Even though it may not have been sincere, Bellona was the Crown Prince's lover while she was living as Elizabeth.
Bellona, who had been quietly looking at Carsis, placed her hand over Carsis' hand that was cupping her cheek.
“Don’t worry, Carsis. Even if Ernest betrays the Emperor, our relationship won’t change.”
Carsis's eyes widened at the sight of Bellona freely expressing his petty feelings that he had never been able to express out loud.
“I just...”
At that moment, when Carsis was about to make an excuse, feeling as if his own incompetent nature had been exposed, Bellona's next words made him hold his breath.
“I am yours.”
Carsis let out a hollow laugh as he chewed on her words countless times in his mind.
He felt ashamed of himself for being so anxious.
“Yes. You are mine.”
Then he brought her face close to him and hummed.
“Me too, yours.”
And the conversation between the two people did not continue any longer.
No, it couldn't continue.
Two days later.
The day he promised to Carsis has arrived.
Ernest carefully got out of bed and was about to change his clothes to go out.
He groaned involuntarily at the pain he felt from the wound where he was hit by the sword.
“Ugh...”
He was the one who told Carsis to swing his sword, but the wound was bigger than he thought, so it was quite a struggle.
The only good thing is that since he avoided the tendon, he won't have any problems using his arm after recovery.
Ernest, once again impressed by Carsis' swordsmanship, took care of Riventia.
“Now, if I just tell him this...”
He ends up completely betraying the Emperor.
He rolled the pendant in his hand and recalled what had happened two days ago.
The moment he was struck by Carsis' sword, the fierce battle turned around.
A few knights ran to support him and he returned to the camp, and with the main force having withdrawn, the distraught soldiers also returned to the camp, ending the first battle in an awkward manner.
And the Emperor, enraged by this, condemned Ernest.
"What a pitiful child. How dare you get stabbed by that brat!"
Instead of offering warm words of comfort to his injured son, the Emperor only spat out harsh words and scolded him. If Paulo had not stepped forward to stop him, he would have even swung his sword at him.
“That was something I expected.”
This is something he had been prepared for from the moment he decided to hand over Riventia to Carsis.
But on the other hand, why does he feel so bitter?
Ernest, who had been smiling bitterly without realizing it, shook his head.
“Useless thoughts...”
Then, realizing that the time he had promised to Carsis was approaching, Ernest sneaked out of the barracks.
The Emperor's camp was in heavy silence due to the battle that had taken place two days ago.
It was when Ernest was trying to leave the outpost naturally while encouraging the knights to stand guard.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
A familiar voice grabbed his ankle.
Ernest, who had been moving busily, stopped walking and looked back.
“Young Lady Oroz.”
Then, the one standing there to greet him was Deborah.
Deborah, who was originally supposed to remain in Gertz, was now with him in Hamelon by the will of the Emperor, who found out that she could see prophecies.
“I guess Your Highness is going out for a walk like me.”
Deborah was holding a bouquet of yellow wildflowers in her hand as if her words about having gone for a walk had not been a lie.
“Yes. I was just feeling suffocated because I was just staying inside.”
Ernest looked away from the yellow flower Deborah was holding, mumbling the excuse he had made beforehand.
“It’s late at night. You should go in and rest...”
And then, as he was concluding the conversation with an appropriate greeting and hurried on, Deborah caught him again.
“The name of this wildflower is chrysanthemum. It’s almost withered now, probably because it’s winter.”
Chrysanthemums that bloom in autumn are nearing the end of their lifespan as winter approaches.
Deborah took a flower from the bouquet she was holding and approached Ernest.
“I thought it was winter now. I guess there’s still some warmth left in the fall. This is a gift. Feel the last of the fall with this.”
The flower she gave him had its head bent down. As it was a flower that bloomed in the fall, it seemed like it couldn't withstand the rapidly getting colder weather.
“I will gratefully accept it. Then, I will take my leave now...”
“I wonder if it wouldn’t be a good idea to give those flowers to them too.”
Ernest's body froze as Deborah interrupted him with a grin.
She already knew who he was going to see now.
“Then, goodbye.”
And before Ernest could ask anything, she left.
The scent of the flowers Deborah gave him gently tickled the tip of his nose.
Ernest, who had been staring at the place where Deborah had disappeared for a long time, shook his head.
“Should I go now?”
Then, to compensate for the lost time, he hurried his pace.
Without noticing the gazes watching his back as he left the camp.
Two men stood facing each other as the spire's bell struck midnight.
“You really came.”
As Carsis was half-doubting whether Ernest would come here, he looked at Ernest, who appeared alone through the darkness, with curious eyes.
“I told you I was coming. I guess you didn’t believe me.”
The corners of Ernest's mouth went up as if he had anticipated his reaction.
Carsis stared at Ernest, who had one arm bandaged.
“That arm...”
“No matter how much I told you to cut it, it hurt too much.”
Ernest answered, shrugging his injured arm as if it was nothing.
Carsis let out a hollow laugh at the somewhat playful answer.
“I guess it’s okay since you’re joking.”
Have two people ever talked so comfortably?
