#54
“ha… .”
Sehyun, who was deep in thought, fell down with her head on the table. All my thoughts flew away to the point where my vision was blurry. All I could smell was a foul smell.
Sehyeon woke up only when the foul smell made his stomach turn. As I staggered towards the bed, a servant who was serving as a servant came in with a knock on the door, as if he had noticed people moving outside.
As soon as he saw the leftover food, the man’s face became thoughtful. He moved his lips as if he wanted to say something, but he quickly closed his mouth and started putting away the dishes as usual.
Rattling-
However, the fingertips that cleaned up the dishes were different from usual. Sehyeon lay down and quietly watched the slightly trembling fingertips. Perhaps, this will be the end of Ruhak’s patience.
It was almost like a intuition. On the other hand, it was crazy to think that he knew too. If this was some kind of aftereffect of the race change, Ruhak would have also experienced it.
Still, did I have to force myself to eat it?
Sehyeon covered up to block the distant view. I don’t know when my appetite will adapt and I will be able to eat it, but it will probably be tomorrow. With that vague thought in mind, Sehyeon endured hunger.
What made me realize that it wasn’t just the aftereffects was when the Archduke came in not long after the food was put away. At the sound of the door opening violently, Sehyeon’s head reflexively turned toward the door.
There, Sehyeon faced a cold face filled with anger. The dark eyes, narrowly guarding the breaking point, were staring straight at Sehyeon, frighteningly.
The moment he took his steps from that spot, a heavy energy hit him so hard that it took his breath away.
“Yes, I heard you refused to eat today again.”
“I didn’t reject it, so don’t be mistaken.”
mistaken. Ruhak laughed lowly at those words. However, his expression became colder that much. The distance, which was only a few steps at most, quickly narrowed.
“mistaken?”
“It doesn’t look like you have any intention of listening anyway, so don’t worry. “As long as I don’t die, right?”
Sehyun smiled coldly and stood up. It wasn’t until I came face to face with Ruhak that I realized that he wasn’t going to listen to any excuses. His angry eyes proved it.
It was immediately after that that a rough hand was extended. In an instant, his arm was grabbed, and Sehyun was pulled across his room by an enormous force. No matter how many times I saw him get his feet tangled and fall, his strong grip did not loosen.
The place where I was dragged helplessly was outside the door. Beyond the corridor of the corridor, the view of the sky, with cold air blowing in, spread out across my entire field of vision. Sehyun frowned without realizing it as the morning sunlight hit her eyes.
However, he too was kicked out the door stumbling when a hand let go of his arm as if to throw it away for a moment. The touch of cold marble touched my toes, and the cold wind swept past my cheeks.
It was so cold that my shoulders were shaking. However, Sehyeon couldn’t even crouch down. No, his arm that was wrapped around his body fell down midway.
There were countless people in front of Sehyeon’s trembling eyes. These people are kneeling on the cold marble and bowing their heads in a solemn manner, motionless. Nevertheless, the undaunted appearance and the spirit revealed along with the firm spirit pierced Sehyun’s heart.
They were twelve heroes and thirty knights whom Sehyeon raised with all his heart and soul. No, currently there were only eleven heroes due to Zeno’s absence.
“… why… .”
My fingertips were cold. Despite Sehyun’s words, they sat solemnly, without moving their heads and bowing their heads.
“You will recognize them at a glance since you raised them yourself.”
A cold voice came from behind Sehyeon. Despite the sound of footsteps, Sehyun’s eyes did not leave the people in front of her.
In front of them sat a man with silver-blue hair. He was a man in silver armor who protected Sehyun and saved everyone in the nameless village. He was looking down with a neat attitude, putting down his silver helmet in front of him.
Sehyeon’s lips were tightly closed. He was the only one among the heroes who had no name. Because of his pretty hair color, he gave him the name ‘Euncheong’, and he was proud of it and lived with it as a pride.
He was also the leader of heroes. He was a hero who had the duty of a knight ingrained in him and whose heart was more upright and upright than anyone else.
“Ever since you didn’t even touch a drop of water, they have been kneeling here, depriving themselves of food and drink, waiting for you. They will do this until you give them food and water, and they will not leave until you get out on your own. Still, will you endure to the end?”
