“…Now that you mention it, young master, it does seem a bit ambiguous. No matter how I look at it, she doesn’t seem like the protagonist of the prophecy…?”

The servant, persuaded by Rude, also nodded his head slowly. Then, he even clenched his fist tightly and asserted powerfully.

“Then how about the lady rushing to the palace right now and properly confronting that prince? At this rate, the prince will really ascend the throne and become king, and then it will not be easy to go against him. Now is the right time!”

There was no flaw in the servant’s words. Clearly, now when Magnus has not yet held the coronation ceremony is the most opportune time for Merche to step up.

However, there was one problem. Rude, who suddenly had an axe-like gaze, gestured slightly with his chin and pointed at Merche.

“Are you saying that while looking at her current state? She’s in such a condition, yet you want to send her to the palace to fight him?”

“Ah…”

That’s right. The servant, who sighed, immediately concurred. It just so happened that Merche’s condition was not at all good right now.

While people delivering urgent news continued to come and go, not only Rude but also Merche remained in their positions.

Naturally, all the information about the situation also flowed into her ears.

However, even after swallowing all those urgent and ominous stories, Merche showed no particular reaction.

It wasn’t simply being calm. It also wasn’t her usual iron-blooded reason that she maintained.

Rather, it was like the resignation of someone who had lost everything and become empty.

Like a sandcastle that would collapse as soon as a wave hit it. Rude stared at Merche, whose behavior was so precarious, as if glaring at her.

“Merche.”

“……”

The pale face that gave no response turned to look at him.

Her eyes, having lost all vitality, were dry and darkly gloomy as if dead. Seeing that, Rude made up his mind in an instant.

“Let’s run away.”

“…Where to?”

“Anywhere. To a place where he can’t find you.”

“…It’s useless. Even if we run, we’ll eventually be caught.”

“That’s a matter for then, for now let’s just run away. Avoid what’s in front of us first and see.”

If it were Elizabeth, or any of the scholars who had taught Rude, they would criticize the decision Rude just made.

That they shouldn’t run away and must fight, they would all unanimously pressure Merche to do so.

However, the great difference between them and Rude was in their perspective on Merche.

To Rude, Merche was his life, and perhaps his faith.

His instincts only sought ways to protect Merche, and only searched for ways to keep Merche alive.

Merche needed time to catch her breath.

Hiding somewhere tightly, taking temporary shelter from the despair that had reached her chin. Only that was desperately needed to prevent Merche from collapsing.

Rude walked towards her with wide strides. Then, he firmly grasped Merche’s hand with strength and met her eyes.

“Let’s go.”

I will never give up. I will tenaciously chase after you, and even if you shudder in disgust, I will keep you alive.

So even when the moment of your death comes, I will stick to you so annoyingly that I will inhale even your last breath. I’m that kind of guy. The one whose master is you.

…Merche looked into Rude’s eyes. The blind obsession and intense flames directed at her within them finally reached her.

The transmitted heat warmed the blood that had cooled down to her fingertips.

At the end of that process, that heat finally stoked her heart that was about to be extinguished.

Merche put strength into her white and slender hand that had been limply hanging and held Rude’s hand that was enveloping hers.

“Let’s go. As you said, anywhere.”

It was an unusually gloomy day.

The dark clouds that had gathered since noon formed a mass before the sun crossed to the west, and finally poured down fierce raindrops.

It was a good night to move stealthily.

In the black sky, bright yellow lightning flashed like cracks once in a while, and thunder loud enough to make the heart pound followed, shaking heaven and earth.

This noisy and clamorous sound completely concealed the departing footsteps, making it the most suitable time for runaways.

Not missing the timing, Merche and Rude, who had packed simple luggage to leave Venenum, stopped in their tracks upon seeing someone.

“Lady Merche. In the end, you chose to run away.”

The one who stopped them was Iller Widentia.

With a subtly unfocused gaze, Iller looked at Merche without even blinking once.

Rude, who concluded that she was trying to hinder their escape, spoke in a dark voice.

“Move.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not trying to stop you two. I also know that your current choice is the right one.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a line of blood flowed from Iller’s nose.

