Meanwhile, outside the castle, the battle raged on.
Luckily, the place where Pristin was being held after her kidnapping was the former emperor’s stronghold, and Jerald’s army marched inexorably toward the castle and took it over. Of course, the usurper hid for a year and developed a little power, but it was not enough to defeat the emperor’s elite army.
From the beginning, the usurper’s army was in a situation where it was inferior both numerically and qualitatively, so the home base should never have been exposed first. Albert attempted to use Pristin to make the process of retaking the throne easier, but as a result, Jerald was only informed of his home base.
“General, the gates are about to be breached!”
“Once inside the castle, we must find Countess Rosewell for the emperor!”
The two were important to Jerald in a completely contrasting sense. Pristin, who had Jerald’s child, was the person he loved the most in the world, and Albert was like an axis of evil that should no longer be kept alive.
Jerald said that if there was a situation where you had to choose between the two, they had to choose Pristin without hesitation, but Brian was going to make sure they didn’t have to make that choice. He didn’t know if things would go his way, but he couldn’t give up on either one.
—Creeaak
At last the gates were breached, and Jerald’s army quickly entered the castle.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
At that time, Pristin was on her way to the secret passage of the castle with Akkad.
“Where are you going to take me?”
Pristin became very anxious. She was glad that Jerald’s army had found this place, but it would only be a perfect happy ending if she made it back to the capital safely.
If she left here for somewhere else with Akkad, then there was really no hope. Maybe he’d kill her before that.
Frightened, Pristin unwittingly cradled her stomach.
“Lord Bachell.”
“You will go with my lord.”
“Let me go,”
Pristin begged in a trembling voice.
“You know it too, lord. The outcome has already been decided. I’m not familiar with the details of the army of the former emperor, but if His Majesty sent troops here, it must mean he is resolute in his decision.”
“…”
“Do you think it’s possible to stop the imperial family’s elite troops without being prepared?”
“Even if it were, that would not be a reason to release Your Excellency.”
“Surrender, lord,”
Pristin persuaded him in a pleading voice.
“Then at least you’ll be able to save your life in return for taking care of me.”
“There is no such fate for me, Your Excellency, since I have already betrayed the emperor.”
“If you take me and run away with the former emperor, then there will be no turning back.”
“That would be my fate, too.”
“Lord.”
Then the conversation was cut off. Pristin felt helpless and distressed.
Then at one point, Akkad asked,
“Did Your Excellency give away the location of this place?”
“…And if so, are you going to kill me?”
There was a moment of silence after Pristin’s resigned tone.
Pristin, who had been thinking about it, opened her mouth instead.
“I have no intention of disregarding your loyalty, and I don’t see anything wrong with it. Everyone has the right to serve the lord of their choice.”
“…”
“Especially after learning of the lord’s situation.”
“What is it you want to say?”
“That this will be our last time together.”
Sensing something odd, Akkad turned around and saw Pristin pressing a sharp headdress against her own neck.
Akkad’s eyes shook quickly.
“I intend to end it here.”
“Your Excellency, don’t be foolish.”
“If I run away with the former emperor, he’ll kill me anyway.”
The right hand holding the headdress trembled. Pristin gripped her right hand tightly with her left.
“Choose. Kill me here, or kill me later.”
“…Your Excellency.”
After a long moment, Akkad spoke with a short sigh.
“You will not die.”
“…”
“I won’t make you do that.”
Pristin squinted at the incomprehensible words.
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“…Follow me.”
It was the same look and voice as before, but the atmosphere was different. Somehow, Pristin had a feeling that what Akkad had just said might not be a lie.
‘Well, dying is always an option.’
If she didn’t have a headdress, she could bite her tongue. Instead of acting hastily, Pristin quietly followed Akkad’s footsteps. It was the kind of noise that threatened to obliterate everything and reduce it to a handful of ashes.
Pristin patted her stomach as she walked, not wanting to startle the child. It wasn’t the most appropriate thing to do, given that she’d just threatened to end her life, but even then, she hadn’t really wanted to die.
Paradoxically, she did that because she really wanted to live.
“You can go out here.”
At the end of the passageway, Pristin turned nervously to Akkad.
“If I go out here…”
“Go.”
The following words were completely unexpected to Pristin.
“Locate the imperial guard and reveal your identity. Then you will be safe.”
“…My lord.”
