Chapter 245
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
“The knights?”
“They’ve searched everywhere but report no sign of him.”
“What about secret passages?”
“They likely don’t know the tunnels from the Stein royal family, but the Jalliar family probably forged their own passages as well.”
“Find the map. If not that, then make that woman talk.”
The knight nodded and disappeared.
“Everyone is gathered in the assembly hall.”
The crowd’s excitement hadn’t subsided.
As Mikhail made his way toward the assembly hall, a knight rushed up urgently.
He immediately whispered something to Byne, whose expression hardened before approaching Mikhail.
“Your Grace! It’s a disaster. The doors of the royal prison have all been opened.”
“…What?”
“You must hurry there at once. We’ve sent knights already, but…”
Emilia and Dahlia were inside. The meeting between the riled-up crowd and the prisoners would only add to the chaos within the castle.
Mikhail quickened his steps toward the prison.
“I have a bad feeling about this.”
The prison doors opening and Adrian’s absence at the same time fit all too perfectly.
Doubt gnawed at his mind relentlessly.
“Your Grace, they keep coming endlessly. We may have to take another route.”
Byne furrowed his brow, wiping blood from his face. Mikhail shook his head as he fought off attackers.
“This path is the fastest. Break through however you can.”
“Move aside! We’re free! Aaargh! Why is Duke Heinrich here?”
A man who had fallen shouted in terror.
“Did he escape from the prison?”
“Please, spare me!”
The man trembled. Mikhail turned away from him and leapt upward.
“Sir Byne!”
At his call, Byne pushed through the crowd to clear a path.
His breath hitched. The way was blocked by the flood of people coming down.
“Your Grace, they keep coming.”
“You must make a decision.”
The knights, skilled in targeting vital points to minimize casualties, gasped for breath.
Those escaping the prison were criminals, so sparing them was unnecessary.
But Emilia wished to avoid needless bloodshed.
Climbing upward to where she was held proved difficult.
The Duke’s knights kept clearing the way, only for it to be blocked again and again.
“Your Grace!”
At Byne’s shout, Mikhail parried a sword aimed at him.
Sharp blades pierced from all directions.
“Ugh.”
In the chaotic exchange, no one could tell who stabbed whom. The knights looked exhausted.
Mikhail ignored the sickening scent of blood brushing his nose.
Then, as if resolved, he spoke.
“From now on, anyone who hinders us will be beheaded.”
His warning caused the descending crowd to flinch.
His red eyes glowed dangerously. There was no time to hesitate.
Below was already chaos; above would be worse. Anxiety gripped Mikhail. These were criminals.
Their actions were unpredictable.
“Your Grace!”
At Byne’s shout, Mikhail turned his head slightly.
Thud—
“Die, Duke! If you hadn’t put Adrian on the throne!”
Eyes blazing with vengeance locked on him.
Mikhail grabbed his sword’s blade firmly.
“There is only one person who can kill me.”
Only Emilia could kill him.
“Monster! You monster.”
The man who stabbed him recoiled in horror.
Blood poured endlessly from the wound. Mikhail tore his clothing to stem the flow roughly.
The sticky blood slipping through his fingers made his head spin.
“If you don’t interfere, I will spare your life. I won’t stop your escape from the prison either. But clear the path.”
His patience was wearing thin.
“Y-You expect us to believe that?”
But they raised swords taken from knights. Euphoric at breaking free, their judgment was clouded.
Mikhail calmly steadied his breathing.
Though wounded one after another, he felt no pain. His mind was consumed by Emilia’s safety alone.
He had made a promise—to protect her at all costs.
Like a madman, he surged forward. Sword drawn, he showed no mercy and hesitated not a moment to strike those in his way.
“Argh!”
“Clear, clear the way!”
People feared Mikhail. When he put Adrian on the throne and cut down those connected to the Konrad royal family, they’d seen the same fierce look.
“The monster is here to kill us! He must be in league with that Adrian!”
Mikhail narrowed his eyes at the voices. There was no way to get the words through.
❖ ❖ ❖
“D-Dahlia!”
Emilia caught Dahlia as she collapsed into her arms.
Crimson blood spread across Dahlia’s back, staining Emilia’s hands.
She pressed tightly, trying to staunch the bleeding.
“Ugh… Hurry, run…”
Dahlia struggled to speak.
“Don’t speak! Please, don’t say anything.”
Why? Why Dahlia?
Emilia looked up at Adrian, who looked at the two with a puzzled expression.
“Ha. Ha ha… I don’t understand. You hated each other so much, didn’t you? Someone might mistake you for family.”
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