Chapter 43

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THIS FREAKING girl is really getting on my nerves.

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The ability [Evoke] has been activated.

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With a cold smirk tugging at my lips, I gripped the twin daggers tightly, their cold steel reassuring in my hands. My eyes locked onto Athena, whose arrogance practically radiated off her. Without a moment’s hesitation, I hurled the first dagger with deadly precision, channeling my strength into my right arm. The blade cut through the air, and a satisfying thud followed as it embedded itself deep into her right hand.

A crimson spray erupted, painting the floor as her scream pierced the air. “Gotcha,” I muttered under my breath, the thrill of battle coursing through me.

But I wasn’t done yet. My left arm tensed, the second dagger poised for another strike. In one fluid motion, I let it fly, aiming for her shoulder. The impact was instantaneous, forcing another scream from her lips as the dagger sank into her flesh.

“Fuck you!” she screamed, her figure vanishing from my sight as she staggered back into the shadows. But I couldn’t care less; I had other matters to attend to.

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The ability [Evoke] has been activated.

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As if by magic, the daggers reappeared in my hands, their familiar weight comforting against my palms. I slid them back into the hidden sheathes at the side of my dress, not wasting a second.

I sprinted towards Sebastian, who lay crumpled on the ground, his breathing ragged. Dropping to one knee, I slipped my arm under his, wrapping it around my neck to support his weight. “Come on, Sebastian,” I urged, my voice steady but firm. “What are you feeling? Can you stand?”

He groaned, his eyes fluttering open. The pain was evident, but I refused to let him falter. “Stay with me,” I commanded, my tone leaving no room for argument. With a quick glance over my shoulder, I scanned the battlefield, ready for whatever—or whoever—dared to challenge me next.

I stood over the unconscious Emperor, my fingers itching to end his miserable life right here and now. The urge to plunge my daggers into his chest was almost overwhelming. But not yet. I glanced over my shoulder at Sebastian, his face pale, his breaths shallow. If that poison was as deadly as I suspected, he wouldn’t last much longer without treatment.

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The ability [Evoke] has been activated.

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“Mire!” I called out, summoning the beast I had recently tamed. Within moments, the ground trembled, and a massive shadow materialized before me. Mire emerged, shaking off the dark mist, his crimson eyes glinting with annoyance.

“You called, master? And so late, too,” he grumbled, crossing his arms like a petulant child.

I rolled my eyes, ignoring his complaints. “Stop whining and carry him,” I ordered, gesturing to Sebastian. Mire scoffed but obeyed, carefully lifting Sebastian as if he were nothing more than a feather.

But just as I turned to plan our escape, the air grew tense. Shadows flickered at the edge of my vision, and my senses went on high alert. I whirled around, spotting five masked figures slipping from the darkness of the trees. Their eyes glinted with malice as they spread out, surrounding us like wolves closing in on wounded prey.

Assassins. Damn it, not now.

One of them stepped forward, his voice dripping with contempt. “Hand over the Emperor Reynald and Prince Sebastian. We’ll take them back where they belong. You’ve meddled enough, Villainess.”

I couldn’t help but let out a dark chuckle. “You think you can just waltz in here and take what’s mine?” I drew my twin daggers from the hidden sheaths in my dress, the silver blades catching the moonlight. “You’re welcome to try.”

The leader’s eyes narrowed, and with a sharp gesture, they attacked. Three of them lunged toward Mire, hoping to reclaim their fallen leaders, while the remaining two came at me with deadly intent.

I’m not at full strength, but I won’t go down easily.

The first assassin struck with a speed that nearly caught me off guard, his blade aiming for my throat. I twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding the slash, and countered with a swift strike of my own. My dagger cut through the fabric of his cloak, drawing blood as he hissed in pain. But he was relentless, immediately closing the distance with a flurry of strikes that forced me on the defensive.

The second assassin darted in from my blind spot, his sword aimed at my side. I spun around, crossing my daggers just in time to parry his attack, but the impact sent a shockwave up my arms. They’re faster than I expected.

I needed to end this quickly. With a growl, I slipped under their guard, slashing at the first assassin’s thigh. He stumbled, and I used that moment to drive my other dagger into his gut. Blood sprayed as he fell, but I couldn’t celebrate yet—another assassin was already upon me.

