A small body was floating in the middle of a vast lake covered in thick fog.

The warm spring water lapped at the soles of her feet, tickling them. The familiar sound of wind brushing past, caressing her skin. A familiar yet strange, gentle and purified scent. It was the forgotten smell of her mother’s skin.

Unable to call out the name lingering on her lips, round eyes frantically scanned the surroundings.

“Arabel……”

As the dark fog before her eyes cleared, the figure of an achingly missed woman slowly approached Arabel.

“Mo… Mother…?”

As soon as she managed to call out “Mother” between trembling lips, she immediately closed her mouth.

Because every time she met her mother in dreams and happily called out to her, she would wake up. Wanting to see her mother like this for just a little longer, even if just a tiny bit more, she stood there unable to properly call out to her mother.

Tears welled up, blurring her vision, but afraid her mother would disappear like in the previous dream if she wiped them away, she couldn’t even blink.

“Arabel. My child……”

Her mother, looking exactly as she did 9 years ago when she left Arabel and her family, glided towards Arabel and reached out her hand. Her mother’s hand was very cold, but it didn’t matter. It was more warm and soft than anything else.

Tears fell drop by drop from Arabel’s eyes as she nuzzled her cheek against her mother’s palm.

“I’m sorry, my child. I’m sorry for leaving you behind. But we’ll be able to meet again soon. It won’t be long now.”

Her mother’s affectionate voice, tinged with sorrow, echoed softly through the mist.

“We… can meet? Are you really coming back, Mother? Really…?”

Her voice trembled with overwhelming joy. Gathering her courage, she grasped her mother’s hand that was caressing her cheek. Realizing her mother wasn’t disappearing like in dreams, Arabel carefully embraced her.

“Sob……”

Arabel burst into tears as her mother’s hand gently patted her thin back.

“It won’t be long now. The day you’ll come to us. I’ve lived waiting only for that day.”

Arabel looked up at her mother at the words that came to her ears like a lullaby.

“Where are you? Can’t I come find you now?”

Her mother shook her head slightly and answered softly.

“Not yet, unfortunately. But it won’t be long. When you come to us……”

As her mother unwrapped her arms from around Arabel’s back and leaned backwards, Arabel’s field of vision suddenly widened.

Large eyes, unable to open any wider in disbelief, took in the numerous animals before her.

A red phoenix with a golden tail scattering gold dust as it soared into the sky, a white spotted lion walking slowly across the lake, a Pegasus flying low with wings spread wide, and a pink unicorn with three horns – dozens of mythical creatures from legend surrounded Arabel and her mother.

“You have to bring all these children too. The children who have been hiding in the human world, waiting for the last Lumen Savior. Only you can do it, Arabel.”

From behind a wolf-fox hybrid creature, a snow leopard the size of a cat came forward towards Arabel. As it buried its nose in her hand with a purr, Arabel stroked its ears affectionately…

Boom, boom, boom!

Suddenly, as if a volcano had erupted beneath the lake, a massive earthquake violently churned the calm waters. The mythical creatures surrounding Arabel and her mother began to be swept into the swirling vortex.

“Mother!”

As a panicked Arabel grabbed her mother’s wrist, desperately trying not to let go,

“Arabel! Let go of that hand right now!”

A silver-haired man appeared in midair, shouting as he snatched Arabel’s hand and leapt up, taking her out of the lake.

A lavender-haired young boy who followed behind him quickly drew a large circle on the water with a bronze sword, over where the mythical creatures and Arabel’s mother were being engulfed.

As the boy jumped up and plunged the sword into the water, the woman’s ear-piercing scream and the animals’ cries were sealed away and vanished in an instant.

The lake became peaceful again as if nothing had happened.

“Let me go! Mother…! I have to save Mother!”

As strong arms gripped Arabel’s shoulders, preventing her from going back into the lake, Arabel cried out in anguish.

“It’s not your mother… Arabel. That’s not your mother.”

A dry but kind voice came from above her head.

Arabel’s eyes widened in disbelief as she turned her tear-stained face around.

“M-Master?”

Just then,

“It seems they’ve finally realized that Arabel is the Lumen Savior.”

