Episode 52. Hurry Up!
"Clang."
"Clang."
As Wyatt suddenly burst out, the knights lined up on either side of him including Wyatt, simultaneously grabbed their swords from their waists.
Long before the war, they had been members of the Imperial Guard, following Lacrahan north, abandoning the imperial court.
After the war, they underwent a massive migration, and now they were an independent knightly order in the north.
Lacrahan possessed a more powerful army than they had under the imperial court.
He was starting to resent himself for allowing Lacrahan to lead the knights north immediately after the war.
It was also one of the reasons Gerard had been keeping Lacrahan in check for over a decade.
"Resting, Lacrahan. Shouldn't you first ask why I came running in the middle of the night?"
Lacrahan coldly lowered his eyes and looked at Dylan, who stood before him.
"If you have something to say, just say it."
Dylan, who had lived in a world ruled by the law of the jungle, knew the moment he met Lacrahan's eyes that he was no match for him.
However, he was a man who, by the Emperor's orders, had to kill Lacrahan on the spot.
Backing down was impossible.
Lacrahan, a war hero at 17, had only lived another ten years, yet he had grown to a whole new level of strength. It was exciting to imagine what he would become in another ten years, when he reached Gerard's age.
Perhaps, he would be monstrous.
"I'll give you a chance, Commander,"
Lacrahan said, smoothly tugging at his lips and smiling.
"Would you like to step aside, or should I make you step aside?"
Though it was a simple question, Dylan felt his neck stand on end.
"That's enough."
At Gerard's words, Dylan took a step back.
Lacrahan's gaze briefly touched Dylan and Groovy, who stood behind him, then disappeared.
Gerard stepped forward toward Lacrahan.
As the two faced each other, the surrounding knights took a step back.
"Grand Duke Lacrahan. I don't want to belabor the subject."
Gerard, holding his hand behind his back, surveyed Lacrahan with his gaze.
"As soon as Kelita emerged from the portal, she called the Grand Duke's name and fainted on the spot."
"...!"
He knew she had collapsed, but he hadn't realized she had called his name.
No. How could he possibly judge truth or fiction now?
After all, if it came from the Emperor's mouth, only what the Emperor truly wanted to believe would be the truth.
"Is the Princess alright?"
Then Lacrahan didn't need to act cowardly.
If the outcome was in the Emperor's hands, the moment he got impatient, he would lose.
“I sincerely hope that Princess Kelita wakes up safely as soon as possible. And when that moment comes, we’ll also know who harmed her.”
Gerard’s eyes narrowed.
The Emperor ran his tongue over his teeth, then glanced at his mistress standing nearby.
“Well, that aside. Let me get straight to the point.”
The Emperor’s face suddenly moved closer to Lacrahan’s.
“The woman who claims to be Bercheria.”
Gerard’s smile vanished for a moment.
“Hand it over, you weakling Northern Duke.”
Lacrahan’s eyebrows furrowed playfully above his still-smiling lips.
Dipper had said that the boy with mana’s energy was remarkably similar to Bercheria’s. Only after seeing him in person did she understand why.
Not only their features, but even their hair color and pale skin were identical, as if they were twins.
If he hadn’t heard from Dipper, Bercheria might have wondered if they were twins.
Moreover, the fact that even their mana energy was similar was certainly strange.
“Same blood?”
Bercheria postponed her curiosity about the boy and sat on the bed.
Calming herself, she gathered strength in her fingertips.
“...”
Still, she felt nothing.
“What on earth did you feed him?”
If she knew what he ate, she could take appropriate action. But she couldn’t question Kelita.
Lacrahan had told her that Princess Kelita had passed out while trying to pass through the portal alone.
Even if she woke up, it was unlikely she would tell him what it was.
Bercheria turned her head and looked out the window. She remembered what Lacrahan had told her about the Emperor a while ago.
'Emperor Gerard, even if he learns of your existence, will likely hold you ground until the protective aura returns. All he wants is to be above the gods.'
With all her strength gone, Bercheria had no way to prove her identity.
With the Emperor bringing a blond man with golden eyes, there was no need to worry too much about his appearance.
"Then I guess I don't have to worry too much."
Bercheria lay down on the bed and closed her eyes.
For now, all she could do was wait quietly, hoping nothing would happen.
Since passing through the portal, Groovy had been excited, as if he had discovered a new world.
The imperial palace, of course, was filled with jaw-dropping splendor, but it felt completely different from the north.
Everything was mysterious.
A tree three or four times his height, and the snow that covered it in a thick blanket.
He had never been covered in a soft blanket before, but he thought it would feel similar to being buried in that snow.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"
A booming voice made Groovy, who was observing the scenery, jump.
Dylan, sitting behind him, frowned at the sudden movement.
Groovy smiled awkwardly and apologized.
