Chapter 173………………………………………….
“Damn it!”
Terence, blocked by Shadow’s domain, swung his sword fiercely to break through the black barrier.
Buuuuuhng! The force surrounding his blade collided with the transparent membrane over the black band, producing a heavy, resonant sound.
“Ah, that man again.”
At that moment, Liena, who had followed me onto the balcony, muttered while watching Terence.
“Don’t touch Terence!”
I flinched and shouted in surprise. This was the same Liena who had once been hostile toward Terence.
“No! I don’t intend to!”
She shook her head vigorously.
“I don’t want to be hated by you. I’m just thinking maybe he should come along too.”
“What?”
“You like Prince Terence, right? Then having him nearby would make you happy too, wouldn’t it? Honestly, I don’t like him, but if it’s for your happiness, I don’t mind bringing him along.”
“What are you saying…?”
“When we reach our safe place, you’ll marry the prince and have children. Build a happy family. Just watching that will make me happy enough.”
“….”
She spoke as if offering a favorite toy to a crying child—innocently and sincerely offering Terence for my sake.
‘She really isn’t in her right mind.’
I cut her short.
“Stop saying useless things. Don’t try to manipulate Terence’s life. I’m enough for you to leave with.”
“That’s true. I only need you.”
“Then let’s go quickly.”
“Are you sure we don’t need to say goodbye to the prince?”
Goodbye… I looked down.
“Idel, wait a moment!”
Terence, constantly swinging his sword, finally dented the black band and shouted up at me.
Seeing Liena next to me, his expression grew even harsher and more anxious.
From head to toe, I memorized his figure, then spoke to Liena.
“…I already wrote what I wanted to say in a letter.”
I sensed it instinctively.
If I spoke to Terence now, I wouldn’t be able to leave with Liena.
No matter the mission from the goddess, no matter the Monster Wave and how many people died, I might selfishly choose to stay with Terence for my own happiness.
But that would be selfish.
With Liena’s obsession unpredictable, being near me could also endanger Terence.
Liena smiled and gestured for me.
“Okay. If you want, let’s leave immediately. But it might be dangerous, so come here.”
As I stepped back from the balcony at her gesture, voices of people in confusion reached me.
“Whoa?!”
“What’s that?!”
“It’s a wyvern!”
Through the clouds appeared a dark-brown wyvern, a flying dragon of sorts.
Though smaller than a true dragon, its house-sized body descended toward the star palace.
Since it had safely entered Shadow’s domain and landed in the garden, it was clear this wyvern was allied with Liena’s group.
Krururur… The wyvern nudged the balcony railing with its head.
“We’ll ride this one. Come on, let’s go.”
Liena climbed onto the wyvern’s head and urged me forward.
I carefully climbed atop it, holding the divine beast in my arms.
“Your Highness! You must evade!”
“It’s dangerous!”
Jack and Terence’s attendants tried to stop him, but he did not relent.
Instead, he strengthened his momentum, cutting the black barrier in two and entering the star palace grounds. Simultaneously, the wyvern began to flap its wings.
“Idel!”
Terence ran straight toward me, but the wyvern took flight.
At that moment, the crimson energy that had surrounded Terence’s sword spread over his body.
He leapt into the air.
It was the same technique he had shown when he first came to congratulate me on my divorce, flying over the walls and arriving at my window.
Now, like then, he reached toward me atop the wyvern.
“Grab my hand!”
A sweet temptation.
For a moment, I felt the urge to take his hand and return to the ground with him.
But I resisted, squeezing the arm that held Lucy tightly.
“Lucy!”
Even without words, Lucy understood my intent.
“…Got it.”
She pushed Terence away with her own strength.
Terence’s royal power didn’t grant true flight—only a temporary suspension in midair through extraordinary control of his strength.
Thus, when Lucy pushed, Terence was easily distanced from the wyvern.
Why?
Terence’s eyes, fixed on me, were filled with doubt over the decision I had made.
