DYBAR - Chapter 124 < Senua's Valley, The Fall >
Do Your Best And Regret
"... I guessed wrong, Your Majesty."
"What?"
The Emperor furrowed his eyebrows at the Prince's toneless voice.
"You got it wrong! Even if we brought all of Tristan's grain, what is that for you to say as the Crown Prince in a situation where it only amounts to about half of the Vikander territory's mineral tax?"
The angry voice grew louder. At the same time, hot anger rose up.
Due to Maria Ethel's shocking revelations, the Princess lost all of her dignity that she had built up and was living in seclusion in the Princess's palace.
The fiefdoms that had taken the Princess as her lord were in disarray, and her image as an imperial family plummeted.
It was said that other countries had already published provocative articles, such as The Back View of the Saint and The Two Faces of the Saint. This was truly a disgrace to the Empire.
"I heard that the Grand Duke's subordinate insists on a tax rate of only 5%! Only then will we be able to show that the imperial palace is alive and well again?"
Blood stood out on the Emperor's reddened temples.
To erase the image of a shaky Empire, the health of the imperial palace had to continue to be shown. A strong order of knights, a splendid banquet, and the appearance of leniently overlooking nonsense and yet taking firm action.
However, unlike the Emperor who was violently angry, the Prince lightly curled the corners of his mouth.
"Respected Majesty. No matter how much we exploit the anger of the nobles, isn't the Grand Duke still a war hero to the people? A war hero with a Saint who has never received the light of day."
For a moment, the Emperor paused. The people were forgotten for a moment amidst the whispers of the nobles.
"Even at this moment, low-quality rumors are circulating among the people. And things about the Princess...."
"Don't talk any more about the Princess."
In heavy anger, Leopold shrugged his shoulders for a moment and then continued his words.
"Yes, Your Majesty. In any case, in their babbling words, they describe the meeting between the Grand Duke and the Princess as if it were a scene from a fairy tale, and even try to revere it like a myth."
"Such a shameful thing!"
The Emperor suddenly got angry.
That blushing face was similar to Leopold's reaction when he first saw a child's crooked drawing of Olivia on paper.
Unpainted hair and eyes colored with crushed leaves. The feeling of affection upon seeing the picture that clearly resembled Olivia's features soon turned into anger upon seeing the jet-black-haired man standing behind her.
However, the current Leopold was not angry at things like pictures without substance. Instead, he smiled softly with a sharper face as he lost weight.
"If you point your blade at a hero like that, he's likely to get hit back."
The Emperor looked at Leopold with even deeper eyes.
His face was relaxed as he spoke words that were difficult to say out loud.
"Is there anything you can do?"
"What if we twisted the course of this fairy tale just a little bit?"
Leopold smiled brightly and raised his voice meaningfully. And he smiled, looking at the chessboard that was always spread out on the tea table.
"Isn't the Grand Duke a murderer? A Saintess who could not stand the violent Grand Duke came to the imperial palace on her own."
With a languid voice, Leopold picked up the white Queen and crushed it. Despite the Prince's appearance giving off a strange atmosphere, the Emperor quietly waited for further words.
As if living up to his expectations, v picked up the white king with his other hand and pushed a rolling black pawn, causing it to fall to the floor.
"It's a scene where the Grand Duke goes crazy and dares to use the sword given to him by His Majesty the Emperor in the imperial palace."
The sound of a well-carved wooden pawn breaking at the end of an eerily friendly voice was pleasant. It might have been because of the Prince's voice as if it was no big deal.
The Emperor looked at the pawn that had been cut in two. His chest tightened with a feeling that was both creepy and satisfying.
Will the image he so longed for for his predecessor, the Grand Duke, come true in his son's generation?
If that were the outcome of his dog running away after cutting off its leash, he would be extremely relieved.
But as of now, nothing has been completely resolved. Especially the Duke of Elkin.
"The Duke of Elkin, who went to appease the Princess, has not yet returned."
"Tell the Duke to proceed as planned. I will do it my way. Don't I have a secret document that Your Majesty gave me?"
"Keep in mind that the Grand Duke left it behind. Something is strange. How much he cared about things related to the Princess."
The Emperor didn't know that he would head towards the Princess without even looking back.
While the Emperor was licking his lips with a bitter sense of defeat, Leopold cynically raised one corner of his mouth.
"That's it. Nothing can be more important than people. And by the way, isn't there a stiff-necked Grand Duke wandering around defenseless in the imperial palace right now?"
The Emperor hurriedly followed the Prince's gaze and looked down at the glass window. At just the right moment, the guy was walking. A gray-haired knight who is a close associate of the Grand Duke.
