Ch.61That Day, at the Imperial Palace (2)

Olivia had devised a meticulous plan to ensure the extermination’s success. The first step was targeting the Empire.

Since the Empire was the most powerful nation on the continent, it was also the first that needed to be brought down.

All nobles of the Empire were competent. While some might be corrupt, none lacked ability.

A nation that operated strictly on meritocracy. Therefore, to bring down the Empire, the nobles had to be defeated first.

That was why the day of extermination began on the princess’s birthday.

The four Dukes of the Empire including Kiel, prominent nobles, the Crown Prince and Second Prince, the Emperor and Empress.

All nobles and royals were present, except for the border counts who had to guard the frontiers.

Olivia surveyed her surroundings. Kiel was busy talking with his younger sister, and the other nobles were similarly occupied.

The only person watching Olivia was Melina.

“……”

Swirling a glass of red wine, Melina thought to herself.

Today’s Olivia was different from usual. Her eyes, her voice, her heartbeat. She wasn’t like this just a day ago.

‘Is it because she’s grown up?’

But it seemed unreasonable to attribute it simply to the passage of time. Because Melina had already seen Olivia’s “outcome.”

That child’s original intention was good, and it hadn’t changed even after reaching the truth.

‘…Then why is she different now?’

If she had reached the truth, she could have found the answer, but that was still far off. At least ten more years. That was Melina’s estimation.

At that moment, Olivia approached the Emperor. All eyes instantly turned to her.

The ‘Youngest Grandmaster,’ the ‘Strongest Mage of the Continent,’ and ‘The One Who Made the Dragon Lord Kneel.’

Someone who didn’t need to bow to the Emperor was bowing as if it were natural, drawing everyone’s attention.

Olivia also had dozens of other titles. Friend of the King of Martial Arts, Guide of the Saintess, and so on…

Those titles prevented Melina from thinking that this Olivia was a ‘different’ Olivia.

Who else but her disciple could achieve such accomplishments?

“I have a gift I wish to present to Your Majesty.”

“A gift? What kind of gift?”

Watching from the terrace above, Melina hesitated.

An unfamiliar emotion.

It was fear.

Not the fear of loss she felt when she lost ‘Olivia.’ This was the most primal emotion possessed by humans.

It was terror.

“I have discovered a new magic, may I demonstrate it here?”

“I permit it.”

It felt like a snake crawling up her throat. Among the many people present, she was the only one feeling this fear.

‘W-why….’

Before she could identify the cause, blue mana writhed around Olivia. Her mana instantly engulfed the entire imperial palace.

Everything turned blue, and the air grew cold.

“It’s a bit chilly.”

“It will be over soon, Your Majesty.”

Melina wasn’t the only one who sensed something wrong. Kiel had set down his glass at some point, and the night ravens were moving busily in the shadows.

Normally, using magical power before the Emperor would be a serious crime. But because it was Olivia, the guards merely rested their hands on their sword hilts.

“…It’s done.”

Olivia slowly opened her eyes after completing her preparations.

Her sapphire-like eyes no longer held their former warmth. They were filled only with coldness and mockery.

“……”

The Emperor felt as if his heart was freezing.

Olivia clenched her fist.

With a cracking sound, blood splattered onto the Emperor’s cheek.

“……”

Silence fell over the hall. With a thud, someone collapsed to the floor.

Only the upper body was twitching on the marble floor.

The Emperor’s eyes widened. It was a familiar face.

“Y-Your Majesty… please… preserve yourself…”

It was Calliophe, the captain of the night ravens.

The Emperor slowly turned his head. The shadows were filled with blood. Pieces of flesh, chopped too finely to identify their owners, stained everything red.

“The Grandmaster has gone mad!”

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

“Get out of my way, you fools! Move!”

Terrified nobles rushed forward. They opened the doors with the protection of knights and servants, and froze in place.

Not figuratively—they literally froze.

Whoooooosh!

Bitter cold air seeped into the banquet hall. Nobles touched by the cold died instantly. Even the knights could only stare with wide eyes.

“Y-you… how dare you…!”

Craaack!

Those were the Emperor’s last words. He froze without even realizing he had died. A painless death was the gift given to him.

“Y-Your Majesty!”

“Stay calm! Lord Cainsel, escort the Empress to safety immediately, and everyone else gather here!”

