#413
◈
413
The air in Latona Castle was just as cold as I remembered.
As I got off the carriage and stood in the shadow of the tall castle, I felt a distant sensation that took my breath away.
As if the deathly betrayal that had struck him in an instant had cast a shadow again.
There were also wounds that did not heal. There was a moment I couldn’t escape.
As time goes by and the wound heals, it will become dull, but Helmut will have to live with that scar for a long time.
If it had been a monster, it would have gone crazy with rage and forgotten this feeling.
Human emotions are more subtle and complex.
It was easy to control the sword, but it was not easy to control my mind, which was suddenly agitated.
“Helmut.”
Area grabbed Helmut’s arm. As if aware of his condition, purple eyes looked at him with concern.
“Nothing.”
Surprisingly, my heart, which was rapidly heading towards the cliff, was stabilized in an instant by that touch.
Her presence was a small salvation for Helmut.
And he was no longer a guest here. The successor of Linosa, declared by the Grand Duke.
“Charlotte, His Majesty the Archduke is calling you.”
As the knight approached her as soon as she got off the carriage, Charlotte undoubtedly bowed her head towards Helmut.
“Let’s go first. “See you again soon.”
Helmut’s eyes darkened as he watched the back of Charlotte, who left a greeting and disappeared without leaving the slightest doubt.
He withdrew Alea’s hand.
“You guys go in first, too.”
With those brief words, Helmut, who had sent his entire party ahead, looked back at the Black Wing Knight Commander.
There was something that hadn’t been resolved yet. The black eyes took on an intimidating glow.
“Where is Michael?”
I don’t think Alonso doesn’t know the implications of that question.
However, Alonso answered without hesitation. As you already expected.
“He is on pension at his residence.”
Pension… … . It was a meaningful word to use for the Grand Duke, who was bedridden in pain.
‘I guess so.’
Helmut gave the order at once.
“Please guide me.”
Grand Duke Rinosa and his wife were together. That means that the Grand Duchess is being held captive by the Grand Duke.
The Grand Duchess probably believes that Charlotte will protect Michael.
In fact, Charlotte will not be able to let Helmut murder Michael.
Because Michael is her blood relative and her younger brother who was born at the same time.
Because she has endured Michael’s malice her whole life for that reason alone. It’s an area she can’t help but be a part of.
As he had expected, the Archduke immediately summoned Charlotte as well.
And Alonso was left behind. So that Charlotte can trust him and leave.
Yesterday and today, the Archduke did not leave any words to Helmut.
They pretended not to know and gave him a chance, leaving the punishment for Michael up to him.
If it were the archduke’s test, it would be a test. The quality of a monarch lies in ruthless determination.
The question is whether you are willing to be ruthless towards your enemies.
Michael was once an enemy who put Helmut in danger.
Even if Helmut murdered Michael, Archduke Linosa would not blame him.
Unlike the Archduchess, Michael was abandoned by the Archduke Rinosa, and at the same time, for Helmut, it was the spark of a war for succession that may come in the future.
The Archduke is the one who will always evaluate Helmut’s qualifications as successor for Linosa.
Therefore, the possibility of using Michael was very low, but not impossible.
To prevent him, it made sense to eliminate Michael.
Just as Helmut left Archduchess Linosa alone, leaving Michael alone would be evidence of complacency.
A complacency that does not suit the person who will become the ruler of Rinosa.
‘The Grand Duke is the one who could have abandoned me in the first place.’
There is no reason why she cannot abandon Michael, the child she does not like, who is sick and may die at any time.
Soon they arrived at Michael’s residence.
The place where members of the Black Wing Knights were closely guarded and guarded was surrounded by quiet silence.
Alonso asked.
“What about Michael?”
“He was up a little while ago. I would like to tell Michael that we have a guest… … .”
At that time, the door suddenly opened and a man walked out.
Although he had never met Helmut, he knew who Helmut was.
“A guest has arrived.”
The movements of the man approaching this direction were agile and silent, like gliding.
A sparkle flashed in his eyes. But before he could take the weapon out of his arms, Alonso gave a firm command.
“Hold on.”
Two members of the Black Wing Knights quickly attacked him and captured him.
bang! My whole body collided with the floor until it was crushed.
The man who fell down, unable to resist the attack of the Black Wing Knights, gritted his teeth.
Like a dog, he put his limbs on the ground and raised his head, his eyes shining with hostility.
“This is Michael’s dog. “It is a dog with no roots, but it is a loyal dog.”
Alonso said in a blunt tone. However, the emotion that passed through his eyes was clear contempt.
There is no way a loyal knight would be attracted to a hound who takes Michael in charge and performs all kinds of dirty work for him.
Helmut approached the man without saying a word. The bound limbs trembled.
Looking at Helmut, what was revealed in his eyes was not just anger… … , fear.
He was a dog who was afraid of losing his owner. However, Helmut was not merciful to dogs either.
