A cold and damp winter forest path as if ghosts were coming out. Between the two men who were building a wall of life, only their breaths existed. Noevian, who was staring straight at Rhodnes’ cracked face, smirked.
“So, the fact that your love was stolen from you. The fact that Adrienne died in the Grand Duke's mansion. It all came from your brother whom you tried so hard to protect.”
Rhodes was becoming increasingly out of breath.
'Adrienne heard this.'
Her sudden misfortune. Hearing the truth that the most fundamental cause of it all was none other than his own older brother, Bardenaldo. That was why she looked at him with such astonished eyes.
“But you and Adrienne? Do you think that if you just kill me, everything will be over and you’ll be happy? No.”
Knowing the truth is not the end. It is only a new beginning. Noevian's voice seeped into Rhodnes's head like poison. Now, the face of the grim reaper who was about to bring death was not Rhodnes', but Noevian's, who was about to die.
“Either you ignore the truth and keep Adrienne. Or you accept the truth and let Adrienne go. There are only two options.”
The devil whispered to Rodnes, "You can never have Adrienne." His damned half-uncle definitely looked like that. As soon as he recalled Adrienne shedding tears, saying that she had been tricked by Noevian, Rhodnes's breathing became tight. He had a flash of urge to pierce the heart of the devil child whispering that he could never have Adrienne and erase him from the world. As if he knew that his eyes were changing, Noevian also gripped the sword he had.
In the ears of Rhodnes, who was trying to kill the devil most painfully, the sound of the horse's turret, the sound of the knights' weapons, and the wheezing of Bardenaldo running as if he was out of breath were finally heard. Rhodnes, who had been laughing fiercely and tightening his grip, lost the light in his eyes. It was the moment when he raised his head and met the longing eyes of Crown Prince Bardenaldo. Bardenaldo's white, gentle hand, running at full speed, grabbed Rhodnes' arm and desperately pulled him towards him. Noevian's voice, groaning in pain, rang in Rhodnes' head like a mocking sound.
“Roan! Roan! Are you okay? Uncle, are you okay?”
Rhodnes, who had forced himself upright like a puppet on strings, looked at his older brother.
“What are you doing, Roan! Isn’t this what I asked you to do?”
Bardenaldo's face became gloomy, and he kept whispering to his uncle, asking if he was okay. At the same time, he ordered the knights who had come running to call a doctor.
“I told you not to step forward yourself and leave it to the 1st Division! If it looks like you’re going to drag your uncle down with your own hands...”
"Brother."
Bardenaldo's voice, which had been lowly scolding him, suddenly stopped. Rhodnes's voice was too gloomy.
“Did you encourage that kid to get together with Adrienne?”
Bardenaldo's eyes, which had been covered in a harsh light, widened. His gaze, which had been hesitating, turned to Noevian, who was wheezing and trying to stop the blood pouring out of his shoulder.
“Is what he said true?”
“Roan, that’s...”
“I asked if it was true!”
The Crown Prince's eyes widened even more. It was the first time he had seen Rhodnes so angry at him. The Crown Prince's eyes sank as he realized the gravity of the situation. Then, several knights came over to help Noevian heal him.
“Anyone who touches my prey will be brutally killed.”
The knights became lost in thought at the low growl of Rhodnes.
“Roan, many eyes are watching. First, treat my uncle, and then I will...”
“Right now. If I don’t hear from you right now, my brother will return to the palace with only his uncle’s severed head.”
As soon as Rhodnes took the dagger out of his bosom, Bardenaldo’s gentle face hardened like stone. His patience did not last long. Without hesitation, Rhodnes aimed the dagger at Noevian and threw it.
"Your Highness!"
“Your Highness! Your Highness!”
The knights who had been standing around came running, lost in thought. The dagger that was headed for Noevian Trovica’s neck was pierced right into Bardenaldo’s shoulder. Bardenaldo threw himself to block it. Rhodnes felt as if all the blood that had been circulating quickly in his body was drained. Bardenaldo, who groaned in the lightning-like pain and grabbed his shoulder, shook off the knights and knelt before Rhodnes. Rhodnes stared frozen as if he was seeing a vision. The miserable scene of the small sun of this country kneeling before his brother, the greatest troublemaker of the empire.
“Why on earth... why do you do this?
“Please. Just spare my uncle’s life. It is your brother’s wish. I will tell you everything you want to know. Please...”
Bardenaldo began to beg earnestly, his face distorted in pain. If only he had said no. If only he had said that it was unfair, he could have cut down and covered up Noevian Trovica without any regrets. Bardenaldo’s pleas and requests burned Rhodnes’ heart black.
A hoarse sound, a mixture of laughter and sighs, dispersed into the air from beneath his closed eyes.
“It was the first time I received so much comfort from someone who wasn’t even my family.”
