150. Pursuit (2)

Upon arriving at Belfort, Elkius was greeted by an empty royal palace. As he stepped out of the carriage, Elkius surveyed the desolate palace with a look of despair.

There were no guards or soldiers to be seen, not even a force to defend against Callion. It seemed as though everyone had disappeared.

“Is anyone there?”

The Duke of Tulonel raised his voice, but there was no response.

“It seems they have gone to the capital to accompany His Majesty,” the Duke speculated, attempting to hide his confusion, but Elkius barely registered his words.

Elkius looked at the blackened, burnt outer walls of the palace and stumbled inside.

The interior was in worse condition than the exterior. Every valuable item, from the artwork and decorations to the chandeliers and even the gold leaf on the pillars, had been stripped away.

“Has Callion already been here?” Elkius asked.

“It doesn’t seem that way,” the Duke replied.

“Then who could have done this?”

The Duke lowered his gaze under the emperor’s questioning tone. The attendants, having sensed the emperor’s downfall, had likely fled with anything valuable they could carry, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud.

“Find out what happened, now!”

“…Yes,” the Duke replied reluctantly, sending a soldier outside to gather information. However, he doubted the soldier would return.

“Your Majesty, we must ascertain the details, but it seems difficult to proceed here. We should find a safer place to regroup…” the Duke suggested.

“…Rose,” Elkius suddenly said, breathing heavily.

“Your Majesty?”

“Where is Rose?”

Elkius began to mutter Rosaline Harper’s name like a madman and started moving.

“Rose, as long as Rose is here…”

It wasn’t over yet.

Even if everyone else left, it didn’t matter as long as Rosaline was there.

She would know how to kill Callion and return safely to the palace.

Elkius hurried into the bedroom and opened the secret room.

Although the attendants had entered here, the secret room seemed untouched and was still clean and orderly.

He sighed in relief and opened the inner door without hesitation.

“Rose!”

The small room was silent.

The neatly arranged shelves, the brazier full of Velido leaves, everything was in its place, except for a broken hourglass and scattered gray-white sand on the floor.

Except for the absence of Rosaline Harper.

“Rose? Where are you, Rose!”

Elkius shouted and searched frantically, convinced she hadn’t left him, convinced she was hiding somewhere, waiting for him. He scoured the entire palace but couldn’t find her.

Despair finally consumed him. Elkius collapsed to the floor, covering his face with his hands.

It was over.

If even Rosaline had left him, there was no hope left.

Everyone he thought was on his side had turned away. Facing Callion was now a suicidal act.

Elkius let out a hollow laugh.

The things he had done to rise to this position and maintain it flashed before his eyes like a lantern.

“Your Majesty,” said the Duke of Tulonel.

“…”

“I will go and gather the soldiers.”

Elkius looked at him blankly.

He wouldn’t come back.

Being a quick thinker, the Duke likely knew there was no chance left.

Elkius nodded without a word.

“Do so.”

“I will return as soon as possible.”

The Duke bowed deeply and hurriedly left the palace. Several soldiers who had been watching the situation also followed the Duke.

Now there were less than ten people left.

Elkius rose and spoke to the remaining soldiers.

“If you wish to leave, do so.”

If there was no way to avoid death.

“I will meet my end here as an emperor.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Callion arrived in Belfort the day after Elkius entered the palace.

“It’s ominously quiet.”

Since there was only one road leading to Belfort, Callion had expected an ambush, which slowed their advance, but there were no hidden troops or even guards at the gate.

He had expected soldiers to block their path or at least some warning shots, but the palace remained silent.

Numerous witnesses had seen the emperor enter the palace, so he had to be inside, yet there had been no movement, which was unsettling.

“I will send scouts.”

“No, we wait here until Julian arrives.”

A cornered rat will bite a cat.

Waiting for Julian to reinforce the troops and then attacking them all at once would minimize casualties.

Having made his calculations, Callion set up camp in front of the palace and waited for the backup troops. They strengthened their night watch in case of a surprise attack, but the night passed without incident.

At dawn, Julian arrived in Belfort with the Tiflis Knights.

