Chapter 18: The End, and Also the Beginning

“Mm—stop, stop, I’m gonna suffocate!”

Tina half-heartedly pushed away, her cheeks still flushed.
She hadn’t expected that one kiss would flip a switch in Althea, unleashing a relentless onslaught.

And… being on the receiving end felt entirely different.
If she had a choice, she’d rather not be the one pinned down.

“Fine.”
Althea was still savoring the moment.

To her, surviving the disaster and being saved by Tina was enough to max out her heart-meter.
Plus, Tina didn’t resist—how could anyone hold back?

“Your Highness, we’ve got more important things to do.”

“Don’t call me Your Highness. If you’re okay with it, I’d like you to use my name from now on.”

“…Althea?”

“Mm. Let’s head back to the city.”

…

Meanwhile, in the palace dungeon—

Everett was locked in the deepest, darkest cell.
Outside stood the silver-haired youth, their contrasting attire stark.

“I didn’t expect you to help them.”

“Surprised? It’s not just about helping the princess—it’s about helping you, Your Majesty.”

“Oh, how touching. You know, that array you ruined was two years of my work.” Rune’s tone was complaining, but his face held no resentment.

Instead, he seemed nostalgic, or perhaps bidding farewell.
“Here, take this. Tomorrow’s the festival. I want you to join me for one last act.”

Everett stared at the tossed key, lost in thought.

…

The next day, the festival—

Kellivir’s grandest celebration had arrived.
As tradition dictated, before the festivities began, the kingdom’s people gathered in the palace square to hear the king’s speech.

This time, it was Rune, the current king of Kellivir, who took the stage.
“Althea, that masked mage in the corner—is that Everett?”

Tina, scanning the crowd, relied on intuition, half-doubting herself.
Logically, after uncovering the king’s plot in the lab, Everett should’ve been locked up or silenced.

Yet here he was, acting like nothing happened.
“You’re probably right. Judging by his build, it’s Everett—and he doesn’t seem controlled,” Althea said.

“Did he switch sides at the last minute?”
Tina grew more puzzled.

“Let’s not worry about that. Our plan goes ahead as scheduled.”
Having obtained the recording crystal, Althea intended to reveal its contents at the assembly.

The crystal could only capture recent events, and its information couldn’t be altered—meaning its contents were undeniably true.
Showing it at a national event like this would spark outrage. Then, revealing her identity and exposing Rune’s past deeds would cripple his credibility.

They’d already rallied supporters—families who’d secretly backed them—beneath the stage.
The only uncertainty was Everett’s status. If his Great Sage reputation could add pressure, the plan would likely go smoothly.

“Let’s wait. It’s about to start.”

At noon, Rune stepped out of the palace under the crowd’s gaze, ready to speak.
“My people, today is Kellivir’s once-in-a-decade festival. On behalf of our past kings, I offer you my blessings.

As you can see…”

The middle was fluff—Tina had heard enough corporate speeches in her past life to tune it out.
As the speech neared its end—

“In short, I hope you all enjoy these three days to the fullest.”

The crowd readied to applaud, but before they could, an audio played over the square.
Savvy nobles recognized it as a recording crystal’s projection.

The image showed a girl, the Great Sage, the king, and a green-haired man in a sinister room, locked in a struggle.
Their dialogue revealed the array’s wicked plot, with the king and the green-haired man planning to exploit it.

The Great Sage fought desperately to protect the crystal, collapsing from exhaustion.
The crowd fell silent, some nobles stirring trouble.

“That’s the king, right? He wants to control us with this?”
“Shh! Keep it down—want to die?”
“It’s a recording crystal! The evidence is right there. I bet there’s a show coming.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Rune showed a flicker of panic, quickly explaining, “My people, this is a slander to incite rebellion! Do you really think I’d harm you?”

“You know the answer, Rune.” Althea and Tina stepped forward, sparking an even fiercer uproar.

“That’s the girl from the crystal! And beside her… the princess?!”
“No way! The princess from the wanted posters? She dared come back?”

Althea nodded firmly. “Yes, I am the daughter of the old king, princess of Kellivir. I’ve returned to expose the current king’s schemes.

Rune, once a prince, was never valued from childhood yet coveted the throne. You all know this, don’t you?”

“Indeed,” older nobles agreed, recalling historical accounts.
Rune had once vied for the crown.

“After losing the succession vote, he allied with the cult, killed the old king, hunted me relentlessly, and claimed the throne.”

“Nonsense! Got proof I worked with the cult? Just this crystal?” Rune shot back from the stage.
“Guards, seize her for disrespecting the crown!”

Several oddly dressed knights charged forward.
As they moved to grab the crystal, the crowd gasped.

“Those knights—don’t move, unless you want the king’s head to roll.”

A masked mage held a staff to Rune’s head.
“Who are you to threaten me?”

“Your Great Sage, Majesty.”

Everett unmasked, his actions confirming the crystal’s truth.
Tina, meanwhile, knocked back the charging knights.

Beneath their battered armor, black cult robes peeked out—Mistmoon’s signature attire.
“Everyone, as Great Sage, I’ll cast a spell on our beloved king. Those who ally with the Mistmoon Cult bear a contract etched on their soul.

If the king’s soul is pure white, he’s innocent. If it’s black, he’s betrayed us, plotting our demise.
Let’s see the result.”

A surge of magic flowed from Everett’s staff, magnifying Rune’s soul into a floating spirit for all to see, revealing fragments of his life.
Buzz—

After a blinding flash, only pure black remained, so dark it seemed to drain the city of color.
“The result speaks for itself.”

As Everett’s spell ended, the crowd erupted in fury.
Some, long opposed to Rune, shouted, “I knew he was up to no good! He even drove out the princess!”
Others, former supporters, muttered, “How could this happen? Quick, side with the princess—maybe we’ll be spared.”

The green-haired man glared at Rune and Everett, teeth gritted. “You played me, kid?”
Rune’s response: “Everyone, that green-haired man is a Mistmoon archbishop. Recognize him?”

All eyes turned to the man skulking aside, their hatred redirecting.
“I @#￥%!”

A pre-prepared spell from Everett pinned the man, rendering him immobile.
“Consider this payback for yesterday.”

The man was pummeled by the crowd’s fists and feet.
Rune cast a relieved glance at Althea, as if saying:
“It’s over.”

With that, the king’s plan succeeded, clearing out the city’s last archbishop.
“I originally planned to trap the bishops with the array. Your arrival changed things.

But my sins are unforgivable. I leave my fate to you.”
Rune patted Everett’s shoulder.

Some secrets were better kept buried.
That way, they wouldn’t burden anyone else.