Kwasik! The hand that lightly stepped on it made a crushing sound. The tremendous pressure was breaking the bones in my hands.
“Off!”
Helmut spat out at the screaming man.
“From now on, you will need to know the topic.”
I took my foot off and walked quickly. Alonso did not follow.
As if he was going to pretend not to know what was going on in there.
Squeak, clank. The sound of the door opening and closing was particularly loud in the quiet room.
He was right in front, in the center of the room. Michael.
The young man, still in his youth, dressed in white and sitting looking out the window, looked as light and weak as a feather.
The shattering sunlight illuminated her pure white face, and her golden hair sparkled on top of it.
He seemed as if he would just melt in the air and disappear.
An appearance that would make you feel guilty for harboring hostility towards him.
Michael, wrapped in light like an angel, turned his head to Helmut. Bright blue eyes stared at Helmut.
The moment I met that gaze, it felt like something inside me snapped.
Helmut rushed forward and punched Michael in the face.
puck! The reason he did not draw his sword was with a grain of reason.
Craddangtang! Michael fell helplessly and hit the table, blood flowing out from his nose. In an instant, my cheeks swelled.
Helmut grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up.
“Michael!”
And before any words could come out of his mouth, he was slapped. match! match! match!
The opponent was too weak to beat him without mercy.
Helmut swung his hand explosively and knocked Michael out of the air.
Michael was lying helpless on the carpet, coughing and coughing up blood. Black bruises quickly appeared on his cheeks and face.
Michael frowned and spat out with a twisted expression.
“… … “You came back alive.”
Helmut immediately kicked him in the stomach. puck!
“Gawk, gag!”
Even when I saw him groaning and curling up, I didn’t feel any sympathy.
“wake up.”
Helmut spat out. The anger that exploded for a moment soon disappeared along with my breathing.
Michael barely managed to get his trembling body upright. But strangely enough, he was smiling.
“why… … You get angry, right? “You lived in the Forest of Pahe. Wouldn’t it have been worth it to go back?”
“Seeing how you use your mouth, I guess it’s not enough.”
Helmut grabbed Michael’s collar and pulled him towards me.
Michael whispered with a pale face at a distance so close that his breath could touch.
“I am… … I didn’t do anything wrong. “No one would call monsters brothers.”
The thing that appeared on his angel-like face was mockery.
Before Helmut, Charlotte was the only one where Michael fully revealed his twisted nature.
And Michael, there was definitely a reason for that.
‘Because he’s a guy who won’t reveal his true feelings without calculation.’
Although he had never been treated like this since he was raised as a noble prince, his spirit was worthy of recognition. Michael gurgled and poured it out quickly.
“Kill me. If you lose, you have to die. If you come back… … “I knew I was going to die.”
“no.”
Helmut looked down at him and declared coldly.
“Michael, I will not kill you.”
Even before martial arts competition, I had been thinking about what I would do when I returned to Rinosa.
Should he kill those who betrayed him and put him in danger? or not… … .
After much deliberation, Helmut’s answer was this. The best choice considering both emotions and reason.
Michael’s expression shook as if he was shocked. But he immediately calmed down his expression.
“Why? “Is it not enough to have been driven out to the Forest of Pahe twice?”
A sneer appeared on Michael’s face again, as if he was expecting brotherly love.
However, Helmut’s next words were sharp, as if he had looked into them thoroughly.
“Because what you want is death, not life as a loser.”
Helmut raised the hand holding his collar and then let it go.
Michael, who fell to the floor, was trembling and staring at Helmut clearly with bloodshot eyes. His pupils were shaking mercilessly as if he couldn’t believe it.
I know why he didn’t run away and why he stayed in the room.
What does it mean to him to be Linosa’s successor?
Michael would rather die than lose it.
So let’s give him the reality that it’s better to die.
If he couldn’t bear it and took his own life, it would also be an extreme humiliation for Michael.
Helmut’s black eyes looking down at Michael were cold.
“I will make you a loser, living under me and serving me. “Looking up at the place you’ve been dreaming of your whole life.”
Michael will live his whole life struggling and feeling defeated. That was the punishment he deserved.
Michael’s face trembled. This time it was an irreversible collapse.
There was a storm of anger, murder, hatred, and indescribable emotions within him.
“If you don’t kill me… … .”
Michael sobbed with a distorted face.
“You will definitely regret it. I… … Hehe, do you think he’ll back down?”
Do whatever it takes, even if you rebel against the Archduke.
I will definitely get back the place that should have been mine. Michael gritted his teeth inwardly.
The reason Michael hasn’t acted like that until now is because it was more likely that he would slowly consolidate his position.
But if you have nothing more to lose, there’s nothing you can’t do.
Helmut looked down at Michael and spat out.
“Of course, I don’t believe you. There’s no way you can stay still. so… … .”
A fierce smile appeared on Helmut’s lips as he took something out of his pocket.
“I prepared it for you.”
