TL/PR : Nesta/YoruNoTsuki

What are you talking about, Otoman! What do you mean by killing my brother and father?!

Her slurred voice was trembling at the end of her sentence.

She wished to overthrow the Imperial Palace, but she had no intention of killing her own bloodline. At best, she wanted to capture them alive and imprison them, if not, then send them to other territories, away from power.

She wanted to be an emperor, but she never thought of standing on top of a pool of blood belonging to her family.

Joseph only watched the two fighting and clenched Lapyans sword. He couldnt decide who to side with nor what action he should take. He was just a small fry manipulated by their hands.

Count Otoman burst into a fit of rage.

We have to kill them, Princess!

What kind of nonsense is that!? No way!

The Imperial Army is attacking the Shinsu now! If the Emperor and his successor died, whom do you think they would be loyal to?!

.

Adelai didnt reply to his last words.

If both the Emperor and Lart were killed, the third in line to ascend would be Princess Adelai.

The Imperial Army, who lost their master, might put down their sword and swear allegiance to Adelai. History always favours the winners.

She was lost in thought for a moment. After getting back to her senses, Adelai slapped Otoman and shouted with all her might.

How dare you try to attack the royal family?!

Please understand the situation, Princess!

All of this happened because you couldnt foresee the Imperial Army coming to their rescue! If you had prepared well, I could sit on the throne with all the Shinsu backing me up!

Touching his reddened face, Count Otomans face distorted in anger. The pupils that shook violently burned like a fireball.

You fool!

Slap!

Count Otoman ruthlessly slapped Adelais cheeks. Adelai stumbled back due to the shock.

This.Y-YouHow dare you!

Adelai covered her burning cheeks. Adelai raised her hand toward Count Otoman with flashing eyes.

How dare you, Otoman!

How can my faithful dog behave so rudely? You clearly went insane because of how the situation unfolded right now. After spouting nonsense about killing the Emperor and the Prince, how come you even slapped me, the Princess?

However, her wrist was snatched by the mans large hand.

Have you gone crazy, Otoman!

No, youre the crazy one, little girl. At this point, I gotta take out all those damn scoundrels to save my own life.

Wh-what?!

Adelai staggered, her eyes were filled with shame and anger.

He was out of his mind. She didnt know that her faithful count would change so quickly. Its like he wasnt the same Count Otoman who was always smiling, speaking to her respectfully and putting up with her patiently.

Now Otoman looked down at her red cheeks and fretted.

Youre useless now, Princess Adelai.

Adelai could only quivered her lips. She couldnt understand any words that went into her ears. She couldnt even retort as she was dizzy from the feeling of betrayal that she felt for the second time that day.

Is there anything you achieved on your own, Adelai? Nothing, nothing at all.

Count Otomans eyes were filled with mockery and contempt. The malice he had been holding back toward Adelai slowly morphed his face and eyes.

A fool who doesnt know how to do anything like you, must be thinking that you can own everything.

The foolish princess believed in her noble blood which was given to her by luck only to run around like a wild foal. He had to swallow shame and resentment every time he had to bow down, pretending to obey Adelai.

She was just a scarecrow. Everything was planned by Otoman. Everything was accomplished with his own ability.

From finding Barahans descendant and coaxing that descendant into doing what Count Otoman wanted, like a puppet in his hand. This incident was also thanks to his effort of manipulating the situation. Gathering Shinsu to attack the Imperial Palace was all due to his ability.

Adelai didnt have any ability. So even if she had power, he had a right to take it.

H-How dare you.!

How dare, huh? My blood is also mixed with royal blood. It means if the emperor, the prince, and you die too, I can become the emperor.

You!!

Adelai was stupefied.

What happened to the man who was busy chasing after me like an obedient dog?

I thought you were my faithful follower, but to think you stab my back like that. This shouldnt have happened.

However, she couldnt deny what Otoman said. Count Otoman was the collateral relatives of the royal family, so if he took the power of all the Shinsu controlled and ascended as the Emperor, his legitimacy would be recognized.

Deception after deception, it seemed like Otoman would win at the end of this foul race.

Adelais hands shook faintly, and she finally vented her overflowing anger.

No. You will never achieve your goal! Id rather kill Joseph! If Joseph dies, the control over the Shinsu will be lost, and the battle will end with my fathers victory!

It was the last threat she could make. However, there was no sign of anxiety in Otomans face. Rather, he just laughed at her.

Do as you like.

Looking at him raising the end of his lips, Adelai felt extremely humiliated. Now she truly concentrated her power to kill Joseph.

I will kill that guy! Ill kill you too! Im going to kill you all! I will watch you being ripped to pieces by His Majesty!

Meanwhile, Joseph, who had been watching Otoman and Adelai, was extremely confused.

Killing me? All I did was listen to the Princess and the Count obediently!

