Bang!

Alec’s body was thrown outside the imperial palace.

Something invisible was surrounding the palace.

However, to Alec, it appeared as a dark blue, shimmering transparent barrier.

It was magic.

“The Aksen barrier?”

The moment his eyes narrowed, a familiar voice came to him.

‘Master.’

“…Olivia.”

His familiar, Olivia, stood beside him with a somewhat troubled expression.

He could tell what had happened without needing to ask.

Because of Aksen’s barrier, Olivia had also been thrown out while staying by Louise’s side.

Olivia opened her mouth as if she knew what he was going to ask.

‘I’m sorry. The lady has suddenly disappeared.’

“……”

Alec closed his eyes tightly before opening them again.

He had already been watching over Louise through Olivia’s eyes.

She had taken advantage of the commotion to escape the palace, only to be transported somewhere else.

It was by a force Olivia could not follow.

“Do you have any idea where the emperor might have taken Louise?”

‘…Yes.’

Olivia nodded once and then continued.

‘Most likely, it’s that place. I’ve been there myself. It was where I received the power necessary to be the empress from the emperor.’

“……”

‘I couldn’t handle that power and ended up falling ill.’

“……”

Alec clenched his jaw even tighter.

He was already aware that Olivia had received magic from Aksen.

Could Aksen be planning to grant that same filthy, evil power to Louise?

And if so, what if Louise, like Olivia, became weak and contracted a fatal illness?

Just the thought made his stomach churn.

“Where is it? Is it inside the palace?”

Olivia nodded.

‘But even I don’t know exactly where within the palace. It won’t be easy to find without the emperor.’

“Find it anyway.”

‘Understood.’

Olivia bowed to him as if about to vanish and spoke in a gentle tone as she straightened up.

‘The emperor will send Count Warden to you. Be cautious of the leader of that knight order.’

“Got it.”

As soon as he answered, Olivia’s form scattered.

It wouldn’t be easy for Olivia to locate Louise while the barrier surrounded the palace.

However, since Olivia knew the palace inside and out, there was a sliver of hope to cling to.

Meanwhile, he needed to tear through the barrier—

At that moment, an unusual and intense killing intent abruptly surged around him.

Alec, with an overwhelming force, drew his sword and turned around.

A figure in a blue cloak and silver armor, with dark blond hair and teal eyes, stood before him.

Though his youthful appearance matched his sixteen years, there was an unsettling shadow hanging over him.

Harriet stood there, filled with an unprecedented murderous intent.

However, Harriet’s level was 35.

He was no match for Alec.

He wouldn’t last more than a few seconds before succumbing.

The real problem was the sword with blue eyes that Harriet was gripping tightly.

Alec recalled what Eloise had told Louise at Wiltsbrook Castle—that the sword had started speaking.

The power of the ancient sword, which had existed for thousands of years, would be comparable to Aksen.

Alec briefly glanced at the sword before locking eyes with Harriet.

“Move, Harriet. I don’t want to hurt a minor.”

“……”

Harriet furrowed his brows deeply.

“A minor? I don’t know why you’re treating me like a child, but you won’t take another step forward.”

“It’s a fight you’re destined to lose. If you give up now, you might at least save your life.”

“If I back down now, do you think His Majesty the Emperor will let me live?”

Harriet swung his sword and repositioned it.

He showed no signs of giving up.

It seemed faster to defeat and subdue Harriet by fighting him.

Alec summoned another familiar.

“Sir Cassdain, tear through the barrier.”

Harriet frowned, confused by his words.

Suddenly, a cold chill swept in like snowflakes from the void.

A vampire appeared, cloak tattered and torn, revealing fangs and long claws.

The moonlight reflected off its fangs and claws, making them glisten coldly like stars in the night sky.

Sensing its presence, Harriet turned to look.

His pupils quivered slightly.

“What is that—?”

Screech!