“Any trouble?” Julian asked.

“No. How is the capital?”

“Harold Lowden has completely taken control of the palace.”

“Was there any friction?”

“A few pockets of resistance were swiftly subdued without significant damage.”

“And the nobles?”

“The soldiers monitoring their estates fled upon hearing of the emperor’s escape, so they were all safely released. The Imperial Council members are waiting at the palace.”

“Good to hear no one was hurt. How is the public sentiment?”

Callion asked with a somewhat worried expression.

“Yes. The Pope is holding daily prayer meetings to calm the people, and several temples have issued statements supporting Your Highness’s ascension to the throne.”

Callion nodded, recognizing Samuel Dorfman’s adept handling of the situation.

Despite the upheaval caused by such a significant event, the lack of chaos was reassuring. However, with the throne left vacant for too long, trouble was bound to arise, so it was imperative to resolve the situation swiftly.

“We will enter the palace in an hour. Prepare the soldiers.”

“Understood.”

While Julian prepared, Callion surveyed the palace surroundings once more.

The palace remained eerily silent. It was suspicious that the palace, from its vantage point, hadn’t reacted to their movements.

‘Could something have happened to my uncle?’

Though filled with questions, he could confirm nothing.

“Your Highness, preparations are complete.”

“Let’s proceed.”

Whatever awaited, he would find out with his own eyes.

Callion, filled with doubts, stepped forward. Just as he crossed the luxurious garden and approached the palace entrance,

“You cannot enter.”

A man suddenly appeared, blocking his path.

“Who are you?”

Julian drew his sword menacingly, but the man ignored him and greeted Callion.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

Recognizing him, Callion raised a hand to stop Julian.

“It has been. What brings you here?”

“The palace is riddled with traps. Entering blindly could cost you your life.”

Julian frowned in suspicion, but Callion had to trust the man who had participated in the palace construction.

“If you permit, I will guide you.”

“Please do.”

Callion accepted Sycamore’s offer without hesitation.

.

.

.

“Get down, Your Highness!”

A hissing sound accompanied a spray of dark green liquid from the floor. Ahio threw his cloak over the vent, which dissolved quickly upon contact.

“Don’t touch the walls and move carefully. Trigger the wrong thing, and arrows will fly,” warned Sycamore.

Just as he said, the palace was filled with hidden traps.

Turning a doorknob would release poisoned darts, and stepping on certain spots would reveal pits lined with spikes.

“It seems they were waiting for Your Highness to arrive,” Sycamore noted, clicking his tongue at the activated traps. Without him, many lives might have been lost.

Thanks to Sycamore’s guidance, Callion safely navigated the palace, avoiding the traps.

However, they found nothing. They searched every corner, from the kitchen to the maids’ quarters, but the emperor was nowhere to be seen.

‘Could he have escaped already?’

Just as Callion pondered their fruitless search, Ahio brought in a soldier.

“This one was hiding and spying on us.”

The soldier, forced to his knees, looked up at Callion with terrified eyes.

“Where is His Majesty?”

“I-I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

The soldier nodded at Callion’s question.

“Then you’re of no use. Ahio, dispose of him.”

“The tower! He’s in the tower!”

The soldier, pale with fear, shouted. Callion asked with an impassive face.

“The tower?”

“Yes. He said he would watch Your Highness’s death from there.”

Once the soldier began speaking, the rest came out easily.

Confirming Elkius’s location, Callion gripped his sword and walked alone towards the tower.

“I will accompany you, Your Highness.”

“No, this is something I must do alone.”

Callion waved Julian off and glanced back. Sycamore, watching silently, gave a small nod.

“The tower should be fine.”

“Then I’ll be back.”

Callion headed straight for the tower. Climbing the hundreds of stone steps was not easy.

Reaching the top of the palace, Callion took a deep breath. The door to the tower was open.

Gripping the sword at his side, he entered the tower.

“…You are here, Uncle.”

Elkius, standing at the edge of the tower and looking down at the city below, slowly turned his head.

“You’ve come, Callion.”