"Are you sure it's true? It sounds like something out of a story…"
"I'm telling you; the info is reliable! I got it from a family friend, her whole family has been employed at the palace for generations, honest! She was there, saw the damage Sir Dokja did to the place firsthand."
"But that guy, using witchcraft? He's the heir of the Underworld Duchy, why would he take the risk?"
"Pfft, when has having too much power stopped anyone from seeking for more? Besides, some of the other palace workers have been spilling beans, that friend of his isn't the only one. They all say the same thing, some claim to have seen him in the act."
"Yeah, yeah! I heard he was right about to kill the prince when Yoo Joonghyuk burst in!"
"No way, caught by his own lover!? Does the crown pri—err duke, I mean, know that his man is in cahoots with demons?"
"Who knows… maybe he got seduced by the guy's black magic, the same as the prince was. They say that as soon as Yoo Joonghyuk interrupted Kim Dokja's little scheme, Kim Dokja started bursting out into some sob story about being the real victim."
"Some of the staff said they saw the two leaving the palace together, looks like the duke actually believes that faker's tears."
"Yikes, I thought Yoo Joonghyuk was actually a man worth his salt. All it took was someone willing to spread their legs open for him for our beloved former crown prince to fall."
Conversations and discussion of the same nature as the above permeated through the empire. At first citizens and nobles were satisfied to implicate Kim Dokja for his alleged actions against the prince, but soon vicious rumors were being made against the Underworld Duchy itself.
They said that the Duchy was at fault for neglecting to keep their heir in check, allowing him to go as far as to learn dark magic. It soon escalated to claims that the Duchy encouraged dark magic, and how all of its members actively practiced it to build a cult-like following. It'd certainly explain how the Underworld's power grew large enough to rival that of the royal palace.
Predictably, families and allies with close relations to the Underworld Duchy began being pressured to make a response, to reveal the truth. But by then, the public had already made up their minds about what the 'truth' of the scandal was. For them, any word of support for the Underworld Duchy would be more proof of how far the influence of their black magic had spread. Knowing that the public wouldn't be swayed by anything they say, the Underworld's allies wasted no time in convening, even without the prompting of its duke or duchess.
The arrival of Sooyoung and Sangah at the entrance of the manor was swiftly followed by Jiwon and Seolhwa stepping out of another carriage. A shared understanding passed between them as they exchanged glances.
The four women made their way down the corridor, their path intersected with the carefree activities of the three children in the manor's parlor room. Gilyeong, Yoosung, and Mia were engrossed in their games, blissfully unaware of the approaching adults or the weight of the situation they found themselves in currently.
With Sooyoung brashly swinging open the office door without warning, it was apparent that the women were the last to arrive, the rest of the guests having been awaiting their arrival. Of course, the members of the Underworld family were present, along with Yoo Joonghyuk who had spent the night over. Along with them were the knights of the Kaizenix Duchy, Lee Hyunsung and Lee Jihye. They came along with Jung Heewon, who had been spending her time at the other duchy to assist in training the new recruits upon Dokja's recommendation.
Sangah's unimpressed look at her girlfriend aside, the group proceeded into the room to take their seats quietly, being absorbed into the already tense atmosphere of the room.
"Ok, I'm sure we all know who is the one behind this, right?" Sooyoung started off.
"... I mean, who else could it be but her? With how me and Joonghyuk left the palace, I was hoping she'd be too scared to try something like this. But I guess I was just being naive," Dokja muttered, his tone cold and detached as he addressed the group.
"What's that bitch's deal anyway?" Namwoon huffed out, running a frustrated hand through his hair.
Sangah, deep in thought with her hand resting on her chin, proposed a thought.
"I think it's precisely from her fear that she took such quick action. By getting her version of the story out first, she's taken on the offensive position and forced us into a defensive spot. Any action we take will be scrutinized. People that already side with the empress or have no allegiance to begin with will naturally find it easier to support the accuser than put themselves out there to defend the accused," she explained.
"We can figure out the specific motives later... but as of now, we need to figure out what to do," the duchess posed, her gaze shifting between each member before settling on Dokja, who was lost in thought.
"…yo, rat, about the whole 'not killing the empress' stuff. Are you sure you wanna stick to that? Just say the word and she'll be six-feet-under by the next hour."