Amidst the chaos, the Crown Prince maintained his composure.

No, he was now the Emperor.

Two knights stood on either side of the new Emperor. They were the captain and vice-captain of the Central Knights.

They were known as the second and third swords of the Empire.

“Duke Kiel! Join us!”

Kiel’s body trembled at the captain’s words.

“I, I…”

Kiel’s hands shook uncontrollably. In his hands was not his greatsword but his younger sister.

Her lips, once full of life, had turned blue.

Her heart had also stopped beating.

Her body was too fragile to withstand the bitter cold.

Kiel slowly raised his head. His lungs felt painfully cold.

But the pain in his heart was worse.

‘…Why?’

Looking at Olivia facing off against the Central Knights, Kiel wondered.

‘…Why?’

Words wouldn’t come. His vision blurred.

The Olivia he knew wasn’t there.

“Duke Kiel.”

Someone helped him to his feet. A golden-haired woman who radiated brilliance even in the cold.

“We need your help to stop Liv.”

“……”

“So get up now and take your sword.”

Kiel picked up his greatsword.

His cheeks were cold, and his eyebrows felt heavy. Tears had frozen as they fell.

“Master of Golden Tower, how can you…”

Kiel was about to ask ‘remain so calm’ but closed his mouth.

Melina’s eyes were as empty as those of a dead person. Tears were streaming down her shadowed face.

A child who loses parents is called an orphan, but there is no word for parents who lose a child. It’s a feeling too devastating and sorrowful to express in words.

Then what about a parent who must end their child’s life with their own hands?

Kiel couldn’t even begin to imagine.

“Arghhhh!”

“Urggghh!”

The vice-captain fell, and soon after, the captain followed. The Crown Prince was next.

“……”

Melina looked around. Most people had frozen standing. The hundred Central Knights who had rushed in for support were like that, as were the Golden Tower mages who had cherished Olivia like a niece.

Ninety-nine out of a hundred had died without knowing they were dead.

In the frozen white world, only two humans remained breathing.

Kiel, and Aria.

‘…The princess?’

Melina’s eyes widened. Surprisingly, the princess was still alive. A thin barrier surrounded her.

A pendant on her chest emitted light. It appeared to be an ancient relic.

The last of the imperial bloodline.

Kiel and Melina’s eyes met. They were thinking the same thing.

The fall of the imperial family meant the fall of the Empire.

“…Go.”

Kiel turned his back.

With all the nobles dead, the fate of the Empire no longer mattered.

“I’ll hold out as long as I can.”

But Olivia shouldn’t be the one to cause this destruction.

They had lost everything to Olivia, but they had also received everything from her.

That was why they couldn’t let go of their attachment until this moment.

Kiel’s greatsword sliced through space as he moved forward. Melina used that opportunity to teleport to Aria.

“Princess.”

Aria was crouched down, sobbing. As if unable to bear the sight before her, she kept her gaze fixed on the ground.

Melina understood painfully well what Aria was feeling.

But Melina didn’t want Olivia to bear any more infamy.

“Princess!”

Only then did Aria look up.

“M-Master of Golden Tower…”

“I’ll send you to Makina where the Master of Dark resides. Tell him the Master of Golden Tower sent you. He owes me a debt, so he won’t refuse my request.”

“I, I…”

Melina took Aria’s hand. Now she understood. Princess Aria wasn’t a fool; she was a genius pretending to be a fool.

If Aria had studied magic, she could have rivaled Olivia.

The reason she pretended to be a fool was simply because she didn’t want to compete with her brothers.

“Liv won’t stop here. So you must, absolutely must…”

The sound of clashing metal came from behind.

“——!”

A human’s scream, a wail, gradually faded.

With one less person to exhale breath, the air grew even colder than before.

Melina exhaled.

“You must stop my disciple.”

Before Aria could speak, Melina activated a magic circle.

“W-wait! Master of Golden—!”

-Flash!

In the next moment, Aria’s form disappeared somewhere.

Melina stared at the spot where Aria had been for a long time, then slowly turned her head.

“……”

Words were unnecessary.

Two remained, and only one would leave.

Melina gripped her staff firmly with both hands.

In the next moment, master and disciple clashed.

*

[5 minutes until the end of observation.]