Chapter 101

“Esadien.”

“I understand that you are distressed. It’s a process that even knights go through.”

“…”

“Power and weapons are convenient, but also frightening tools. However, using them doesn’t make you the same. It’s just that no one has yet taught you that even refraining from overuse requires practice.”

I turned my gaze slightly behind Esadien’s shoulder.

Not just him—Theodore, Clidane, and even Duke Lambert, who had a confused expression, were all running quickly and without trouble.

Even if I hadn’t used my strength, these people would have had no problem defeating those soldiers earlier.

But if the commotion drew in reinforcements…

‘There’s a reason they say numbers win in a brawl.’

I let out a deep sigh from my core.

I don’t have the right to judge the value of a life. We’re all human.

But precisely because we are human, it was only natural for me to weigh the lives of those on my side more heavily.

‘I’ve focused only on developing and controlling Gabbie’s power until now… I’ve never really thought about this side of things.’

I didn’t want to admit it, but it was a relief that Esadien was here with me.

Someone was there to tell me that what I did was necessary—to hold me back.

Esadien must have sensed my gaze. Even as we ran at full speed, he gave me a light smile.

Even in the dark, why did that smile burn so clearly into my eyes?

Feeling my face flush in an instant, I buried it in my hands and grumbled.

“But what if I fail to control my power? What if I become some kind of ‘Destroyer King’?”

I said it just to wipe the smile off his face.

But Esadien, who had leveled up significantly during his time in the Reflection Room, was not so easily swayed.

“That won’t happen. But if, by some impossible chance, it does…”

He paused for a moment as if thinking, then smiled faintly, like moonlight.

“I will stand at the front lines for you.”

“That…”

I was at a loss for words and couldn’t find a suitable response, eventually just looking away.

What on earth made this man like this?

Duke Lambert still had a mountain of questions.

But even he, who had stopped asking out of both his own will and others’, was rendered speechless when I broke the massive lock on the Crown Princess’s cell with a mere gesture—its sliced surface glowing red-hot.

Well, maybe he was too distracted by the person inside to speak.

“Lumière!”

“Dear?”

As the Crown Princess and her consort reunited, a mixture of concern, relief, and awkwardness swirling around them like a bowl of bibimbap—

“I feel like a landscape painting hung on the wall. If I had known, I would’ve fought near the castle gate instead.”

Relieved after rescuing one of our key targets, Theodore muttered with a slightly relaxed expression, rubbing his neck.

But as soon as I heard that, I immediately scolded him.

“What are you talking about, Theo? Your role is more important than ever now.”

“Huh?”

“You need to escort Her Highness and Duke Lambert out of here. Sir Olce and I will go with Esadien to retrieve His Majesty.”

Clidane was under orders to stay close to me, and Esadien would likely be seen as a “runaway scoundrel who suddenly returned” by the royal family.

“If Esadien goes with his sister, he might be nagged the whole way.”

The man in question tried to respond, but I quickly shook my head to stop him.

Though I didn’t think the usually cheerful Crown Princess would suddenly turn into a nagging machine… I’d already seen too many surprises.

Theodore, who had no siblings, seemed to imagine it in the context of his mother’s nagging and gave a small shudder before nodding.

Seriously, he’s too kind for his own good.

“Then I’ll tell them as such. See you outside.”

Leaving the emotional reunion in Theodore’s hands, I quickly slipped away with the intention of finding the Emperor.

Because—

‘I don’t know how much we should reveal to the royal family about Gabbie.’

I had never discussed this matter with my sisters or parents.

We just wanted to quietly return the power once it was stabilized. That was the deal.

But with Austin’s sudden appearance, we were now in a situation where disclosure to the royal family was unavoidable.

‘Even the kindest monarch can be blinded by power.’

Ten years ago, they had respectfully returned the Spirit Stone with a sealing charm.

But now, with Austin having roped in the Chitrum’s forces and imprisoned the Emperor, it was clear that even his heart could change.

‘I hope Mom and Dad get here soon.’

Before the royal family settles everything and tries to summon me.

Just as I thought that—

Esadien suddenly stopped in his tracks, and I smacked my forehead against his back.

“Ugh!”

I had just been surprised, but both Esadien and Clidane asked at once, one on each side:

“Are you alright?”

“Are you alright?”

Their voices were low, but loud enough to be heard if someone were nearby.

“Shhh!”

I grimaced and raised a finger to my lips, and both men immediately went quiet.

Maybe it was the first time I saw them side by side, but the similarity in their faces was strangely striking.

In that brief moment I glanced between the two, Esadien seemed to sense something.

His eyes sharpened and lifted upward.

“Master.”

“Ugh, that again!”

