CHAPTER 87……………………………………
: What Will You Do?
Dietrich softly called out to Anderson, who was shedding tears.
“Sir.”
“…Yes.”
“When I had nothing, you were my firm support and my teacher.”
At Dietrich’s words, tears streamed ceaselessly down Anderson’s cheeks.
Dietrich gazed at him quietly and spoke.
“I entered this Avalon palace intending to destroy Avalon without leaving a single blade of grass behind. But you were born and raised here. From the very beginning, the paths you and I walked were different.”
“……”
“Even knowing that, I never told you the truth. I deceived you, so you need not feel guilty toward me.”
Dietrich paused for a moment, then added,
“If you wish, you may leave me even now.”
Anderson shook his head.
He rose, dropped to his knees, and bowed deeply before Dietrich.
“No, my lord. I will walk the same path as you. If you desire the downfall of Avalon, then I will bring you the ruin you wish for.”
“Anderson.”
“I am truly fine. What pains me most is that I failed to fully grasp your heart, my lord, and I feel as though I am a worthless being…”
Anderson could not finish his words. His tears fell, pattering onto the floor.
“Anderson. You have never once been useless to me.”
At Dietrich’s words, Anderson’s lips quivered, and tears poured down again.
“Until the day my life ends, I will remain by your side, my lord.”
Dietrich looked down at his loyal vassal with calm eyes.
“Anderson.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you. For saying that.”
Inside the prison, Illeon had his eyes closed.
Beyond the iron bars, he felt someone’s presence.
“Have you done any reflecting in your cell?”
At the familiar voice, Illeon opened his eyes.
A towering man, with a body so massive it seemed to brush the prison ceiling, appeared in his sight.
The man met Illeon’s eyes and curled his lips.
“…Balt.”
“I always knew you’d end up like this one day.”
Balt clicked his tongue as he looked at the shackled Illeon.
“You should’ve known better than to blindly believe in that damned prophecy and get greedy. Now the Grand Temple is in ashes—look at this mess.”
At his words, Illeon let out a faint laugh and replied languidly,
“You’re the one who burned the temple, Balt.”
“……”
“You’re not the sort who’d normally do such a thing. Did the princess catch you by some weakness?”
Illeon’s pale eyes gleamed strangely.
Balt gripped the bars and opened his mouth.
“Come on, Illeon. You really think I’d have a weakness?”
Illeon cut him off.
“When you saw the princess, you must have experienced something unusual too.”
His eyes narrowed as he continued.
“For example, maybe the scar on your cheek—was it the princess who gave it to you?”
Balt’s face twisted violently.
“How the hell do you know that?”
Illeon leaned his head back and laughed. The rattle of his shackles echoed through the cell.
“Unbelievable. How could I have realized something this important only now?”
Balt furrowed his brows, baffled.
“What in the world are you talking about?”
“Balt.”
A strange light flickered in Illeon’s eyes.
“I’ve discovered something very amusing. If you want to know, get me out of here. You’re more than capable of it.”
Balt crossed his arms against the bars.
“And why should I?”
Illeon gave a low, knowing laugh, as though he had expected that response.
Then, with a sigh like a whisper, he said,
“…Arthur is dead.”
Balt’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“Arthur is dead. By Dietrich’s hand.”
Balt stared at Illeon, dumbfounded.
“No one could kill Arthur, no matter how insane he was. Do you think they called him a genius sorcerer for nothing? He could manipulate his clones freely.”
“…Balt.”
“Arthur was the one who discovered that the girl was a princess of the Kingdom of Shan. No one else knew, yet somehow he figured it out. And you expect me to believe he’s dead?”
Balt’s steel-gray eyes trembled violently with shock.
“The princess came earlier, carrying a red parrot.”
“A parrot?”
“Arthur must have transferred his soul into it with alchemy just before dying. For a man who loved his own body to choose such a vessel means only one thing: his original body is gone.”
Balt’s mouth fell open.
Illeon cast a flat, indifferent look at him and went on.
“He may have pretended to be a parrot, but how could he hide his true nature? By now, Arthur has surely been captured by Dietrich and completely annihilated. Body and soul alike.”
Illeon narrowed his eyes toward the light flickering behind Balt.
A knight was clearly entering on shift to guard him.
“Next could be your turn. You’ll need my help too.”
Just as he finished speaking, the knight carrying a torch stopped in his tracks.
“Duke Portman? Even you are forbidden from entering here. What brings you so early in the morning…?”
The knight questioned him, but Balt stayed silent.
“Well then, what will you do?”
Illeon’s voice curled with a mocking smile.
The decision did not take long. Balt’s hand dropped to the sword at his waist.
The knight cried out in alarm.
“Duke Port—!”
Slash—
The sound of flesh being cut was followed by a spray of blood.
Thud!
The knight’s body collapsed to the ground, lifeless before he could even scream.
Clatter.
The torch rolled away across the floor.
Balt sheathed his bloodied sword and picked up the torch. Its flames illuminated his face starkly.
“I really don’t like you.”
He muttered harshly, then bent down and rummaged through the dead knight’s clothes.
Soon, he pulled out a heavy ring of keys hidden inside the knight’s sleeve.
“But what a shame. I’ve found the keys to your cell, but not to your shackles.”
He grinned, shaking the keys before Illeon’s eyes.
“Why would you need the shackle key when you have his sword?”
Illeon pointed at Balt’s blade with his chin.
Balt’s gaze dropped to his own sword.
“…Fair enough.”
Celiya awoke from sleep.
Sunlight streamed through the latticed window, resting gently on her forehead.
“Princess!”
Popo flapped his wings, greeting her brightly.
A tender smile curved Celiya’s lips as she looked at him.
“Popo.”
When she called his name, Popo rubbed his beak against her hand, then flew to the window and chirped a cheerful tune.
As she smiled at the sight—
“Celiya.”
Dietrich’s voice came from beyond the door.
When she told him to come in, the door burst open.
He entered wearing black armor and a sword at his waist, fully armed even in his own residence.
Celiya watched him with a puzzled expression.
“The underground prison where Illeon was held has burned to the ground.”
At his words, Celiya sat up straight in bed.
“…Then Illeon? Is he dead?”
“No. He’s most likely alive. The likeliest explanation is that Balt rescued him.”
Celiya closed her eyes tightly.
Arthur and countless others had tormented her without end.
So even knowing Illeon might escape, she had forced herself to look the other way.
Perhaps that was her mistake.
She had known all along: Balt, though guilt led him to obey her for a time, would ultimately side with Illeon.
But to manage an escape in just a few days…
She opened her eyes again.
“Illeon may have discovered that I have an ability.”
“!”
Dietrich looked at her in shock.
“When I won Balt over, I used it. Then again when Illeon tried to drug me—I used it twice in a row. It wouldn’t be strange if that snake of a man figured it out.”
She had used her power recklessly to protect herself, yet always with utmost caution.
If others learned she possessed the ability to numb the senses with hyacinth flowers, she could immediately be branded a witch and burned at the stake.
She had nearly ruined her body by overusing it, but the first person she had truly killed with it was the emperor.
“Celiya.”
Dietrich’s hand touched her cheek.
She raised her eyes to him.
Beneath his black lashes, his crimson gaze reflected her completely.
He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“Even if Illeon has found out, nothing changes.”
“……”
“Avalon will fall, and we will live on afterward.”
With that, Dietrich tilted his head and claimed her lips.
Their breaths intertwined, and the wet sounds filled the room.
