who listened quietly under the pretense of tending to the unconscious butler.

Ashler began the meeting by stressing the importance of secrecy surrounding Abel’s true identity. He revealed that Emperor Karas had taken a special interest in Young Master Lil, believing him to be the reincarnation of Regas, his former companion. While this claim was met with skepticism, especially from Roster, Kin’s reluctant agreement gave it weight. The commanders debated the implications, though questions lingered about how Abel had discovered Karas’ identity.

The tension broke when the butler suddenly awakened, furious at Kin, whom he accused of carelessly revealing Karas’ identity. His colorful insults, including calling Kin a “slutty pig,” shocked the commanders and escalated into chaos as Kin attempted to attack him. Despite Ashler’s efforts to restore order, the scene dissolved into pandemonium, leaving Nani gleefully prepared to spread the gossip.

Before the situation could worsen, a soldier arrived with grim news: an officer from their unit had been trampled by a rider from Norhox’s faction.

Norhox learned of Karas’ mysterious illness and saw an opportunity to exploit the emperor’s weakness. He resolved to pressure a war profiteer into supplying a new Regas to serve the king, intending to strengthen his own influence. Norhox also demanded an audience with the emperor, feigning concern while mocking his absence and threatening to challenge his authority.

Abel wakes up disoriented and desperate to see the emperor, but his pleas to the guards are interrupted by Erei, who drags him away. Erei mocks Abel’s worth, calling him expendable while leading him to a grim scene — quarters filled with lifeless blond-haired men, discarded tools in Norhox’s schemes.

Abel confronts him, demanding answers about the "real" Regas, despite being slapped and drenched in water. Erei reveals that Duke Truyde shared this information, indirectly confirming Norhox's involvement. Abel deduces Norhox’s knowledge of his reincarnation, though he believes Norhox misunderstands it. Erei arrogantly orders Abel tied to a central pillar with plans to burn the entire tent.

Meanwhile, Ashler is visited by Kin, who hesitates to share his thoughts. Kin finally hands Ashler medicine for Abel but struggles with guilt, knowing he once tampered with Abel's medicine in the past. Before Kin can confess, they are interrupted by urgent news from Nani. Melmond has discovered something alarming, prompting Ashler to rush away. Left behind, Kin reflects anxiously on Abel's fate.

Despite his desperate situation, Abel is more concerned about the information he gained from Erei about Norhox and Truyde. The soldiers charged with killing him notice his beauty, and begin to touch him inappropriately. Abel, instead of panicking, remains calm and tries to provoke them by offering himself, suggesting they take advantage of his appearance before they kill him. The soldiers, intrigued by his words, strip him and prepare to assault him, but Abel begs them to take him to someplace more secluded. As they travel, Abel, observes his surroundings, particularly the trees nearby, and starts thinking about his escape. He knows that the soldiers are stronger and faster, but the darkness and the forest offer him a chance to get away.

After they decide who will be the first to assault him, Abel manages to delay his impending assault by claiming to hear suspicious noises, suggesting they might be pursued. The soldiers, though skeptical at first, become uneasy when Abel persists. He convinces them to extinguish the lamp for fear of being caught and tortured, and as they do, Abel secretly picks up a small rock to aid his escape. The soldiers, now distracted and in the dark, struggle to find him. Abel uses the cover of darkness and the surrounding forest to escape, though he suffers cuts and bruises as he crawls over the rough terrain.

Abel, now deep in a cypress forest, struggles to escape despite his injuries. The soldier chasing him continues to pursue, but the small blonde uses the aerial roots of bald cypress trees to navigate. Though exhausted and injured, Abel presses on and soon nears a lake. After being shot at by a soldier, he dives into the water to avoid further injury.

At the camp, Ashler and his companions investigate the large fire and everyone begins to suspect internal conflict involving Norhox’s men, as they seem unusually calm. With the bodies severely charred and Abel missing, their worry intensifies. The butler, devastated by the sight of a burned body, identifies a piece of clothing he had made for Abel, leading to a painful realization that Abel might be dead.

Norhox deflects blame from the true culprit and points to the war profiteer as responsible. Erei, faking innocence, adds a dramatic testimony, but Ashler’s sharp questioning reveals discrepancies in their knowledge of the victims’ identities, hinting that they might not even have properly identified the bodies. This increases Ashler's suspicion but nothing can be proven.

Later, Ashler is summoned by Norhox, who insists that all commanders accompany him, specifically mentioning Kin, though it’s unclear why. When Ashler and his group meet Norhox, he accuses them directly, claiming that one of them is responsible for the fire, an accusation that infuriates Ashler. He also presents documents claiming to have evidence of these crimes, including massacred villages and survivors who accuse the soldiers of betraying the emperor. Ashler and his men are unsure whether Norhox's accusations are fabricated by the King’s Heart, but they know they must act quickly to avoid disgrace.

Norhox demands that the culprit be found by evening or they will face the consequences. Meanwhile, Ashler and his group, including the Commander of the Royal Guards, realize that Norhox's true intent is to disband their army and strip them of their power, as evidenced by a particular line in the documents about barring their army from entering the capital.

The tension is heightened by news of a unit officer's death, and the group faces a dilemma: should they fight back against the King’s Heart or maintain the peace? The Commander of the Royal Guards is eager to take action, but Ashler, Roster, and the others understand that a war would mean pitting soldiers against their own families.

As the scene unfolds, the group is interrupted by Karas’ sudden awakening. He asks repeatedly, “Where is he?” — a question directed at Ashler and his men, who are shocked to realize that Karas has recognized Abel's identity. Ashler and the others remain silent, unable to confess Abel's perceived death, and Karas' anger begins to boil. Eventually, Karas learns the truth but remains unnervingly calm and indifferent, offering no emotional response despite the tragedy.

Later, Karas gives a chilling order to Ashler, instructing him to bring the war profiteer and Kin -- the latter of which seems to be missing.

Meanwhile, the Commander of the Royal Guards reveals he has received secret orders from Karas to find and assist Kin, although he won’t disclose the details. Ashler and Roster are puzzled by the secrecy, but they know Karas has been giving different tasks to each of them, leaving them out of the loop.

Kin, who was trying to ambush an inn believed to be housing Norhox's soldiers, is engaged in a violent skirmish with Norhox’s soldiers. He fights fiercely but is momentarily overpowered. Just as he seems at risk, his sword is thrown to him, allowing him to turn the battle around. After dispatching the remaining soldiers, he turns to see who helped him: the believed-to-be-deceased Abel, who is now so injured as to be almost unrecognizable.

Abel explains that he can't go back because he overheard something important and needs to eavesdrop on a conversation inside the inn to further investigate something related to the King's Heart. Kin is confused and worried about Abel’s sudden appearance and safety, but Abel urges him to escape while he gathers information. They hide in the forest, and Abel climbs a tree to overhear a conversation from a second-floor window of the inn.

Inside, Marquis Norhox and Erei are having sex. During their conversation, Norhox discusses his plans to overthrow Duke Truyde and take his place, as well as a hidden item with which he hopes to destabilize Truyde’s power. Erei, who is listening closely, learns that Norhox plans to use this item to manipulate the emperor’s Regas and gain control of the country. Norhox also hints that Erei could be the next "King’s Heart" and that he needs to retrieve the item from Marquis Yan, pretending to be someone else.

Abel and Kin are forced to flee, and Abel is showing surprising stamina despite his previously fragile condition. Kin, who had once witnessed Abel's weakness, is puzzled by his sudden physical transformation. Abel reveals that he intends to stay "dead" for now to avoid being caught by the King’s Heart as they would use him to manipulate Karas, but Kin insists that Abel cannot remain hidden because his existence means so much to the prince.

Kin expresses his frustration, admitting that he hoped Abel had been dead at first but now realizes how much pain the prince would endure knowing Abel was gone. Abel, on the other hand, reflects on his reincarnation and the lessons he’s learned from his past life, including the importance of survival and patience rather than sacrifice for self-satisfaction. He uses the example of otters moving their cubs in response to danger to explain his strategy, emphasizing that others' movements (like Duke Truyde’s) will prompt the Marquis to move the object, providing an opportunity for Abel to access it. Kin, initially skeptical, gradually understands Abel's wisdom and loyalty to the emperor, realizing Abel's role as the emperor's true Regas — someone who sacrifices the present for the future. He decides to wait before revealing himself to the prince until he finds a mysterious object linked to Duke Truyde’s secret.

