“…”
Arundel knew why Hills was being so uncooperative.
She didn’t like worrying about Zion. She felt sorry for asking him such questions… but there was no other way.
Arundel also resented this situation.
A gloomy aura swirled around her green eyes, as if clouds had formed.
“Ah, really, I’m going crazy.”
Suddenly, Hills ruffled his own hair. At Hills’ abrupt action, Arundel paused and stepped back.
“Don’t make that face.”
It’s cheating…Hills muttered.
“I’m annoyed.”
His words revealed his frayed nerves, but his tone was devoid of energy.
“Side effects…I can’t be sure, but I’ve never seen anyone die.”
It was an unsatisfactory explanation. Arundel pleaded with her eyes for additional explanation.
“…There are cases where the mind gets a little weird, but they were all originally crazy. Zion, that kid, he’s not sane, but he won’t go crazy.”
…It was still an uncomfortable explanation, but Hills was trying to reassure Arundel in his own way.
“Yeah.”
Arundel, who had been standing weakly, finally moved her head.
“It’s much better than going berserk and that guy killing everyone else.”
At Hills’ blunt words without any filtering, Arundel frowned. However, she couldn’t refute it. After all, that was the reason why Zion wanted to seal his power.
However,
“We don’t even know how long the seal will last.”
“But at least… 5 years, no… 3 years?”
Somehow the number keeps decreasing.
“No, wouldn’t it last about a year?”
Still, this is Hills…she said, trailing off. Arundel was more troubled by Hills’ lack of confidence.
‘…Should I stop Zion.’
Zion’s power was a double-edged sword now. It gave him immense power, but at the same time, it could lead him to ruin.
Arundel, who had been biting her lips until they turned pale with worry, soon shook her head.
In fact, she didn’t even know what was right, but Zion’s attitude was very firm in the current situation.
The only thing that bothered her was that Zion was trying to give up his power for herself, not for himself…
“Tonight at 6 o’clock, we’re going to seal Zion’s power in the training ground behind the palace. If you’re going to stop it, come before then.”
Whether he understood Arundel’s complicated psychology or not, Hills gave her a chance with a calm voice.
Arundel couldn’t answer anything and opened the door and went outside.
Arundel, who had a lot on her mind, walked all the way to the Empress’s Palace. It wasn’t far, so she arrived quickly.
“Your Majesty the Empress, a guest is waiting.”
As soon as she entered the Empress’s Palace, the head maid bowed and delivered the message as if she had been waiting.
“Who?”
“Lord Royden and…Bianca.”
It took a while for Bianca’s name to come out. The head maid couldn’t hide her displeased expression.
She must have thought it was absurd for the daughter of a rebellious family to visit the Empress.
Arundel realized once again why Bianca had grown so quickly in such a short time.
She had fallen from a high-ranking family’s daughter to a rebel’s daughter in an instant.
She thought about saying a word to the head maid about Bianca, but soon shut her mouth. She would recover her honor on her own later.
“Where are Royden and Bianca?”
“They are in the reception room.”
Arundel moved to the reception room and opened the door. It was another reunion with a familiar face.
“Royden! Bianca!”
Arundel hugged them one after the other. If Zion had seen this, he would have hated it, but he’s not here now.
“I was going to come tomorrow, but I wanted to talk to Her Majesty the Empress so much!”
Bianca spoke in an excited voice. Her red eyes, which she hadn’t seen in a long time, were shining with excitement.
“Good to see you.”
Arundel smiled and sat down. Bianca and Royden also sat down across from her.
These days, all she had were headaches and depressing things, so it was nice to have a lively conversation for a change.
“Oh, by the way, is Hegi…no, Wilson doing well?”
As she looked at Royden, Arundel remembered a fluffy white-haired dog. It was her only friend when she was locked up in the Empress’s Palace.
“Yes. I thought he wouldn’t grow anymore, but he keeps growing, so now he’s only up to me when he stands up.”
