A few horses galloped swiftly through the deep, cold night of the North.

They were white horses, appearing incredibly light, as if they were flying, likely due to their extensive training.

Alec watched them for a while from the spire of the castle.

Centered around Harriet’s horse, other knights were following discreetly, as if hiding their presence.

But no matter how skilled the knights were, they couldn’t escape his keen eyes.

From deep into the night, Harriet’s knights had been lurking around Wiltsbrook Castle and its surroundings, preparing to kidnap Louise.

Unexpectedly, however, because Louise had approached Harriet first, the knights faced no difficulties in escorting her to the capital.

Who could have imagined that Louise would even attempt to flee in the middle of the night?

[Skill: Swift.]

Alec moved closer to them.

Louise clung tightly to Harriet’s cloak as she rode with him on the same horse.

“I’m telling you again, if you take me straight to the palace by force, His Majesty will be facing my corpse.”

“…”

“Answer me.”

“…Yes.”

At Louise’s resolute words, Harriet replied slightly belatedly.

Only then did Louise feel a bit more at ease, but she couldn’t let her guard down completely.

They had long since left the road connected to Wiltsbrook Castle.

Suddenly, Harriet spoke in a barely audible voice.

“By the way, Eloise hasn’t been seen all day.”

“…?”

Louise tilted her head slightly at the unexpected remark. For Harriet to bring up Eloise ? She wondered if she had heard him wrong.

Louise responded with a faint sigh as if it were no big deal.

“When something upsets her, she’s always like that. Anyway, when she gets hungry—”

Neigh!

Suddenly, with a loud cry, the horse reared its front legs.

Harriet abruptly stopped the horse.

Moments ago, nothing had been in sight, but now a figure blocked their path.

Out of the darkness, Alec’s form slowly emerged.

“Do you really have to go?”

“…”

It was only then that Louise realized who had suddenly appeared, and her face darkened.

She glared at him for a moment before swiftly dismounting the horse.

Alec glanced over Harriet and the knights, then fixed his gaze on Louise, who now stood in front of him.

There was some distance between the two.

“…Step aside.”

“Harriet is going to take you to the palace.”

“I know that much.”

“Are you planning to let yourself be dragged there?”

“…”

Alec asked in disbelief.

Louise didn’t answer but instead stared at him with an intense gaze.

He understood her desire to escape him, but Harriet was someone she couldn’t handle alone.

And now she was accompanying him, even though it was clear she’d be taken to the palace.

“I understand that you dislike me, but I can’t stand by and watch you act recklessly.”

“By what right are you interfering? This is my decision.”

“Even if that decision leads to your death?”

“Why would I die? Tell me, Harriet. Were you planning to kill me? Does His Majesty want me dead?”

“…That’s not it.”

Harriet, suddenly called out by name, was startled for a moment but soon responded truthfully.

If anything, the emperor might hold him responsible if the viscountess got hurt.

But watching this quarrel between a couple who claimed they were divorcing made it hard to breathe.

Were all marital fights this brutal?

The other teenage knights standing behind Harriet swallowed nervously.

But how had Alec appeared here, as if he’d been waiting for them?

While Harriet pondered that question, Louise spoke firmly once more.

“Step aside. You no longer have the right to be involved in my life.”

“…”

Was she really going to the palace to escape him?

Alec couldn’t believe it.

Even though something devastating had clearly happened, Louise was behaving so emotionally.

The palace was absolutely not an option.

There was someone there who desired her.

Would it be better to stop Harriet and the knights and take Louise back to the castle?

He certainly had the power to do so.

But he didn’t want to be hated by Louise any more than he already was.

Eventually, Alec stepped back a little and spoke.

“Even if I step aside now, it doesn’t mean I’m letting you go for good.”

“…”

“If you truly go to the palace, I will storm it immediately.”

His eyes darkened, glowing with a more determined light.

It seemed the time had finally come to deal with the emperor.

He could understand her desire to escape him, but he could never tolerate her going to the palace.

If necessary, he would destroy the emperor and the palace entirely.

That was his fate, anyway.

Alec and Louise’s gazes clashed fiercely for a moment.

