Chapter 98

At that moment, while riding along the road leading to the port, having just left the outskirts of the capital, Adel suddenly felt a surge of magic spread through her body. When Adel urgently pulled on the reins, the horse reared up as if startled, and the surrounding knights quickly stopped their horses.

"Are you all right?!"

Though worried voices came from all around, Adel couldn't even respond, her nerves on edge. Through her heightened senses, she distinctly felt a tingling sensation. Though it was still faint, it was undoubtedly magic.

"Your Highness!"

Adel turned to look at the path they had just traveled.

"Why are you doing this?"

In response to Cain's question, Adel muttered.

"Magic, you felt it too, right?"

"Your Highness."

At the urging tone, Adel turned her head and widened her eyes.

"It was definitely magic, wasn't it?"

A chill ran down her spine along the path the magic had taken, and cold sweat trickled down her spine as her heart raced fiercely. It was a clear sign that the tower was descending. To think it would come down today, just before the coup tomorrow! Cain's heart ached as he looked at Adel's worried face. He had already guessed why she was so attached to Echmont. With a distorted face, Cain said to Adel.

"It's not possible, Your Highness. You must leave."

"..."

"You are the princess of Gottrop. You know you shouldn't be swept up in the political strife of another country, don't you?"

At Cain's words, Adel's eyes trembled violently. At the same time, a sharp sensation ran through her body like a shiver. Her wavering gaze gradually steadied. A desolate and cold wind blew between Adel and Cain. Though she was within arm's reach, Cain felt she was very far away. Cain's time had stopped on the day she left, but Adel's time had continued to flow. Cain was her identity and her world, but sadly, Adel was not the same for him. Thus, the Adel of the present, whom Cain did not know, decided to make a choice that the Adel he knew would never make. Reaching into her cloak, she pulled out something and offered it to Cain.

"Your Highness!"

Gibelin called out to Adel as if in a scream and approached her, while Cain simply closed his eyes. The noble emblem intricately carved on it glowed gold in Adel's hand—it was the identity badge of Adelaide Gottrop. Cain opened his eyes, looked at her, and asked in a deeply low voice.

"Why are you giving this to me?"

They say that being loved by the one you love is a miracle that transcends the universe. Though it was not a statement he was allowed to make, he was still happy to be by her side. Every moment spent with her in the fields was thrilling. He could read her small habits and even the slightest glint in her eyes. Love was that persistent and terrifying. Adel's golden eyes hardened with resolve. Her stubborn lord never changed her mind when she had that look in her eyes. As Cain stared at Adel, unable to even breathe, she finally spoke.

"Cain Knox. This is my final order to you."

It's truly cruel.

"I, Adelaide Gottrop, hereby renounce all my positions and authority as the princess of Gottrop. You must convey my will to His Majesty the Emperor."

You are truly cruel. Cain's expression crumbled instantly, and Gebelin's eyes, which had been wide open, turned red, and tears began to fall. Even the Echmont knights who had accompanied her to guard her looked at her with shocked faces. A deathly silence fell over everyone. Adel looked at Cain, who refused to take the identity badge with a wavering gaze, and then turned to look at the crying Gebelin. Though her heart ached, she could not retract her order. Her life had already taken a direction.

"Gibelin Ruhane."

Gibelin, hiding her distorted face with her hand, dismounted and approached her.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Adel took out a document from her bosom, along with the identity badge, and offered it to Gebelin.

"Please."

Gibelin suppressed her rising sobs and took it with trembling hands. She looked up at Adel and asked in a trembling voice.

"If this were the Adel I know, she would never make such a choice. But you are making this choice because you truly want to, right?"

Adel nodded, and Gebelin cried, forcing a smile. How could she hold her back? She had never seen this person live for herself even once. How could she not respect the heart she had finally opened?

"Shall I help you?"

"No."

At the clear refusal, Gebelin said no more and simply bowed respectfully. The best thing for Adel now was to let her go. Gebelin wiped away her tears and straightened up, composing her voice.

"I will certainly carry out Your Highness's order, so don't worry!"

Adel nodded slightly to her tearful subordinates and turned her horse. Cain, still looking down, made her heart ache, but she could not delay any longer.

