CHAPTER 134………………………………..
[Rian, the knights have surrounded the entire forest!]
[Rian, now’s your only chance to escape. You have to hurry!]
[Forget formalities—run immediately! If you get caught, it’s over!]
No sound reached my ears, yet the tightening circle of pursuers was undeniable.
I wanted to stay a moment longer, but I hadn’t even said goodbye to Piace… time was far too short.
If anyone sees us like this, they’ll assume these kids are part of my gang too.
Anyone helping a dark sorceress escape would not escape severe punishment.
We had to flee before the royal knights reached us.
Leonhart gauged the knights’ energy and asked quietly:
“Ruspell, is it ready yet?”
“Need a little more time.”
“Damn it!”
Swallowing his curse, he grabbed the reins of the white horse and approached.
“Duke, get on first.”
As Leonhart pressed me urgently toward the horse, Piace, who had been holding her breath in the tense atmosphere, finally looked worried.
“M-Mom? Where are you going?”
“…I have to go somewhere for a moment.”
Sensing something, Piace ran to me in a panic.
“I-I want to go with you!”
“Piace, that… can’t happen.”
“You said you wouldn’t abandon me!”
“Who said that? I’m not abandoning you. Just wait a few nights, and we’ll meet again. Piace, be a good girl, alright?”
It wasn’t a lie to comfort her.
Piace choosing death alongside me to save the world was how this story had to end.
We would meet again, inevitably.
Of course, even if I took her now, the outcome would be the same—but we could get lost for days en route.
I couldn’t risk her suffering.
But Piace clung to my waist with tenacity, determined not to let go.
“N-No!”
“Piace…”
“I-I dreamed it! Mom got hurt, b-bled too much… I can never see you again!”
She had seen my final moment in a premonitory dream.
“I-I want to go too. P-please take me with you.”
What could I do?
I couldn’t bring her along without worry, yet I couldn’t cruelly tear her tiny hands away either.
As I hesitated, a loud command rang through the forest:
“Do not let them escape! Find them and bring them before me! If they resist, kill them! Anyone aiding the escape shall be treated as a dark sorcerer—attack on sight!”
The voice of the First Prince.
Soon, countless footsteps of knights approached from all directions.
Leonhart drew his sword and pressed Ruspell in a low voice.
“Ruspell.”
“Just a moment.”
“Ruspell! We have no time!”
“Got it! Almost done… done! Duke, come this way! With the horse!”
Owen tried to pull Piace away from me, holding her shoulders.
“Piace, come here. I’ll carry you.”
“N-No! I’m going with Mom!”
“Shh… Piace, don’t make a sound. The bad men might hear you.”
She pressed her lips shut and looked at me, her wide, glistening eyes refusing to move.
Leonhart grabbed my wrist.
“Duke, there’s no time to hesitate.”
“…Ah…”
The footsteps were near. They would find us soon.
I wasn’t worried about being caught. A magic circle would let us teleport in an instant.
But what about them?
Could those who helped a dark sorceress escape get away safely?
Master-level mage Ruspell or temple-affiliated Owen could manage, but Leonhart? Everything was stacked against him.
Being my fiancé alone drew suspicion. Helping me flee left him with no excuse.
The First Prince would use any reason to corner Leonhart, eventually removing him from power to secure the crown.
“Just a moment. That’s all I need.”
“…Hurry.”
I knelt and met Piace’s gaze. Thick tears ran down her cheeks.
“Piace, do you want to go with me?”
“Yes! Yes! I want to go with Mom…”
“Then keep your eyes closed behind me. Don’t open them until I say so. Got it?”
“I-I won’t open them!”
I gripped Piace’s hands tightly as she squeezed her eyes shut.
“All right. Let’s go.”
Leonhart looked at Piace with his eyes.
“Not a good idea.”
He meant bringing Piace was dangerous—the journey would be treacherous, and our escape slower.
“I know.”
I reached up and removed my long hair ornament.
The perfectly pinned hair fell in one sweep, covering my back.
“I’m sorry.”
Leonhart stared at me in disbelief, furrowing his brow.
