Ch.156The Only Choice (2)

The North was still cold upon my return after a long time. Despite the cold, everyone was out on the streets.

It was a welcoming ceremony for Ruide who had returned from war. Everyone had heard about the achievements of the Windsor family’s youngest.

People cheering, people crying, children rejoicing without knowing why.

Ruide, sitting in the carriage, could see them all.

War.

For the losers, it’s like hell, but for the winners, what news could be more joyful?

Especially for the people of the North who, despite having overwhelming military power, had to go hungry because they had no food to eat—this was welcome news.

“Lord Ruide. Perhaps you should greet your territory’s people.”

Throughout this long journey, Ruide hadn’t said a word. His head was filled half with guilt and half with a sense of duty.

“That’s surprising. I thought Rosalie wouldn’t say such things. Since you consider human lives like flies.”

“Though vampires can never permanently possess human hearts, we are living beings first. How could I not grow fond of those I’ve spent a century with?”

Rosalie spoke in a small voice.

“I truly like the Northern people.”

Ruide responded indifferently.

“Stop here. I’ll walk.”

“Yes.”

Rosalie’s servant stopped the carriage. Rosalie got out first and escorted Ruide.

He walked among the people, holding Rosalie’s cold hand.

“We won!”

“Windsor is great!”

“Young master, are you injured anywhere?”

“I heard you taught those Imperial bastards a lesson with just one spell!”

He could hear the people’s cheers.

It struck him anew—they really do love me.

Perhaps this was what Irene wanted to see.

Lost in these thoughts, he soon reached his destination.

This was the First Defense Line.

There was only one reason he came here.

“…I’m back.”

It was the only option to restore everything.

He needed to complete the 5th Magic somehow.

For that—

“Oh, Lord Ruide! You’re back already? I was just about to complete it. Look at this. I’ve completed the ‘time acceleration’ part of the 5th Magic. This large apple tree was just a seed until yesterday. Now all that’s left is to—turn it back into a seed.”

He needed this genius’s help.

“We need to talk, Ella.”

**

After four days of travel, they arrived at the Fourth Defense Line.

Someone was waiting at the gate where Windsor Castle was faintly visible.

It was a maid.

Blonde hair, red eyes, and pale skin.

‘All Windsor maids are quite unusual.’

Damon thought as he got out of the carriage. Ruby bowed.

“Welcome, Damon Kairos. Hersy Minerva. And…”

Ruby’s eyes gazed into the carriage.

“Amelia.”

“……”

A moment of silence followed.

A blonde head peeked out from the driver’s window.

“H-how did you know?”

“Did you forget I’m a mage? I can sense Windsor’s annoying mana from the end of the world.”

Ruby said, then turned around.

“Follow me. One troublemaker and two microbes.”

“Quite an insolent maid.”

Damon chuckled. Somehow, he didn’t feel particularly offended.

“By the way, who called for us…?”

“The family head.”

“…!”

Amelia’s expression hardened. Yes, Ruby coming to greet them meant exactly that… but she wasn’t ready yet.

“Good.”

But Damon’s smile deepened.

‘So the war was Irene’s unilateral decision. Victoria Windsor doesn’t approve.’

In this situation, Victoria’s presence was a great help.

Because no matter how powerful Irene was, she couldn’t defeat Victoria Windsor, the current family head.

Even if this was a trap, it didn’t matter.

This was a battle won by buying time.

An easy battle that would be troublesome not to win.

Ruby stopped walking in a place with few people.

She reached out into the air, and space distorted.

“My goodness.”

Hersy gently covered her mouth. Spatial transfer magic. Using such difficult magic without even casting.

Damon was equally surprised but pretended to be calm. From now on, he wasn’t just an academy student or Ruide’s friend—

He was meeting the Windsor family head as the First Imperial Successor.

Damon held his head high and stepped through the gate.

His view changed instantly.

It was his first time setting foot in the Windsor Castle he’d only heard about.

His impression…

‘It’s quite simple.’

Noble houses typically display impressive artworks or luxurious exhibits.

No noble wants to be criticized by others. Even declining nobles have one or two expensive decorations.

But Windsor Castle had none of these. Walking through the massive hall, it felt lonely despite there being four people.

However, it couldn’t be dismissed.

Whether it was originally like this or Windsor’s unique mana made it so, Windsor Castle was entirely made of ice.

A castle made of pure ice.

Its inherent beauty was elegant enough without fancy decorations or paintings.

After walking a bit, they faced a large door. Ruby stepped forward and reached out. Before she could touch it, the door opened by itself.

Creeeeak—

“Ugh.”

As soon as they crossed the threshold, they felt an overwhelming pressure impossible to resist.

Damon, Hersy, and Amelia all gasped. Hersy had already fallen to her knees, and Damon was at his limit too.

Amelia seemed slightly better, but she didn’t look comfortable.

At the end of the vast hall sat Victoria Windsor.

The mistress of the Windsor Duchy—perhaps the strongest person in this world—was emanating tremendous pressure.

It was clear she was displeased, without needing to ask.

Damon broke into a cold sweat. He forced himself to look at Victoria through blurry vision.

‘At this rate, I won’t even be able to speak properly.’

As if reading his thoughts, the pressure that had been crushing them suddenly disappeared. He felt relief to the point of liberation.

“So you were alive after all, Amelia.”

“Y-yes… M-mother… I mean, Family Head.”

“Ruby was worried when your thread of life was about to break.”

Despite her words, Victoria didn’t look concerned about Amelia at all.

It wasn’t because she was a bad parent. She knew Amelia wouldn’t die from such trials.

The Windsors were, damn it all, resilient.