"Cain, I'm sorry."

The guards who had come with her also turned their horses without a word. From a distance, the sound of the sky rumbling could be heard. As the clear winter sky began to darken, the magic became more distinct. Adel narrowed her eyes sharply and pulled the reins hard. The horse she was riding leaped explosively and galloped toward the capital, and the guards followed her in unison.

"Cain."

Gibelin called to him, but Cain stared at Adel's retreating back, just as he had watched the ship disappear on the horizon of Gottrop. He regretted the distant past. The girl who suddenly appeared before him and smiled. If only he hadn't followed her. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have harbored feelings for her, and perhaps... she wouldn't have seen him as a brother. Tears trickled down his chin. It was all futile regret.

'Cain Knox!'

How could he not follow the bright and proud girl with her clear voice? Even if he could go back a hundred or a thousand times, he would still have followed her.

"Let's go back, Cain. That's what Her Highness wants."

At Gebelin's words, Cain slowly turned his horse. Seeing his friend's lifeless appearance, Gebelin's heart ached as if it were burning. He gathered the identity badge and document Adel had given him and began to lead Cain, praying for Adel, who had let go of everything and was running toward her own life. ＊ ＊ ＊ Karl stared blankly at the sky.

"Hey, really. That's too close."

Duke Despoin, who was also looking at the sky, frowned and muttered. It was as if the emperor beside him didn't even exist. This time, the tower seemed to be descending in the plains in front of the capital's gate. However, no matter how much they needed the tower, this location was problematic. They couldn't move the palace because of the tower, could they? They would have to destroy this tower and wait for the next one. If they did it a few times, it would eventually be built in the right place. Duke Despoin suddenly grinned.

The location is a bit disappointing, but the important thing is that the tower is coming down. To Duke Despoin, the tower was like a lifeline that could eliminate all the thorns in his side at once. He whispered to the emperor in a subtle voice.

"Grand Duke is gathering forces, and if left unchecked, he will rebel. This tower is coming down for Your Majesty. Today, we will sweep away Herbert, Baldur, and Grand."

The emperor, who had been dazed like a fool, looked at Duke Despoin with sharp eyes. A thick, viscous malice swirled in his sapphire-like eyes.

"I must see Lionel Herbert die."

"He will be the first to die."

At the duke's snake-like whisper, the emperor turned his head and glared at the sky.

"Take me to the place where I can see his death most clearly."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

"Also, issue a gathering order to all the heads of the families in the capital."

I must set an example for everyone with Lionel Herbert's death. ＊ ＊ ＊

Rumble. As a sound like the roar of a beast shook the heavens and earth, people looked up at the sky with trembling eyes. Elizabeth glared at the darkening sky with resentment. A summons had been issued to all the mages and knights, and the gathered nobles naturally dispersed to their positions.

'As long as the tower is there, there is no one who can defeat Renox Poitiers.'

Brunhild Alexa's words echoed in her ears. Elizabeth closed her eyes tightly with a solemn expression.

"There will be another chance."

At Theseus' words, Elizabeth took a deep, suppressed breath.

"The problem is today."

Despair shadowed her face as she looked at Theseus.

"The emperor has issued a gathering order to all the heads of the families, and it's on the outer wall. He intends to kill Viscount Herbert in front of everyone."

"He will survive."

Theseus answered in a suppressed voice. His face was also solemn. A ominous red light began to spread above their heads. ＊ ＊ ＊

After a while, the darkening sky gradually turned red, and a sinister energy began to coalesce in one place. Even those who were not mages could feel the powerful magic that made their hair stand on end. The knights, led by Lionel, stood in formation in front of the castle with stern faces. The tower was more resented now than ever, with the coup just around the corner. The rough magic and wind that seemed to devour the earth struck their cheeks fiercely. Then, someone from the castle tower shouted at them.

"The royal guards, form the first line of defense against the tower!!!"

The emperor was looking down at them. More precisely, he was glaring at Lionel. Karl and Lionel's gazes sharply clashed. The thick, viscous jealousy and malice in the emperor's eyes were redder and more sinister than the crimson sky. Lionel turned his head to look at where the tower would land and took a deep breath. Even if he had wished for the tower to be built near the capital, a tower so close would not be what Duke Despoin wanted. Moreover, they had no pretext to openly attack in front of everyone, so today, they would grit their teeth and survive as usual.