Meanwhile, Norhox is scheming against the emperor, using a witness to frame the 1st Battalion Commander as a traitor. Norhox plans to manipulate the emperor, Karas, by casting suspicion on Kin to shake his loyalty. Karas, however, shows no reaction, remaining cold and detached, which leaves Norhox uncertain about how Karas will respond. Asher observes the tense situation, unsure of Karas’s feelings toward the betrayal.

In the forest, Kin remains on high alert, constantly checking for threats, even going as far as attacking a harmless squirrel out of caution. Abel, frustrated with the constant vigilance, suggests disguising himself as the Marquis’s servant to infiltrate the Marquis’ mansion, but Kin rejects this idea, deeming it too dangerous. Instead, Kin proposes a plan where he will pose as a knight and Abel will act as his servant, a solution Abel reluctantly agrees to. As they make their way through the forest, Abel is keenly aware of Kin’s mistrust and realizes that gaining Kin’s trust is key to their survival. They eventually find Kin's horse as well.

Back in Karas’ court, Ashler is confused by the emperor's actions. Karas orders the three soldiers posing as the 1st Battalion Commander to be brought forward. Despite Norhox’s doubts, the witness points to one soldier, and Karas casually executes him, making a point of praising the King’s Heart for their loyalty, while dismissing any further questioning. However, none of the soldiers was the First Commander. Norhox, realizing he’s been outmaneuvered, grudgingly backs down but makes a veiled comment about the need to root out all remnants of the traitor. Karas orders the army to be dispersed, suggesting that the situation with the traitor is far from over.

Karas also begins to question the cause of the fire that killed the group of Regas, and Norhox suggests it was an accident due to the volatile oil used by Regas. Karas insists on proof, and the situation spirals into chaos when the oil, unexpectedly, ignites and spreads rapidly, engulfing several soldiers in flames. Norhox suspects that Ashler might be involved, but the real source of the disaster appears to be Karas himself, whose strange behavior and cryptic comments suggest he is secretly powerful, perhaps still connected to a dragon's bloodline.

As the fire spreads, Norhox begins to doubt the emperor’s apparent weakness, realizing that Karas might not be poisoned as he thought. Norhox recalls a legend about the Dragon's Day, the day when a person fully comes into their dragon powers, and he suspects that Karas is waiting for this day to fully harness his power.

Frustrated and enraged, Norhox plans to prevent Karas from becoming a true threat. He writes two letters to be delivered secretly, intending to ensure that Karas is poisoned before Dragon’s Day, thinking that without the black potion, Karas would be unstoppable.

Abel and Kin cross paths with the Commander of the Royal Guards, who eventually relays the Emperor's orders, revealing that Karas had asked about someone after waking up but remained emotionally detached upon hearing that Abel Regas had died in a fire.

The Commander expresses frustration over Regas’ death, questioning how someone who reincarnated could die so easily without accomplishing more for Karas. Kin defends Regas in silence but refuses to acknowledge the Commander’s criticism. The conversation shifts to the Emperor’s strange decision to disperse the army, a move the Commander finds puzzling considering the six years of preparation for war. Kin’s thoughts are clouded as he reflects on the Emperor’s mysterious power, rumored to be the power of a dragon, which might explain Karas’ decision to enter the palace alone. The Commander, eager to believe in the Emperor’s strength, suggests that Karas could easily defeat the King’s Heart and end the conflict, but Kin sharply disagrees, emphasizing that the true goal is not just to eliminate the King’s Heart but to uproot the entire belief system and temples that have controlled the people for centuries.

Kin critiques the Commander’s naive view, stressing that simply killing the King’s Heart would not solve the deeper issue. He believes the Emperor must gather support and expand his power to ensure the long-term survival of their cause. The Commander, still confused, asks if the Emperor’s plan has changed due to Regas' death, to which Kin responds that he too is uncertain about Karas’ decision to go to the palace alone. Kin and others had prepared to fight together in the palace, but now Karas’ sudden decision seems to defy all logic and planning, casting doubt on his intentions.

Abel, who had been contemplating everything with a calm demeanor, turned to Kin and suggested they leave for the Marquisate as soon as possible to find the object they needed. Abel’s reassuring presence eased Kin's anxiety, even if only for a moment, as he was comforted by Abel’s confident tone and calm green eyes.

In the palace, Truyde received a letter from Norhox confirming that the emperor was not poisoned, implying that his power was even greater than they had imagined. Truyde, recognizing the significance of this, began to plan a way to offer the emperor a suitable gift in return for his display of power. He called for a priest, knowing exactly what kind of gift would make the emperor pause and reconsider any further plans.

Meanwhile, the Marquis Yan is busy handling matters related to the emperor’s actions, especially after learning that the emperor isn’t poisoned, and his power is growing. He plans to test a person who could potentially be the real Regas, someone sent by Norhox to gather intelligence, with the hopes of uncovering the secret of the black potion before it’s too late.

Kin, trying to focus on his mission, is distracted by the possibility that Abel might have feelings for him due to the Commander's misunderstanding. In an attempt to maintain professionalism, he attempts to push aside these thoughts, but his growing confusion and embarrassment suggest that his feelings are more complicated than he realizes. More worrisome is the fact that Kin is rejected for the position of a knight in the Marquis' household but the Commander is recruited.

Kin uses a mixture of threats and persuasion to extract an oath of loyalty toward Abel from the Commander, though the Commander is reluctant. Abel learns of a potential connection between the Regas sent by Norhox and a strange food request made by one of Norhox’s subordinates, suggesting a deeper plot. Kin believes that by delivering this food, they may gain an advantage.

The conversation shifts when the Commander of the Royal Guards is instructed to adopt an alias to keep his identity hidden at the Marquis' mansion, leading to an amusing interaction where the Commander chooses the name "Garasu," but Kin quickly rejects it, settling on the simple name "Tom."

Meanwhile, at the palace, Truyde, tries to pressure Karas into a banquet by bringing him to the Prince’s Palace, where he spent his childhood. Inside, Karas is presented with a twisted “gift” — his mother, the queen. Despite her hatred and insanity, Karas remains composed, accepting the "gift" by drinking a mysterious potion offered by his mother. The King’s Heart members watch, pleased by his reaction, believing this will provoke Karas into making a rash decision. However, Karas stays calm and delivers a cryptic remark, signaling that he plans to retaliate.

Meanwhile, the Commander learns from a servant that the dried meat he provided was pivotal, a detail that raises suspicions about Erei, who is playing the role of the real Regas. The Commander claims the meat is rare and difficult to obtain so further meat will come at a high price -- Erei became addicted to the taste while catering to the profiteer.

Back at the palace, Karas seizes control of the narrative. Dismissing the servants, he orders the King’s Heart to dine with him in his private quarters. The room becomes the stage for Karas’ unsettling theatrics. Feigning compliance, he hints at his awareness of their schemes, his vacant gaze masking a sharp intellect. With a smile that unnerves even his captors, he declares his intention to continue to dine with them daily for a month — precisely the time they need to administer a deadly potion. Despite suspicion, they accept his offer. During the meal, Karas gifts a member a bottle of fragrant oil, which bursts into flames, killing him in front of the others. Karas declares that each week he will present a similar “gift,” leaving them to decide who will receive it.

Truyde later confesses to the Marquis that the potion given to Karas won’t kill him within a week, as he had claimed to the others. He reveals the potion was identical to what killed the former king, implying Karas is far more formidable than they realized. The Marquis grows increasingly wary, suspecting Karas’s plans are deeper and more dangerous than anyone anticipated. Truyde also reveals the limitations of the black potion — it cannot be stored and is hard to obtain in large amounts. He conspires with the Marquis, suggesting they eliminate Norhox during the next dinner. However, the Marquis is wary of Truyde's true intentions and chooses to delay action until Norhox’s demise, intending to uncover more secrets.

Meanwhile, Garasu, the Commander of the Royal Guards, struggles with humiliation when his true name is revealed by his servant. Despite this embarrassment, he forms an unexpected connection with Abel, who provides silent comfort during a vulnerable moment. This bond stirs unfamiliar emotions in Garasu, hinting at a deeper admiration for Abel.

