episode_0185

It sounded like a mountain collapsing.

Cracked marble collided with each other and broke apart, and golden decorations were crushed and crushed by the rocks.

Even the word disaster was insufficient to describe this scene.

The myth of the empire’s eight hundred years was turning into rubble.

Even the Royal Guards who rushed to the scene had no choice but to stare blankly at the devastation in front of them, not knowing what to do.

They had to rush in right away and rescue Empress Isabella and the courtiers, but no one had the courage to do so.

Entering that place was nothing more than a meaningless act of suicide.

The impact of the collapse was so great that even the foundation, which was supposed to be solid, collapsed.

—-

1 The loud noise and vibration that echoed through the palace was more than enough to wake me from my sleep.

The noise was like hundreds of lightning bolts striking one after another. It even felt like déjà vu.

This sound was also heard when the rocky mountain in Carmine Forest collapsed.

It was the same when the walls of Einfeld Castle fell to pieces.

I threw off the blanket, jumped up, and hurriedly headed towards the window.

Outside the window… A truly shocking scene unfolded.

What is this, is it a dream…? ?

At the unbelievable scene, I rubbed my eyes and looked out the window again. Nothing had changed.

Because it wasn’t a dream.

Half of the main palace was pouring into the basement.

Like dominoes, the collapse continues to expand endlessly.

In an instant, with no room to do anything.

My mind became confused in an instant, and not even words of shock came out of my mouth.

The shaking stopped after only part of the entrance to the main palace remained.

Only then did I come back to thinking a little.

I could guess who did it. It must have been Isabella’s doing.

Although there were significant differences from my memories, I had seen similar scenes many times.

The collapse of the imperial palace.

It may have no meaning now, but it was a scene that marked the beginning of the fourth episode.

After Ernst ascended to the throne smoothly and even managed to block Hershela’s forces.

It was an episode in which Isabella, who became the Empress Dowager, finally revealed her magic in the middle of a tattered empire.

Isabella destroys the imperial palace with the powerful dragon Nidhogg and takes flight, revealing her true identity to the world and releasing thousands of monsters into the islands.

It was a pretty shocking story if you heard it without prior information.

Even users who knew that Isabella was a villain because they had experienced the existing bad ending did not know that she was a witch.

Additionally, it is also the first episode in which a ‘dragon’ appears.

In any case, if everything had gone as planned, the collapse of the imperial palace would have taken place at least five years later.

There was a setting that said dragons couldn’t wake up until the time was right.

Now, it’s hard to blindly trust the story in the game, but the setting itself fits well… Perhaps the dragon did not appear.

Certainly, there was no roar that could be called a dragon’s roar. There was no huge figure flying through the rubble.

… In that case, it wasn’t the dragon that destroyed the imperial palace just now… Should we consider it to be Isabella herself?

Well, the scale of destruction was small enough for a dragon to appear.

I guess you could say it’s fortunate.

It seems that even the man known as the Empire’s Best Swordmaster has not surpassed the level of master, so if a dragon appears at this point, it would probably be possible to conquer the world with just that one.

Even a master, like a dragon, can instantly turn into a piece of meat.

The only problem that remains is that we don’t know why Isabella destroyed the imperial palace at this point… This was not a problem that could be answered by worrying about it.

Honestly, I didn’t have time to think about it.

Because the Royal Guard and other knights were gathering towards this villa.

I took my sword and armor and headed to Leopold’s room.

—-

Before I even arrived at the prince’s bedroom, I ran into Leopold who ran out into the hallway.

“The main palace is collapsing… What the hell is this… !”

Leopold looked ten times more devastated than I was.

He, too, must have been startled when he woke up, with only a coat on over his bed and his hair was messy and matted.

Persval, who was standing next to him, was also just staring out the window with his mouth open.

“Your Majesty Leopold, now is not the time to be so dazed! The knights are coming this way!”

“Knights? Are you sure that Isabella is attacking us outright? So, does that mean that collapse was also Isabella’s doing? ?”

Where had his usual judgment gone? Leopold could only ask blankly.

A reaction as if one had lost one’s soul. Yeah, it wasn’t something I couldn’t understand.

I was familiar with the scene since I had seen it in the game, but for the people of the empire, it was a sight they could not have even imagined.

