Chapter 221.

The carriage stopped in front of the beautiful palace it was seeing for the first time. Not much had come since the hunting tournament, and knew almost nothing about the geography of the palace. At best, I knew the way to and from the Crown Prince’s Palace and the Book Depository. In addition, the palace land amounted to several times that of the Duke’s.

“It can’t be an easy escape anyway ……”

Ikris guy mobilized his men, surrounded me, and moved towards the palace. I don’t know if the rebels occupied the palace or not, the unfamiliar palace is empty. I thought I would be dragged to an underground-like place and locked up, but I walked through the long corridors to reach the spacious and ornate room.

“Please take everything out of your pockets.”

After reaching the table in the center of the room, he turned to me and said. The look of the guy standing in the ancient palace was strange.

I looked at him with strange eyes and immediately reached into my pocket and took out the shard. Then placed it on the table. It went faster than I thought it would.

Also, not having to go through the difficult situation of being threatened with a hostage and being forcibly taken by Ibn, I don’t know if I should be happy about that.

Dutifully, I took out the shard, but he stared at me.

“What.”

I pouted. He opened his mouth.

“You want me to go through my pockets myself?”

“Wouldn’t it be fine to give you the shards?”

Finally, I grimaced at the guy who made me go through my pockets. Then he cocked his head and muttered.

“…… didn’t have the confidence to just go through the pockets if I started on you.”

“Crazy.”

I cracked, roughly reaching into my pockets. The only things left attached were 4 potions and a faded rose. Placing them on the table as if they were thrown.

“That’s the end of it.”

Saying the bullshit about still wanting to rummage through it myself, I simply rummaged through even the pockets of my robes.

“This is ……”

Taking them away, the scrutinizing guy’s eyes suddenly stopped on the wilted roses. The eyes look like they’re asking something, and I can’t help but say.

“It’s a relic left behind by the wizard who died at the hands of Ibn.”

“Relic ……?”

“Yes. He was the protector of the orphans held hostage. He was kind.”

“I didn’t even have time to feel sad because I was led here by you.”

Just being tied up in a magical formation that instantly turned someone who was still alive and well into a dead person.

I’m sorry.

I apologized to Winter in my heart due to the faint feeling of guilt and tried to speak as if nothing had happened.

“When you slaughter the Duke later, I’ll be trapped here again and feel the same misery as I did today.”

“Satisfied now?”

Did this really work. I glanced at Ikris and held my breath.

Since the rose was a reflection of my subconscious, it was nothing less than a crystallization of my magic. I hope it helps in times of crisis ……

In order to harm Leila who is physically intact, the shard can only be returned. But by returning the shard to Iben, I could end up in danger.

In times of crisis, only once, the defense magic will activate. But there is an activation phrase.

It’s ……

Turns out he was right. I was literally robbed of my stick by Ikris. The knife was gone, and in order to escape, I had to strike first.

Ikris stared blankly at the wilted rose as if weighing something. Thinking back to what was impulsively said on the wagon, that it wouldn’t hurt the people around me. Honestly, there wasn’t much to look forward to. A guy who’s been brainwashed and abandoned can’t be that sentimental.

Uh ……

“You rest. Pale.”

But my expectations were off, he looked fine. Ikris turned away from touching anything but the shards. Not just the roses, not even the magic potion. Seeing his back toward the door and away, the mood became abnormal. It was like being surprised to see him who would still blush shyly before being brainwashed.

“…… Ikris.”

I unknowingly opened my mouth to call him. Immediately regretted it after calling. Although it seemed like he didn’t want to hear it, his movement towards the door ring came to an abrupt halt. I hesitated and spoke with difficulty.

“You …… were brainwashed by Iben.”

“I can help you. It’s not too late. So stop it.” If Ikris was awake now, things would be easier. The hostages were saved, and no one was killed or injured from the battle with the rebels.

If a concerted effort was made to eliminate the final boss, Iben, Winter would once again reverse time, and a repeat of the crazy game wouldn’t happen. What a clean and beautiful ending that is.

“If …… stops ……”

But that seemed to be my thought alone. Ikris’s face turned toward me again, as rigid as a stone statue.

“What’s the point of stopping now?” Like a follow-up question, there was ice in his tone.

“At least, I won’t kill you because I hate you.” “Isn’t that what you want to kill?”

In response to my answer, he touched my forehead with his finger.

“If you used magic then, you, now, are not in this position.” Saying that, a sudden aggravation flooded my heart. Not even the favor that saved me.

