“Damage!”
Rubia grabbed Austen by the collar and pulled him towards her. Their bodies suddenly overlapped. Auston's eyes widened in surprise. But before he could express his confusion.
“For our King, Baynas!”
“For Venice!”
An eerie scream was heard, and just in time, a sharp shard of glass grazed the back of his neck.
“What is this...!”
An eerie scream was heard, and just in time, a sharp shard of glass grazed the back of his neck.
“What is this...!”
Auston hurriedly used his magic to strike down the servant who was trying to attack him.
Boom!
With a heavy sound, the servant groaned and fell to the floor as if he were stuck.
“Whoa!”
In an instant, a scream rang out like an alarm bell. Auston, who regained his senses at the sound, immediately separated from Rubia and began to block the dark bugs that were rushing at the nobles with mad eyes. He had no time to even pay attention to where Rubia was or what she was doing.
'Damn, there are too many!'
Auston gritted his teeth. Whenever he thought he helped someone, a threat would fly from behind him, and whenever he blocked it, another scream would come from somewhere else. This was the biggest thing the Dark Bugs had ever done. It was excessive for them, who operated in the shadows to avoid people's eyes.
'How on earth? Did they get support from somewhere?'
With his head dizzy, Auston frantically saved people and shooed away the dark bugs. At that moment, he could see the Crown Prince in the distance, grabbing Sylvia’s chin hard and leaning in as if to kiss her. For a moment, Auston was so frightened that he tried to scream.
"Madam...!"
"Die!"
At the same time, a dark bug lying on the floor suddenly rose up and rushed at him again. It was the moment when Auston, who realized the situation a step too late, was about to close his eyes.
“Whoa!”
In an instant, a scream rang out like an alarm bell. Auston, who regained his senses at the sound, immediately separated from Rubia and began to block the dark bugs that were rushing at the nobles with mad eyes. He had no time to even pay attention to where Rubia was or what she was doing.
'Damn, there are too many!'
Auston gritted his teeth. Whenever he thought he helped someone, a threat would fly from behind him, and whenever he blocked it, another scream would come from somewhere else. This was the biggest thing the Dark Bugs had ever done. It was excessive for them, who operated in the shadows to avoid people's eyes.
'How on earth? Did they get support from somewhere?'
With his head dizzy, Auston frantically saved people and shooed away the dark bugs. At that moment, he could see the Crown Prince in the distance, grabbing Sylvia’s chin hard and leaning in as if to kiss her. For a moment, Auston was so frightened that he tried to scream.
"Madam...!"
"Die!"
At the same time, a dark bug lying on the floor suddenly rose up and rushed at him again. It was the moment when Auston, who realized the situation a step too late, was about to close his eyes.
Bam!
"Are you okay?"
“...Countess Glever?”
Auston stared blankly at Rubia, feeling as if a greater shock had hit his head than before. Rubia appeared behind the back of the dark bug that was staggering and collapsing. She had completely torn off the hem of her dress, and she was holding the leg of a chair that looked like it had been hit and broken like a club. Her long golden hair was tangled to the point where it could be called disheveled, and her white legs were revealed under her shortened dress. It was the most disheveled appearance of Rubia that he had ever seen.
"Are you okay?"
“...Countess Glever?”
Auston stared blankly at Rubia, feeling as if a greater shock had hit his head than before. Rubia appeared behind the back of the dark bug that was staggering and collapsing. She had completely torn off the hem of her dress, and she was holding the leg of a chair that looked like it had been hit and broken like a club. Her long golden hair was tangled to the point where it could be called disheveled, and her white legs were revealed under her shortened dress. It was the most disheveled appearance of Rubia that he had ever seen.
For some reason, it came as an indescribable shock to him. Auston unconsciously fixed his gaze on Rubia’s face to catch his gaze that was going down. Perhaps misunderstanding his gaze, Rubia avoided his eyes and muttered coldly.
“...There’s no bow here, and even if there was one, it’s hard to use. So don’t look at me like I’m crazy. This is the only thing I have at hand.”
“That’s not it...”
Auston, who was half-witted, opened his mouth without realizing it and quickly covered his mouth with his hand. He suddenly remembered what he had almost said and screamed inwardly.
'Look at that look now and think it's cool, am I the crazy one?'
He couldn't help but worry about such a mess, but she was cool. Cool!
“...There’s no bow here, and even if there was one, it’s hard to use. So don’t look at me like I’m crazy. This is the only thing I have at hand.”
“That’s not it...”
Auston, who was half-witted, opened his mouth without realizing it and quickly covered his mouth with his hand. He suddenly remembered what he had almost said and screamed inwardly.
'Look at that look now and think it's cool, am I the crazy one?'
He couldn't help but worry about such a mess, but she was cool. Cool!
He seemed to be going crazy along with this situation. To make matters worse, the overlapping sensations in his body when Rubia pulled him in earlier kept popping up, making him go even crazier. While Auston was confused, Rubia knocked out two dark bugs with the legs of a chair. She looked back at Auston, who was frozen like a statue and frowned.
“What are you standing around for? Have you forgotten that the most useful person here right now is you?”
