Chapter 15.14

Three ropes now pulled him downward. Boris’s body, weighed down by the harpoons, began its descent.  

“Stop it! Stop it!”  

Livie shook her head frantically, clinging to Boris as he struggled against the inevitable. His shredded wings barely held together, and his descent became faster and faster.  

On the ground, soldiers hauled the ropes attached to the harpoons with all their might. The battlefield was littered with the bodies of slaughtered crows and knights who had been blinded in the chaos.  

Boris wrapped his tattered wings around Livie, shielding her from the impact as they crashed to the ground.  

In the pitch-black darkness, Livie trembled, imagining the horrors unfolding outside.  

“Boris, are you okay?”  

“…”  

“Surrender now, and I will spare the life of your precious companion.”  

The voice outside wasn’t the Duke of Resette’s—it was King Andros’s.  

As Boris’s black wings unfurled, Livie saw the soldiers and knights surrounding them in a tight circle.  

The weapons pointed at them left no room for escape. The sheer number of soldiers present was overwhelming, a force far too large to face a single man.  

Livie scanned their faces, her gaze finally landing on the King and the Duke of Resette, who watched her from atop their horses. She gritted her teeth.  

Both men were equally despicable. The King, who had used Boris during the war and now sought to dispose of him, and the Duke of Resette, who had lusted after both mother and daughter.  

They were vile, untrustworthy men. Livie had never trusted them, but even she hadn’t expected things to end like this.  

In the end, they had been caught in the trap. She and Boris were now at their mercy. The futility of it all made her laugh bitterly.  

But she couldn’t give up. Boris’s breathing was growing heavier. The pain he must be enduring was unimaginable. Even a “monster” like him couldn’t withstand such injuries.  

She was the only one who could save him. Livie clenched her teeth. She had to get Boris to safety, no matter what.  

“Didn’t you plan to keep the Duke of Resette in check?”  

Livie directed her question at King Andros.  

“Why would I oppress my loyal ally?”  

The King clicked his tongue, smiling.  

“So Boris is a greater threat to you than Duke Resette, is that it, Your Majesty?”

At her words, the King’s brow furrowed.  

“Now that I’ve married you off, my niece, Duke Resette and I are practically one and the same. But why are you standing there instead of being with your groom? Come here.”

The Duke of Resette stretched his lips into a grotesque smile and extended his hand toward Livie. She recoiled as though his hand had already touched her, and Boris pulled her into his arms, shielding her behind him.  

“Let Boris go.”  

Livie spoke firmly, gripping Boris’s arm tightly. At her words, Boris stiffened and looked at her.  

“Send Boris to a safe place.”  

At Livie’s calm demand, the Duke of Resette twitched an eyebrow and glanced toward King Andros.  

“That depends on you, Livie.”

The king said with a benevolent smile.  

“Who’s threatening whom? You’re not in a position to do so. If you want to save that monster, you’d better come here.”  

The Duke of Resette, despite being torn to shreds by the crows’ *ssault, maintained his arrogant demeanor. He gestured, and more arrows were aimed at Boris. Spearmen also closed the distance, leaving no way out.  

“Let Boris go first.”  

“You’re still not thinking straight. Very well, then.”  

The Duke of Resette gritted his teeth and raised his hand.  

Thwack.

An arrow shot through the air and embedded itself in Boris’s wing. Already resembling a porcupine, Boris didn’t even let out a groan.  

“What are you doing?!”  

Livie screamed, wrapping her arms around Boris. The Duke of Resette sneered and continued.  

“So you’d better make the right choice. Come here willingly, and I’ll spare his life. I have no desire to handle this roughly. Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”  

King Andros, having seemingly allied with the duke, responded with a broad smile.  

“I am the king, and your husband is the duke responsible for the South. You can trust our promise. I swear it upon the name of Sesher.”  

King Andros raised his hand in a solemn gesture of oath. However, Livie couldn’t bring herself to trust their words.  

“…Pull back the soldiers. Make way for Boris to leave.”  

“You’re stubborn.”  

At Livie’s demand, the Duke of Resette’s expression grew harsher.  

“Or kill us both. That’ll work too.”  

Livie laughed bitterly at the empty air. It was a defiant remark, but she didn’t think it would be such a bad outcome. After all, if one of them had to die…  

How would Boris survive? Or if he died and I lived, what kind of life would that be?  

The thought alone was horrifying. Such a life could neither exist nor should it.  

“…Make way.”  

In the end, it was the king who gave the order. The soldiers surrounding them began to retreat one by one, leaving the area desolate.  

“Boris, can you stand?”  

Livie whispered, and Boris flinched in response.  

“I’ll buy time while I head over there. You must, you absolutely must escape. Do you understand?”  

As Livie slowly rose to her feet—  

Clack. 

Boris grabbed her arm. Despite the blood streaming down his face, blinding his eyes, the grip he had on her arm was firm. Knowing that even this strength had diminished due to his injuries, Livie felt tears well up.  

But she swallowed them back and pried Boris’s hand away.  

“Let go, Boris. Escape first… Then you can come back to get me, okay?”  

