Chapter 44
Lysei instinctively staggered, her shoulder throbbing from the throw. Seiren seized the opening, his blade slashing across her neck. Though Lysei quickly recovered from her stumble, the sword still grazed her, a searing pain erupting as she fell back. Seiren rose, his longsword poised to strike again. Lysei squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the end.
A sharp clang rang out as Seiren’s sword flew from his grasp. It was Trey. Delayed by a summons, he had arrived at the Rose Palace just in time.
“Trey!” Lysei gasped, recognizing her rescuer, but the blood loss from her wound overwhelmed her, and she slipped into unconsciousness.
“Lysei!” Trey cried, rushing to her side. “Wake up!” He cradled her, assessing the gash on her neck. Seiren bolted for the window, but Trey was faster. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled his own sword. The blade, thrown with the precision of the Empire’s finest swordsman, severed Seiren’s left arm.
“Aagh!” Seiren screamed, scrambling out the window.
“Lysei!” Though he now possessed Seiren’s severed arm, Trey’s priority was Lysei. He scooped her up, alarmed by the blood flowing from her wound. He frantically called for help, his voice echoing through the palace.
***
Lysei lay pale and still, her neck bandaged, lost in a deep sleep. Theor and Zerga stood vigil at her bedside, their faces etched with worry, mirroring Trey’s grim expression. Zerga had rushed to the Rose Palace upon hearing of the attack. He needed to assess her condition before informing Edin. Knowing Edin’s temperament, if he heard the news without details, he would abandon his mountain of work, neglected due to the rut, and race to the Rose Palace himself.
“The arm of the one who attacked Sei?” Theor asked Trey, his gaze fixed on Lysei.
“It’s secured.” Trey replied, his eyes also glued to Lysei.
“Have you identified him?” Zerga added, equally focused on the unconscious woman.
“Yes. He’s the Empress’s knight.”
“What?!” Theor and Zerga exclaimed in unison, finally turning to look at Trey.
Trey, finally shifting his gaze from Lysei, addressed Zerga. “Seiren Buteorn, a knight in the Empress’s service.”
“Damn it…” Theor cursed under his breath.
Zerga clicked his tongue, his brow furrowed. “We thought we had the Empress’s side contained.”
“We didn’t anticipate a direct attack from one of her knights. We were blindsided,” Zerga muttered.
“Shouldn’t we move Lysei to the Imperial Palace now?” Theor asked, looking at Zerga. He was due to leave for another country soon and wouldn’t be able to protect her in emergencies like this. The Imperial Palace seemed like a safer option.
“No. The Imperial Palace is more dangerous for her right now.” The Rose Palace was designed to restrict outside access. While the Imperial Palace was generally secure, its defenses were primarily for the Emperor. With the constant flow of people, protecting Lysei there would be more challenging, unless she was with the Emperor at all times.
“I’ll discuss Lysei’s living arrangements with Edin separately. When are you leaving?”
“In ten days.”
“Alright. Then we need to find a secure location for her before then.”
“Have you told Edin?”
“Not yet. It’s better to see her condition myself before I tell him.”
“He’ll come rushing over.”
“That’s why I came first. Why isn’t she waking up?” Zerga asked impatiently, needing to return to the palace.
“The physician said she lost a lot of blood. She might not wake up immediately.”
“…Edin will be furious. I have to get back to the Imperial Palace. If I delay this report any longer, he’ll have my head.”
“Try to keep him from coming here.”
Zerga chuckled dryly as he turned and headed for the door. “We’ll see if that’s possible.”
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