‘...Yeah, that’s the kind of woman she was.’
Cold and arrogant eyes. Sharp words. When he saw the familiar face of Rubia, his mind which had been in disarray finally calmed down. He regained his composure and stood back to back with Rubia, sneering.
“That means you are admitting that you are less useful than me. It is an honor.”
“...You're like a person who would only float with your mouth open if you fell into the water.”
“The Countess will just keep your tongue down. It is usually sharp.”
The two of them calmly dealt with the dark bugs while spitting out sharp words at each other. Ironically, the backs that touched each other were particularly warm.
“What are you standing around for? Have you forgotten that the most useful person here right now is you?”
‘...Yeah, that’s the kind of woman she was.’
Cold and arrogant eyes. Sharp words. When he saw the familiar face of Rubia, his mind which had been in disarray finally calmed down. He regained his composure and stood back to back with Rubia, sneering.
“That means you are admitting that you are less useful than me. It is an honor.”
“...You're like a person who would only float with your mouth open if you fell into the water.”
“The Countess will just keep your tongue down. It is usually sharp.”
The two of them calmly dealt with the dark bugs while spitting out sharp words at each other. Ironically, the backs that touched each other were particularly warm.
***
While the banquet was in full swing, Jeffrey was loitering in the garden next to the banquet hall. Weapons were not allowed inside the royal banquet hall, and the guards were to be guarded by the knights of the guard. Jeffrey escorted the Duke and Duchess on their way and waited nearby until the banquet was over. Naturally, his mind was filled with only one person's face.
'Philia...'
A few days before leaving the North, Jeffrey received a letter from Philia.
'Philia...'
A few days before leaving the North, Jeffrey received a letter from Philia.
"Meet me at the fountain in the palace garden during the birthday party. I have something to tell you, so you must come."
However, unlike the contents of the letter, Jeffrey was currently trying to move away from the fountain. However, even as he moved, his steps became heavier and he couldn't help but look back. He wondered what Philia was trying to say. He thought that if he faced her face and heard her voice, his heart would shake uncontrollably again, so he forced himself to move away.
In the end, Jeffrey stopped in a corner of the garden and raised his head. When he looked around, he saw a few nobles and servants walking along the path. The sunset sky was like a painting behind them. Everything seemed peaceful except for his heart.
It was when Jeffrey smiled bitterly in self-loathing.
“...?”
He suddenly felt a commotion coming from the banquet hall building and furrowed his brow. And the next moment, the commotion engulfed the garden.
“Eww!”
“What the heck! Save someone!”
The peaceful scenery suddenly turned into chaos. Several servants were holding daggers that they had taken out from somewhere and were harming the nobles. The ones in this garden were a few guards like Jeffrey, or nobles who had left the banquet for a while to rest. Since they were not allowed to carry weapons to attend the banquet, everyone except the guards was naked and unarmed.
As soon as Jeffrey realized this, he felt as if the blood in his body had gone cold.
'Philia.'
He muttered softly in his mouth and headed straight for the fountain, kicking the ground. However, the path was not easy because of the dark bugs that rushed at him along the way, or the nobles who grabbed him and asked for help. Jeffrey gritted his teeth as he slaughtered the dark bugs. The sound of his heart beating filled his ears. Even at this moment, he was worried about Philia’s safety and felt like he was going crazy.
'If only you had just been there.'
Instead of making a fool of himself by saying he would give up on Philia if he had just stayed in front of the fountain like the letter said. If he had, Philia would have been safe at least. Even if he had made his incompetent self shed tears in her blue eyes again, her body would have been safe.
'Philia.'
He muttered softly in his mouth and headed straight for the fountain, kicking the ground. However, the path was not easy because of the dark bugs that rushed at him along the way, or the nobles who grabbed him and asked for help. Jeffrey gritted his teeth as he slaughtered the dark bugs. The sound of his heart beating filled his ears. Even at this moment, he was worried about Philia’s safety and felt like he was going crazy.
'If only you had just been there.'
Instead of making a fool of himself by saying he would give up on Philia if he had just stayed in front of the fountain like the letter said. If he had, Philia would have been safe at least. Even if he had made his incompetent self shed tears in her blue eyes again, her body would have been safe.
A sense of shame and guilt mixed together. Jeffrey was covered in blood and mustered every ounce of strength he had to cross the garden. The time until he turned the corner to the fountain felt like an eternity. And then.
“Let go of this...!”
Boom!
“Let go of this...!”
Boom!
A gnashing voice and a dull sound were heard. As soon as Jeffrey turned the corner, he saw a servant holding a dagger and Philia striking the servant's head with her shoe heel. As soon as he realized that Philia was being threatened, his thinning sanity suddenly snapped.
"You dare."
Jeffrey muttered softly with an expressionless face and pulled the servant away from Philia with a vicious hand. Philia’s eyes opened wide, and at the same time, the dark bug looked back at him with bloodshot eyes. His sword pierced the opponent’s arm.
“Kwaaah!”
