SWWYV CHAPTER 152

Chapter 152

Sophia’s eyes snapped open as she quickly raised her head.

As she steadied herself and turned around, she saw chaos unfolding right in front of her.

The massive chandelier that had been hanging from the ceiling had fallen and shattered completely on the marble floor.

Decorative crystal fragments were scattered all the way to Sophia’s feet, and the supports and candlesticks were bent and broken from the impact.

And Estelle…

“Your Highness…!”

It seemed that Mikhail had pulled her away just in time, as she stood close to the shattered chandelier.

Fortunately, no one else appeared to be hurt.

However, Mikhail, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, seemed to have noticed something and ran towards the outer staircase connected to the hall above, leaving Estelle behind.

“Your Highness!”

A startled attendant followed him, and Mikhail quickly climbed the narrow stairs to a small passage in the ceiling.

“Your Highness, it’s dangerous to go up there!”

“Find them.”

“What?”

“Someone was definitely here.”

Mikhail examined the numerous ropes connected to the chandelier, speaking to the attendant as he did.

When he looked up after saving Estelle, he saw a shadow moving in that direction.

Though he couldn’t be certain amidst the commotion, he was convinced that the chandelier’s fall was no mere accident.

“Find the culprit.”

“What? Yes, Your Highness…! I’ll inform the others. But please come down quickly; it might be dangerous for you up here.”

“Wait.”

Mikhail stopped and crouched down.

Amid the tightly stretched ropes, one lay on the ground, frayed and broken.

He picked up the severed rope.

‘The cut…’

It was a clean cut, not a natural break from the weight.

* * *

The party was in an uproar, and people couldn’t calm down.

“The chandelier fell!”

“Someone could have been hurt!”

“I could have been crushed if I had been just a bit closer.”

“Who is responsible for this?!”

Amid their chatter, Killian helped Sophia to her feet.

“Are you really okay?”

“Thanks to you.”

Sophia clutched Killian’s arm, trying to steady her shaking legs.

“That’s a relief.”

Killian pulled her closer. She could almost hear his heartbeat.

‘Killian must have been really scared too.’

If it hadn’t been for him…

Sophia looked at the shattered remnants of the chandelier on the floor.

At that moment, Estelle ran over to them.

“Sophia, are you okay?”

Killian’s arms relaxed slightly, and Sophia nodded while still holding onto him.

“Yes, and you?”

“I’m fine, fortunately.”

Estelle moved her body to show that she was uninjured, but her expression was not entirely bright.

“An accident like this at a royal party…”

Estelle glanced around at the ruined party hall.

Sophia and Killian exchanged looks.

‘This was definitely…’

Killian nodded, understanding that this incident was not normal.

It was clearly a deliberate act.

‘This must be why Her Majesty the Empress stepped back so easily…’

Killian gritted his teeth.

‘How far are they willing to go…?’

This time, Sophia had almost been involved in a serious accident.

Killian considered that maybe it was time for him to truly become the “Black Moon” and slit the Empress’s throat.

Having already been tortured, becoming a traitor wouldn’t be much harder.

Maybe it would be better to become the killer they wanted…

“Killian.”

Sophia’s voice interrupted his grim thoughts as she held onto his sleeve.

Her voice softened the fierceness in his red eyes.

Yes, he had a reason not to go that far.

If he were alone, he might have gone through with it. But with someone he loved by his side, he couldn’t.

If he became a traitor, the person he loved would have to bear his pain too.

‘But I can’t just keep taking this…’

Killian clenched his fists.

At that moment, the royal servants entered to clean up the fallen chandelier, calming the crowd and checking for injuries.

Soon, the Empress, who had left earlier, returned upon hearing about the incident.

Killian held onto Sophia even tighter.

“Oh, my goodness…!”

The Empress, seeing the shattered chandelier, looked around in shock.

“Is anyone hurt?”

“Fortunately, no, Your Majesty.”

“Oh, thank goodness.”

Empress Beatrice sighed in relief, her gaze falling on Estelle.

“Ever since the Black Moon appeared in the empire, bad things keep happening.”

Beatrice muttered, calming the murmuring crowd and ordering the servants to clean up the broken chandelier.

The people nodded at the Empress’s competence in handling the situation.

The Empress asked the servants about the cause of the accident.

“It seems the chandelier fell because it couldn’t bear the accumulated weight of the candle wax.”

One of the attendants cleaning up reported to the Empress, and the crowd reacted with anger.

“I specifically ordered that the party be prepared safely…!”

The Empress, equally angry at the lax safety measures, ordered the responsible person to be brought and punished.

