Rows of apple trees lined every path leading to the castle. Because they were a variety that bore fruit from summer even before autumn arrived, by this time of year, they would start showing fruit and be bursting with red and yellow apples come fall.
Only in Ressas’s shabby palace, far removed from the main castle, grew a different breed of apple tree—reportedly a northern species. There had been a time when this embarrassed him, as if the solitary tree mirrored his own alienation. But looking back now, perhaps it was because it came from the North that Seiyad had always liked those apples the best.
Now that he thought about it, he never did manage to give Eid the candy he had set aside for him.
Ressas turned away after silently gazing at the annex that housed his private residence. It wasn’t a home he would return to, merely a place to keep precious things. The brooch Seiyad had gifted him, the little toys he had collected since childhood, the candy he’d saved just for him—all of it had been moved to the central palace. It would likely be impossible to recover them now. There was no guarantee the castle would remain intact after the coming battle.
It was time to let go anyway. A long time had passed since he’d earnestly started gathering those candies for him. They would no longer taste as sweet as they did when they were freshly made. He couldn’t bring himself to give Seiyad something so faded. The one small comfort was that Seiyad had ordered Rigda and Vine to release the horse Luna into the woods outside the castle. She had probably galloped far away, back to the North by now.
“Uh, Your Highness, we’ve arrived.”
Tiaki, who was always brazen in front of Seiyad, spoke to Ressas with an unusually timid demeanor. The stables, packed with hundreds of horses, echoed with uneasy neighing. From the outside, the massive wooden structure appeared distanced from the castle, but after following Tiaki inside, they found a door leading underground behind a hay storage area.
“I’ll go in first…sir.”
Zion, who had started walking ahead, awkwardly tacked on a formal honorific. They hadn’t faced each other since the South, and he must have reflexively reverted to their old familiarity before quickly catching himself. Ressas stared at him for a moment, then responded indifferently.
“Speak however you like. I don’t mind.”
By proper standards, he should’ve kept some distance. But ever since they entered the castle together, the weight in his heart made that impossible. As the familiar chill settled at the nape of his neck, old memories flickered through his mind. Zion, who had insisted on following him into the castle back then, had died because of Ressas’s own poor decision. If only he had gone inside instead… If only he had used his body to shield the blade… Maybe then, they could have defeated the Devil without the Tithers splitting apart.
Despite how much had changed, it was as if fate insisted on repeating itself—Zion had ended up among the infiltration team again. Like Tiaki, Zion emphasized his ability to hide himself, volunteering for the mission in an effort to atone for his father’s sins.
“…No, it’s because my father raised me wrong. Even if someone is a friend, there are still manners to uphold in public, but he always told me I could do whatever I wanted. I ended up acting like I had no limits.”
Uncomfortable with the stiff atmosphere, Tiaki shuddered and quickly opened the trapdoor in the floor.
“Then I’ll go first.”
He pushed open the wooden doors on both sides, revealing a stairway leading underground. After glancing inside and giving a confirming nod, Tiaki spoke again.
“Nothing down here. Just some sewer rats living the family life. Other than that, all clear.”
He hurried down the steps, and Zion and Ressas followed. Once they reached the bottom, Zion conjured a small light in his palm, brightening the passageway. Watching with curious interest, Tiaki began to lead the way. The path didn’t branch out—just a straight walk forward with occasional turns.
“The route’s not long, thankfully, but it’s narrow, so on the way back, someone will need to guide us. The Duke of Shildras can do it.”
“Why do you speak formally to His Highness but casually to me?”
“Because I’m an uneducated bastard, and I talk that way to His Grace the Duke too. But the prince over there heals us, so I gotta stay on his good side.”
Zion let out a dry laugh, incredulous. Even though the distance they walked wasn’t long, Tiaki still seemed bored and turned to him with a question.
“Hey, but seriously—why the hell did your father wake the Devil? Am I the only one who doesn’t know the reason?”
“What’s the point of you knowing that?”
“Because I’m stuck in this mess, too, that’s why.”
Though he said it offhandedly, Zion suddenly lowered his head, as if weighed down by guilt.
“…I only found out recently. I think my father hated the way the King and the Guides treated the Tithers. He was sick of being shackled by endless duties, tired of the chains, and maybe… maybe he just wanted the world to end.”
