Episode 140
As Serena’s magic absorbed Aaron’s mana as swiftly as a blink, he staggered.
“Keurgh!”
“Your Grace!”
Soon after, Aaron coughed up dark red blood, and his startled subordinates tried to stop Serena.
However, their hands couldn’t even graze a single strand of Serena’s hair. Jack and Lily, who had been lying in ambush, intercepted them.
“Stop! The emperor has given orders to execute anyone who takes even a single step.”
Lily warned in a fearsome tone as she cut down an attacker who lunged at Serena with her sword.
Those attempting to capture Serena hesitated. Then, Jack charged in, shouting at the top of his lungs.
“Hey, why bother with warnings? We should just kill them all here. I’m going to slaughter every last one of you today! Come at me all at once!”
Like an untamed beast, he began herding the remaining enemies into a corner.
Then, the knights lying in wait stormed in, leaving the duke’s entourage no different from rats trapped in a jar.
Meanwhile, Serena finished absorbing all of the duke’s mana and withdrew her hand. Now, he was in a state where he could no longer use magic. She spoke to the motionless duke.
“Stop your futile struggles. It’s over now.”
“I heard you didn’t know how to use power. Was that a lie?”
“As you can see.”
Serena shrugged and answered nonchalantly. The duke, his head pressed against the ground, trembled for a moment. At first, it seemed like he was in pain.
“Kuk, khaha!”
As the duke suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, the air around them grew frigid. Serena, sensing something ominous, opened her mouth.
“Why are you laughing?”
“I never expected to be outwitted by a mere girl. Twice, no less.”
The duke smirked at Serena as if recalling Ophelia. Serena frowned and replied indifferently.
“There’s a saying that suits you perfectly: ‘Even when crossing a stone bridge, tap it first.’ Learning the lesson after getting hit means it’s already too late.”
“…Do you really think it’s over?”
The duke lifted his head, revealing a twisted smile. His eyes, filled with madness, held the glint of a gambler hiding his trump card rather than a defeated man.
“What are you trying to say?”
“It’s not over yet. Did you really think I sent that letter just to take you hostage?”
“What?”
“Lady Serena, don’t listen to his nonsense.”
At that moment, Lily restrained the duke to prevent Serina from wavering. However, she couldn’t stop him from running his mouth.
“Do I sound like I’m making things up? I was once the leader of the aristocratic faction and the head of Greenwood.”
“You are no longer the head. If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll gag you.”
“Ridiculous. I still have the seal. How am I not the head?”
The duke sneered arrogantly, and Lily scowled.
“It seems words won’t work.”
Just as Lily was about to gag him, the duke locked eyes with Serena and warned,
“You don’t have time to waste here.”
“What do you mean…”
“Let me rephrase my earlier question.”
The duke chuckled, as if this were an amusing game.
“Will you save the emperor first, or will he lose control first?”
“!!!”
“I think the latter is more likely. Kukuku. Ugh!”
“Damn it, I can’t listen to this anymore. A criminal talking as if his mouth isn’t bound—I want to rip it apart.”
Jack landed a heavy punch to the duke’s abdomen, scathingly berating him. Meanwhile, Serena processed the duke’s words in a daze.
Loss of control.
That very same loss of control had happened once before in her previous life. Hearing the duke mention it now sent chills down her spine.
She had already found this hostage situation suspiciously sloppy. Given how cunning he was, it didn’t seem like he was just stalling for time with meaningless words.
Besides, even without Serena, there were plenty of people here to restrain him. She hardened her expression and spoke.
“I need to check.”
“Lady Serena!”
“I leave things to you, Sir Lily!”
Leaving only those words behind, Serena dashed out of the villa at full speed. Jack ruffled his hair, muttering,
“What the hell is happening now?”
“Exactly.”
Lily agreed, her face clouded with concern. Meanwhile, the duke burst into laughter, watching the direction Serena had disappeared.
“Kukuku. How foolish. Once he loses control, no one will be able to stop him anyway.”
“This guy really won’t shut up. If we throw him in the river, at least only his mouth will float.”
“Gugh!”
Jack growled, twisting the duke’s wrist to silence him. Then he glanced at Lucy and said,
“You should step outside. It’s going to get noisy.”
“Just don’t hit his face. An ugly face getting even uglier isn’t worth it.”