"They're the Knights of the North. They're of poor quality, so don't bother talking to them."
"Yes."
The large man standing at the very front stared intently at Dylan as he passed by.
Dylan, too, didn't avoid the gaze of the man with caterpillar-like eyebrows.
The two stared at each other until their heads snapped back, and only when they could no longer see each other did they look away.
When Wyatt was the captain of the royal guard, Dylan had served as his vice-captain.
Back then, they were close friends, but after the war, their paths diverged.
Wyatt went to war, and Dylan guarded the imperial court.
When everything was over and Wyatt said he was going north, Dylan explained how foolish that was.
Wyatt, having never experienced war, found Dylan's opinion pathetic.
That was the last conversation between the two.
"I will serve His Majesty the Emperor."
As everyone emerged from the portal, Wyatt galloped out, leading his horse.
The knights of the north followed him, all at the same pace.
It was a sight of unwavering discipline that drew admiration. He'd seen the guards in action at the imperial court, but he'd secretly been disappointed.
He'd expected the knights representing the empire to be surprisingly impressive, but they were shabby. It wasn't until he came north that he realized it was a matter of discipline.
It wasn't flashy, but he had a feeling that this was the knights' true nature.
Groovy somehow loved the north.
He wanted to live here if he could.
How happy would it be to live here for the rest of his life?
His heart pounded, especially when he saw the Grand Duke of the North, who was waiting for the Emperor.
Je couldn't help but think that that was what a real man looked like.
In fact, the Emperor, though an Emperor, didn't seem like someone worthy of respect as a man.
There was a vulgarity in his eyes, and every time he smiled, there were times when it was strangely creepy.
When the Emperor and the Northern Grand Duke finally met, the two stood facing each other and talked, and Groovy felt himself growing nervous, so he rounded his shoulders.
"That woman who claims to be Bercheria."
The tone was vulgar, unbecoming of an Emperor of the Empire.
Long before the war, they had been members of the Imperial Guard, following Lacrahan north, abandoning the imperial court.
After the war, they underwent a massive migration, and now they were an independent knightly order in the north.
Lacrahan possessed a more powerful army than they had under the imperial court.
He was starting to resent himself for allowing Lacrahan to lead the knights north immediately after the war.
It was also one of the reasons Gerard had been keeping Lacrahan in check for over a decade.
"Resting, Lacrahan. Shouldn't you first ask why I came running in the middle of the night?"
Lacrahan coldly lowered his eyes and looked at Dylan, who stood before him.
"If you have something to say, just say it."
Dylan, who had lived in a world ruled by the law of the jungle, knew the moment he met Lacrahan's eyes that he was no match for him.
However, he was a man who, by the Emperor's orders, had to kill Lacrahan on the spot.
Backing down was impossible.
Lacrahan, a war hero at 17, had only lived another ten years, yet he had grown to a whole new level of strength. It was exciting to imagine what he would become in another ten years, when he reached Gerard's age.
Perhaps, he would be monstrous.
"I'll give you a chance, Commander,"
Lacrahan said, smoothly tugging at his lips and smiling.
"Would you like to step aside, or should I make you step aside?"
Though it was a simple question, Dylan felt his neck stand on end.
"That's enough."
At Gerard's words, Dylan took a step back.
Lacrahan's gaze briefly touched Dylan and Groovy, who stood behind him, then disappeared.
Gerard stepped forward toward Lacrahan.
As the two faced each other, the surrounding knights took a step back.
"Grand Duke Lacrahan. I don't want to belabor the subject."
Gerard, holding his hand behind his back, surveyed Lacrahan with his gaze.
"As soon as Kelita emerged from the portal, she called the Grand Duke's name and fainted on the spot."
"...!"
He knew she had collapsed, but he hadn't realized she had called his name.
No. How could he possibly judge truth or fiction now?
After all, if it came from the Emperor's mouth, only what the Emperor truly wanted to believe would be the truth.
"Is the Princess alright?"
Then Lacrahan didn't need to act cowardly.
If the outcome was in the Emperor's hands, the moment he got impatient, he would lose.
“I sincerely hope that Princess Kelita wakes up safely as soon as possible. And when that moment comes, we’ll also know who harmed her.”
Gerard’s eyes narrowed.
The Emperor ran his tongue over his teeth, then glanced at his mistress standing nearby.
“Well, that aside. Let me get straight to the point.”
The Emperor’s face suddenly moved closer to Lacrahan’s.
“The woman who claims to be Bercheria.”
Gerard’s smile vanished for a moment.
“Hand it over, you weakling Northern Duke.”
Lacrahan’s eyebrows furrowed playfully above his still-smiling lips.
***
Dipper had said that the boy with mana’s energy was remarkably similar to Bercheria’s. Only after seeing him in person did she understand why.