A confrontation between Ashler and the war profiteer yields critical information: the black potion's main ingredient is scarce and unstable, and Karas’ enemies are desperate. The profiteer also pleads with Ashler to bring Kin, whose absence threatens to push the profiteer into betrayal. Determined to protect Karas, Ashler takes swift action. He resolves to secure Melmond’s medicine, which has mitigated the potion’s effects for years, and secretly administer it to Karas. He also initiates a search for Kin to prevent further betrayal.

Abel collaborates with the Commander of the Royal Guards to identify a spy potentially planted by Truyde among the Marquis’ knights. While Abel investigates the mansion, the Commander’s probing of the knights leads him to confront Erei, using his addiction to the meat to manipulate him into revealing critical information.

Meanwhile, Ashler discreetly administers Melmond’s medicine to mitigate the effects of the black potion on the emperor, navigating the paranoia of the King’s Heart members. Simultaneously, he receives an enigmatic letter from Kin, directing him to contact an ally named Tom, but confusion arises as no one by that name can be found among the knights.

Kin, on a parallel mission, secures a supply of fragrant oil from a cooperative war profiteer to aid the emperor. The lord of the oil-producing village reflects on his struggle to liberate the people from the oppressive influence of the King’s Heart temple, highlighting their deeply ingrained fear and resistance to change despite their suffering.

The Commander of the Royal Guards grows suspicious as Erei has been out of contact for three days. Confronting Abel, he learns that Abel has been investigating the Marquis' mansion, suspecting the Marquis' hidden objects might be buried outside instead of inside the secretive room everyone is focused on. Abel deduced this by noting the Marquis' obsession with pruning certain trees visible from his room, which likely mark burial spots.

Impressed yet perplexed by Abel’s sharp reasoning, the Commander offers to assist, despite Abel’s hesitation. However, their plans are disrupted when the Commander discovers all the knights, except one examiner, have disappeared. Fearing a trap set by rival factions, particularly Truyde’s spies, he urges Abel to stay indoors for safety.

The Marquis' mansion is in turmoil after an intruder rearranged all the items in his home without stealing anything -- this is notable because the Marquis is very particular regarding the placement of everything in his home. Though calm outwardly, the Marquis is suspicious. Norhox approaches him, urging an alliance to eliminate their mutual adversary, Duke Truyde, by first targeting the war profiteer aiding him. However, the Marquis distrusts Norhox and challenges him to prove his worth within three days.

Meanwhile, after Erei fails to win the Marquis' trust, he is beaten and given three days to find the information by Norhox. Erei is later summoned by the Marquis for a test to identify a legendary magical artifact among several items in a room. The Marquis declares that only the true Regas can activate its magic. Desperate and battered, Erei faces the test with lingering doubts and faint hope that he might indeed be the real Regas.

After testing several items without success, Erei uses information he'd previously obtained and suggests the treasure might be linked to trees. This angers the Marquis, who orders Erei to leave. Erei writes a letter to Norhox, hinting at the tree connection, but Truyde's knight intercepts the letter instead.

Meanwhile, Abel continues his investigation of the garden near the mansion but is interrupted by the Commander of the Royal Guards. They spot the Marquis watching the garden from his window, raising suspicions about what he might be hiding. Truyde visits the Marquis, offering his help to defeat their common enemy, Norhox, by using Norhox as a scapegoat. He hints that the garden might conceal something important.

The Marquis is caught in a dilemma between trusting Truyde or Norhox. Truyde provides more clues about the black potion’s ingredients, leading the Marquis to question his loyalty. Tensions rise when the mansion suddenly catches fire, with Abel and the Commander of the Royal Guards noticing the blaze. They realize that the Marquis’s knights, likely allied with Truyde, have killed anyone who could hinder them.

Abel, along with the Commander of the Royal Guards, is desperately trying to locate the Marquis, who is hiding after his mansion is set on fire by Duke Truyde's men. The fire is an attempt to force the Marquis to reveal the location of a secret item hidden by his family for generations. Abel manages to find the injured Marquis trapped under a fallen window frame and rescues him. The Marquis, weakened and bleeding, refuses to reveal the item's location, though Abel persists, deducing that it is hidden under a specific tree in the garden.

As the Marquis slowly begins to open up, the Commander of the Royal Guards confronts a group of knights who have been mocking him, and tensions rise as they question his loyalty. Amidst their confrontation, the Marquis reveals crucial information about a stone building in Truyde’s forest, where rare herbs essential for making a black potion are kept. However, the Marquis, as a "King’s Heart," refuses to divulge further details, and just as he is about to collapse, he pushes Abel away and stumbles towards the garden, where the knights are also chasing him.

In the ensuing chaos, the Commander of the Royal Guards swiftly eliminates the knights who mocked him, showcasing his skill and strength. Meanwhile, Abel continues to follow the Marquis, who is now running toward the garden. Despite being severely injured and surrounded by knights, he digs up an iron box, unlocks it with a ring, and lets both the object and himself burn. His actions reveal his commitment to his duty, leaving Abel in shock when he identifies the object and admits to knowing there is another one, currently with the emperor.

When Truyde retrieves the charred remains of the object, he realizes it’s a seemingly insignificant wooden pendant -- a mirror of the same pendant Abel had given Karaas as a child. As he struggles to understand its significance, he recalls faint memories tied to the royal family and orders an investigation into historical records.

Separately, the Commander of the Royal Guards grows increasingly worried about Abel, who is visibly shaken and acting distant after the Marquis’ sacrifice. In their carriage ride, the Commander becomes distracted by Abel's beauty and is overwhelmed by his emotions. However, Abel, still haunted by recent events, casually mentions Sir Kin, inadvertently grounding the Commander.

◦ Reunion

After fleeing the mansion, their journey leads them to Melmond’s cabin in the forest. Along the way, Roy guides them to Melmond's lab, warning them to keep its location secret. At the cabin, Melmond and a butler are stunned to see Abel alive and scold Abel for failing to contact anyone and explain his survival. When Abel reveals the truth about the pendant, Melmond realizes the pendant's true significance: it is tied to a legendary dragon and coveted by many.

Meanwhile, Duke Truyde summons Melmond under the guise of inquiry while also delving into the significance of the pendant. Though Melmond plays ignorant, Truyde concludes the emperor might have the pendant and orders Norhox to act. Amid this intrigue, Abel learns the emperor is risking his life, consuming food laced with poison as part of a battle of wills with the King’s Heart. Despite growing dangers, Abel remains resolute.

Melmond sneaks into the palace under the watchful eyes of the King’s Heart to deliver a critical message. Unable to meet Ashler directly, he entrusts Nani to relay the urgent news: Abel is alive. This revelation leaves Ashler reeling, torn between hope and disbelief. Despite the risks, he resolves to meet Melmond that night to confirm the truth.

Ashler grows increasingly uneasy as Karas’s behavior spirals, reflecting an indifference to life and a fixation on Abel, whose supposed death he perceives as an act of rejection. When Ashler pleads for Karas to leave the charred quarters out of respect for Abel’s memory, Karas reacts with cold fury, asserting that Abel’s return is inevitable—not out of love but fear. Karas’s obsession with control is evident as he ominously vows to capture Abel and forces Ashler to witness the fallout of his wrath.

Norhox, consumed by anger and paranoia after recent events, takes out his frustration on his servants and later brutally beats Erei, but the Regas reveals crucial information before collapsing: the Marquis burned a mysterious wooden artifact, but a piece of it was seized by Truyde’s men. Realizing Truyde’s betrayal and the danger he now faces, Norhox resolves to survive at any cost, even if it means defying the King’s Heart.

Meanwhile, Ashler confronts Abel. Abel apologizes profusely, but Ashler, after recounting alarming changes in Emperor Karas, warns Abel against meeting him due to his recent behavior. Despite the grim warning, Abel insists he must see Karas, believing his sincerity will mend their fractured bond. Ashler remains unconvinced, fearing Abel's life will be at risk if he faces Karas in his current state. However, Abel, recalling their past interactions, interprets Karas’s extreme behavior as a form of shyness, dismissing Ashler's concerns.