“I know who you are. Damon and Hersy. Also that you’re my son’s closest friends. But forgive me.”

Victoria’s voice lowered.

“I cannot offer kindness right now.”

“I understand.”

Damon answered briefly and stepped forward. His gaze remained fixed on Victoria.

A situation that could easily be considered rude. Damon focused all his senses on Victoria.

Victoria showed no signs of displeasure. This wasn’t an act. Her attitude meant that such behavior didn’t bother her in the slightest.

‘A blessing in disguise, perhaps.’

This was a plus for his plan. Damon stopped walking and looked around, as if searching for somewhere to sit.

Victoria, who had been resting her chin on her hand, waved in the air. A chair fell from subspace.

“Thank you.”

“Since you would be the next imperial successor now that the Emperor is dead, I should show this much courtesy.”

A brief moment that revealed much. First, despite being stuck in the North, she was fully aware of the current situation.

Most importantly, Victoria had broad ambitions. She was colder than Amelia but more human than Irene.

“The Empire has already fallen.”

“If that were true, you wouldn’t be standing before me. You’ve come seeking my help because your strength alone is insufficient, haven’t you?”

Victoria’s two sentences clarified the situation. He was the one seeking help. Victoria was the one who had to provide it.

If he denied it, he wouldn’t receive help; if he confirmed it, he would lose the initiative.

Moreover, her aura and tone made it seem like she could see right through his mind.

‘The Windsor family head is indeed different.’

Damon had to admit it.

Until now, he had thought that no matter how strong the Windsors were, they lacked political acumen—

That prejudice was shattered.

But—

‘That’s fortunate. She prioritizes practical benefits over immediate emotions.’

That actually made things easier for Damon.

“How strange. You sought us out first, didn’t you?”

Damon smiled leisurely. Hersy and Amelia were so surprised that it could easily be considered rude.

“Are you denying it? You wouldn’t have come to the Fourth Defense Line if not for me. Especially to a place where Irene is.”

Hersy and Amelia’s shoulders flinched. Amelia in particular looked like an earthquake had hit her pupils. But Damon was different.

‘Is she saying Irene is already here? That means…’

Damon’s eyes grew cold.

‘Ruide isn’t here.’

“Is that so? I didn’t know. I’m surprised the person who brought down the Empire is already in the North. May I ask, are her arms and legs intact?”

“It sounds like you’re asking if I punished her. Why should I?”

A subtle anger could be felt in Victoria’s voice.

“Are you suggesting I should have punished a commander who won a war?”

“Let me ask one thing first.”

Damon spoke calmly.

“Does Irene know we’re here?”

“No.”

“You’ve concealed us. Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. She’ll be arriving here shortly.”

It was truly a dizzyingly dangerous situation.

Meanwhile, Amelia was deeply shocked.

“…Family Head.”

She stood before Victoria with a blank face.

“Are you forgiving Sister Irene?”

“Are your wounds alright?”

“…She did that to Ruide and killed so many people.”

“Go rest. That’s enough. Your succession test is over.”

“Mother—!”

“Amelia!”

Victoria rose from her seat. She drew her sword without hesitation and strode toward Amelia.

“Don’t test my patience.”

“You were the one who told me to protect Ruide!”

“I meant for you to do it with your own strength! Not by joining hands with these children and betraying Windsor!”

“…!”

“Do you understand? If you continue like this, you, you…”

Victoria forcibly swallowed her breath. It looked like she was swallowing her anger.

She sheathed her sword. Instead, she spoke coldly to Amelia.

“You’ll become Irene’s enemy. That means pointing your sword directly at family. It means betraying Windsor.”

“……”

For Victoria, that was something she could never tolerate.

“…What’s done is done, Ria. As a Windsor, you must move forward.”

It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Perhaps Irene had known about Victoria’s tendency all along, Amelia realized only now.

It was too unfair.

Transparent tears rolled down Amelia’s pale skin.

Now, everything seemed meaningless.

Amelia’s clear blue eyes began to dim as she sank to her knees.

“How pathetic.”

Until Damon spoke.

“Your young son who isn’t even of age is still struggling, yet you, as a parent, have already given up.”

Victoria ignored him and spoke to Ruby.

“When will Irene arrive?”

“Soon—”

“If you know this much, you must also know that the First Emperor has awakened.”

Victoria acted as if she couldn’t hear Damon’s words.

“Go bring her here yourself.”

“Yes, Family Head.”

Damon didn’t back down.

“Now that the First Emperor has awakened, he’ll target Windsor—and that won’t be an easy fight. Have you decided to suppress your immediate anger and deal with it? To protect Windsor?”

Finally, Victoria looked into Damon’s eyes.

Damon continued speaking with dignity.

“Irene Windsor would try to revive Dellin to counter him. But unfortunately, even Dellin is no match for the First Emperor. She was already killed by him once.”

To Hersy, this sounded absurd.

Why was the name of someone who died a thousand years ago being mentioned?

She couldn’t keep up with Damon’s rapid speech.

Only Ruby’s slightly surprised face proved that Damon’s words weren’t just nonsense.

“How much do you know?”

By now, Victoria couldn’t help but be interested in Damon.

“How much? That’s vague.”

Damon sat in the chair and crossed his legs arrogantly.

“Let me ask instead. How much do you want to know? The method to kill a ghost revived after a thousand years? Or the way to undo everything that has happened and return to the past?”

Victoria’s pupils trembled ever so slightly. Damon didn’t miss it. Just as he was about to drive in the wedge, Ruby stared at the door.

“Family Head. Irene has arrived.”

“First—”

Damon placed both hands on his knees and spoke intensely.

“If you want to know that—what will you do about your crazy daughter?”