Chapter 27

Kaiden pushed against the flow of the panicked crowd, making his way toward the harbor.

The royal army was assembling along the coastline. Some soldiers, recognizing Kaiden despite his civilian attire, saluted him.

“Lieutenant Phelts.”

Kaiden called out, and in the midst of the chaos, Phelts saluted back.

“It appears that demonic birds from the sky are dropping artillery. The damage to the civilian areas near the coast is significant.”

Demonic beasts dropping artillery from the sky—a strategy unseen for nearly a century.

Kaiden knew something was wrong. Such a high-level demonic strategy had not been authorized, and it was not yet ‘the time.’

“Kaiden!”

Heath appeared, riding a black horse, and called out. Without a word, the two of them rode toward the military ship.

The ship was paralyzed, unable to respond effectively. Naturally, it was helpless against attacks from the sky.

“D*mn it.”

Kaiden cursed, drawing his sword as something caught his eye. The bombardment was subsiding. The birds in the sky had vanished.

“What is that?”

Heath muttered quietly.

After appearing and causing chaos, they had withdrawn without delivering a proper attack on the capital.

Kaiden looked up at the sky. The fast-receding demonic bird was white and had no distinguishable features.

“What is going on?”

Phelts asked in a tense voice.

“Let’s find out. First, instruct everyone from Sector 1 to Sector 12 on the west coast to be on full combat alert.”

Kaiden ordered.

“Heath, head to the bell tower. If there’s anyone there, get them out.”

Heath raised an eyebrow, then nodded and turned his horse toward the plaza.

***

Rohana hurried into the central palace hall.

She needed to request support quickly, as Gregory would be worried about his son too. She also had to report the collapsed building and the possibility of people being trapped inside.

Bang, bang, bang.

She ran toward the emperor’s office but was abruptly stopped by his voice.

“Rohana!”

It was the emperor, wearing a red robe and fox fur. A group of noble council members followed him.

“Your Majesty.”

Rohana’s voice held relief. Regardless, he could save the people in the capital.

He was the protagonist, after all.

“Thank goodness.”

Suddenly, he hugged Rohana tightly. It was neither the time nor the place, so she gently pushed him away, and the emperor reluctantly let her go.

But Bardi, with a broad smile, continued to look at Rohana.

“I don’t know if you’ve been briefed, but there’s an attack on the capital….”

“I was on my way to the conference room.”

Bardi gestured to the noble council members behind him. Gregory was among them, looking at her with uneasy eyes.

He had said nothing about her escape and seemed less interested in her than before, perhaps thinking it was his role to monitor her since handing her over to Kaiden Delcliff.

“Rohana, I’m so glad you’re safe. I was really worried.”

Bardi sincerely expressed relief, gripping her hand before finally letting go and exhaling. His actions, out of place given the urgency, made Rohana furrow her brows slightly.

“I even sent more people to find you.”

At that moment, Grand Duke Magnus urged the emperor in a hurried voice.

“Your Majesty, we must go to the conference room….”

Bardi irritably raised his hand to cut him off, then looked at Rohana with his blue eyes again.

“Don’t leave the duchy, Rohana.”

As the group moved busily, Rohana sighed and started to walk slowly.

Suddenly, Gregory grabbed her arm forcefully. Ensuring the others were far enough, he whispered.

“Where were you, and with whom?”

Rohana frowned.

“Brandt is in danger.”

“Answer me.”

Watching her overly calm father, Rohana clicked her tongue inwardly.

“Were you in the city? With whom? How does the emperor know that?”

She could say she was with Duke Delcliff, but she didn’t want to mention Kaiden in front of him. Especially not about visiting the jeweler.

Perhaps not wanting to be late to the meeting, Gregory released her roughly and quickened his pace.

Rohana watched him walk away and then shook off the arm he had grabbed.

***

“Oh my.”

Aurelia murmured, holding a small piece of paper. The concise message caught her eye. The intricate, delicate handwriting ended with a distinctive signature.

“So that’s what happened.”

As the paper burned from the edges after being held to a candle, she watched it with a smile. The flame touched her fingertips, causing a slight burn, but she didn’t mind.

Aurelia brushed off the ash and looked outside, seeing Rohana getting out of a carriage and running toward the central office.

Kaiden had left with her this morning, but she returned alone. Imagining how Kaiden might have sent her back to the palace soured Aurelia’s previously excited mood.

The thought of Kaiden still being in the city also bothered her, though she knew he wouldn’t be in danger from something like this.

‘Annoying.’

Unable to hide her displeasure, she yanked open the drawer of her vanity, causing the jewelry and trinkets piled on top to clatter noisily to the floor.

No matter how often the maid cleaned up, Aurelia’s habit of buying and scattering her treasures made it impossible to keep up.

Sitting slightly askew, she prepared paper and a quill, her golden hair cascading over her small shoulders. After a moment’s contemplation, she picked up the quill. She knew there was only one group capable of such an act.

Ignoring her proposed deal through Marquis Jordic of Shatonwell and resorting to this instead?

‘They’re underestimating me.’

Yet, recalling the message from the burned note brought a smile to Aurelia’s lips. It was interesting, after all, they were impressive opponents.

After a brief hesitation, she began to write.

<Dear R. D.>.

The blank spaces filled naturally, like spreading flames.

***

Reports continued throughout the afternoon. The soldiers, faces dark and voices grave, reported their duties and the extent of the damage, determined to root out those responsible.

Earl Huxley raised his voice, veins bulging.

“It’s definitely the work of the Kark people. Something fell from the sky… who else could it be but them!”

Heath watched the long report from the military commander with lazy eyes.

“We haven’t found anyone who saw exactly what it was.”

The commander lowered his eyes and bowed his head.

“Something fell from the sky….”

Heath straightened up from his relaxed posture.

“No one saw what it was, but…”

“Yes!”

“So, it’s definitely the work of the Kark? Was the magic of the Kark capable of this?”

“Yes.”

This time, it was Gregory Hanover who answered in a cold voice.

“Though I was very young, I remember the Unification War. It could be possible. Such an attack was impossible back then, but… it’s been nearly fifty years.”

Bardi furrowed his brows. He knew Kark’s magic was limited to moving objects or lighting dark places.

Even that made everyone shudder.

Proper records of their magic were destroyed by the Empire, deeming it an evil power. Born long after, Bardi knew little about it.

‘Indeed.’

Bardi pressed his temples. If their magic was so limited, they wouldn’t have stood against the Arin people, nor had any reason to.

The deeper his thoughts, the more vexed he felt, making him mutter a curse.

It was indeed displeasing.

Not eradicating the Kark was his grandfather’s mistake. To give up so easily, to embrace them in the name of unity.

He heard that Princess Yurie’s marriage to Dustin Delcliff of Nopthal, the leader of Kark, was part of that arrangement.

‘I wouldn’t have given my cherished daughter as a hostage to such people.’

Bardi clicked his tongue, thinking of the most bothersome cousin created by that marriage, his vexation turning into uncontrollable anger.

Back in his bedroom, exhausted, he found Aurelia sitting there. In a shimmering silver indoor dress, she looked like a fairy. Seeing her, something messy inside him was subdued.

Bardi, though the date had already been set, spoke to Aurelia as if bestowing a favor. They will marry next week.

“Really, next week?”

“The guests are already here, and there’s no reason to delay.”

Aurelia beamed, unable to contain her joy.

“That’s wonderful.”

Her amber eyes sparkled brightly. Bardi, satisfied, stroked her face and fell into thought.