The situation was reversed.

As soon as the order was given, Sinclair’s soldiers who had been holding out against the troops outside began to rush in.

But that wasn’t the only problem.

“Indeed……”

The one who spoke with a pale face, looking at Hister, was none other than the commander leading the soldiers.

“Is what I just saw…… really true?”

The commander’s voice was noticeably trembling. But the reason was not fear or fright.

It was just anger at Hister, who not only killed the emperor to whom he had devoted his entire life in loyalty, but also framed Sinclair for it and acted shamelessly.

“No, no! Something’s wrong! This is a false accusation!”

Hister let out a pathetic scream, but it seemed that not a single person believed it.

“Commander, you’re not thinking of making the mistake of not only failing to protect the emperor, but also letting the emperor’s assassin get away, are you?”

Sinclair said with a sneer.

“I’m giving you one last chance right now.”

“……”

“The chance to regain your lost glory by executing the traitor.”

The commander, who bit his lips with all his might, trembled subtly.

Unless he was a fool, he could also tell. Who was lying right now.

“All the soldiers in the imperial palace……”

The commander, who had made up his mind, glared at Hister with piercing eyes and gave an order.

“Help His Highness Prince Sinclair and capture Hister Butler, the assassin of the emperor and a traitor!”

As if they realized that Lundberg and Rockford were also in an irrevocable situation, they exchanged glances with pale faces.

‘Damn it……!’

No. It can’t end like this. How did I get this far? How! Hister clenched his fists tightly, letting out a silent scream inside.

“Even if you forge documents with a stolen seal, what’s the point of that.”

“……”

“You’re utterly stupid. As always.”

I have to get out of here. Only then can I plan for what comes next. Hister, who had thought that far, sent a look to Lundberg and Rockford.

It was truly a ridiculous situation. To think that the situation would be reversed like this in half a day.

He thought that the one who would run away pathetically would be none other than Sinclair himself.

“Lundberg!”

As his name was called out loudly, Lundberg, who quickly drew his sword, began to desperately cut down the soldiers blocking his way. The same went for Rockford and Hister.

‘If we can just get out of here…… somehow……!’

Although Hister had been acting confident, Lundberg and Rockford, who had considerable experience in war, had already prepared an escape route in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

The problem was that there was no guarantee that they could escape from here.

Moreover, they weren’t the only ones who drew their swords. Sinclair did the same. He began to wield his sword ruthlessly, as if he had vowed to get back at them all at once for everything he had suffered until now.

The soldiers seemed confused by the sudden turn of events, but they managed to surround Hister’s group, perhaps having come to their senses by the commander’s thunderous shouts.

‘No, at this rate……!’

Just as Hister’s world was about to crumble, that moment…

“Your Highness!”

Suddenly, someone came running towards him in a state of confusion, and it was none other than Count Wilter who caught his eye.

“Chaz, sir, is nowhere to be seen!”

At Count Wilter’s completely unexpected words, everyone’s attention was diverted.

And Hister never missed that opportunity.

“Ugh……”

Count Wilter, who was captured by Hister in an instant, looked at Hister’s sword which was precisely aimed at his neck.

“Yes, he won’t be seen.”

Hister slowly moved his lips.

“I didn’t know my younger brother would be helpful in this way. I thought he was just a completely useless guy.”

“Wh-what are you talking about! What have you done to Chaz, sir!”

“If you want to get Chaz back, it’s best to stay put.”

……Chaz has disappeared?

Sinclair, who had been glaring at Hister with a sword in his hand, slightly narrowed his eyes.

“Y-Your Highness. Chaz…… Chaz, sir…… Please…….”

“Strike him down.”

Suddenly, it was none other than Anneli who silenced Count Wilter with a voice dripping with coldness.

“That level of sacrifice is inevitable. The most important thing right now is not to let Hister escape here.”

“Grand Duke Anneli!”

Count Wilter, who had turned pale, let out a scream-like sound.

“How…… how could you…… don’t you know that our family only joined for the sake of Chaz’s safety……!”

“Strike him down, Your Highness!”

“……”

“Hurry!”

Everyone’s eyes were on Sinclair.

Everyone present realized. If Sinclair swung his sword here, Count Wilter would meet his death at the hands of Hister, and Prince Chaz would also be lost forever.