Seeing the young boy who had glided across the lake surface in an instant, Arabel exclaimed.

“Berel?”

Berel nodded towards Arabel and said with a furrowed brow.

“I told you. That we need to run away quickly. Otherwise you’ll be in danger.”

Berel grumbled at Arabel who was blankly staring at Esperal and Berel.

“Now not only the black panther, but other things will be after you too. We can’t help you right now because we’re protecting the collapsing barrier. Even now, Master used up an enormous amount of energy to appear in your dream.”

“Berel.”

“Yes……”

When Esperal called his disciple’s name in a rather stern voice, Berel bowed his head and closed his mouth.

Transparent glass eyes reassured the anxious light brown ones, and a long index finger rested on Arabel’s forehead.

Drawing a clover pattern on her forehead, Esperal whispered softly.

“To enter a dream. It clearly has tremendous energy. This will prevent it from invading your dreams again. But Berel’s words about you being in great danger are true.”

“You said that wasn’t Mother just now? It was clearly Mother, Master.”

Arabel shook her head slightly and whimpered with her head lowered.

Esperal patted Arabel’s trembling shoulders and replied.

“Because it had your mother’s shadow, it could appear before you in your mother’s form. There’s no time. As Berel told you last time, leave the palace and find the antique shop.”

Arabel raised her head and looked straight into her master’s eyes.

“I am very safe. His Majesty is by my side. There are many good people around me too.”

Berel, who had been listening beside them, sighed in frustration and interjected in a raised voice.

“That person next to you is the most dangerous person to you!”

“No, Berel. His Majesty might seem scary at first, but he’s absolutely not a scary person. If you meet His Majesty, you’ll understand what I’m saying.”

As Arabel denied this, even flaring her nostrils, Esperal spoke in a calm tone without inflection.

“We don’t have much time left to stay in your dream. Just remember one thing – next time, you must absolutely not help the black panther. Do you understand?”

Though he didn’t raise his voice, it was full of a gentle charisma that couldn’t be refused.

Arabel turned her head to look around and said urgently.

“His Majesty is nearby too. If you meet His Majesty, you’ll be reassured, Master. Please meet His Majesty. Please, Master?”

As Arabel pointed towards where the tents were set up, Esperal’s voice faded away.

“Remember, Arabel. The next time the black moon covers the white moon, you must absolutely not help the black panther.”

The figures of Esperal and Berel scattered and disappeared into the thickening fog before her eyes.

“……”

“……rabel……”

“Arabel.”

The long eyelashes that had been casting shadows on her cheeks lifted, revealing light brown eyes. Ruby-red eyes filled the round eyes that still seemed to be in a dream.

A small hand caressed the Emperor’s rough cheek,

“Are you alright, Your Majesty? Are you not in pain anymore?”

When she asked worriedly, the Emperor took her hand and kissed her palm.

He forced out a voice as steady as possible through his throat that was choked with hot air.

“Thanks to you, I’m not in pain at all.”

“That’s a relief. I’m really glad.”

With a faint smile, Arabel snuggled into the Emperor’s arms and fell back into a deep sleep. She had completely forgotten the dream she just had, relieved that the Emperor was safe.

The Emperor mounted the black horse lightly, holding Arabel wrapped from head to toe in his cloak. His red eyes flickered with indescribable emotions as he stroked her pale round face with the back of his hand.

Clop, clop.

As the black horse emerged from the coniferous forest, three knights waiting for the Emperor hurriedly greeted him.

The Emperor raised one eyebrow as he looked down at them, and Sir Jacob glanced at Sir Korad and said,

“We discovered intruders who entered without permission last night. However……”

When the Emperor said nothing and just looked at the three knights in turn, Sir Jacob continued.

“They disappeared right before our eyes.”

“Disappeared……”

When the Emperor repeated his words in a dry tone, Sir Korad stepped forward and said,

“They were beings moved by sorcery. It seems the power controlling them took them away. It appears to be related to the white light that rose last night. Please allow us to investigate.”

The Emperor’s hands holding Arabel tightened, and his red eyes looked at Count Korad, who had his head bowed.

After a moment of silence, his red lips opened slowly, as if he had made a decision.

