Chapter 21
Prince Chrollo Lucilfer of Meteor Country, his charm was renowned. It was said that 13 maidens had died for him due to unrequited love.
In the ballads of bards, Chrollo was described as fair-skinned and handsome, with raven-wing black hair and eyes as deep as the night sky, hailed as the national treasure of Meteor Country.
Meteor Country was an independent and closed nation. Its people followed a unified religious belief and possessed exceptional spiritual unity, building churches more magnificent than palaces. Meteor Country strictly controlled and limited the number of foreign immigrants and visitors. Foreigners who had visited Meteor Country invariably marveled at the nation's mystery.
Regarding Prince Chrollo Lucilfer of Meteor Country, our greatest empress, Merus Zoldyck, had only seen his portrait and heard related rumors.
Chrollo was the son of the former king and the nephew of the current king. The queen remained unchanged, or rather, after Chrollo's father died, his uncle remarried Chrollo's mother. There were rumors that Chrollo's sister, Sarasa, was actually the uncle's daughter. Because she was discovered by the former king, the former king was murdered.
Now Chrollo was being used as a pawn for Meteor Country's alliances. Were the rumors true?
"That's it?" the Empress found Meteor Country's peace talks to be significantly lacking in sincerity.
"Yes, they have calculated their moves quite well," Prince Illumi said with disdain. "But they don't know that the Imperial Sister never needs an Imperial Husband."
It was widely known that those who signed contracts with demons and dabbled in dark magic met terrible ends, often dying young.
After the Empress, who had no heirs, died, the Imperial Husband would have inheritance rights alongside the two princes, with the default order being first. At that time, Meteor Country would certainly strongly support Chrollo, thereby annexing Batoccia Country without shedding a drop of blood.
Even if, as a worst-case scenario, Chrollo unfortunately died in Batoccia Country, Meteor Country still had Princess Sarasa to inherit the throne. Furthermore, Chrollo's death, hailed as Meteor Country's national treasure, would ignite nationwide outrage, making Meteor Country even more formidable.
After several rounds of renegotiations, Her Majesty Empress Merus Zoldyck of Batoccia Country and the current King of Meteor Country, based on peace, friendship, mutual respect, friendly consultation, and equal voluntary principles, drafted and signed a peace treaty with magical efficacy.
The treaty applied only during their respective reigns and included clauses such as ending the state of war, releasing prisoners, and establishing formal diplomatic relations. Prince Chrollo Lucilfer of Meteor Country would reside in Batoccia Country long-term as the Ambassador of Meteor Country.
Chapter 22
Prince Chrollo Lucilfer of Meteor Country, his charm was renowned.
The long-awaited peace and the arrival of the Ambassador of Meteor Country brought joy and excitement to the citizens of Batoccia Country. They lined the streets, packing them tightly, and continuously threw bouquets of flowers at the royal carriage carrying Chrollo.
Feitan, Chrollo's bodyguard and the most elite professional soldier of Meteor Country, frowned, using magic to block any foreign objects that might fall on Chrollo and cause him harm. "...Damn it."
The King of Meteor Country had only assigned two guards (and four servants) to Chrollo, significantly increasing the burden of guarding him.
"It's alright, Feitan," Chrollo, who always showed obedience to the King's decisions, waved to the crowd and smiled, signaling Feitan to deactivate the magic. "With the Empress's iron will, she absolutely won't let any accidents happen here."
"That extremely wicked woman?" Feitan showed disgust but had to agree with Chrollo's assessment and stopped casting defensive magic.
Chrollo picked up the flowers that landed on his lap. His fingers closed, squeezing the delicate petals until they released their juice, which flowed through his fingers.
"The world is a giant prison, and this is the worst cell," he softly recited lines from a play, then released his hand, letting the withered petals fall to the ground. "This is... a slightly less bad one."
"I think this place is terrible," Feitan said.
"I'll get used to it," Chrollo replied with a smile.
In the crowded throng, some overly excited maidens fainted from lack of oxygen, a similar scene occurring in Meteor Country.
