Chapter 81
“Kill all the Rosenvester soldiers and surround the villa! Now!”
At the voice heard through the window, Seriniel’s face turned rigid.
“….”
Lexion’s expression was also grim. He furrowed his brows and shifted his gaze to Seriniel, parting his lips to speak.
“It’s okay, Seriniel.”
It was fortunate that they had brought some soldiers from the Rosenvester family. Lexion continued, gently patting Seriniel’s shoulder, as if to reassure her.
“I’ll buy us some time, so you take this.”
“But what about you, Duke Lexion ?”
“I’m not planning to fight them head-on here. I’m just buying time, so don’t worry. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
The fact remained that they had to escape this place. Lexion stood up, and Seriniel hastily grabbed the box containing the Magic stone.
Then, she hesitated briefly.
“This is…”
Seriniel’s face grew complex as she looked down at the box.
There was something else beneath the Magic stone.
A very neatly written document.
And on that document…
“Lord Lexion !”
The person who burst in with an urgent expression was one of the Rosenbester soldiers. One of the few Lexion trusted.
“Gran, what’s the situation?”
Lexion asked as he drew his sword, and Gran replied in a quieter voice.
“Grand Duke Clan and Royden are not visible. It seems Belles has come alone with his soldiers. I don’t know what business he has in such a place, but…”
The reason was obvious. It was because of that stone. Lexion ‘s gaze fell on the box containing the Magic stone.
“You need to escape quickly. We have fewer soldiers than we initially brought, and…”
Gran continued with a somewhat somber expression.
“Belles has brought far too many soldiers.”
Listening to Lexion and Gran’s conversation, Seriniel quickly packed the box containing the Magic stone and the document. Then she stood up and, looking at Gran instead of Lexion , asked.
“Didn’t anyone else come?”
“Yes?”
What was she talking about now? Lexion found himself puzzled without even realizing it. Gran felt the same.
Was there anyone else expected to come here besides Belles?
“We haven’t seen anyone else yet. Is there someone you were expecting?”
Instead of answering, Seriniel bit her lip.
“Seriniel, you need to leave here first. The most important thing right now is that.”
To Lexion , Seriniel’s safety was the most important thing. Despite saying not to worry, it was clear to anyone that the situation wasn’t favorable.
Yes, they had to secure the Magic stone somehow. Lexion gritted his teeth as he helped Seriniel to her feet.
“Lord, there’s no path through the back door. It’s a dead end. You must exit through the front and ride away immediately.”
Gran said urgently, and Lexion nodded in understanding. He then firmly grasped Seriniel’s hand.
Their black and emerald eyes met. Seriniel nodded as if to reassure him, and Lexion tightened his grip on her hand.
Then they started to leave the villa together.
“…Lord! You must escape quickly!”
As soon as they opened the door, they were greeted by the sight of the Rosenvester soldiers struggling to fight.
Gran was right. Even to Seriniel, who knew little about war, the situation didn’t look good. The Rosenvester soldiers were fighting with all their might, but the problem was that Belles had brought far too many people.
Would they really be able to escape this place safely?
“It’s Lexion !”
One of the soldiers guarding Belles shouted loudly for everyone to hear.
“It’s been a while.”
…Belles, mounted on a horse, looked down at Seriniel and spoke.
“Aren’t you quite the shameless niece, Seriniel?”
“…”
“Not only did you leave home without consulting with any family elders to marry that man, but now you’re trying to block the only family’s path in this manner.”
“Ha…”
Seriniel, seething with indignation, glared icily at Belles.
…Belles must have nothing left to lose. He must realize that Seriniel already knew everything.
But that was true for her as well.
“If I am an ungrateful niece, then you must be a scum of an uncle,” Seriniel said with a mocking smile.
“You brutally killed your only brother.”
Belles smirked.
“And if that wasn’t enough, you took over the family and even bargained with Calian for my life. I never imagined you were such a wicked person.”
“So?”
“…What?”
“What’s the problem with that?”
There wasn’t a hint of guilt on Belles’s face as he questioned her. He acted as if he had done nothing wrong.
“I merely disposed of useless, incompetent people. Your parents and you are no different. If your parents and you had the intelligence and ability to stop me, things wouldn’t have turned out this way. Yet you blame me?”
“…”
“I expected you to say that. Blaming others is what people like you do. If you had any intelligence, you wouldn’t have been deceived by Calian.”
Belles continued speaking.
“You must have wanted revenge, hiding behind Lexion . But your childish games end today, Seriniel.”
Seriniel remained silent, her eyes coldly fixated on Belles.
“And who got outsmarted by this foolish niece? All you’ve done is kill people with despicable methods, ally with Calian like a common thug, and use the Grand Duke Clan as a front. You’re no different, equally stupid.”
Her voice was icy as she spoke.
“And yet, you babble on as if you’re something special. It’s ridiculous. You’re nothing but a lackey.”
It was laughable and disgusting. Veles was a despicable human being.
“I knew you would say something like that, filthy and petty. That’s what people like you are like, just like Royden and Grand Duke Clan. No wonder you all conspired together. Pathetic.”
Seriniel paused and then glared at Belles with murderous intent. She spoke in a resolute voice.
“I’ll return your words to you.”
“…What?”
“Your games end here, Belles.”
“….”
“I’m just disposing of a worthless, greedy fool like you. So don’t hold a grudge.”
Suddenly, Belles’ gaze fixated on the bulge in Seriniel’s cloak.
…Had she found it?
Belles’ face contorted with rage.
“Capture them! Don’t let them escape alive!”
“Seriniel!”
Lexion , holding a horse, shouted Seriniel’s name.
But they couldn’t leave together. If Seriniel and Lexion fled together, their soldiers would be slaughtered, and they wouldn’t have much time before being chased and captured.
Should he send Gran with her? Lexion staying behind would be better. He could buy enough time for Seriniel to escape.
“Lord Lexion , you mustn’t.”
Gran, who had approached, spoke as if reading Lexion ‘s mind.
“If I leave, you might buy some time, but you won’t escape safely.”
“…”
“You know this.”
In the past, Lexion would have said it didn’t matter. He had lived a life with no attachments, even if he died at that moment.
But now, it was different. Lexion ‘s gaze naturally shifted to Seriniel. She understood the situation just as well.
…Both of them had to survive. They had to return to the Duke of Rosenvester’s estate as unscathed as possible.
But how?
“Capture her! Now!”
Belles, his face red with anger, shouted, and his soldiers began charging forward.
And at that moment.
“Stop immediately!”
It was the voice of the person Seriniel had been waiting for.
Everyone’s attention turned to the source of the voice including Lexion and Seriniel.
And when Lexion saw the owner of the voice, he seemed both surprised and puzzled.
“Why… are you here…?”
