CHAPTER 130
Bonus chapter (2/2)
***
Translator: Rae
As a gunshot rang out and the assassin before him collapsed, Iker blinked slowly. The moment rendered pointless his intent to use magic to block the bullet.
‘Was the magic undone?’
Otherwise, there was no way a bullet could have struck the assassin’s heart with such precision.
When Iker turned his head, he saw Elysia aiming her gun straight at Dustin.
Relief flickered in his eyes at the confirmation that the magic was truly gone—but only for an instant, as an assassin charged at her, prompting Iker to step in front of Alicia and swing his sword.
Struck by his sharp, ruthless blade, the assassin collapsed, blood spraying from his chest. A look of relief spread across Elysia’s face.
"Iker.”
Lowering his sword, Iker immediately turned to check on her.
His worry-filled gaze swept quickly from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.
"Are you hurt?”
“Yes. I was controlled by the bracelet for a moment, but I’m fine now.”
As Elysia smiled and nodded, Iker reached out and took hold of the wrist bound by the bracelet.
A trace of puzzlement appeared in his golden eyes as he examined it.
"I can't feel any mana in the bracelet anymore. You don’t know magic, so you couldn’t have undone it. What happened?”
“About that, actually…”
Elysia recalled what had happened with Teslan the night before the engagement ceremony.
***
“I’ll escort you swiftly, just as you wish.”
"Thank you.”
“However, before that.”
"What?”
As Elysia blinked, wondering if he had something to say, Teslan curved his eyes gently, an inscrutable smile accompanying it.
“Please spare me a moment of your time.”
“My time?”
“Yes. Would you extend your hand? So I can see your wrist.”
“…?”
Though she wondered why her hand was needed just to use a magic circle, she extended her right hand as told. Teslan then gestured to her left.
“Please extend that hand as well.”
“Ah, yes.”
When Elysia held out both hands with her wrists exposed, Tesran reached out and placed his hands over them.
‘What is he doing?’
Elysia wondered and frowned unconsciously when a sharp sting flared across both her wrists, as though something were being injected into them.
She quickly pulled her hands back to inspect them with widened eyes.
On both wrists, glowing magic circles flickered like inscriptions of light before smoothly fading away, as if absorbed.
"What's this?”
As Elysia asked, rubbing her wrists in confusion, Teslan’s crimson eyes curved up gently in a pleasant way.
"This is a gift from me, wishing for the Marquess’ safety. I happened to discover something interesting before coming here.”
“Pardon?”
“There is a magical artifact called a restraint bracelet. It comes as a pair with a ring, so you have to wear the ring and fasten the bracelet on someone’s wrist, and that way, you can control their body at will. It’s usually used on insane person or patients with seizures, but some people misuse it, so I personally manage them with serial numbers and tracking magic.”
“And what?”
“One of them changed location. When I investigated, I found it moved to the House of Russet and then into the Imperial Palace. Most likely loaned out for money through a broker.”
A shocked expression crossed Elysia’s face at his words.
If it had entered the palace through the House of Russet, it was obvious who held that artifact.
‘It has to be Dustin. Was I the target of that restraint bracelet?’
Perhaps seeing the thought revealed in her eyes, Teslan smiled softly.
“It seems you’ve guessed. So I inscribed magic that nullifies the restraint bracelet’s power. You may be affected briefly before it deactivates, but it will fade in no time.”
“Wouldn’t it be faster to confiscate the artifact instead of putting a spell on me?”
Elysia asked, wondering why he’d choose such a bothersome method, and Teslan responded with a mischievous smile.
“Because that wouldn’t be any fun. From what I hear, both Duke Russet and the Second Prince have bothered you quite a bit, so wouldn’t it be more satisfying to give it to them first, then take it away?”
Understanding his meaning, the same smile appeared on her lips.
“You’ve got a point. That would be far more satisfying.”
“I do hate villains, after all. Then, shall we go?”
Tesran offered his hand like an escort, and Elysia took it. The hand that would lead her to Iker.
***
“At the time, I agreed with the Archmage Reckard. It did seem more satisfying to give them first, then take it back from them. However, the moment my body aimed a gun at you on its own, it was terrifying. I was afraid I might really pull the trigger.”
The feeling when everything went dark and her heart dropped couldn’t be understood unless someone personally experienced it.
She shivered at the thought, never wanting to experience it again, when she looked up only to find a large hand closed gently around hers.
Iker looked down at her with warm eyes tinged with relief.
“We’ll have to thank Tes. If you had been my opponent, it would’ve been a real struggle. I would’ve had to sever the bracelet without hurting you.”
“I think so too. If it hadn’t been for the Archmage Reckard, things could’ve gone terribly wrong. But where did that lunatic go?”
Imagining herself firing a gun at Iker made Elysia’s anger toward Dustin surge, and she scanned her surroundings. It felt like she wouldn’t calm down unless she landed at least one blow.
Just then, she spotted Dustin standing at the front of the dais—alongside the Duke of Russet and the Empress.
A short distance away stood the Emperor, Rashian, and the Empress, guarded by the Imperial Knights.
“There he is. Let’s hurry and catch… huh?”
Alicia blinked in confusion as she tried to hurry forward, clutching Iker’s hand.
A magic circle bloomed beneath the Duke of Russet’s group and they all vanished from where they stood in an instant.
"What the hell…?”
Still bewildered, Elysia clung to Iker in pure terror as a thunderous boom shook the cathedral.
“Iker, it’s a bomb! We need to get out…!”
IIker’s strong arms gently pulled her into an embrace as he spoke in a low, faintly amused voice near her ear.
“It’s alright, Elly. There’s nothing to worry about. I just asked Tes to play a small trick.”
“...A trick?”
“Yes. Just see for yourself.”
Blinking in confusion, Elysia flinched when the Emperor’s voice came from behind her.
“I’m also curious.”
"Your Majesty.”
Flustered, Alicia quickly stepped away from Iker.
Seeing her flushed face, the Emperor smiled gently and turned his gaze to Iker.
“Duke Russet and Dustin have disappeared. You seem to know where they went.”
"Of course."
At Iker’s reply, the Emperor chuckled and stroked his beard.
“I thought as much. Otherwise, you wouldn’t look this relaxed. But what about that loud noise and the tremor earlier?”
“That was the magic I prepared."
At his answer, surprise showed not only on the Emperor’s face, but also on Elysia’s and Rashian’s.
“And why did you do that?”
When the Emperor asked, Iker lifted the corner of his mouth slightly, a mischievous smile unlike him playing on his lips.
“Shall I say it was to secure a complete victory?”
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
When the shaking of the closed room stopped and all sound faded away, the Duke of Russet slowly rose to his feet.
"Did it really go off?"
He nodded to Dustin's question.
“Didn’t you hear it yourself, Your Highness? Enough exploded to blow away the cathedral entirely. Not even the Emperor could have survived, nor anyone else.”
“Then Elly also…”
Watching Dustin trail off, the Imperial Consort shouted sharply.
“How long are you going to talk about that woman?! She’s dead as well, isn’t she? Now pull yourself together and prepare to become Emperor!”
"Mother!”
As Dustin bristled in outrage, the Duke of Russet stepped in to support the Imperial Consort.
“Her Highness is right. With the Emperor and the Third Prince gone, you are the only remaining member of imperial family. Show the dignity befitting the next Emperor.”
"But…!”
“The Marquess is d*ad. We don’t know why the magic artifact failed, but it only means her fate ended there. Get yourself together, Your Highness.”
“…”
Glancing at Dustin, who stood with his head bowed and teeth gritted, the Duke of Russet turned his attention outward.
‘Enough time has passed. It should be safe to go out now.’
He had ensured the entrance wouldn’t collapse and block their escape when the bomb went off, but he wouldn’t know for sure until they checked.
The Duke of Russet signaled the knights waiting behind to open the door. They nodded and hurriedly walked toward the iron door to push it open.
When the door opened smoothly and bright sunlight poured in, relief spread across the Duke of Russet’s face.
‘The world will change now. The throne and the Empire will both be in my hands.’
Satisfied that everything was going according to his plan, the Duke of Russet stepped forward confidently.
However, that smile vanished in an instant.
Waiting for him was not a new world, but the cold blades of knights drawn tight around him.
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