“Just,”
Akkad continued calmly,
“I am just repaying the debt of saving my life in the forest last time. Nothing more.”
“…”
“Once you return, forget all memories of this place, and live happily with His Majesty for as long as you can.”
“What will you do, my lord?”
Pristin said in a trembling voice,
“Come with me. Shouldn’t you preserve your life?”
“I’m tired now. While everyone’s life is a continuous struggle, I no longer have the strength to endure it.”
Akkad offered a faint smile.
“I wish to neither take sides nor be involved—just to quietly hide away in a place where no one will come.”
“My lord…”
“So don’t worry about me and return safely, Your Excellency.”
Pristin saw Akkad’s unbreakable resolve in his words. As she continued to hesitate, Akkad said goodbye as if it were really the last.
“Thank you for everything. I mean it. I just…”
“…”
“When you get to the capital, will you do me one last favor, I know it’s shameless, but…”
“Go ahead.”
Pristin spoke in a darkened voice.
“You said you wouldn’t come back, so it seems reasonable to listen.”
“Thank you.”
After a while, Pristin nodded at Akkad’s request.
“I will make sure to deliver your message when I return to the capital.”
“I’m left with nothing but apologies to you from beginning to end.”
Akkad opened the door to the outside with a sad smile.
“Please go quickly.”
But even after the door opened, Pristin hesitated, glancing back nervously. Realizing she could delay no longer, she finally stepped outside.
Once Pristin had left, Akkad remained alone in the corridor and murmured a reply to the absent questioner.
“There has never been a moment when I have not been sincere with you.”
Yet now, it was a meaningless, sorrowful echo that resounded in the empty corridor.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
Once outside, it wasn’t hard for Pristin to spot the imperial guard.
“Look, it’s Countess Rosewell!”
Batsukal Castle had long since been taken over by the imperial army. Pristin was greatly relieved to finally be safe.
The soldiers who spotted her quickly rushed to her.
“Your Excellency, are you all right?”
“Yes, sir. I’m fine.”
“I’m glad you’re safe.”
“Your Excellency!”
Just then, a familiar voice called out.
When Pristin turned her head, she saw General Brian. It was like meeting him in the woods with Claret a year ago. Only when she came face to face with General Brian did Pristin feel completely at ease.
“The general is here.”
“His Majesty has been waiting anxiously for you. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“The child and I are safe.”
Pristin asked in a trembling voice,
“What is the situation?”
“We have complete control of the Batsukal Castle. The usurper has fled with his entourage, but he probably won’t get far, rest assured.”
“Hah…”
Everything was all right. Pristin said, looking relieved,
“Thank you for coming, General.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Your Excellency. None of this would have been possible if you hadn’t told us exactly where to find you.”
“It was only possible because His Majesty found the clue I left behind.”
Pristin then asked about Jerald.
“Is His Majesty safe? To abdicate…”
“He made the announcement to deceive the usurper.”
So it was the case. Pristin smiled with relief.
“Hurry up and return to the imperial palace. His Majesty is growing frail, waiting for Your Excellency.”
Now it was really time to go home.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
It was a very long distance from Batsukal to the capital.
Considering the health of the mother, Pristin, Brian set up an easy return schedule. He decided that it was most important for Pristin to return safely because he had already sent word of the victory to the imperial palace via messenger.
As a result, the return took nearly twice as long as the advance had.
“We have arrived, Your Excellency.”
And finally Pristin arrived at the imperial palace.
When she got out of the carriage with a trembling expression, the first thing that caught her eye was Jerald’s face, which must have been waiting for her early on. Pristin looked at Jerald with eyes that seemed to cry at any moment.
Jerald was also standing with the same expression as her.
Pristin moved slowly toward Jerald, and Jerald walked equally toward Pristin.
He walked at a faster pace than Pristin, and then, as if he couldn’t take it anymore, he started running. Pristin’s emotional pace picked up as well. Finally, when the distance between them was completely closed, the two embraced each other without a word.
“I’ve missed you, Pristin.”
“Your Majesty…”
Pristin was speechless for a moment in Jerald’s arms, unable to find the words to express how much she missed him. Her voice trembled as she spoke the words she most wanted to say at that moment.
“I love you.”
How terrified she was that she would die without saying it.
“Me too, I love you too, Pristin.”
It was only after hearing that answer that Pristin realized she was truly back in the palace, and she was relieved.
