Chapter 557: Sacrifice
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 557: Sacrifice
"What is your name?"
Inside the speeding carriage, Albert struggled to steady himself as he called out to the black-robed figure in the driver's seat.
"Eken."
"And your family name?"
"Your Highness may simply call me Eken."
The hood of the black robe whipped violently in the gale, occasionally revealing a glimpse of a composed profile. Though he lacked the suppression of a specialized bloodline, Eken’s horsemanship was clearly far more skilled than Muen’s. Under his steady hands, the unruly Dragon-blooded horses maintained incredible speed and agility.
"Eken..."
Albert did not take offense at Eken’s coldness. He paused for a moment before asking, "How much longer do we have?"
"That... depends on whether the enemy is willing to let us through!"
Eken’s expression suddenly turned grim. He snapped the reins hard, and the carriage fishtailed in a sharp drift at a fork in the road, veering onto a path that wasn't in the original plan. Just as the carriage turned, a nearby wall collapsed and a beast-transformed one lunged out. It was instantly crushed against the rubble by the side of the swerving carriage. The formations etched into the cabin flared to life, grinding the creature into a pulp of mangled flesh.
The pungent stench and the gruesome sight turned Albert’s face pale.
"Are you alright, Your Highness?"
"I'm fine."
With Lawenny’s support, Albert managed to keep his composure. This earned him a brief, sideways glance from Eken, who was surprised by this legendary First Prince who had supposedly regained his wits.
"Did we change routes again?"
"It couldn't be helped. We can't just walk into their traps." Eken’s eyes flickered with uncertainty. "It’s strange. We released two other decoys, yet the pressure on our side hasn't let up at all. It feels like it's actually increasing."
"You don't think..." Albert pulled Lawenny slightly behind him, his guard up. "I told you, Lawenny would never betray me. She’s been by my side this entire time; she hasn't had a single chance to tip off the enemy. If you're looking for a mole, you should look within your own ranks first!"
"Your Highness misunderstands me." Eken glanced at Lawenny, who was forcing herself to look calm. "Now is not the time for internal strife. What I mean is, if our intel hasn't leaked, then the forces the enemy has deployed are far stronger than we imagined. Strong enough to... cover all three directions simultaneously."
As soon as he finished speaking, the carriage jolted violently. Several more beast-transformed ones appeared out of nowhere, leaping onto the cabin. They used their claws and fangs to attack the carriage with suicidal ferocity.
"Dammit, how many more of these monsters are there?" Eken cursed under his breath and roared, "Don't hold back! Protect the Prince! Kill anyone who gets close!"
The black-robed guards surrounding the carriage blurred into motion. Brilliant flashes of mana lit up the dark alleyway as beast-transformed ones were torn into flying scraps of meat.
However, the light of the magic served as a beacon in the darkness. Accompanied by sharp whistling sounds, a volley of Anti-Magic Arrows streaked through the air, thudding into the carriage walls. As the attacks mounted, the formation patterns glowing on the carriage grew dim, nearing the point of collapse.
"Crap, someone's watching us from the shadows!" Eken ordered his subordinates to intercept the Anti-Magic Arrows as best they could. If the carriage's defenses failed, Albert would be in grave danger.
"This isn't working."
Amidst the fierce battle, Eken kept a constant watch on their surroundings. He saw his men rapidly depleting their mana and fighting spirit against a seemingly endless tide of beast-transformed ones. They were exhausted from intercepting arrows and staying alert for hidden threats.
At this rate, they would be worn down and killed within minutes.
"The enemy is using these monsters to stall and drain us. If we stay tangled up like this, we’re dead!"
"Then what do we do?" Albert asked, his voice finally tinged with panic.
"We have to lose them," Eken said. "Once we pass the next street, we'll reach one of the contingencies Lord Bruce set up. It’s a tunnel that leads directly to a spot just one block away from our destination!"
"A tunnel..." Albert’s eyes lit up, but then he frowned. "Why didn't you just dig it all the way to the destination?"
"Not enough time!" Eken replied. "To be honest, Lord Bruce probably didn't expect us to be forced into using that route. But that's not the issue right now. We have a bigger problem."
"What problem?"
"How to get into the tunnel! If we can't shake these pursuers, there's no way we can enter. That tunnel isn't wide enough for a carriage!"
"..."
Albert fell silent.
Though he was an ordinary man, his intellect allowed him to see the gravity of the situation clearly. If they couldn't lose their tail, they wouldn't even be able to stop. The moment the carriage slowed down, those beast-transformed ones would swarm them like rabid dogs, dragging them into a quagmire from which there was no escape.
But how were they supposed to break through this dragnet?
"I'll go."
Lawenny, who had been standing behind Albert, suddenly broke the silence. She took a deep breath and said, "Let me be the bait."
"What? Lawenny, you—" Albert’s expression shifted instantly as he grabbed her arm. "There's no need for that..."
"There is," Lawenny interrupted. Her face was deathly pale, and though she tried to remain steady, her voice trembled. "It’s the only way. As Mr. Eken said, to lose them, someone has to draw them away—or at least draw enough of them to lighten the pressure. I am Your Highness’s personal maid. If I act as the bait, the enemy will have no choice but to bite."
"I forbid it!" Albert snapped. "Do you have any idea what that means? Going out there as bait is no different from a death sentence! They won't let you live!"
"I am a martial artist too; I won't go down that easily." Lawenny took Albert’s hand and slowly, firmly pried his fingers from her arm. She looked into his eyes and gave him a gentle smile. "Besides, as long as Your Highness is safe, any sacrifice I make is worth it."
"But even so..."
"Your Highness, let me go," Lawenny pleaded again. "You have things you must do, don't you? You cannot fall here."
"..."
Albert’s lips quivered. He stared at her blankly for a long time, wanting to say something, but the words wouldn't come. Finally, he slumped back against the carriage wall in defeat.
He knew that what Lawenny said was, indeed, the best option.
"But... we had a promise."
"Don't worry, Your Highness. I'll come back. Trust me." Lawenny repeated the promise they had once made to each other. She then turned quickly to Eken. "Mr. Eken, where is the tunnel?"
Eken gave Lawenny a long, meaningful look before answering. "About five hundred meters ahead. It’s in the backyard of the Franchi Tavern. It leads to the basement of the Dolan Shop. It’s very well-hidden; we’ll make our escape there."
"Good. Then please assign someone with a similar build to the Prince to come with me. Find a moment to let us off the carriage. I will lead away as many enemies as possible. After that, breaking through will be up to you."
Eken pondered for a moment and nodded. "It is indeed the best way. Rest assured, I will see the Prince to the destination safely, even if it costs me my life."
"Thank you." Lawenny gave a soft, beautiful smile. She turned back one last time, looking sorrowfully at Albert, who was staring at her with a mix of fury and grief.
"Your Highness, may I embrace you one last time?"
"..."
"Since you're silent, I'll take that as a yes."
Lawenny leaned forward, wrapping her arms around Albert’s neck and lingering for a moment as she brushed her cheek against his.
Time was of the essence. She could only savor that warmth for a fleeting moment before pulling away. She reached out and habitually straightened his collar, whispering, "Your Highness, I believe in you. You will succeed. I know it."
"Lawenny..."
All of Albert’s anger vanished, replaced by pure agony. His fists clenched so hard the veins on the backs of his hands bulged, but in the end, he could not bring himself to give the order for her to stay.