However, now was not the time to be so relaxed.

“Who else but that woman! I didn’t expect them to attack me so openly, but now that it’s like this, I have to dodge first… !”

Leopold’s eyes came back into focus, as if he had come to his senses a little from my shouting.

Leopold shook his head once and raised his hand to stop me from running away.

“What are we going to do? Now is the time… !”

“No, just a moment. Calm down, princess. Didn’t you say the knights were on their way now? Then you shouldn’t run away like this.”

Leopold glared outside with a stern expression.

The knights were approaching. At this level, it was probably visible to Leopold as well.

“Royal Guard. Since trouble has occurred in the imperial palace, it is natural for them to come to protect the royal family. I don’t know if he’s really trying to protect me, or if he’s following Isabella’s orders to attack me or tie me up here… , Breaking through them and escaping the palace is the worst option.”

“What is that… ?”

“The prince tried to escape from the palace by mobilizing military force as soon as it collapsed. This wouldn’t be like confessing to being a criminal to anyone who sees it… ? Perhaps Isabella is aiming for that too. Here, we will have to hold out in this palace at least until the chaos subsides.”

Leopold had a point.

If you want to escape like this, you have no choice but to engage in battle with the Royal Guards, and if things get to that point, if you are accused of being a criminal, no one will believe you even if you plead that it was a false accusation.

“… I understood. If so, at least be armed. Even if they attack me, I can withstand it… You never know if it’s going to rain arrows.”

“I will. For now, the princess, please be on guard against them in front of the main gate. And Sir Persval, could you help me put on my armor?”

“Yes! It’s an honor!”

Persval, who was still looking toward the main palace, was surprised and saluted.

I don’t think now is the time to talk about glory.

If I’m too picky, I’ll have to fight with your seniors.

… From Persval’s point of view, this may have been an opportunity to avenge the rye bread.

Leaving them behind as they went back to their bedrooms to find and put on their armor, I hurried towards the front door.

I hope that I don’t have to pick Durandal if possible.

—-

As a result, Leopold’s prediction came true. Just this time.

1 The knights who arrived at the prince’s palace did not attack us.

They just stood still, surrounding the palace like a siege.

“You can’t go out?”

“Yes, Her Royal Highness Princess Aishangior. There has been an order to blockade the imperial palace and thoroughly protect the princes and guests, so it is difficult to allow you to leave here.”

The Royal Guard, who was representing me, declared to me in a stern voice, “Stay here and don’t move.”

He already had a sword drawn in his right hand, as if he was willing to go into armed conflict if he was forced to leave.

okay. It was a reasonable response.

In a situation where a sudden terrorist attack occurred, it was natural for a security guard to evacuate and protect important people to a safe place.

The only question is whether this was truly done out of professionalism… I don’t know if it was Isabella’s trick or not.

“Myeong, who on earth gave this name? Her Royal Highness Empress Isabella? The main palace was blown away. Are you safe?”

If it was an order given by Isabella, it could be considered a manipulative move.

If so, staying still like this will only increase the risk.

I might have to break through even at the risk of being falsely accused… !

However, the Royal Guard shook their heads and denied it.

“This is the name of Marquis Wallenstein. The Marquis personally stepped forward and secured several of the criminals who attacked the imperial palace. Regarding the safety of Her Majesty the Empress… Currently nothing is known.”

Wallenstein?

Why does that name pop up again?

Are you saying that it wasn’t Isabella’s intention to send the knights to capture us?

Or is it that even the Marquis Wallenstein is in league with Isabella?

No, wait a minute. So what is the story about securing the culprit?

The collapse of the imperial palace was probably Isabella’s fault, but did Marquis Wallenstein arrest Isabella’s subordinates?

So, should the two be considered enemies?

Because there was so little information, I couldn’t be sure of anything.

At least, this Royal Guard didn’t seem to have anything to do with Isabella.

When answering questions about Isabella’s situation, there was even a faint sigh mixed in, so no matter how you look at it, it didn’t seem like he had come on a secret mission from the Empress.

In the end, I had no choice but to calmly return to the inside of the prince’s palace.

It might be possible to break through them, but unless you know the truth of what happened, you couldn’t do something that would be impossible to get behind.