Because it was pretty. To my young mind. It wasn't an encounter that could be summarized in just a few sentences.
“Aside from my mother and older brother, the person who gave me so much comfort... was the first person I wanted to have by my side.”
“So, the fact that your love was stolen from you. The fact that Adrienne died in the Grand Duke's mansion. It all came from your brother whom you tried so hard to protect.”
Rhodes was becoming increasingly out of breath.
'Adrienne heard this.'
Her sudden misfortune. Hearing the truth that the most fundamental cause of it all was none other than his own older brother, Bardenaldo. That was why she looked at him with such astonished eyes.
“But you and Adrienne? Do you think that if you just kill me, everything will be over and you’ll be happy? No.”
Knowing the truth is not the end. It is only a new beginning. Noevian's voice seeped into Rhodnes's head like poison. Now, the face of the grim reaper who was about to bring death was not Rhodnes', but Noevian's, who was about to die.
“Either you ignore the truth and keep Adrienne. Or you accept the truth and let Adrienne go. There are only two options.”
The devil whispered to Rodnes, "You can never have Adrienne." His damned half-uncle definitely looked like that. As soon as he recalled Adrienne shedding tears, saying that she had been tricked by Noevian, Rhodnes's breathing became tight. He had a flash of urge to pierce the heart of the devil child whispering that he could never have Adrienne and erase him from the world. As if he knew that his eyes were changing, Noevian also gripped the sword he had.
Clench-!
The swords clashed in an instant. The sharply clashed swords were nothing but Rhodnes's in his master's hands. Rhodnes, whose entire body was like a weapon, was no match for Noevian, who had been active on the battlefield for years.
“Ugh-!”
“Just die.”
Rhodnes grabbed Noevian by the collar with one hand and stabbed him in the shoulder with his sword. No matter how dizzy his mind was with stories about Bardenaldo, his determination to kill the demon before his eyes did not disappear.
“Oh my... dear...”
“You’re the crazy one. You dirty little bastard who leaves Adrienne behind and keeps a government.”
“Ugh-!”
“Why? You said that my brother ordered you to have a government.”
The blade of the longsword that pierced his shoulder gradually lowered as Rhodnes smiled ferociously and tightened his grip.
“You dare sell out my brother? Don’t you know why my brother abandoned you? If he even planned such a plot, why would my brother throw you away?”
Noevian, who felt the blade of the sword heading towards his heart while his body was pierced, quickly grabbed his sword with his hand. However, it was not enough. There was not a single ray of mercy in the gleaming eyes of Rhodnes, who was determined to kill him. He was the very embodiment of a warrior who killed monsters.
“Tell me, okay? If what you say is true, then why doesn’t my brother save you?”
It was then that the blade stopped coming down as if it was going to cut through his heart.
“Roan! Roan! Stop!”
“Ugh-!”
“Just die.”
Rhodnes grabbed Noevian by the collar with one hand and stabbed him in the shoulder with his sword. No matter how dizzy his mind was with stories about Bardenaldo, his determination to kill the demon before his eyes did not disappear.
“Oh my... dear...”
“You’re the crazy one. You dirty little bastard who leaves Adrienne behind and keeps a government.”
“Ugh-!”
“Why? You said that my brother ordered you to have a government.”
The blade of the longsword that pierced his shoulder gradually lowered as Rhodnes smiled ferociously and tightened his grip.
“You dare sell out my brother? Don’t you know why my brother abandoned you? If he even planned such a plot, why would my brother throw you away?”
Noevian, who felt the blade of the sword heading towards his heart while his body was pierced, quickly grabbed his sword with his hand. However, it was not enough. There was not a single ray of mercy in the gleaming eyes of Rhodnes, who was determined to kill him. He was the very embodiment of a warrior who killed monsters.
“Tell me, okay? If what you say is true, then why doesn’t my brother save you?”
It was then that the blade stopped coming down as if it was going to cut through his heart.
“Roan! Roan! Stop!”
In the ears of Rhodnes, who was trying to kill the devil most painfully, the sound of the horse's turret, the sound of the knights' weapons, and the wheezing of Bardenaldo running as if he was out of breath were finally heard. Rhodnes, who had been laughing fiercely and tightening his grip, lost the light in his eyes. It was the moment when he raised his head and met the longing eyes of Crown Prince Bardenaldo. Bardenaldo's white, gentle hand, running at full speed, grabbed Rhodnes' arm and desperately pulled him towards him. Noevian's voice, groaning in pain, rang in Rhodnes' head like a mocking sound.
“Roan! Roan! Are you okay? Uncle, are you okay?”
Rhodnes, who had forced himself upright like a puppet on strings, looked at his older brother.
“What are you doing, Roan! Isn’t this what I asked you to do?”