Suddenly, Ernest, who was curious about having this conversation with Carsis, asked.
“I once imagined, knowing your true identity, what it would have been like if you and I had grown up as brothers in the palace.”
“...”
“Did we really grow up as good brothers, or did we become enemies who were after each other’s throats?”
In the bleak palace, under a cold and indifferent father, children who grew up without a mother must have relied on each other at least a little.
He's imagined something like that.
Even though he knows it's fleeting.
“That’s nonsense.”
“I see, isn’t that so?”
He looked around with a hollow laugh.
“Noticing your gaze as if you were looking for someone,” said Carsis.
“Bellona didn’t come here.”
In fact, Bellona wanted to come here herself, but due to Carsis's persuasion, she stayed at Jamesburgh Castle.
Because there might have been a trap set by Ernest.
But his worries seemed to be unfounded. He had thought he would bring at least a couple of trustworthy knights.
Carsis stared at Ernest intently, trying to figure out what had caused his change of heart.
Ernest, not knowing whether he was aware of Carsis' gaze or not, was just rolling the poor flower around in his hands.
“...I see.”
Although he had somewhat expected it, Ernest found it difficult to hide his disappointment.
Carsis, who had been watching Ernest's actions for a moment, muttered.
“I don’t know about anything else, but if I had grown up in the palace, one thing would have been certain.”
Ernest raised his head at the sudden words.
“Unless you give up Bellona, we can never be friends.”
“...That might have been the case. Or maybe I gave up on my beloved younger brother.”
Just like he is doing now.
A bitter smile crossed Ernest's lips as he continued speaking.
“The conversation has become too long.”
Ernest approached Carsis, taking out the pendant he had been hiding deep in his bosom as if he had no more time to waste.
Then a pendant hanging from a thin necklace chain appeared.
It was Ernest's stopgap measure to avoid losing the necklace.
Carsis's expression relaxed significantly when he saw Ernest's necklace.
There was no need to check the authenticity of the pendant up close.
Even from afar, the strange energy coming from the necklace told him that it was the real Riventia.
'That's enough now.'
We can save Bellona.
A glimmer of hope that had been fading away has bloomed again.
Carsis let out a sigh of relief and approached Ernest. And at that moment, he reached out to receive the pendant.
Swish.
A sharp pain shot through his right arm, accompanied by a sharp sound like the wind was cutting through it.
“Ugh!”
Carsis groaned in sudden pain and turned his head. It was an arrow embedded in his arm.
“Carsis!”
He was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected attack.
Carsis immediately pulled out the arrow stuck in his arm, red blood flying into the air along with the arrowhead.
Bellona, who had been quietly looking at Carsis, placed her hand over Carsis' hand that was cupping her cheek.
“Don’t worry, Carsis. Even if Ernest betrays the Emperor, our relationship won’t change.”
Carsis's eyes widened at the sight of Bellona freely expressing his petty feelings that he had never been able to express out loud.
“I just...”
At that moment, when Carsis was about to make an excuse, feeling as if his own incompetent nature had been exposed, Bellona's next words made him hold his breath.
“I am yours.”
Carsis let out a hollow laugh as he chewed on her words countless times in his mind.
He felt ashamed of himself for being so anxious.
“Yes. You are mine.”
Then he brought her face close to him and hummed.
“Me too, yours.”
And the conversation between the two people did not continue any longer.
No, it couldn't continue.
***
Two days later.
The day he promised to Carsis has arrived.
Ernest carefully got out of bed and was about to change his clothes to go out.
He groaned involuntarily at the pain he felt from the wound where he was hit by the sword.
“Ugh...”
He was the one who told Carsis to swing his sword, but the wound was bigger than he thought, so it was quite a struggle.
The only good thing is that since he avoided the tendon, he won't have any problems using his arm after recovery.
Ernest, once again impressed by Carsis' swordsmanship, took care of Riventia.
“Now, if I just tell him this...”
He ends up completely betraying the Emperor.
He rolled the pendant in his hand and recalled what had happened two days ago.
The moment he was struck by Carsis' sword, the fierce battle turned around.
A few knights ran to support him and he returned to the camp, and with the main force having withdrawn, the distraught soldiers also returned to the camp, ending the first battle in an awkward manner.
And the Emperor, enraged by this, condemned Ernest.
"What a pitiful child. How dare you get stabbed by that brat!"
Instead of offering warm words of comfort to his injured son, the Emperor only spat out harsh words and scolded him. If Paulo had not stepped forward to stop him, he would have even swung his sword at him.
“That was something I expected.”
This is something he had been prepared for from the moment he decided to hand over Riventia to Carsis.
But on the other hand, why does he feel so bitter?
Ernest, who had been smiling bitterly without realizing it, shook his head.
“Useless thoughts...”
Then, realizing that the time he had promised to Carsis was approaching, Ernest sneaked out of the barracks.
***
The Emperor's camp was in heavy silence due to the battle that had taken place two days ago.
It was when Ernest was trying to leave the outpost naturally while encouraging the knights to stand guard.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
A familiar voice grabbed his ankle.