"What was his name?"
"Howard Interfield, a Baron."
The Emperor's mouth fell into laughter. The sight of him wandering around without any knights around was pretty tasty.
Seeing the strangeness in the Emperor's eyes, Leopold was struck.
"I'm bringing Olivia along, so Your Majesty can shake things up a little more."
The Emperor nodded his head slowly. The Grand Duke's actions, which threaten the wealth and strength of the Empire, have already aroused the resentment of many nobles. If more bad rumors were added, the lowly people would also become anxious.
At that time, it was a pretty good picture to embrace them all as the father of the Empire. The Emperor saw the Prince again.
"Still, when you needs to use your strength, the Prince uses his strength properly."
Leopold grinned at the praise. it was a moment when sea-colored eyes flashed, reminiscent of the dark part of the deep sea.
"Anyway, shouldn't we cut out the festering areas cleanly?"
Leopold laughed and cried out loud. Je found it funny that the Emperor was so proud of him. As his mother, the Empress, said, the Emperor was unprepared for his later life.
In all respects, he would never follow in the Emperor's footsteps.
In particular, instead of a lifeless portrait, she would have Olivia by his side. Her hair, her crooked eyes, her blushing cheeks, her helpless expression, and even her sweet scent.
The more he thought about it, the more thirsty it became.
They'll be able to meet soon.
While the murmurs filled with deep desire spread red, a colorful flash appeared over Leopold's eyes.
***
In front of the Grand Siege entrance late at night.
Putting a light load on the back of his horse, Winster looked back at the Grand Duke with a somber heart.
When he thought that he had to leave behind the strong and solid Great Siege under the black spire that seemed to pierce the sky and go to Jedo Island, his feet were pounding.
"How can I be separated from you and Young Lady? Of course, I have to go to Senua's Valley too! In that rugged place, two knights must stick together to protect the Lady, right?"
He can't believe he's not among the group exploring Senua's Valley. Winster raised his voice and insisted as if it were a thunderbolt. It was this morning that he finally got permission after some persuasive words. The preliminary field trip was also at the same yard he went to!
"It's all because of my ability."
Dean chuckled and patted Winster's shoulder as he tried to comfort himself.
"It has been pushed out of importance. I am in a position where I absolutely have to go to the valley, and Sir Calter can stop going even if he doesn't."
In fact, just in time, Winster silently glared at Deann and shook his head. And he muttered again with a gloomy face.
"No. It was definitely me. Anyway, people talk about drinking because of this handsome face..."
That was correct. Thanks to his likable face, he easily fit in wherever he went, and his shameless, sly personality was good for getting people to talk openly.
Winster also had no intention of adding further comments on a matter that had already been decided. But...
"The reason I'm complaining now is because Brock is going to Senua's Valley instead of me."
"You think I'm unreliable?"
Brock, who was seeing off, stroked his beard with a shocked look on his face.
"You're not doubting my loyalty, are you?"
"I'm worried about your loyalty. You bastard. Don't forget your duty. I know you're following me to the valley."
"Lady's escort. Your Highness will do well, but you have to protect a weak Young Lady. Who will you escort?"
Brock recalled the warning he had heard so loudly in his ears. Still, Winster didn't like it, so he looked at Brock with unkind eyes.
"If you just shave off your beard, you'll be perfect for gathering information. Are you planning on going instead of me?"
"The moment you touch my pride, it's war."
A flash of life collided.
Wow.
Dean was sweating and mediated between the two.
"Well, Brock went on the most recent raid. Even though he hasn't been to Senua's Valley, he probably knows the current situation on the border better than anyone else. Don't worry too much."
Despite Dean's words, Winster could not calm his distraught mind. A strange feeling of anxiety stirred in his heart. He's never been like this before. At that moment, a faint voice broke Winster out of his thoughts.
"...Thank you. Winster."
The Young Lady, full of regret and gratitude, and His Highness the Grand Duke personally came to see them off!
Winster smiled broadly and waved his hand.
"No, Miss. As a knight who has given my oath to you for the second time, I will quickly go to Eddington Street according to your orders!"
Only when Winster, who had set out to bring her the information she was waiting for, had moved away like a dot, did Edwin lightly push Olivia's back as if he had been waiting.
"The night wind is getting colder. Quickly go in and get some sleep, Olivia. We'll be leaving very early, too."
***
It was a quiet night in my room.
The curtains were tightly drawn so the room was filled with darkness. I blinked my eyes. My sleepy eyes twinkled as I took in the outlines of the room.
Today is a day to sleep well.
Even when I thought back to Edwin's words of announcing his departure early in the morning, there was no sign of the sleep that had already escaped coming back, Maybe it was because too many things were happening at once.
