A Single Night's Love
Sayne stood alone in the dark of the night.
Her wedding was drawing near.
She clutched her head, letting out a stifled groan as an invisible collar seemed to tighten around her throat.
If only she could, she would have fled. But her father held her younger sister hostage, and she could not bear to abandon the last trace of her late mother. To live a life where she was not even permitted to choose her own death was an unending agony. Regardless of who the groom was, marrying meant abandoning the purpose she had clawed and bled for her entire life. It was never going to be easy.
Still, she desperately tried to force some optimism into her thoughts. Right... maybe it won't be as terrible as I think.
The memory of her mother, wasting away until the bitter end, flickered across her mind, but she forced it down.
Yes. If only I can endure this, everyone else will be safe...
"...I am truly unsure if this is wise, Your Grace."
"It is an absolute necessity."
Sayne held her breath. Her father was speaking to someone. At first, she assumed he was merely weighing the political gains and losses of marrying her off to the Hero. The conversation, however, was far darker than anything she had imagined.
"...Still, isn't it a waste to discard your second daughter so easily? She could still be useful in a marriage alliance."
"I have heard rumors that Rupos has had the audacity to skulk around the Serindel family estate. There is no telling what Serindel might plot using him, so the seed must be plucked out early. The night after the wedding. Yes, that is when it shall be done. When the shock is at its absolute peak."
The strength drained from Sayne's legs, and she collapsed to the floor.
"Understood. Then you intend to disguise your second daughter's death as Rupos's doing, implicating both him and the Serindel family in one stroke."
"Precisely. There must not be the slightest error. Once the wedding concludes, drug Rupos until he cannot think straight."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Ah, and should Sayne attempt suicide, kill Tia immediately as well. We must secure the Hero at all costs, as quickly as possible. We can simply adopt one of Tamiz's or Neylon's children under the pretext that all of my own are dead. Whatever it takes, the Hero must be ours without delay."
Sayne stared blankly into the shadows, unable to fathom what expression she was supposed to make.
"...Sayne."
A voice called out to her. It was her uncle, who had arrived early under the guise of attending the wedding festivities.
"Shh, quiet now. Come, let us go somewhere else first."
She was led away by Rupos's hand. Taking her to his assigned guest chambers, Rupos poured her a cup of tea before speaking.
"...You heard it too, didn't you?"
"Yes. Father... he plans to kill my sister just to murder you..."
"Indeed. That monster... it finally comes to this. After murdering Tamiz and Neylon, now he comes for me..."
"...My uncles?"
"Yes. Your father sent assassins to prune our brothers one by one. He has been a cold-blooded fiend since childhood, without a shred of human warmth... But no, dwelling on the past helps nothing. There is far more urgent business at hand."
With trembling hands, Rupos lifted his teacup and drank, as if seized by an unquenchable thirst.
"What matters now is that if things continue like this, your sister will die, and I will be ruined as well."
"...Is there any way to save my sister?"
"...There is a way."
Sayne looked up at him. Rupos met her gaze with the gentle, affectionate warmth of a loving uncle.
"Yes, the two of you have always shared such a tender bond. You were forced to grow up far too young, and now look at what has become of you... The method I have in mind is simple: kill the Hero."
"What? But he is a good man!"
"What manner of man he is does not matter. What matters is that the Hero is far too monumental a figure. If he dies, not even your father will be able to bury the truth. He will attempt to twist the situation to his liking, of course, but I have a powerful ally within the Imperial government. With his aid, we can use the Hero's death to deliver a catastrophic blow to your father. I will ensure that neither you nor your sister comes to any harm, naturally. So what do you say to slaying the Hero? He is God's apostle, meant to bring salvation to mankind. His death will simply bring salvation to you."
"Even so, I cannot kill him. I am his comrade, and..."
"Is that so? Then there is nothing to be done. If the Hero means more to you than your own flesh and blood!"
"...Is there truly no other way?"
"None. Absolutely none. At least, none that I can offer. Do you honestly believe your father is soft enough to leave any other opening? He might have even planned for the Hero's untimely death already. Without my connections, an attempt like this would be doomed before it began."
If it were merely her own life on the line, she would not have hesitated for an instant. Bitter nausea rose in her throat as she bit down on her lip.
"Think on it carefully. I will ensure no harm befalls you."
A full day and night passed before she finally reached her decision.
"So, you have decided to slay the Hero?"
"Yes. It is an unforgivable sin against him, but I cannot stand by and watch my sister die."
"Good. A wise choice."
"However, I will die alongside him. If I die as well, my sister will indisputably become the sole heir, ensuring her survival."
"...I see."
And a few days later, the wedding was held.