“Sir Korad, come to my office this afternoon. I have a special investigation to assign you.”

The Emperor who had returned to the palace on horseback instead of by boat, went straight to the east wing, which was the Emperor’s quarters, instead of going to the annex.

“Y-Your Majesty. Wouldn’t it be better to take Lady Arabel to the annex……”

“The competition isn’t over yet, so there are many watchful eyes.”

“Taking the young lady to Your Majesty’s bedroom in broad daylight could create unsavory rumors inside and outside the palace.”

The Emperor’s secretaries ran up and spoke hurriedly to the Emperor who was walking down the corridor without hesitation, carrying the sleeping Arabel.

When the Emperor’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt, the three secretaries let out small sighs of relief.

“We’ve notified the young lady’s maids, so they’ll be here soon to take her. Please leave the young lady with the maids waiting here.”

Aide Kyle pointed to the palace bedroom maids he had hurriedly brought. The Emperor holding Arabel slowly looked around.

On the 2nd floor outdoor corridor leading to the Emperor’s quarters, there were not only his secretaries and five or six bedroom maids, but also seven or eight members of the imperial guard standing watch.

And in the hall on the 1st floor, where everything happening on the 2nd floor could be seen and heard, there were over fifty people, including elder nobles and administrators who had just finished a meeting, as well as other related individuals.

Though they tried not to show it, everyone’s gaze was focused on the Emperor and Arabel in his arms.

No matter how much the Emperor was rumored to favor the young lady, this was an enormous scandal. The Emperor heading to his quarters the day after a boat trip, carrying the young lady in his arms.

Although Lady Arabel was said to be leading in the competition, it had not officially ended yet.

Even for the Emperor, directly challenging the imperial marriage customs that had continued for hundreds of years was not a good look. It would provide grounds for the imperial family and even the elder nobles to attack the Emperor.

The Emperor slowly opened his mouth as he met each furtive glance directed at him.

“Am I someone who needs to be mindful of others’ eyes?”

A low voice that instantly chilled the surrounding air flowed out.

“Are you saying I’m someone who would just stand by and watch as fools who don’t know their place spread rumors about me?”

The curious gazes quickly fell to the ground at the murderous intent emanating from his arrogantly raised red eyes. For some reason, sweat began to form on their spines.

Even Aide Kyle, the Emperor’s closest confidant, was speechless at the Emperor’s chilling expression tinged with cruelty, which he hadn’t seen in a long time.

“I asked if I’m such a weak and pathetic being that I would leave the tongues of those who carelessly gossip about my fiancée unpunished.”

Everyone flinched in surprise at the word that came out of the Emperor’s mouth, but they stood still, not daring to raise their heads.

He had clearly said ‘fiancée’. Even before the competition ended, the Emperor had announced his fiancée with his own mouth.

Adjusting his hold on the sleeping Arabel in his arms, the Emperor spoke in the same emotionless, chilling voice.

“Kyle, I’ve been thinking the whole way back to the palace. The more I think about why I’ve just been watching this wretched competition, the angrier I get.”

As Aide Kyle wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, his lips trembling, the Emperor continued.

“Isn’t the imperial marriage custom something created by the emperors before me? Why should I follow something made by my predecessors who were neither better nor more outstanding than me? I’ve expanded more territory and brought more prosperity to the empire than any emperor who can be compared to me. It’s unbearable to my pride.”

The Emperor lowered his red eyes to look at the elder nobles on the 1st floor who had gathered the courage to raise their heads.

“Kyle, prepare to announce the abolition of the Empress Selection competition by today. Also announce my engagement to Lady Arabel. I will personally deal with anyone who objects to this.”

The Emperor began to move his long legs forward again.

Gently stroking the sleeping Arabel’s eyebrows with his thumb, the Emperor whispered softly.

“Don’t feel too wronged that I broke my promise not to interfere in the competition. Didn’t you break your promise to me first by returning to the black panther?”

The imperial guards standing watch in front of the Emperor’s bedroom bowed respectfully to the Emperor as they opened both doors wide.

As the Emperor, carrying Arabel in his arms, nodded and entered the bedroom, the guards swiftly and firmly closed both doors.