“Y-You little… Agh!”
The duke, glaring furiously, tried to curse, but Jack twisted his wrist again, making him scream.
***
James successfully infiltrated the imperial palace during the banquet. The founding festival’s banquet was held at the palace, allowing any noble to enter by registering their name.
Of course, the emperor’s main palace was far from the banquet hall and heavily guarded, making it difficult for James to reach. Had the duke not bribed someone, he would have been caught before even setting foot inside.
‘If you succeed in this mission, I will give you Greenwood’s seal. You know what that means. Whoever holds the seal will be the next Duke of Greenwood.’
‘Didn’t you once try to discard me as useless? Why should I trust the words of someone who is now a fugitive?’
‘That was before Ophelia bit into my throat. Even if she has the vassals’ support as a direct descendant, without the seal, she’s just a half-baked successor.’
‘Show me the seal first, then talk.’
‘If you complete this mission, my subordinate will naturally tell you where it is.’
The first person the escaped duke sought out was James. Even in prison, Aaron had received reports through a bribed guard.
Ophelia had the vassals’ support due to her lineage, but James was the official heir.
The faction backing James would never let Ophelia become the head without a fight.
Although the emperor’s support for Ophelia had made them hesitant, both sides were desperate to secure the seal first.
Driven by ambition and the encouragement of his supporters, James eagerly grabbed the poisoned apple.
He had no idea that the object he carried was a deadly poison capable of making the emperor lose control.
Had he known, no sweet words from the duke would have convinced him.
‘It should be around here. Damn, this is nerve-wracking.’
James carefully studied the map the duke had given him and moved towards his destination.
Soon, he found the emperor’s changing room and discreetly placed the object there.
He didn’t even bother hiding it deep inside, just in case someone discovered it too soon.
As the button was pressed remotely and disappeared quietly, a faint hiss followed, accompanied by the sound of liquid spraying, and soon the poison spread in all directions.
If the poison that had infiltrated the imperial palace before had been diluted, this one was nearly in its pure form. It wouldn’t take long before it took effect.
By the time Azaid entered the room moments later, the poison had already seeped into his clothes.
***
As soon as Azaid left the banquet hall, he began tracking Aaron’s escape route with Leonard.
However, the prison guard who had helped Aaron escape was already a cold corpse. Aaron had killed him to eliminate any loose ends before making his getaway.
“We must keep this matter confidential for now. If the nobles gathered at the banquet panic, things will escalate.”
“Yes. I’ve already taken measures accordingly, and it seems the banquet will be concluding soon.”
“Just in case, station more troops near Serina.”
“Yes, understood.”
After settling the immediate situation with Leonard, Azaid received a communication from Serena.
“I was just about to come to you.”
— Your Majesty, Aaron Greenwood received a threatening letter. They’ve kidnapped Lydia and Marie.
“What?”
As if the sudden contact wasn’t enough, Serena quickly explained the entire plan, leaving Azaid momentarily speechless. Once she finished, she spoke confidently.
— Don’t worry. Only we know about Lucy’s hobby, so the Duke won’t suspect a thing.
He knew she was fearless, but he hadn’t expected her to go so far as to deceive the kidnapper. And yet, her plan was so convincing that Azaid had no choice but to let her proceed as she wished.
“This still worries me.”
With no news from Serena after she left, Azaid paced in place, deep in thought. Just then, Leonard entered the room.
“Your Majesty, Marie and Lydia Vincent have just arrived at the imperial palace.”
“It worked!”
Azaid’s face finally lit up. Truthfully, if the news had been delayed even a little, he might have rushed out himself.
“Leonard, I’m not just saying this because she’s my lover, but Serena is truly incredible.”
“I’m sure she is.”
Leonard chuckled lightly, responding halfheartedly. If Azaid had a tail, it would have been wagging in the direction of Serena by now.
“Look at you. I’ve only given her a few words of praise, and you’re already lacking enthusiasm.”
“How could I? I put my entire soul into it.”
Leonard replied with a straight face, making Azaid chuckle as he loosened his cravat.
“Now that the issue is resolved, I should change my clothes. Wearing this formal attire all day has been suffocating.”
“As expected, I have already instructed the maids to prepare for that. Let us go.”
Leonard gestured forward, urging him on, and Azaid obediently rose from his seat.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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