“Damn it!”

Gregory, barely clinging to life, cursed under his breath. Around him, the wounded guards groaned near the wrecked carriage.

“Franz Soyez…”

The Marquis of the South, Franz Soyez, was looking down at him.

“What the hell are you doing!”

The operation had been perfect. They’d waited for Shatonwell to cross the border amidst the confusion, preparing for an ambush.

They had even secured handcuffs from R.D., ensuring that little girl couldn’t pull any tricks.

Through his hazy vision, Gregory saw black-masked figures lifting the unconscious princess. His ears were still ringing from the crash.

At that moment, a cold white blade approached his throat. Gregory glared at the masked man with a death stare.

Then it happened.

“Spare him.”

It was a voice he had heard somewhere before. A woman in a navy-blue cloak spoke. Through the folds of the cloak, a glimpse of golden hair was visible.

“Ha.”

Gregory sighed.

Aurelia Bree.

The exiled and disgraced empress.

“Long time no see.”

The woman, who had been smiling faintly, handed Gregory the reins.

“This should be enough. Both Kaiden and Shatonwell must be thoroughly shocked by now.”

“You dare…!”

“Hurry back. Return to the capital and tell R.D. what happened to you.”

By now, every single servant and soldier around them had already been killed. The black-masked individuals, who appeared to be from the Kark tribe, were casually wiping the blood from their swords.

“You wretched…”

“Oh, come on. Just because we added our own touch to your little scheme, you’re this upset?”

It was Franz.

“What in the world do you want, that you’d go to such lengths…?”

“Want? You think we did this because we wanted something?”

Franz spoke in a thick, sardonic voice, his square jaw standing out prominently.

“We did it because we’re going to win.”

The sharp tone made Gregory’s brow furrow.

Aurelia spoke calmly, her voice ringing clear.

“Go now. Let them know that I’m truly sorry I couldn’t see Bardi’s face in person. Tell them how the kidnapping failed and how I’m looking forward to seeing them invade the kingdom and lose.”

Gregory, brushing off the mud-stained clothes, clenched the reins tightly in his hands.

“Well, I’ll be with R.D. You can send a carrier pigeon.”

Franz, who was holding the magically sedated princess, spoke, and Aurelia nodded.

“I’ll wait here for Kaiden.”

Hearing their conversation, Gregory mounted the royal white horse. He needed to hurry to where Emperor Bardi would be by now.

To the western wall of Shatonwell.

***

Kaiden reached the southern border at a monstrous speed. The group had hidden their tracks expertly, though it didn’t matter to him.

They were definitely receiving help from a skilled Kark tribe member. Twisting his lip, Kaiden pushed forward at full speed, only to abruptly stop.

The traces of magic had ended, and instead, human footprints appeared.

Something had happened here.

As he quietly surveyed the ground and the surroundings, Kaiden muttered in a low voice.

“Come out. Stop wasting my time.”

His long, thick sword gleamed a sharp blue. At that moment, the quiet air faintly trembled.

‘You tried hard, but…’

Kaiden was faster. As soon as he spotted the figure attempting to leap back into the trees, his sword pierced their side and neck, sending blood gushing like a fountain.

He hadn’t killed them.

He needed them to talk.

With another throw of his spear, two more figures fell from the trees, their agonized screams echoing through the forest.

One more.

Just as a dagger was about to be thrown—

“My, my.”

A sultry female voice. One he hadn’t heard in a long time.

“It seems we’re no match for you after all.”

Through the lush, green trees, a familiar figure came into view. Kaiden let out an incredulous laugh.

It was Aurelia Bree.

“Looks like you provided the Kark tribe with support, huh?”

Aurelia, her long golden hair twisted up in an elegant knot, stood there in a blue cloak.

“It’s amazing. How do you always manage to figure everything out?”

Her golden eyes curved delicately.

‘Yet you don’t know how I feel.’

Even now, she was thrilled to see him, gritting her teeth while smiling. Her golden eyes sparkled brilliantly. Her doll-like features and clear skin gave off an air of carefree innocence.

“Incredible. To think you’ve even teamed up with the emperor.”

As Kaiden approached with heavy steps, Aurelia raised a small white cloth in her hand.

“After repeatedly hunting down the Arin tribe for the Kark tribe, you’re helping the emperor with this pitiful show?”

Before she could even move, a cold dagger was pressed against her neck. Whether it was because she knew resistance was futile or because she had something to rely on, Aurelia only looked mildly startled, maintaining her calm.

Her languid voice, like a final warning, was chilling.

“Where is Serin?”

“The princess is safe.”

“So the Arin tribe did a good job hiding their tracks after all. You must have planted a spy on your end.”

Aurelia silently cursed Kaiden’s sharp intuition as he quickly deduced the situation.