Not only their features, but even their hair color and pale skin were identical, as if they were twins.
If he hadn’t heard from Dipper, Bercheria might have wondered if they were twins.
Moreover, the fact that even their mana energy was similar was certainly strange.
“Same blood?”
Bercheria postponed her curiosity about the boy and sat on the bed.
Calming herself, she gathered strength in her fingertips.
“...”
Still, she felt nothing.
“What on earth did you feed him?”
If she knew what he ate, she could take appropriate action. But she couldn’t question Kelita.
Lacrahan had told her that Princess Kelita had passed out while trying to pass through the portal alone.
Even if she woke up, it was unlikely she would tell him what it was.
Bercheria turned her head and looked out the window. She remembered what Lacrahan had told her about the Emperor a while ago.
'Emperor Gerard, even if he learns of your existence, will likely hold you ground until the protective aura returns. All he wants is to be above the gods.'
With all her strength gone, Bercheria had no way to prove her identity.
With the Emperor bringing a blond man with golden eyes, there was no need to worry too much about his appearance.
"Then I guess I don't have to worry too much."
Bercheria lay down on the bed and closed her eyes.
For now, all she could do was wait quietly, hoping nothing would happen.
***
Since passing through the portal, Groovy had been excited, as if he had discovered a new world.
The imperial palace, of course, was filled with jaw-dropping splendor, but it felt completely different from the north.
Everything was mysterious.
A tree three or four times his height, and the snow that covered it in a thick blanket.
He had never been covered in a soft blanket before, but he thought it would feel similar to being buried in that snow.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"
A booming voice made Groovy, who was observing the scenery, jump.
Dylan, sitting behind him, frowned at the sudden movement.
Groovy smiled awkwardly and apologized.
"They're the Knights of the North. They're of poor quality, so don't bother talking to them."
"Yes."
The large man standing at the very front stared intently at Dylan as he passed by.
Dylan, too, didn't avoid the gaze of the man with caterpillar-like eyebrows.
The two stared at each other until their heads snapped back, and only when they could no longer see each other did they look away.
When Wyatt was the captain of the royal guard, Dylan had served as his vice-captain.
Back then, they were close friends, but after the war, their paths diverged.
Wyatt went to war, and Dylan guarded the imperial court.
When everything was over and Wyatt said he was going north, Dylan explained how foolish that was.
Wyatt, having never experienced war, found Dylan's opinion pathetic.
That was the last conversation between the two.
"I will serve His Majesty the Emperor."
As everyone emerged from the portal, Wyatt galloped out, leading his horse.
The knights of the north followed him, all at the same pace.
It was a sight of unwavering discipline that drew admiration. He'd seen the guards in action at the imperial court, but he'd secretly been disappointed.
He'd expected the knights representing the empire to be surprisingly impressive, but they were shabby. It wasn't until he came north that he realized it was a matter of discipline.
It wasn't flashy, but he had a feeling that this was the knights' true nature.
Groovy somehow loved the north.
He wanted to live here if he could.
How happy would it be to live here for the rest of his life?
His heart pounded, especially when he saw the Grand Duke of the North, who was waiting for the Emperor.
Je couldn't help but think that that was what a real man looked like.
In fact, the Emperor, though an Emperor, didn't seem like someone worthy of respect as a man.
There was a vulgarity in his eyes, and every time he smiled, there were times when it was strangely creepy.
When the Emperor and the Northern Grand Duke finally met, the two stood facing each other and talked, and Groovy felt himself growing nervous, so he rounded his shoulders.
***
"That woman who claims to be Bercheria."
The tone was vulgar, unbecoming of an Emperor of the Empire.
"Hand it over quickly. You, weak Northern Grand Duke."
Lacrahan's brow furrowed.
It was absurd.
In all the years he'd ruled this vast nation, had Gerard truly made no progress? To think that his mere servitude, wrapped in the hem of government, exposed his own incompetence?
"Your Majesty, the Emperor."
"Why?"
"On what basis should I grant you a guest from the North?"
"What?"
"Even if you are the Emperor, if I surrender my people without any basis, wouldn't I become an untrustworthy King in the North? Your Majesty, you know that better than anyone."
"What are you saying to me now?"
Gerard shouted, unsure of what to say.
In fact, there was a reason he disliked Lacrahan more than any of the other Kings or capable knights in the empire.
If you're going to be good at fighting, be good at fighting. Or if you're going to be smart, be smart at being smart. Lacrahan, who was unlucky good at both, had a knack for driving people crazy with his soft-spoken manner.
He'd made another mistake this time.
Thinking he could finally have Bercheria, whom he'd waited his whole life for, he hadn't given much thought to how he was going to crush that unlucky Lacrahan.
Gerard turned his head slightly and looked at Dylan.
