SWWYV CHAPTER 164

Chapter 164

The next day, as Beatrice had anticipated, the news of Sophia’s death spread throughout the capital.

The day after the news broke, Sophia’s funeral was held in a chapel in the capital.

Despite the heavy rain, a large crowd gathered in the chapel.

“She died so suddenly?”

“What on earth happened?”

“I heard she wasn’t in good health. Did she die of illness?”

People in the chapel murmured about the sudden news.

A bride died just before her wedding.

As they discussed the event, they glanced surreptitiously at Killian, standing beside the coffin.

His eyes were red and bloodshot, his face dark and angry.

“This atmosphere is so tense…”

“It’s a funeral for his bride-to-be, it’s bound to be sombre.”

People shook their heads.

The gloomy weather only made the funeral’s atmosphere even darker and more oppressive.

At that moment, the chapel doors opened, and Beatrice, dressed in a black dress and veiled hat, entered with Mikhail, also in black.

The murmuring crowd fell silent as they noticed Beatrice. Killian, spotting her, impulsively strode forward to block her path.

“Oh, Killian.”

Beatrice expressed her condolences, lowering her eyebrows under the black veil.

Killian’s fists trembled with anger.

“What are you doing here?”

He gritted his teeth and whispered, so the others couldn’t hear.

Beatrice, meeting his bloodshot eyes, spoke sympathetically.

“It’s Sophia’s funeral; of course, I must be here. I even prepared an eulogy.”

It was unusual for a member of the royal family to attend the funeral of a mere noblewoman, but given the tragic event that had occurred just before the arranged marriage, it was a matter of propriety.

Killian ground his teeth in disgust.

“Leave at once.”

“I cared deeply for Lady Sophia. I must see her off.”

Beatrice looked around at the people who were now watching her and Killian.

Then.

Clang!

A sharp sound echoed through the chapel.

Startled, people looked up to see someone standing on the dome ceiling.

And everyone recognised him.

“The Black Moon!”

“It’s the Black Moon!”

A white face hidden in a black robe.

As the crowd panicked, the Black Moon kicked a large pouch from the ceiling.

White paper fluttered down like snow into the chapel.

Terrified that it might be something dangerous, people scattered, but soon realised it was just paper.

On each piece was a single sentence, printed so no one could recognise the handwriting.

[Sophia Fraus was murdered by the most noble person present].

“Murder?”

“Who is the most noble person?”

Those who had been trying to leave the chapel turned their eyes to the most noble person present.

Naturally, everyone looked at Beatrice Orhel.

Beatrice’s cheeks trembled with anger.

“The Black Moon dares to insult the royal family. Sophia died in a carriage accident, not by murder!”

It was clearly Killian’s doing.

He was trying to disgrace Beatrice in front of everyone.

“Catch the Black Moon immediately!”

At Beatrice’s command, all but one or two knights who remained to guard her rushed to apprehend the Black Moon.

But Ian was faster.

Ian Fraus was already running up the stairs to the dome, ahead of the Orhelin knights.

‘The Black Moon… Killian, whatever you’re planning, it won’t go your way.’

Beatrice watched Killian, who was staring intently at the Black Moon.

Finally, Ian reached the dome and confronted the Black Moon.

Facing each other across a rickety old railing, the two exchanged a few blows before Ian caught the Black Moon by the collar and threw him to the ground.

“Hah!”

“The Black Moon is caught!”

People gasped in awe.

Ian twisted the Black Moon’s arm behind his back, pinning him down completely.

Beatrice’s lips curled into a smile.

Ian dragged the subdued Black Moon down from the dome.

The trailing Orhelin knights followed, ready to counter any resistance from the Black Moon.

The people in the chapel watched, holding their breath, as the Black Moon was dragged down.

“Your Majesty.”

Ian roughly forced the Black Moon to his knees before the Empress.

The Empress finally faced the Black Moon.

The Black Moon wore a black robe and a mask identical to the one Ian had retrieved from the Marquis of Adam Fideut.

This wasn’t Killian.

But it was likely one of Killian’s people.

And if it was one of Killian’s people, they should be punished in front of Killian.

“Remove his mask.”

Beatrice ordered, staring at the Black Moon.

Everyone held their breath, focused on seeing the Black Moon’s face.

An Orhelin knight removed the mask from the restrained Black Moon.

Under the stained glass light of the chapel, the Black Moon’s face was revealed.

And.

“…You?”

Beatrice’s face filled with shock as she saw the Black Moon’s face.

“Why… why are you…?”

“Did you believe I was dead, Your Majesty?”

Sophia smiled up at Beatrice.

And then Ian, who had been holding Sophia down, gently released her.

“You said earlier that I died in a carriage accident,” Sophia said, meeting Beatrice’s gaze as everyone listened.

Beatrice struggled to maintain her composure.

“Unfortunately, I never informed anyone of my cause of death, so how did Your Majesty know I ‘died in a carriage accident’ when I am clearly not dead?” Sophia asked, tilting her head.

‘The Black Moon dares to insult the royal family. Sophia died in a carriage accident, not by murder!’

Beatrice realised she had misspoken in her excitement.

“That…!”

“That’s because it was Your Majesty who ordered Sophia Fraus’s death,” another voice interrupted from behind Beatrice.

It was Sir Nicholas Wesker.

—

This takes us back to the moment when Sophia jumped from the carriage and Nicholas blocked her path.

“Let me go!”

“Forgive me, my lady.”

Sophia closed her eyes tightly as Nicholas lifted her.

But instead of Sophia’s scream, it was Nicholas’s groan that filled the air.

“Ugh…!”

Nicholas lowered his hand, clutching his shoulder, where an arrow had pierced his back.

Turning his head, he saw Killian aiming a borrowed bow from a soldier in the distance.

“Lord…!”

“Step back, Nicholas. Or the next arrow will pierce your throat.”

Nicholas fell silent and backed away from Sophia at Killian’s warning.

“Killian?”

“Are you alright, Sophia?”

Killian hurriedly dismounted and gathered her into his arms.

The familiar scent of him brought tears to Sophia’s eyes. She was so shocked and scared.

‘I wish he had come earlier, like a typical hero, instead of right at the brink of death…!’

Sophia thought as she wiped her tears on Killian’s clothes.

She was grateful he had come at all, but her fear had given way to relief and complaints.

“How did you know to come?”

“…It was Sir Ian.”

Killian pointed towards the capital, where Ian appeared, having followed him.

The cause of the incident, and the reason they could come, was all because of him.

“How did Ian…?”

“It was you.”

Killian hugged her tighter.

“What do you mean?”

“You were the child I was searching for.”

The child you were searching for?

Sophia was confused.

If he was searching for a child, it must have been Estelle, the emperor’s illegitimate daughter.

“We’ll discuss the details later.”

At that moment, Ian dismounted as well, assessing the situation and seeing Sophia covered in injuries.

Thwack, Ian’s fist connected with Nicholas’s face, twisting his head.

“Ian!”

Sophia shouted in surprise, forgetting Nicholas had tried to harm her due to the unexpected violence.

But Ian had already spotted another target.

The coachman who had pursued Sophia was sneaking back to the carriage.

“Your Grace.”

Ian signalled with his eyes for Killian to handle Nicholas, then dashed towards the coachman.

The coachman barely took a few steps before Ian caught him.

Meanwhile, Killian comforted Sophia, making sure she was safe before approaching the fallen Nicholas.

Killian kicked Nicholas’s sword away and lifted his head.

“My lord…”

Nicholas looked at Killian with a miserable expression.

“…Who ordered this?”