Chapter 97

When we burst into my brother's office through the hidden passage, Nathan was barely standing.

And only Hugh remained.

The others—those who had come with Hugh to the office—seemed to be in no condition to move. Probably the result of Nathan's fight.

Clank, clank, a long sword rolled on the floor, its generic tassel swaying with the movement.

Hugh, who had been about to raise his sword against Nathan, who was leaning against the wall, lost his means of attack.

By a dagger thrown by Clifford.

"......"

Hugh slowly lowered his hand. He didn't try to pick up the sword, just stood there, motionless. Despite wearing the uniform of a guard knight, his stance—unchanged.

He looked at us calmly as we appeared. Hugh's gaze finally settled on Lady Syl.

"Lord Burks is a lucky man."

"I hope you won't resist."

"I won't."

...It's too anticlimactic.

Maybe that's how it is... but did you really give up?

When I directed a suspicious look at him, Hugh smiled wryly.

"Once Princess Octavia was here, I suppose I had already lost, hadn't I?"

Lady Syl rushed to Nathan. Supporting his shoulder, she helped him walk, putting distance between him and Hugh.

The main entrance was securely closed from the inside. Was it Hugh's doing? ...They were fortifying themselves to prevent interference. The irregular booming sounds from the corridor suggested they were trying to break down the door.

"Are you admitting it?"

"To what?"

Hugh asked calmly.

"You—"

My words stopped there. I had come prepared to confront him, and it was clear, yet I couldn't quite believe it.

Hugh himself picked up where I left off.

"Did I tamper with Lord Burks' carriage? I didn't do it myself, but I gave the order. The presence of a witness was unexpected."

Casually, Hugh admitted to being the mastermind, speaking without a hint of hesitation or disturbance in his tone.

"Is this how you operate?"

"...How?"

For the first time since we burst in, a flicker of emotion appeared on Hugh's face.

Nathan, who had drawn this out, was quite injured. His uniform was blood-soaked and torn in places. His left arm hung limply, probably broken. However, his eyes were sharp, and he hadn't lost his strength.

"People don't always choose the right path. Sometimes, they have no choice but to take the thorny road, even knowing it's wrong. This is especially true for royalty. ...I believed it was my duty to silently follow my lord, even if it meant taking a wrong path, and to accept any blame. It was not my place to advise against it."

In the original story, Nathan sometimes defied his brother's orders, but always within the scope of those orders.

"...You thought that was your duty?"

"Mine?"

In contrast, Hugh was the character who always offered advice when Serius seemed to be straying. Even if it meant directly opposing Serius' orders.

"For me to advise Prince Serius would be presumptuous."

"Then why did you do this! Give me a reason!"

Nathan shouted in anger.

Everything pointed to Hugh as the culprit.

—He himself admitted it.

But still, I couldn't help it.

"Nathan is right. What's your reason?"

"......"

Hugh fell silent.

"I tried to kill Syl Burks. Isn't that the only important fact?"

"You're not going to say it?"

"—I will remain silent."

You don't want to reveal your motive?

"Your claim won't hold because you're the culprit."

"...Is that so?"

Hugh, who had muttered this, narrowed his eyes. He took something from his pocket and threw it.

The target was Lady Syl. But could Lady Syl, who was tending to Nathan, handle it—

"Clifford! Protect Lady Syl!"

The message was conveyed without words.

I felt relieved when I saw Clifford's swift action, but then—

Hugh picked up the sword and kicked off the floor.

He rushed in like a whirlwind, but not toward Lady Syl.

Straight toward me.

Hugh's pitch-black eyes remained clear—

A sensation like goosebumps washed over me.

It wasn't Hugh. It was Clifford's hostility toward Hugh, who was attacking me. A clear intention to eliminate Hugh.

Yet, Hugh had a satisfied smile on his face.

Amid the sudden events, my mind was unusually clear. Anger welled up from deep within.

I understood Hugh's intention to target me.

...That's what it was.

"Stop! Clifford!"

I lunged at Clifford's back recklessly.

"Wha—?"

I grabbed his arm with both hands. Clifford immediately switched his grip and deflected Hugh's sword with a single swipe. He held back.

"Please don't do anything dangerous."

Clifford's deep blue eyes were filled with confusion and anger as he looked at me.

"Don't kill Hugh."

"......"

Clifford furrowed his brow. Oh, did I give him the wrong impression?

I didn't stop him out of some kind of universal love.

But now—Hugh.

"Princess Octavia respects the lives of even sinners like me, does she?"

Hugh was also mistaken.

"No, that's not it."

I shook my head in denial.

It's not like that.

"Clifford. If Hugh acts suspiciously in the future, stop him. But never kill him."

"—Understood."

I let go of Clifford's arm and approached Hugh, standing directly in front of him, facing him.

"...What are you—"

I slapped Hugh hard, driven by a whirlwind of emotions.

"Hugh, you were planning to die, weren't you?"

"......"

"You anticipated that Clifford would protect me and deliberately targeted me. You wanted Clifford to kill you. ...You were using my guard knight."

To die.

"Do you think everything will be solved by dying?"

I was furious.

"Remember this. I will never allow you to take your own life like this."

I don't care if it's called arrogant.

If dying is your will, it's your choice, right?

Even so, I won't let you.

"At least, not in front of me."

Because—I wanted to live.

Please, don't throw away your life so easily in front of me.

"...You say harsh things."

Hugh, weakly and quietly, looked at the entrance.

A particularly loud boom shook the room, and the office door was flung open.