56. Where Did It Come From? (1)

Edward looked back at the path he and Larael had walked.

‘We’ve come too far in.’

The question was whether the guards waiting at the entrance of the forest had sensed this presence. Edward quickly glanced around, searching for anything he could use as a weapon.

It was the presence of a monster. It had been a long time since Edward felt such a presence. There shouldn’t be any monsters here. But now was not the time to think things through.

He considered picking Larael up and running. Not knowing what kind of monster it was, both of them could be put in danger. If there was no way to escape, he would have to buy time so Larael could get away.

“Larael, listen carefully. Don’t look back—run straight back the way we came.”

“Alright.”

Seeing Edward’s tense expression, Larael seemed to sense the seriousness of the situation and nodded. The unfamiliar presence made chills run all over her body.

“Now!”

With a shout, Edward grabbed Larael’s hand and started running. Larael ran with all her strength.

As soon as they started, the monster that had been sneaking up, afraid of losing its prey, revealed itself from the bushes. The moment it appeared, it let out a ferocious roar.

It was a sound Larael had never heard before. The roar filled the entire space behind her, and Larael began to tremble in fear. But she did not stop running, holding tightly to Edward’s hand.

If she stopped here, Edward would be put in danger as well. Following Edward’s instructions, Larael never once looked back.

Edward turned to check the monster after hearing its roar.

‘A wolf? Fenrir?’

Fenrir bared its savage fangs and charged at them with terrifying speed.

Edward glanced at Larael. She was gasping for breath as she ran, her face twisted in pain. He could tell without asking that she was at her limit. Edward watched as Fenrir closed the distance. It was getting closer and closer.

He pulled Larael toward him, wrapped her tightly in his arms, and threw their bodies to the side. Unable to withstand the momentum, the two tumbled together several times before coming to a stop.

“Ugh…”

Larael groaned. But there was no time to check on her. Edward made sure she was unharmed, then looked around. He got up and broke off a tree branch as long as his arm.

“Larael, get up and go! Run!”

Clenching her teeth, Larael forced herself up. Fenrir was now approaching them at a leisurely pace.

It seemed to think that they could no longer escape. As it drew closer, its threatening size made Larael freeze on the spot.

Edward glanced at the unmoving Larael, then glared at Fenrir.

Drool dripped from its sharp fangs. Its fierce eyes glowed red with bloodlust. A foul stench stung their noses.

Edward coated the branch with aura. It wasn’t as good as a sword, but it was better than nothing. Brilliant golden aura wrapped around the branch from Edward’s fingertips.

He glanced desperately at Larael, urging her to move. Larael clenched her teeth. Her legs trembled, but she managed to crawl away on all fours.

‘Get it together, Larael. Edward could die because of you.’

She bit her lip hard. She was angry with herself, tears streaming down her face, because her body wouldn’t move as she wanted.

After seeing Edward’s aura, Fenrir’s movements became noticeably more cautious. It alternated its gaze between Edward, preparing to strike with his aura, and Larael, crawling away.

Edward watched Fenrir’s gaze anxiously. It was a clever monster. Tension filled the air between Edward and Fenrir.

Fenrir stared at Edward, then suddenly twisted its body toward Larael and charged at her with its jaws wide open.

“No!!”

Edward shouted desperately and unleashed an aura blade. The golden aura shot toward Fenrir. Hit by the aura, Fenrir tumbled to the ground. But it seemed to have only grazed it, as it soon rose again. Ignoring Edward, it charged straight at Larael.

Edward unleashed another aura blade and rushed toward Larael at the same time.

This time, the aura blade pierced Fenrir’s right eye. Fenrir howled in pain, blood spurting as it thrashed. After a moment of agony, it staggered back to its feet, blood streaming down.

Edward, breathing heavily, stood in front of Larael, pointing the aura-coated branch at Fenrir.

“Larael. Use the bracelet. Now. That’s an order.”

Larael looked at the bracelet on her wrist. But she couldn’t leave Edward behind. While she hesitated, Fenrir shook the blood from its fur and lunged at them, jaws wide.

At the same time, Edward leapt up and drove the aura-coated branch into Fenrir’s head. But no matter how much aura it had, it was still just a branch.

He struck with all his strength, but it wasn’t enough. Fenrir, writhing in pain, tried to shake Edward off as he clung to its back, driving the branch into its head. Unable to withstand Fenrir’s resistance, Edward released his grip and jumped off.

Fenrir rubbed its head against the ground, trying to dislodge the branch stuck in its skull. Blood gushed from its head like a fountain. Taking advantage of Fenrir’s agony, Edward quickly pulled Larael to her feet.

“Your Majesty!!”

From afar, the guards appeared. They drew their swords and immediately attacked Fenrir.

One of the guards handed Edward a sword. Edward’s deep blue teal eyes flashed with madness. He was angrier now than he had ever been in any war.

The most precious person to him had just been attacked.

Coating the sword with aura, Edward strode toward the rampaging Fenrir.

***

The summer palace was in chaos.

The Emperor and Empress returned from their walk in the forest covered in wounds. Sasha and Joanna burst into tears at the sight of Larael, battered and bruised.

The imperial physician and the chief chamberlain, who had accompanied them just in case, rushed to treat the Emperor’s wounds.

“Treat the Empress Consort first.”

Edward stood by the bed, watching Larael, who sat on top of it.

Sasha and Joanna stood behind Edward, crying. He looked down at Larael’s feet, battered and shoeless. With a long sigh, he turned away, tormented by guilt for failing to protect her.

Trix, the chief attendant, knocked and entered. Seeing him, Edward approached.

“Your Majesty, I’ll prepare for our return to the imperial palace at once. The Tower Master has been summoned and will arrive soon.”

Their brief summer holiday had come to an end. After what happened, they could not stay here any longer. Until today, everything had been perfect.

Edward’s eyes flashed with murderous intent. To endanger the life of a royal was a grave offense—serious enough to justify dissolving the Magic Tower. And it wasn’t just any monster, but Fenrir—the most dangerous among wolf-type monsters.

Edward nodded, not taking his eyes off Larael as she received treatment.

Larael, as she was being treated, tried to recall if anything like this had happened before her regression.

Before her regression, she had never come to the summer palace with Edward. When Larael refused to go to the summer palace, Edward, after taking her as Empress, threw himself into work and didn’t take any vacations.

[Larael, even if you don’t like my brother, why not go there and get some rest? No one says you have to stick by his side the whole time. The summer palace is truly beautiful. Just seeing it will soothe your wounded heart. I have many fond memories of that place from my childhood. If you go, we can share those memories together.]

Suddenly, Larael remembered how Herwen had tried to persuade her to visit the summer palace with Edward after she said she didn’t want to go.

She had cried and refused, but he had suggested several more times that she should at least rest there for a while.

‘Herwen, this is your doing.’