Chapter 68
Instead, he broke the shadow knight’s arms and legs one by one.
“Urgh…”
“Your life is not in danger, so endure it.”
After rendering one of them completely incapacitated, Nox tracked the other knight’s presence and captured him as well. He too had his limbs broken, and Nox dragged both of them along the floor toward the guest chamber where the Crown Prince was staying.
He could have turned a blind eye, but he wanted the Crown Prince out of his mansion as soon as possible. For the first time, he was ready to threaten him.
The fierce resistance rising in his chest now was a feeling he had never experienced, even when being slighted by high society. It surged like a battle cry.
Knock. Knock.
The knock was soft but resolute, causing Louis, who had been about to retire for the night, to open his eyes. Dylan, who had been in the adjoining room, stepped out as well.
The knock had only been for form’s sake. Without waiting for permission, the door opened.
Thud. Thud.
Dylan paled at the sight of the two figures thrown down before him. Standing in the dark hallway, his outline barely visible, Nox slowly entered the room. Louis, emerging belatedly from the bedroom, witnessed the entire scene.
The Nox who had worn a formal smile during dinner now wore a mask of utter blankness, and that alone transformed his entire demeanor. The man who once seemed easy to underestimate now exuded such an oppressive air that even his approach was intimidating.
“Your Highness.”
The voice that flowed out low and cold as ice.
“…What is the meaning of this, Duke?”
Louis finally snapped back and responded coldly. Nox’s gaze, which had been fixed on Dylan, shifted slowly toward him.
“I have long been aware that Your Highness is always accompanied by shadow bodyguards.”
“No matter if you are a Duke, you cannot treat me so discourteously!”
“My loyalty belongs to His Majesty the Emperor. What you are saying now is no different from claiming that Your Highness and His Majesty are one and the same.”
“…What?”
“No matter how impatient you have become over this human, how dare you release vermin like these into my estate?”
“……”
Louis was struck speechless. The sheer ferocity in Nox’s expression sent a chill through his entire body. In that moment, he understood firsthand why the House of Blois had survived for generations in this brutal society of werebeasts.
An aura fierce enough to rival that of royalty.
Yet he carried it with the dignity befitting a noble.
“Duke Blois,” Dylan interjected carefully, “His Highness had no choice but to act for the sake of reporting to His Majesty. There was never any intent to harm your household.”
Nox moved only a single step, shifting his body slightly. When Dylan found Nox’s gaze upon him, he instinctively swallowed hard.
Though no words were spoken, the pressure emanating from the Duke made Dylan want to bolt from the room. Werebeasts were creatures deeply attuned to instinct. Had he been someone ruled more by instinct than reason, he might have fled on the spot upon encountering such a powerful presence.
Silently, Dylan repeated in his mind, I am a rational werebeast. Forcing his features into calm, he managed a faint smile, nodding lightly before he spoke.
“As a fellow werebeast, I understand the offense Your Grace must feel, having your territory violated. However, should you show further disrespect toward the Crown Prince, I will have no choice but to report what happens here to His Majesty.”
Dylan’s words carried the implication that they would overlook this discourtesy since they shared blame for the current situation. Nox, who had been silently watching, slowly raised one corner of his mouth in a smirk.
“And what is it you claim I have done?”
“…Pardon?”
“I came here merely to return these men, who were found unconscious in my estate. Is that a problem?”
“……”
This time, it was Dylan who was left speechless. And realizing he could not afford to escalate this any further, Louis spoke up.
“…It was an impulsive act carried out for His Majesty’s sake. Will you let this go, just this once?”
For the first time, Louis felt humiliated before Nox, but there was no other way. No matter if he was the Crown Prince, he could not treat a Duke with reckless disdain. The only reason he had been able to underestimate Nox before was simple.
Nox de Blois never met anyone’s eyes directly. In the world of werebeasts, that alone was enough to make him seem weak.
Yet now, the man met his gaze head-on, his aura savage enough to seem ready to tear into his throat at the slightest opening.
“Of course, Your Highness. I too regret not being of more assistance to you.”
And he had never smiled like that before. Even if that smile carried a trace of menace, a smile was still a smile.
In that moment, Louis felt a strange sense of curiosity. Why had Nox, who had always kept his claws hidden, suddenly bared them so fiercely?
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.