So Joseph tried to dissuade Adelai with a panicked expression.

Princess! I pledged my loyalty to you only! Please dont kill me! Please!

It was a situation that Josephs mind couldnt fully process nor comprehend.

Count Otoman dared to slap the Princess in the face and blabbered absurd remarks that hed become an emperor. Only death would await them at the end of this frightening internal fight.

I thought Id be living extravagantly after this! Isnt this only a vain death?!

As his face was swept by fear, Joseph cried for dear life.

Please spare my life!

He gasped in fear as his life was about to end in Adelais hands.

However, he didnt feel the pain of death even after some time passed. Since Princess Adelai said shed be going to kill him, the magic stone in his stomach shouldve exploded by now.

Joseph calmly lowered his hands that covered his eyes. As soon he faced the situation in front of him, he gasped and stumbled back.

A bloodied Adelai was staggering weakly in front of him.

Otoman, you..

Adelai grabbed Count Otomans wrist with eyes full of pain. Blood dripped from the nails that dug into his flesh.

Thick blood flowed out from Adelais chest and was beginning to color the elegant dress in red.

Otoman thrusted the dagger deeper into her chest, pulled Adelais waist closer to his body and whispered in her ear.

Sorry, you are not the one who holds the life of the Barahans descendant, Joseph.

She couldnt even answer anymore. Only a groan came out when she tried.

Otoman laughed like a snake.

The magic stone you ate was fake.

His hands also began to turn red with blood. He held the body of a woman who was close to her death, and continued to whisper.

The real one is in my stomach.

***

A few hours ago.

Belinda barely came to her senses. A familiar sound of a bird was splitting the air like a scream.

Belinda, wake up! wake up!

Flap, flap!

Small wings slapped her in the face.

Belinda struggled to lift her eyelids. An old wooden ceiling appeared at the end of her blurry vision. A ceiling without a single pattern, and there was a small opened window underneath it.

She slowly turned her head and looked out the window. The dark coniferous forest passed by quickly.

Where is this? Is it a carriage?

The tip of her tongue tasted like medicine. It was something that she was forced to eat before she fainted. She swallowed the bitter taste and got up. She felt nauseous whenever the carriage shook.

She hadnt properly grasped the situation, but based on her last memory, it seemed like she was being kidnapped. A brown-haired Shinsu attacked the Guest Palace, and someone knocked her out soon after.

Pressing her throbbing temple, Belinda shook her head.

Belinda, Belinda, are you alright?!

She could hear Mazettos voice next to her.

Surprised, Belinda pinched Mazettos beak with two fingers. She was afraid that the talking little bird would also be harmed.

Mazetto? What are you doing here? Its dangerous.

When she asked in a whisper, the bird who couldnt open its beak was flapping its wings. Belinda finally let go of her fingers.

Mazetto pouted and began to ramble.

I went to the Guest Palace to see Belinda, and now, Mazetto is so scared! Theres blood everywhere and the Shinsu I saw there, his energy is strange! Belinda suddenly collapsed! I was so scared that Belinda would die, too!

Amid his chaotic rambling, Mazettos tiny body trembled.

The Shinsu killed humans in the Guest Palace. She could see how traumatized Mazetto was upon seeing the pool of blood everywhere and humans falling on the floor of the Guest Palace like broken dolls .

Mazetto always came up against Aymon or Shanti fearlessly, but Mazetto never actually faced a real threat from them. Both were dangerous Shinsu, but they were always friendly toward the small bird.

It was the first time Mazetto experienced real fear. Still, the reason Mazetto didnt run away and stuck next to Belinda was because he treasured her so much.

Belinda, are you awake? Hmm? Hmmm? Lets run away now!

As she tried to soothe the crying bird, she looked around. The carriage was running toward an unknown place.

Mazetto. How long has it been since I passed out?

I dont know. Belinda just sleeps a lot. Mazetto thought Belinda was dead! So, Mazetto was really miserably sad!

Mazetto, calm down.

Belinda hugged the trembling sparrow and tried to soothe it. Mazetto clung to her arms.

I wanted to bring Aymon here, but I didnt know where this carriage was going, so I couldnt go because I was afraid Id lose it! This stupid horse keep running, and Belinda didnt wake up!

Its okay. Its okay

Belinda stroked the tiny bird shaking with her fingertips. As he slowly calmed down, the bird who kept squeaking and panicking earlier, breathed now more steadily.

Oh, you poor thing. How scary it must have been. It would have been better if you just flew away pretending to not know anything.

Belinda looked up at the sky from the window. The suns position had changed. It seemed like some time had passed.

She held her breath and listened to the sounds around her. The sound of horse galloping through a rough forest path, and the sound of friction on the carriage wheels.

And two other sounds in the midst of that. Two unknown sounds.