Bardenaldo's face became gloomy, and he kept whispering to his uncle, asking if he was okay. At the same time, he ordered the knights who had come running to call a doctor.
“I told you not to step forward yourself and leave it to the 1st Division! If it looks like you’re going to drag your uncle down with your own hands...”
"Brother."
Bardenaldo's voice, which had been lowly scolding him, suddenly stopped. Rhodnes's voice was too gloomy.
“Did you encourage that kid to get together with Adrienne?”
Bardenaldo's eyes, which had been covered in a harsh light, widened. His gaze, which had been hesitating, turned to Noevian, who was wheezing and trying to stop the blood pouring out of his shoulder.
“Is what he said true?”
“Roan, that’s...”
“I asked if it was true!”
The Crown Prince's eyes widened even more. It was the first time he had seen Rhodnes so angry at him. The Crown Prince's eyes sank as he realized the gravity of the situation. Then, several knights came over to help Noevian heal him.
“Anyone who touches my prey will be brutally killed.”
The knights became lost in thought at the low growl of Rhodnes.
“Roan, many eyes are watching. First, treat my uncle, and then I will...”
“Right now. If I don’t hear from you right now, my brother will return to the palace with only his uncle’s severed head.”
As soon as Rhodnes took the dagger out of his bosom, Bardenaldo’s gentle face hardened like stone. His patience did not last long. Without hesitation, Rhodnes aimed the dagger at Noevian and threw it.
"Your Highness!"
“Your Highness! Your Highness!”
The knights who had been standing around came running, lost in thought. The dagger that was headed for Noevian Trovica’s neck was pierced right into Bardenaldo’s shoulder. Bardenaldo threw himself to block it. Rhodnes felt as if all the blood that had been circulating quickly in his body was drained. Bardenaldo, who groaned in the lightning-like pain and grabbed his shoulder, shook off the knights and knelt before Rhodnes. Rhodnes stared frozen as if he was seeing a vision. The miserable scene of the small sun of this country kneeling before his brother, the greatest troublemaker of the empire.
“Why on earth... why do you do this?
“Please. Just spare my uncle’s life. It is your brother’s wish. I will tell you everything you want to know. Please...”
Bardenaldo began to beg earnestly, his face distorted in pain. If only he had said no. If only he had said that it was unfair, he could have cut down and covered up Noevian Trovica without any regrets. Bardenaldo’s pleas and requests burned Rhodnes’ heart black.
***
Only an awkward silence filled the carriage. Bardenaldo, who had his head bowed like a criminal, opened his mouth when he saw the entrance to the capital city in the distance.
“It’s all my fault, Roan.”
Bardenaldo lifted the face he had buried in his hands. The wet face shining in the moonlight, the pale lips. Rhodnes, who was looking at the shoulder that was roughly wrapped in bandages over the clothes, slowly blinked.
“I didn’t know your first love was so passionate. I wasn’t in my right mind at the time. In the West, they were trying to stir up Her Majesty the Empress and make Ephero the Crown Prince, but in the East, they couldn’t stand being pushed back by the West.”
The trembling voice of the Crown Prince echoed through the carriage, but Rhodnes remained unresponsive and just stared blankly at Bardenaldo's face as he made excuses.
“I thought you just wanted the Princess because she was pretty and young.”
At the pitiful excuse, Rhodnes closed his eyes tightly as if ignoring reality.
“... isn't even a family member.”
“It’s all my fault, Roan.”
Bardenaldo lifted the face he had buried in his hands. The wet face shining in the moonlight, the pale lips. Rhodnes, who was looking at the shoulder that was roughly wrapped in bandages over the clothes, slowly blinked.
“I didn’t know your first love was so passionate. I wasn’t in my right mind at the time. In the West, they were trying to stir up Her Majesty the Empress and make Ephero the Crown Prince, but in the East, they couldn’t stand being pushed back by the West.”
The trembling voice of the Crown Prince echoed through the carriage, but Rhodnes remained unresponsive and just stared blankly at Bardenaldo's face as he made excuses.
“I thought you just wanted the Princess because she was pretty and young.”
At the pitiful excuse, Rhodnes closed his eyes tightly as if ignoring reality.
“... isn't even a family member.”
A hoarse sound, a mixture of laughter and sighs, dispersed into the air from beneath his closed eyes.
“It was the first time I received so much comfort from someone who wasn’t even my family.”
Because it was pretty. To my young mind. It wasn't an encounter that could be summarized in just a few sentences.
“Aside from my mother and older brother, the person who gave me so much comfort... was the first person I wanted to have by my side.”
***
The first time young Rhodnes saw Adrienne was when he was about ten years old. That day was one of the saddest days of Rhodnes' life.
“Glory to the dead! Glory to Ronta!”
“Glory to the dead! Glory to Ronta!”