"Perhaps," Feitan raised an eyebrow. "I heard the Empress is very interested in you."
"I also heard she once killed four handsome young men in a single night," Chrollo said, his smile unchanged. "I hope I have good luck."
"..."
Chapter 23
"I heard that 13 maidens died for you out of unrequited love," the Empress said to Chrollo as soon as they met.
Although it wasn't Chrollo's fault, he couldn't deny his connection to the matter.
Theater was very popular in Meteor Country. Initially, it was part of church worship services, called "liturgical dramas." Later, it evolved into theatrical performances on four- or six-horse carriages, spreading drama throughout the country.
Liturgical dramas primarily narrated religious stories, usually with church clergy playing the roles of saints. Chrollo developed a great interest in watching liturgical dramas from a young age. After his father died, he became even more engrossed in theater, even starting to participate in plays.
Perhaps theater was just an excuse. By then, Chrollo was old enough to understand what his mother's remarriage entailed. He didn't want to stay in the palace or witness his mother with his uncle.
At that time, his sister was still young and knew nothing. She sat enthusiastically in the audience watching Chrollo perform, always being the first to applaud loudly. She sincerely believed Chrollo was the greatest actor in the world.
In the past, royal family members had also participated in liturgical dramas, playing guest roles with high status and few lines, essentially demonstrating the governing philosophy of "sharing joy with the people."
Chrollo was the first royal family member to dedicate significant time and effort to theatrical performance, appearing to be "neglecting his proper duties" and "indulging in pastimes." Furthermore, no one could have predicted that Chrollo would eventually become Meteor Country's most beloved theater actor, earning praise not only from audiences but also high regard from industry professionals for his skills.
Few actors did not take pride in performing a successful scene with Chrollo, as any less skilled actor would become a mere backdrop in their shared performance – Chrollo's skill was considered the industry benchmark.
The title "National Treasure of Meteor Country" originated from this.
Royal family members were not permitted to play villains or characters of low social standing. Thus, in addition to liturgical dramas, Chrollo also participated in other genres, such as the famous "love" themed play, Romeo and Juliet.
The performance was a great success, but it later led to a tragedy.
The audience was so fervent and immersed that they experienced hallucinations. Thirteen maidens, believing themselves to be "Juliet," emulated the play's tragic ending and died for love.
Romeo and Juliet was subsequently banned, and Chrollo stopped performing in love tragedies with sad endings.
"...That's it?" the Empress chuckled. "Your uncle is cowardly and greedy."
"Go to the auditorium. Costumes and props are available, and you can pick any actors you like. Tomorrow, I want to see your performance."
"I want to see your Romeo and Juliet."
Chapter 24
Chrollo had not touched the script of Romeo and Juliet for five years.
"Directly performing tomorrow in front of a large audience—that woman is deliberately making things difficult," Feitan grumbled after leaving the palace. "I wonder about the skill level of the Batoccia Country actors. I haven't collaborated with them at all, let alone any rapport."
Indeed, no matter how perfectly Chrollo performed, if the other actors were not in sync, the entire play would become strange, distorted, and its effect greatly diminished.
Romeo and Juliet was not a solo act; at least "Juliet" had to complement "Romeo."
A pleasant surprise.
Chrollo encountered an old acquaintance in the Batoccia Country theater troupe—Shizuku.
Meteor Country had extremely strict censorship of plays with many regulations. To pursue a freer acting career, Shizuku became a "traitor" and left Meteor Country forever.
Although the Empress of Batoccia Country was tyrannical and the common people lived in dire straits, Batoccia Country was indeed the most liberated nation.
Thanks to the Empress's enthusiasm for entertainment, Shizuku, as a theater actor, was doing well here.
"A reunion after so long," Shizuku extended a hand to Chrollo. "In the book of fate, we are written on the same line."
"I believe what you say." Even after five years, Chrollo could recite the lines flawlessly. He clasped Shizuku's hand. "Give me your love, and I will be baptized anew, and I shall be no more Romeo."
