“Although… I couldn’t be there to help you, I’m glad you have Elaine by your side.”
Espel looked at Ash and smiled faintly.
“And I thought you would understand Elaine, even if you knew who she was. Thank you, Ash.”
As he said it, Espel’s face showed relief.
He treated Elaine’s problems as if they were his own. Ash was slow to respond.
“It’s not something you should be grateful for.”
Espel gave a short laugh.
“Maybe so, but I’m relieved.”
Espel pursed his lips for a moment, then smiled again.
“More than that… I’ve always watched over you from a distance, but now that I’m up close, you really do look a lot like Bella.”
Elaine saw Espel’s eyes cloud slightly as he said that.
He cared so much about Bella, and seeing Ash’s resemblance to her must’ve reminded him of her.
As such, there was clear affection in Espel’s eyes as he looked at him.
As a demon, Espel said he was unable to freely approach, so he’d had to watch Ash from afar. All he could do was occasionally hang around Ash to eliminate elements that threatened him.
Ash has always felt someone’s gaze on him. Whether it was a grudge or someone’s orders, there were many who wanted his life, and when he felt that gaze, a sharp blade would inevitably come aiming for his life.
Sometimes, however, nothing happened even after he felt that gaze. The usual assassin never showed up.
Although he thought something was strange, he only felt eyes on him and his surroundings were silent, so he thought it was just a simple observer, but was it really this man in front of him?
Espel chuckled softly.
“How proud she’d be to know that you and Elaine worked together to clear her name.”
Ash nodded.
“My mother and father are dead, but now I can avenge them. Of course, we must win the war against the king first.”
“We begin our march to the royal capital tomorrow.”
Espel spoke softly. His eyes becoming serious.
“I’ll go with you.”
As Elaine and Ash looked at him, he continued.
“I’ll join the soldiers and pretend to be a wizard. If I cover my face with a robe, no one will notice that I’m a demon. Of course, I’ll have to be careful in front of wizards, but they won’t have the presence of mind to notice when the battle breaks out anyway. So please let me help too.”
“Espel…”
Elaine pursed her lips, then looked at Ash. After a moment of silence, Ash gave a short nod.
Elaine smiled faintly.
“It would be a great help if you could join us.”
Demons possessed magical abilities far superior to those of humans. Among demons, Espel was one of the strongest, and it would certainly be a great asset.
He’d lost his family, endured being alone for so long without even knowing why. No one had the right to take away his chance for revenge.
“Espel, take care.”
Elaine waved goodbye to Espel as she stood at the window.
They’d talked about things other than the war ahead.
She never could’ve imagined this moment, when the three of them would meet together like this. Although it was only for a moment, she felt like she’d gone back in time, not even realizing how quickly time had passed.
“I’ll return at dawn.”
Espel smiled and said his farewells to Elaine and Ash. Then, as he was about to leave, Elaine suddenly spoke.
“Espel, you know… Let’s go on a trip together sometime, the three of us.”
Just like when they’d traveled everywhere with Bella. After all is said and done… This time, the three of them.
“Okay.”
Espel’s smile softened as he gazed at her.
With that, he flicked his fingers and disappeared before her eyes.
A chilly night breeze blew in through the open window. After Espel left, Elaine closed the window. Then, as she drew the curtains, a strong arm wrapped around her waist from behind.
“Ash?”
Elaine blinked in surprise, calling out to him.
Instead of answering, he pulled her even tighter against him. Soon, Elaine was completely buried in his arms. He murmured in her ear.
“You two seem to get along so well.”
“Who… Oh, Espel?”
Elaine looked puzzled, then smiled brightly.
“Of course. I’ve known him since I was a kid.”
“He must know a lot about you, too.”
“Yeah, he knows all my favorite foods, always took care of me, and he’s really sweet and nice, and he’s also…”
Suddenly, a tingling sensation flashed across the nape of her neck, and she shuddered. A low whisper lingered in her ear.
“Aren’t you praising another man too much?”
“Espel isn’t like that…”
As Elaine was about to protest, a thin sound escaped from her mouth. Her earlobes turned slightly red.
Why was Ash acting like this all of a sudden?
Elaine’s eyes narrowed as she realized something. She turned her head and looked up at him.
“Ash… Are you jealous right now?”
Ash didn’t answer.
Instead, he kissed her, pressing his lips against hers as if branding them.
Elaine ended up laughing out loud.
* * *
The allied army led by Duke Killiard marched towards the royal capital.
The army departed from Killiard, crossed the monster’s nest, and passed through several cities.
When they crossed mountains or traveled through forests, they were wary of possible ambushes, and when night fell, they stopped marching and camped.
Perimeter security was especially tight at night. Torches were lit throughout the barracks and soldiers stood guard at all times. Special attention was paid to protecting transport carts in preparation for attacks on military supplies.
Afterward, they would march again at dawn, and so on for several nights.
Slowly, the capital came into view.
The army was passing near a territory close to the capital. A dark procession of numerous troops stretched across the wide field.
The steady pounding of footsteps echoed heavily on the ground. The flags of each family waved above the troops. At the forefront was a flag with Killiard’s emblem fluttering.
Under that banner, the Knights of Philres were following the duke.
Sophia urged her horse forward and looked ahead.
‘The royal road is just past there.’
Low rolling hills stretched in the direction the army was headed.
Beyond them, the walls of the castle appeared, looking small.
Sophia glanced around.
As they neared the capital, the air felt heavy.
The fields beside the procession were ripe with ears of grain, but no one was out working.
Because they did not know if a battle would break out soon, civilians took refuge inside their homes in preparation.
She turned her gaze forward again.
“I never thought I’d return… This way.”
It was only a few months ago that she’d visited the capital while accompanying Ash for the birthday banquet.
At that time, she’d never imagined something like this would happen.
“So, do you want to go back?”
Suddenly, Cezanne, who was riding the horse next to her, asked in his characteristically sarcastic tone.
Sofia raised one eyebrow in disbelief.
“Do you think I’m crazy? This is finally a golden opportunity to take revenge on the man who did such a terrible thing to him. Why don’t you go back?”
She’d never allow herself to be left out.
Sophia turned her head and looked at Ash’s back as he rode his horse in front of them.
How shocked was he when he found out the truth about the Seveka incident?
He’d always been blamed and criticized for his mother’s sins.
But even his mother’s sins were all false accusations.
“How much malice and criticism has he received over the years …”
She muttered through clenched teeth. As she spoke, she felt a surge of emotion, on the verge of tears.
“Of course, the king deserves to be burned to death ninety-nine times in a very painful way, but I’m also angry with the others, and I think that those who’ve cursed and accused the innocent, even if they didn’t know the truth, should also apologize to him.”
Cezanne’s shoulders flinched slightly at those words. Sophia didn’t see it because she was staring at Ash. He cleared his throat briefly.
“Well, at least no one will do that anymore.”
Cezanne’s gaze lingered briefly on Elaine’s back as she advanced next to Ash. Sophia’s fists clenched, her whole being on fire.
It was the same for the others. With each step forward, the fighting spirit among the soldiers became stronger.
The footsteps of soldiers, some out for revenge, others for loyalty, but all with the same intentions, echoed across the rolling hills.
Finally, the battlefield was in sight.
Elaine raised her head. Her long silver hair tied up in a high ponytail swayed in the wind.
It was then.
Doo-doo-doo-doo.
The sound of horses’ hooves could be heard accompanied by the faint rumbling of the ground.
Behind the army, in the distance, a wave of unfamiliar troops was approaching, kicking up a white cloud of dust.