“Duke? Why—”
Before he could finish, I pressed the sharp tip of the ornament against his abdomen.
Everyone in the area froze. Piace, sensing something, stopped crying.
“Drop your sword.”
“…Duke?”
“Drop it. Now.”
“Hah…”
Leonhart sighed in exasperation.
For the Sword Master Leonhart to be subdued by a powerless woman was inconceivable. Others would think so too.
I stared him in the eyes, driving the hairpin deeply into his side.
“…!”
Leonhart’s narrow eyes widened.
The shock paralyzed his dark pupils, which now fixated on the pin in his side.
A red stain rapidly spread across his white uniform.
“Egh… Adrian…”
He groaned my name, staggering as the pin left a chilling sensation when pulled free.
“Your Highness!”
“Duke? What… what are you doing?!”
Owen and Ruspell rushed to support Leonhart as he collapsed.
I hugged Piace, who clung to me with eyes closed, carefully positioning the ornament near the child’s neck.
The three men froze, realizing I could harm Piace if needed.
Amid the standoff, royal knights arrived one by one.
“There! There she is!”
“Your Highness, First Prince! We found her!”
Seated atop a massive black horse, the First Prince Sieghrit charged through the knights.
Seeing Leonhart fallen and bleeding, he scoffed.
“Helping the dark sorceress escape only to be betrayed. How fitting.”
His smirk vanished as he pointed at me.
“A dark sorceress acting like a noble? I’ll restore the Empire’s honor by killing you! Seize her!”
I pressed the tip of the ornament close to Piace’s neck.
“Don’t move. Approach and I’ll kill the child.”
“Hahaha! You think threats like that work? What does that child have to do with you! Why aren’t you seizing her? Kill if she resists!”
The royal knights advanced aggressively. Owen stepped in front of us.
“Stop! The child must not be harmed!”
“What did you say?”
“She’s a saint! Verified by the temple, and His Majesty has ordered her utmost protection!”
“Ridiculous! A saint?!”
Sieghrit’s smirk returned briefly, then he sneered.
“Right, you were with her, wasting time for the dark sorceress. But you can’t deceive me.”
“….”
“Step aside, or you’ll suffer the same fate!”
Owen glanced at me and stepped aside.
“Then do as you wish. But whatever happens next is entirely your responsibility, First Prince.”
Sieghrit hesitated. If Owen’s words were true, any harm to the child would provoke massive consequences.
“Duke Ibrante! Is what the cleric says true?”
“How can you trust a cleric, yet doubt a dark sorceress?”
“Stop the nonsense and answer! Is this child truly a saint? Did His Majesty order her protection?”
“Think. Why did I bring her to the mansion? I could sponsor her from an orphanage.”
“W-What are you saying? Explain!”
“I planned to take this child’s body to dominate the world. That’s why I seduced the Third Prince and gained the cleric and the mage as allies. I need protection if I claim her body.”
“…Don’t lie! Who would believe a dark sorceress’ words!”
“If you don’t trust me, ask the cleric. Ask about the item stolen from the temple recently.”
Rumors of a temple theft had spread throughout the capital.
Sieghrit glared at Owen.
“What was stolen from the temple?”
Owen, calmly, replied while giving me a steady glance.
“A book on soul transfer magic.”
The impact of soul transfer magic was immense. The royal knights’ hostility instantly shifted to revulsion.
“So all this is true? This… evil woman dares challenge the Empire?”
“You value the Empire more than the child’s life, I see. Expected.”
I shrugged, tilting the ornament.
“Now you understand why His Majesty ordered her protection. If the saint dies, no one can oppose evil. And here, I am that evil.”
I smiled slightly, and Sieghrit trembled with rage.
“Shut up!”
“You, shut up and step back before I summon demons to wipe you all out.”
“…Step back.”
The royal knights drew their distance.
I held the horse with one hand, Piace with the other, and walked slowly.
The sharp tension pressed heavily on my body.
I passed Owen, standing frozen, and stepped onto the magic circle.
“Mage, cast the spell.”
Ruspell, tending Leonhart’s wound, moved his lips.
A white light engulfed my vision.
