~Chapter 102~
Richard was in the courtroom.
Following the compass left behind by Sara, he had wandered where it pointed — and ended up here.
Even as he sat down among the spectators, he paid little attention to the trial. Instead, his eyes scanned the hall.
The purity of magic in the air was immense. Proof that someone here had an abnormal amount of magic, like him.
His granddaughter had to be here.
‘But where? Where is she?’
There were so many people, he couldn’t tell who she was.
‘I’ll wait until the trial ends. When the compass moves, I’ll follow it.’
Then, in the row diagonally below him, a woman pulled out an old book. Magic clung thickly to it, clear even from afar — a rare grimoire.
‘No way…’
Richard saw the woman draw a dagger and clamped his lips shut in alarm.
The book swelled as it drank her blood. Magic boiled over it, ominous and foul.
The moment Richard gripped his staff—
The book spewed out something black, like soot. The air tore open, splitting wide.
“Something’s—!”
Grrrraaaaahh—
Through the rift, a monster shaped like a shadow began to crawl out.
The world had cracked.
“Kyaaaa!”
“Out of the way! Move!”
“Don’t push—ahh!”
Chaos spread. People rushed to escape, only to be chased by beasts pouring from the rift.
Knights were inside the court, but there were too many monsters. They couldn’t kill them all.
A pursuit force was needed, and the Imperial family called in elite soldiers.
One of them was Camilla, donning her armor nearby.
Today was her day off. She had been on a date with Leon.
“Do you really have to go?”
Leon helped fasten her breastplate, grumbling.
“There are plenty of knights. And… that lady will be safe. She’s a magician.”
Camilla narrowed her eyes.
“Even if there are many knights in the world, my duty doesn’t disappear.”
Her upright, unwavering smile always drew people’s eyes. As always, Leon’s heart pounded, making it hard to meet her gaze.
“Then let me come with you—”
“You’re a precious young lord. You have more important duties.”
She patted his shoulder lightly.
“To suppress this chaos, many knights will be dispatched. His Majesty might even be left unguarded. Go protect him.”
In other words — stay in the safe rear.
Leon had trained with a sword, but he couldn’t compare to Camilla’s overwhelming strength. He had never fought in war, never faced inhuman foes. He couldn’t help but be left out of this.
“Still—”
“Leon.”
Her tone wasn’t stern — softer than usual. Yet it drained his strength.
“I want to protect.”
“……”
“Because I love everything that makes you who you are.”
She took his hand. He couldn’t avoid her gaze.
“Let me go.”
Afraid of leaving a twisted image in her memory, Leon forced himself not to make a face. He bit the inside of his cheek instead, then nodded.
“When you return… we’ll finish the rest of our date.”
“Yes.”
Both knew she had to go, but neither moved right away.
Minutes later, the Imperial Vice-Captain, Arken, arrived.
“What are you doing here? Didn’t you hear the summons?”
“I was just preparing.”
Camilla quickly pulled her gaze away from Leon. Seeing her armored, Arken swallowed his scolding.
“You got your sword? Need supplies?”
“No, I’m fine.”
She touched the blade at her waist. Arken knew she always carried her own sword, so he asked no more.
Camilla turned to leave with him—then suddenly stopped.
“?”
“I forgot something.”
She stepped back to Leon, pulled him close by the shoulder—
And kissed his cheek.
“!!”
Leon froze. Arken’s jaw dropped.
“I’ll be back.”
Only Camilla looked cheerful as she strode off, leaving the two behind.
“Wh-what was that just now? Huh?”
Arken stammered, but Leon gave no answer.
He simply rubbed the cheek where her lips had touched.
As he turned away, the tips of his ears flushed red — unnoticed by Arken.
Inside the courtroom, weapons were forbidden. But Armians, being royalty, was the exception.
That was why he could shred the monsters attacking Bella with his sword.
After cutting down several, none dared approach him.
Even those emerging from new cracks turned away as soon as they met his eyes. He had marked himself as the strongest.
Once the chaos inside was under control—
“Your Highness, a new rift!”
“On the outskirts of the capital!”
Knights rushed in with reports.
He had to go. It wasn’t about politics. Protecting the capital was a royal’s duty.
But Bella?
He couldn’t take her into danger. Yet leaving her behind unsettled him too.
Then Bella spoke.
“Go.”
“But—”
“I trust you won’t say something foolish like you’re staying only because you’re worried about me.”
Slash—
A beast creeping up behind her crumbled to dust.
“……”
With her showing such skill, lingering would be laughable.
“I’ll return quickly.”
Still, leaving her was hard. He left with regret heavy in his words.
Luckily, the monsters were many, but not strong.
“Keep them from reaching the city!”
“Don’t fear! They’re ugly but they have weaknesses!”
After stabilizing the outer streets, Armians turned his horse back to the court.
‘Maybe I should’ve just sent her home.’
With Bella’s strength, she could handle any ambush. Instead, he’d left her waiting in an empty building.
He shoved the courtroom doors open.
“Bel—”
“Yes, close it like stitching a seam.”
But Bella wasn’t alone.
By her stood an old man, barely upright with a cane.
Behind him lingered a man who clearly looked like family — glancing nervously, but not daring to come close.
Bella was moving magic as the old man instructed — and shockingly, the rift was closing.
“Well done! With the gate shut, it’ll be safe now.”
Armians waited for her to finish, then strode forward.
The three heads turned at once.
Bella’s welcoming smile pleased him. But his annoyance hadn’t vanished.
“And who are these… people?”
The old man spoke.
“I am Sara’s father.”
Sara?
The name tugged at his memory. Armians tilted his head—
Bella said quietly:
“…I think he’s my grandfather.”
At once, Armians straightened, placing his feet together and bowing in the most formal posture he had.
“It is an honor to meet you, Grandfather. I am Armians Hybrion Euclide.”
“……”
Richard had met many powerful figures. Nobles of his land, foreign aristocrats, even kings.
All had coveted his family, famed for producing magicians.
And yet Richard could swear—
Today was the most overwhelming meeting of them all.
“How is the food? To your taste? And the seat — is it comfortable?”
“…It’s fine.”
“Good, good.”
Armians smiled, eyes crinkling warmly.
It was not his usual demeanor. His attendants looked on, stunned.
But he didn’t stop there.
He hovered anxiously, fussing over Richard as if unable to sit still.
Anyone would find such treatment burdensome. But from the man who might be the next emperor? It was dizzying.
“P-please, just sit comfortably.”
“How could I?” Armians replied calmly.
“You are the grandfather of my fiancée, after all.”
What—?
Richard choked, dropping half-chewed food from his mouth.
