C173
"Darn it!"
Terence, blocked by the shadow's domain, was wielding his sword to break the black band.
Buuuuung. The force surrounding the sword clashed with the extended transparent membrane, creating a dull sound.
"It's that guy again."
At that moment, Liena, who followed me to the balcony, looked at Terence and murmured.
"Don't touch Terence!"
I shouted in shock. It was because I remembered Liena, who had been hostile towards Terence.
"No! I have no intention of touching him."
Liena vigorously shook her head.
"I said I don't want to be hated by you. I just thought it would be a good idea to take that guy with us too."
"What?"
"Do you like Prince Terence? Then, wouldn't you be happier with the prince by your side? Honestly, I hate the prince, but if it's for your happiness, I don't mind taking him with you."
"What are you talking about...?"
"When you get to our nest, you'll marry the prince and have children. You'll have a happy family. I'll be happy just watching that from the sidelines."
Liena was saying she would take me to Terence, as if giving her favorite toy to a crying child. With a clear and immaculate face.
"I'm not in my right mind either."
I briefly dismissed Liena's suggestion.
"Stop talking nonsense. Don't try to manipulate Terence's life according to your own will. It's enough for me to go with you."
"That's right. I only need you."
"Then let's go quickly."
"Is it okay if you don't say goodbye to the prince?"
As I bid farewell, I looked down.
"Ethel, wait a moment!"
Terence, who had finally chipped away at the black band by continuously wielding his sword, shouted to me.
As he saw Liena beside me, his expression became even darker and more anxious.
From head to toe. I looked at his appearance with the intention of capturing it in my eyes and then spoke to Liena.
"...I wrote what I wanted to say in the letter, so it's okay."
I knew intuitively.
If I talk to Terence now, I won't be able to leave with Liena.
Whether it was a mission from the goddess or something else, whether it was a monster wave and people died or not, I didn't know if I would choose to be with Terence just for my own happiness.
But that would be a selfish choice.
Unless I knew which direction Liena's obsession with me would take, there was a high chance that being with me would also be detrimental to Terence.
Liena smiled and gestured to me.
"Well. If you want, let's go right now. But it might be dangerous, so come here."
As I stepped out of the balcony at Liena's gesture, I heard the voices of confused people.
"Eh?!"
"What is that?!"
"It's a wyvern!"
A black wyvern appeared among the clouds.
The wyvern, not as large as a dragon but as big as a house, descended towards the annex.
Considering the fact that it safely entered Shadow's territory and landed in the backyard, it seemed clear that the wyvern was a member of Liena's group.
The wyvern leaned its head on the balcony railing and let out a roar.
"I'm going to fly over that child. Let's go."
After getting on the wyvern's head, Liena looked at me and urged me.
I carefully climbed onto the wyvern's head, holding the divine beast in my arms.
"Your Highness the Prince! You must avoid it!"
"It's dangerous!"
Terence's subordinates, including Jack, tried to dissuade their master, but Terence did not back down.
Rather, he gained momentum and cut the band in two and entered the annex grounds, and at the same time, the wyvern began to flap its wings.
"Ethel!"
He ran straight towards me, but the wyvern took off.
Then, the dark red energy surrounding Terence's sword spread throughout his body.
Terence, who made a close leap, jumped into the air.
It was a technique he had already demonstrated when he visited me at Ambassador Leok's residence to congratulate me for the first time on my divorce.
Just as when he was outside the wall, he levitated in the air and flew towards the window of my room, Terence approached me, who was on the wyvern.
"Take my hand!"
It was a sweet temptation.
For a moment, I felt the need to take his hand and return to the ground with him.
However, I closed my eyes tightly as if to reject that temptation and hugged Lucy tightly.
"Lucy!"
Although I didn't express it in detailed words, Lucy cleverly understood what I meant.
"...I understand."
Lucy pushed Terence with all her might.
Basically, Terence's imperial power was not a full-fledged flying ability.
Terence simply used his power brilliantly and was able to stay in the air for a rather short period of time.
"Ethel! No!"
For that reason, when Lucy pushed him with force, Terence simply moved away from the wyvern.
Why?
Terence's face, unable to take his eyes off me as if he were nailed, was full of questions about the decision I had made moments ago.
Unfortunately, I couldn't tell him anything.
As the wyvern gained speed, we quickly left the imperial palace, and Terence's figure became as small as a pea.
I'm sorry, Terence. I swallowed my words.
"Thank you very much, Ethel. I'm so happy you came with me."
Liena, holding my arm, seemed overwhelmed by emotion, as if she didn't know others' inner thoughts.