At that moment, Mikhail, who had gone upstairs, returned.

“Oh, Mikhail. Are you hurt?”

The Empress welcomed him and checked for injuries.

Mikhail was unharmed but had a very dark expression due to the situation.

“I’m fine, Your Majesty. But…”

“But?”

Beatrice’s eyebrows rose, and Mikhail spoke cautiously.

“Your Majesty, I believe this incident was not an accident but a deliberate crime.”

Michael reported this quietly to the Empress, fearing that if people heard about it, the confusion would increase.

Beatrice’s expression hardened.

“A crime, you say?”

“The cut on the chandelier’s supporting rope was clean as if done with a knife or saw. Moreover, the chains that were supposed to secure it were loosened.”

“That’s impossible!”

Beatrice, shocked, took Mikhail to a more secluded area.

Worried about the impact his words might have on her, Mikhail continued to explain the situation.

“I believe it’s the work of the Black Moon.”

“The Black Moon?”

Beatrice’s lips trembled slightly as Mikhail nodded.

He recalled Sophia’s earlier warning.

‘The Black Moon seemed to be trying to kill Estelle.’

Ever since hearing Sophia’s words, he had been watching over Estelle with growing concern.

He had assigned subordinates to keep an eye on her, influenced the Ruchtainer knights, and even visited her himself under various pretexts.

And today, the chandelier fell precisely above Estelle, as if she were the target.

“Estelle almost got seriously hurt when the chandelier fell. She was also injured when the Black Moon appeared last time.”

Mikhail suggested that the Black Moon was targeting Estelle, and today’s incident was part of that ongoing scheme.

Beatrice’s lips twisted awkwardly at his words.

“But Mikhail, today we had increased security, just like during the Foundation Day celebrations. There are knights everywhere.”

“The Black Moon infiltrated the Foundation Day ball and killed Sir Liam. They might be someone within our ranks.”

“It would be wise to investigate further to determine if this was truly an accident or a deliberate act.”

Beatrice nodded, trying to dismiss Mikhail’s suspicions quickly.

However, Mikhail shook his head.

“I saw it.”

“Saw what…?”

“Someone was in the ceiling passage right after the chandelier fell.”

Though it was dark, preventing him from seeing the person’s face clearly, he was certain someone was there.

Beatrice’s eyes twitched slightly.

“If that’s true… this is indeed serious.”

Mikhail nodded in agreement with Beatrice’s slow response.

But then Beatrice gently stroked her son’s back, calming him.

“But if this gets out, it will only erode trust in the royal security further. The political climate is already unstable because of the Black Moon. If this news spreads…”

“…”

Beatrice wore a grave expression, fearing irreparable damage to the royal family’s reputation.

Mikhail acknowledged the validity of her concerns.

It was a time filled with unrest and dissatisfaction.

Until the full details of the incident were uncovered, it was better not to let the public know.

That way, people could sleep a little easier at night.

“I’ll speak to His Majesty the Emperor and have a discreet investigation conducted.”

Beatrice consoled her son.

At that moment, Killian strode towards them.

As Beatrice watched him, Mikhail turned to look as well.

“Your Majesty.”

Mikhail felt a shiver run down his spine at Killian’s unusual expression.

Could Killian even make such a face?

Even when he was tortured, he hadn’t shown such a fierce expression.

Despite enduring injustices, he rarely expressed his anger, which often made Mikhail feel even more guilty and uncomfortable.

But now, Killian looked as if he could draw a sword and strike someone down at any moment.

“You’ve come.”

Killian’s brief words were filled with barely suppressed rage.

He had every right to be furious; Sophia had almost been seriously injured, or worse, killed. Yet, Mikhail sensed that Killian’s anger was directed at Beatrice.

Beatrice, however, maintained her composure despite Killian’s intense red gaze.

“Killian, are you unhurt as well…?”

“No injuries. Fortunately, no one, no one was hurt.”

Killian gestured towards Sophia and Estelle.

“A reason for the gods to rejoice. While the devil may be gnashing his teeth, choking down his bitterness.”

As Killian twisted his lips, a cold expression briefly crossed Beatrice’s face.

However, she quickly regained her composure.

“Indeed. It’s a great relief that divine protection was with us.”

“The real tragedy is that the devil’s vile tricks came first.”

Killian continued, his gaze never leaving Beatrice.

Beatrice, momentarily silent, finally spoke again.

“I hear that Estelle was almost injured. Did you save her, Killian?”

Her quiet voice was like a serpent’s hiss.

Killian’s lips curled into a smile.

“As expected… you think that way.”