"Ouch! Madam, this way!"
The knights moved quickly to lead Ariana.
"Wait a minute."
Ariana, who was about to hurriedly look back at Dante, soon clenched her teeth. The moment their eyes met, she could feel that he had the same suspicions as her. Ariana's heart sank. Several clues quickly flashed through her mind. The Crown Prince has not appeared. And currently, in this building, not only are we, the Crown Prince's enemies, but also the evidence that could corner him, all in one place.
'What if, what if...'
Suddenly, a terrible memory flashed through Ariana's mind. The carriage was covered in blood. Her maternal grandfather died without even closing his eyes. If that man really was trying to do 'that' again. Of course, it made no sense. But the target was the Crown Prince. He even killed his own brothers to get his hands on the Crown Prince. It was a chilling feeling down her spine.
'If that possibility really becomes a reality, there's nothing I can do to stay here.'
The best she could do was to step aside so as not to become an obstacle. It would be the worst of the worst.
"Your Highness."
So there was only one thing she could say.
"You have to be safe."
"Of course."
Dante answered shortly, observed Ariana's expression, and smiled.
"I promise."
Dante took Ariana's hand and lightly kissed the back of her hand. The soft yet hot sensation lingered on the back of her hand.
"Now go."
As soon as the short kiss ended, Dante pushed Ariana toward the knights.
"Madam, I will escort you."
The knights hurriedly tried to lead her. Ariana nodded helplessly. She was anxious as hell, but for now, she had no choice but to trust Dante's promise.
"Everyone, get out!"
"What's going on?"
"I'll explain later. For now, this way!"
The other knights of the Duke's house also quickly evacuated the people inside. The nobles left the court in a panic. It was when a considerable number of people had already left the court.
'Ah.'
Ariana suddenly felt a pungent and acrid smell piercing her nose. It was unfamiliar, but it was definitely not a new smell. Yes, she had definitely smelled it before. When she was very young, she visited her mother's summer home and made a campfire. The smell of the small mountain of firewood burning at once...
That was the moment when Ariana's whole body froze.
Kwakwang! Kwakwang!
A series of violent explosions erupted. At the same time, her vision turned blood red. When Ariana looked back, she felt as if time had stopped. An unrealistic sight unfolded before her eyes. An explosion burning red like an active volcano. The courtroom was engulfed in a huge flame.
"Gyaaaahhhhh!"
"T-what is this...?"
"Ugh!"
Those who witnessed the same scene were astonished as if they were facing hell. Those who realized the situation a few seconds later screamed.
"Gah! The courtroom exploded!"
"Terrorism! Bombing!"
People lost their minds at the sight of the place they had been in just a few minutes ago burning. The possibility that they had hoped would go astray appeared before their eyes as a clear reality. In the worst possible way. One of the ladies cried.
"There's still a family inside!"
"The knights will rescue them. Wait!"
"How, how can someone survive in a place like that? Sob!"
The lady collapsed in despair and burst into tears. Ariana's heart also burned black at the sound. The lady was right. The courtroom was a mess, not a place where anyone could survive. But that person, Dante, was still inside. He'll be safe. Ariana thought desperately. Because she promised he would. He wasn't the type of person to say anything lightly.
'Yes. He'll definitely come out alive.'
He had triumphed and returned from that terrible war with the barbarians. So it was clear that he would return safely this time too. Yes. Certainly...
"Madam!"
"No!"
Ariana realized that she was about to jump in when she felt hands grabbing her shoulders.
"You must not go in. I have orders to protect you, Madam!"
Ariana gasped as if sobbing. The only thing that filled her mind was not the evidence of the fire inside, but Dante's safety.
"You're not hurt, are you? Thank goodness."
One of the shadow knights, a knight named Bern, hurriedly examined Ariana.
"This place is dangerous because the fire could spread. I will take you to a safer place."
Ariana knew that Bern was right. However, she just couldn't move her feet. As if he knew her heart, Bern said in an earnest voice, "Didn't the master promise you? He would return safely. I have never seen a master fail to keep his word."
"... Yes."
Ariana shut her eyes tightly. She had to do what she could.