The dagger fell to the ground with a clank. Jeffrey deliberately pulled out the sword and kicked the dark bug with his foot. Its black eyes were eerily dark. Jeffrey moved the sword and pierced the hand that had been holding Philia, and cut off the hand that had been thrusting the blade at her. He knew that not cutting off the head in one stroke would be more painful.
“Ah, aah! Save me...!”
"You dare."
Jeffrey muttered softly with an expressionless face and pulled the servant away from Philia with a vicious hand. Philia’s eyes opened wide, and at the same time, the dark bug looked back at him with bloodshot eyes. His sword pierced the opponent’s arm.
“Kwaaah!”
The dagger fell to the ground with a clank. Jeffrey deliberately pulled out the sword and kicked the dark bug with his foot. Its black eyes were eerily dark. Jeffrey moved the sword and pierced the hand that had been holding Philia, and cut off the hand that had been thrusting the blade at her. He knew that not cutting off the head in one stroke would be more painful.
“Ah, aah! Save me...!”
As Jeffrey had wished, the dark bug writhed in excruciating pain and then, with its eyes bulging, tried to rush at him. Only then did Jeffrey swing his sword with a great swing and cut off the dark bug’s head.
“Huh.”
Philia sank to the ground, her legs giving out and she gasped for breath. Jeffrey, who was wiping the blood off his face with an expressionless face, stopped at the sound. His black eyes came into focus.
"...Ah."
Only then did he realize what he had done, and he turned pale and stepped back. As soon as he regained his senses, the smell of blood rushing to his nostrils was unbearable. Jeffrey wanted to check on Philia’s safety right away, but he couldn’t approach her for fear of getting blood on her. He stood frozen in place. His appearance, his anxiously wandering gaze, looked like a lost child. Philia, who had been shocked for a moment after witnessing the unexpected sight, let out a sigh as if she were laughing.
“Jeffrey.”
Philia put strength into her trembling legs and got up. As she approached Jeffrey, he hesitated and tried to step back. But Philia did not give him a chance to step back. She stretched out both arms and immediately hugged him. Her face touched the bloody clothes, but she didn’t care and patted his back.
“Are you really surprised?”
“...”
"I'm okay."
Jeffrey's face distorted at the soft voice. Philia hugged him deeper as if she knew everything, stroking his back. Jeffrey finally let go of his sword as if he was going to collapse and buried his head in her neck.
***
The capital was filled with fear at the news that the dark bugs had attacked the entire palace. Many nobles were injured, and several servants who had been caught up in the commotion had unfortunately died. Since the dark bugs had never done anything this large before, voices were raised that something was wrong. So the King ordered a temporary blockade of the capital until the truth of this attack was revealed.
Until the investigation was complete, the nobles who had attended the banquet were not allowed to return to their territories. When several nobles protested that they could no longer stay in such an unstable capital, the King backed down and changed his order to only allow them to stay in the palace for about two weeks until the foundation of the nation.
Two weeks was not a long time, and since it was necessary to investigate the raid, the nobles finally became quiet. Sylvia and Randall also came to the palace along with the others.
A few days after the raid. Sylvia, who was resting in her room in the palace, let out a questionable voice at the words of the chamberlain. Thanks to the healing magic that Auston used while shedding tears, the bruise on her jaw had completely healed.
“...His Majesty has called me?”
“...His Majesty has called me?”
“Yes. His Majesty invited you to tea time.”
“Is it just me? What about the Duke?”
“His Majesty has called only you, Madam.”
The chief of the guard bowed politely as he finished speaking. However, the way he lowered his head seemed to imply a silent urging for her to get ready quickly. After thinking for a moment, Sylvia got up from her seat.
“Then I’ll just tell my husband that I’m going out and come back. Is that okay?”
"...All right."
Sylvia passed the chamberlain and headed towards Randall's room, which was right next door.
'What are you planning?'
She rolled her eyes and thought for a moment as she walked to Randall's room. The King's invitation to call her out alone did not seem to be a good idea.
'Are you trying to find something?'
Her golden eyes dimmed with reasonable doubt. In the first place, the King married her to a noble under his command to prevent Randall from expanding his power, so it was not unreasonable for him to want to check on the situation in the North through her.
“Is it just me? What about the Duke?”
“His Majesty has called only you, Madam.”
The chief of the guard bowed politely as he finished speaking. However, the way he lowered his head seemed to imply a silent urging for her to get ready quickly. After thinking for a moment, Sylvia got up from her seat.
“Then I’ll just tell my husband that I’m going out and come back. Is that okay?”
"...All right."
Sylvia passed the chamberlain and headed towards Randall's room, which was right next door.
'What are you planning?'
She rolled her eyes and thought for a moment as she walked to Randall's room. The King's invitation to call her out alone did not seem to be a good idea.
'Are you trying to find something?'
Her golden eyes dimmed with reasonable doubt. In the first place, the King married her to a noble under his command to prevent Randall from expanding his power, so it was not unreasonable for him to want to check on the situation in the North through her.
While thinking about this and that, she knocked on the door, and soon Randall opened the door with wide eyes.
“Sylvia?”
“Ran...”
Sylvia was about to get to the point, but when she saw him, she flinched and closed her lips.
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