Without responding, I looked at the sunset that tinted the whole world red.
Reflecting on what I have to do in the future.
-------------------------------------
"Bring the horse right now."
These were the first words Terence uttered when he set foot on the ground.
The only thought in his mind was that he had to save Ethel, whom he had lost before his eyes.
Common sense would say it was impossible for a horse to catch up to a flying wyvern, but Terence had no time to think rationally.
He must bring Ethel back. From the hands of that disgustingly persistent woman.
"No, I'll go myself. Jack, you should ask those who saw the wyvern and find out which direction it was heading. Right now..."
But before Terence could finish speaking, one of the emperor's servants approached him.
"Your Highness! His Majesty the Emperor has regained consciousness!"
The emperor, who had collapsed after a mysterious attack in the Great Temple, was looking for his son.
"His Majesty the Emperor, also..."
There were other people who came to see Terence.
"Your Highness the Prince! Currently, Duchess Luciano urgently requests an audience with His Majesty the Emperor. What should I do?"
"The rumor that a monster has invaded the Great Temple of God is spreading rapidly and people are getting anxious! I'm receiving many questions from nobles asking if that's true!"
"What should we do with His Majesty's body? When should the funeral be held?"
"The Great Temple has sent a message to clarify how much truth should be revealed to the public!"
"Your Highness! I just checked and discovered that everyone in the villa is unconscious."
"I just received a call from the border and they say that the movements of the monsters are suspicious. There is debate about whether this could be a precursor to a monstrous wave..."
"Your Highness! Monsters have invaded the imperial palace and the captain of the guard asks if an evacuation order should be issued!"
Your Highness, Your Highness, Your Highness. They called Terence like little birds searching for their mother.
All that was annoying. His stomach was boiling.
"Move!"
When Terence let out a roar, those around him hesitated and withdrew.
Even now, the monster carrying Ethel was flying. It was getting further away from him by the minute.
"I have to go now. I'll find out about those things when I come back, so wait."
People tried to speak, but their mouths fell silent due to the prince's sad expression.
If they expressed the slightest opposition, his expression was so dreadful that their heads would immediately roll.
But then.
"...Your Highness."
Someone blocked the prince's path.
"I dare to say something to Your Highness."
That person was Terence's assistant and chamber aide, Jack.
"Your Highness is the Prince."
"Jack, get out of the way."
"His Majesty the Emperor is injured and in bed."
"Do you want to die?"
"Her Majesty the Empress has passed away."
Jack's face paled at Terence's threats, and his hands trembled, but he spoke clearly.
"Now that Prince Mikhail is away from the imperial palace, the only person who can take care of this Asteroth Empire and its people is Your Highness."
"......"
"Your Highness, I beg you. I know how difficult it must be for you, Your Highness, but please fulfill your duty and guide us."
Jack knelt on the ground.
Soon, other people who were watching Jack also began to kneel one by one.
"Your Highness, please guide us."
Everyone shouted in unison.
Terence remained silent as he looked at Jack.
Although he had served him for more than ten years, this was the first time he had seen something like today.
"Your Highness!"
At that moment, another subordinate who had served Terence for quite some time appeared.
"I'm sorry! Although I was by your side, I couldn't protect Ethel. I deserve to die."
Vinetta, who came out of the annex with the support of others, ran to Terence and knelt down.
"This."
She courteously handed him a letter.
"I think Ethel left it for Your Highness. I found it in her room."
Without delay, Terence opened the envelope with the words "For Terence" written on the outside.
As he quickly flipped through the contents of the letter, his eyes focused on a certain passage.
"I'm fine, so you don't have to worry too much. While I do what I have to do, Terence, please do what you have to do. I'll definitely come back to you after finishing my work. I love you."
"That's cowardly."
Words as weak as a sigh escaped from Terence's mouth.
It was so cowardly of Ethel to leave him and tell him she loved him with those words.
Terence clenched his teeth for a moment and then opened his mouth.
"Jack, select about ten people from the Imperial Knights who have extensive experience in fighting monsters and have them locate the wyvern."
"Yes, yes!"
"And tell His Majesty that I'll be going soon."
Terence gave orders, pointing out one by one those who had brought him business.
"There are no signs of the monster anymore, so there is no need to order an evacuation. Tell the temple to keep silent about this matter until the imperial family announces it."
He did what he had to do as a prince.
"Send Duchess Luciano back with an appropriate excuse and call Margaret and other monster scholars to discuss the report from the border. And bring Mikhail here right away!"