Chapter 45: Chapter 45

Chapter 45

After moving for a while, she opened her eyes to a very dark room. There was nothing except for the magic circle drawn on the floor.

As she peered into the magic circle, she suddenly felt her wrist lighten, and although she tried to open the door, it wouldn’t open. The moment she moved her mana to use her magic, the mana flowed out of her body and the magic circle that swallowed her mana shone brightly.

She tried to block the escaping mana, but it wouldn’t stop. Her mana was being forcibly pulled out.

“No!”

She tried to control it, but it wasn’t easy. That moment. The door slammed with a ‘bang.’

“Isilis!”

“Father…!”

The sight of her father covered in blood startled her, but she couldn’t move.

Sensing the strangeness, her father used his aura to split the magic circle. As the magic circle split, everything that restrained her fell away and her mana returned to its place.

Swinging her wrists, she chanted a spell.

“Your Majesty?”

“I still haven’t forgotten. That the previous Empress made a deal with those who kidnapped me.”

Due to the previous Empress’ bargain, the wizards were unable to move and only her father came to the place where she was imprisoned to rescue her single-handedly. It was bloody, and his father was about to die.

“I still have doubts. What deal did the previous Empress have with them that she abandoned me?”

“Your Majesty. That is…”

“Still, isn’t the previous Empress my mother? Though why did she abandon me?”

Isilis threw a question into the void with no one to answer. Seeing her darkening expression, Duke Verus lowered his head even more. As he opened his motionless lips to answer her, she opened her mouth first.

“Maybe it is. If I can’t get past this, I don’t have the qualifications of the Imperial Family.”

“….”

“Though no one can answer everything right now.”

“Your Majesty…”

“Still, I have no intention of letting go of that hand that’s reaching to the Princess right now. The previous Empress and I are different people.”

“What are you going to do?”

“According to the nanny’s testimony, she heard a knight’s footsteps. At about the same time, they grabbed everyone in the hallway. You should check the video ball.”

“I will follow your orders.”

“First, capture Marquis Cyrka.”

“…Yes?”

“He ran into me in the hallway.”

“Then…”

“He’s the prime suspect.”

With her words, Duke Verus hurriedly went outside, and soon, Allure came in and gave another report.

“I put a protective barrier on the Princess and the nanny’s room.”

“The previous barriers have also been destroyed.”

“It will be different this time.”

Seeing Allure speak confidently, Isilis nodded her head. Nonetheless, she wouldn’t know since the protective barrier could be broken at any time. It meant that she had to come up with a way. As long as she didn’t find and kill those who were targeting the Princess, this would continue.

“We can’t keep wasting manpower. What would you like me to do?”

“How about evacuating the Princess to a safe place?”

“The Princess?”

“Yes.”

“….”

“I think it would be good to swap.”

“Swap…?”

“That’s right. Why don’t you send the Princess away and bring a child who looks similar to the Princess?”

“Are you going to sacrifice other people for the sake of the Princess?”

“Your Majesty, sacrificing for the sake of her royal family is a matter of course for the imperial citizens.”

“A matter of course?”

“It is.”

It was a remark worthy of a wizard united in loyalty, but she hesitated.

“What should I do?”

Allure, who had been watching her worry over and over again, spoke again.

“It’s late today, so you’d better rest.”

“It’s okay for today.”

“That won’t do.”

As Allure urged her to rest, Isilis moved her steps towards her room.

It was a busy night. The moment she was about to close her eyes, Berthas came to mind. When she moved to his room using magic, she saw him waiting for him with open eyes.

“I thought you weren’t coming.”

“Something happened…”

She was unknowingly dragged into his arms.

“Isilis. I will come back to you.”

“Berthas.”

“So, think of me. It doesn’t matter if you get married.”

“…Doesn’t matter?”

“The day I return, I will kill him.”

Facing Berthas’ bright blue eyes, she smiled.

Yes, it should be. At least, if he asked the Empress of Larchen to give her heart, he should be determined to that extent. Isilis stroked his cheek, not refusing to reject Berthas, who kissed all over her face.

His lips stopped at her movement.

“Berthas.”

“Isilis.”

“When you return, I will consider your place… so come back to me anytime.”

“Then, will you accept me?”

“It’s up to you.”

“Is that so?”

“You should know that this is a lot of concessions.”

“You’re not going to hold an imperial wedding?”

“At least for now.”

“Is there a way?”

“I have to borrow someone’s power, but there is always a way.”

“Is it because of me?”

“Maybe yes, maybe no.”

Berthas’ eyes lit up at her. While she didn’t know what he might feel, Isilis was determined. She decided to stand with him for the rest of her life. Even if he didn’t want to, she was determined to have him by her side.

“I’ll be right back.”

“When you come back, you won’t be able to leave my side.”

“That’s arrogant.”

She wanted to say that the Princess was in danger, but she couldn’t say anything. She didn’t want to burden him, who had to go. All the more because she was sure that if she asked him to stay, he would. She wanted to say that, in fact, she was afraid. It was difficult for her to protect her child alone, so she wanted him to help her.

‘…But, that won’t do.’

It was not right to hold him like this. He was a man with something to protect… he had to defend Hillenton. Since she was also in a position to protect Larchen, she naturally understood him. No, she tried to understand and she did.

A corner of her heart was cold. Isilis tried tenaciously to hide her feelings and held out the necklace.

“Take it and go.”

“I will come back. Soon.”

Raising Isilis’s hand, she watched him place his lips on the back of her hand as her face blushed. Berthas whispered as her thin shoulders trembled.

“Are you cold?”

“That’s something I’ve heard somewhere.”

“You caught me.”

She smiled mischievously as Berthas recited the words from the moment they first slept together. Returning her smile, he smiled as well. She seemed happy to see him smiling and rolling his eyes at her. She felt at ease. It would be so convenient to admit it, so why did she keep denying it?

If she couldn’t give it all, she should at least show him a part and hold onto him.

It was when she remembered the words of the previous Empress, who said that if there was something she liked, hold it in her hand and not let go. Even if Berthas was destroyed due to her selfishness, she was determined not to let go.

“…Even if you die, be by my side.”

“My place is by your side.”

“Come back to me.”

“I will come back to you.”

“No, to me and our child.”

When Isillis spoke so as she meant to acknowledge him as the father of her child, Berthas gazed at her surprised. She opened her mouth again, hoping that her sincerity would come through.

“I will not run away anymore.”

“So do I.”

“So, stand next to me and keep your place.”

“Soon… I’ll be back soon.”

“I won’t wait long.”

“I will be next to the Empress, so I shouldn’t make you wait for a long time.”

Feeling Berthas’ hand gripping her waist, Isilis closed her eyes, feeling the heat of his lips touching hers. Giving her body to the heat, she immediately stopped thinking.

It was a night of pleasure.

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