“Really? I want to see him too.”
“I’ll bring him next time. I’ve been taking him everywhere I go, but I thought it would be hard to take care of him if I brought him here, so I left him at home.”
Arundel nodded as if she understood. Then Bianca suddenly looked at Arundel with an “Ah!” expression.
“The new Knight Captain…I know that face, don’t I?”
When the forgotten story popped out, the corner of Arundel’s mouth awkwardly rose.
“Ah, haha. That’s…”
“Hills…was it?”
“That’s right.”
You have a good memory…Bianca.
Bianca frowned as if she didn’t understand.
“The person you met on the street… wasn’t it?”
At that, Royden also looked surprised.
“I heard from my father, but it was a great coincidence. The person you met on the street became the Knight Captain…”
Arundel was worried that Royden, who had been the original Knight Captain, might feel bad, but he just looked surprised.
“I guess so…? There must be something called fate.”
Arundel scratched her head and finished her sentence. She had been through this crisis countless times. She had to become shameless.
“I’m glad… And I heard he’s a magician. That’s really amazing. He’s a magician and he became a Knight Captain.”
A playful voice flowed from Bianca, who had been admiring.
“Of course, he’s not as good as our Lord Royden.”
Arundel was quite surprised at the sight of her.
It was a sight she could never have imagined before, but they seemed to have become quite close. It was only natural, as they had grown together through hardships.
Arundel suddenly remembered the conversations she had had with Bianca in the past.
Bianca, as she remembered her, admired Royden.
At first, she thought Bianca liked Royden rationally, but later he realized. She was admiring Royden.
Meeting a person you admired outside the palace, this is what you call fate.
“You two look good together.”
At Arundel’s pleased smile, Royden spoke with difficulty.
“…I don’t know if it’s appropriate to say this now, but I am really grateful to Her Majesty the Empress.”
“To me?”
“If it weren’t for my shoulder injury, I wouldn’t have grown. I wouldn’t have been able to confidently refute the fact that I got my position because of my talented father and friends.”
She remembered a conversation she had with Bianca before.
Royden was a great knight, but many people were jealous of him.
She often heard that he became the Knight Captain of the Royal Palace with the help of the Prime Minister, who was on Zion’s side.
Then Bianca, who was next to him, also chimed in.
“I’m the same, Your Majesty. If it weren’t for you, I would have married a decent man and lived an unhappy life. Although I can’t say my life is smooth, I am living a satisfying life.”
Arundel was sincerely proud. Especially, Bianca’s words deeply resonated with her.
“Bianca…”
“Really. Your Majesty is the driving force of my life. I said I would become a person who suits you, right? I’m not a person who suits you yet, but this time I will definitely make a great contribution and restore my honor.”
Arundel remembered the expression of the head maid before she entered the reception room. Bianca must have been treated harshly since she became the daughter of a rebel.
But there was not a single dark corner. It seemed to shine more than when she saw her before.
Looking at them, Arundel thought.
‘I want to protect my precious people.’
Hills and Lucas. Royden and Bianca, Cain and the Prime Minister, the head maid and the maids including Belle. They were all precious people.
She felt guilty for putting them in danger, but she would do her best.
‘Whatever it is.’
“Your Majesty…?”
At the serious-looking state of Arundel, Royden quietly called her.
Only then did Arundel, who was like a person who had lost her soul, answer.
“Yes!”
“I was wondering what you were thinking so hard about.”
“It’s nothing.”
As Arundel laughed and mumbled, Royden cautiously spoke again.
“Is it… about His Majesty the Emperor?”
“Yes?”
As Arundel tilted her head and asked, Royden waved his hand.
“Never mind. I was just asking because it seemed related to His Majesty the Emperor’s attitude earlier.”
When the topic she was pondering came up, Arundel didn’t miss the chance to ask Royden.
“…What do you think about Zion not participating in the battle?”