The performance was ultimately a great success.
The auditorium erupted in thunderous applause.
Chapter 25
"?" The Empress looked at Kurapika, who was waiting in the corridor, with some surprise. "You're still here."
After Kurapika's assassination attempt failed, the Empress did not punish him, nor did she restrain or monitor him, allowing him free access to the palace. Kurapika had left immediately, and she hadn't expected him to return.
"Because the assassination mission was not completed?"
"..."
"You really are stubborn."
It wasn't entirely about the assassination mission; now, there was another reason. The gift brought by Meteor Country's Ambassador Chrollo, the "Scarlet Eyes," was a treasure stolen from the Kurta clan by Meteor Country in the past.
"But you've come at just the right time," the Empress said. "I think a character in a new script is quite suitable for you. If you want to stay, report to the theater troupe."
"..."
After Chrollo's previous performance was a great success, the theater troupe seized the opportunity to publicly recruit new members, hoping to find those who prioritized skill over appearance. Because the Empress was always exceptionally lenient towards good-looking newcomers, the troupe had become a stepping stone for people to get close to the Empress in the eyes of many, and actors willing to diligently study their craft were becoming increasingly rare.
Having witnessed Chrollo's performance, the Empress seemed to have changed her mind and now wished to see actors who possessed both skill and appearance.
At the recruitment site, one could see individuals with extraordinary acting abilities in various senses.
"I am more professional and skillful than those actors. My life is acting every day, and though I have no script, I don't make NG mistakes. If I make one, I might lose my life," a man who had been an undercover agent introduced himself to the troupe leader.
"I can date four women simultaneously in a single day without the other three finding out," a red-haired man introduced himself.
"I have successfully courted 10,000 women (in a game). With my acting skills, there's no type I can't conquer," a bespectacled man introduced himself.
"..." Kurapika felt he might have come to the wrong place.
Chapter 26
After Her Majesty the Empress suddenly began to demand acting skills, she also ordered the theater troupe to perform a new script she hadn't seen daily. The training became exceptionally arduous, causing many to quit the troupe.
"Why are the same people always performing on stage?" Her Majesty the Empress finally noticed something was amiss.
Duke Pariston, in charge of selecting scripts, explained the situation.
"Uninteresting," Her Majesty the Empress provocatively lifted Pariston's chin with her finger. "Then you go on stage too and inject some novelty for me. And Kalluto."
Kalluto, attending beside the Empress, widened his innocent eyes. "Your Majesty, I don't know how to act."
"I see you both are quite good at acting in your daily lives," Her Majesty the Empress stated expressionlessly. "Aren't you?"
"Your Majesty is too kind," Duke Pariston whispered something into the Empress's ear, making her laugh again.
"Very well, as you say," Her Majesty the Empress agreed.
"..."
Duke Pariston proposed the concept of "interactive theater," where actors not only performed on stage but also interacted with the audience off-stage.
In other words, actors were to embody fictional characters from the script and, using the character's traits and speech patterns, flatter Her Majesty the Empress in various ways.
Of course, the audience for such plays was limited to Her Majesty the Empress alone.
"Truly a devilish idea," Prince Miyake commented.
"A genius idea, rather," Hisoka commented.
"...Imperial Sister." Prince Illumi received the opportunity to participate.
Kurapika vomited violently afterward.
Kalluto died mysteriously thereafter.
Hisoka died mysteriously thereafter.
Chapter 27
"Kalluto held a certain leverage over Hisoka, which is why Hisoka killed him," Her Majesty the Empress asked Chrollo. "And why did you kill Hisoka?"
"Your Majesty knows almost everything, surely you are aware of what Hisoka did in Meteor Country?" Chrollo remained composed.
Hisoka's eyes could captivate women, and he had also seduced Chrollo's mother. Chrollo's resentment towards Hisoka was entirely understandable.
"But that's not the main point, is it?" Her Majesty the Empress smiled. "Isn't it because Hisoka was investigating light mages?"
