I'm Stuck on a Remote Island With the Male Leads - Chapter 196

28. Something More Important Than Survival

Kayden was in deep darkness.

In the dreary, dark shadows that lurked within him, he was aware that he had given up his body to Jenas and fled within himself.

Now he was on the verge of entering ‘hibernation’ as he had in the past. Hibernation for wizards was similar to the hibernation of bears and snakes.

It was a voluntary suspended animation to protect and recover depleted mana.

‘Margaret, I miss you.’

Do I like Margaret?

I do. I like her. But I don’t think that’s love.

I would give my life for her, but I’m confident I’m not crazy about her like Enoch is.

 

“Margaret, I can’t let my life begin with Rohade and end with Rohade.”

“You’re right, that’s important. But Kayden, It’s more important to me that you’re safe.”

 

Margaret was genuinely worried for him. Had he ever received worry from anyone in his life?

Well, actually, he had received a lot of worries. But it was only because he was a vessel for Jenas.

He was a child made for Jenas from birth. The Rohade family had many siblings, so one Kayden would not have been a loss.

 

“Don’t get attached to him. He’s just a vessel.”

 

He grew up hearing that from a young age. It wasn’t until he met Jenas on Alea Island that he realized why they’d been so insistent.

No one had ever looked at him as just Kayden.

When he was in his unconscious state, he could see what Jenas was doing.

 

“I don’t care about your feelings. I only care about Kayden and his safety, who will be hurt because of you.”

 

That’s what Margaret said to Janas.

She was the only one who cared about him, not Jenas.

How could I not love her?

She is more than just love, more than just an emotion within him. She is the light of his life, his savior.

Yes, she is. Kayden admitted it now. He’s just as crazy as Enoch. He loves Margaret. He couldn’t breathe in a world without her.

She gave him another reason to live, another reason to avenge the Rohade family.

So he wanted her all to himself, he wanted her to be his own. He didn’t want to compromise with Enoch. He didn’t want anything else. All he needed was her.

If she, who means so much to him, can’t stay by his side…….

He better just go into hibernation.

 

***

 

The day after the incident, Emily was very busy.

The events at the Floné Castle were bigger and more surprising than she could have ever imagined.

Margaret’s birthday party was crashed by the people behind the kidnapping of ‘the Seven’, the event that started the World War. Technically, Emily had infiltrated the party!

‘This is a scoop! It will go down in history!’

What’s even more surprising is that the masterminds behind it are the Empress and the Pope of the Empire of Langridge.

I’ve heard that the Wizards’ Association is also involved, but the Marquis of Rohade, the head of the Wizards’ Association, is missing, so I’ll have to investigate their involvement further.

The Emperor himself sent imperial troops to blockade the Floné Castle, and a thorough investigation was launched, with the Duke of Bilterheim leading it.

So now the Floné Castle was filled with Imperial troops from the capital. Knights who had come down from the capital to investigate and clean up the mess at the Emperor’s behest.

The people invited to the party were unable to leave the Floné Estate.

It had been decided that only the survivors of the island would be allowed to leave for Alea Island with the Emperor’s permission. It was believed that some of those behind the events had fled to the island.

They were excluded from the investigation and given sole permission to leave the Floné Castle, and Emily hurried to interview Margaret before they left.

The most prominent figure in the case was undoubtedly Margaret Rose Floné.

In addition to incapacitating the Pope, she single-handedly captured and killed dozens of monsters, according to first-hand accounts from the knights who were assigned to exterminate them.

‘That’s why I decided to interview Young Lady Floné!’

Surprisingly, the Flonés were cooperative with Emily’s interview, but Margaret proved to be a challenge. It was difficult to see where she was, and whenever she saw her, she was always interrupted by members of the Floné family.

So she spent hours wandering the hallways of the castle in search of Margaret.

Then she was seen coming out of the Duke’s chambers, perhaps after meeting with the Duke of Flone, her face dark.

“Young lady……!”

She was just about to rush toward Margaret when someone blocked her path. She cursed under her breath and looked up to see who it was.

A head of jet-black hair came into view. Deep, golden eyes beneath it. A man with a face as beautiful as a well-crafted statue, but with no warmth, stared down at her eerily.

He glanced at the spot where Margaret had disappeared, then back at Emily, nonchalantly.

“You must be on your way to Margaret.”

Emily recognized the man.

Crown Prince Enoch.

She’d never seen the Crown Prince so up close before, and aside from his celestial rank, he exuded an air of imposing authority that was hard to put into words.

“Yes…… for an interview…….”

“Yes, interview. That’s your job.”

He took another step closer to Emily, tilted his head at an angle, and spoke in a whisper.

“Then keep moving. However, I can’t guarantee what will happen to you next.”

Emily’s hand trembled as she clutched the notebook. Just then, someone appeared, putting an arm around Enoch’s shoulders.

“Come on, there’s something else for a journalist to do. Don’t bother Margaret.”

A man with pink hair as colorful as a cherry blossom and an eye patch covering one eye. He smirked, but the blue eyes that swept over Emily weren’t smiling.

He’s Crown Prince Arthdal, and he said to Emily with his nonchalant face.

