The Fall of Lutgarth
Rumble—!
The sound of thunder was followed by the deafening roar of explosives. A section of Lutgarth Castle was blown apart, and soon after, the structure began to collapse in a chain reaction.
Ezekiel Schwaben, watching the scene unfold, spoke in a cold, merciless voice.
"To whoever captures the fake princess, I shall grant the title of Baron. To whoever captures Theodore Lutgarth, I shall add two more manors as a reward."
He added a moment later,
"If you let them escape, not a single soul here will be spared from the consequences."
Flash—!
Lightning illuminated the world in a blinding white, only for it to be swallowed by darkness once more. A low rumble of thunder followed. In the gloom, only his silver hair shimmered like moonlight.
The adjutant standing beside Ezekiel muttered as if to himself,
"To think they would destroy their own castle..."
"It is a desperate ploy to smuggle the fake princess out amidst the chaos."
Indeed, the Imperial army’s encirclement was wavering because of the people trying to flee the collapsing castle. The adjutant doubted they would catch Princess Olivia. It was night, the weather was atrocious, and the citizens pouring out of the castle had turned the area into a living hell. Following orders, the Imperial soldiers thrust their spears even at the elderly and children to ensure not a single person escaped.
Then, a new shout erupted from the direction of the main gate.
"For the honor of Lutgarth!"
"For the honor of Lutgarth!!!"
Someone led the cry, and the knights and soldiers followed. Ezekiel narrowed his eyes and looked toward the sound.
The roar of the Lutgarth army pierced through the rain, echoing across the sky. It was filled with spirit, but to Ezekiel, it sounded like a death rattle.
His interest shifted elsewhere on the battlefield. No matter how great a warrior Theodore Lutgarth might be, and no matter how heroically the Lutgarth army adorned their final moments, they were destined to be crushed by overwhelming numbers. This time, Theodore would surely die.
The only remaining problem was Princess Olivia.
'That, too, must be a stunt to help the princess escape.'
Dismissing the resolve of men risking their lives as a mere petty scheme, Ezekiel followed the thread of his thoughts.
Princess Olivia was the only speck of dust in the political tapestry woven by the House of Schwaben, the most powerful family in the Sirach Empire. No, she was not a speck of dust—she was a thorn. A minor flaw, perhaps, but one capable of tearing through the most delicate fabric.
The Schwaben plan to seize the throne without violence or usurpation, ensuring no one could object, had been undone by the very existence of Princess Olivia. No one could have known that letting a single infant slip away twenty-two years ago would lead to this.
And that woman had become a flaw in his own life as well.
Ezekiel recalled her face. The pale complexion, the turquoise eyes filled with terror, and her slender frame trembling violently.
Though his fiancée, Princess Roella, was more to his taste, strangely, that face would not leave his mind.
He only needed to catch her. Once he caught her... once he possessed her, this bothersome desire that haunted his thoughts would surely be extinguished. After that, killing her would be simple.
It was then.
"My Lord!"
Two knights approached him at a brisk pace. Ezekiel turned to look.
A woman covered in mud was being held in the knights' grasp. Rain poured over her disheveled blonde hair, making it sparkle as it reflected the torchlight.
"Oh."
Ezekiel’s cold expression softened. The knight reported,
"She was discovered by the soldiers waiting near the stream."
"I shall reward you. And the others as well."
He signaled to his adjutant, who nodded. He would identify the soldier and grant the promised reward later. The same went for the knights who had brought her in.
"Let her go."
At the command, the knights shoved Olivia forward as if casting her aside.
Olivia’s lips were deathly pale. Ezekiel gripped her cheek with his leather-gloved hand. Theodore would be dead soon, and Olivia was captured. It was the best possible outcome. He felt immensely satisfied.
"It has been a while, Lady Olivia."
"..."
Olivia trembled violently, as if his touch made her skin crawl.
"You should have tried harder if you wanted to escape. Count Lutgarth’s death has been in vain."
"Hand..."
"Hmm?"
"Hand, get it off. It’s disgusting."
Olivia spat the words out with a look of pure revulsion. But Ezekiel, as if he hadn't heard her, smiled until his eyes curved and grabbed her by the hair.
"Agh!"
"How insolent."
He yanked her head back forcefully toward her nape. Ezekiel looked down at her exposed white throat with greedy eyes. Olivia’s body shuddered within his arms.
He felt a fierce desire. It was always like this. He wanted to tear her clothes off right now, bury himself inside her, and shake her to pieces.
The only reason he held back was that the most exciting part of this spectacle had yet to conclude.
Holding her hair with one hand and wrapping his other arm around her waist as if escorting a lover at a ball, he walked toward a spot with a clear view of the battlefield. Olivia flinched as if to resist, but it was useless against Ezekiel’s strength.
Olivia squeezed her eyes shut and turned her head away, as if trying to avoid the horrific sight. Ezekiel grabbed the back of her head to hold it in place and commanded,
"Open your eyes, Olivia. A princess should do no less. You must witness the end of the knight who sacrificed his life for you with your own eyes. Don't you agree?"
"Ugh..."
"They are all dying because of you."
Tears streamed down Olivia’s cheeks. Ezekiel playfully licked the tears away with his tongue. Surely, there could be no beverage more sweet than this.
"Beg for them."
"No."
"If you beg with all your might, who knows? I might spare a few of them."
He spoke in a sweet, seductive voice, but Olivia only shook her head with her eyes tightly shut. He had thought it would work on such a fragile woman, but Ezekiel found her resistance unexpected.
Waaaaah—!
Then, a shout rang out. Accompanied by a scream.
"Theodore Lutgarth is dead!"
Someone shouted at the top of their lungs. Olivia’s body convulsed in Ezekiel’s arms as if struck by lightning.
"H-hic, ugh...!"
She began to sob as if she could no longer hold it in. Annoyed, Ezekiel grabbed her body, which was threatening to collapse, turned her toward him, and spoke fiercely,
"Did you not know this would happen? Hmm? You must have known."
"Hic, ugh, hic."
"You should have at least tried to beg."
Though, even if she had, he had no intention of letting Theodore Lutgarth live anyway.
He pulled Olivia, who was weeping and swaying as if she didn't even know where she was standing, into his embrace and gripped her chin firmly. Then, he pressed his lips against her parted mouth.
Her mouth was hot and soft, as if slightly swollen. As he pushed his tongue inside, he wondered if the rest of her body was as wet and slick as this.
He would find out soon enough.
***
The severed head of the traitor, Count Lutgarth, was displayed in the square in front of the Imperial Palace. The first charge was that he had attempted to disturb the sacred bloodline of the Sirach Empire by putting forward a fake princess.
The engagement between the young Duke of Schwaben, who had returned after suppressing the rebellion, and Princess Roella was announced immediately afterward. Everyone had already known it would happen, but it was still a cause for celebration.
Massive quantities of goods were purchased by the Imperial Palace and the House of Schwaben for the wedding preparations, a general amnesty was declared, and charity was bestowed upon the people. The Empire was so vibrant that one could hardly feel the effects of the recent civil war.
Those who knew that a young woman named Olivia was being held captive in the Duke of Schwaben’s bedroom were limited to a few servants who handled the most intimate affairs of the ducal household.