CHAPTER 289: THE TRUTH ABOUT THE AEON

"I have one partner in this world, someone pure who needs no heavy makeup or strong perfume. Know this well: there is not even one chance in ten thousand that I would return your feelings. For ignoring my will and forcing me into captivity, I demand a proper apology. This is also a diplomatic issue with the Kingdom of Rosaria. Prepare yourself."

He turned his gaze away from the queen whose hope had shattered and whose face had gone pale and looked back at the chancellor who also looked sick with worry.

"But right now, we have no time to waste on such worthless matters. I will speak clearly. Stop the flow of magic power from the stone chamber to the altar in the inlet at once. This is not a request. It is a demand."

"That... That cannot be done! We are close to fulfilling the great wish of the Kingdom of Solmaria, a wish we have held for many years!"

Isolde’s face changed with anger.

"We have worked for countless years and poured all our effort into this! A foreigner has no right to speak about our country’s affairs! What authority do you think you have!?"

"Then answer me this: for what purpose are you pouring such a huge amount of magic power into that altar?"

Dominic asked coldly while Isolde raged.

She immediately gave him a sharp and dismissive snort, "Do I need to explain anything to you? You rejected my offer. You will regret it later. Soon, I will gain great power, a power that only someone like me, with enormous magic, can grasp. When I hold that mighty power, the world will kneel before me. When I become the ruler who controls everything, you will ask for my forgiveness at my feet and kiss them. Or... perhaps you will change your mind and walk the path of conquest with me?"

She lifted her chin proudly, full of triumph, but Dominic looked at her without the slightest trace of fear.

"How stupid. What use is being the ruler of the world? I have no interest in such power."

"Wh-what? Stupid, you say?"

"Yes. And the thing you are trying to summon is not what you think it is. It is not something a human can control."

"You speak as if you know it."

"I do. I met that monster deep underground."

"What?"

"That thing does not belong with us. It is a creatures called the Aeon, the devourer of all. If you bring it to the surface, everything would ends. You know of the great dead desert on the continent beyond this kingdom, don’t you? Thousands of years ago, there was once a rich and advanced civilization there. But they lived every day fighting the Aeon. The Aeon devours everything. Every living being becomes its prey."

"When humanity faced its crisis, that last kingdom used everything it had. The whole nation, every citizen’s life, every scrap of their strength, everything was poured into sealing the Aeon beneath the earth."

"As a result, even after all this long time, the land above still cannot grow life. They truly used everything they had. This history, paid for with priceless sacrifice, has been passed down by the elders of Minoan, the hidden village in the north. If you think it is a lie, you should go and ask them yourself."

As Dominic continued speaking, both Isolde and the chancellor grew paler and paler.

The chancellor looked almost like a dead man, his skin turning the color of dry earth.

"For thousands of years after that, deep underground in the demon world, the Aeon has kept growing. I cannot even guess how huge it has become, but it is certain that its size is beyond imagination. A massive and powerful barrier was created to trap it, but the magical channels used for the original spell remain like a path. Of course, those paths also have barriers, but as long as a path exists, there is a chance the Aeon can come to the surface. Shiao Yi and I have been traveling to seal those exits and entrances."

Dominic glared at Isolde and attacked her with sharp words. "The place you are pouring magic power into is that very exit and entrance gate. Are you going to throw away the sacrifices of the people from long ago? Are you trying to destroy everything Shiao Yi and I have done? If the Aeon comes to the surface, can you take responsibility for what happens!?"

"Ah... uh... that is—"

"I will not accept ’we didn’t know.’ Your stupidity would bring the end of the world!"

He pressed on without mercy as they sweated and panicked.

There was no more time to waste.

He had no intention of giving them a chance to argue back.

"There is no time! Stop the flow of magic power at once!"

Dominic quickly run toward the building where the stone chamber was located and it was Isolde’s private palace.

The soldiers with torches surrounded them, keeping the ground bright even at night.

Isolde led the way, taking Dominic with her.

The guards clearly feared him.

A short and plump man followed after them as well.

He was the man who had been sitting on the sofa earlier with that foolish look.

He dragged along a flashy and heavy outfit while out of breath but still keeping up.

When Dominic had sensed a strong presence near Isolde earlier, it must have been him.

He had dull red-brown hair and light brown eyes.

His face was fairly well-shaped.

In some way, he resembled Isolde.

Behind him, at the very end, the chancellor followed with a sickly face.

Dominic didn’t want to push an old man too hard, but he had responsibility, so there was no choice.

The assistants who had been in the office were completely overwhelmed by Dominic’s pressure and would not recover for a while.

In that sense, the chancellor was impressive, far from an ordinary man.

When they reached the queen’s palace, Isolde went inside alone.