His plan involves reopening the palace library, a neglected and unfrequented space, as a base of operations. Melmond, once a librarian there, proposes returning to his former position with Abel as his assistant, creating a plausible reason for their presence. Their ultimate goal is to develop an antidote to the black potion and create an opportunity to interact with the emperor discreetly. Meanwhile, they aim to weaken the influence of the King’s Heart, a faction complicit in the emperor's corruption, by manipulating one of its members, Norhox, who is a potential victim of their own schemes.

Abel proposes using Norhox to sabotage the faction’s supply of the black potion, forcing a temporary halt in the deadly games orchestrated by the King’s Heart, a scheme that proves successful and further divides the King's Heart. Meanwhile, Truyde proposes a new plan to find the emperor's reincarnated Regas, using a wooden pendant as a key. This unexpected strategy intrigues the emperor, who cautiously agrees to the proposal while withholding the pendant's location.

After inviting Karas to the library, Melmond claims that Abel has lost his memory, is hiding, and doesn’t want to interact with others, but believes Karas can bring him out. Karas remains impassive as he ascends to the library where Abel is hiding. The blonde's idea is simple: if he shows dependence on Karas and gives him a reason other than 'hate' for his temporary disappearance, the prince can accept his return without a loss of pride. Again, his plan seems successful (but isn't; the prince recognizes he can also use this), and Karas leads him out, but the companions block his path, urging him to consider Abel’s safety, as they are still in hostile territory.

The companions strategically provoke Karas by questioning his care for Abel, hoping to elicit an emotional reaction. Abel, caught in the situation, nervously defends Karas, though his companions criticize him for not supporting their narrative. Under pressure, Abel earnestly asks Karas if he dislikes him, prompting the emperor to reluctantly affirm his care for Abel and, after extreme praise from the others, agrees to allow him to stay in the library. They use this chance to ask for the pendant indirectly but instead, Karas hands over a seemingly normal dagger.

After the exchange, Karas, with Ashler trailing behind, leaves the palace and heads toward the remains of the Dragon’s Forest. Observing Karas’ behavior, Asher is concerned, especially since the forest’s charred remains could trigger painful memories of the past. However, Karas views the forest differently. For him, it now represents a symbol of victory, given to him by Abel. This response surprises Ashler, who had expected Karas to be reminded of his past failures.

◦ The most dangerous game of chess

Karas questions Ashler about the concept of victory, hinting that he might be willing to disrupt any peaceful plans that Ashler hopes to establish. Ashler tries to reassure Karas that his goal is not to stop him but to support the eventual recovery of Lord Abel's memories. Despite Ashler's reassurances, Karas remains unpredictable, expressing indifference toward the idea of peace and showing no interest in helping Abel. Instead, Karas’s words suggest a more nihilistic view, where he would destroy everything, including the King’s Heart, if it suited him.

The conversation takes a darker turn when Karas refers to a potential civil war and the chaos he could unleash, which unsettles Ashler, who wonders how much influence the black potion has had on Karas’ already volatile nature. When Ashler inquires about the wooden pendant, Karas displays an unusual curiosity, leading to a discussion about its significance. Ashler, wary of revealing too much, lies about the pendant’s origins and its connection to Abel. Karas seems uninterested in the item’s true value but hints at a deeper, more manipulative game at play.

Karas’s mood shifts again when he requests a strange assortment of gifts for Abel, including duck eggs, pomegranates, and a bear. Ashler is caught off guard, especially by the mention of the bear, which triggers memories of a past encounter. As the tension builds, Karas comments sarcastically on Ashler’s appearance, hinting at past dynamics between them. His behavior becomes increasingly erratic, leading Ashler to suspect that the black potion might be affecting Karas’s mental state. Karas, with a cold and threatening tone, warns Ashler not to catch a bear again, underscoring the power imbalance and unpredictability of their relationship.

Ashler meets with Abel and others, who are celebrating what they think is a successful attempt to improve relations with the emperor. However, Ashler reveals that despite the emperor’s softer demeanor, he still refuses to hand over the wooden pendant. The emperor’s indifference is attributed to his obsession with a bet with Truyde, which Ashler sees as a result of the black potion’s influence on his mental state. While Abel remains hopeful, Ashler expresses concern that more time is running out, as the emperor is set to begin taking the black potion again. They agree that Abel must continue to work hard to gain the emperor’s trust.

Later, Ashler is informed by a panicked soldier that the emperor has killed all the guards at the palace and left. Ashler is concerned that Karas is heading toward Abel.

Abel, however, is deep in sleep, unaware of the chaos unfolding around him. He wakes to the sensation of Karas’ presence, who has come to his bed and is unable to sleep. Karas, still unsettled, asks if Abel can remember their past, referring to Abel as "Regas." Their conversation takes an intimate turn, with Karas becoming increasingly physical and forceful, pushing Abel down. Abel, still groggy, tries to make sense of Karas’ cryptic words but finds himself drawn into Karas' advances, feeling conflicted.

As the scene progresses, Karas becomes more assertive, removing Abel's clothing and guiding his hand toward his own arousal. Abel, still dazed and confused, is forced to respond to Karas' touch, though he is consumed by a mix of emotions. The intimate moment reaches a peak when Karas ejaculates, and the atmosphere grows heavy with the scent of sex.

Truyde, who has been working on a black potion, receives a report from his subordinate about the missing knight and a man named Melmond, who has been involved with the emperor. Truyde realizes that Melmond has been making an antidote, explaining why the emperor hasn’t been poisoned despite the risks. Truyde grows more determined to take down Karas, believing the antidote isn’t perfect and that he now has the upper hand.

Melmond is awakened in the middle of the night by the need to use the bathroom. While stumbling down the hallway, he encounters a dark figure and initially mistakes it for Abel. However, the figure turns out to be the King, Karas, which immediately raises suspicions. Melmond, worried about an enemy or an intrusion related to the King's Heart, opens Abel’s door to find the young man in a disheveled and dazed state. The room smells heavily of semen, causing Melmond to be shocked and alarmed. He quickly sends Nani to get Ashler, and as they discuss the strange situation, they realize that the butler seems completely unaffected, despite the chaos.

Later, Karas returns to the palace in the early morning, and Ashler, noticing something off about his behavior, tries to ask him about his interaction with Abel. Karas answers without really answering, adding to Ashler’s suspicions. Meanwhile, Nani returns to announce that everyone, especially the butler, is in serious trouble. The butler is found laughing and tearing up books, clearly disturbed by the situation. As they gather around Abel, it’s clear that something has happened, but the specifics remain unclear.

The butler then loudly expresses his concern for Abel, dramatically speculating about the loss of Abel’s "purity," leading to an uncomfortable conversation. However, when the butler mentions the possibility of sexual activity, Abel calmly denies it, saying that it didn’t go that far. The situation becomes more confusing when the butler, still fixated on the details, continues to press Abel, leading to a humorous and awkward exchange about what did or did not happen.

The group speculates that the cause of Karas' actions may be linked to the black potion, which has been known to distort memories and heighten sexual desires. This leads them to believe that Karas' behavior toward Abel is influenced by the potion rather than his true feelings. However, there are hints that Karas might have developed an obsession with Abel, which complicates the situation.

As the group discusses what to do, Melmond suggests that Abel continue pretending to have amnesia and use the opportunity to gain Karas' favor. Meanwhile, Ashler is tasked with advising Karas to avoid pushing Abel too far, as the prince is inexperienced in matters of sex. The story delves into the complexities of their relationships and the influence of the black potion, with a growing sense of tension about the potential consequences for Abel.

Meanwhile, an unfolding crisis occurs in the palace. Rumors spread about Karas going mad and killing soldiers, prompting an investigation by the priest. The priest uncovers information about Karas asking a soldier if they could "see" him, which raises suspicions. A separate story follows Melmond, who believes he can persuade Abel to embrace a physical connection with the emperor, justified by the belief that such an act would protect Karas from manipulation. Abel is torn between his duty to the emperor and his previous teachings, leading to confusion and inner turmoil. The situation escalates when the palace is alerted to a potential act of treason involving Melmond and others, culminating in the intervention of Duke Truyde, who leads a group of soldiers to capture Abel and the others, just as the tension reaches its peak.

Truyde, accompanied by soldiers, storms the library, accusing Melmond of treason and poisoning the emperor. The soldiers ransack the area and present various items from Melmond’s room as evidence, including herbs and potions, which Truyde claims are responsible for driving the emperor insane. Although Melmond denies the accusations, Truyde persists, smashing a vial of Melmond’s antidote and ordering the group, including Melmond, to be imprisoned.