In that moment, Cassdain let out a piercing shriek, as if ripping through the sky, and charged at the barrier.

As his claws clashed with the surface of the barrier, a spine-chilling screech echoed, and sparks flew.

As Alec leveled up, his familiars grew stronger too.

This time was no exception.

Cassdain relentlessly clawed at the barrier, driving his nails deep into its surface.

Soon, Olivia soared into the air, and with a burst of magic, she joined the attack.

A loud thud reverberated as Aksen’s barrier shook violently.

Harriet’s eyes widened in shock.

“Your Majesty the Empress—?”

Her hair, neatly styled, and her lavish clothing were just as they had been during her life as Empress.

Anyone would instantly recognize her as Olivia.

“They’re my familiars. Surely, you don’t wish to become my puppet even in death, do you?”

“……”

Harriet’s body stiffened momentarily.

Amid the fierce, fiery scene, he turned toward Alec, his gaze intense, as if fueled by anger.

“Since when did you have such power?”

“…Since the moment I lost everything and died.”

The instant he finished speaking, Alec closed the distance between them in a flash.

Harriet was momentarily flustered but managed to parry Alec’s sword just in time.

Boom!

The impact hit Harriet’s arms like an entire fortress being pushed back.

A shiver ran through his bones, like cracks forming on ice.

“…Ugh.”

Harriet was forced back, staggering.

He barely managed to hold onto his sword, his arms limp at his sides.

It had taken just one strike.

In that single swing, Harriet realized that the power Alec wielded was something beyond his reach.

“This is absurd. How could this be…?”

Harriet had once sparred with the finest warriors of the Empire, even dueling the Emperor himself.

When he had faced the Emperor, he had felt an overwhelming, transcendent force.

But Alec’s strength was of a completely different caliber.

And this wasn’t even Alec’s full power—how could the Duke of Alec Myers possess such strength?

“Stay out of my way, Harriet. Next time, your head will roll.”

Alec’s gaze burned with sharp intensity.

He was no longer in a position to show mercy to anyone.

Even in this moment, his heart ached with worry, not knowing what Louise might be going through.

Just as he turned to leave Harriet behind—

Thud. Harriet’s sword trembled violently.

The blue eye ornament attached to the hilt rolled its eyeball, and suddenly, a pupil and iris formed, as if it were a living creature’s eye.

[What are you doing, Harriet? How frustrating!]

“……”

[Let’s kill him! Kill him, and then we’ll slaughter all the others too!]

“……”

[If you can’t do it, surrender yourself to me! You’re completely out of it!]

“……”

[…Still not back to your senses? At this rate, I’ll die of frustration! Accept me already! If you don’t kill him, the Emperor will take me from you!]

“…Shut up.”

Finally snapping out of it, Harriet glared at Alec.

Alec glanced down at the sword, now turned into a cursed blade.

He could feel its insatiable thirst for blood.

Its long-repressed lust for killing was about to erupt.

Like most cursed swords, once this one started to rampage, it would kill anyone within its reach.

If someone became enslaved by this cursed blade, it wouldn’t be satisfied until every person in the Empire, and perhaps even beyond, had been slaughtered.

Would Harriet really surrender his mind to this cursed sword?

The moment Alec’s gaze met Harriet’s, Harriet tightened his grip on the sword and smiled.

“Fine, blue eye. We’ll just kill him. Then I’ll give you my consciousness.”

[Really?! Got it!]

The blue eye on the sword blinked excitedly.

Until now, Harriet had fought hard to resist being dominated by the cursed sword, even while he slept.

There was nothing more humiliating than being controlled by it.

But without the help of the blue eye, he wouldn’t be able to stop Alec.

Once unleashed, the sword would undoubtedly spiral out of control, reveling in its dominance.

Harriet felt reborn as he laughed, and Alec, in a flash of light, charged toward him.

‘That bastard—!’

Harriet’s eyes flared red.

It was as if his consciousness had vanished, never to return.TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories