The Villain’s Aide Has Run Away - Chapter 123.2
Kailos’s voice grew lower, carrying a heavier weight. It was the sound of anger he was barely suppressing.
“We will find out soon enough whether it makes sense or not. Go and capture the aide.”
At the Empress’s command, one of the knights stepped forward and bowed. The soft clink of metal armor followed his movement.
They were about to pass by Kailos and proceed ahead.
That was when it happened.
A sharp sound echoed as Robin, the aide, stepped forward. His boot struck the ground firmly. He threw off his gloves, blocking the knight’s path.
Robin already looked prepared for a fight. His fingers tensed, and his body tilted slightly forward, ready to clash at any moment.
At the heart of the Imperial Palace stood the Empress and the Crown Prince, and before them, their two loyal subordinates now faced each other.
The air grew thick with tension, as if it could explode at any second.
Just when the knight was about to confront Robin, a calm voice cut through the oppressive atmosphere of the palace.
“Please, wait a moment.”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward the man who had spoken. It was Duke Delta, a large man dressed in a dark cloak with silver epaulets.
He bowed deeply to both the Empress and the Crown Prince before speaking cautiously.
“Now that His Majesty’s illness is so severe, if Your Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince continue to stand in opposition like this, imagine how uneasy the vassals and the citizens outside will feel.”
His words seemed intended to preserve the Empress’s dignity. The Empress nodded in apparent satisfaction.
“Therefore, it may be wise to summon the aide and investigate, as Her Majesty wishes.”
Whispers spread among the surrounding officials. The Duke’s statement sounded like he was siding with the Empress.
Kailos’s eyes, however, told a different story.
In Duke Delta’s tone, and in the subtle glance he cast while bowing his head, there was another meaning hidden.
It was as if he were silently conveying that now is not the time to oppose the Empress, but neither should His Highness yield his stance.
The Empress, unaware of that nuance, smiled more broadly.
“You see, the Duke shares my opinion as well.”
Kailos responded with a faint upward curve of his lips.
“In that case, I should leave even more so. Now that Father has fallen ill, I must do what a Crown Prince ought to do.”
The Duke bowed deeply and remained silent. Though his words had preserved the Empress’s face, he had no intention of stopping the Crown Prince’s resolve.
The Empress’s smile stiffened. Yet she could not refute the Duke’s mediation without appearing unreasonable.
Kailos called Robin to his side, then turned to leave with him. His back did not waver in the slightest.
The Empress’s gaze grew sharper as she watched him walk away. Still, the Duke quietly bowed and remained beside her. A faint, unreadable smile flickered across his expression.
***
The carriage rolled on, gaining speed. As the Crown Prince gazed idly out the window, a blur of dust and fur suddenly shot up into the sky.
“…What on earth is that?”
Leslun leaned out as well and froze.
“Ah… that…”
Up above, a massive hawk beat its wings as it grappled fiercely with a cat-like beast. Claws and wings, fangs and tails clashed together in blinding flashes of light.
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes, then suddenly let out a short laugh.
“Silber and Blue.”
Leslun wiped cold sweat from his brow. He had no idea why the two divine beasts were fighting. The Crown Prince’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.
“Such ferocity. It reminds me of myself and the Crown Prince.”
Outside, Silber created a gust of wind with his wings, slamming Blue to the ground. A furious roar followed. Feathers and fur drifted through the air, slipping in through the window and floating inside the carriage.
Leslun hastily brushed them off and murmured,
“For some reason, Blue reminds me of His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Blue indeed resembled Kailos in many ways.
Then Prince Shaiman added with a light tone,
“The hawk resembles me.”
At that, Leslun had the strange feeling that the outcome of that fight would somehow mirror the fate between Kailos and Shaiman themselves.
Prince Shaiman smiled nonchalantly.
“I hope Silber wins.”
Leslun could only sigh, unable to respond to the absurdity of it all.
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