Lou looked down at the dead Joachim without moving.
After being immersed in silence for a long time, her lips turned sweet.
"Rupert, can you see? Can you see, Mom and Dad?"
The pure silver aura still shimmered along the blade.
And the dark red blood of Joachim clinging to it created a terrible contrast.
"I did it. Look. I... I told you I could do it. I told you I'd pay you back."
There was no sense of accomplishment from the revenge she had been looking forward to.
What came instead was a strange fear of the new power and a sense of regret after finishing the final act.
"I greet Your Majesty."
The clanking noise and greetings of the surrounding knights brushed past her dazed ears. But Lou didn't care.
Then, she lifted her head at the warmth gripping her shoulder tightly.
It was Les.
"Le, Les, did you see? I... did it."
His cool blue eyes scanned her disheveled appearance.
"Yes. I knew you could do it."
Peleus silently took off the cloak draped over his shoulders. Then, he gently covered Lou's stiff shoulders with it.
"...It's over. Let me go now."
Lou bit her lower lip.
"I... I don't know. I can't remember at all how to do it or how I did it..."
Her hand, having lost control, trembled uncontrollably.
Just as the silver aura was about to rush out as if running wild, a thick hand covered it.
In the process of swallowing her power as if sucking it in, blood dripped from his palm, which had been cut by the sharp, blue silver aura due to his inexperience.
‘It must hurt.’
Even as a sharp aura dug into his flesh, Lou could not bring herself to shake off this hand that was tightly clasped as if to protect her.
That was Lou's last memory.
As the tightly stretched thread of her mind snapped, her body tilted.
Peleus firmly lifted Lou as she collapsed with a thud.
***
West of Lord Osric's Castle.
Unlike the northern wall, which had collapsed due to an explosion, this place, which had been occupied by the Barmia army, still maintained a dazzling splendor inside.
"Lord Osric has applied the gold coins he amassed through smuggling very meticulously."
Nathan clicked his tongue as he looked around the luxurious hallway.
Peleus paced anxiously back and forth in front of the Lord's wife's room on the upper western level.
The door opened.
"Lord Hertos."
An old man with a piercing gaze appeared from behind the door. It was Hertos, the imperial doctor.
Peleus approached him as if he had been waiting.
“How does she feel?”
"It's fine. She just pushed herself too hard since it was her first time using her internal mana; it won't be a problem. Shr simply exhausted her mind and body."
"..."
Peleus clenched his fist silently.
It might be because the training that pushed her to the limit to awaken her aura in a short period of time was too harsh.
Unlike the aura that surged and threatened the square, she, lying on the bed over there, looked so small and frail.
"Your Majesty, you must treat your wounds as well."
Hertos looked at Peleus's hand, where the blood had dried, and spoke in a low voice.
However, the young Emperor had already been inside the room for a long time. He appeared as though he hadn't even heard Hertos's words.
It was an impatient movement, casting off the composure usually worn like iron armor.
Hertos had never seen the young boy King display his emotions so blatantly until he became a young Emperor.
Hertos, raising his wrinkled eyebrows, met Nathan's eyes as Nathan stood in the hallway.
"..."
Nathan nodded as if agreeing with his thought. Hertos's wrinkled lips curled up slightly.
I thought you were determined to call me all the way to the far north without even considering this old man's body...
Of course, for the sake of the one who will become the Empress of Valdina, what does it matter even if my old body is shattered?
"...The Queen Dowager would be pleased to know."
Hertos recalled his former master, who had passed away.
She was always worried about having no one by her grandson's side, but now he will soon be able to take the good news to her grave.
As Hertos, who had been chuckling, walked away, Nathan cautiously approached the door.
Through the gap in the door that was not completely closed, Peleus was seen approaching the sleeping Lou. Peleus's hand paused, then carefully brushed back the hair that had fallen onto Lou's forehead.
That touch was so tender it felt unfamiliar.
Nathan, feeling embarrassed as if he had dared to peek at a scene he shouldn't have seen, hurriedly turned around.
Just as Nathan was coming out of the west building, the sound of horses' hooves was heard.
A sturdy man suddenly jumped off the horse that had entered the pavilion.
"Commander, have you arrived?"