Regrettably, I couldn’t explain anything to him.
As the wyvern accelerated, we quickly left the palace, and Terence’s figure became tiny in the distance.
I swallowed my words: I’m sorry, Terence.
“Thank you so much, Idel. I’m so happy you’re coming with me.”
Liena, gripping my arm, radiated joy as if oblivious to the thoughts of others.
I silently gazed at the sunset, painting the world red, reaffirming the tasks that lay ahead.
“Bring me my horse immediately.”
The first words Terence spoke upon landing were sharp.
His mind had only one thought: retrieve Idel, who had slipped from his grasp.
Logically, catching a flying wyvern was impossible, but Terence had no room for reason.
He would reclaim Idel—from that annoyingly persistent woman.
“No, I’ll go myself. Jack, you find out which direction the wyvern went from the witnesses. I’ll head there right now—”
Before he could finish, one of the Emperor’s attendants stepped in.
“Your Highness! His Majesty the Emperor has regained consciousness!”
The Emperor, attacked in the Grand Temple, was searching for his son.
“I’ll deal with His Majesty later…”
More people approached Terence.
“Your Highness! The Duchess of Luciano urgently requests an audience with the Emperor. What shall we do?”
“Rumors of a monster’s intrusion in the Grand Temple are spreading fast. Citizens are anxious. Noble inquiries demand verification!”
“What about the Empress? When should her funeral be held?”
“They’ve sent a message asking how much truth to reveal to the public!”
“Your Highness! A recent check shows all within the star palace are unconscious.”
“Reports from the borders suggest suspicious monster activity. Could this be a prelude to the Monster Wave…?”
“Your Highness! Monsters have even breached the palace! Should we order an evacuation?”
“Your Highness… Your Highness… Your Highness…” They called him like fledgling birds seeking their mother.
It infuriated him. His anger boiled.
“Step aside!”
At his roar, those surrounding him recoiled.
The monster carrying Idel continued flying, growing ever more distant.
“I must go now. You can handle these matters after I return.”
Even those who wished to speak fell silent, intimidated by his piercing glare. Any opposition could have cost them their lives.
Then…
“…Your Highness.”
Someone blocked his path.
“I beg leave to speak, Your Highness.”
It was Jack, Terence’s aide and attendant.
“Your Highness, you are the only one capable of caring for the Asterot Empire and its people, as Prince Mihail is absent and His Majesty the Emperor is injured.”
“….”
“Your Highness, we beg you to take up your duty. We understand your hardships, but please lead us through this.”
Jack knelt. Soon, others who had been watching him also knelt, one by one.
“Please lead us, Your Highness.”
They all shouted in unison.
Terence looked down at Jack silently. Though he had served him for over ten years, this was a first.
“Your Highness!”
Another subordinate who had served him long appeared.
“My apologies! I failed to protect Idel despite being nearby. I deserve death.”
Vineta, supported by others, ran from the star palace and kneeled before Terence.
“This.”
She offered an envelope respectfully.
“I believe Idel left this for you. It was found in her room.”
Terence immediately opened the envelope labeled ‘To Terence.’
His eyes scanned quickly, then froze on one passage:
I’m okay, so don’t worry too much. While I do what I must, Terence, you do what you must. I’ll return to you once everything is done. I love you.
“Cowardly.”
Terence muttered weakly, like a sigh.
Leaving such a message yet claiming love—Idel was so cowardly.
He clenched his teeth briefly, then spoke.
“Jack, select ten Royal Knights with extensive monster-fighting experience to track the wyvern. Immediately.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“And inform His Majesty the Emperor that I will arrive shortly.”
Terence issued orders to each of those who had brought him news.
“There is no further monster presence; no evacuation is needed. But inform all in the Grand Temple to remain silent until the palace announces otherwise.”
He was doing his duty as prince.
“Dismiss the Duchess of Luciano with an excuse, call the monster scholars including Margaret to discuss reports from the borders, and summon Mihail immediately!”
