Chapter 236: Open the Gates
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 236: Open the Gates
— “Leave this lair this instant.”
It was a proposal for a truce.
— “And if I refuse?”
The dragon let out a low, guttural growl at Loik’s words.
— “I could rip the Magic Core from your body right now. You would die instantly.”
However, Loik saw right through the dragon’s bluff. If such an easy method existed, the dragon would never have endured having its throat pierced.
— “Then you would die with me.”
It was clear that if the Magic Core were forcibly removed from Loik, the dragon would suffer a blow equivalent to death itself. Ultimately, the dragon’s safety depended on the safety of Loik, the one currently housing the core.
‘If I die, the dragon dies.’
Though he loathed to admit it, the dragon and Loik were now bound by a fate where they would live or die together.
— “If you understand that, then get out!”
The arrogant, self-important dragon roared as if the shame were too much to bear.
— “Go and receive life force from your companion this instant!”
In the end, Loik and his knights were forced to return to the Grand Duke’s Castle, leaving the dragon they had nearly captured behind.
“The recovery magic isn’t taking well.”
Enolius spoke as he roughly wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead. He explained that the dragon seemed to be continuously drawing energy from the Magic Core to heal its own wounds.
“This is enough.”
Loik stood up, dismissing the exhausted mage. Droplets of water dripped from his black hair, which was soaked with sweat. Even as a fever burned through his body like a fireball, a chill ran through him, likely due to his cold, damp shirt. His muscles twitched uncontrollably, forcing him to grip the blankets tightly.
“Should we not contact Her Highness the Consort?”
Hedrick, who had remained behind to guard the castle, asked with a worried expression. The knight captains, who had already brought up the same point several times on the way back, swallowed their words and watched Loik’s reaction.
“My recovery magic is merely a temporary measure. You know this.”
The mage frowned in frustration.
“The only answer for Your Highness’s full recovery is Her Highness’s infinite holy power. Until then, you will continue to suffer from extreme pain.”
In truth, the only reason Loik was able to endure and stay alive was thanks to the imprint he shared with Annette. Even at this moment, Annette’s life force was flowing into him from somewhere, protecting him.
“W-we should tell Her Highness right away…!”
Just as Leon started to rise from his seat at Demich’s subtle signal—
“Do not contact her.”
Loik warned in a voice that was hoarse and cracked.
Was it because he was in pain that his heart felt so weak? To be honest, he missed Annette terribly. He felt as though all this agony would vanish the moment he saw her face. But…
‘Annette will be startled.’
She likely had a lot on her mind in the capital. How shocked would she be to hear that he was injured while she was so far away? Furthermore, it wasn’t a distance she could cover in a single breath. He couldn’t bear the thought of her spending the entire journey consumed by anxiety and worry for him.
‘I have no choice but to endure it somehow.’
A sudden wave of regret washed over him; he should have had a portrait of Annette painted. If he could at least look at her face in a painting while he waited, this painful time might be a little easier to bear.
‘As soon as Annette returns to the North, I must summon a portrait painter.’
He would have her face painted as large as possible and hang it above the fireplace. So that he could endure times like this when they were apart.
‘I’ll have several painted. I’ll hang one in the study, and another in the office… I’ll need small frames for my desk and the bedside table, too.’
Come to think of it, he should also have a small pendant made that he could carry with him at all times. Then, even when he went out on subjugations, he could see her whenever he missed her.
Just as Loik was counting the number of portraits he would need, an ominous signal suddenly vibrated from his breast pocket.
Loik hurriedly fumbled through his pocket and pulled out a magic tool that looked like a small brooch. The gemstone on the brooch was trembling violently, emitting a crimson light.
It was an item that was never supposed to ring.
“Isn’t that… Her Highness’s emergency signal?”
The knight captains jumped to their feet the moment they saw the brooch.
‘Something has happened to Annette.’
With a feeling as if his heart had stopped, Loik gripped the brooch tightly.
* * *
Crown Princess Cadellina was fuming as she headed toward the Imperial Annex.
“Your Highness, please, perhaps it would be better to schedule this for another day…!”
The worried voice of her aide was helplessly scattered by Cadellina’s fury.
“Father has truly gone too far! How could he arrange such a meeting while leaving only me out?”
Upon hearing the news that the Grand Duchess was coming to the capital, Cadellina had sent a carriage with her own maids to deliver her greetings. She had even sent the carriage all the way to the capital’s gates to ensure the Empress wouldn’t get to her first.
