Chapter 26

Chapter 26

On the second floor, where Declan stopped, there was a golden badge with a lion pattern down. It was the Emperor’s private terrace.

Upon entering, Noah, Liam, the Captain of the Guards, and a few guards stood guarding the outside.

When he opened the glass door on the terrace, Declan’s silver hair was blown away by the wind.

‘It must be windy.’

I wanted to feel it, too, so I closed my eyes, but there was no difference.

Breathing in the cool breeze makes me feel refreshed. I thought I would be able to feel it, though it was quite sad.

Declan carefully set the doll down on the sofa.

“Do you like it? A place where you can hear music and no one sees. I met the conditions you mentioned.”

“I like it.”

Through the open glass door, a dark garden could be seen. Inside, there was a long sofa and a small table where about one person could lie down.

“Oh, it’s the first time I’ve seen a terrace in the banquet hall.”

Declan smiled softly as he looked at me, circling the room with curious eyes.

“Come here, you said we could dance as we like here, so should we try?”

Declan bowed to me and politely extended his hand.

“Lady, will you give me the honor to dance with you?”

Hearing the lines from a novel or movie directly made my heart pound and ticklish.

“Of course.”

I gently placed my hand on his hand. As I got closer, Declan wrapped his arms around my waist.

…Is this the moment that used to be described as ‘close enough to feel the breath’?

I didn’t even have the heart to beat, but it felt like my heart was beating. Suddenly, I wanted to smell his hot breath and my own body scent.

“You just need to put your hand on my shoulder, and the other hand to hold me.”

Declan calmly taught me the basic posture.

I didn’t like the fact that I wasn’t reflected in the eyes of his cautiously facing me. And, I couldn’t feel his body temperature in his clasping hands.

‘I want to feel your breath, your body, and your warmth…’

A strong desire soared to the point that I was embarrassed by myself.

Is it an illusion that the green eyes looking down on me feel hotter than usual?

It was difficult to face each other for some reason, so I averted my gaze and opened my mouth. “Your Majesty, do you know that I can’t dance?”

“Even if you step on me, I won’t feel it at all, so step on it comfortably.”

When I was told to step on it as much as I wanted, I burst out a small laugh. The subtle atmosphere began to be relaxed with that smile.

“Move comfortably. Let your body move to the music.”

At his words, I tried to dance first, but I was nervous inside even though my heart felt at ease.

Hearing the gentle melody coming through the door, I moved slowly, following Declan’s lead. At first, I moved in opposite directions, falling apart and overlapping each other’s bodies as they passed.

Though over time, as I got used to Declan’s lead, I was able to move as he led, albeit clumsily.

“Hmm, I think you’re dancing now.”

“I still don’t know how to move my feet…”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

Declan smiled playfully.

“It’s an honor. To be able to dance with you for the first time.”

“…The first dance.”

His expression changed to satisfaction.

We continued to dance without taking our eyes off each other.

How long did we dance…?

Tuck.

With a small sound, the terrace was quickly engulfed in smoke.

“What, what is this…!”

I shouted in bewilderment at the sudden obscured view.

“Cough, cough.”

Fortunately, I could hear him coughing from nearby.

“Your Majesty, are you okay?”

“Cough, I’m fine. How about you?”

“I’m fine.”

I calmed down and tried to figure out the situation.

‘I didn’t even see black smoke, so why did this happen?’

Then, whirling and something passed in front of me. In response to the movement toward the garden, I headed towards the terrace railing.

“….!”

As I leaned forward and looked down, I was frozen.

It was clear that those who run away are holding something.

“Your Majesty, Chloe, no, the doll!”

The thing on their side was definitely a doll.

“What?”

With his sleeves covering his nose and mouth, Declan ran up to me. The jewels on the dress the doll was wearing shimmered as they moved.

“Shit.”

Declan struck the terrace railing with his fist.

“Are you okay?”

Liam and the other knights ran into the terrace.

“Chloe has been kidnapped. Go after them now.”

“All right.”

Liam jumped down the terrace with the other knights.

“I’ll follow you, too.”

If they even break the doll…

For a moment, my eyes went dark.

“No. It’s dangerous outside the Imperial Palace, unlike here.”

At Declan’s words, I turned around and stopped. But, if we go on like this, not only the doll, but I will also be in danger as well.

“If there is something wrong with the body, I don’t know what will happen to me!”

As I looked at Declan’s hardened face and trembled, I suddenly remembered the contents of the book.

“Your Majesty, you said that the Imperial Capital has the best view of everything, so anyone can know where it is.”

It was built so that everyone could look up and symbolically show that the Imperial Family is protecting the Empire.