"Han Sooyoung!" Sangah reprimanded.
"Oh please, no one has to find out if everyone keeps quiet. Besides, look at what happened to Dokja. She's had it coming for a long time now," Sooyoung argued, her finger pointing towards Dokja, who only shuffled uncomfortably in his seat.
"But still..."
"Just look at Joonghyuk, he's practically rearing to go," Sooyoung remarked, drawing attention to Joonghyuk, whose expression darkened with a fierce glare directed at everyone present.
"… As a physician, while I cannot actively take part in harming another person, I can provide a list of various poisons and concoctions that may aid you in that task if need be…"
"Hell yeah count me in! I need to give that coward of a prince a beating for what he did!" Heewon excitedly shouted, jumping from her seat eagerly.
Persephone huffed out a breath.
"See if you all had just let me go yesterday, there would've been no need to deal with all this. Hades, get me my blade...don't give me that look Hades, if everything goes well I'll even let you slice her head off. Don't act like you don't want to."
Hades looked like he wanted to argue against his wife, but at the left moment held himself back with a sigh. Regaining his composure, he attempted to refocus the discussion and calm everyone down.
"Everyone, please don't be hasty. Before we all proceed with this line of conversation, there's another problem at hand that needs to be addressed." The eager chatter in the room quieted down, the room's occupants turning to Hades to hear what else they needed to deal with. With a satisfied nod, Hades continued talking, his voice serious. "Before this meeting started I was informed that there have been a few developments to the situation at hand, along with some valuable information that is quite urgent for us to receive."
Hades turned to the office doors and called out, "You may now enter."
Multiple eyes were on the door as it creaked open to reveal the form of a solemn yet meek Asuka Ren, the maid clutching a newspaper in her arms.
"S-Sir, the item that you requested…" she announced quietly, stepping forward to set it down on the side table, it's headline up for everyone to read.
[Breaking News] Devil in disguise
Just this morning witnesses have discovered the bodies of two young maidens near the capital, their bodies desiccated, not a drop of blood to be found on the crime scenes. The state of their bodies are not unlike the victims of the previous murders, none of which have been solved or had any significant progress to the public's continued dismay. Based on this pattern, authorities are confident in attributing the act to Raven Veil, adding two more names to their ever-growing list of victims.
But with the lack of development from the palace, citizens are taking it upon themselves to figure out the true face behind the infamous Raven Veil. From the strange state of the bodies and the elusiveness of the culprit, the public had come to the conclusion that these murders had been carried out via the involvement of black magic. This has led most to point their fingers at the young master of the Underworld Duchy, Kim Dokja, who has recently come under public scrutiny for his alleged use of this magic against the crown prince.
The picture below has come out to support such allegations, depicting the Underworld heir in the presence of what appear to be mystic creatures that inhabit the forest, further implicating his use of witchcraft.
Dokja's eyes widened in shock as he gazed at the newspaper, his expression a mix of disbelief and concern. The image in the article was exactly what was described, his face only partially visible but the angle too close for comfort. The realization that someone had managed to capture such a compromising photo left him reeling, his mind racing with questions about the identity of the person behind the lens.
"Dear... is that really you?" the Duchess questioned, her eyes lingering on the article with skepticism.
Dokja glanced at the group, mindful of their reactions,
"Yeah... it is."
The duke, having trouble comprehending the implications of the photo, hesitantly voiced his concerns, "Those creatures… are they threatening you? Do they mean you any harm?"
"No, they aren't," Dokja insisted, "They've always helped me when I needed them the most. When Joonghyuk and I got targeted during the hunting tournament, they created vines to protect us. They helped find the evidence I used during my trial!" Dokja explained.
The duchess, her concern unabated, voiced her lingering doubts, "But still, Dear, what if they are just looking to deceive you? Do you even know what their intentions are?"
"No Mother, I promise, they don't have an evil bone in their bodies. They've always been friendly, even towards Joonghyuk!" All eyes turned to Joonghyuk, surprised that he had also been in the know about these creatures and seeking confirmation.
Sooyoung, her expression contorted in a frown, erupted in frustration, "You knew about this? Wait—of course you knew! Since when?!" Her voice rose in volume as she stood up, hands firmly planted on her hips.
