Chapter 98

TL/PR :Nesta/YoruNoTsuki

“If you’re going to kill them, then I’d kill myself first.”

Belinda pointed a sharp piece of ceramics at her own chest.

“If even one person dies, then I will die too.”

Belinda put her life on the line to save the other ladies. 

She was convinced. Just as the coachmen spared her life, this man should also spare her life. There was no doubt about it since that man just ordered the Shinsu to kill everyone except Belinda.

Even if she was mistaken, she’d gladly die in this.

But her judgment was correct. Joseph eventually stopped the Shinsu.

“How foolish are you!”

“Foolish?”

Belinda scoffed as she mulled over his words. Soon after she wiped the smirk off her face. 

“If you don’t hurt others, I’ll follow you unconditionally. But if anyone gets hurt, I’ll take my life immediately.”

“…….”

“Are you thinking I can’t do it?”

Belinda gave strength to her trembling hands. When she pierced her chest, a small stream of blood flowed from the wound.

She lived in poverty from a young age and had seen all kinds of horrendous things. She was scared stiff at the sight of the inn owner who liked to beat her up. She saw countless swindlers who wouldn’t hesitate to hurt others and ripped off people’s money.

I’ve learned bad things throughout my life. But my people’s lives are at stake here, so what’s stopping me from doing this?   

Blood dripped from Belinda’s palm as she tightened her grip on the ceramic piece.

Joseph tried to dissuade Belinda with a puzzled face.

“Hold on! Stop it!”

Is there any woman crazier than her in the world? Even the rogue who roamed around the back alley had something to fear. Not to mention that the woman in front of him was a precious Princess in an elegant dress.

Judging from her expression alone, she didn’t seem to be bluffing. Following the sword’s guidance, the Princess must be a ‘practical card’ that he could use. If she died here, all his hope would be shattered.

“Fine! I’ll spare everyone, so put that down right now!”

“…….”

Just then Belinda slowly lowered the piece aimed at her chest, but she didn’t loosen her grip at all. It meant she wouldn’t hesitate to put her life on the line again if necessary.

Joseph yanked her arm fearfully.

“Stop being foolish! I said I will spare you all!”

Belinda nodded lightly with a determined gaze. She let go of Lucy’s hand that clung to her.

“Princess! No! He’s going to kill you! Please don’t go!”

Belinda smiled lightly at Lucy’s tearful plea.

But Lucy, you will die if I don’t do this. I’m sure Aymon will save me somehow. I believe so.

Belinda calmly shook off Lucy who cried and started to cling to her again. And she passed by the woman who was now frozen in fear, and went outside.

She followed Joseph down the bloody path. She tried to maintain a hard expression even though her body was stiff due to fear. She’d rather die than show him her miserable side. 

Joseph, who led the way, seemed to be in a good mood.

“You’re pretty cute, aren’t you?”

He patted the sword that shook finely on his waist. The sword granted him a great power which eventually put the Princess in his hands.

He, who seemed to be under delusion, even hummed a tune before he arrived in front of the Emperor’s ransacked garden.

*****

Meanwhile, Aymon was enduring a lonely battle. He would have been bitten on the neck right away if he had let his guard down even for a moment.

Aymon faced a barrage of attacks from the beasts. The Shinsu jumped on Aymon, fully extending their sharp claws that were similar to a well-honed blade.

Belinda, who was walking with Joseph, staggered to her feet.

Why? Why are you alone, Aymon?

Why are you bleeding all alone after moving me to a safe place?

She was filled with resentment.

I’d rather you run away! I’d rather you look away and survive all alone! Just why!? Why would you go this far!?

A selfish grudge, caused by worry, soared up.

Joseph held Belinda’s staggering forearms roughly. Before she collapsed, he dragged her roughly toward Otoman.

Just as Joseph left his seat like a shadow, no one paid attention to him when he returned.

“Everyone, stop!”

Joseph shouted loudly. But no one paid attention to the yelling of a lowly servant.

However, the situation completely changed when a knight turned his head and found the Princess, who was supposed to be in a safe place, struggling to stand with a pale face.

“Princess!”

“The Princess was caught by traitors!”

Everyone began to turn their gazes in her direction. Even the black beast that was in the middle of a fierce battle.

As soon as he heard people talking about the princess, Aymon raised his blood-soaked face. After he confirmed that Belinda was truly there with them, his face lit up in anger. 

“Stop! If you come here, the Princess will die!”

Joseph shouted, putting a dagger on Belinda’s neck.

Aymon was furious. His muscles tensed up as if he was ready to leap out right away. The stunned knights lowered their swords, and all the other Shinsu hid their claws on Joseph’s order.