As tensions escalate, Truyde becomes intrigued by Abel, who's currently hiding his blonde hair and beautiful face beneath layers of soot. However, Melmont intentionally creates issues to catch Truyde's attention and ends up severely injured.

After hearing of the accusations, Karas finally arrives and Ashler challenges Truyde, pointing out the implausibility of Melmond, a powerless individual, orchestrating such treachery. Despite Ashler's defense, Karas indifferently orders Melmond and his companions to be imprisoned. On the surface, Truyde's plan worked but in reality, the 'imprisonment' also ensures Abel's safety.

Truyde deploys soldiers to the burned-down Dragon Forest in search of the pendant, only for them to mysteriously disappear. Meanwhile, at dinner, Truyde observes Karas succumbing to the effects of a drugged meal, hoping it will lead him to reveal crucial secrets. Karas, dazed and seemingly truthful under the drug’s influence, cryptically claims, “You are the forest’s greatest secret,” which leaves Truyde perplexed.

Meanwhile, the priest is tormented by his inability to recall where he has seen a mysterious black-haired servant, whose striking appearance seems tied to crucial past events. His failure to provide useful information provokes Norhox, who beats him and demands answers. The priest, desperate to survive, links the servant to Truyde and Melmond, suggesting the servant might hold valuable secrets.

Abel and Ashler remain locked in the library with ailing Melmond, troubled by Karas’ condition and the looming threat posed by Truyde. Abel, reflecting on past events, fears Truyde might target him or recall his connection to Melmond. Despite Ashler’s assurances and plans to protect him, Abel contemplates fleeing into the Dragon’s Forest, suspecting its secrets might be tied to Karas and the black potion. Ashler discourages this, urging Abel to wait and avoid endangering their position.

In a parallel subplot, the bedridden priest struggles to recall his encounters with Melmond’s servant, haunted by the fear of Norhox’s wrath and the eerie events surrounding the forest. He finally connects his fragmented memories to the Crimson Valley, a place tied to Karas’ enigmatic past.

Many other pieces are also moving outside of our small group. In the capital, whispers of the emperor's deteriorating state mingle with alarming reports of violent attacks on temples by seemingly insane individuals, many of whom were devout believers receiving treatment at the temples. The epidemic of madness spreads fear and unrest, with murmurs suggesting it might be connected to the mysterious actions of powerful figures like Truyde and Norhox.

While Roster focuses on completing a high-stakes mission ordered by the emperor, Kin, rushes to the emperor's side, driven by both a cryptic message and unsettling events surrounding the King’s Heart. Inside the palace, Ashler uncovers connections between the chaos outside and the mysterious black potion linked to the emperor's condition. His investigations reveal a long-standing search for a rare poison with symptoms resembling the potion’s effects. Ashler confronts the war profiteer, suspecting their involvement in distributing this poison, which might be responsible for the widespread madness and the fall of key figures like Norhox.

Norhox grapples with a terrifying realization: his uncontrollable thirst and violent tendencies stem from an addiction induced by the black potion, laced with a substance concealed in the salt distributed across the kingdom. His growing madness drives him toward the palace, desperate for answers and reprieve.

Meanwhile, Ashler uncovers fragmented truths about the emperor's enigmatic plans. The war profiteer reveals that each commander was given only partial knowledge to prevent anyone from fully understanding the grand scheme. The poison, the King’s Heart, and the emperor’s inexplicable actions are part of a larger, cryptic strategy. Ashler’s growing unease is mirrored by the profiteer's fearful admission: no one truly comprehends the emperor's ultimate intentions.

Soon, Truyde starts to become disturbed by Norhox's strange behavior and links his strange symptoms to a potential poisoning involving the Emperor and the King’s Heart. His behavior grows more erratic and soon, the priest’s body is found brutally mutilated. As the soldier inspects the area, a small gem falls from the priest’s clothing, sparkling amidst the blood, hinting at its significance.

Meanwhile, Ashler, Abel, and co. are examining a collection of herbs that had been gathered in hopes of identifying which herb might be linked to a black potion, but Melmond, who would normally be able to help, is too sick to assist. The butler and Abel, who have some knowledge of herbs, begin sorting through them, and the butler becomes frustrated at how unfamiliar many of them are. Eventually, he points out a peculiar herb that Abel recognizes. This herb, despite its ordinary appearance, has a distinct smell and is one Abel remembers learning about from his master. It is known for preventing disease, but Abel clarifies that it’s not used in poisoning.

While the group is investigating, Ashler and Nani hear strange sounds from outside. Ashler orders Nani to take Abel to safety through the back door. Nani is hesitant, insisting they should all escape together, but Ashler insists that Abel must survive at all costs. As the situation becomes more urgent, Norhox, disheveled and bloodied, suddenly appears. His unhinged behavior and strange appearance cause Ashler to become suspicious.

Norhox, apparently seeking something or someone, accuses Ashler of hiding the Emperor’s Regas. Norhox’s erratic behavior raises the stakes, and Ashler begins to suspect that Truyde might be behind this. However, before Norhox can escalate the situation further, soldiers from Truyde’s camp arrive to intervene. Ashler is momentarily distracted by the arrival of Truyde’s subordinate, who neutralizes Norhox and demands the soldiers block off the forest entrance, indicating they’re on a mission to find Abel.

Nani tries to lead Abel to safety. They head toward the Dragon’s Forest, hoping it will provide sanctuary. Nani takes on the responsibility of distracting the soldiers, knowing the forest's reputation will deter most from chasing after them. Abel is hesitant but agrees to run through a few remaining soldiers to reach safety. He’s reminded that his priority is to survive and stay safe, no matter the cost to his pride.

Meanwhile, Truyde, now in a conversation with a war profiteer, begins to realize that something sinister is afoot. The snacks are laced with a poison that drove Norhox mad. The war profiteer reveals that the poison was ordered by Karas. Truyde, growing frustrated with the situation, questions how he wasn’t affected by the poison and begins to suspect more sinister schemes at play.

In a separate scene, Ashler lies bloodied on the floor, having been tortured and abandoned. His loyal butler, bruised and battered himself, hopes Abel has made it to safety and reflects on the grim situation. With no candles and a dark atmosphere surrounding him, he hears footsteps and prepares for what’s to come.

In the Dragon’s Forest, Abel finds himself walking through a blackened landscape, with remnants of the forest's past life scattered around him. The area is barren, the trees charred, but Abel spots some green in the distance, offering a small sense of hope. However, his main focus is finding a hidden wooden pendant, and he retraces his steps toward a spot from his past, the Spring of Prayer, hoping to find the pendant among the ashes of his memories. While he's successful in finding the pendant, his attempt to unlock its secrets by calling the dragon's name fails. Abel reflects on whether the pendant is truly powerful or if it’s just a replica. He realizes that the name he used is not the original dragon's name, which would have been known when the kingdom was first established, suggesting that something crucial is missing in his understanding.

Meanwhile, Truyde, in his bid for power, tries to poison the emperor, Karas, by offering him a black potion, claiming it will secure his victory and dominance. Truyde sees Karas as a mere fool, assuming that his attempt will result in the emperor's downfall, even if Karas doesn't realize the poison's full effect. However, as Karas drinks the potion, he calmly questions if he will be satisfied with the outcome, implying he has something else in mind.

The butler and Nani, are held hostage by Truyde’s subordinates. When Abel, who is hiding in the forest, makes his presence known, he demands their release. Despite being outnumbered and in a vulnerable position, Abel remains calm and resolute, setting strict terms for the release of the butler and Nani. He orders that they be given weapons, food, clean clothes, and even gold coins, causing immense frustration and anger among Truyde’s subordinates, who are forced to comply with his demands. Abel's insistence on these terms, even down to the smallest details like requesting an accessory for Nani's belt, only exacerbates the anger of the soldiers, but Abel stands firm. His calm demeanor in the face of the growing tension seems almost to amuse him, even as he apologizes politely to his captors, masking the underlying frustration with a facade of politeness.