Joonghyuk met Sooyoung's accusatory gaze with a blank expression, his arms crossed defiantly against his chest. "Well... Dokja took me to meet them the same night we discovered the Kaizenix Duchy…I think."
"And neither of you bothered to tell us this?!" Sooyoung exclaimed, her gaze piercing as she directed her irritation towards Joonghyuk.
Joonghyuk, seemingly unfazed by Sooyoung's glare, adopted a nonchalant demeanor as he responded, "You never asked, and it's Dokja's choice if he wants to keep them hidden. Besides, why should I disclose it to you?" With a pointed look that swept over Sooyoung, he added, "And based on what I've seen... you don't really look like you could keep a secret."
Sooyoung's eyes widened in disbelief before her glare returned, her indignation redoubled. "Why you–" she began. However, Sangah intervened swiftly, grasping both of Sooyoung's shoulders to prevent her from pouncing on him. "Sangah, dear, I love you, but let go of me. I'm going to give that bastard a piece of my mind," Sooyoung declared, "I can keep a secret, dammit!"
"I think that's enough," Seolhwa intervened sternly, halting Sooyoung in her tracks. "This is not the time for that, as we have more pressing matters to address," she continued, taking control of the situation. Seizing the newspaper, she highlighted the accusations against Dokja, "It is reported here that Sir Dokja has been accused of being the Raven Veil and of murdering the two women. I must ask you, Sir Dokja," she turned to face him with a grave expression, "Is any of this true, in any capacity?"
Dokja's response was swift and resolute as he shook his head. "Absolutely not. I'd never do something like that. At least, not against innocent people."
"...And what of you using magic? Is that rumor also false?" Jiwon chimed in curiously.
At that Dokja hesitated for a moment, knowing the bad reputation it held amongst the public. But he trusted his family to understand.
"Those… are true. I've been able to use magic on multiple occasions to defend both myself and Joonghyuk. It manifests in the form of vines which I can control at will," DOkja looked around him, seeing what everyone's reactions would be. But there was just stunned silence, multiple stares studying him carefully. Not the worst response but not comforting either. Unnerved by the silence, Dokja rushed to explain himself.
"I-It's not dark magic or anything! I swear I only use it when I need to defend myself, and even then I'm hardly experienced with it! I'm not Raven Veil–"
"It's the truth! Sir Dokja isn't Raven Veil!" Asuka Ren shouted suddenly. She squeaked as everyone's heads snapped towards her again, taking a step back. She looked to Duke Hades, not sure what to say next. Blinking himself out of surprise at his son's revelation, he spoke for her.
"Last night the head maid informed me that Asuka Ren had a brief encounter with Raven Veil, and before this discussion Miss Ren came to me herself to confirm the same, along with the fact she had important information to disclose about them. I thought it best for her to inform us when everyone was present," Hades exchanged a glance with the maid, "Asuka Ren, if you could please proceed."
"Y-Yes sir...," She gave a slight bow to Hades before facing the rest of the room, which was waiting in anticipation for whatever she had to say. "It's just as Duke Hades said, last night I got into close contact with Raven Veil themselves and just managed to escape with my life. They were with a woman... and I witnessed them both in the middle of their killing. I saw both of their faces, but rather than human, Raven Veil looked more like a monster. Both were wearing cloaks, but from what I could make out Raven Veil had pitch black skin adorned with diamonds.
Asuka Ren nervously fiddled with her hands as she spoke, looking down at the floor as she tried to recall everything she needed to from her memory.
Dokja's disbelief was palpable as he sought clarification, "What... what do you mean by that?"
"Looked like a monster? Did you make out anything else about them?!" Namwoon yelled at her.
Taking a deep breath, Asuka Ren answered him.
"It's... it was the crown prince."
The revelation sent shockwaves through the room, the gravity of her statement sinking. The group's horrified gaze shifted towards Joonghyuk, their expressions in shock and disbelief at the revelation.
"…I'm not the crown prince anymore, remember?" His words were sighed out, a hand reaching up to the bridge of his nose to massage away the incoming headache he was about to get.