As the dagger pressed against her throat, Kaiden’s thick hand touched the delicate skin of her neck. Aurelia, unnervingly thrilled by even that, felt her heart race with excitement.

“The terms are simple.”

Aurelia spoke.

“Join hands with us. I don’t even know why this should be called a condition.”

Seeing Kaiden’s eyes turn harsh yet faltering, Aurelia realized Lazar had been right.

“If you capture the weak, you can always break them.”

To bring him to her side, it was necessary to help a more repulsive enemy, even just a little.

That vile emperor would blame it all on R.D., but from R.D.’s perspective, it was more important for Kaiden to firmly ally with them.

Aurelia smiled, her pink lips curving upwards.

“Join hands?”

“R.D. wants to fight the Arin tribe with you. It doesn’t seem like a bad deal.”

R.D. was an unpredictable organization. Kaiden furrowed his brow.

“You wouldn’t risk putting the princess in danger just because you refuse this deal, would you?”

The two locked eyes dangerously.

“How have you been?”

Aurelia leaned in slightly toward Kaiden and asked.

“I’ve been well.”

The harsh reality of their current situation hit her, the realization of how irreversible it all was. She let out a short sigh before continuing.

“If you agree, I’ll share some critical information with you.”

“And what is that information?”

“Oh, you have to agree first.”

Kaiden let out a long sigh, sinking into thought. What information could R.D. possibly offer now? What could they have learned while sticking close to Bardi?

Then it hit him, and Kaiden’s brow furrowed as a sense of déjà vu washed over him.

Even now, Heath and Rohana were in the castle while he was out here.

The same tactic they’d used at Pincheser.

Separate him and attack the main force.

An idea began to form in Kaiden’s mind.

That ‘hidden R.D.’ must have been advising Bardi on strategy.

“So the royal army is attacking Shatonwell?”

Aurelia couldn’t help but gasp.

“Shatonwell is probably already in flames by now.”

Kaiden’s face froze like ice.

That couldn’t be.

Bardi wouldn’t mobilize the royal army without a solid pretext. But soon, Kaiden let out a low sigh.

“Ha…”

Of course. Why hadn’t he realized it sooner? Kaiden clicked his tongue. His deep voice, now a growl, was chilling.

“They probably came under the guise of rescuing the princess, but the better pretext would be Shatonwell’s soldiers crossing the empire’s border.”

“They’re going to tear through everything in the search,” Aurelia smiled broadly.

“Was this Lazar’s plan?”

Aurelia, removing her hood, spoke brightly. Her blonde hair gleamed in the sunlight.

“You should return with the princess, Your Grace. There’s no time. The imperial elite forces have already moved, and even Emperor Bardi himself.”

Kaiden narrowed his eyes.

“Where is Serin?”

Aurelia smiled.

“Then I’ll take that as a deal.”

Rohana’s face flashed in Kaiden’s mind. She had fallen apart just from seeing Aurelia at the Duke’s manor before. This wasn’t an ideal situation, but…

Serin’s life was at stake. It was a gamble with time.

From Aurelia’s fingertips, a piece of torn, white fabric fluttered in the breeze. It looked like it had come from Serin’s dress.

Rohana would say she was fine. Even if she saw Aurelia again, there would be nothing she could do.

That’s the kind of person she was.

Always enduring, always holding back.

Thinking this far, Kaiden felt sick to his stomach. Cursing multiple times didn’t make him feel any better.

‘It’s not an option to fail to rescue Serin, but to join hands with Aurelia and R.D.… That would be…’

Even if Rohana said it was okay, Kaiden couldn’t accept it. The entire world had demanded sacrifices from her, and now, he was about to become one of those people.

As Kaiden slowly opened his dark eyes, Aurelia’s face was reflected in them. Furrowing his brow, Kaiden made his decision and spoke.

“Bring her here, right now.”

“We can talk about it on the way to Shatonwell.”

When Aurelia blew a whistle, a carrier pigeon that had been hidden high up in the trees soared into the sky.

“Hand her over to me here and now.”

“Do you really have time for that?”

“That’s not your concern.”

“With the imperial army on the move, how do you think Shatonwell’s army or Heath will stand a chance?”

Kaiden smiled, lifting the corner of his mouth.

“Time is just as tight for you.”

Aurelia flinched for a moment. As Kaiden sheathed his sword and leisurely stepped back, Aurelia exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Her chest heaved as she caught her breath.

“Hurry, if you want me to even consider swaying.”

Kaiden tilted his sharp jaw, calmly warning her. It wasn’t his problem if they were pressed for time.

‘Rohana…’

Kaiden felt an unusual sense of unease, something he rarely experienced.

‘Just hold on a little longer.’

He smirked bitterly to himself.

‘Shameless as it is, but I’m coming back to you.’