He's taken to Truyde, who has become obsessed with the idea that Abel might be the true Regas, not the imposter the emperor believed him to be. This revelation brings Truyde to a moment of realization about the emperor’s schemes. He believes the emperor had been gathering “fake” Regas’, young men with similar characteristics to Abel, to conceal the real one. Truyde, who is both infatuated with and repulsed by Abel, begins to toy with him, using his physical dominance to exert control. He runs his hand through Abel's hair, commenting on the unnatural black color, and questions whether Abel has been pretending to be someone he’s not, further probing into Abel’s real identity.

His desire for Abel increases and soon seeps into their interactions even more strongly. Abel, though suffering from the pain, tries to use his intelligence to gain an advantage. He reveals that he has a wooden pendant, hidden by the emperor, and hints at the possibility of negotiating for information related to the dragon's real name, something that could unlock the secrets of the past. The situation escalates to more intense violence, with Truyde whipping and planning to rape Abel. Despite the pain, Abel continues to make cryptic remarks, hinting at the presence of a mysterious herb in Truyde's scent, the herb hawks eat that keeps them from getting sick despite eating dead things.

When Abel mentions the herb, Truyde reacts with a fear so palpable that it sends a clear signal that something far more dangerous is at play. Truyde’s face suddenly drains of color, and his previously confident demeanor gives way to panic. Truyde quickly excuses himself, leaving in haste, which in turn helps Abel avoid immediate danger.

The Dragon’s Forest is spreading in ways that don’t make sense. Truyde's subordinate questions the anomaly, but he asserts that someone must be behind it, manipulating the land. He orders a soldier to enter the blackened ground, but when the soldier does, he transforms into ash in a terrifying moment, proving that the land is indeed cursed. This experience shakes Truyde deeply, especially as he questions whether he is responsible for the curse.

The Regas Palace, once a lively place, is now silent and desolate after many residents were taken by the forest. Inside, Abel tries to barricade the door to save himself upon Truyde's return, but Norhox bursts in through a secret passage, mad and looking for the real Regas. Once again, Abel manages to outsmart the man, who then continues his search. Unfortunately for one Regas who managed to survive by tricking the soldiers and disguising himself as a servant, he becomes Norhox's next victim. As Ashler and Nani arrive at the Regas Palace, they find the Regas' corpses and assume it, again, to be Abel.

When faced with Truyde’s mocking and dismissive attitude, Ashler’s pride and anger are challenged. He initially prepares to fight, but Truyde offers him a twisted form of mercy, allowing Ashler and Nani to take 'Abel’s' body. This moment of supposed mercy is laden with cruelty, as Truyde’s offer is not out of compassion but rather a form of control. He commands Ashler to take the body, threatening to destroy it if they don't accept his offer.

Truyde orders the palace to be blocked off and for his men to prevent anyone from leaving. He wants to spread panic, using rumors to fuel chaos and distract from his political maneuvering. His ultimate goal is to take control of the empire by killing the emperor and positioning himself as the only person capable of entering the expanding forest, an act he believes will solidify his authority.

Meanwhile, Ashler, struggling under the weight of grief and exhaustion, carries Abel’s lifeless body, refusing to let anyone else handle it. Nani and the butler are both concerned, but Ashler presses on, eventually collapsing in front of the library. As the butler sees the body, he is horrified by the mutilated state of the corpse, and his shock deepens when he realizes that it might not be Abel after all. This uncertainty is compounded when Karas arrives, cold and commanding, dismissing the corpse as not belonging to the young master, though he shows no emotion in his verdict.

The scene becomes more tense as Karas prepares to strike Ashler, but Melmond, though still severely injured, arrives and diverts his attention with a mysterious statement about Abel. The butler suggests that Abel may have escaped to the forest, the only place that would be safe from those who seek to harm him. Melmond agrees, but the uncertainty and fear grow as the forest itself continues to expand, threatening to consume everything.

Meanwhile, Truyde’s plans are set into motion within the palace as the gates are closed, trapping everyone inside. There are strange occurrences, like torches that refuse to go out, heightening the sense of unease among the palace’s inhabitants. As Karas arrives at the palace, he finds it eerily empty, and his search for Abel leads him to an unexpected discovery. Under a childhood bed in his room, he finds Abel curled up, clutching a book, alive after all. This marks a crucial moment of revelation as Karas finally uncovers the truth, putting an end to the uncertainty about Abel’s fate.

Abel initially feels joy but is quick to express his concern for Karas’ well-being, fearing that the black potion has had an adverse effect. He’s worried about Karas’ health and the mysterious state of the palace, which seems deserted. His reason for hiding under the bed is somewhat childlike and sentimental. He reveals that he wanted to feel closer to Karas by waiting in the same spot where Karas used to hide when he was a child. Karas, though not paying much attention to the awkwardness of Abel’s admission, is more focused on the fact that Abel’s motivations are tied to his concern for him. Abel tells Karas about the black potion, mentioning an herb linked to it. Surprisingly, Karas reveals that he has already figured out the secret of the black potion, which surprises Abel. Karas claims that the information Abel provided was indeed helpful, though Abel is skeptical. Karas’ sudden clarity about the potion makes Abel hopeful that they can resolve the crisis, but the tension increases when Karas notices Abel’s injuries. With cold and calculating eyes, Karas asks about the source of Abel’s wounds, signaling that something darker may be unfolding.

The fires that were thought to have been extinguished begin to reignite, growing dangerously, almost as though they have a life of their own. This foreshadows an imminent catastrophe that no one seems fully prepared for. In the meantime, the Commander of the Royal Guards, stationed away from the palace, is anxious about what is happening inside. He recalls Abel’s face and is deeply worried about him. He considers going back to the palace to check on the situation, but he is hesitant due to the uncertain danger there.

The Commander nervously hands Kin a letter from Sir Ashler, mentioning the current crisis within the palace and the ongoing protective efforts for Lord Abel. While Kin is initially distracted by the mention of Abel's name, his mood shifts when the Commander talks about Abel's appearance — describing him as still stunning, even in a dispirited state. The Commander’s fondness for Abel briefly unites him with Kin in their shared admiration.

Meanwhile, Truyde discusses the blame for the chaos that has befallen the kingdom, particularly focusing on the emperor's madness. Truyde uses the confusion around the temple’s involvement in the madness to shift responsibility away from the emperor and onto others. He dismisses any concerns about the potential consequences of eliminating the emperor, stating that someone with the dragon’s power should be placed on the throne instead. When questioned about the bloodline, Truyde boldly claims that he is the one who should rule, revealing his plan to seize power.

As Truyde’s procession moves toward the palace, a sense of foreboding fills the air. People are curious about the closed gates and the rumors of a curse inside. When the gates open and Truyde enters, he is met with eerie silence. The absence of people in the palace leaves Truyde and his followers puzzled, but they continue deeper inside. Finally, they encounter the emperor sitting alone on his throne, giving an unsettling command to the arriving ministers and soldiers. Karas, now seemingly in full control, issues his command with disturbing confidence, creating an unsettling atmosphere as Truyde and his followers realize the magnitude of the situation.

Back with Abel and his group, they continue their search for answers regarding the black potion and its connection to the mysterious hawk's herb. While they debate the significance of the herb, Abel is drawn to a book that might reveal the true name of the dragon. After scouring through the book, Abel finds a reference to a knight who once called the dragon “Chaban,” a nickname meaning "untamable dog." This revelation stuns the group, and despite Abel’s lingering hope that the dragon’s real name might still be hidden, the discovery of the name "Chaban" is unsettling. Melmond responds with a sarcastic remark, dismissing the idea of the dragon’s true name being anything as mundane as a derogatory nickname. The discovery leaves Abel feeling conflicted, but the group dismisses the book in frustration.

Meanwhile, flames erupt around them Tryude and Karas, intensifying the threat, and ministers and officials are forced to prostrate themselves before the emperor. Truyde, desperate, tries to use the remaining black potion as leverage, claiming he can give Karas the ultimate "win" he seeks by forcing him to drink it again. However, Karas remains unfazed and mocks Truyde's desperation. The situation becomes increasingly precarious as Karas reveals that he is aware of Truyde's hidden secrets, including the presence of the hawk's herb, which is key to Truyde’s ability to withstand poisons. His family has been eating the royal family for generations.

Abel, who doesn't yet know Truyde's secret, continues to read an old book that describes a legendary knight. In the book, the knight is portrayed very differently from traditional accounts — as a shameless, somewhat self-centered character (not unlike the man who presented the herb to Karas as Abel lay dying). This frustrates Abel's companions, especially Nani, who holds a more idealized view of the knight.