In the end, everything was in Sinclair’s hands.

And Sinclair……

“Anneli, you seem to be resembling Yuria without even knowing it.”

“……What did you say?”

“I mean I don’t want to be broken to that extent. Not yet.”

“Your Highness!”

Count Wilter, who understood what Sinclair meant, shouted with tears in his eyes, and Sinclair sighed and spoke.

“But it’s only buying time at best. Hister, confess where Chaz is.”

“Well, I think differently.”

Hister sneered and took quick steps back. Still threatening Count Wilter.

Lundberg and Rockford had already started securing a way out of the emperor’s bedchamber.

Unfortunately, the imperial soldiers and the commander also couldn’t move freely. It wasn’t because Sinclair’s orders hadn’t been given.

……From the beginning, they were not on Sinclair’s side.

They were solely on the side of the imperial family.

Chaz Butler.

A prince who was not properly treated and raised, but definitely had the blood of the Eden Bell Imperial Palace.

Needless to say, the ones protecting the imperial family couldn’t easily move in a situation where his life was at stake.

“Tell me the location of my brother!”

Unable to wait any longer, Sinclair approached Hister with a sword in hand, and Hister put force into the sword that had been threateningly aimed at Count Wilter’s neck.

“Kkk, kkk……”

Facing the dripping red blood, Count Wilter tightly closed his eyes, and Sinclair, who judged that it would be better to capture Hister and interrogate him to find out his whereabouts, quickly swung his sword.

Precisely, towards Hister’s right arm.

“Aaaagh!”

Blood splattered on Sinclair’s face, and Hister’s unpleasant scream filled the emperor’s palace.

Hister, whose arm was cut off in an instant, gritted his teeth and resisted, but he quickly slashed Count Wilter’s neck just as Sinclair had done, but……

Fortunately, Sinclair’s movement was much faster.

“Huff, huff……”

Count Wilter, who was saved by Sinclair like that, rolled on the floor and let out rough breaths. Fortunately, it seemed that it wasn’t a fatal wound, as he grabbed his bleeding neck and staggered to his feet.

“Damn you, Sinclair!”

“Your Highness!”

It was Duke Rockford who stopped Hister from pouncing on Sinclair like that. He held Hister with all his might, and Sinclair scoffed at them and raised his sword high again.

But just then, Schuler, who was in a mess, was seen rushing towards them.

“Si-Sinclair, sir!”

Suddenly, it was as if the sound of his heart sinking was heard.

“Lady Elaina, Lady Elaina is…….”

It was then that Hister, who sensed a true victory, smiled bitterly even as he bled, and Lundberg, who had been looking ahead, shouted with all his might.

“Melvin!”

As soon as his name was called, Melvin, who seemed to have been mixed among the soldiers with his face covered, drew his sword. Then, throwing himself, he began to help Hister’s group escape.

“Capture Hister!”

“Remember this clearly, Sinclair.”

But Hister, who had already left the bedchamber, said with a triumphant smile.

“You will continue to lose your loved ones, without fail this time as well.”

Mocking Sinclair.

“Both your brother and that cripple.”

That was the last. Hister’s group, who had barely secured an escape route, began to flee, leaving Melvin behind and splattering blood.

“Don’t let them get away! Bring them in no matter what!”

As soon as Sinclair’s order was given, the commander led the soldiers and left the place to chase after Hister. The same went for the soldiers.

And Sinclair looked down at Schuler, whose appearance was so surprising that it was a wonder he was alive.

“……Schuler.”

“Forgive me. Sinclair, sir……”

Schuler shed tears that he had never shown before and spoke with a hoarse voice.

“The reason why the number of Hister’s soldiers in the imperial palace was smaller than expected…… was because they divided the soldiers to kidnap Lady Elaina.”

It was strange. Even though he understood in his head what Schuler was saying, it didn’t feel real at all.

“More than three times the expected number of soldiers attacked us, and…… we tried to guard the carriage somehow, but seeing our group dying, Lady Elaina…….”

So Sinclair looked at Schuler with a blank expression like a person whose soul had left his body, and Schuler continued to speak while sobbing.

“She said she would go on her own feet if they let us go…….”

“……”

“After saying that, she was captured.”