Although it was possible to kill him sufficiently, he didn’t. It was because of the little responsibility and sympathy he had for Ibn’s being at the mercy of Ibn. Now I began to convince him.

“Now you know. Even if you managed to defect, kill the Crown Prince, and get your hands on the Empire, I would never love you.”

“So why!”

At that time. The guy who was only staring at me suddenly shouted.” Why can’t I.”

“That’s.”

“In order to stay by your side, enduring the fists of those arguing guys and practicing desperately in the Order.” “…… Ikris.”

“To become a knight fit for you, swinging a sword day and night, and swinging it again. There were no days without blood on your hands.”

“That would be too far for you to reach, too, rarely! So become a traitor, to get rid of slavery!”

I just looked at the passionate Ikris in amazement. All this time I thought I was seeing a new side of him, but it was an illusion.

“But why did you just push me away, why!”

Gray eyes dripped large droplets. He had candy in his hand and was crying like a child who didn’t know what to do. I stared at him blankly. It was impossible to recall the depth of his feelings during the time he was talking about. Every day, desperate to survive, shaking from his betrayal. And it all ends now.” I …… love not you, but someone else.”

Said reason, only one. Panting at my answer, Ikris cried out.

“Lie like you always do. It’s only you, the Crown Prince and all, dead or not, you’re the most precious!”

“You know what? You might be fooled by that, and maybe I’ll die at your hands.”

“I don’t want to kill you.”

It was genuine. I wanted to end all the tiresome things and move forward. I hope Ikris does too. Bound by anger, frustration, and the trauma of lost love, he’s too young.

“So …… forgive me.”

Couldn’t dry his tears like he used to. I then, approached him and extended my hand. But. Snapped – felt a slight pain. Looking at the cold hand.

“You’re the one who said I’ve come to this point.”

“Unlike me, the Crown Prince is not at all pretentious ……”

He looked up at me in disgust, muttering word for word.

“No need for love. Even if it were a shell, I would have it.”

“I didn’t expect love from you from the moment you used me anyway.”

After saying that, he slammed open the door and walked out of the room. Clang-! It’s over. Hearing the roar of the roughly closed door, I was left alone in the desolate room.

I was locked in an unknown palace. Looking out the window in order to find a way out, a row of soldiers in armor surrounded the outside of the palace.

‘Damn guys, the alignment is too tight.’

When it was time to eat, it wasn’t Ikris, it wasn’t the palace maids, the soldiers brought lunch and dinner. Having no appetite and casually eating two bites, I lay down on the bed.

The body was so tired that I wouldn’t be surprised even if I fainted right away. However, I don’t know if the effect of the magic potion is good, or if it’s because of the disoriented situation, I can’t sleep at all.

I rolled my body continuously and raised one hand to look at it. The tracking magic that Gene hung up in the morning is fortunately still there.

It should be worrying.

How angry it should be when it disappeared without a word. Afterwards, apologies to Callisto came flooding back. But it was something that had to be done. In that case, it’s going to end here with Iben. Don’t ever try to come to the rescue, I just hope you recapture the palace with all your heart ……

In the midst of such and such thoughts, the eyelids slowly became heavier. Although I hate sleeping in a strange place, I can’t resist fatigue. Just wanted to close my eyes for a while. Clang – thud!

The sudden heavy noise startled me into opening my eyes wide. The sight was dim. Thought I closed my eyes for a while, not realizing that time was passing, and fell asleep all at once. Startled, sat up at once. All the sounds I just heard sounded like a dream, the room was quiet.

…What?

“Did I hear wrong?” At that moment. Bang, bang, clunk!

As if it wasn’t an illusion, the dull noise resounded again. I carefully surveyed the dark room with wide eyes.

Boom, clunk! The sound became louder and closer. So it was easy to find the source. It was the sound from the fireplace by the wall.

“What ……”

Did Iben send a magic item? I quietly stood up and found something that could become a weapon. The candlestick sitting on the table next to the bed was within reach. Gripping it tightly, with a tense face, I looked to the heater by the wall.

It was late in the evening.

Bang, clunk! Suddenly, ash rose from the fireplace and someone rolled out.” Oy, shit.”

The figure of the visitor mingled with the ash, coughed, and uttered a vulgar expletive. It was a familiar sound. The hand that had been held upward with such force in order to wave the candlestick lowered.

“Your Highness ……?”

I said in a trance, and the coughing Callisto raised his head.

“Been well, male daughter?”

“Why did your highness …… come out of there?”