Chapter 125…
Abalone
On a night so dark that even the moon hid its face, a new sun rose on the earth.
“The gates have opened!”
The crimson torches surged like a massive wave, flowing through the open gates.
“Your Highness! You have to run! The gates… the gates are open!”
Despite Phil’s urgent voice, the queen couldn’t take her eyes off the flickering red wave.
“Phil.”
“Yes, Your Highness! First, we should get out of the castle—”
“Do you think my life is a tragedy?”
“…Up until now, yes.”
Phil hesitated before answering, shivering at the cries of the crowd and tugging at the queen’s sleeve.
The queen, the number one target of the revolutionary forces, remained calm, her expression serene.
“Good. It’s happened just as I wanted.”
“You wanted to become the protagonist of a tragic life… Your Highness, is that what you wanted? Why? Did you know all along that it would come to this?”
Phil asked in a pained voice, burying his face in her arm. The premonition that the life he served was on the brink of death made his body tremble uncontrollably.
The queen gently stroked Phil’s back as if comforting him.
“I knew. But Phil…”
“Yes.”
“Revolutions bloom upon tragedy.”
“….”
Her voice was calm and tender.
Phil looked up as if mesmerized, gazing at the master he had served all his life.
Was this the person he thought he knew?
The queen’s eyes sparkled, her face radiant with joy.
For a moment, Phil wondered if he had ever seen her enter the palace with such shining eyes.
Never. Not once.
“Phil. Change your clothes.”
The queen pulled out clothes she had hidden in a drawer and handed them to him. They were neutral-colored clothes that would fit Phil perfectly.
“These… do you mean I should disguise myself among the revolutionaries and escape alone?”
“Phil.”
“That’s impossible!”
Phil threw the clothes aside, but the queen picked them up again.
“…It’s an order, Phil.”
“Your Highness…!”
The queen turned away as if she would say no more and sat in a chair near the fireplace.
Phil looked at her back with resentment, then reluctantly changed his clothes. Once dressed, he looked every bit like a common man.
“I’ve changed, Your Highness.”
“Really?”
The queen rose from her seat and walked toward Phil, bowing slightly.
“Your… Highness!”
While Phil flustered, the queen took the clothes he had originally worn and tossed them into the fireplace.
Phil stared blankly at the queen. Her straight posture, elegant manners, and gentle smile.
And then,
“Ah, I’ve always wanted to sit like this.”
Phil was startled as the queen plopped down on the carpet like a child, and he rushed to help her up.
“Your Highness! The floor is dirty!”
“Phil, look.”
The queen whispered playfully, like a mischievous child, and Phil’s gaze instinctively followed hers.
The fire that had consumed Phil’s clothes had almost died out.
“Why the fireplace?”
The queen smiled faintly and crawled closer to the fireplace.
“Even when the embers seem to die…”
Phil fidgeted anxiously, while the queen tossed a log into the fireplace and blew on it gently.
Before long, the fire, which had gone cold, flared up again, burning brightly.
“With just a little wind, any flame can be reignited.”
Bathed in the flickering light, she straightened her back, her eyes holding a look that could not be called the eyes of a failure.
She was like the flame itself, more captivating than the blaze on the logs.
“Your Highness.”
“Phil. I will no longer be Your Highness. And that makes me happy.”
“But…”
As Phil’s voice trembled, the queen gently embraced him and patted his back.
“If you remember my name, that will truly make me happy.”
“Why… why do you act like someone leaving?”
“Marie. You don’t need to call me Your Highness. It’s not mine anymore. Shall we try?”
At her gentle urging, Phil lowered his head deeply.
“How could I dare utter Your Highness’ name?”
“Hurry. My name is not Your Highness. It’s Marie.”
“Marie… madam.”
Phil murmured her name, and Marie laughed brightly, gently pushing him away.
Phil blinked in surprise, and Marie laughed joyfully, waving her hand.
“Yes, Phil. Now it’s time to go.”
“I will follow you, Marie!”
Phil prostrated himself before her in desperation at this sudden farewell. But Marie shook her head firmly.
“No, Phil. Run. They are after Chaston and me.”
“But!”
“Hurry. You must live, so someone can remember my name.”
Phil’s trembling gaze gradually calmed, becoming as serene as Marie’s eyes.
He bowed respectfully before her and spoke with determination.
“…Understood, Marie. Please, please stay alive. I will follow you no matter what.”
“Go now.”
Saying this, Marie rose, carrying the stored purple cloak and crown—symbols of the queen.
Wearing them, Marie sat upright in the chair and closed her eyes gently.
No one would dare try to save her in this chaos.
Most likely, when Phil left and the gates opened again, those who came for Marie’s life would be there.
“…Strange.”
Could she feel so at peace?
A subtle smile bloomed on Marie’s lips.
Watching her, Phil clamped his mouth shut, turned sharply, and went toward the door.
Actually, he collided with someone and bounced back into the room.
At the open door stood—
“What are you doing! Why aren’t you coming out?!”
“Bella? How did Bella get here—”
It was Bella.
Marie opened her eyes wide in disbelief, covering her mouth with both hands.
In the chaos, it was hard to believe someone had come to save her, honoring their promise.
“I said I’d save you! Go apologize to Chey in return!”
“Were you serious?”
“Do you take me for nothing? Come on! Let’s go! This is for you.”
Bella strode into the room, taking the crown from Marie’s head and draping the cloak over herself.
“Bella!”
Marie, having no time to react, could only keep calling Bella’s name repeatedly.
But Bella was not the type to be swayed by pleading. She smiled reassuringly, flicking the cloak elegantly.
“I’ll draw everyone’s attention by pretending to be Her Highness. You follow Hael and escape. Got it?”
“What…!”
Marie reached out too late. Bella had already dashed out.
“You will follow me, Your Highness.”
“And you?”
Hael blocked Marie from pursuing Bella.
Hael also watched Bella’s retreating figure with anxious eyes.
He wanted desperately to carry Bella and escape this perilous place, but he could not.
Clenching his jaw, Hael slowly opened and closed his eyes, hiding his inner turmoil.
“Trust me. I am Bella’s person.”
Hael lifted Marie along with Phil and ran in the opposite direction, but from the end of the corridor came shouts.
“There! That girl’s escaping!”
“Seize the queen!”
Instinctively, Hael turned sharply down the corridor.
His hands trembled uncontrollably.
“Bella…”
“I’m fine. Go after Bella.”
“No.”
Marie tapped Hael’s shoulder as if urging him, but Hael bit his lip and shook his head.
While Hael shielded Marie, ignoring the shouts, Bella rounded the corner, stumbling but regaining her balance and sprinting again.
Several armed revolutionaries pursued her closely.
“Damn it.”
Bella scowled, knocking over a statue in the corridor.
“Ah!”
One man, unable to control his speed, tripped over the fallen statue.
“Huff, huff, ha…”
“There! There! Go after her!”
Despite clever evasions, Bella’s pursuers gradually closed the distance.
In this tense moment, time seemed to slow for Bella.
One thing became clear in her mind.
Chey.
Bella blinked, feeling this surreal scene as though in a dream.
“Ah… I want to go home…”
Blood tasted in her mouth, her lungs felt ready to burst, and her legs felt like they weren’t hers.
Yet oddly, she felt light, as if losing all sense of reason.
“Hmm.”
Bella stopped abruptly. Her pursuers paused, gasping.
Her vacant gaze fixed on the wall ahead.
A dead end.
“Ahahaha…”
Her hollow laughter echoed against the wall.
Maybe she should have just stayed home. Maybe she had been greedy.
No. It had still been the right choice. Even if the outcome was bad, nothing could be done.
Of course, she would struggle desperately to survive, but still…
“Got you!”
That looked a little difficult.