The second assassin’s blade nicked my shoulder, drawing a line of crimson. The pain was sharp, but I gritted my teeth, using the burst of adrenaline to launch a vicious counterattack. I slashed at his face, forcing him to stagger back, then spun low, sweeping his legs out from under him. He hit the ground hard, and before he could recover, I plunged my dagger into his chest.

“Mire, watch Sebastian!” I shouted, breathless.

But things weren’t looking good on Mire’s side either. The three assassins had managed to isolate him, using their coordinated attacks to wear him down. One of them was inching closer to Sebastian, clearly intending to snatch him away.

“Oh no, you don’t,” I snarled. I sprinted towards them, throwing one of my daggers with pinpoint accuracy. The blade sank into the would-be kidnapper’s back, and he collapsed with a choked gasp.

The last two assassins turned their focus on me, realizing I was the bigger threat. One came at me with twin swords, his movements fluid and precise. The other circled behind, trying to flank me.

I blocked a flurry of strikes from the swordsman, the clash of steel ringing in my ears. They’re trying to corner me.

The second assassin lunged from behind, but I spun on my heel, slamming my elbow into his face. He staggered back, clutching his nose, and I used the opening to kick the swordsman in the knee, sending him crashing to the ground.

I retrieved my fallen dagger with a quick roll and drove both blades into the swordsman’s chest in one fluid motion. He gasped, eyes wide, before going still. The last assassin hesitated, clearly reevaluating his chances now that his comrades were dead or dying.

I stalked towards him, my bloodied daggers gleaming. “Go ahead, run back to your guild,” I taunted, my voice low and deadly. “Tell them next time, bring more than five.”

The assassin took a step back, then another, before turning and sprinting into the night. I watched him disappear into the darkness, my breath ragged, my hands trembling from the adrenaline.

“Mire,” I called out, feeling exhaustion creep into my limbs. “Let’s move. We’ve wasted enough time here.”

Mire nodded, lifting Sebastian securely as I sheathed my daggers. My eyes drifted one last time to the Emperor, lying helpless on the ground, but I turned away.

I was about to take a step forward when a sudden shift in the wind sent a chill down my spine. Instinct kicked in, and I twisted just in time to deflect an arrow with one of my daggers. The blade caught it, but not before it sliced a shallow gash across my shoulder.

“Master!” Mire’s voice rang out, filled with alarm. He gently placed Sebastian on the ground and darted toward me. His crimson eyes glowed as he sniffed the air around my wound. “It’s poisoned!” he growled, his gaze darting around the clearing, trying to locate the attacker.

A wave of dizziness hit me like a tidal force, and I had to brace myself against the rough bark of the tree to keep from collapsing. My vision blurred, the world around me spinning as if I were caught in a whirlpool.

“There!” Mire howled, his voice a furious snarl. My eyes followed his gaze to see Lady Athena sprinting away, though her movements were sluggish, as if she were wading through water. “Stay here, Master. I will devour that insolent woman!” Without waiting for my command, he bolted after her, a dark blur against the moonlit forest.

I slumped against the tree trunk, panting heavily, and turned my gaze to Sebastian. His once-strong frame was now hunched, his breaths ragged, and he coughed up more blood with each heave. His lips had turned an unsettling shade of gray, matching the silver hue of the Crown Prince’s hair.

“My lady,” he rasped, his voice barely more than a whisper. The blood dribbled down his chin, staining his armor.

I rolled my eyes, more out of frustration than disdain, and staggered towards him. “Great. We’re both poisoned now,” I muttered, the sarcasm lacing my voice as I cast a quick glance at the unconscious Emperor. “How the hell are we supposed to reach that kingdom if we’re as helpless as that bastard over there?”

To my surprise, Sebastian let out a faint chuckle, though it quickly turned into a wet cough. “You... want me to come with you?” he managed, a hint of amusement still lingering in his tone.

I narrowed my eyes at him, confused by his unexpected response. “Obviously,” I said, my voice sharp. “You’ll die if I leave you here. Besides, I need you alive to train me. You are supposed to be the best, right?” I sank down beside him, ignoring the way the world tilted around me.

Sebastian’s strength seemed to wane even further, but he managed to shift closer, resting his head on my shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world. “I hope I can,” he murmured, his breath hot against my neck.

I stiffened, my forehead creasing in confusion. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I demanded, glancing down at him. “Are you planning to betray me again?”

His lips curved into a tired, but genuine smile. “No... I don’t have the strength for betrayal anymore,” he said, his eyes slipping shut. “But I do have enough to... teach you... one last time.”

