CHAPTER 82………………………………………
The moment Deric revealed himself, the banquet hall turned cold.
By contrast, Sierra’s heart began to pound.
Because of the familiar figure Deric had brought to the forefront, wearing that bored expression.
His piercingly blue eyes shone coldly, just as they had the first day she saw him.
Under the dazzling chandelier lights, his silver hair glimmered.
His dark skin, in sharp contrast, revealed a body honed to its limits even under simple attire.
At a glance, a mana suppressor similar in shape to hers peeked from inside his shirt collar.
Upon closer inspection, one was also strapped to each of his wrists.
Sierra’s eyes trembled.
“Ashur…”
The presence she had always felt so intensely in the thick currents of mana was now unnervingly faint.
Yet everyone who spotted Ashur stirred in excitement.
“Look at that dark skin… really different from ours.”
“But… his appearance is neat. I thought barbarians would look monstrous.”
“Right? Now I’m curious how the other barbarians look.”
Even among countless gazes, Ashur’s eyes remained undimmed.
On the contrary, when he noticed her, his blue eyes blazed with intensity.
As soon as Sierra met his gaze, her eyes grew hot.
But she forced herself to lift her head and stiffen her expression.
Now was not the time to show weakness.
‘Today’s plan has failed. I need to devise a new one.’
Of all days, to pull Ashur out today… as if he had anticipated her plan.
Unlike the cold expression she wore, her insides burned with a mix of emotions.
Ashur, in the distance, wore the same indifferent expression she had seen before.
Yet his intense gaze was fixed solely on her.
Sierra fiddled with her earrings, recalling the vow she had shared with him.
‘Ashur, just hold on a little longer.’
Hoping her feelings would reach him.
Deric led Ashur toward the prince.
“As commanded, I’ve brought the barbarian from the Northern Forest.”
“Good. You’ve worked hard, Duke Estevan.”
A sneer briefly crossed Alejandro’s face.
The prince slowly ascended the steps, looking down on everyone.
Ashur was made to kneel before him as if on display.
Yet not a trace of humiliation crossed his expression.
“That barbarian doesn’t seem afraid of this situation.”
“Seems he doesn’t yet know the terror of our kingdom.”
“How… is that possible?”
Some looked upon him with disdain, as if they had dealt with barbarians for years; others observed Ashur closely with puzzled expressions.
One of them gasped upon seeing him.
“Could that be…?”
He resembled someone they knew.
Regardless of the murmurs, Alejandro the prince smiled, satisfied, and toyed with his necklace.
Soon his calm voice echoed throughout the banquet hall.
“As you can see, this is the only place in the continent not under our rule — the barbarian of the Northern Forest.”
Ashur kept his head high, staring downward.
He would never submit.
Those below felt more intimidated by this barbarian than by the prince himself.
Even though he was forced to kneel, pressed down by guards on both sides, it felt as though he might leap up and attack at any moment.
“I hear Lady Sierra Kleshade has modified the magic circle using this barbarian. Let’s give her a round of applause.”
Alejandro’s words slowly loosened the stiff atmosphere, and tentative applause began.
Sierra felt a surge of shame.
All she wanted was to protect Ashur.
Regardless of her face burning with anger, the prince continued.
“The nature of this magic circle will be demonstrated by Duke Estevan himself. Everyone, pay attention.”
Deric slowly approached Ashur.
His expression was icy and emotionless.
He glanced briefly toward Sierra.
“Bow.”
Ashur glared fiercely but, unable to withstand the pain, finally lowered his head.
“Ugh.”
Tears finally fell from Sierra’s eyes as she watched him.
Unable to bear it any longer, she stepped forward.
She wanted to approach him, to show him the cruelty of the kingdom and the power of the sanctuary.
But a strange voice whispered in her ear, freezing her in place.
“Stay still. The important part starts now.”
It was Elaina’s cold, unfamiliar voice.
Held by her icy, corpse-like hand, Sierra couldn’t move.
A chilling pressure seemed to squeeze her neck.
‘Why…?’
Was Elaina also a mage? Or was she using some powerful magical artifact?
She had never encountered magic that could immobilize someone simply by being touched.
‘No way…’
The thought sent shivers down Sierra’s spine.
Deric raised a silver gun — a familiar one.
Click—
The sound of the gun being loaded brushed slowly past Sierra’s ear.
‘No!’
She wanted to scream, but couldn’t utter a word.
Ashur’s shifting eyes slowly looked down at her tears.
‘It’s okay.’
She saw his lips move.
Bang—
At the sound of the shot, the magic circle engraved on his hand blazed brightly.
“Ahhh!”
The previously quiet banquet hall erupted into chaos.
Blood gushed from his neck.
Crimson soaked his white shirt.
“Now, now, don’t be startled. Look here.”
Alejandro grabbed Ashur by the hair, tilting his head back to display him cruelly.
Even after being shot in a lethal weak spot, he continued to breathe.
“This, ladies and gentlemen, is the work of Lady Sierra Kleshade! Hahaha!”
The shocked crowd reacted with awkward laughter and scattered applause.
“Imagine this applied to our army!”
Cheerfully shouting, Alejandro made everyone laugh loudly.
“Truly wise!”
“Long live the prince!”
“The war is already won!”
Everything felt blood-red before her eyes.
The thunderous cheers and applause felt grotesque.
No matter how she tried, Sierra couldn’t move even a finger.
She was engulfed by a dreadful sense of helplessness.
Watching Ashur displayed at the center of the hall was utterly agonizing.
‘Ashur… Ashur…’
Tears kept streaming endlessly.
“You’ll understand me someday.”
After whispering incomprehensible words, Elaina finally released Sierra and casually approached Alejandro.
“Your Highness! Incredible! How did you think of this?”
Collapsed, Sierra clutched her chest, silently sobbing.
Some ladies had already fainted from the grisly smell of blood, so no one paid her any attention.
Only Deric came forward to steady her and lead her out to the garden.
At the dark edge of the garden, Sierra crumbled in despair at her inability to do anything.
“I’ll do anything you ask… just please, let Ashur go.”
She couldn’t bear seeing him suffer because of her.
Her heavy heart felt like it might tear apart.
Bang—
The gunshot brushed past her ear.
Ashur was freed from endless pain.
His vision was blurry.
Chaos surrounded him.
His bowed head was forced upward.
Nearby, Sierra was crying.
‘Sierra… why are you crying like that?’
He wanted to wipe her tears, but couldn’t move a finger.
‘What… is happening?’
Sierra was pulled away by Deric.
‘No, Sierra…’
Gradually, his vision cleared.
Soon all his senses returned.
His neck throbbed.
But that was all.
Not long after, he could stand.
“Huh?”
The so-called prince looked startled, but the suspicious woman nearby intervened.
“Don’t worry, Your Highness. The author cannot harm anyone. That was the command.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. He’s probably following my master.”
“Ah, right now Duke Estevan is the master. Hey! Everyone, clear the way!”
Covered in blood, Ashur’s passage split the crowd to both sides.
With every step, hot drops of blood still fell.
Ashur gripped the orb in his hand.
He could see where she was.
In the dark garden, Sierra remained, still held by one wrist by Deric.
His heart raced fiercely.