I hurriedly tried to cover his mouth, but this time he didn’t yield so easily.

Strangely, though, he kept dodging my hands while staring daggers only at Clidane.

“Wait, are you jealous of Sir Olce?”

“Yes.”

His response came without hesitation, and Clidane blinked in surprise.

Esadien gave a slight cough, clearly proud of being so honest.

‘What the—these handsome idiots.’

I was dumbfounded, but what could I do? I took these men in.

Clicking my tongue, I decided to clarify things quickly.

“Sir Olce has a lover, so don’t waste your feelings.”

Clidane quickly corrected me.

“L-Lady, we’re not dating yet. We’re just… on good terms.”

Should I be surprised that they weren’t dating yet, or ask why he got so worked up about Palos, then?

While I stood there, confused, Esadien interjected with a preachy tone:

“You must confess your feelings as soon as possible, Sir Olce.”

“B-But I just can’t bring myself to propose marriage yet…”

Marriage? You haven’t even asked her to date you!

‘Poor Cynthia must be so frustrated.’

I sympathized with the young lady I’d never met and clicked my tongue.

Maybe people who look alike have the same emotional density?

Meanwhile, Esadien’s sermon continued:

“If she’s the one, you should confess and marry her quickly. Otherwise, you’ll end up like me and regret it.”

“Indeed… Thank you for your wise words.”

What do you mean, “indeed”!?

Exhausted, I chopped my hand between them and growled:

“Why are we having a romantic counseling session now?!”

But Esadien didn’t even flinch. In fact, instead of recoiling, he looked at me and smiled sweetly.

“Could it be that you’re jealous of Sir Olce?”

“Are you insane?”

I didn’t even hesitate 0.1 seconds before answering coldly, and Esadien’s shoulders slumped.

Instead of comforting him, I smacked his shoulder several times.

“Is this really the time for this?!”

My mother and Elga trained these knights with sweat and tears! They’re out there buying us time!

Is he acting like this because they’re not his subordinates?

“Lady, you may be arrested for treason…”

Clidane, the first of us to regain his composure, tried to stop my hand.

But Esadien calmly shook his head.

“It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt at all.”

“Not at all?”

I asked grimly and lit a small flame over my clenched fist.

Now that my temper had exploded, treason or not, I couldn’t see anything else.

Only when my eyes flashed with deadly intent did Esadien awkwardly smile.

“…Just kidding.”

Wait—he knows how to joke?

“Tch.”

I clicked my tongue and snuffed out the flame. Both Esadien and Clidane let out small sighs of relief.

“What?”

The moment I snapped sharply, both men gave identical robotic laughs:

“Haha, nothing, milady.”

“We can proceed with the entry now.”

‘…Entry?’

So all that nonsense earlier was to stall for timing?

I almost felt a tiny bit guilty—but not for long.

I tilted my head. Despite saying we’d enter, Esadien was standing still.

“Which gate are we going through?”

From our position, we could see three gates—but none had the kind of massive lock we saw on the Crown Princess’s room.

“We’re going in a different way.”

A different way?

‘Is he going to break through the wall?’

Just as I thought that, Esadien drew his sword again.

The same scene from outside the castle repeated.

Slice, slice.

He cut the wall just large enough for a person to pass through.

But instead of pulling it out, he knocked on the wall beside it.

Tok. Toktok. Toktoktok.

The rhythm changed with each knock—as if he was signaling someone inside.

‘Wait… the Emperor?’

It was hard to believe, but why else would he damage the palace like this, even if it was abandoned?

While Clidane and I stood on guard, someone inside slowly pushed the sliced wall outward.

The cut block tilted like a loose brick, and Esadien caught it smoothly with his back and laid it down.

Then, just as I suspected—the one who emerged was the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, you’ve suffered much.”

Being formal in this situation would have only come off as sarcasm.

As I briefly bent my knees and removed the cloth gag from the Emperor’s mouth, Esadien cut off his shackles and cuffs.

“Thank you.”

Those were the Emperor’s first words.

But there was no sense of relief or determination to punish Austin—only emptiness and sorrow.

I had no words to comfort that atmosphere.

In the silence, Esadien kneeled in front of the Emperor and turned his back.

“Please climb on, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor paused, then chuckled.

“You rascal. I may be old, but I’m not that old yet!”

“With respect, Your Majesty, our goal isn’t to crush the traitors, but to get you out as quickly as possible.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t be a burden.”

Crack, crackle!

The Emperor stretched with loud pops and then continued.

“Edi, if you have a spare sword, lend it to me—and take care of our young lady well.”

Even now, he looked between Esadien and me with a satisfied expression—completely misreading the situation.