'I must meet His Majesty the Emperor.'
She planned to confirm that the Emperor had evacuated safely and request that all entrances and exits to the system be sealed off as quickly as possible. Sealing the system. The reason why she could petition for such extraordinary measures was simple. This was a case of treason.
'The Crown Prince must have known that the Emperor would also attend the trial today.'
He would have wanted to deal with the Emperor with a single explosion. Then he could immediately inherit the throne. That was the moment she opened her mouth with that thought.
"My Lady!"
Bern's eyes widened.
"Bow down!"
Bern shouted as he jumped in front of Ariana. Without knowing what was going on, Ariana hurriedly bowed down. At that moment, the Lopez family's signature platinum hair came into her sight. And at the same time.
"Die, Ariana!"
A venomous cry was heard, along with an explosion.
Boom!
"Whoa!"
"What the hell?!"
People trembled and fell flat on the floor due to the explosion.
Ariana, whose vision was briefly darkened, came to her senses after hitting her back hard against the wall. It seemed that her body had been blown away by the recoil of the explosion.
'Lord Bern!'
The image of Lord Bern, who had been protecting her, suddenly came to mind. As she was about to turn her head, a menacing hand grabbed her hair.
"Haha, hahahaha."
Ariana's eyes widened. Edward shook Ariana's hair back and forth, bursting into laughter.
"Did you think I would perish alone? Hehe, that can't be. Even if I have to go to hell, I'll drag you, the bitch who betrayed me, with me!"
Edward's eyes, stained with rage, gleamed.
"You look so good in rags, hahaha. Now I'm finally getting to match you- ugh!"
A dagger flew fiercely from somewhere and struck Edward in the face. Edward bowed low and screamed.
"My, my eyes! Aaaah!"
Ariana, startled, turned her head in a hurry. Soon, her vision captured a figure running from afar. Ariana held her breath.
"Ariana!"
Dante was running toward her. There were black stains here and there, and his once-perfect clothes were all messed up, but he didn't look injured at all.
'As expected.'
Ariana was relieved, even as she staggered from the sudden release of her hair that had been caught. Her heart sank to the point of tears when she saw Dante alive and well. Moreover, he looked fine enough to run at such a high speed. Dante reached Ariana in an instant and knelt before her.
"Damn it... "
A large hand searched Ariana here and there. Dante's eyes were wide open as if he had seen a monster. The tips of his fingers that were groping Ariana were also trembling greatly. Ariana shook her head in surprise.
'I'm fine.'
Then she pursed her lips.
' More than that, Lord Bern...Lord Bern, I think he got hurt while protecting me.'
Ariana, who was groping like that, suddenly felt uncomfortable... Huh?
She was definitely moving her lips, putting strength into her vocal cords, but she couldn't hear any sound. It wasn't just her own voice.
"Ariana. Ariana!"
She could see Dante's mouth moving quickly. His lips were definitely calling her name. But she still couldn't hear any sound. Ariana slowly touched her ear. The hand that was lowered in front of her eyes was red with blood. What is this?
Ariana's mind went blank. Questions popped out here and there. Why was my ear so hot, as if it was going to burn?
Where did all this blood come from? And most of all...
"Damn it... Ariana!"
Why had the world been so perfectly still all this time?
Amid the confusion, unable to figure out the answer to anything, Ariana blankly raised her head. She saw Dante's mouth moving widely. His face was also as pale as a ghost. Seeing that person make such an expression, she knew that she must have looked terrible. Seeing her handsome face distorted unnaturally, her heart ached even in the midst of all this.
'This is not the time to worry about me. I'm fine, so take care of yourself first.'
She wanted to reassure him as much as possible by saying that. But... Her head felt like it was going to split.
Only after Ariana's vision turned red did she realize that blood was flowing from her forehead.
"Ariana! Someone call a doctor right now!"
"Madam! You can't lose your mind!"
"Ariana! Can you hear me?"
Ariana blinked slowly. She saw countless people gaping at her. But her world was terrifyingly quiet. Could this be death?
No. No. She had died once. But even then, she had never felt so scared or helpless as she did now. In the utter silence, Ariana closed her eyes.
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