But soon, she turned away, climbing back onto Harriet’s horse.

.

.

.

Neigh!

Harriet and the knights’ horses began to gallop once more.

Alec watched them for a moment before darting to a nearby rocky outcrop.

Harriet’s horse was already disappearing into the distance.

It was no longer within Alec’s sight.

Letting the woman he loved go—he had done the unthinkable.

However, it was only his one-sided feelings, and to her, it was no different from unwanted violence.

Remembering this made him feel deeply displeased with himself.

Still, Louise was well aware that bringing down Aksen was one of his goals.

Now, since he could no longer gain affection points, he wouldn’t be able to level up anymore.

Although there was still a significant gap between him and Aksen’s level, he could no longer just stand by and watch.

The moment he reminded himself of this truth—

*Crack!*

A thunderous roar, as if the sky were being torn apart, erupted from somewhere.

The sound was so loud and eerie that it could wake everything that was asleep.

Alec turned his gaze toward the direction of the noise, feeling a strange sense of familiarity.

A sharp light, similar to lightning, was slashing through the sky, illuminating everything around it.

The light was so dazzling that it was blinding, far beyond what words like “dazzling” could express.

At the same time, he noticed that lights were being turned on sporadically in the houses throughout Kalanysh.

The terrifying sound, loud enough to tear eardrums, had awakened the sleeping townsfolk.

Even the windows of Wiltsbrook Castle lit up.

As Alec watched the people of the North rise from their sleep, he shifted his gaze back to the high sky.

What felt like mere moments stretched out, as if time slowed down.

Could it be…?

Could it be that ‘that’ event was about to unfold in the North?

It felt as though the extinction of the North, something he had read about in books, was playing out before his eyes.

Screeeeech!

Suddenly, as if ripping through a veil, a monster burst forth from a gate.

One monster quickly became ten, and those ten multiplied into dozens, falling from the sky like a rain of terror.

The impact caused the snow piled thickly on the Kalanysh Mountains to scatter like dust.

The roars of polar bears echoed to the highest heavens.

“…!”

People gasped in shock.

Those who had come out of their homes and the castle stood frozen in place, covering their mouths in confusion and fear.

What on earth was falling from the sky?

The people were so petrified, they couldn’t even move.

Witnessing such a sight for the first time in their lives, it was as if something had snapped in everyone’s minds.

So, they really did intend to destroy the North after all.

As soon as Harriet had taken Louise away, they abandoned the North.

There was no need to wonder—it was clear who was behind this.

Although Alec had seen gates countless times in his past life, never before had so many monsters poured out the moment one opened.

Ding!

[Quest Triggered!]

[~Monsters have appeared! Defeat all the monsters and save the people of the North—.]

Alec forcefully closed the system window and immediately teleported to the Kalanysh Mountains.

The polar bears were already charging at the black monsters.

[Beginner Husband’s Tickle: Lightning Strike]

His skill struck like lightning, hitting the monsters with precision, annihilating dozens of them at once.

Simultaneously, the monsters turned to ash, dissolving into smoke.

The polar bears, ready to pounce, looked around in confusion as the monsters vanished before they could land a blow.

Leaving the bewildered bears behind, Alec swiftly dashed back to Wiltsbrook Castle.

His sudden arrival sent a gust of wind or light—no one could tell which—rippling through the crowd outside the castle, causing hair and clothes to flutter wildly.

And surprisingly, Alec was the one who came to a stop.

“Lord?”

“How on earth…?”

Could he have flown here?

As people stood dumbfounded, struggling with the absurdity of the thought, Alec began searching for Vali with his eyes.

Along with Marianne and Brooks, many other nobles and servants had gathered in front of the castle.

Every gaze was filled with uncertainty and fear.

Finally, Alec’s eyes met Vali’s.

Just in case, it was necessary to ensure the safety of the people.

“Vali, evacuate everyone.”

“Excuse me?”

“Make sure no one leaves the castle.”

“…Lord!”

Without waiting to hear more, Alec activated his speed skill again.

The people who witnessed this gasped, covering their mouths in astonishment.

This was the first time the transcendent abilities of the Lord of Wiltsbrook had been revealed to the public.

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories