Chapter 53

He’d suspected Adela’s group had come with a mage when they suddenly appeared in the office.

But to maintain a barrier around this large office for so long?

He wasn’t an ordinary mage.

“Hello? I’m Liber.”

Liber introduced himself lightly. His casual attitude clashed with the heavy, tense atmosphere.

“Hey, you toothless tiger.”

Braden spoke, drawing Adamante’s attention.

Adamante’s forehead bulged with veins at Braden’s provocation.

“I’m your opponent. Draw your sword.”

“Ha! You think you can face me with a sword, Boy?”

A sly smile curled Adamante’s lips.

“Braden, don’t kill him. He needs to stand trial.”

Adela spoke calmly.

Assuming Braden would win, Adela’s words made Adamante even angrier.

What did they take him for?

“Watch closely, Adela. See how weak those you brought are.”

Adamante drew his sword.

“Boasting again.”

Braden scoffed and wrapped his sword in aura.

“An aura user? So you’re acting up because of that.”

Aura users were as rare as mages.

Adamante also wrapped his sword in aura, showing off.

“Liber, protect the Princess.”

“Okay. My Lady, this way.”

Liber escorted Adela to the sofa and sat her down. A protective barrier soon appeared.

“Princess, would you like some tea?”

Poof, steaming tea and delicious snacks appeared on the table before Adela.

Watching Liber’s absurd abilities, Adela vowed never to be surprised by anything he did from now on.

“How will the Captain slice a person? I’ve seen him slice magical beasts plenty, but it’s my first time seeing him slice a person.”

Speaking cheerfully about something so grim, Liber popped a sweet macaron into his mouth and munched away, completely in spectator mode.

“Now we can spar comfortably. Shall we begin, Marquis?”

Aura’s destructive power was immense. Without a barrier, Adela could have been hurt, but Liber’s shield made it safe.

Adamante charged at Braden, radiating murderous intent.

Whoosh.

The sound of swinging swords was vicious. Just swinging, he shattered furniture and fixtures around him.

Clang.

Braden’s sword met Adamante’s.

“Ugh!”

Adamante groaned at the tingling pain shooting up his wrist. He was pushed back. It was impressive he hadn’t dropped his sword.

Cough. The murderous intent from Braden turned Adamante’s insides, and blood welled up.

“So slow, so weak. I expected more from your boasting. Can you last even three exchanges?”

Braden taunted.

“You b*stard!”

Adamante charged at Braden, desperate.

This couldn’t be happening. Adamante was Edel Kingdom’s greatest swordsman. He was the best not only in the Kingdom but had won duels across Kingdoms in his youth.

How could this happen?

Clang! Crack!

“Argh!”

Blood spurted from his right wrist. Adamante gripped it with his left hand. The severed hand, still holding the sword, rolled on the floor.

Looking at his empty wrist, Adamante’s face was filled with shock.

Impossible.

It wasn’t that his skills had rusted. The man before him was overwhelmingly strong.

Was there really such a swordsman in the world?

Braden swung his sword again. This time, Adamante’s left ankle was severed.

“Aaagh!”

Adamante lost his balance and collapsed pathetically.

“Liber, heal his wrist and ankle.”

Braden ordered.

If the severed wrist and ankle were brought to a healer, they could be reattached. Otherwise, they’d heal as they were.

“Okay.”

With Liber’s gesture, Adamante’s wrist and ankle healed instantly, smooth and scarless.

“Adela, it’s over.”

Braden looked at Adela.

“What? Is it over already? That’s too bland.”

Liber whined.

“Tsk.”

Braden shot Liber a warning look.

He was Adela’s maternal grandfather. Braden wasn’t one to deal cruelly with people, but with Adela watching, he finished things as quickly and cleanly as possible.

Adela stared for a while at her grandfather, whose spirit had collapsed after losing his wrist and ankle.

He never imagined such an end. That’s why he’d become drunk on power and got greedy, not realizing that greed would consume him.

Compared to his grand ambitions, his end was truly empty.

Why couldn’t he be content with what he had?

If he’d been satisfied, everything would have been peaceful. She and Holden wouldn’t have suffered, and Adamante wouldn’t be facing the guillotine.

“Sir Liber, please put him in the Kingdom’s prison.”

“Got it, Princess.”

Soon, Adamante vanished.

“Adela, are you alright?”

Braden came to her side with a worried look.

“I’m fine. And thank you.”

Adela looked at Braden—the sudden stroke of luck in her life.

If not for him, she’d have been swept away by the raging current.

“If you’re happy, I’ll do anything.”

Braden smiled gently.

“Then, shall we move on to the next matter? Sir Liber, please release the barrier.”

“Okay.”

As soon as the barrier was released, knights burst through the door.

They’d rushed in at the noise but couldn’t open the door until now.

“Marquis!”

But Adamante was nowhere to be seen, so the knights didn’t know what to do.

“Knights, listen.”

At Adela’s clear voice, the knights stopped.

“The Marquis is a criminal who committed treason. You probably didn’t know. So I’ll give you a chance. Surrender now and you’ll be spared, but anyone who resists will be severely punished.”

***

On the opposite side of the guillotine, a temporary platform had been erected high. The King and Adela sat atop it, with Braden seated beside her as the Prince.

Holden glanced sideways at Adela and Braden.

Everything was resolved swiftly, just four days after Adela’s escape.

Compared to the major event of rebellion, it was handled quietly. Adela didn’t want the Kingdom to fall into chaos.

With Braden, Adela tracked down and subdued the nobles who plotted rebellion. The main leaders were all captured, but those who surrendered were let off with a pledge of loyalty to the King and fines.

In court, Adela testified against Marquis Adamante’s treason, and the criminals were sentenced to the guillotine.

The people hurled rotten eggs and stones at the wagons carrying the criminals, cursing them.

“Traitors like these!”

“They deserve to die.”

“What did the nobles lack, to resort to rebellion?”

As the criminals were dragged out and stood before the guillotine, an official came out and recited their crimes.

Holden stood up from his chair and spoke to the people.

“People, look and see. This is the end for those who harbor wicked intentions.”

“Long live His Majesty the King!”

The people pledged their loyalty and shouted for the King.

“Execute them.”

At Holden’s command, the criminals disappeared under the blade of the guillotine.

***

“Sister, you should become the Monarch.”

Holden spoke to Adela, who sat across from him.

After all the turmoil, Holden had thought deeply.

What if his sister had become the Monarch from the beginning?

Nothing would have happened in the first place.

And what about everything after?

He had done nothing.

It was Adela who ran to escape Adamante’s clutches, and Adela who returned to deal with the traitors.

Of course, it was only possible because the Prince of Sovaro Empire had suddenly appeared to help. But the Prince was also Adela’s person.

So it was Adela who saved the Kingdom from falling into chaos.

“I am not qualified to be King.”

Holden bowed his head.

“Then make yourself qualified.”

“Sister.”

“But you’ll have to postpone your honeymoon. I’m going to travel with my husband.”

At first, Adela planned to help Holden rule and stay until the Kingdom stabilized. But if she was going to be selfish, she might as well be completely selfish instead of halfway.

Especially now, she had learned something for certain. Why do siblings shed blood fighting over the throne?

Just the fact that there was another royal bloodline to replace the King was a threat. So, for Holden’s sake, it was right for her to leave the Kingdom.

“Husband?”

Holden looked back and forth between Adela and Braden with a bewildered expression.

“This morning, we visited the temple and made our marriage vows.”

Adela smiled brightly at Braden.

“Marriage vows? What about the wedding?”

“We’re going to skip the ceremony and leave for our honeymoon right away.”

“Then, I’ll see you later.”

Braden greeted the flustered Holden.

Braden stood up first and reached out his hand to Adela. Taking his hand, Adela rose and left the King’s office with him.

“Adela, are you ready?”

Braden asked his beautiful bride.

“Yes.”

Adela answered her handsome groom.

Hand in hand, they took their hopeful first step.

Toward the dream they had cherished.