Joseph whispered in Count Otoman’s ear.

“I brought a hostage for you. The Princess who will soon be the count’s war trophy.”

It was a pledge of loyalty to the count.

It wasn’t just because the magic stone was in his stomach. He had various reasons to obey Count Otoman.

He would never be able to become an emperor even if he wasn’t Barahan’s descendant anyway.

He learned first hand as a bandit that having greed beyond your means was nothing but a vain dream. Even when he was stealing the noble’s clothes, he’d instinctively knew that he’d never be them. 

In fact, he didn’t even covet the emperor’s seat at all. His only goal was to fully exercise his rights rather than being bound by duties.

Today, he helped Count Otoman rise to the throne. And then he would enjoy the power for the rest of his life by standing next to the Count. The future full of roses that Joseph always dreamed of.  

Otoman took a step forward after receiving Joseph’s gift of loyalty. Only breathing sounds rang amid the silence that descended upon the bloody battlefield.

As the battle came to halt, he shouted with a relaxed tone while pointing at Joseph next to him.

“This person who pleads loyalty to me has the power to control them, the Shinsu. He’s the descendant of Barahan, the Great God!”

As a proof of his words, all the Shinsu suddenly laid down to show their obedience.

The knights gasped. They couldn’t believe that that lowly servant was Barahan’s descendant.

“Make your choice now! Will you follow the current emperor and die in vain? Or will you welcome me, the new emperor, and prosper under my authority!”

Count Otoman was also a royal descendant and held the right to be an emperor. Not to mention he was backed by the Great God’s descendants.

However, the Imperial Army did not easily switch their loyalty to others, just like that.

“Stop your nonsense! We won’t pledge our loyalty to the traitor who attacked the Imperial Palace!”

The Knights Commander lifted up his sword against Count Otoman.

Otoman bit his lips nervously and thought to himself.

I must bring the Imperial Army on my side. Simply defeating the black leopard did not end the situation. Wouldn’t it be a great failure if the Shinsu was defeated by the Imperial Army? It means i’d be driven to the brink of death along with those beasts!

To control the Shinsu, kill the black leopard, and pull the Imperial Army to his side. That was the only way to sit on the throne.

“I was born with royal blood!”

The Imperial Army hesitated again at Otoman’s passionate voice.

Otoman turned his head and whispered to Joseph.

“Go ahead and tell the Shinsu to attack the black leopard again.”

Soon, all the Shinsu rushed back toward Aymon. Aymon couldn’t counter their attack properly. Mainly because Belinda was still in Count Otoman’s hands.

Otoman grinned. He was satisfied that the situation seemed to go in his favor.

“You are not betraying the Imperial family. Don’t feel guilty! Think of it as welcoming the new owner of the Imperial Family!”

He shouted to win the Imperial Army over.

“The current Emperor has brought danger with his clouded judgment. He preached about making peace with the Shinsu, and brought bloodshed to the human race! He has to repay that sin with death!”

Some of the Imperial army’s eyes shook and some swallowed their saliva.

“But I’m different. Instead of preaching about worthless peace, I will make humans rule over the Shinsu and create the greatest history of this empire!”

Otoman laughed confidently. It felt like the victory flag was already within his grasp. Upon feeling his heart calming down, he delivered the final blow.

“If you pledge your loyalty to me, there will be no more human sacrifice! Kill that black leopard and restore the peace of the Imperial Palace!” 

Otoman appealed.

Put down your sword that you raise against me and pledge your loyalty to me. Only then can we regain peace again.

Some Imperial Army agonized. The black leopard who was on their side now became a scarecrow because his mate, Princess Belinda, was taken hostage.

As long as her life was at stake, the black leopard wouldn’t be able to move and eventually lose or die. What comes next would be a battle between the Imperial Army and the Shinsu again.

Meanwhile, Aymon was watching the situation calmly while bleeding a lot.

Even if he dies, Count Otoman will kill Belinda in the end. He could tell instinctively. 

Otoman.

He was inherently a mean and cruel human being.

「…….」

Aymon made up his mind after thinking quickly but carefully.

Then, the black beast began to move. He pushed away all the Shinsu that rushed toward him and leaped forward.

As he already took his decision, there was no hesitation in his action. He ran across a pool of blood, jumped over the Imperial Army and began to charge at Joseph and Count Otoman.

“Don’t rebel if you want to save the princess!”

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Otoman clearly said that, but whether Aymon rebelled or not, Otoman would surely kill Belinda. That’s why Aymon had to choose the worst and best method.

Kill them at any cost and save Belinda.

Aymon’s eyes were burned with rage. Every time he ran past Shinsu and humans, the distance between him and the two frightened humans reduced slowly but surely.

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