Livie pleaded with him earnestly.  

“No.”  

Boris tightened his arms around her. Even with blood soaking her clothes, he did not let go.  

Watching him, Livie bit her lip as if she had made a decision.  

“How are you going to protect me in this state?”  

“…”  

“You can’t protect me, no matter what. Staying like this will only endanger us both.”  

“Livie.”  

“So let me go. I can’t bear to see things get more dangerous.”  

“…”  

“That’s the only way to keep me safe, Boris.”  

Livie’s resolute words caused Boris’s violet eyes to tremble violently.  

“If I stay with you, I’ll be in danger. So let me go. That way, we can both survive.”  

Livie spoke coldly, ignoring the sorrow filling Boris’s eyes and continuing her harsh words.  

“No matter where I am, you can find me, right?”  

“…”  

“Pull back the soldiers.”  

Livie shouted, and the Duke of Resette raised his hand. The soldiers surrounding them began to part, creating a path.  

“I’ll count to ten. If you don’t come over by then, Livie, I’ll send both of you to the heavens together.”  

“Let Boris go first. That comes first.”  

Livie stood in front of Boris protectively.  

“…Fine. Make way.”  

As the soldiers retreated, Livie and Boris were left alone.  

“I believe I’ve shown all the leniency I can. If you continue to be stubborn after this…”  

The Duke of Resette’s eyes gleamed ominously.  

“I’ll send you both to hell together. Isn’t it beautiful? To be together even in death.”  

At the duke’s words, Livie stood up. Her gaze remained on Boris, who was holding her hand with a sorrowful expression. Suddenly, she noticed a determined look flash in his eyes.  

“Boris?”  

Livie met his gaze, sensing something strange.  

“Livie, listen to me.”  

His voice was low and clear, almost unbelievable for someone drenched in blood.  

“…”  

“Live.”  

“What?”  

The breath in her ear faltered.  

“Survive.”  

“…”  

“I’ll come for you.”  

“Boris, what are you—”  

“I’ll come for you no matter what, so…”  

Boris’s voice cracked as he spoke. Livie looked up at him with her tear-streaked face.  

“What are you saying? You’re not…”  

“Promise me.”  

Boris smiled. The radiant smile spreading across his bloodied face sent shivers down Livie’s spine.  

“No, you’re not…”  

Boris gently pushed Livie aside and stood up.  

“No! Don’t!”

Livie clung to his legs desperately. Boris bent down and pried her hands away, one by one. No matter how she tried to hold on, it was no use.  

“Don’t, Boris. Where are you going?”  

Looking down at her pale face, Boris began to walk.  

“Go, Livie.”  

With a firm push, Boris sent her stumbling back. It was a cold, heartless gesture.  

Livie, crawling on the ground toward him, was once again brushed aside by Boris. He walked to the edge of the cliff.  

“No, no…”  

The kingdom’s soldiers and the Duke of Resette’s knights approached Livie, lifting her up.  

“Let me go!”  

Livie screamed and struggled as they dragged her to their side. Meanwhile, the knights who had stepped back began closing in on Boris again.  

“What are you doing?”  

Livie tried to step forward, but a long spear blocked her path.  

“You promised to let him go! Leave Boris alone!”  

The knight commander leading the Duke of Resette’s knights stepped forward. He was the same man who had once suffered humiliation at Boris’s hands. Now, given a chance for revenge, the knight licked his lips and drew his sword.  

“Don’t do it!”  

Boris was gradually driven to the edge of the cliff. Unarmed, he faced the knights with nothing but his bare hands.  

Swish.

A sharp blade was aimed at his neck. Livie froze, unable to move.  

“Boris! No, Boris!”  

Livie screamed desperately.  

At the Duke of Resette’s signal, the knight at the forefront stepped forward.  

Clang.

The knight approached Boris without hesitation, drawing his sword. The blade, raised high, caught the light of the rising sun, gleaming sharply. Suddenly, Boris looked at Livie and smiled faintly.  

“Live.”  

Time seemed to slow.  

“Noooo!”  

Livie twisted her body against the strong grip holding her, screaming at the top of her lungs.  

Swish.

As the blade gleamed, Boris’s right wing was severed.  

“Stop it! Boris! Nooo!”  

The knight holding Livie tightened his grip as she struggled violently. Livie, nearly suspended in midair, flailed her arms and legs desperately.  

The severed wing fell beyond the cliff, scattering blood as it descended. Before the black wing disappeared from sight, the knight raised his sword once more, the blade glinting sharply.  

Slash.

Without mercy, the sword came down vertically on Boris’s remaining wing.  

“Ahhhhh!”  

The neatly severed wing followed the first, falling beyond the cliff. At that moment, Livie’s eyes met Boris’s once again.  

He was smiling.  

As if the wings that had just been cut off were not part of his body at all.  

“Boris, Boris!”  

The knight who had severed both wings raised his foot and pushed against Boris’s chest.  

Without any resistance, Boris’s body was shoved backward, plummeting into the abyss below.  

All that remained were the black feathers, scattering into the empty air.