Chapter : 130
[Lord Brahe has other schemes.]
Amid Diana’s words, that thought struck him on the first night at Brahe Castle.
Lord Brahe has other schemes.
It was an unbelievable statement.
But when Amin looked at Diana’s resolute face, he couldn’t bring himself to doubt her.
As if reading his hesitation, Diana said,
[Ericson Brahe must have been the bravest in war.]
[…]
[But you know. Ericson is more competitive than anyone. One who will do anything to win is ultimately the easiest to betray.]
Because he cannot endure defeat.
The moment Amin heard Diana’s words, he recalled the face of Ericson Brahe, who had once flown into a rage when Amin decided to enter the imperial city alone to save Yuli.
[Traitor.]
Traitor.
Yes. That’s what he had called him.
[Many soldiers have died. If I win, we can enter without bloodshed, and if I lose, I’ll at least save the soldiers’ lives and send them back—]
[We might as well all die together! Rather than losing!]
Amin’s mind replayed the image of Ericson Brahe, who had wagered thousands of lives without hesitation.
Perhaps…
Perhaps behind that bravery, there was fear.
The fear of not being able to endure defeat.
Amin himself had experienced a life utterly ruined by defeat.
Enduring fear and living a humiliating life required more courage than throwing one’s life on the battlefield.
Perhaps Ericson Brahe simply did not have that courage.
[I saw it through Gram. Walter will manipulate Lord Brahe.]
[Then…]
Amin, uncharacteristically hesitating, finally answered,
[Then we must strike him first.]
[No.]
Diana’s hand covered Amin’s.
He must have felt her detect the faint tremor of his fingers.
Diana…
I’ve always wondered.
How can you love such a weak man?
[There’s no need. It’s better the other way around.]
[What do you mean…?]
Amin frowned.
Diana’s fingers wove gently between his.
The aura of deadly energy flowing from her body seeped into Amin’s skin.
It was mysterious… and quite… erotic.
Amin’s eyes narrowed instinctively.
[We just need Walter to make him believe that Lord Brahe has captured us.]
Diana’s lips curled into a perfectly arrogant smile.
He loved the moments when she wore such an arrogant expression.
[That will buy us time.]
At such moments, he fell hopelessly in love with her and could shake off all the negative thoughts around him.
We will definitely win.
Right?
Diana would surely have answered this way too.
Of course.
Amin opened his eyes.
Before him were the knights of Brahe Castle, each bound to a tree.
Some bled from the nose or mouth, but most were unharmed.
Of course, Sir Hans was in the former category.
He knelt before Amin, a pitiful sight, his front soaked with blood flowing from his mouth and nose.
“I know you.”
Amin spoke before the hostile knights.
Knights, swordmasters, all who had stood on the battlefield, each had a way to overcome the fear of death.
The methods varied.
Some risked their lives for family, some were armed with patriotism, some for justice, others for money.
It didn’t matter how grand or small the cause.
Humans are surprisingly swayed by justification.
Just as Ericson Brahe’s only justification had been victory.
Each of these knights must have had their own justification too.
“You know me as well. Some of you have seen me on the battlefield—”
Sir Hans flinched at Amin’s words.
Amin didn’t miss that brief moment.
“Some of you have heard of me as well.”
Amin Wilhelm drew Gram from his waist.
The sight of the broken blade changed the expressions of those bound to the trees.
They had all heard the stories of Gram.
The greatest Aura swordsman of the empire… and his defeat.
They knew of that humiliating moment.
Amin stared into the eyes of those witnessing his defeat.
In the past, he could not have endured this.
Exposing his humiliation in broad daylight, displaying it before others… it was impossible for a sane mind.
Yet now he did it.
Without shame, he revealed Gram.
“I was defeated and caused great harm to my allies. That is probably why you are here now.”
A red aura flowed from Gram’s blade.
It seemed like blood dripping from its broken waist.
But the scorching blood never stopped.
The defeat of that day was not over.
He needed to prove that to them.
“Your lord had a justification to betray me.”
Though the knights could not see the red aura clearly, they could feel it.
It was rare for such strong energy to flow from a broken sword.
At the same time, those familiar with aura felt the immense energy radiating from Amin himself.
A power beyond human limits.
The moment they faced it, their expressions hardened.
Understandably so.
Lord Brahe had repeatedly claimed Amin Wilhelm’s body was completely broken.
That the drunken crown prince could no longer properly wield a sword, his judgment impaired even with firearms.
He said the North had been defeated because of Amin Wilhelm’s foolishness, and that without him, the North would surely win.
Not all believed it, but at least they assumed Amin Wilhelm was not the great Aura swordsman of the rumors.
But now, holding Gram, Amin Wilhelm was the very embodiment of that great Aura swordsman.
No, he had surpassed it.
In Amin’s eyes burned a flame that would never be extinguished.
“Then I will give you all a reason to betray your lord.”
A thin smile curled Amin’s lips.
“I will return to Hamel, gather an army, and overthrow the emperor. War will begin within a month. Even if you refuse to help, it will happen. And we…”
Amin’s eyes gleamed sharply.
“This time, we will not lose.”
Someone swallowed audibly.
The words sounded absurd, yet not entirely so.
Amin Wilhelm was clearly no fool, as the lord had claimed.
If he were truly foolish, how could he have known their plans and struck from behind?
At that moment, a crow circled above Amin and then perched on his shoulder.
With his unarmed hand, Amin caught the crow.
Then Yuli, playing with stones by the lake, spoke.
“Amin. Ericson has been captured. Leon has raised Wilhelm’s flag.”
“I see.”
Amin gently stroked the crow’s feathers and released it.
Then he looked at the highly tense knights, especially Sir Hans.
“Your lord is in my custody. So tell me. Who among you will be the first to betray your lord and report to the emperor that you struck us down? The one who steps forward will be given Brahe Castle.”
[…]
Amin watched their faces wrapped in heavy silence.
He welcomed their silence.
At least they understood the gravity of betraying their lord, unlike Lord Brahe.
While waiting for their response, Yuli approached.
The crow that had left his hand was now perched on the hut’s roof.
Yuli tilted his head, pointing at the hut.
“Amin.”
Yuli’s eyes had again turned the bright yellow of a crow.
Amin looked at Yuli’s face.
He frowned.
Yuli’s crow was supposed to alert him if there was trouble with Diana.
Was something wrong?
As Amin looked at Yuli’s crow,
“Diana is coming.”
The small boat tied to the stake slowly moved.
And there were four figures aboard the boat.
