ㅤChapter 65
ㅤCrimguard Fortress was in an uproar.
ㅤPrincess Aquamarine, who suddenly appeared on horseback, rushed straight into the Underworld, dragging the Emperor, who tried to stop her, along with her.
ㅤArnold rushed to the scene upon hearing of the national emergency, but there was nothing he could do. As a friend, he wanted to go to their rescue immediately, but as the Prime Minister, he couldn’t make that decision. Stepping into the Underworld was tantamount to suicide. He couldn’t allow the knights, who were precious assets of the country, to die in vain. His friend, who was like a younger brother to him, would never forgive him for that.
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ㅤ”Your Majesty……! Damn it!”
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ㅤFrustrated with his own powerlessness, he slammed his fist against the stone wall of the fortress.
ㅤThe knights all pleaded with Arnold, saying, “We don’t value our lives! Please let us go save His Majesty!” but time continued to pass in a stalemate.
ㅤAt that moment, the moon was obscured, and a large black shadow fell upon the fortress. A gust of strong wind blew.
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ㅤ”……?”
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ㅤArnold and the knights looked up at the sky and were dumbfounded.
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ㅤ”A, a Dark Dragon!?”
ㅤ”Surprise attack! Prepare for interception!” “Why is it here!? It came flying from the direction of the Imperial City!”
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ㅤThe knights quickly scattered to their posts, but Arnold shouted.
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ㅤ”–Wait! It looks like someone is riding on its back!”
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ㅤThere was only one person he knew who could ride on the back of the strongest species– Arnold shuddered.
ㅤRuby, riding on Blacky’s back, looked down at the fortress and waved to Arnold when she spotted him.
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ㅤ”I’m going to save His Majesty! Blacky says he can guide us since he was born in the Underworld! I’ll definitely bring him back, so please wait here!”
ㅤ”Princess Ruby……”
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ㅤRuby, with her long hair flowing in the wind, circled above the fortress and smiled reassuringly at the knights.
ㅤTurning back to face forward, her expression returned to one of seriousness, and she gave instructions to Blacky.
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ㅤ”Let’s go, Blacky! Take us to His Majesty and Aquamarine!”
ㅤ”Kyuiiii!!”
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ㅤBlacky accelerated, and the two plunged straight into the darkness of the Underworld.
ㅤThe two appeared like a storm and left like the wind. It was all over in an instant.
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ㅤ”Her Majesty the Empress……”
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ㅤThe knights and Arnold were left with dumbfounded expressions, but gradually, they were enveloped in a whirlwind of joy.
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ㅤ”Did you see that? Her Majesty the Empress was controlling a Dark Dragon!” “How reliable” “Let’s wait for their return here! Don’t let your guard down, as there might be an increase in monster appearances!”
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ㅤHope was rekindled, and the morale of the fortress soared.
ㅤArnold moved to the shadows, unnoticed by the invigorated knights, and wiped his eyes.
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ㅤ”Lady Ruby. As His Majesty’s friend, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
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ㅤ◇
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ㅤRelatively soon after entering the Underworld, they discovered Theodore by the lakeside.
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ㅤ”Your Majesty! Are you alright!? I’ve come to rescue you!”
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ㅤRuby gracefully dismounted from Blacky and rushed over to her surprised husband. She patted him all over to check on him, and when she found that he was unharmed, she cried tears of joy.
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ㅤ”I’m, I’m so glad……! When I heard the news, I thought my heart would stop……”
ㅤ”……You came for me?”
ㅤ”Of course! I’m your wife, so we share any fate that comes our way. I’ll never abandon you.”
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ㅤTheodore’s chest tightened as he looked at his wife, who was looking up at him with tears of joy. Unable to bear it any longer, he hugged her small body tightly.
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ㅤ”Thank you. My wife is not only loving but also courageous.”
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ㅤRuby responded with a happy feeling, but then she noticed something.
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ㅤ”Huh? Your Majesty’s neck and face are red. –Wait, your arms too!”
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ㅤTheodore separated from her and checked himself. Just as Ruby said, his skin was inflamed all over his body.
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ㅤ”……Perhaps it’s because I fell into this lake. I must have been exposed to the water containing strong miasma.”
ㅤ”I’ll detoxify you immediately. I’ll also put up a miasma-repelling barrier. Let’s sit over there.”