'Don't die.'

Somewhere in the vast plain, looking at the spot where Adel had disappeared, Lionel made a vow several times. He would survive and stand by her side. Boom! A loud thunderclap that seemed to tear the heavens and earth, and a flash of lightning. As a strong updraft began to swirl, Lionel shouted in a loud voice.

"Let's go!!"

At his command, the knights who were waiting began to ride their horses. To those watching from the wall, it looked like they were running toward death, a precarious sight. Amid the extreme anxiety of everyone, Duke Despoin stood beside the emperor with a very light-hearted face, humming all along.

"When will the mages..."

Someone cautiously tried to request the mages to set out, but the duke waved his hand to stop him and folded his arms leisurely.

"Don't worry. We will rush out at the right time as we always do."

＊ ＊ ＊

Lionel stood at the spot where the tower would land and looked up at the sky calmly. The black shape descending from above was clearly a large tower with an enormous diameter. The knights who had fought with him for a long time also moved into position in unison before he gave the order. The horses neighed restlessly as the sharp updrafts kept pushing them back. As expected, the mages in the castle showed no signs of moving. Then, as the updrafts became even stronger, the crimson sky turned even redder. At the same time, a black disaster rapidly grew in size and began to rush toward them.

"Here it comes!!"

"Don't retreat, hold your position!!"

As the knights calmed their horses and resisted the updrafts, Elizabeth, who had just arrived at the tower with Duke Baldur, ran to the emperor and Duke Despoin and pleaded.

"Your Majesty, it's impossible to stop a large tower with just knights! Please send out the mages."

The emperor, who had been staring straight ahead with a look of excitement, slowly replied.

"Why? Is it because all the forces you need are there?"

At the moment a lightning bolt struck from the sky, the two of them looked at each other. In the world that flashed white, eyes of the same color but with different thoughts sparkled. Another flash of lightning filled the field with white.

"The tower is coming down!!!!"

At the scream that sounded like a cry, the two of them looked straight ahead at the same time. The black disaster rushing over the heads of the knights, opening its mouth, was terrifyingly huge. Brunhild, who was waiting outside the castle gate, felt her body heat up with magic. She could feel her nearby comrades taking deep breaths. The magic was overwhelming. It was as if a sea of magic was pouring in front of her eyes.

"Kraaaaaa!"

As the eerie roar of a monstrous hand began, the horses the knights were riding became even more agitated. The knights' efforts to hold the collapsing formation were desperate. Brunhild wanted to immediately run to Renox and beg him. No, she intended to. If Renox Poitiers hadn't been laughing like a demon facing hell, she would have. Brunhild was an excellent striker, but unfortunately, it was too much to face Renox. Especially in a situation where magic was flooding like this!

'What should I do now? How should I act...'

According to the original plan, she would have taken the life of this wicked man during the coup tomorrow. But the variable of the tower arriving so early had turned everything into a bubble. As long as the tower was there, they could never defeat Duke Despoin, who controlled the mage corps, and Renox. Should she have to wait for the right moment again, turning a blind eye to injustice, just like before she met Queen Adelaide? Now, the tower was about to set its heavy body on the ground. Lionel gauged the tower's diameter again and took a few steps back with the knights.

"Everyone, draw your swords!! Don't retreat, hold your positions!!"

The knights drew their swords, prepared to die. Just as the anxiety and tension reached their peak, a warm breeze seemed to seep through the sharp updrafts, and the tower, which had been descending at a terrifying speed, hesitated.

"Keeper?"

The knights involuntarily looked at the mages on the wall, but they were equally confused. Then, a group of hoofbeats that shook the earth cut through the noisy wind. Lionel, with wide eyes, turned his head urgently.

"!!"

Passion surged in his dark blue eyes. The knights who turned their heads felt the same. In the distance, at the end of the horizon, a group of people were galloping toward the tower. And the woman at the forefront, with her jet-black hair streaming, raised a pitch-black sword high.