Chapter 27 : Crazy

Thania remained silent, her gaze unwavering.

She had no answer.

Because the truth was—she didn't know.

She didn't understand what made Lucas special.

She didn't know how a five-year-old boy could be so aware, so mature—so abnormal. His power defied logic. It transcended reason.

She had spent centuries mastering death, bending it to her will, ruling over it as its undisputed queen. And yet, before Lucas… she felt as if she understood nothing.

An enigma.

That was what he was.

Even as she watched him sleep peacefully in her lap, his small fingers twitching slightly as if dreaming, she knew one thing for certain—

She would never be able to grasp the depths of his potential.

Because it was limitless.

And yet… she didn't mind.

Because when she was with him, she felt something she had never experienced before.

With Lucas, she was no longer Thania Evermourne, Queen of Death and Decay.

No—

She was just Thania.

A woman who couldn't take her eyes off him.

A woman who acted like a maiden in love.

She despised the thought, yet she could not deny it. The feelings stirring inside her had nothing to do with Lucas' connection to death anymore—nothing to do with the fact that he embodied everything she had sought in her endless existence.

It was simply… him.

The boy who had lost everything at five years old.

The child who wandered this cursed forest alone, battling monsters far beyond his years.

And that realization only made her obsession stronger.

All she wanted was to stay by his side. To protect him. To be something more than just a queen in his eyes—

To be someone he could trust. Someone he could lean on. Someone who could—

Thania froze.

Her thoughts had gone too far.

If she kept thinking this way, her expression might betray her in front of her.

And Lilie… Lilie was no ordinary woman.

Her power leaned towards emotions, towards desires. If there was anyone in this world who could see through her, it was her.

And sure enough—

Lilie's crimson eyes glowed with amusement. She tilted her head.

"Hmm… Were you just having inappropriate thoughts, Thania?" she mused, tapping her chin. "I could feel my power reacting strongly to you just now."

Thania's gaze darkened.

"You're imagining things," she replied coldly.

Lilie raised an eyebrow.

Before she could push further, Thania cut in—

"And as for your question… I don't know how he did it. I am just as clueless as you."

Lilie immediately clicked her tongue. "Well, if you don't know—" she smirked, "—I'll just ask him myself."

The air shifted.

A deadly stillness filled the space between them.

Thania's fingers twitched in Lucas' hair.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze.

"If he's willing," she said, her voice even, "then I won't say anything. But if he is not—"

Her eyes became void.

A suffocating aura spread through the clearing.

"—and you dare to use your power on him…"

The world itself seemed to tremble.

"Then do not blame me for what happens next."

A thousand skeletal hands began rising from the earth, their bony fingers twitching, eager to drag something—someone—into the abyss.

"Because even if I must sacrifice everything—"

Her tone was soft.

But her intent was absolute.

"—you will go down."

Lilie's expression remained neutral, but inside—

She was stunned.

She had known Thania for centuries. She had seen her in battle, watched her reduce entire civilizations to dust without hesitation.

But this?

This was madness.

To think her friend—the Queen of Death herself—was willing to kill her over a boy.

Lilie's mind reeled.

She knew Thania. And she knew that if she so much as entertained the idea of using her power on Lucas—

She wouldn't leave this forest alive.

William and Sirius, watching from the sidelines, both had the same thought at that moment:

'Damn. Yanderes are cool. I'm actually jealous of a five-year-old. This is ridiculous.'

Lilie finally sighed, raising her hands in surrender.

"I won't do such a thing. Do not worry."

Her lips twitched as she added, almost incredulously, "But seriously, did you just threaten your only friend twice over a boy?"

Thania turned her gaze away.

"…He is more important," she murmured.

Lilie exhaled sharply. "Unbelievable."

She glanced at the unconscious child. "When will he wake up?"

Thania's fingers gently stroked Lucas' ashen hair.

"When he feels like it."

And so, the Queen of Death continued to watch over her sleeping enigma.

Unaware that across the empire—someone else was about to crash out.

…

Empire of Sylvaris —

The letter Elias had sent to the Emperor had been ignored.

And so, Elias took action.

He strengthened his army. Built his power.

His territory, nestled in the heart of the wild, became self-sufficient.

He closed its borders. Halted all trade with the empire.

And then, he did something unthinkable.

He renamed his land.

It was no longer part of Sylvaris.

It was now a new kingdom.

The Kingdom of Beasts.

A lawless, untamed land where the strong reigned.

Elias declared himself King, and his family the royal bloodline.

Anyone who opposed him?

Killed. Without hesitation. Without mercy.

But now… Elias had greater ambitions.

His kingdom was too small.

And so, he set his sights beyond his borders.

He was no longer Duke Elias of Sylvaris.

He was King Elias, the Lord of Beasts.

And soon… Sylvaris would know him in his new title. 

…

The Mindweaver's

While Elias played at kingship, the Mindweavers worked in the shadows.

Masters of manipulation.

Their spies were everywhere.

Their influence, limitless.

The Empire of Sylvaris grew paranoid.

No one could be trusted.

And the weight of doubt and fear crushed even the strongest loyalists.

…

Iris Mindweaver's Chambers

Iris Mindweaver clenched her fists.

Today, once again, she felt an uncontrollable urge to kill.

And she knew why.

"My Lucas… he's with another woman."

Her voice dripped with hatred.

"And today… my killing intent has intensified."

Her breath hitched.

"…That means there's another woman now."

The room trembled.

Objects lifted into the air—then shattered.

Glass, wood, metal—all crushed under the weight of her fury.

Albert, her butler, remained still.

He had long grown accustomed to this.

So he continued his report without a change of expression. 

"My lady," he said calmly. "The project is progressing well. One of the Seats has agreed to our plan. He is working on persuading the others."

Iris smiled. A hollow smile. 

"Good. The empire won't see it coming."

"But, my lady," Albert hesitated. "The Matriarch warns that the royal family is… unpredictable. They have ruled for centuries. They won't let their empire fall so easily."

Iris's eyes gleamed.

"I know. I'll be careful."

She crossed her arms.

"What about the Noctis Family?"

Albert hesitated. "…They remain hidden. Their Saint's concealment abilities are beyond our reach."

"Tch. Fine. Let them rot."

"For now… focus on the royal family. They're the greater threat."

Albert nodded. "Understood."

Iris's expression darkened.

"…And the search for Lucas?"

Albert stiffened.

"…No new developments."

Iris narrowed her eyes.

"We know the spatial tears couldn't have sent him too far."

Albert hesitated.

"And there is… one place we haven't checked yet that match our study."

Iris tilted her head. "Which one?"

"…The Kingdom of Evernight. Ruled by The Personification of Death, Thania Evermourne."

At the mention of that name—

Iris froze.

Her instincts screamed.

He's there.

Her Lucas was there.

With her.

Thania Evermourne.

Her silver eyes darkened.

"What are you waiting for?" she whispered.

"Send a search party."

She exhaled sharply.

"No. Forget that."

She stood.

"…I'll go myself."

End of chapter 27.