He'd discussed it before coming, so it wouldn't be a stretch to leave the next task to him.
'Irritating.'
This time, anyone could see Bercheria was here, and she was guilty of neglecting humans, so Lacrahan had no choice but to give her up.
'That foxy bastard.'
Gerard widened his mouth and looked around.
He belatedly spotted the plaza set up for a wedding.
Oh, no.
He'd assumed the wedding hadn't happened yet.
If the two had married, it would have been like a dog chasing a chicken and looking up at the roof.
“Lacrahan. What the hell is this? What were you doing?”
“I was in the middle of my wedding.”
The bags under Gerard’s eyes crinkled.
Lacrahan glanced at Groovy, who was peering at him with wide, round eyes, before turning back to Gerard.
“Actually, it was Bercheria and I getting married.”
At Lacrahan’s words, the royal family members began to murmur.
It was shocking enough that Bercheria had appeared in the north, but now that Lacrahan, who had dumped the Emperor’s sister, was marrying the weather goddess?
Those hearing this for the first time could only be astonished.
“Why is this brat always so confident?”
Gerard, who had been planning to use the goddess’s marriage as an excuse to find another excuse, clenched his jaw in frustration.
He would have snapped at any opportunity to lash out, but seeing Lacrahan so confident, he didn’t even know what to say.
“Actually, that’s why I can’t give Bercheria to Your Majesty, the Emperor. She’s precious to me.”
The Emperor’s body stiffened nervously.
Lacrahan took a precise step away from the Emperor.
The longer he talked to Emperor Gerard, the more tired he would become.
“Your Majesty, the Emperor. You must be tired from coming here. Now, please go inside.”
Gerard opened his mouth wide to speak, but suddenly felt a grip on his arm, stopping him from speaking.
Lyone was right next to him.
“Your Majesty, the Emperor. It’s late. Everyone is waiting for you.”
Lacrahan's brow furrowed.
It was absurd.
In all the years he'd ruled this vast nation, had Gerard truly made no progress? To think that his mere servitude, wrapped in the hem of government, exposed his own incompetence?
"Your Majesty, the Emperor."
"Why?"
"On what basis should I grant you a guest from the North?"
"What?"
"Even if you are the Emperor, if I surrender my people without any basis, wouldn't I become an untrustworthy King in the North? Your Majesty, you know that better than anyone."
"What are you saying to me now?"
Gerard shouted, unsure of what to say.
In fact, there was a reason he disliked Lacrahan more than any of the other Kings or capable knights in the empire.
If you're going to be good at fighting, be good at fighting. Or if you're going to be smart, be smart at being smart. Lacrahan, who was unlucky good at both, had a knack for driving people crazy with his soft-spoken manner.
He'd made another mistake this time.
Thinking he could finally have Bercheria, whom he'd waited his whole life for, he hadn't given much thought to how he was going to crush that unlucky Lacrahan.
Gerard turned his head slightly and looked at Dylan.
He'd discussed it before coming, so it wouldn't be a stretch to leave the next task to him.
'Irritating.'
This time, anyone could see Bercheria was here, and she was guilty of neglecting humans, so Lacrahan had no choice but to give her up.
'That foxy bastard.'
Gerard widened his mouth and looked around.
He belatedly spotted the plaza set up for a wedding.
Oh, no.
He'd assumed the wedding hadn't happened yet.
If the two had married, it would have been like a dog chasing a chicken and looking up at the roof.
“Lacrahan. What the hell is this? What were you doing?”
“I was in the middle of my wedding.”
The bags under Gerard’s eyes crinkled.
Lacrahan glanced at Groovy, who was peering at him with wide, round eyes, before turning back to Gerard.
“Actually, it was Bercheria and I getting married.”
At Lacrahan’s words, the royal family members began to murmur.
It was shocking enough that Bercheria had appeared in the north, but now that Lacrahan, who had dumped the Emperor’s sister, was marrying the weather goddess?
Those hearing this for the first time could only be astonished.
“Why is this brat always so confident?”
Gerard, who had been planning to use the goddess’s marriage as an excuse to find another excuse, clenched his jaw in frustration.
He would have snapped at any opportunity to lash out, but seeing Lacrahan so confident, he didn’t even know what to say.
“Actually, that’s why I can’t give Bercheria to Your Majesty, the Emperor. She’s precious to me.”
The Emperor’s body stiffened nervously.
Lacrahan took a precise step away from the Emperor.
The longer he talked to Emperor Gerard, the more tired he would become.
“Your Majesty, the Emperor. You must be tired from coming here. Now, please go inside.”
Gerard opened his mouth wide to speak, but suddenly felt a grip on his arm, stopping him from speaking.
Lyone was right next to him.
“Your Majesty, the Emperor. It’s late. Everyone is waiting for you.”
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