Chapter 20:

Chapter 20:

Stop here.

At the same time, the Duke, who was in the middle of his journey from the capital to his mansion, suddenly stopped his horse.

the Dukes black horse neighed in displeasure as its rider tugged on the reins sharply.

Your Highness, what happened?

Naturally, everyone who followed him immediately stopped upon hearing the masters order.

Duke Carlyle was silent for a while and stared into the darkness, as if he was thinking about something or trying to see something there.

The knights looked at each other in confusion, and then stared at their masters back.

Dont you hear this?

What are you speaking about?

This sound.

What what sound?

And only then did they really pay attention to it. It was a faint, monotonous sound, like someone was crying.

I hear it too!

The first person to hear him after Carlyle was Jude Hayon, the youngest knight.

Jude hastily drew his sword from its scabbard.

This faint sound came from the magic stone embedded in his sword.

Its a resonance.

Hadin nodded his head, confirming his words.

Is it possible that it is nearby?

Most likely, a colossal amount of mana is coming from somewhere in the capital.

Hadin explained to Jude, as he was also one of the first to catch an echo of this resonance.

He had heard of this being possible, but it was extremely rare. Moreover, in order to cause a resonance, an incredibly powerful magical explosion must occur. Only in this case, nearby mana stones could sound.

Then all the knights began to check their swords.

But, how could such a powerful magical explosion occur at this time of day, in the center of the capital?

What could have caused it?

Maybe the dungeon has opened up.

Dont joke like that, you idiot! Jude exclaimed in fear.

If the dungeon was opened in the center of the capital, as one of the knights said, then it would be a real disaster.

Lets go there.

Lennox, listening to the piercing screaming stone in his sword, led them out of the capital.

By the time he approached the forest near his destination, his ears were already hurting from the loud crying of the magic stone.

The place that the weeping voice of the stone led him to was an abandoned stone building on the outskirts of the capital. Similar dilapidated ancient temples were scattered throughout the Empire, and no one had visited them for a long time.

Why exactly here?ViiSiit novelbi/n(.)c/(o)m for latest novels

Huh?

It was Jude who first discovered Juliet.

Hey, theres someone there!

Thanks to the rising moon, illuminating the area as brightly as if it were daylight, the ruins of the ancient temple were perfectly visible.

As Jude had said, a woman stood in the middle of the dilapidated stone building, who then sank gently to the floor.

Damn it!

Jude, who was about to dismount and run through the thickets, suddenly stopped.

The stone floor of the ruins was covered in a thick, dark substance. It looked as if someone had deliberately splattered ink all over it.

Of course, it wasnt ink.

It was dried blood.

It was a strange occurrence.

Just as his hand touched her, the voices that had been chattering in her head disappeared completely.

Instantly, the surroundings became quiet.

That alone relieved her headache significantly. Instead, she could feel that her body was hot. The dizziness was probably due to the fever.

Ha.

Look at this. Lennoxs eyes, observing her, flickered with a hint of curiosity.

Youve summoned something pretty absurd.

What has she summoned?

But something like that

The mans gaze still lingered on the small clusters of flickering lights fluttering around her.

You dont know how to close off magic, and you dont know how to control them.

Perhaps it was just her imagination, but the butterfly-shaped clusters of light seemed to flinch for a moment.

And youre leaking magic so recklessly.

He said that with a smirk.

Youll die soon.

What?

You bastard!

Tears in Juliets eyes welled up in an instant.

Even so, I thought you might help me a little. So listen to me very carefully now.

Yes, whats wrong with you?

As if he found her pitiful, Lennox Carlyle adjusted his posture and whispered gently next to Juliet.

Youll die if you dont close off the magic.

Judging by his tone, it was clear that he knew how to close off the magic but deliberately refused to help her.

No, perhaps he seemed to be waiting for her to do something.

But Juliets body was in too much pain, and all she could think about was crying.

Huk.

Was there something wrong with her throat?

Even her sobbing voice didnt come out properly.

Then the man sitting beside her gently stroked her cheek with one hand while holding his chin with the other.

Just like administering medicine.

The pleasant coolness of his hands made her feel better again.

From the outside, it might look like he was really going to help her, but Juliet felt that this was not the case.

Juliet had a hunch.

This man will just let me die.

Because the Lennox Carlyle she knew wasnt someone who showed unfounded kindness.

Even his indifferent eyes said so. His slightly curious red eyes were remarkably beautiful, but his expression was overwhelmingly listless. It was a gaze that seemed to be looking at a slightly peculiar animal, and that was all.

He was always like this.

She knew it.

In her past life, he acted cruelly, ruthless as if he had no blood or tears, except towards one person in the world.

Yet, somehow, she couldnt bear it and felt angry.

If it was going to end up like this, why did I desperately try to avoid it?

Her breath became rapid, she felt numbness in her entire body and her consciousness faded away. Juliet closed her eyes smoothly and soon completely lost consciousness.

But just before she completely lost consciousness, she felt the touch of someones hand caressing her cheek. Then she felt like her lips lightly touched something and then it pulled away.

I will help you only once.

Juliet thought she heard a whisper mixed with laughter.