[7]
Astria rode across the vast grasslands, leading the horse.
It was quite a torment for her, having not handled a horse since childhood, but she could not stop.
– Birkender… please take me to the territory.
Why did Sena leave such words behind?
In a situation where he might die, the weight of those words was heavy.
Even though she didn’t fully understand, Astria rode for Sena’s only wish.
No, she had no choice but to do that.
**
[6]
“Your Majesty…?”
How long had he lost consciousness?
Sena looked around, but there was no one there.
The freshly burning campfire and the sleeping bag covering him told him that someone had been with him.
‘How many days do I have left?’
He opened his hands with tired eyes.
Though he didn’t know exactly how much time remained, he knew it wouldn’t be long.
—Step.
At that moment, he heard footsteps.
“You’re awake.”
Astria, wearing a pure white dress, approached with an expressionless face.
Sena forced a faint smile.
“You shouldn’t walk barefoot in the forest.”
“I don’t get hurt by such trivial things.”
“Still, there’s something to be said for dignity.”
“Hmph.”
Astria’s arms were full of apples.
She sat next to Sena and handed him one.
“Even if it’s hard, eat.”
“I was hungry, thank you.”
Sena’s hand, as he received the apple, trembled slightly.
Astria’s gaze quietly softened.
—Crunch.
The juice from the bite of the apple was so sweet it almost brought tears to his eyes.
“How long can you hold on?”
“Hmm.”
Sena tilted his head slightly.
“I’m not sure. But I think I’ll be okay for about a week. How much longer until we reach the Birkender estate?”
“At this pace, we should arrive in two days.”
“That’s a relief.”
It was a small mercy amidst the misfortune.
In the end, he would achieve what he desired.
Even though that wish had been built upon the sacrifices of many people.
‘…If I die without achieving this, Sylvia’s resolve would be for nothing.’
Squeeze.
Sena clenched the apple tightly in his hand.
Now, there was a reason he absolutely had to return to his homeland.
“…Is there really no other way?”
Astria’s detached voice pulled Sena out of his thoughts.
Uncharacteristically, she sat with her knees hugged to her chest, staring at the ground.
Her eyes seemed so sorrowful.
‘I didn’t expect her to be this sad.’
Sena had always thought Astria’s feelings for him were nothing more than possessiveness.
Like someone desiring an expensive gem.
He thought that if she couldn’t have the gem, she would be more angry than sad.
Still, it was nice to know she cared.
It made him a little happy.
“Your Majesty, you should think more about yourself.”
“…”
“The situation isn’t good. We’re quite far from the capital, and this isn’t a place where you can exert your strength, Your Majesty.”
“Are you worried about me? In this situation?”
“Of course. I’m just a mere physician, but you are the only Empress of the Empire.”
“Insignificant furball.”
“Oh, I haven’t heard that in a while.”
Has it really been a while?
It hasn’t even been a month.
“Still.”
Sena looked at Astria with a bright smile. Astria lifted her head.
“You haven’t forgotten my name, have you?”
“Why would I ask something so obvious?”
“It’s Sena, me.”
Sena grasped the moonlight.
“The ancient word that means just before dawn. In other words, morning will surely come.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Hey, this is the moment you should be moved.”
Sena laughed for a moment before speaking seriously.
“The place we’re heading to is the Birkender territory. And I am clearly a noble of the Laperci Empire with an official title.”
The Birkender Marquis family is one of the great nobles supporting the Empire.
Though the only heir has been causing trouble, it wouldn’t be easy for such a great noble to fall in just one generation.
I believe they have quite an army at their disposal.
It would certainly be a help to Astria.
“Arrogant.”
Astria understood the meaning of Sena’s words and chuckled lightly.
“You are claiming to be my vassal at this moment.”
“Is that a problem?”
“It’s not a problem, no. I acknowledge your contributions.”
“I’m glad to hear that I’ve been helpful.”
Sena smiled proudly.
Astria had seen that kind of smile before.
From dying knights.
In a past life, a smile that held no regrets.
To be precise, the expression of someone who believes in such a moment before death.
“…When we return to the palace, I will commend you greatly.”
“Commend?”
“I will give you whatever you desire. Do you remember? I have yet to fulfill the promise I made on the day my illness was cured.”
She had said she would grant him one wish, whatever he wanted.
Sena certainly remembered that promise.
“Anything really?”
“Of course.”
Astria paused for a moment before continuing.
“…So, let’s go to the Birkender territory first and then return together.”
It might be a simple delusion, but he felt a mix of emotions.
“When we return, I’ll treat you well.”
“Do you understand now? You’ve been a bit too much for me.”
“Did I?”
“You never took your medicine. You just told me to leave. I was doing my job.”
“…There won’t be any more of that.”
He thought that he wasn’t the only one who sensed death looming.
Maybe that’s why.
“Yes. Let’s return together.”
He told another lie.
**
“Here, there are traces.”
On the sloped path through the forest, one knight raised his hand high.
“It hasn’t been half a day since they left.”
It was evidence of their campsite.
They might have tried to hide their tracks, but it was pointless against the knights skilled in tracking.
“Still, they’ve managed to escape quite far. Right, Cruyff?”
“…”
Granz placed his hand on Cruyff’s shoulder.
“It seems you made the right decision not to chase after that young knight. If we had, we might have lost them.”
After the aurora that had devoured their legs had faded.
Sylvia had been fatally wounded by Granz’s sword.
Just as he was about to finish her off, a mysterious black knight appeared and whisked Sylvia away.
They could have pursued, but Cruyff stopped them.
“Prepare everyone. We leave immediately.”
Granz shouted loudly as he passed by Cruyff.
Cruyff, with an unreadable expression, began to move again.
At that moment, Seria grabbed his hand.
“Please, stop.”
Her hand was trembling.
“I can’t bear it anymore. Seeing Sena’s pained expression, and seeing your expression, Cruyff.”
“I’m fine.”
“Lies. Then why do you look so… sorrowful?”
Cruyff, who had lived his whole life like a saint, now felt like every step forward was like walking through a field of thorns.
“Once I’ve taken a step, the only path left is to move forward.”
But he had no choice but to keep walking.
The light of hope at the end kept him from stopping.
“Even if I’m hated enough to die, as long as I’m alive, that’s enough.”
It was something worth achieving, even if it meant dying.
**
[6]
December 31st, 231 Imperial Calendar.
As the new year approached and the night of the sixth day since the rebellion began, the Empress was cornered.
The Holy Knights and the greatest military family of the Empire, the House of Duke Kairos, had pursued the fleeing Empress right to her doorstep.
There was no hope for victory.
The strength of the Empress and the Duke was equal, but the Empress had no retainers.
Unless a miracle from the gods occurred, there was no way the Empress could quell the rebellion.
But that night, the Empress made a decision that would change history.
She stepped onto the land of a loyal noble of the outskirts, the Ashford estate.
“I’ve been waiting, Your Majesty.”
The Empress Astria, alone and cradling a wounded angel, arrived at the House of Ashford.
The pitiful Empress was welcomed grandly by Marquis Ashford, who led his entire army to meet her.
“The House of Ashford supports the current imperial family.”
There was no certainty that Ashford would support her.
Hearing the confirmation brought a sense of relief, yet she couldn’t help but be surprised at the marquis’ unexpectedly resolute attitude.
“You’ve become quite bold. Is it because you have a capable daughter?”
“I only wish to complete the order given to me ten years ago.”
The memory of failing to carry out the Emperor’s command on the battlefield.
Marquis Ashford, once called a coward, wanted to erase the shame of that day.
“An order from that day, you say.”
The Marquis of Ashford had never once forgotten that order.
“Laorun Ashford. Annihilate the enemy. I will fulfill it now.”
Astria gazed intently at Ashford for a moment.
His resolve was clear.
“I permit you to lay down your life for me.”
“It would be an honor.”
**
[5]
It felt like waking from a long, deep sleep.
‘I’m not in pain.’
The fever that had tormented Sena last night seemed like a lie. He felt perfectly fine now.
He stared blankly ahead.
The fire had died down a bit.
Beyond the wavering embers, Astria stood with her hands clasped behind her back, gazing at the dawn.
Quietly, he rose and stood beside her.
“It’s a nostalgic sight.”
“You recognize this place?”
“To meet Chloe, I had to cross this hill.”
Seeing this meant they were close to the Birkender estate.
Though he had lost consciousness for a while, Sena knew that Astria had persevered for his sake.
“Thank you for bringing me this far.”
“…You can save your thanks for later.”
It felt as if Sena was saying, ‘Your Majesty, your role ends here.’
Astria didn’t want to accept that fact, so she pushed it off to later.
“Once we enter that estate and I take care of my grandfather, my role will be over.”
Astria’s movements, as she prepared a place for them to rest, came to a halt.
Sena’s words carried a sense of relief that this was truly the end.
However, it was an emotion that felt less like someone waiting for a new beginning and more like someone trying to put a period on a perfect destination.
Sensitive to emotions, Astria bit her lip.
“You’re still alive.”
“Yes?”
Sena turned back, as if questioning the meaning of her words.
Astria spoke harshly.
“What I mean is that if you’re alive, you should make an effort to stay that way.”
“Ah… I’m sorry.”
It felt like trying to cut through a flowing stream.
Sena continued to gaze at something in the distance as he spoke.
“Don’t worry. I won’t forget how you helped me, even after I’m gone. I will repay you, somehow.”
His expression seemed both nostalgic and joyful at once.
“By the way, I’ve never asked you what you want, Your Majesty. If there’s anything you desire right now, I’ll grant it.”
Caught off guard by his pure gaze, Astria found herself at a loss for words.
She could only stare blankly.
Sena’s eyes seemed to look slightly beyond the Birkender territory right in front of them.
‘What I wish for…’
She answered in her heart.
‘It’s the you that exists now.’
Sena thought that even after death, he would never be able to give her what he truly wanted.
(TLN: I have no idea what’s going on between Ashford and Ashmont, this chapter implies that Chloe is an Ashford not an Ashmont, well I thought the same since Ashford only gets mentioned two times… BUT. Then again, Chloe’s dad’s name was Liam not Laolun. I believe the author forgot, so I’ll update once its mentioned again…)