Ernest, who had been moving busily, stopped walking and looked back.
“Young Lady Oroz.”
Then, the one standing there to greet him was Deborah.
Deborah, who was originally supposed to remain in Gertz, was now with him in Hamelon by the will of the Emperor, who found out that she could see prophecies.
“I guess Your Highness is going out for a walk like me.”
Deborah was holding a bouquet of yellow wildflowers in her hand as if her words about having gone for a walk had not been a lie.
“Yes. I was just feeling suffocated because I was just staying inside.”
Ernest looked away from the yellow flower Deborah was holding, mumbling the excuse he had made beforehand.
“It’s late at night. You should go in and rest...”
And then, as he was concluding the conversation with an appropriate greeting and hurried on, Deborah caught him again.
“The name of this wildflower is chrysanthemum. It’s almost withered now, probably because it’s winter.”
Chrysanthemums that bloom in autumn are nearing the end of their lifespan as winter approaches.
Deborah took a flower from the bouquet she was holding and approached Ernest.
“I thought it was winter now. I guess there’s still some warmth left in the fall. This is a gift. Feel the last of the fall with this.”
The flower she gave him had its head bent down. As it was a flower that bloomed in the fall, it seemed like it couldn't withstand the rapidly getting colder weather.
“I will gratefully accept it. Then, I will take my leave now...”
“I wonder if it wouldn’t be a good idea to give those flowers to them too.”
Ernest's body froze as Deborah interrupted him with a grin.
She already knew who he was going to see now.
“Then, goodbye.”
And before Ernest could ask anything, she left.
The scent of the flowers Deborah gave him gently tickled the tip of his nose.
Ernest, who had been staring at the place where Deborah had disappeared for a long time, shook his head.
“Should I go now?”
Then, to compensate for the lost time, he hurried his pace.
Without noticing the gazes watching his back as he left the camp.
***
Two men stood facing each other as the spire's bell struck midnight.
“You really came.”
As Carsis was half-doubting whether Ernest would come here, he looked at Ernest, who appeared alone through the darkness, with curious eyes.
“I told you I was coming. I guess you didn’t believe me.”
The corners of Ernest's mouth went up as if he had anticipated his reaction.
Carsis stared at Ernest, who had one arm bandaged.
“That arm...”
“No matter how much I told you to cut it, it hurt too much.”
Ernest answered, shrugging his injured arm as if it was nothing.
Carsis let out a hollow laugh at the somewhat playful answer.
“I guess it’s okay since you’re joking.”
Have two people ever talked so comfortably?
Suddenly, Ernest, who was curious about having this conversation with Carsis, asked.
“I once imagined, knowing your true identity, what it would have been like if you and I had grown up as brothers in the palace.”
“...”
“Did we really grow up as good brothers, or did we become enemies who were after each other’s throats?”
In the bleak palace, under a cold and indifferent father, children who grew up without a mother must have relied on each other at least a little.
He's imagined something like that.
Even though he knows it's fleeting.
“That’s nonsense.”
“I see, isn’t that so?”
He looked around with a hollow laugh.
“Noticing your gaze as if you were looking for someone,” said Carsis.
“Bellona didn’t come here.”
In fact, Bellona wanted to come here herself, but due to Carsis's persuasion, she stayed at Jamesburgh Castle.
Because there might have been a trap set by Ernest.
But his worries seemed to be unfounded. He had thought he would bring at least a couple of trustworthy knights.
Carsis stared at Ernest intently, trying to figure out what had caused his change of heart.
Ernest, not knowing whether he was aware of Carsis' gaze or not, was just rolling the poor flower around in his hands.
“...I see.”
Although he had somewhat expected it, Ernest found it difficult to hide his disappointment.
Carsis, who had been watching Ernest's actions for a moment, muttered.
“I don’t know about anything else, but if I had grown up in the palace, one thing would have been certain.”
Ernest raised his head at the sudden words.
“Unless you give up Bellona, we can never be friends.”
“...That might have been the case. Or maybe I gave up on my beloved younger brother.”
Just like he is doing now.
A bitter smile crossed Ernest's lips as he continued speaking.
“The conversation has become too long.”
Ernest approached Carsis, taking out the pendant he had been hiding deep in his bosom as if he had no more time to waste.
Then a pendant hanging from a thin necklace chain appeared.
It was Ernest's stopgap measure to avoid losing the necklace.
Carsis's expression relaxed significantly when he saw Ernest's necklace.
There was no need to check the authenticity of the pendant up close.
Even from afar, the strange energy coming from the necklace told him that it was the real Riventia.
'That's enough now.'
We can save Bellona.
A glimmer of hope that had been fading away has bloomed again.
Carsis let out a sigh of relief and approached Ernest. And at that moment, he reached out to receive the pendant.
Swish.
A sharp pain shot through his right arm, accompanied by a sharp sound like the wind was cutting through it.
“Ugh!”
Carsis groaned in sudden pain and turned his head. It was an arrow embedded in his arm.
“Carsis!”
He was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected attack.
Carsis immediately pulled out the arrow stuck in his arm, red blood flying into the air along with the arrowhead.
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