Chapter 51

After three teleports, Braden’s group finally arrived just below the walls of Edel Kingdom.

Braden looked at the short-range lift powered by magic stones.

Would he be able to see her face soon?

There were two ways to reach the gates of Edel Kingdom. One was a narrow path winding up the cliff, the other was to use the short-range lift operated by the Kingdom.

To board the lift and enter the walls, they had to pass an inspection.

Just then, a group of knights on horseback burst out from the lift.

Not just once—three times, a total of thirty knights.

“The atmosphere seems tense.”

Shutal spoke to Braden, and Liber cast some magic toward the departing knight order.

A man approached Braden’s group and bowed. He was an informant delivering news about Edel Kingdom.

“You’ve arrived. We’ve been waiting.”

“Do you know what’s going on?”

Shutal pointed to the departing knights.

“Princess Adela secretly left the Kingdom. Marquis Adamante sent his private soldiers when he found out, and the King dispatched the knight order to stop them.”

“The Princess left? Why?”

Braden’s eyes sharpened.

“The Marquis is preparing a rebellion. She seemed to leave after learning that.”

“When did the Princess leave?”

“I’m not sure. After yesterday’s royal wedding, she briefly appeared at the banquet, and that was the last. She collapsed and retired early to her chambers.”

“She collapsed?”

Braden felt stifled. Unforeseen things kept happening.

“From overwork.”

“Ha!”

Unbelievable. How much work did she do to collapse from exhaustion?

“The Princess’s Imperial Knight and maid are also missing, so it seems they left together.”

“When did the Marquis’s soldiers start pursuing?”

“Not long ago.”

“There’ll be a clash between knights and soldiers. Liber and the guards, follow me after the knights. Duke Shutal, meet the King and explain the situation.”

Braden quickly assessed and gave orders.

“I knew this would happen, so I cast a tracking spell, hehehe.”

Liber was eccentric, but his skill was sharp.

“Bring the horses.”

Braden rushed out with Liber and the guards. Shutal barely had time to say a word.

“What am I supposed to say to the King?”

Shutal muttered, staring at the dust left by the group.

***

“Haah, haah!”

Adela gasped as she entered a hunter’s temporary hut.

Her trembling hands locked the door, but she doubted it would help. Such a thin door could easily be broken down.

She wondered how much help it really was to split up with her Imperial Knight and Joy to confuse the Marquis’s soldiers.

She’d barely lasted a day before being in danger of capture.

She saw the Kingdom’s knight order while fleeing.

Could they hold off the marquis’ soldiers?

Even if they did, could she really escape alone?

Truthfully, she’d planned to die.

But seeing the ring on her finger made her want to live.

She’d called her close aides for advice. They gave her the answer she wanted.

To run away.

Logan and Alexa stayed behind to hide Adela’s absence.

So, on that noisy evening during the banquet, Adela hurriedly set out with her new Imperial Knight, Ali, and Joy.

She hadn’t expected Adamante to notice so quickly and send soldiers.

Adela looked out the window. A large, white moon hung at the edge.

Would she survive the night?

“Braden, I miss you.”

Adela absentmindedly rubbed the ring on her right finger.

She took out a summoning scroll. Even in her rush, it was the first thing she packed.

She bit her lip to hold back tears.

Maybe she could use it. If only she could get somewhere truly safe.

But it was too dangerous to summon him here. He’d be put at risk along with her.

***

Clang, clang.

The sound of swords clashing was deafening. The Marquis’s soldiers and the knight order were fighting.

Their numbers were similar, but the soldiers seemed more skilled, gradually pushing back the knights. Among them was Adela’s Imperial Knight, Ali.

“Help the knight order.”

At Braden’s command, Liber cast spells and the guards attacked the soldiers from behind. Braden dealt with several soldiers, then entered a nearby cottage.

“Adela, Adela.”

On one side, Joy and an elderly couple who seemed to be the owners were huddled together.

“Gladiator!”

Recognizing Braden, Joy’s eyes widened in shock.

“Please save Her Highness, sob!”

Joy burst into tears and clung to him.

“Where is Adela?”

“I just parted with Her Highness. She went toward the mountain.”

“D*mn.”

Braden groaned.

‘Did she split up to distract the soldiers?’

Adela was alone now. Wandering the mountain paths by herself—he worried for her.

‘Adela, I’ll be there soon. Just hold on a little longer.’

***

‘Right, I’ll just see his face for a moment and send him back.’

Her mind must be strange. Extreme selfishness drove Adela.

She was seized by the simple thought that she could part with him before he got into danger.

Rip.

Adela tore the summoning scroll.

A hazy, mist-like light shimmered, and Braden appeared holding the Sword of Green Shade he’d given her.

“……?”

Startled by the sudden change in location, Braden paused, then his gaze settled on Adela, who was sitting on the floor.

“Adela.”

“You really came?”

Adela murmured softly.

She wondered if she’d conjured a hallucination in this extreme situation.

“Found you.”

Moonlight shone on Braden’s face.

He wore that smile that always made Adela’s heart race.

“It’s really you.”

Adela couldn’t believe it and covered her mouth with her palm.

“Yeah, it’s me, Adela.”

Braden bent one knee, meeting her gaze.

“Are you ready to travel with me?”

Smiling, Braden reached out and gently stroked her pale cheek.

“No, not now.”

He was looking at her and smiling. Seeing the face she’d missed so much, Adela choked up.

What had she done? Summoning him into such danger.

“I’m sorry, Braden. I should have held back, but I missed you too much….”

Tears streamed down her face. Her words were jumbled.

“I just wanted to see you one last time.”

“Last time?”

Braden’s eyes narrowed.

“I’m being chased. You have to run away quickly.”

Finally coming to her senses, Adela anxiously looked around.

“You’re not running away with me, but telling me to run alone?”

“If you stay with me, you’ll be in danger.”

“If you wanted me to run, why did you call me?”

“There’s something I couldn’t say. Thank you. The days I spent with you were the freest and happiest of my life. And I love you. Mm, I’m sorry for being selfish, saying goodbye like this. Now go.”

“So you do know. You say you love me, then tell me to run. Just saying what you want.”

“If you waited for me and wasted your life, that’d be wrong. Please live happily. Even for my share. Ah, I’ll give the ring back.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll be caught soon.”

“What will you do if you’re caught?”

“…….”

Adela couldn’t answer.

“You’re planning to die.”

“I want to die honorably. I’m the seed of trouble. If I disappear, it’ll be over.”

“Why you? If anyone should disappear, it’s the Marquis.”

“I always thought I was competent. But I’m not. I don’t have enough forces to act.”

Despair filled Adela’s face.

“If I’d had just a little more time, I might have found a way, but I realized too late.”

Just then, people carrying torches approached from afar.

“They’re coming. Go. You’ll be in danger too.”

Adela’s voice was urgent.

“You choose honor, and I must choose cowardice? Leaving the woman I love?”

“Go, please. Live. Just think of me sometimes. I’m a selfish woman.”

Her tearful, broken smile stabbed Braden’s heart.

“I’m not going.”

“Then stay here. I’ll go out alone.”

Adela tried to stand, but Braden pulled her back and hugged her.

“Braden, there’s no time.”

“Say you forgive me.”

“What?”

“I deceived you.”

“Alright. I don’t know what it is, but I forgive you. Let go. You have to go quickly.”

Footsteps drew closer.

“Hurry, Braden.”

Adela pushed Braden’s body.

He allowed himself to be pushed, but it was Braden who walked to the door, not Adela.

“What are you doing?”

Adela’s voice, almost a scream, escaped her lips.

Braden opened the door without answering.

“I found the Princess. Prepare to return.”

“Yes, Prince.”

Adela stared blankly at the people bowing to Braden beyond the door.