The Duke of Elkin, about twenty years ago, the Duke of Madeleine, and the mother and the old woman...
"It's dangerous to fall asleep in the valley like this."
I let out a light sigh. And with my eyes closed, I absentmindedly hummed my lullaby. On days when I really couldn't sleep, my mom would sing...
My eyes widened as I thought of my mother in the moment. I really didn't know my mom today, so I didn't want to think about it.
At that moment, I narrowed my eyes at the dazzling light that struck me before my eyes. The room that would have been pitch black while I was sleeping was brightly lit. I slept with the curtains closed, but there was a sparkling light reflecting off the ceiling.
What?
I, who was looking for the starting point of the light, couldn't believe my eyes for a moment. And I slowly lifted the magic stone of her necklace into my hand. The magic stone touching the tip of my finger felt hotter than usual.
"The magic stone..."
At the same time as there was a small murmur, the magic stone that had been shining with a soft green color lost its light.
I hurriedly took off my necklace and examined the gem carefully, but it only revealed a transparent outline, as if it had come out of the light.
***
"Olivia. If you want to stop at any time, let me know."
"Tell me two more times and I'll fill it up ten times."
I let out a small laugh at my sincere voice. And as if he couldn't stop me, he looked ahead of me again.
This place, where all you could see was pure white snow, was the entrance to Senua's Valley. There was the sound of water rippling from somewhere. As I approached the valley, the season suddenly changed from fall to winter.
My white breath bloomed just by the cold hitting my face. The warmth of the magic stone surrounding my body could not prevent my face from turning red from the cold.
After leaving the carriage and horses to the knights who came with them, only five people entered Senua's Valley. It was Edwin, Olivia, Bethanny, Dean, and Brock.
The further up the valley the narrower the road became. As the procession naturally progressed one by one, Edwin kept looking back.
"Are you really okay?"
Even though Edwin's eyes were full of worry, I smiled cheerfully and pointed to my riding pants. Edwin asked Dean as if he was reluctant.
"Dean, Where is the smoke coming from?"
"Well, I don't remember exactly..."
Dean was embarrassed and looked around. It felt like there was a dark cloud over his mind and he couldn't remember clearly. Bethanny looked at Dean like that and looked around attentively. She wondered if there might be a wizard like her around here.
Every time the wind blew, Bethanny buttoned the top button of her robe. However, she did not forget her concern for Olivia.
"I'm fine with the necklace. Isn't it cold Bethany?"
"You're right. Before, she cast a warming spell on Bethany."
Bethanny responded to Dean's complaints as if she had no idea.
"Something might happen, but we need to conserve our magic power.
They said the mountains were rugged, but I didn't expect the cliffs to be this far. Despite the sharp view of the valley that made my jaw drop, I moved on with my steps without showing any signs of distress.
To be more precise, a strange sense of déjà vu came into me before I even had a chance to express it.
This cool, bland wind that blows from time to time. I had definitely felt something similar somewhere before. As my habit, I brought my hand to the gemstone of my necklace.
Ah.
It was a moment when I startled by a hot feeling, looked at me, losing sight of my magic stone for a moment.
"Bethanny, this magic stone....."
At that moment, an unknown force snatched my necklace from me and snapped it off. It was unconsciously reaching for my hand when I missed it.
In the blink of an eye, what unfolded in front of me was a cliff that looked indifferent as if it were being cut down. And it was a fall down there.
“Ah...?”
Edwin, who inadvertently felt uneasy due to the sigh without resistance, turned around and shouted.
"Olivia-!"
Ah, Edwin.
I saw Edwin, who was trying to jump towards me, being caught by Brock. When Edwin shook off Brock and looked at me again, it was already too late.
I smiled blankly, watching the desperate fear spread across his red eyes.
If this was the last time, I wanted to show her face smiling a little more. A strong wind pressed against me. There came a moment when I felt like I couldn't even breathe due to the endless fall.
While everything was in darkness, his voice calling for me echoed endlessly as if it would tear the world apart.
I'd like to hear a little more...
***
"... This?"
A young voice broke in among the muddy sounds that seemed to be soaked in water. Even though I was feeling drowsy, I tried to keep my dazed mind in check.
I wanted to open my eyes and check my surroundings, but it felt like a heavy force was pressing down on me. Am I alive?
Only now did one of my fingers move. My whole body didn't hurt at all.
"... Please?"
It was a young voice. As if by magic, the energy weighing down my entire body disappeared at the sound of that one voice. I jumped upright.
What I see beyond my bright vision is...
"Are you okay?"
Is that Edwin's father?
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