Royden was a person who had been watching Zion for a long time. She wanted to hear someone else’s thoughts.
“It’s hard to figure out what he’s thinking…I’m careful to say anything. But…”
Arundel listened carefully to his trailing words.
“If he continues to have that attitude in the future, I think it won’t be easy.”
“Why do you think so?”
“Showing off his power externally was a way for His Majesty the Emperor to establish his position. His support base is strong power.”
“…You’re right.”
Arundel, who had been mumbling like a person who had lost her soul, suddenly stood up from her seat.
“What time is it now?”
Arundel looked around and asked. The sun was setting outside the window.
“It’s… almost 6 o’clock in the evening.”
At Arundel’s strange behavior, Bianca quickly answered. Arundel suddenly stood up from her seat.
“I’d like to have dinner together, but there’s a place I need to go right now.”
Without even having time to look at the surprised expressions of Bianca and Royden, Arundel ran to the training ground. It was the place where Hills had an interview for the Knight Captain position. It was quite a distance.
Arundel sent divine power to her legs. Her legs, which had become much lighter, became as fast as a nimble beast.
While running, Arundel thought.
Nothing is impossible in this world. I felt that when seeing Bianca and Royden.
Zion will surely be able to control his power. I wanted to give him another chance to think.
According to Hills, it’s uncertain how long the seal will last. It could be a year, or ten years, or even a hundred years.
Power was the root and origin that brought Zion to this place. I didn’t want him to easily give up that root.
I felt out of breath, but I didn’t stop. After running and running, I finally reached the training ground.
Zion and Hills were there. All eyes were on Arundel, who suddenly appeared.
“Irina…?”
Zion showed a surprised expression. Arundel leaned on a thick tree trunk and caught her breath.
“Huff, huff. Think about the seal a little more.”
Zion stood still and looked at Arundel. Then he smiled faintly.
He looked peaceful and quiet, as if he wasn’t a person facing a great event.
“Zion…?”
“Did you run all the way here because of that?”
At Zion’s teasing words, Arundel almost pouted her lips without knowing it, but soon looked serious.
“Yes. I just want Zion to think twice, to make sure he doesn’t regret his choice.”
The wind blew.
Cold wind brought memories with it. The image of the arrogant and cold-blooded emperor comes to mind.
Although it was not a memory that could be said to be good, Arundel did not want to lose Zion, who was full of confidence.
Especially if the reason was entirely because of her.
“Irina.”
Then Zion approached Arundel and pulled her waist to hug her. And he whispered in her ear.
“I don’t regret anything.”
“Ah, there is one. The thing about being mean to you.” He said softly. His breath tickled her ear.
“As I said, I can’t gamble on things related to you. If there is a power that threatens you, it is right to get rid of it.”
And Zion moved away. He who had kissed lightly on the corner of her eye turned around and approached Hills.
“Seal the power.”
Hills, with a subtle expression, looked at Arundel once and warned Zion again.
“…You’re going to be an ordinary human now.”
Hills concentrated power in his hand. A black energy was radiating a strong power on his palm.
“If you can’t stand up to a strong threat and it’s revealed that you have no power, you may have to step down from the emperor’s position.”
The energy grew as if it was devouring the surroundings. Hair was flying around.
“Don’t you regret it?”
Dirt swirled in the whirlwind along with the energy. Broken branches flew around quickly.
Zion smiled, lifting the corners of his mouth.
“I don’t do things like regret.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the black energy engulfed Zion. In the turbulent power, Zion seemed to be putting a lot of strength on his toes to avoid being pushed back.
The surroundings darkened as if the world was collapsing.
The energy that was in Hills’ hand slowly seeped into the center of Zion’s body. As soon as it hid its form, the sky regained its clear face.
Zion staggered and straightened his posture. And he looked down at both palms.
“It’s gone.”
Zion, who was the greatest magician of the empire,
“Completely.”
Had become an ordinary person.