It was only after hearing that Countess Asellino had already returned to her estate that Cadellina realized she had been deceived. The carriage she sent was likely still sitting idly at the entrance to the capital, waiting for a Grand Duchess who would never arrive.
That alone was enough to make her blood boil, but then… The Emperor had invited the Grand Duchess to the Annex?
“How could he connect the Empress with the Grand Duchess!”
“Someone will hear you. Please, lower your voice.”
The aide pleaded, glancing around nervously.
“Surely that wasn’t His Majesty’s intention? It must have been the Empress who orchestrated this.”
“That’s exactly why I’m rushing there now!” Cadellina glared at her aide and snapped. “If the Grand Duchess falls into the Empress’s hands, I’m finished! The Expo alone will be a disaster!”
“Even so, His Majesty will not be pleased if you barge into a meal like this.”
“Is this the time to be picky about that?”
The Empress would never let this opportunity slip away. Once today passed, there would be no “next time” for Cadellina.
As she hurried along, Cadellina suddenly came to a halt. Her aide, who nearly collided with her, stopped in confusion.
“This is strange.”
For some reason, there seemed to be fewer knights moving around the Annex than usual.
“Why are there no knights?”
The aide nodded in agreement.
“I heard that His Highness the Third Prince took some of the knight divisions for a patrol of the surrounding area today.”
A patrol, all of a sudden?
While a strange feeling nagged at her, a commotion broke out nearby. It was coming from the direction of the Imperial Palace Gate, which allowed direct entry into the palace. It was a place rarely used except for special state guests.
Following a strange intuition, Cadellina turned away from the Annex and headed toward the gate.
“Your Highness? Where are you going?”
Despite her aide’s bewildered question, the Crown Princess simply hurried her pace.
* * *
The Blenheim gate manager unlocked the ancient mechanism with trembling hands. Behind him stood the Grand Duke of Blenheim, sword in hand, and dozens of armed knights, all radiating a chilling aura.
The gate, which had been firmly sealed for nearly ten years by imperial decree, had just been flung open by a single command from the Grand Duke.
“Where shall I connect it, Your Grace?”
“The Imperial Palace Gate.”
‘To open the Imperial Palace Gate… that is no different from declaring treason!’
The gate manager screamed internally, but he couldn’t find the courage to protest. The Grand Duke was radiating a murderous intent that suggested he would cut down anything that stood in his way. The manager looked around for help, but the knights were maintaining their formation with a terrifyingly calm demeanor.
‘O Goddess…!’
The manager finally activated the gate.
— 「What do you think you’re doing?」
The panicked voice of the Imperial Palace gate manager came through the magic tool from the other side.
“Open the gate.”
The short-haired knight standing directly behind the manager spoke in a polite but firm voice.
— 「Where is this connection coming from? What? Blenheim? Is this a mistake? Has anyone heard anything about this?」
The panicked managers muttered among themselves before someone could be heard hurriedly calling for another.
— 「This is Garhen of the Imperial Knights. You have connected to the Imperial Palace Gate without authorization…!」
At that moment, the Grand Duke stepped forward, pushing the knight aside.
“It is the Grand Duke of Blenheim. Open the gate.”
The manager’s breath hitched at the raw murderous intent he projected. Sensing that the situation was dire, tension crept into the Imperial Knight’s voice.
— 「Your Highness, with all due respect… opening the Imperial Gate without permission is a grave crime.」
“If you do not open it, I will force it open.”
His voice held not a shred of hesitation.
— 「W-wait just a moment! This isn’t something I can decide on my own. I must first receive permission from my superiors…!」
As if there were nothing more worth hearing, the Grand Duke called for the mage. The mage immediately began weaving a massive magic circle around his hands. He intended to use his overwhelming mana to force the gate open.
The mage could be heard whispering to the short-haired knight behind the manager.
“Shouldn’t we stop him? This… this is actual treason.”
“Try stopping him if you can.”
The knight replied, looking down at the goosebumps on his arms caused by the Grand Duke’s killing intent.
The Blenheim knights all adjusted their grips on their sword hilts. Their faces looked as though they were truly prepared for war.
Finally, the Grand Duke signaled the mage with a look.
“Good grief, I really should have renegotiated my contract.”
The mage grumbled that becoming a traitor wasn’t in his contract, but just as he was about to trigger the magic circle—
Flash!
With a brilliant burst of light, the gate opened, and the Imperial Palace was revealed.