The body of Empress Letina, his mother, was placed in a glass coffin, surrounded by beautiful flowers. More than a month had passed since this magnificent funeral began, but Rhodnes could not accept the reality.
“Your Highness, you must never cry.”
The nanny spoke quietly and sternly from behind. The young Rhodnes wanted to say, 'How could I not cry when my mother died?', but even the royal family members who came from far away, including Bardenaldo, kept their mouths shut and calmly conducted the funeral, so he also kept his mouth shut. Some noblewomen shed tears among the mourners, but not a single person cried out loud. Rhodnes barely held back the surging sadness and frantically searched for a place to hide when Bardenaldo left for a moment. As soon as he hid his small body behind a giant statue, tears burst out.
“Glory to the dead! Glory to Ronta!”
“Glory to the dead! Glory to Ronta!”
The body of Empress Letina, his mother, was placed in a glass coffin, surrounded by beautiful flowers. More than a month had passed since this magnificent funeral began, but Rhodnes could not accept the reality.
“Your Highness, you must never cry.”
The nanny spoke quietly and sternly from behind. The young Rhodnes wanted to say, 'How could I not cry when my mother died?', but even the royal family members who came from far away, including Bardenaldo, kept their mouths shut and calmly conducted the funeral, so he also kept his mouth shut. Some noblewomen shed tears among the mourners, but not a single person cried out loud. Rhodnes barely held back the surging sadness and frantically searched for a place to hide when Bardenaldo left for a moment. As soon as he hid his small body behind a giant statue, tears burst out.
His mother, who had been criticized for giving birth to a Prince with ominous eyes, loved him regardless of the gazes of those around her. Bardenaldo was the same. No matter what people said beyond the palace walls, he was a beloved youngest son and younger brother.
“Huhuhu..."
He had been biting his lower lip hard enough to draw blood and shedding large tears when he suddenly heard a sad sobbing sound coming from somewhere and unconsciously covered his mouth.
“Adrienne...!”
“Ugh!”
The voice that was crying sadly was not coming from his own mouth. Rhodnes froze, thinking that his own voice had escaped, but then he was startled by the voices of a girl and a man and popped his head out of the statue. Under the bright sun that he had so desperately resented, a blonde girl who was shining even brighter was crying sadly.
The girl's small head with a black bonnet trembled, and as if she could not help the tears that were pouring down, she continued to wipe them away with her small hands. The boy who seemed to be her brother hurriedly handed her a handkerchief and held her in his arms to comfort her, but it was no use. To anyone, it seemed as if the girl's mother had passed away. Even the servants who had been urging her not to cry as if they did not dislike her crying sadly, were smiling awkwardly.
“Adrienne, how can you be so rude in front of Her Majesty the Empress?”
“Th, uh... but... ugh...”
The girl, who seemed to be her father, spoke sternly in embarrassment, and mumbled, trying not to cry. Burying her face in her small hands, the girl cried for a long time before finally leaving the funeral parlor in her brother’s arms. Rhodnes stared blankly at the entrance of the funeral parlor until Bardenaldo returned to guard the place again, tracing the afterimage of the girl who had disappeared with his eyes. Perhaps because someone had cried for him, Rhodnes was so surprised that he didn’t realize for a long time that he had stopped crying.
“Huhuhu..."
He had been biting his lower lip hard enough to draw blood and shedding large tears when he suddenly heard a sad sobbing sound coming from somewhere and unconsciously covered his mouth.
“Adrienne...!”
“Ugh!”
The voice that was crying sadly was not coming from his own mouth. Rhodnes froze, thinking that his own voice had escaped, but then he was startled by the voices of a girl and a man and popped his head out of the statue. Under the bright sun that he had so desperately resented, a blonde girl who was shining even brighter was crying sadly.
The girl's small head with a black bonnet trembled, and as if she could not help the tears that were pouring down, she continued to wipe them away with her small hands. The boy who seemed to be her brother hurriedly handed her a handkerchief and held her in his arms to comfort her, but it was no use. To anyone, it seemed as if the girl's mother had passed away. Even the servants who had been urging her not to cry as if they did not dislike her crying sadly, were smiling awkwardly.
“Adrienne, how can you be so rude in front of Her Majesty the Empress?”
“Th, uh... but... ugh...”
The girl, who seemed to be her father, spoke sternly in embarrassment, and mumbled, trying not to cry. Burying her face in her small hands, the girl cried for a long time before finally leaving the funeral parlor in her brother’s arms. Rhodnes stared blankly at the entrance of the funeral parlor until Bardenaldo returned to guard the place again, tracing the afterimage of the girl who had disappeared with his eyes. Perhaps because someone had cried for him, Rhodnes was so surprised that he didn’t realize for a long time that he had stopped crying.
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