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ㅤWhile detoxifying him, Ruby remembered her sister.
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ㅤ”Aren’t you with Aquamarine?”
ㅤ”She went ahead…….She said she was going to meet the Demon King.”
ㅤ”The Demon King? Wasn’t she running away because she was afraid of atoning for her sins?”
ㅤ”……Actually, that’s not the case.”
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ㅤ–Even though she was like that, Ruby cherished her sister. He had respected her feelings, but it was time to tell her.
ㅤTheodore reluctantly gave her a minimal explanation.
ㅤThat Aquamarine had always been jealous of Ruby. That the reason Ruby was sent to Langley as a substitute bride was also due to Aquamarine’s malicious scheme, and that the reason she sent Sieg Hart and tried to forcibly take her back was because she couldn’t stand seeing Ruby happy. And that because all of her attempts had failed and she was now facing the consequences of her actions, she was trying to instigate the Demon King to destroy the Langley Empire.
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ㅤ”There are still many things that are unclear, but one thing is certain: the princess doesn’t think highly of you. She’s the kind of person who will trample on the kindness you offer her without hesitation…….I want you to think carefully about whether you want to risk your life to save her.”
ㅤ”……I was hated, wasn’t I? I might have been insensitive without realizing it.”
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ㅤRuby slumped her shoulders dejectedly. Theodore gently embraced her.
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ㅤ”It’s not your fault. There are selfish people in the world.”
ㅤ”……Thank you.”
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ㅤIn his large arms, Ruby pondered. How should she face her sister?
ㅤShould she just not see her again? Would she be rejected even if she went to save her? Such thoughts swirled around in her head, but-━.
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ㅤ”……But still, I want to go. I want to hear Aquamarine’s feelings from her own mouth. And if she’s really instigating the Demon King, then as the Empress, I have to stop her.”
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ㅤSeeing Ruby’s determined expression, Theodore’s lips curved into a slight smile.
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ㅤ”I thought you would decide that.”
ㅤ”I’m sorry. I think I’ll move forward.”
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ㅤThey couldn’t afford to be leisurely. Depending on the Demon King’s response, the country could be in danger.
ㅤAs Ruby stood up, Theodore also rose to his feet.
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ㅤ”Ah, could you please wait here, Your Majesty? This place seems safe.”
ㅤ”If you’re going, I’m going too…….That’s what being married is all about, right?”
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ㅤRuby, who was stunned, soon broke into a smile. “You’re right!” she said, taking Theodore’s hand and boarding Blacky’s back together.
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ㅤ”Blacky, do you know where Aquamarine is? It seems she’s heading towards the Demon King.”
ㅤ”Kyui! Kyukyukyu!”
ㅤ”What is he saying?”
ㅤ”He says he knows the castle where the Demon King lives. Let’s go there for now!”
ㅤ”The Demon King’s castle, huh……”
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ㅤTheodore gently touched the sword at his waist. The Demon King was said to be a highly intelligent monster, so it was unlikely that they would immediately be in a state of battle, but it wouldn’t be strange if there were some sort of warning against intruders.
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ㅤ”Blacky. Be very careful of attacks. If your master, Ruby, is in danger, I want you to leave immediately.”
ㅤ”Kyukyu!”
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ㅤBlacky gave a reassuring reply and took off.
ㅤThey quickly passed through the long cave and glided through the air, looking down at the dense black forest far below. The ominously towering Demon King’s castle was fast approaching.
ㅤAs they approached the tip of a sharp tower, Ruby raised her voice.
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ㅤ”Ah, that dress! I can see Aquamarine inside!”
ㅤ”There seems to be a man in front of her…… Is that the Demon King?”
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ㅤAt that moment, as Theodore drew his sword, the window glass of the room shattered violently from the inside. Blacky shielded the two on his back with his wings.
ㅤThey circled around the tower, observing the situation inside.
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ㅤ”What’s happening?”
ㅤ”Aquamarine! Can you hear me!?”
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ㅤRuby shouted, but her voice didn’t seem to be reaching her. While they were doing so, the man confronting Aquamarine picked up a large scythe.
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ㅤ”Ah, it’s dangerous! Stop it!!”
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ㅤThe blade of the scythe gleamed menacingly. It was raised mercilessly and swung down without a moment’s hesitation.
ㅤBlacky, understanding Ruby’s will, charged into the room with great force.