It was three days. He would have known even if only one shot had come out. It was entirely Sehyun’s fault for not doing so, and it was a choice.
“Let go of the idea that the body is yours. You are the king who will have to carry this great empire from now on. You forgot that, abandoned us, and even now you are abusing yourself and pushing your vassals into a corner. Even after all this, do you still think that your existence is yours alone?”
I thought it might be a punishment. He was scared because he thought he would be told to pay for ignoring them, and he didn’t have the courage to face them for fear of receiving harsh looks.
Sehyun’s eyes blinked slowly. I wish I had told you earlier. That’s what I thought. It’s funny to even talk about it now, but Sehyun decided to tell everyone her story. I may not be proud, but I wanted to put aside the misunderstandings and doubts.
Opening my mouth was more difficult than I thought.
“… I tried to eat food… “I couldn’t eat it.”
The first to react to Sehyeon’s words was Ruhak. In an instant, his gaze became puzzled. A cool wind passed by everyone. Sehyeon continued speaking again.
“I think that…” I thought it was an aftereffect of the species change, and I didn’t tell you because I thought it would get better soon. Complaining… I didn’t want to be manipulated. I tried to force myself to eat it, but it didn’t seem right and I suffered all night long… so… “I couldn’t eat it.”
I said it with the sincerity that I had no intention of causing anyone to worry. The retainers did not raise their heads, but Sehyeon knew that they were listening.
“And the reason I didn’t use the coexistence stone… .”
What should I say? Sehyun blinked his eyes and was lost in thought for a moment. In fact, he couldn’t tell whether it was a good idea to be honest.
To them, Sehyeon was nothing but the king, so even words of loyalty seemed like superficial words. A place where there is endless anxiety and constant doubt. This place was like that.
“… It was a request for forgiveness from you. It’s not because it has a different meaning. I know very well that I am not qualified, and I know very well that I am an incompetent king… just… .”
My heart sank at the unorganized words. Those were times as lonely as the times I missed them. If you ask me if I’ve ever forgotten them, I can’t answer, but at least I think of them enough to leave no gaps in my mind.
However, I couldn’t really convey it.
Sehyun tightly folded her sweaty fingertips and opened her mouth with difficulty. However, Sehyeon’s sincerity was drowned out by the loud sound of the horn announcing the invasion. The sound that shook every corner of the empire seemed to shake the ground. It was a warning on a different scale than when Sehyeon infiltrated.
Pooh-ooh-
It was a warning bell announcing an imperial raid. Sehyun’s eyes turned into space. The heroes and knights who were kneeling also lifted their heads and looked up into the sky with wary eyes. Among them, there were some who drew their swords.
“I am permitted to participate.”
At the Grand Duke’s order, all his vassals rushed out of the place to join the war. Sehyeon’s eyes wavered as he chased after the vassals who were moving away.
“no… . You all haven’t eaten anything… .”
There is no way it can generate electricity. In this situation where even Sehyun could only stand, it didn’t seem like they were any different. Moreover, there was talk that an invasion would be an imperial war, but there was a high possibility that a large-scale battle that could not be compared to the tower’s strategy would lead to a long-term war. In the event of a war of attrition, it was the Black Empire that would be at a complete disadvantage.
“Why the invasion at a time like this… .”
The warning sound that rang out like a soaring flame would not stop. Sehyun began to walk unsteadily through the empty corridor.
Ruhak did not stop him. Sehyeon ran along the long corridor. After only a few steps, his knee buckled and he fell, but he got up and ran again, holding on to the railing of his corridor. He stumbled several times and finally reached the end of the corridor.
At the end of the corridor was a terrace overlooking the entire empire. The top floor of the tallest castle tower in the empire. At a great height overlooking everything in the empire, Sehyeon stood with a pale, exhausted face.
The cold wind swept past my cheeks that were stiff from tension. Her fingertips grasping the railing naturally gained strength. It felt like he would collapse immediately if he let go of it, so Sehyun held on to him as if it were his lifeline.
Pooh-ooh-
Beyond the alarm sound that pierced my ears, I could see numerous retainers leaving the castle gate. The 11 heroes were riding at the head of the group on strange horses with three heads. The moment the black wings on the horse’s back spread out, the 11 heroes leapt into the sky riding the wind.
The stamina of all vassals was greatly worn down.