"…Oh, right"
"Sorry about that Joonghyuk"
"We forgot for second…"
A few more seconds of silence passed before the realization finally dawned on the group. But rather than rage-filled declarations or gasps of shock, there was mainly confusion. The crown prince was a crybaby who relied on his mother for everything. So him being the infamous Raven Veil was… hardly believable, to say the least.
"You said it was night time and he was wearing a cloak, right? Are you sure it was the prince? I don't think he could carry his scrawny ass body across the capital, much less kill people with those stick arms of his…" Sooyoung muttered, her disbelief mirroring the sentiments shared by everyone else.
The Duchess crossed her legs, her expression steely, "Well, I'm not surprised, considering what he tried to do to my dear son. He certainly has the makings of a vicious criminal. Just goes to show looks can be deceiving."
"Wait, something isn't adding up…" Jiwon said, "You mentioned he was with a woman. Who is she?" The room fell into a hushed silence, the weight of the question hanging in the air as they awaited Asuka Ren's response.
"...the Empress. Madam Sooyoung, while you're right in that they were both covered in the darkness of night, their identities are unmistakable. Please believe me," the maid pleaded.
"…well, that's not that surprising as we all know what kind of woman she is. Figures she'd support her son, even if he's a serial murderer." Joonghyuk of all people present was the most familiar with Empress's ruthless pursuit of power, the depths of her ambition and the lengths to which she would go to secure her position. His recollection of the Empress's past actions, particularly towards him, painted a chilling portrait of her character and motives. "Did you uncover anything else?"
"Ah, yes sir! She's using what must've been magic... when I first saw her she was standing over her victim. Some sort of essence flowed from the victim to her body. In the process, her appearance was rejuvenated, going from severely weathered and wrinkled to her usually luscious appearance," Asuka Ren recounted, her voice tinged with a mix of awe and dread at the dark magic wielded by the Empress.
"Oh, and to what Duke Joonghyuk said earlier, rather than the empress providing support to her son, the dynamic looked more like the prince following the empress's every order. It looked like he was mindless, like some sort of puppet. I think she used her magic to turn him into that monster…"
The group let the information sink in, unsettled by the fact that their biggest threat was capable of dark magic. They didn't even know the full extent of her abilities. Most of them had no experience in the area, with only few people in the kingdom having access or skill to wield such a power. The only people in the room that they could turn to for any clarification in the matter were—
"Hey, Ms. Saintess, Ahjussi, you guys both know stuff about magic, right? Either of you have any idea about the stuff that the empress is doing?" Jihye's question directed the group's attention towards the two of them. They both looked towards each other, Dokja nodding to the Saintess to allow her to speak first.
"Well," Sangah began. "All I can say is the magic I use is considered to be ancient magic, which allows the empire's deities to reach out to communicate with me. While I must practice maintaining the amount of magic my body can sustain, communicating with the gods is more of a blessing given to me than a skill I attained. Along with the fact that the church is stringently against any talk or association with dark magic, there's not much else I can contribute to this discussion… though perhaps Sir Dokja can say a bit more about the topic," Sangah concluded, her voice slightly apologetic. She gestured to him, allowing him to begin speaking his piece.
"I believe the empress's magic is also ancient magic, though obviously in a more sinister form" he explained, "Sangah can foresee the future and alter its course and from what Asuka Ren said, the Empress's magic is capable of taking a life by draining their life essence. The magic I use is something in the middle, giving me the ability to control vines for protection or attack."
Heewon's concern for the Young Master's skyrocketed. Unlike the people here, citizens wouldn't be willing to sit down for a discussion of the different types of magic. It was the truth that Sir Dokja could use magic, and if they ever caught wind of it, they'd no doubt use it as a reason to take him down any way they could.
"What should we do about this? We cannot allow the Young Master to be falsely accused of such heinous deeds," Heewon voiced.
Hyunsung added on to her words, "We can't simply accuse the crown prince based on Asuka Ren's eyewitness account alone. Without solid proof, they could easily manipulate the narrative to say that our words are just an attempt to distract from the accusations already pointed at Sir Dokja."
"They have no proof implicating Dokja, just as we lack evidence against the empress and the crown prince. We must bide our time and refute their claims. All while simultaneously defending and protecting my son, of course," Duke Hades proposed.
