C173
"Darn it!"
Terence, blocked by the shadow's domain, was wielding his sword to break the black band.
Buuuuung. The force surrounding the sword clashed with the extended transparent membrane, creating a dull sound.
"It's that guy again."
At that moment, Liena, who followed me to the balcony, looked at Terence and murmured.
"Don't touch Terence!"
I shouted in shock. It was because I remembered Liena, who had been hostile towards Terence.
"No! I have no intention of touching him."
Liena vigorously shook her head.
"I said I don't want to be hated by you. I just thought it would be a good idea to take that guy with us too."
"What?"
"Do you like Prince Terence? Then, wouldn't you be happier with the prince by your side? Honestly, I hate the prince, but if it's for your happiness, I don't mind taking him with you."
"What are you talking about...?"
"When you get to our nest, you'll marry the prince and have children. You'll have a happy family. I'll be happy just watching that from the sidelines."
Liena was saying she would take me to Terence, as if giving her favorite toy to a crying child. With a clear and immaculate face.
"I'm not in my right mind either."
I briefly dismissed Liena's suggestion.
"Stop talking nonsense. Don't try to manipulate Terence's life according to your own will. It's enough for me to go with you."
"That's right. I only need you."
"Then let's go quickly."
"Is it okay if you don't say goodbye to the prince?"
As I bid farewell, I looked down.
"Ethel, wait a moment!"
Terence, who had finally chipped away at the black band by continuously wielding his sword, shouted to me.
As he saw Liena beside me, his expression became even darker and more anxious.
From head to toe. I looked at his appearance with the intention of capturing it in my eyes and then spoke to Liena.
"...I wrote what I wanted to say in the letter, so it's okay."
I knew intuitively.
If I talk to Terence now, I won't be able to leave with Liena.
Whether it was a mission from the goddess or something else, whether it was a monster wave and people died or not, I didn't know if I would choose to be with Terence just for my own happiness.
But that would be a selfish choice.
Unless I knew which direction Liena's obsession with me would take, there was a high chance that being with me would also be detrimental to Terence.
Liena smiled and gestured to me.
"Well. If you want, let's go right now. But it might be dangerous, so come here."
As I stepped out of the balcony at Liena's gesture, I heard the voices of confused people.
"Eh?!"
"What is that?!"
"It's a wyvern!"
A black wyvern appeared among the clouds.
The wyvern, not as large as a dragon but as big as a house, descended towards the annex.
Considering the fact that it safely entered Shadow's territory and landed in the backyard, it seemed clear that the wyvern was a member of Liena's group.
The wyvern leaned its head on the balcony railing and let out a roar.
"I'm going to fly over that child. Let's go."
After getting on the wyvern's head, Liena looked at me and urged me.
I carefully climbed onto the wyvern's head, holding the divine beast in my arms.
"Your Highness the Prince! You must avoid it!"
"It's dangerous!"
Terence's subordinates, including Jack, tried to dissuade their master, but Terence did not back down.
Rather, he gained momentum and cut the band in two and entered the annex grounds, and at the same time, the wyvern began to flap its wings.
"Ethel!"
He ran straight towards me, but the wyvern took off.
Then, the dark red energy surrounding Terence's sword spread throughout his body.
Terence, who made a close leap, jumped into the air.
It was a technique he had already demonstrated when he visited me at Ambassador Leok's residence to congratulate me for the first time on my divorce.
Just as when he was outside the wall, he levitated in the air and flew towards the window of my room, Terence approached me, who was on the wyvern.
"Take my hand!"
It was a sweet temptation.
For a moment, I felt the need to take his hand and return to the ground with him.
However, I closed my eyes tightly as if to reject that temptation and hugged Lucy tightly.
"Lucy!"
Although I didn't express it in detailed words, Lucy cleverly understood what I meant.
"...I understand."
Lucy pushed Terence with all her might.
Basically, Terence's imperial power was not a full-fledged flying ability.
Terence simply used his power brilliantly and was able to stay in the air for a rather short period of time.
"Ethel! No!"
For that reason, when Lucy pushed him with force, Terence simply moved away from the wyvern.
Why?
Terence's face, unable to take his eyes off me as if he were nailed, was full of questions about the decision I had made moments ago.
Unfortunately, I couldn't tell him anything.
As the wyvern gained speed, we quickly left the imperial palace, and Terence's figure became as small as a pea.
I'm sorry, Terence. I swallowed my words.
"Thank you very much, Ethel. I'm so happy you came with me."
Liena, holding my arm, seemed overwhelmed by emotion, as if she didn't know others' inner thoughts.
Without responding, I looked at the sunset that tinted the whole world red.
Reflecting on what I have to do in the future.
-------------------------------------
"Bring the horse right now."
These were the first words Terence uttered when he set foot on the ground.
The only thought in his mind was that he had to save Ethel, whom he had lost before his eyes.
Common sense would say it was impossible for a horse to catch up to a flying wyvern, but Terence had no time to think rationally.
He must bring Ethel back. From the hands of that disgustingly persistent woman.
"No, I'll go myself. Jack, you should ask those who saw the wyvern and find out which direction it was heading. Right now..."
But before Terence could finish speaking, one of the emperor's servants approached him.
"Your Highness! His Majesty the Emperor has regained consciousness!"
The emperor, who had collapsed after a mysterious attack in the Great Temple, was looking for his son.
"His Majesty the Emperor, also..."
Full Chapter Here☜ (AntiC0pyr1ght)