Chapter 246
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
Adrian twisted his face and gave a bitter laugh.
Emilia staggered to her feet. Her green eyes gleamed fiercely as she gripped her sword.
“I’m not free from blame either. My father founded the Jalliar royal family.”
She switched her sword hand, stared piercingly at Adrian’s neck, tilting her head.
“Are you sure you’re no longer king?”
“…Do you intend to kill me? Etrez must have informed everyone of my wishes. If I’m gone, the Duke will be in danger.”
He sneered cruelly.
“Is that what you want? Fine. You can stab my heart with your sword. Then your revenge will be complete.”
Adrian jabbered on relentlessly.
“If I die, Mikhail von Heinrich will be branded a rebel for killing me to claim the throne.”
He spread his arms wide, exposing his neck.
“How about cutting it off? The more brutal the death, the stronger the backlash against the Duke. Looks like you want to raise the child fatherless.”
“…Shut up. Do you think anyone would believe that?”
Emilia tightened her grip on her sword. She couldn’t get swept up. His words were nonsense, desperate attempts to survive.
“Are you sure no one will believe you? Emilia, I abdicated to my mother. But only while I’m alive. If I die, Etrez will produce different documents.”
“…”
“I even prepared papers saying I abdicated to Mikhail von Heinrich.”
Emilia ground her teeth.
“So as long as I don’t kill you, that’s all you care about.”
“Do you think you can handle me?”
“Without the king’s shadow, I’m not afraid. I stayed and fought until the very end.”
“Ah yes. But even a rat deserves a hole to breathe before being driven out.”
Adrian drew his sword from his waist and charged at Emilia’s stomach.
Emilia fought to protect her child and Dahlia.
The clang of sharp steel echoed through the prison.
“If the child dies, will the Duke mourn? If you die, will he mourn?”
“Nonsense!”
“Both will have to die to make him care, right?”
Adrian twisted his blade out and thrust it in again.
“Ugh.”
The blade grazed her waist narrowly. The pain was intense, but she didn’t have time to care.
She blocked the blade aimed at her stomach and put distance between them.
“Don’t let your guard down.”
Having never dueled Adrian before, she didn’t know his skill level. After a few clashes, she realized he was no easy opponent.
“Better to take only the child. Then you and the Duke will both be sorrowful and blame each other. The Duke should be happy with my gift.”
They both gasped for breath, never breaking eye contact.
“Bark! Bark bark!”
At that moment, fierce dogs appeared. They slammed their bodies against the prison bars, then broke through the open door.
Four dogs bared sharp teeth and growled at Adrian.
“Is this beast mad? Why show its teeth? Must be rabid. Even it wouldn’t recognize their old master.”
Adrian clicked his tongue, glaring at the dogs. Emilia was somewhat surprised by the dogs blocking her path as if protecting her.
Suddenly, she recalled Mikhail mentioning he’d stationed dogs in unseen spots.
Emilia pressed her wounded side and stared coldly at Adrian.
“Bark!”
The dogs lunged at Adrian in unison, fierce enough to end his breath.
“These dogs have gone mad. Don’t they know what happens when beasts bare their teeth at a man?”
Adrian swung his sword at the approaching dogs.
He was bitten on both legs and arms, letting out pained groans.
“Ugh.”
He struggled to shake off the dogs clinging to him.
‘He might kill the dogs too.’
Emilia steadied her breath and prepared to charge.
“To stop these mad dogs, I must kill you! Die!”
Adrian charged at Emilia with dogs attached to him.
“Ah…?”
Emilia’s eyes widened as she saw Adrian approaching with his sword drawn. But then her gaze flicked behind him.
“How unfortunate.”
“Ahh!”
Adrian grabbed his shoulder and collapsed.
The sword that narrowly missed his heart was quickly pulled out. Blood dripped from the blade onto the floor.
“…Mikhail.”
Emilia covered her mouth, seeing his battered form. Bleeding, he grabbed the prison bars and flung the door open roughly.
The dogs sat obediently, looking up at Mikhail, wagging their tails slightly.
“Sir Byne, check on Dahlia quickly.”
“Dahlia! Snap out of it!”
“…Don’t shout. It hurts.”
Hearing her faint voice, Byne removed his clothes and began stopping her bleeding.
“Call a doctor!”
The knights hurried down the stairs.
Mikhail entered the prison, gazing down at Adrian writhing in pain.
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