But Gideon shook his head.

He never expected to perfectly preserve buildings in the midst of a civil war. Even hoping for that much was a luxury.

“Just destroy it. I’ll put up something nicer and sturdier later.”

“……”

“I won’t make you pay for it. Do as you please.”

Tatiana smiled brightly as if very grateful for resolving her concern. Having received permission, with nothing to hold her back, she immediately began to chant a spell. The smile on her face had completely disappeared without a trace.

“Droplets gathered to pour down a shower. The temperature of the atmosphere that causes a typhoon. Your boiling point……”

Times that have been layered for a momentary instant. The world pays no attention to that tedious wait, but the condensed yearning within you has been waiting for the moment to surge.

Right now. Rise. Show yourself freely.

Before finishing the incantation, Tatiana waved her hand toward the soldiers on the castle wall and said,

Get out, something big is coming.

However, the distance between her and the castle wall was quite far.

Even if several people shouted with all their might, it would barely be heard, so there was no way her muttering would reach them.

Nevertheless, the royal castle soldiers panicked and began to step back one by one. Gideon’s soldiers were equally bewildered. A snowstorm that looked anything but ordinary was rising between the two sides.

The snowstorm gradually took shape and was devastating the surrounding area with its tremendous wind speed.

And Tatiana, who had been staring at the castle gate until the end, confirmed that the soldiers were evacuating and finished the spell with a low utterance.

“Gale.”

At that moment, the eye of the typhoon moved toward the castle.

The castle gate flew away completely.

Crash, bang, thud.

The sound of the stone gate as large as a house being shattered was noise itself.

But after the typhoon disappeared without a trace, the surroundings became quiet again.

The royal castle soldiers were deeply shocked by the crushed gate, realizing their bones and flesh could have met the same fate.

Gideon’s soldiers were equally frozen as they looked at the now empty space where the gate had been.

Of course, not everyone was like that. The head of the Magic Tower clapped slowly with a satisfied face.

Although she wasn’t a talent he had trained, it was the impression of a veteran who had witnessed high-quality magic.

And the principality’s soldiers, who had already experienced Tatiana’s magic several times, cheered.

After seeing it repeatedly, they now felt a strange euphoria and pleasure. It was somewhat frightening, but nothing could be more reassuring when she was on their side.

Regardless of their reactions, Tatiana chanted another spell.

It was truly time for the final declaration of war. After giving sufficient warnings, it seemed like time for one last attempt at persuasion.

She cast an amplification spell on Gideon, and soon his low voice resonated.

“The rightful owner of the castle has arrived, prepare to welcome the king. The lives of all who surrender will be spared.”

“……”

“But let me be clear, I will not grant any mercy beyond that. If you want to live, this will be your last chance.”

Tatiana’s magic carried Gideon’s voice, extending deep into the castle.

Despite the impending battle, she thought his voice and speech were truly elegant. How should she put it? It created a strange feeling as it blended with the cold, lonely winter air.

However, when no further words flowed out despite waiting, she raised her eyes wide.

‘What, is that it?’

Of course, a declaration of war is a hundred, a thousand times better when concise rather than long and verbose. Who would be interpreting the meaning between the lines before a life-or-death battle?

But she had to recite thousands of characters of incantation for this amplification spell. Shouldn’t he say at least a bit more so that the person who painfully chanted the spell would feel some satisfaction?

Tatiana signaled earnestly with her eyes, hands, and expressions, as if telling him to quickly say at least one more thing before the amplification spell ended.

Gideon chuckled and instead gave her a nod. Well, if you have more to say, you say it, was the meaning.

Tatiana withdrew her magic immediately without complaining.

‘With so many people around, how could I speak? How embarrassing.’

If he asked her to go alone and capture the Queen, she would do that. She wanted to compromise by only giving speeches at charity events.

And then a commotion began to break out inside the castle. Soldiers were leaving their posts against their commanders’ orders.

Gideon’s forces surrounding the castle were numerically overwhelming. In fact, it was a battle where the outcome was already determined.

Tatiana was worried that the Queen’s side might have already abandoned the castle and fled.

There was no reason the Capital Defense Force wouldn’t have thought the same.

When one soldier sprang from his position and ran toward the outside of the castle, two, then three were swayed. The spread of that anxiety throughout the entire unit was instantaneous.

The ripples eventually became waves that swept over all the soldiers. Of course, the efforts of the opposing leadership to prevent this were desperate.

“Severely punish the traitors!”

“Those who leave their posts will be dealt with by immediate execution under military law!”

Tatiana watched for a while, wondering if there was a way to help the soldiers who wanted to surrender, as no good idea immediately came to mind.

And then there was a movement to command these disorderly groups and straggling soldiers.

The last flag that Gideon and Tatiana had not yet gathered.

It was the Royal Guard.

Sir Samuel Samson, who was serving as the acting commander, stood at the rear of the deserting soldiers, encouraging their escape. This was the order Gideon had given to the Royal Guard after several years.

As it was a pre-coordinated operation, all members of the Royal Guard moved in perfect unison.

However, as soon as they escaped outside the castle gate, countless arrows rained down on their heads.

Even for Royal Guard members, it was impossible to protect everyone’s lives from arrows falling like heavy rain.

It was when Tatiana clenched her fist and the soldiers on their side watched anxiously that the Magic Tower’s mages stepped forward to respond.

“The warm wings of a mother bird brooding over eggs. The shade of a tree granted to a traveler weary from heat. In it, we shall all be at peace……”

The head of the Magic Tower and the mages created a huge, translucent curtain. The sharp arrows were blocked by that wide protective barrier and bounced off with “tung, tung” sounds.

However, as it was a spell cast suddenly, its effective time also seemed short.

The head of the Magic Tower commanded with a voice as resonant as that of the young soldiers,

“Hurry! We cannot hold for long!”

The Royal Guard safely joined Gideon’s camp after commanding every last member.

Tatiana, who had been stamping her feet, wanted to return the applause that the head of the Magic Tower had given her.

Although the Magic Tower’s mages had never intervened in civil wars before, they had always taken the lead in participating when there were wars between countries. They understood exactly what role they should play in combat situations. Experience and years of service indeed cannot be ignored.

Now, who would stop them? From now on, those who resist will not escape death.

Everyone looked at Gideon with shining eyes, and Gideon instructed the commanders of each army who were lined up,

“All armies to positions.”

Meeting the resolute eyes of the soldiers, Gideon said quietly,

“Charge.”

As soon as the order fell, Kay was the first to rush out.

Not to be outdone, Tatiana also plunged toward the enemy lines.

* * *

The council chamber was in an uproar. Urgent reports continued without pause.

“An ultimatum has been sent from the First Prince’s side.”

“The castle gate has been breached!”

“Soldiers are deserting their posts! The ringleader is the Royal Guard Vice Commander, Samuel Samson!”

Vaikal’s maternal uncle, who was serving as the actual commander, had a gloomy face.

Beside him, the Queen was barely holding back the urge to scream. However, her long, beautiful fingers wandered around her mouth several times. Those close to her knew this was due to her habit of biting her nails when anxious.

‘How did things come to this……’

Only three weeks had passed since they raided the First Prince’s Palace until today.

They had only just begun to move to recruit the Central Army Commander.