Vol. 4 Part. 17 New Chapter
“A sacrifice has to be made to achieve a certain purpose. How pathetic, both you and me.”
The Emperor quietly muttered as if reflecting on himself for not reading Noel’s plan. Meanwhile, Irene ran to Noel.
“Noel, are you okay?”
“Yes… it’s not deep.”
However, contrary to his words, his injury was quite severe. Since the bleeding could not get any worse than this, Irene wrapped Noel’s wound with the remaining cloth from covering Rick’s shoulder.
“You cannot use your left arm anymore.”
“Yes, I understand.”
As Noel reassured her, Irene smiled softly. However, the worry on Irene’s face did not disappear right away. On the contrary, seeing him getting hurt made her even more impatient.
Should I go to Louiselle right now?
Wouldn’t there be something she could do if she knew what the situation they were facing was?
But Irene soon shook off the thought. It was clear that she would not be of any help without the spirits and magic even if she went to them. Her shoulders drooped heavily at the helplessness.
The Emperor looked down at Count Chase and asked coldly, looking at the two.
“Does it hurt?”
“…I apologise.”
“Tsk, you could not avoid that one. Now, it seems I have to deal with the Grand Duke alone.”
“I am ashamed of myself.”
“Never mind. I was getting kind of bored. Just in time, the Grand Duke also cannot move one of his arms.”
The Emperor smiled contentedly and turned to Noel. On the other side, Noel, panting heavily, also approached the Emperor.
Not giving the other a chance to say anything, they immediately rushed into each other
—Clang, clang. The sound of swords clashing with each other filled the room.
Meanwhile, Irene stood still and took a moment to look around the room.
The Ram mercenaries, who were pushed back by the defence, struggled tremendously. Not only, Rick, the number of casualties was growing, but everyone did not care. Instead, they were working to not pass on their part of the responsibility to others. Even when Noel was injured, she was forced to stand far away without doing anything.
All of this came as a nightmare for Irene.
Irene looked at Count Chase, who was sitting on the ground, leaning against the wall. Sensing Irene’s gaze, he turned to look at her. Irene’s eyes filled with anger and resentment.
The moment I left the house, I thought the nightmare was over.
When would she indeed be able to get out of this nightmare? Couldn’t everyone just be happy? She, Noel, Louiselle, and the Ram mercenaries, everyone.
To do that, we have to end this fight.
Irene held a dagger for self-defence in her hand. No one knew she had a dagger except for Rick, who was with her.
“It’s dangerous.”
At Rick’s words, Irene nodded.
“I won’t overdo it because I know that it can be a burden. It’s just immensely frustrating….”
She could not rush into it. If she were to make a mistake and get caught, it would be surefire this battle would end with the Kristen family’s defeat. No one else knew, but Noel would never give up on her.
“Ugh.”
“Haha! Kristen’s successor is nothing compared to me!”
The moment Irene was agonising over her thoughts, the Emperor’s voice cackled. Turning her head, the Emperor was clutching Noel’s shoulder. As Noel’s brows furrowed when he groaned, a satisfied laugh came from the Emperor.
Irene’s eyes widened. At the same time, a strange sensation wrapped around her body.
“Come on, come on! Aren’t I right in front of you? Go ahead and kill me!”
Not noticing Irene’s change, the Emperor taunted Noel as he brought his face up close to him. However, Noel’s gaze was still on Irene.
“Don’t tell me the Grand Duke expects something from the young lady?”
The Emperor thought Noel had sent some sort of signal to Irene, but it was the opposite. Noel gave a slight nod as he caught sight of Irene’s lips moving slightly in the distance.
“Noel, I…”
“What are you doing now?”
Thrust.
As soon as the Emperor looked back suspiciously at the sight of the two exchanging glances in front of him, his mouth became agape, with his pupils shaking violently.
The Emperor staggered back, releasing Noel’s shoulder. He fiddly touched his back with disbelief.
A dagger lodged exactly a few centimetres from his heart. When in the world…
The Emperor looked at Irene with trembling eyes. She was too far away. It was too accurate to aim with a dagger with a simple grip from that distance.
I see. The magic-blocking spell has been broken…