"Their manor will need to go under a lockdown. The gates will close so no one can enter or exit the Underworld Duchy and knights will continually scan the perimeter. The staff will be carefully monitored for any spies sent by the empress and Dokja will be guarded at all times. However, if something unforeseen occurs..." Hades paused, his gaze shifting to the group before him. "Would you all be willing to do everything in your power to protect my son?"
A solemn silence enveloped the room for a moment before Joonghyuk spoke up, his voice filled with unwavering resolve. "Of course, I pledge my life to protect him. The Kaizenix Duchy stands ready to support the Underworld Duchy in the event of any conflict," Joonghyuk stood at the ready, Jihye and Hyunsung beside him to give their silent support.
"That goes without saying. There's no way that rat can meet his end before he finishes all my novels," Sooyoung declared with a grin, her determination shining through. "The Han Marquis is steadfast in its support of the Underworld Duchy, no matter the circumstances. Don't think you're so hot for pledging yourself to Dokja, emo bastard. I've been by his side long before you," she bragged.
"The church stands firmly in support as well. Kim Dokja still needs to walk down the aisle, especially since I plan to officiate the wedding," Sangah declared, clapping her hands together in excitement.
"As Dokja's physician, it's my duty to ensure his well-being so that he can fulfill his role as a parent and a partner," Seolhwa affirmed with a smile. "The Lee Duchy stands firmly by your side, ready to offer support and protection in these trying times."
"Count me in as well. While I may not possess the same level of power as the rest of you, my friendship with Dokja compels me to do everything in my capacity to ensure his safety," Jiwon expressed with a smile, her gaze resting on Dokja. "The Min County stands united with you, ready to offer our unwavering support and protection," she affirmed.
Dokja's heart swelled with gratitude as he gazed at the unwavering support and loyalty of his friends gathered around him. "You guys..." he murmured, overcome with emotion at the depth of their commitment.
Earlier, when Asuka Ren had revealed that she'd found the identity of Raven Veil, he was met with an overwhelming sense of realization. He'd been able to meet almost all of the major characters of the novel by now, by way of being placed into the role of the villain. But it only occurred to Dokja them how strange it what that he'd never encountered Raven Veil in the time he'd spent in this world, despite the character being a major antagonist for a good portion of the novel. Of course, many things had altered due to his interference in the story.
But it hadn't occurred to him that perhaps he too was changing alongside the world around him. No matter how much he tried to remember, he could never figure out the identity of Raven Veil. In the original story, how had Joonghyuk seized the throne from the empress? What became of the empire after Joonghyuk eventually ascended to power? What had happened to his family? Were the creatures of the forest ever a part of the original story?
The longer he stayed in this world, the less he could rely on his memory of the novel to guide him through the situations he faced. Rather than that just being a byproduct of this world's altering timeline, it may be his own memories were fading away too. Not just of the events of the novel, but details of his life before he came to this world. He'd gotten used to living life without modern technology almost too rapidly. He could barely recall the layout of his original apartment. The nostalgic taste of kimbap and instant noodles no longer appeared in his mind.
His mother… well… he'd been trying to forget about her long before he got here.
Maybe this is the result of transmigrating into the world. After such a long time of staying here, the novel had begun to accept his existence. He was slowly being integrated into the words of its pages, alongside every other character beside him. Though, perhaps it would be misleading to say the people here were just characters. This world is living and breathing, the actions of everyone more than just predetermined lines written on a page.
So maybe this world was splitting off into something else entirely. The current events were so different from the original novel, it was no longer tied down to the 'real' world he'd come from. It became its own world, its ties to the original world severed. But one of those ties was himself, and his past memories before transmigrating…
The thought was overwhelming, it was scary. As miserable as his life was, it was all he knew. He'd spent so much time in this world waiting for the other shoe to drop that it was surreal.
But in that moment, surrounded by everyone who stood by him with unwavering dedication, Dokja felt a sense of purpose. Perhaps this was what OD meant when he spoke of living this life to the fullest, embracing the unity he'd found with everyone here. As he reflected on the journey ahead, Dokja found solace in the knowledge that he was not alone, surrounded by allies who would walk alongside him through whatever challenges lay in store. That didn't mean that he'd take his previous life for granted. Those experiences were what built him into the person he was today, after all. But he could look forward to a better tomorrow, one that he'd been able to make for himself.