Abel, who has been holding a wooden pendant passed down through Truyde's family, calls out the dragon’s name, but nothing happens at first. However, the pendant begins to glow and turn transparent. The narrative then shifts to a flashback from Truyde’s childhood. His father forced him to consume rotten meat and a strange herb. This disturbing event is part of an ancient family ritual in the Truyde bloodline.

Truyde’s father reveals the dark secret behind their family’s legacy: the first Regas, the knight who served the king, created a poison to control the king's dragon-like blood. This poison has been passed down through the generations, and Truyde's consumption of the meat and herb marks him as a key figure in this legacy.

Abel, in a panic, finds himself levitating in the air after unintentionally triggering magic from the wooden pendant and soon finds himself surrounded by an impenetrable fog. Desperately, he makes a wish to understand the origins of the black potion, hoping to learn more about the Truyde family’s dark history. In response, the pendant guides him through the fog and transports him back in time to the past, to a moment in the royal palace.

In the past, Abel witnesses a tense conversation between two ancestors of Truyde and the Marquis. The scene unfolds with an unsettling lack of emotion, even as one of the men, Truyde’s ancestor, is devastated by the death of the king. Despite the gravity of the king’s death, there is no grief, only a bitter realization that the king’s death signifies the end of an era. Truyde’s ancestor, desperate to continue his ambitions, reveals a chilling plan: to hide the king's death and manipulate the succession. He suggests placing someone from the King’s Heart close to the prince to ensure that the royal bloodline, infused with dragon power, continues.

The other man, the Marquis’ ancestor, is initially skeptical but is eventually convinced by Truyde’s ancestor’s plans. He agrees to keep the king’s death a secret and use the situation to their advantage. As the conversation unfolds, it becomes clear that Truyde’s ancestor is willing to go to any lengths, even to the point of claiming the king's body as his own.

The Marquis’ ancestor holds the wooden pendant. The ancestor reveals the pendant’s importance, mentioning that it was given to the real Regas, and hints at his intentions to manipulate the power contained within it. Afterward, Abel attempts to follow him, only to witness a shocking and disturbing scene where Truyde’s ancestor consumes the late king’s body, seeking to gain its power for himself. The ancestor believes he has gained the power of a dragon and intends to control others with a poison infused with dragon power.

Abel, now amid this horrifying scene, experiences a strange and disorienting moment where time and space seem to warp around him. He finds himself in another room where Truyde’s ancestor, filled with madness and power, attempts to harm a servant by forcing them to drink his blood, which is laced with dragon poison. The servant collapses, and the ancestor celebrates his newfound power, believing he can now control kings and others with the poison. Abel, horrified, tries to make sense of the situation but is unable to move and is overwhelmed by the chaotic events unfolding around him.

Meanwhile, the current Truyde, who is under the influence of the black potion, questions why he wasn't poisoned by it. He presses Karas for answers, wanting to understand how he was immune. Karas reveals that he had been poisoned with a similar substance, and the initial poison had been intended as a gift from the war profiteer. Truyde’s thoughts shift to his wife, whose behavior under the potion’s influence is now being revealed as a dangerous force, and he begins to realize that his own family’s bloodline may have something to do with the survival of those poisoned by the black potion.

Back with Abel, the tension escalates as he begins to vomit, and his companions try to help him, though they are confused and alarmed by his strange behavior. Abel struggles with the disturbing knowledge he’s gained about the black potion and the king’s death. As he stands at the door, ready to confront the prince, he is frozen by an unsettling vision: the Dragon’s Forest has somehow appeared before him. This shift in the environment leaves everyone, including Abel, bewildered and frightened, as the eerie and ominous presence of the forest suggests that darker forces are at play, and the danger they are facing is far more complicated and far-reaching than they realized.

The land outside, once green, is now blackened, resembling a desolate, burnt landscape. The Dragon’s Forest, which was already known for its mysterious and dangerous nature, appears to be expanding, engulfing the land around it. Strangely, the library in the area remains untouched. The butler, horrified by the sight, suggests that the forest might be the result of the Dragon’s Forest “devouring” people, a theory that Abel brushes off, assuring everyone that it might not be a curse but something else entirely. Despite the warning voices, he steps outside to investigate further, troubled by an uneasy feeling he's had for some time. Ashler, who was supposed to be incapacitated, surprises everyone by appearing and expressing concern about the situation, particularly the behavior of the emperor.

The conversation reveals that the emperor had appeared strangely healthy after consuming the black potion, though his demeanor had become ominously sharp. Abel and Ashler share suspicions that something far more sinister might be at play, potentially involving Truyde, a man with dark ambitions. The expansion of the Dragon’s Forest seems to signal the forest’s anger, perhaps caused by an action related to the duke setting it on fire, and Abel decides that he must go to confirm what is truly happening.

Karas, instead of reacting with anger, calmly dismisses Truyde's taunts, even as the flames around them begin to subside. The once-intense flames vanish, leaving behind a terrifying calm. The surviving ministers, who had been burned by the flames, look to Karas in horror and confusion. Karas coldly demands that they find a more effective poison, one that can truly drive him mad, as the black potion Truyde had used was ineffective. His words are accompanied by a growing sense of menace as small, almost imperceptible flames appear on the ministers' bodies, symbolizing their impending doom.

The ministers, terrified, scramble to please Karas, promising to find the poison he desires. The flames flicker but do not disappear entirely, remaining a threat. Karas gives them a week to find a poison that satisfies him before the flames burn through their hearts. The ministers, desperate to escape, rush through the palace, barely able to contain their fear. As they flee, the scene shifts back to Truyde, who is left to groan in pain as his own body burns from the lingering effects of the black potion. Despite the cessation of the flames around him, Truyde’s agony continues, highlighting the merciless nature of Karas and the brutal consequences of their conflict.

Further detailing his actions, Karas reveals that he has been playing a much longer game. Karas explains that, while he could easily eliminate Truyde, he wanted to create chaos instead. By corrupting the people with salt—a substance sold as a holy relic in the King’s Heart temples—he has turned them into "madmen" who will eventually rebel. The salt is causing withdrawal symptoms, making the people desperate enough to fight for it. Karas also hints that the rumors of Truyde’s insanity are part of a larger plan, aimed at further inciting unrest and rebellion.

The Dragon Forest is now expanding and consuming everything in its path. Soldiers, panicked by its power, flee the palace, speaking of the cursed forest swallowing the land. Kin and his group investigate the situation, meeting a disfigured minister who confirms that the forest is a threat, and its curse is growing. The minister, in a panic, reveals that even Truyde could not stop the emperor, suggesting that the emperor’s power has grown to a dangerous level. As the group tries to navigate the chaos, Clara and Kin exchange words, realizing that the emperor might have won, but at a great cost.

Ashler and Abel, while navigating through the forest, continue their discussion about the strange phenomenon. Abel believes the forest is meant to protect the prince, but Ashler doubts that, given its destructive state. They both agree that Truyde’s sacrilegious acts against the forest might have caused the devastation, and they speculate that the forest is helping the emperor in some way.

Karas further reveals that the power of the forest, which Truyde thought was a curse, actually stopped when the forest was burned. Karas explains that, through his own powers, he absorbed the immense energy of the forest, which allowed him to detoxify the black potion that had been poisoning him. The forest's power, rather than being lost, transferred to Karas, making him stronger and giving him the ability to use the fog, a key manifestation of the forest's essence.

Abel, who is deeply troubled by the strange happenings, is trying to understand what is happening to the forest. The once mystical fog that had enveloped the Dragon Forest has turned into a terrifying fire that is consuming the land. The sky itself has darkened, and the ground is now covered in a sea of fire, pushing everyone into a state of fear and confusion. Abel, though, seems to be focused on discovering the origin of this chaos and seeking the answers hidden in the past. His memories and dreams of a world turning into fire seem to be tied to this event, making it even more personal for him.

As the chaos unfolds, Kin’s group witnesses the fire’s destructive power approaching the palace gates. The sight of the river of fire overwhelms everyone, and Kin urges them to evacuate. In a separate scene, Nani and the butler, both terrified and crying, discuss the possibility of even His Majesty being unable to handle the situation. The once safe, mystical forest has now become a dangerous force, devouring everything in its path.