There was something else Duke Bridehit had told him—Sirkhan Shildras had originally loved the previous queen. But bound by her family’s command, she had no choice but to marry the king. Since she remained childless for so long, she had been driven to the brink of madness under the King’s persecution, and Sirkhan had suffered in silence all that time.
Ressas could understand at least part of his motive. If the one you loved had already died and left the world behind, and that same world was your enemy’s most cherished treasure… Maybe he, too, would have done the same.
But he knew he wouldn’t have. Because Seiyad had always wanted to protect life more than anything, and if it was something Seiyad had wished for, Ressas would honor it even in death. He could never walk the same path as Sirkhan.
After breathing in the stale, heavy air for what felt like an eternity, they finally found the exit. When they reached a gate barred with iron, Tiaki slipped through the shadows and opened it from the other side. Once they stepped out, they found themselves in the castle’s underground prison.
“Alright, I’m gonna split from here. I’ll leave the door unlocked, so from now on, anyone you see—bring them here and get them to safety. Good luck out there. If anything happens to His Highness, the Duke will have my head. And, well, I’m still too young to die…”
With a cheeky smile, he sank into the shadows without a sound. Watching him vanish without a trace, Ressas turned to Zion.
“I’ll go alone from here. You scatter too and help evacuate the others.”
“How are you planning to kill His Highness Aster all by yourself? Do you know how many knights are stationed around him?”
Perhaps it was because they were alone, or maybe old habits rooted in concern resurfaced—Zion flinched and objected immediately. Just as he said, it was certain that the Armor of the Blue Moon remained at Aster’s side, and the chances were high he would be accompanied by the royal guard as well. If they were moving under Mental Indoctrination, there might be a way to Purify them—but there was no guarantee. Besides, many followed Aster out of true loyalty, simply because of his position.
“In that case, stay with me at least until I find my brother. Once we’ve dealt with the knights, you leave the castle immediately. No questions.”
“But—”
“That’s an order, Zion.”
The words came in a dry, steady voice. Zion shut his mouth, his eyes clouded with worry. Ressas didn’t want to see Zion die here again, and so he didn’t rescind the order as he exited the prison.
The castle had already been consumed by the fear of hundreds. Feeding on that fear, the Devil had grown stronger, its pitch-black form darkening even further. Every window in the castle was sealed off, cloaking the place in an oppressive gloom despite it being broad daylight. As he roamed the darkened halls, Ressas did his best to evacuate as many people as possible before running into Aster.
But it didn’t take long for trouble to begin. Word that there was a path to escape the castle had caused panic. People lost their composure, moving frantically. The rumor spread like wildfire, drawing scattered individuals to a single point. Crowds swelled almost instantly, turning the ground floor and even the underground levels into chaos, and it didn’t take long for the knights to sense the presence of so many people.
“Please! For the love of—line up and move in order!”
The Armor of the Blue Moon appeared just as Tiaki was shouting at the people. In the midst of the uncontrollable disorder, shouts and wails erupted from every direction, turning the underground prison into a frenzy. The knights, who had just arrived with a group of elderly and child servants, froze at the scene—there wasn’t even space to step forward. Zion looked sick to his stomach.
“Should I just force them apart with my powers?”
“That’ll just terrify them even more. And if we make a scene, the knights will—”
Before he could even finish, Ressas sensed the approach of armed men. Zion must’ve noticed too, turning toward the stairwell down the corridor. The sound of clanking armor echoed, and soon several knights came into view.
“Intruders! Report to His Highness immediately!”
They must have been patrolling in teams—the moment they saw them, one of the knights shouted. Without hesitation, Zion bolted toward the stairs. As he disappeared, Ressas turned to Tiaki and gave a sharp command.
“Tiaki, gather as many people as you can and get them out. We’ve already been exposed, so Zion and I will draw the knights’ attention and keep them away from the underground.”
“Shouldn’t I help too?”
“Think about why we came here. The more people we save, the easier it’ll be to focus during the battle.”
There was no time to explain in detail. If this reached Aster’s ears, the Devil would surely begin to move—and once it did, it would start controlling the people. To honor Seiyad’s request to avoid using unnecessary power, Ressas moved quickly, determined to bring this situation under control before it escalated.
Even If Everyone Hates You 🚫
Guilt: The Novel ✅