CH 126

Subjugation and Rakain (17)

But it was just an illusion of his. Roelin simply glanced at Count Skeller before she spoke to the Duke of Bönt instead.

“So, we must hurry then, Duke. Let’s get going.”

“I humbly accept your orders. Let’s escort the Empress and proceed.”

The Duke of Bönt responded quickly to Roelin’s words and soon ordered the Knights.

“Oh, no, Empress!”

Count Skeller called out to Roelin in a hurry. But rather than looking back at him, Roelin immediately ascended into the carriage which she had taken from Seroif. Then, Lucy followed her into the carriage before looking back at Count Skeller and snorted lightly.

“This, profiteer…”

It was right after that moment did Count Skeller’s face begin to turn absolutely red and blue.

* * *

“Kraa!”

Blood poured over Kergel’s head. As soon as it was cut through the monster’s chest, blood that soared like a fountain immediately gushed onto himself.

He roughly removed the hot blood that was drenching his face with his hands and looked around before sheathing his sword.

The knights and soldiers who had all been fighting the monsters here and there were also covered in blood.

“It’s almost settled now, Your Majesty.”

Gilov began to approach while wiping the blood in a similar way as Kergel. Kergel looked at the direction they had passed with a firm expression.

“It reeks of blood. Is it because it blows this way with the direction of the wind?”

“I think it’s rather strange when I look at it. It was made out of alchemy, but the blood is so red.”

Gilov suddenly muttered in curiosity. Kergel looked ahead and smirked when he heard him.

“The origin must have been an ordinary creature, so it may be natural for it to have red blood.”

The smile that spread around Kergel’s mouth appeared twisted. There were so many lives sacrificed by that herd of monsters. So, there was no reason to feel sorry for the monster.

However, he felt heavy when he thought that the creature had become a ‘monster’ just through human greed.

In addition, if one were to think that there might have been interbreeding with humans during the birth process……

Chirp—

At that moment, Kergel’s ear could hear a bird’s cry. He gave up all his thoughts and looked up at the sky.

After nearly eliminating the monsters, the birds had finally returned. And the cry just now was made by a messenger, which was officially raised in the Imperial Palace.

“The Palace must have sent a messenger!”

Gilov also realized the fact and looked up at the sky. Kergel eventually found the bird that was approaching in the form of a small dot on the other side of the sky and whistled lightly.

Then, the small dot seemed to grow gradually and soon after, a large hawk began to appear across the sky.

It was not a small forerunner, but a hawk had been used for such urgent needs.

“Emergency?”

Kergel’s eyes soon narrowed. He thought that something urgent had happened at the Palace which was enough to send him a hawk like this.

‘Did something happen to Roelin? Or…’

“Gilov, what’s the date today?”

Kergel hurriedly turned his head and asked the Knight Commander. Then, Gilov shot a questioning expression with a ‘what?’ in return. Kergel tried to continue the conversation once again, but soon shook his head and stretched his arms out towards the sky.

Then, the hawk that was flying across the sky immediately settled on his arm. Kergel took the letter out of the barrel that had been tied to the hawk’s leg and handed it over to Gilov.

“Why did they send a messenger from the Palace?”

Gilov tore the jerky from his arms and fed it to the hawk while asking a question. But Kergel just looked over the letter without responding at all.

‘…Roelin went to Rakain?’

He wondered if they had sent a messenger in a hurry because of the birthday party. It took him longer than he thought to subjugate the group of monsters, so his heart sank since he thought that he wouldn’t be able to return to the Imperial Palace in time for her birthday.

However, the letter was completely different from what he had expected. And it was a letter from Heinez.

News from Rakain.

With the news that Roelin’s mother, Queen Carolina, was in a critical condition, she would like to see Roelin.

So, the letter briefly stated that Roelin eventually decided to go to Rakain.

One wouldn’t really know everything with just this little piece of paper. Her feelings could not be conveyed thoroughly by this letter as well.

‘I should have stayed with you. No, I should have followed her to Rakain.’

He thought that Heinez had sent the messenger quite a few times, but he could finally obtain it now. Perhaps the rest had been attacked by monsters along the way.

“…I wish I had done it sooner.”

Everything was just regrettable. He clenched the letter as he lowered his head and clenched his teeth. Everyone was buzzing about as they wondered what had happened.

But he still kept his head down as if he hadn’t heard anything at all.

How long had it already been?

“……I can still go now.”

Suddenly, a low murmur had leaked out from Kergel. And before Gilov could ask him back, Kergel looked up and turned right away.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty, where are you going?”

Only then did Gilov come to his senses and hurried after him before asking out. Then, Kergel, who was already taking a stride, stopped for a moment and looked forward before he declared.

“I’m going to Rakain.”

“…what? What? What was that, Your Majesty!”

Despite Gilov’s astonished voice, Kergel began to move again. And despite the lack of order from the Lord, his words ran out quickly.

“Let’s go!”

After sweeping down the horse’s mane a couple of times, Kergel immediately mounted himself on the saddle. Then, he kicked the horse in the ribs as a sign.

Neigh—

The horse cried loudly once and galloped away immediately.

“……what the hell is going on here? He’s going straight to Rakain? Oh, my God. I’m going to send Lord Bashel a messenger right now!”

Gilov was transfixed as he cried out in a late start.