Chapter 18
“Refugees of Aitalos.”
“…”
“Last evening, a monster of unknown identity rallied what remained of your country’s army and had the audacity to attack our main force while we were on the move.”
“…”
“He has fled, so we cannot know his exact intentions, but one message has been conveyed clearly.”
As anger seeped into Godfrid’s voice, the light in the hopeful faces of the Aitalosians faded as if snuffed out. In its place settled fear.
“That they dare, defy the victory won by Taringia.”
“…!”
“That the Aitalos army, which already lost its land in defeat and endangered you all, is now threatening your safety once again with another reckless act.”
Lenasia’s hand trembled uncontrollably, and Godfrid held her slender hand tightly, as if to stop that trembling with sheer force.
When he finally turned toward her, Lenasia stopped breathing altogether in an effort to hide her deathly trembling.
His golden eyes were utterly devoid of emotion. Though they had lain skin to skin for only a few days, even the shallow and unpleasant bond that might have formed during that time seemed to have vanished entirely in this moment.
Lena, who had been close enough to feel his breath, realized that he too had stopped breathing, as if preparing for something.
At that moment, the man strode up beside her, twisted her arm, and forced her down to face the floor of the platform.
“Aack!”
The moment she fell forward and braced herself against the ground, a thick rope was looped around Lena’s neck. Her small body, which had reflexively grabbed at it and struggled, was hoisted upward in one long pull.
Lena realized what he was about to do. Her mind went blank as if struck.
“You may have given supplies to his army. You may even have hidden him among yourselves. And in return for that, you now witness your princess in disgrace.”
You said you’d let me live.
You said if the place between my legs held you tight, you’d let me live.
She let out a choked, suppressed moan, and the crowd that had been cheering just moments before now screamed, calling out her name.
“You damned bastard! Save the princess!”
There were voices crying out for Godfrid, cursing him desperately. They screamed, raged, and grieved, but when the emperor’s knights stationed on all sides drew their swords, they fell silent.
Soon, only the occasional sound of sobbing could be heard.
Lenasia’s legs dangled helplessly in the air. She understood now. He had dressed her in glorious clothes for a brief moment and stood her beside him, only to shatter her completely in the very next instant.
“Hot, khhk… khk.”
Those threatened under the blade could offer no resistance at all. Some could not bear to lift their heads and shut their eyes or turn away. Eyes filled with unease and despair gathered one by one upon her wretched state.
Utterly powerless.
Pathetically kicking her legs was all she could do.
This, a princess.
“I hope you have come to realize. That those belonging to Aitalos are thoroughly subjugated by Taringia, and have but two choices: to be exalted, or to be trampled.”
He continued speaking, not a single breath out of place. His voice resonated as if blanketing the entire vast grounds.
“That if you dare to rise up, the price will be nothing but the brutal collapse of your pride.”
“…Hngh, ha-ak!”
Just as her pale face turned red and then began to shift to blue, a blade split the air like lightning. The next moment, Lena was held in the emperor’s arms.
Horrifyingly enough, she felt relief.
He set her down on the platform, but she could not properly stand on her feet and collapsed.
When she fell sprawled onto the wooden platform in a thoroughly disheveled state, Lena could feel on her skin that the gazes directed at her had turned utterly cold.
Even the dress embroidered with the silver dragon, which had seemed so glorious, now became nothing but Lena’s disgrace. The tiara she had worn on her head had long since been knocked off, rolling across the platform before landing discarded in the mud below.
Having fainted just like that, Lena woke once more inside the carriage. Her neck, which felt a stinging sensation, seemed to have been treated with ointment and bandages.
The emperor, looking as if he had been waiting in boredom, climbed on top of her. Lena barely managed to open her terrified eyes wide. Perhaps out of a wish to find even a hint of pity in this man’s gaze.
In his eyes, she saw herself reflected, stripped away layer by layer yet again. Before she could salvage anything from beyond that, Lena once more melted helplessly into the heated act.
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