Ashler, trying to make sense of it all, calls out to Abel, who is momentarily lost in thought. Abel decides to use the wooden pendant, which has a crack in it, to uncover the truth. The pendant is a tool that allows him to witness past events, and though it seems fragile, Abel is determined to use it to understand the roots of this disaster.

The narrative also explores the backstory of the dragon, who once held immense power. The dragon, now a much more passive and reluctant figure, had once been a symbol of absolute power. The humans, driven by greed, had begged the dragon to share his power, even asking for his blessing to make one of their children the king. However, the dragon, despite his immense strength, is disillusioned by human greed and the demands placed on him.

The section ends on a somber note, with the knight reflecting on the dragon's decision to withdraw from the world. The dragon’s withdrawal, along with the formation of the dense fog, signifies the end of an era. The knight, who has a complex and troubled relationship with the dragon, understands that the dragon’s departure is inevitable, but it still feels like the loss of a friend.

In the past, the dragon had intervened to save the world, not out of affection for humanity but seemingly out of irritation with the chaos wrought by another dragon. Despite his indifference, his actions had been pivotal in protecting the fragile world.

Yet the dragon’s discontent with humanity was ever-present. The knight recalls how the dragon viewed people: a species driven by insatiable greed and shallow intentions, incapable of grasping the true weight of the power they sought. The humans, blinded by their desires, had repeatedly come to him with requests that reflected their hunger for control rather than their gratitude or reverence for the life he had preserved.

The knight, standing as an intermediary between the dragon and humanity, watches this interaction with a heavy heart. He knows the truth of the dragon's feelings — this majestic being has no love for the humans before him, nor any intention of bending to their will. The knight's sorrow grows deeper as he realizes that the dragon, his only companion and the closest thing to a friend he has known, is preparing to leave this world for good.

As the dragon turns his gaze to the forest, the knight sees that the dense fog forming within it is no accident. It is the dragon’s quiet withdrawal, a barrier to keep humanity at bay, and a sign of his final departure. While the humans interpret the fog as mystical protection, a blessing for their new kingdom, the knight understands it as a farewell—a way for the dragon to sever ties with a world that has only demanded and never given.

The dragon’s decision is not rooted in anger or vengeance but in exhaustion. His patience has worn thin, and the world he once saved has proven to be a place of ceaseless noise and greed. For the knight, this understanding brings profound sorrow. Though he had never considered himself truly close to the dragon, he had found solace in their unlikely companionship. The dragon, for all his power and detachment, had been a constant presence, an unyielding force in a world of flux.

As the humans clamor for the dragon’s power, the knight reflects on their folly. They fail to see that their ceaseless greed is what has driven the dragon away, alienating the very being they now revere. The dragon, once a savior, now chooses solitude over-involvement, preferring to leave behind only the fog and his fading memory.

In his final act of contemplation, the knight silently apologizes to the dragon. He regrets the role he played in tying the dragon to humanity, knowing now that his pleas for the dragon to save the world may have been a mistake. For all the good that came from it, the cost was the dragon's peace and the eventual destruction of their fragile connection.

The dragon sets the stage by declaring that inheriting his power comes with inheriting his instincts, including his disdain for humanity. The people, blinded by their greed and desire for power, ignore the warning, convinced they can manage their instincts with one chosen individual. In a moment of dramatic delegation, the dragon assigns the responsibility of choosing the inheritor to the knight, whom he holds in a mix of amusement and reluctant affection.

The knight, though deeply skeptical of humanity's capability to handle the dragon's power, accepts the task with trepidation. The dragon transfers his essence into a small, nondescript gray bead, a symbolic vessel for his strength and instincts. This act marks the beginning of the forest's transformation into a fog-covered sanctuary, a manifestation of the dragon's retreat and disinterest in further direct involvement with humanity.

As the dragon withdraws, he reveals to the knight the forest's true purpose: to act as a seal against the destructive power of another dragon that once sought to annihilate the world. This revelation casts the forest's existence in a more ominous light, suggesting that the peace it maintains is fragile and temporary. The dragon leaves the knight with full discretion over the bead, even suggesting that it can be buried to avoid its misuse.

Abel's now learned of the forest's role as a seal and the danger posed by the release of the ancient dragon's power. In contrast Karas, now holding immense strength, contemplates unleashing the sinister force bound beneath the forest to achieve his goals.

Karas confronts Abel, who struggles to catch his breath but smiles and speaks with a mix of nervousness and joy. Abel’s reaction to Karas’s appearance is unexpected, as he excitedly remarks on the return of the prince’s original yellow eyes, reminiscent of the prince’s childhood. Abel’s unrestrained joy mirrors their first meeting years ago, breaking through the emotional barriers Karas has built. Despite Karas’s distant demeanor, Abel’s bright smile recalls memories of a time when the two shared a bond unmarred by the complexities of the present.

Abel’s joy at seeing Karas’s eyes shifts to awkwardness as he remembers his supposed amnesia. His poor acting fails to convince Karas, who remains silent but observant. Abel deflects attention by presenting a damaged wooden pendant, claiming to have found it in the forest. He explains how he used it to glimpse the past, uncovering the forest's true nature as a seal for immense power. Abel reveals his knowledge of the dragon’s actions and confronts Karas about releasing the sealed force, but Karas coldly responds that he removed obstacles in his path.

Karas’s words remind Abel of the prince’s unchanged purity, driven by instinct rather than malice. Abel, instead of pleading or scolding, responds with a resigned acceptance of Karas’s nature. He emphasizes the futility of temporary solutions and decides to redirect Karas’s desires rather than opposing him outright. Abel shifts the conversation to a lighter tone, recounting stories of festivals and adventures he wishes to share with Karas. He paints vivid pictures of joyous events, filled with laughter, food, and camaraderie, attempting to rekindle the prince’s curiosity and sense of wonder. He details dreams of experiencing the world with Karas, imagining a life of shared adventures and simple joys. However, Karas focuses on the idea of sharing a cramped space, showing an unexpected fondness for their closeness during travel, a sentiment that surprises Abel.

Finally, Karas uses his immense power to seal the raging forces of the Dragon Forest, saving the world but collapsing from the exertion. Abel supports Karas’ unconscious body and silently admires the selflessness behind his actions. Ashler, rushing to assist, helps transport Karas to safety, but Abel stays behind to ensure Truyde is permanently eliminated. With unflinching resolve, Abel decapitates Truyde and sets his body ablaze to prevent any chance of resurgence, showcasing a darker, resolute side to his character.

Meanwhile, things within the empire undergo drastic changes. The King's Heart, once a dominant force, becomes a cursed name as its followers are exposed for their corruption. Their temples are looted, and the ministers who supported them are ousted, imprisoned, or executed. The emperor's loyal subordinates work tirelessly to stabilize the country, consolidating power under Karas even as he remains unconscious.

The forest, once a source of destruction, begins to heal, symbolizing the restoration of balance. However, the people remain anxious about Karas' prolonged slumber, fearing the forest's resurgence without his guidance. The subordinates, including Ashler and Roster, discuss Karas' condition and Abel's role in maintaining hope and order. Abel’s enigmatic demeanor and quiet assurance hint at his inner struggles and unwavering commitment to the emperor’s vision.

As Karas remains unconscious after sacrificing his power to restore balance to the forest, Abel ventures into the Dragon Forest daily, carrying seeds and returning dirty and disheveled, much to the butler’s despair. While Abel shows no concern for Karas’ condition, believing he is merely resting, others, like Ashler, are more apprehensive. Ashler reflects on the unsettling implications of Karas’ past actions, particularly his use of the forest’s power to cleanse the empire. Despite his fear, Ashler places his trust in Abel, seeing him as the only one capable of influencing Karas and ensuring a better future.

Meanwhile, Melmond faces an internal struggle with the realization that his years of research to detoxify the black potion were not in vain. Although his antidote could not cure Karas, it proves effective in treating madness caused by similar poisons, saving countless lives.

The story concludes with Abel’s return to Karas’ side, joyfully recounting his efforts to rejuvenate the forest. He envisions a future where the Dragon Forest thrives, its lakes replenished and trees regrown, with the two of them exploring its wonders together. In a surprising turn, Karas awakens, uttering the simple words, “I’m hungry,” bringing relief and joy to Abel.