“Zer. What are you doing? Shoot now.”

Delia cried out in desperation.

However, there was no response, as if her words were merely echoes in the void.

In the meantime, Aaron took a step, then another, toward Delia.

“He probably won’t come.”

Aaron said, looking at Delia who was on high alert.

Just one more step, and he could reach her…

“What on earth did you do to Zer?”

“I had a subordinate who bore a grudge against him, so I handed him over.”

“You bastard.”

So he had already made his move against Zer.

Delia clenched her sword tightly.

“I bear a grudge against you. I should hand you over.”

Delia thrust her sword powerfully toward Aaron’s heart.

The sword struck swiftly and accurately, just as before.

But with just a light sidestep, Aaron made Delia’s sword lose its target.

Aaron swiftly grabbed Delia’s wrist as she tried to turn around for another attack.

Delia, whose wrist had been seized, was pulled toward Aaron.

“So, I came to hand you over.”

“I don’t need it. I will definitely kill you.”

“If you really wanted to kill me…”

Aaron’s voice, moist like fog, permeated Delia, who was close enough to embrace him.

“You should have given me that flower at that time. You should have let me eat it.”

Delia, who was trying to get away from Aaron, stiffened.

Aaron’s moist voice seemed to fill her brain.

Her mind was filled with fog, and she couldn’t see anything in front of her.

Why didn’t I give him the flower then?

Why was I relieved by his refusal?

Questions she had never thought of heavily oppressed her heart.

Aaron did not miss that moment.

“Princess. Stop it now!! Drop the sword.”

He squeezed her wrist hard, forcing the sword to drop.

“You’ll get hurt playing with this.”

Clang.

As soon as the sword dropped, Aaron bent over and lifted Delia onto his shoulder.

The intense pressure of his body pressing down on her brought her back to her senses.

Realizing she was once again being taken by him, Delia struggled vehemently.

“What are you doing? You are the most dangerous to me.”

She pounded his solid back with her fists, but Aaron did not flinch.

Aaron held the writhing Delia firmly and moved toward the main hall door.

His wide strides towards the door stirred up a rough wind.

As he stepped outside the hall, Aaron issued a command.

“Collin. Dyke. Leave it at this.”

With those words, Aaron carried Delia out of the hall.

Delia’s flailing made her hair ripple like waves.

“Put me down. You madman.”

Delia’s angry yell echoed outside the hall.

The fierce whirlwind left an empty space like ruins.

The one who broke the stupor of the people staring at the golden afterimage was Dyke, who had been sitting on the throne.

Once he confirmed the commander had left, Dyke loudly commanded his subordinates.

“Seal off all spaces in Iorenti Castle. After this time, anyone moving without permission will be killed.”

At the same time as his words, the imperial soldiers who had been surrounding him like a wall all dispersed like a receding tide.

From the secondfloor balcony, looking down on the entire situation in the hall, Collin muttered softly.

“Shall we then clean up?”

Collin turned his head and looked down at the floor he was standing on.

Under his feet was Zer, who had been crushed.

Zer’s ragged, seething breath was transmitted directly through his boots.

“Your life is still attached.”

When Collin was surrounding Iorenti Castle, Zer’s army had launched a surprise attack.

Thinking of the bloodsoaked rain he tasted because of this guy, he should have killed him.

If it wasn’t for the commander’s order to forget the defeat, he would have killed him long ago. Tsk.

Collin clicked his tongue and continued speaking.

“You should know that it’s thanks to the prisoner.”

“Prisoner? You still…”

Zer’s resentful words were easily cut off.

“But if you move without permission and get caught, then you’ll be killed immediately.”

Collin, with full resentment, stomped hard on Zer.

“Ugh.”

Against the backdrop of Zer’s painful groan, Collin sent a signal.

As the command fell, the imperial soldiers on the second floor moved in unison.

They left the collapsed Iorenti guards as they were, showing no interest, and exited the great hall.

Thud.

Once the last of the imperial soldiers had orderly exited, the door closed firmly.

The secondfloor guards, who were supposed to attack, were instead attacked.

Imperial guards trapped in the secret passage.

Meredith, the terrified queen’s maid.

The only ones left in the grand hall were the people of Iorenti.

“What will happen to our princess now?”

No one could answer Meredith’s choked question.

In a moment, the castle, which had been screaming in fear of death, became quiet.

Only a calm silence flowed.

Just like the castle where there once was a princess deep in sleep in a forest.

The entire Iorenti Castle fell into a deep silence.

Aaron came out of the banquet hall, carrying Delia on his shoulder.

His stride was unhesitant as he moved with large steps.

“Put me down.”