Einzel could sense it: this was the very vulnerability of Duke Luderan they had been searching for.
"We've found it, so let's move."
"Y-Yeah..."
Sayne's face remained dazed and pale. Her father's schemes had been far more terrifying than she had ever imagined.
And then—
"Ah, well met, Hero. I believe that happens to be what I've been looking for. Mind handing it over?"
Rupos Luderan stepped into view.
"We're the ones who found this," Einzel said coldly.
"And it will be far more useful in my hands."
Einzel stared at Rupos Luderan, his skin prickling with tension. "...What are you planning to do?"
"Do you truly need to ask? I intend to ruin Jacov."
"..."
Einzel glared at him.
"That bastard had the audacity to steal what was rightfully mine... Don't you think it's high time the seat was returned to its true master?"
"I wouldn't know. We don't give a damn about your grievances. We came here for Sayne's freedom and nothing else."
"How splendid. Truth be told, I don't give a damn about your petty circumstances either—I merely intend to take that document and orchestrate Jacov's demise."
Einzel's expression hardened. Neither of them was anywhere near peak condition. Could they win this?
"..."
Without a word, Einzel channeled his remaining Holy Power to heal Sayne first before drawing his blade. He didn't have enough reserves left to mend his own wounds.
Rupos drew his sword and lunged toward them, luminous Sword Qi flaring along the steel. When Sayne's Sword Threads clashed against his blade, the refined filaments began devouring his aura.
"...Impressive. A High Expert, are you? But your body is in no state for a prolonged duel."
True to his words, Sayne struggled with each exchange. As Rupos drove her back with aggressive swings, Einzel stepped in and slashed at his flank. Rupos sidestepped effortlessly and planted a kick square into Einzel's chest.
"Far too slow."
Einzel let out a smothered grunt, suppressed the pain, and rejoined the fray.
"From the looks of it, you're in worse shape than my niece... Don't flatter yourself, boy."
Rupos shifted his stance and turned his fury on Einzel, forcing Sayne to wring out every drop of her fading stamina to parry the strikes.
"...To think you still had this much fight left in you."
Muttering under his breath, Rupos began chanting an incantation. A rift tore open, and a demon emerged from the gloom.
"...A demon?"
"Indeed. What wouldn't I resort to if it brings about Jacov's ruin? Dbel, assist me in slaughtering them."
"Hooh... Bringing down the Hero? Now that is an appetizing prospect. Word was that even the Corps Commander fell to your blade, yet in this pathetic state..."
The demon known as Dbel flexed wicked, elongated clawed hands and charged.
"Damn it..."
Dbel's talon-like claws lashed out with vicious ferocity, all while Rupos continued his unrelenting assault with his sword. At this rate, they had zero chance of victory.
Einzel realized once again that the moment for sacrifice had arrived.
As the demon swept its claws toward him, Einzel dove inside the arc of the attack and locked his arms around its torso.
"Wh-What?!"
The demon's talons tore into his back, raking through flesh and bone. Scorching agony flared across his nervous system, but Einzel didn't let so much as a whimper escape his lips.
Sayne lunged forward and plunged her blade straight through the demon's heart. It convulsed violently before going limp.
"Now it's two-on-one again," Einzel gasped.
Without immediate healing, the wound was lethal. His vision blurred and consciousness slipped, yet a faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"...You insolent little brat!"
The two pressed Rupos with renewed desperation. The instant Rupos raised his blade to deflect Sayne's strike, Einzel swept his sword in a brutal arc and severed Rupos's arm.
"Aaaaaargh!" Rupos shrieked in agony.
"Surrender," Einzel gasped, fighting to anchor his slipping consciousness.
In that split second, Rupos gripped his sword in his remaining hand and thrust it forward with frenzied spite.
"How dare you!"
Time seemed to slow to a crawl. Einzel's eyes widened—Too late. In his battered state, death was unavoidable.
In the next heartbeat, Sayne threw herself between them.
The steel pierced straight through her abdomen.
"...Why?" Einzel breathed.
Sayne didn't speak. Blood welled at the corner of her lips, yet she managed a faint smile. Perhaps it had been nothing more than sheer animal instinct.
Seizing the moment while Rupos stood paralyzed in shock, Einzel brought his sword down and severed his head.
As Rupos dropped his blade and collapsed, Sayne crumbled alongside him.
Einzel scrambled to her side. Her condition was catastrophic.
As his face contorted in panic, hands trembling helplessly over the wound, Sayne whispered faintly.
"...Let's... go outside."
"...Why?"
"I want to die... looking at the sky."
"...All right."
He pulled her up, supporting her failing body as they began the agonizing climb up the stairs.
One step. Another step. Toward the outside world.