My heart tightened—annoyingly so. Damn him. The poison was making me weak, turning me soft.

“I can’t breathe, my lady... If only there were an alchemist here...” Sebastian’s voice was a faint whisper, strained and desperate.

My ears twitched at his words. “Lucky for you, I am an alchemist,” I replied, though doubt gnawed at me. My knowledge of plants and potions was rudimentary at best. How could I possibly craft a healing elixir strong enough to save us both?

He gave a weak chuckle, his lips cracking into a faint smile. “But you’re not skilled enough,” he rasped. I rolled my eyes. As much as I hated to admit it, he had a point.

“Backup is closing in. She need to go. Now.” I heard him mumbled. Huh?

Before I could react, he suddenly grabbed my leg and twisted with brutal force. A sickening snap echoed through the air.

“Argh! You bastard!” I screamed, pain exploding through my body like wildfire. The agony was unbearable, every nerve screaming as I crumpled to the ground. “What the hell are you doing?!” I gasped, clutching my shattered leg. Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

Sebastian’s eyes locked onto mine, a fleeting, haunted look that sent a chill through my veins. His blood-streaked hands reached for my face, trembling as if fighting against every instinct. The warmth of his touch contrasted sharply with the cold reality closing in around us. “You need to go, my lady,” he said, his voice strained, barely more than a whisper. “This is your only chance.”

A surge of frustration boiled within me, my heart thudding painfully against my ribs. “What are you talking about?” I snapped, my breath hitching as I tried to steady myself. “You expect me to abandon you now?”

His jaw clenched, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something raw and unspoken in his gaze. “I’ve done what I had to... to keep you alive,” he murmured, eyes flicking away as if he couldn’t bear to look at me. “You can’t save me. Not this time.”

I could feel a scream rising in my throat, but it caught there, twisted into something between a plea and a curse. “You think I’m leaving you to die?” I spat, anger mixing with the sting of betrayal. “After everything, you expect me to walk away?”

His grip on my arm tightened, his gaze searching mine as if committing every detail to memory. There was a desperation in his eyes, a silent plea I couldn’t decipher. “This is where we part ways,” he said, his voice barely more than a murmur, each word weighed down with unspoken meaning. “You’ll have to find your strength without me now. Grow. Survive. And when you return... finish what we started.”

He leaned in, his forehead pressing against mine, a warmth that contrasted with the coldness of the world crumbling around us.

Before I could protest, his lips crashed into mine. The taste of his blood mingled with the bitter tang of poison still lingering on my tongue. It was rough, desperate, yet heartbreakingly tender, as if he were pouring every unsaid word, every regret, every unspoken promise into that single, searing kiss. For a moment, the chaos around us faded away—the shouting of assassins, the distant cries, the pain in my leg—all of it drowned in the fierce heat of his kiss.

My breath hitched as I felt his hand slide to the back of my neck, holding me there, refusing to let go. The world around us blurred, leaving just the two of us suspended in that moment. His kiss was both a plea and a farewell, a silent cry that spoke of sacrifices and a future we might never share.

But then, reality crashed back in.

“Your Majesty!” one of the masked assassins shouted, his voice slicing through the haze. I pulled away just in time to see them rushing towards the fallen Emperor’s body. “There! Your Highness Sebastian is also there! Get him, he—”

His words were cut off abruptly as Mire lunged from the shadows, snapping the man’s neck with a brutal twist. Blood sprayed the air, and the assassin fell lifeless to the ground.

I turned back to Sebastian, but before I could speak, he gently pressed his bloodied forehead to mine. “You must live,” he murmured, his voice raw with emotion. “I’m sorry for everything. But you have to go.” His lips brushed mine once more, softer this time, like the final whisper of a dying breeze.

“Sebastian, explain what the hell you’re doing!” I demanded, panic rising in my chest. But he only smiled—a faint, bittersweet curve of his lips.

“Goodbye... for now, my lady,” he whispered. His hands moved in a swift, intricate pattern, summoning a series of glowing arcane circles that whirled around us like a constellation of stars. They spun faster and faster, each one radiating a blinding light that swallowed the darkness.

“Sebastian!” I shouted, reaching out to grab him, but my fingers closed around empty air. The light became all-consuming, a brilliant flash that stole him away from me.

I felt myself being lifted, torn away from the ground, the world dissolving into a cascade of light. The last thing I saw was Sebastian’s sorrowful smile, the promise of another meeting etched in his eyes.

Then, everything went white, and I was gone.

fin.