CH 129

When the chiseled tip of the sword retreated to threaten Giggs, William was finally able to open his mouth. “Lady Elena is at Logan’s castle. She asked me to report to you that she is planning to take control of the castle,” he said in a daze.

Gareth’s sword stopped midair as if he had become frozen. He then fumed, “You’re the one who took her there, and now you’re making an excuse?” Gareth clasped his sword tightly with trembling hands. ‘She miscarried our child due to shock. She would be in terrible condition right now. Yet she came all the way here? Where does she think this place is… How could she come here when she’s still recovering… How could she?!’

“I’m not making any excuses. It is true that I couldn’t protect my lord or his daughters, Lady Rowena and Lady Marina. Moreover, I couldn’t even stop Lady Elena from coming all the way here. However, this is not yet my time to die. I will make sure to kill myself after we rescue the ladies.”

A heavy silence stifled the air.

* * *

Bang! Back in the barracks, Gareth stabbed the table with his sword and tore his hair with both hands while screaming. An unbearable fear began to devour him.

‘Elena is at Logan’s castle. She’s there.’

Gareth had no intention to blame Elena for her decision since he knew how much she cherished her family. The one he blamed was himself; he had caused Elena to drag herself to this dangerous place.

‘It’s all because I failed to protect her family. It’s all my fault!’ Gareth screamed once again, spewing out the fear that tightened his chest. He glared at William with bloodshot eyes, then he pulled the sword that had been stuck on the table back out. Without even giving time for Giggs to stop him, Gareth threw the sword toward William, causing it to brush past the man’s ear before it stabbed into the ground. His action prompted William to prepare for his death, but Gareth opened his mouth instead.

“How did Elena sneak into the castle?”

Gareth’s indescribably frigid voice caused goosebumps to rise throughout William’s body. As William looked into the mercenary’s indifferent and pitch-black eyes, he realized that Gareth almost looked like a sword waiting to bring vengeance. William swallowed dryly at the frightening sight, taking deep breaths before reporting what had happened.

* * *

Gareth idly watched the candlelight that illuminated the barracks, thinking, ‘Elena is nearby. She’s in that castle.’ He then asked, “Did William and Hansen leave?”

“Yes, they’re on their way,” Giggs answered.

Gareth nodded. He had decided to stop playing along with Logan. Instead, at the next dawn, he would end the man’s life. He was going to rescue Elena from that horrific place.

‘I don’t want anything from her. All I want is to hold her in my arms safely before sunset tomorrow. Tomorrow… I will definitely kill Logan.’

Gareth beckoned Giggs to come close and began to discuss the strategy for the next day.

“When tomorrow dawns…”

Act 12.

The next morning, Lydia came down to the hall alone a little later than usual. She had hardly slept the previous night after having a heated argument with Logan. When she got to the hall, she could see Logan leading the knights to leave the castle.

“Please don’t come back another day safely,” Lydia muttered under her breath. Logan had been fighting against Gareth for four days now, and the rumors about the victoryless lord were spreading. It was only a matter of time before word reached the capital.

“Halbert will go crazy with joy if he hears,” Lydia mumbled to herself, pressing her throbbing head with one hand. As of now, Gareth was contradicting his original purpose and taking Halbert’s side. Lydia knew her actions had caused these unfortunate events to unfold, but the more serious problem was that Logan had not won a single battle against Gareth. Lydia wanted Logan to die but not slowly like this. She wanted him to die at once.

Logan was making Lydia’s plan more difficult by prolonging his fight against Gareth. Not to miss a golden opportunity, Halbert was bound to start moving when the rumor spread to the capital. If that happened, the troops hidden in different places lacking command would be greatly shaken.

“How annoying,” Lydia spat out. Her plans had always been perfect, but that was it. She was the only one perfect, and that was why problems kept arising. Lydia thought back to the conversation she had with Logan last night. He had been drunk, and she couldn’t help but reprehend him.