Rather, it was enough to startle the onlooker, but Iller very calmly raised her hand and wiped it away.

“Lady Merche. Prince Magnus has captured Ilean Sano. Your younger sibling is also captured there with him.”

“…You with the gray hair. Stop talking while you can.”

“The successors of the other five families will also be captured one by one in the palace, just like those two and Lady Carla. Everyone except you two.”

“I said stop talking! Do you really want to die?”

As Iller’s words were added one by one, Merche’s hand trembled, and Rude, with his eyes nearly half-rolled back and murderous energy emanating from him, took a big step towards Iller.

“…Ugh-!”

However, before Rude could touch anything, Iller’s body swayed greatly.

The red and sticky liquid that burst out of Iller’s mouth dripped down her chin with a fishy smell.

“…What? I didn’t do anything, but she’s dying on her own?”

Rude retorted in absurdity.

He was at a rare loss for words at the bizarre situation where she was vomiting blood on her own as if he had done something, even though he hadn’t touched her.

Moreover, the amount of blood flowing was increasing more and more.

In a state that anyone would call gruesome, Rude also shut his mouth, unable to make any further remarks.

“…Don’t mind it. It’s the backlash of violating a taboo.”

Iller bowed her head and caught her breath for a moment before speaking again.

She didn’t properly explain what the taboo was, or why she stood in front of them even while vomiting blood.

She only said in a very clear and distinct voice.

“Lady Merche. You have been given ten days. If you exceed ten days, those captured by the prince will die, and in the end, even you will die.”

Go to Lupinus Castle.

Iller smiled without even wiping the blood that flowed incessantly.

Her unfocused pupils sparkled strangely, and her straight back was upright. Her eyes and Merche’s eyes collided and interlocked flawlessly.

“May you fully regain what you have lost and return as king. I will be waiting for the noble one.”

It was a respectful greeting as if addressing a king.

While giving great confusion to the onlookers, Iller turned her back without any hesitation.

Merche blankly looked at her receding back in the distance.

Iller Widentia. Widentia…, the family with the power of prophecy….

This is a prophecy. Iller saw the future with her power and conveyed it to Merche. If so,

“…There is still a way to stop Magnus.”

There is a move left. A way to stop Magnus and protect Merche’s people. The spark that was thought to have already died out is still alive.

Merche’s only move and possibility that she must seize still remained here.

Merche’s steps quickened with added strength.

She called the eagle that Aquila had left her and boarded it with Rude.

Soon, the eagle spread its wings and took flight. North, to the main castle of Lupinus. The feathers that set the direction strongly sliced through the wind.

“Elizabeth…”

Clank, the chains that bound the prisoner’s body made an unpleasant noise.

Although his outstretched hand trembled and lost strength, Genovefa gritted his teeth and continued to call the name of the woman standing in front of him.

Elizabeth, Elizabeth. His partner who abandoned him, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth brushed off his very desperate and intense call with a composed face.

She crossed her arms and lowered her gaze. A mocking glance mixed with ridicule swept over Genovefa’s appearance from top to bottom.

“It can’t be helped. Not only did you lose your child with your eyes open, but you also tried to use that child merely as a stud. …You should have just left Merche alone. If only you hadn’t touched Merche, you wouldn’t have ended up like this.”

“…I can’t, I can’t taint the blood of Lupinus. If something with a flaw is born on either side… If such a thing succeeds Lupinus…!”

“No matter how much you deny it, Merche is Rude’s partner.”

Elizabeth said curtly.

“Rather, I’m not sure if Merche will even accept Rude. You did a terrible thing and drove a wedge between them.”

It was truly a Genovefa-like thing to do, she laughed coldly.

Framing the woman his son loves and making that son strangle the woman with his own hands.

“…If things had gone according to your will, Merche would already be dead.”

If Merche had died, Rude would have gone mad. Perhaps he would have lost the son he had miraculously gotten back forever.

Elizabeth, frowning at the terrible imagination, turned her head at an angle.

The damp underground without windows was filled with only cold air. It was the perfect place to be lost in thought and fall into deep contemplation.

“Merche…”

Is that child really Prince Magnus’s rival?