"I heard that little prosecutor beheaded the Governor of Barmia?"
D'Angel asked abruptly, skipping even the greeting. His eyes were sparkling.
"She awakened her Aura in just a few days? Good heavens. You said she was a civilian who used to be an informant, right? And this is her first formal training? Nathan, find out her background right now. As soon as she finishes her treatment, we're going to kidnap her and take her to Agema."
Who would have imagined that this man, laughing heartily and harping on about talent, is the demon who, until not long ago, pressured the King of Barmia to abandon his own son and even cut off his finger?
Whether or not he was aware of that terrifying gap, D'Angel slumped onto the floor and licked his lips.
He was genuinely impressed by this unparalleled talent, which he hadn't seen in a long time.
"No, if you could just train an aurora for a few days, and it would pop out instantly, everyone on the continent would be a duck knight. We need to bring her over here quickly before anyone recognizes her."
Nathan looked up at him with a bewildered expression.
"...Uh, well, it seems impossible to serve as Agema."
"Why? Did she say she isn't interested in the Royal Guard? Then how should I appease her? Did you say she works as an informant? She knows quite a bit about the secrets of the nobles of Valdina Imperial Castle. Or maybe I should just take care of this a bit more?"
D'Angel mimicked rubbing the tips of his thumb and index finger together quickly.
"Should I talk to Sissair and ask him to set aside some special budget in advance...?"
Nathan was startled by the crude gesture that bribes are the best.
"Commander! Please, maintain some dignity!
"Why, you punk. I'm serious. It's a sin to let such natural talent go to waste. We have to claim her before those Facade bastards set their sights on her—"
"Aargh, Commander, please, keep your mouth shut! Watch your words!"
Nathan screamed, tearing at his hair, at the inappropriate remarks born of ignorance that dangerously crossed the boundary of lese-majesty.
"Do you even know who she is before you act like this! I told you she is Your Majesty's lover!"
"...Uh?"
D'Angel had a dumbfounded look on his face.
He looked so dazed that it seemed he had gone deaf from hearing so much cannon fire at the border.
***
"Rosien."
A gentle voice rang in Lou's ears.
“Rupert!”
When she opened my eyes, Rupert was smiling brightly.
"Rosien, wake up. Yes?"
A familiar yet chilling longing surged up from her heart.
Lou hugged his younger sibling as if entranced. He had grown considerably taller since the last time they parted.
"When... did you get so big?"
"When you were running around without eating, I ate a lot. I told you I would grow much bigger than you."
Rupert shrugged, measuring the height difference between them. Then.
"Still, it can't be helped. You've already drawn out your aura, so I still have a long way to go to catch up to my sister."
Rupert said, taking Lou's hesitant hand.
"I told you not to seek revenge and to only look at good things and do only enjoyable things, but yoy really don't listen like a contrarian."
Rupert's voice held both laughter and resignation.
Lou lowered her head.
"How could I possibly do that..."
After letting you go like that, how am I supposed to survive all alone...
"Thank you. It hurt a little, but I feel relieved. Thanks for completely finishing off that creepy guy."
At that moment, a warm sensation lifted her chin.
"Still, you have to grant my request now, Lou. Now live your own life."
Rosien, not Rupert, her life.
"You'll keep this promise, right?"
"..."
"Answer me, sister, otherwise I can't leave peacefully."
"Yeah, okay. Okay"
Exhaling a trembling breath, Lou—no, Rosien—nod.
"I should go. You should rest easy, too. Hmph, I should let you go."
She vaguely realized.
Maybe her younger sibling was also tied to her during the time she struggled to take revenge.
"Don't get your hopes up. I just wanted to see you. I was being stubborn, too."
"..."
"Now, even without me, there is someone by your side to protect you."
Rupert smiled mischievously. He hugged her tightly and let go.
"Ah. Mom and Dad are calling. I have to go now."
"Yes. Just a moment, Lou, wait, just a little more-"
"Crybaby, stop crying. We'll see each other again anyway."
Rupert could see his parents waving from afar over his shoulder.
While Rosien hesitated, Rupert let go of his hand and ran toward them.
With the final sight of the three figures gradually fading and melting into a white light, Lou woke up from her sleep.
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