"..."
"The national strategic light mage of Meteor Country, that would be your sister Sarasa, correct?"
Chrollo's composure vanished from his face.
After appreciating Chrollo's change in expression, Her Majesty the Empress listlessly stroked the black rabbit resting on her lap. "Unfortunately, she is not the one I am looking for."
[Light and Darkness, Following Like Shadows]
Where could the opponent who posed a fatal threat to the Empress be?
Chapter 28
[Light and Darkness, Following Like Shadows]
The answer was far away, yet right before her eyes.
Her Majesty the Empress did not expect that Alluka Zoldyck, the Fourth Prince, locked away in a dark dungeon, was the answer she sought.
Duchess Bisky, concurrently the head of the Knights, allied with the rebels, creating chaos and rescuing the Third Prince Killua Zoldyck and the Fourth Prince Alluka Zoldyck from the dungeon.
Duke Pariston was killed by rebels led by Prince Biyando Netero of the former Putuo Country.
The era of great chaos thus began, with piled corpses staining the river red multiple times.
With the demise of Her Majesty Empress Merus Zoldyck as a major turning point, the chaos finally began to subside.
After the rebels killed Illumi Zoldyck, the Empress's most trusted hawk, they occupied the royal palace and even breached the Empress's tomb.
The scene within the tomb stunned everyone.
The empress, who had lived a life of luxury and indulgence, had not been buried with any gold or silver treasures. The tomb was empty, except for a luxurious coffin.
The rebels pried open the coffin, only to find it equally empty.
"...This is not the Empress's true tomb." This was the only conclusion they could reach.
They did not know that the Empress had long abandoned her human body, thus leaving no corpse behind.
The Empress's true tomb, along with its countless treasures, is still a legend among the common people.
Regardless of whether the Empress's true tomb existed, the Empress's dynasty had come to an end.
=fin=
Epilogue
The wheels of time roll forward, and the river of history flows endlessly.
A thousand years passed, and magic was lost in that tide. When people mentioned "magic" again, they treated it as mere fantasy.
A 17-year-old high school boy stopped, as if sensing something, and squatted down to pick up a black feather that had fallen on the lawn. The moment he touched the feather, he found he could suddenly understand the caws of the crows on the branches.
"Brave boy~ go and create a miracle~" a red-eyed crow sang a nonsensical song and looked down at the high school student. "Hello, do you want to sign a contract with me and become someone who changes the world?"
The high school student ignored the crow and looked around, suspecting someone was playing a prank.
So the crow flew onto his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Hey, kid, this isn't a prank! If you don't believe me, I can let you experience my power."
"..." The high school student cupped the crow in his hands, examining it from all angles, but found no suspicious mechanisms.
Talking to a crow in a public place seemed too strange. The high school student took the crow home, closed his bedroom door, and had a detailed discussion with the crow.
"...I have been working for the Demon King for 999 years. Once I complete a thousand years of cultivation, I can transform into human form."
The crow claimed to have been Her Majesty the Empress, recognized by the Demon King, and brought into his service, thus starting its working life. The long period of being a corporate slave had smoothed out Her Majesty the Empress's rough edges. Now, the Empress was very patient with everyone, tirelessly answering the high school student's many questions. Of course, for certain confidential matters, the crow steadfastly refused to speak.
"What does it mean that my soul cannot ascend to heaven or descend to hell after signing a contract with you?" the high school student asked.
"You'll understand when you die," the crow replied.
The crow gave the high school student a black notebook, a notebook imbued with demonic power. By writing someone's name, that person could be cursed.
The high school student, out of curiosity, wrote the name of a criminal from the television news, and the result was...
After the sound of an overturned chair, the crow, pecking at pieces of flatbread in a plate, was grabbed by the high school student.
"What did you do?!" the high school student exclaimed at the crow, startled and questioning.
"Didn't you do something yourself?" the crow said innocently. "I already told you the consequences. You did it yourself."
"You want to change the world, right?"
"Don't you, Moon-kun?"