At once, Emily remembered the rumors of Margaret’s men circulating in the castle.

Weren’t they all men who had once been intensely disliked Margaret?

‘Oh my God, this is also a scoop.’

She had long since forgotten about the idea of chasing after the disappearing Margaret.

“This would make a great headline, I bet. Hmm. [Crown Prince Arthsal, the most handsome man on earth, dazzles in action!] What do you think? It’s perfect, isn’t it?”

And the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Hestia was noisier than she thought.

 

***

 

After Arthdal sent Emily away, he looked back at Enoch and asked, “Any news of the Archbishop?”

Enoch had heard that a team of investigators from the Langridge Empire had been dispatched to find the missing Archbishop Ruzef and Margaret’s maid, and he had been briefed on the situation by them himself, but he shook his head, his face grim.

“But we have found traces. We have witness accounts of seeing Archbishop Rinnehaon, Ruzef, and someone who looked like the maid. They said they traveled somewhere together.”

“No way…….”

“I think they went to Alea Island.”

Arthdal frowned at Enoch’s answer.

Alea, that damn Alea.

Arthdal ran a hand through his hair and spat out an irritated sigh before looking up at Enoch. Enoch stared blankly at the spot where Margaret had disappeared a moment ago.

“I can only imagine how heartbroken Lady Floné must have been to see her long-awaited birthday party pass by like this, and I’m sure you are too.”

Enoch, who had been standing impassively, turned his head to look at Arthdal.

The stare, the stillness. It was always like that with Enoch. Unwavering, undisturbed.

Enoch was the first to respond to Arthdal’s passing words of comfort.

“Heartbroken? Me too?”

“No way……. you weren’t going to do anything at her birthday party?”

“What was I supposed to do?” Enoch asked, crossing his arms.

“Hmm, confess?”

Arthdal’s reply stunned Enoch into silence.

After a short pause, he answered, “I did say something similar.”

Arthdal blinked at Enoch’s words for a moment, then exhaled in frustration.

“Oh, my God. You don’t know Lady Floné, do you? She’s a woman who doesn’t care about anything but survival, and for someone like that, straight talk is best.”

Arthdal was pleased with himself for his theatrical voice, thinking he’d given Enoch good advice. But Enoch, rubbing his face, glared at him with suddenly sharp eyes.

“You don’t think I don’t know that?”

Enoch’s piercing, golden eyes subsided instantly. There was a brief flicker of desire, like a pent-up desire that had been squeezed down and locked away in a box.

Arthdal flinched at the unexpected reaction. Enoch stepped toward him as menacingly as he had backed away. His voice was low, almost a growl.

“Because she’s precious, because I can’t be without her, and that’s why I’m patient. I don’t want to act rashly and screw things up.”

The tremor in his voice was desperate.

“Because my whole life has been about Margaret, from the beginning to now, and it’s almost a pity that I know that now.”

Arthdal nodded weakly, a little baffled.

“I see. You’ve been through a lot. I don’t know how you manage to hold in such emotions. You have great patience.”

He patted Enoch on the shoulder with a quick pat and turned to go back to his room. After a few steps, he looked back at Enoch briefly.

“But opportunity seldom knocks twice, so don’t hold out too long.”

“…….”

 

***

 

Emily, a journalist for the Burneton newspaper, had done her job dutifully. The events at the Floné Castle were making headlines, and causing a stir.

[The truth behind the kidnapping of the Seven finally…… begins to emerge.]

[The birthday party that will go down in the history books……. What happened at Young Lady Floné’s birthday party……!]

The masterminds were, unsurprisingly, the Pope and Empress. They were the most powerful members of the Peony Blossom faction captured on the spot.

Enough about them.

The problem is the missing Kayden, Ruzef, and Vanessa. Enoch gave me an update on the search this morning, but they seem to be headed for Alea Island.

 

“Margaret, I can’t let my life begin with Rohade and end with Rohade.”

 

I hope Kayden is safe. I hope he gets through this ordeal.

Because I can’t let his life begin with Rohade and end with Rohade, either.

We hurriedly cleaned up the mess from yesterday and decided to leave for Alea Island that very evening.

I visited my father briefly before leaving. He was in his bedroom, needing to rest.

I was told that his wounds were fortunately healing well and that he should be able to get back on his feet soon if he rested. For the time being, my mother and Innis will be in charge of all the affairs of the Floné Castle.

‘Who the hell is my father?’

A man with sword skills to rival the Pope, here was a hidden master. I walked out leaving my father deeply asleep after taking the medicine.

Thank God he’s still alive. Otherwise…….

I shook off the horrible thought and returned to my room.

There was one more problem: we had no contact with Diego.

‘The last time I heard from him, he said he’d found the island.’

Maybe because he couldn’t move the entire time with the video sphere, he had left it behind when he entered the island.

I have to hurry.

Back in my room, I picked out some active clothes for the evening and glanced over at Eunji, who was asleep on my bed.

She was curled up in a ball on the cushion on my bed, sound asleep. Yuanna said she’ll be fine in time, but I’m still worried.

Should I just leave her here?

Just then, Rosemary, who has a huge crush on Eunji, came to visit me, and unexpectedly, Enoch was at her back.