“So, I’ll be able to find it.”

Declan’s eyes that held me trembled anxiously.

“If I can’t come back… will you come to find me?”

After uttering those words, the fear of not coming back slowly disappeared. His eyes, which had been swaying, had suddenly hardened.

“Only the Imperial Capital. Do not get out of the Imperial Capital.”

I nodded and jumped off the railing without delay.

“Erica!”

Seeing his arms outstretched in the air, Declan looked empty. He grabbed the terrace railing till it broke.

“…You must block off all entrances to the Imperial Palace right now. The First Knights must search inside the Imperial Palace, and the Second Knights must search outside the Imperial Palace.”

The two knights who received the order sprinted out.

“Summon all the guards to come here. And, you follow me.”

Declan, who gave orders to the remaining knights, immediately left the terrace.

Those in the hall retreated, startled by Declan’s ferocious momentum. The roaring music was also cut off.

“Your Majesty, what’s going on?”

Mason, seeing the bright red Declan, ran to him.

“Chloe has been kidnapped.”

“Did you order a search for the Imperial Palace?”

Nodding his head, Declan climbed onto the podium. As he stared intently at those in the hall to death, the crowd bowed their heads and shivered.

“Everyone here is a suspect. So don’t think about leaving this place until I get Chloe back.”

As he finished speaking, the knights of the Guard entered the hall in unison.

“Guard. Keep everyone from escaping from this place. If anyone escapes in violation of the order, he may be killed on the spot.”

“Understood!”

The knights straightened their posture and shouted loudly.

In an instant, they circled the entire hall as well as the entrance, driving people to the center.

The older nobles had sad expressions on their faces, and most of the nobles trembled in fear. Some of the young children burst into tears while their parents looked at Declan’s eyes and then comforted their children.

In a bloody atmosphere, Declan was staring at the entrance of the hall with a force to kill anyone at any moment.

Mason approached him with a worried face.

“What happened?”

“…I was on the terrace with Erica, and suddenly there was smoke.”

Declan bit his lip.

“My senses were strangely loose, and in the meantime, they took the doll and disappeared. If Erica hadn’t told me, I would have known later.”

“If you’ve lost your senses, the smoke may have poisoned you. You should seek medical attention.”

“The first thing to do is to find the doll.”

“When Your Majesty falls, neither the doll nor Erica will be found.”

Declan sighed and nodded his head as he glanced at Mason.

“Chief, please call the doctor.”

Hearing that, Noah ran out quickly.

‘If Erica doesn’t leave the Imperial Capital, she can somehow find it. The problem is the doll…’

He continued his thoughts, ‘What if the doll breaks? That said, what if Erica disappears…’

As he thought about it, he suddenly felt nauseous, thirsty, and stuffy. Declan roughly unwrapped his cravat.

‘I can’t lose her again. I won’t lose it in vain like I did back then.’

He couldn’t even protect Chloe. Now, Erica.

It felt like his blood was running upside down. He kept thinking of the moment when Chloe was shot and fell for his sake. The pale face that had been telling him to live with a look without a single resentment flickered.

‘Shit. Shit.’

Declan breathed heavily, as if someone was choking him.

“Your Majesty, are you okay?”

Mason asked with concern as he supported Declan.

“…Yes.”

Declan, who shook his hand away, stood upright, leaning on his sword.

“I thought I was strong enough to protect someone.”

He was wretched and miserable.

The Great Hall was silenced by the tight tension.

The rushing doctor said there seemed to be a paralyzing component in the smoke, but the short exposure time was no big deal.

After the doctor left, Declan fixed his gaze on the entrance without saying a word.

‘Why are you so late? Did you miss it? What if they have already left the Imperial Palace…?’

With that burning thought, he raised his head and called the knight nearby.

“Contact the Imperial Guard and tell them to block the Imperial Capital.”

It must be forbidden to leave the Imperial Capital. That way, even Erica can be found. The knight who received Declan’s order bowed his head and ran right away.

“Your Majesty.”

Not long after he left, Liam came in alone.

“How did it go?”

“I’m sorry. It looks like they went out through the North Gate.”

“Shit.”

Declan shook his head and muttered a swear word.

“I found this while chasing.”

What Liam handed over was the flag of the Gemina Kingdom.

Declan’s gaze turned to Seian, who was sitting in the center of the hall.

Seian was white from the moment he saw Liam take out the flag of the Gemina Kingdom. Meanwhile, those who were in the hall trembled at the murderous energy that Declan was spreading.

Seian clapped his lips as if he wanted to make an excuse, though he couldn’t get the right words out.

“Haa.”

Declan drew out his sword with gloomy eyes.