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Chapter 33
Ariadne looked at Kanin with surprise. She hadn’t expected him to speak Rensha so fluently. Compared to how slightly awkward he had seemed before, it felt like he was a completely different person.
‘He could speak this well?’
But only for a moment.
Kanin spoke again.
“This is my final warning. Step back.”
He raised the gun at his waist. Only then did the Emperor fully understand the situation, and his expression turned grim.
“Prince! This is—”
He wanted to call it an act of hostility against Rensha, but he knew the consequences of his words would be too great, so he stopped himself.
Kanin was not wrong. If Illiad had accepted Ariadne’s asylum, then the Emperor no longer had any authority over her. If he acted carelessly, it could lead to serious trouble.
So he stepped back for now, planning for another opportunity. He had no choice.
“Damn it.”
The Emperor muttered under his breath and took a step back. He raised his hand, signaling the guards to stand down.
Kanin showed a faint smile. As the guards retreated, the wind began to blow strongly again.
“Ah!”
“Hold on to me tightly.”
As if he had expected it, Kanin firmly held Ariadne by the waist and pulled her closer. She knew it was just to support her, but she still felt slightly embarrassed. She raised her hand as if to block the wind and covered her face.
“……”
The airship floating in the sky began to descend. It looked similar to the ships at the harbor, but something about it was different. It even had wings. But because of the strong wind, she couldn’t see clearly.
It was so massive that it didn’t even feel real, as if such a huge metal structure could fly in the sky.
With a deep humming sound, the airship slowly descended. Its presence was overwhelming. As it came lower, strong winds swirled around it. The sea below churned violently, creating artificial waves that crashed against the dock in white foam.
People had to cover their faces and struggle to keep their eyes open against the wind.
“Ah…”
Kanin held Ariadne more firmly. Thanks to him, she could stand properly, though it felt strange.
Soon, the airship reached the ground, its engine stopping as the wind gradually died down.
Everyone was speechless at the overwhelming sight.
The door of the airship, now settled in front of Kanin and Ariadne, slowly began to open.
“This way.”
Kanin guided Ariadne forward. The tightly sealed entrance opened with a soft hiss, as if it had been waiting for them. A metal staircase extended outward like a tongue.
Everything felt fascinating to Ariadne.
“Ariadne!”
The Count called out urgently, but it was as if he were shouting into empty air.
As Kanin and Ariadne stepped onto the airship, the Emperor’s mind wavered again. He wanted to rush forward, drag her down, and take her back to the palace—but Kanin’s warning stopped him.
He clenched his fists and glared at them.
In the end, it was the Count who moved.
“Ariadne! C-come back right now!”
He shouted, but his voice couldn’t reach them. The airship had already started again, and the wind and noise drowned everything out.
“Ariadne! Don’t you dare use Saint power under your own name! That—that power is not yours!”
Still, the Count shouted desperately, trying to get closer.
Ariadne, walking slowly with Kanin, stopped halfway and turned back.
“Ariadne!”
The Emperor and the Count struggled against the wind, calling out to her.
Ariadne quietly looked at them.
Then she smiled brightly.
“I hope we never meet again. Goodbye.”
She didn’t know if they could hear her or not.
As soon as she finished speaking, Kanin gave a signal. The stairs retracted with a hiss, and the door slowly began to close.
At the same time, loud mechanical sounds filled the air.
Through the closing door, she saw the Emperor and the Count running forward in anger. The sight almost seemed pitiful.
Watching them one last time, Ariadne suddenly felt her body lift.
“Ah—”
It was a strange and unfamiliar feeling, and she was startled.
Her body was truly rising into the sky.
She leaned forward to steady herself and looked out the window.
The airship slowly moved away from the ground. Through the window, she could see the Emperor and the Count looking up endlessly.
They grew smaller and smaller.
A strange emotion filled Ariadne’s heart.
The Count had always seemed so powerful, someone she could never overcome. But now, he looked so small beneath her.
The same was true for the Emperor.
Those who once felt so overwhelming now meant nothing to her.
‘I hope we never meet again.’
Ariadne embraced the wind as she thought of her new beginning.
“Damn it!”
Watching the airship disappear into the distance, the Emperor burst out in anger again.
The Count stood there helplessly, staring at the sky.
Everything had happened too quickly.
The airship carrying Ariadne grew smaller and smaller until it completely disappeared.
“Count, you know nothing about your daughter!”
The Emperor scolded him again. He couldn’t give up on Ariadne like this.
After thinking for a moment, he spoke again.
“Do whatever it takes to change her mind. Do you understand?”
“But… she has already gone to Illiad. How can I—”
“Do I have to explain everything to you?! Go to Illiad if you must and resolve this matter!”
The Emperor shouted angrily.
“Y-Yes, I understand. I will go to Illiad and bring Ariadne back.”
“This time, do it properly. You saw what happened earlier—there is no chance if you repeat that.”
The Emperor looked extremely displeased. The Count lowered his head, completely intimidated.
At that moment—
“Ariadne—”
Someone suddenly stepped between them.
“How did you get here?!”
The Emperor immediately recognized him and frowned.
It was Diego.
His red hair stood out instantly. He looked more disheveled than usual, as if he had rushed here in a hurry.
He got off his horse and looked around quickly. When he realized Ariadne was no longer there, his expression showed both disappointment and relief.
“It seems Your Majesty has also failed to catch Ariadne.”
Diego said with a mocking smile.
The Emperor, annoyed by his attitude, stepped closer.
“What are you doing here? You’re of no help.”
“I expected you wouldn’t be able to catch her.”
As always, Diego seemed determined to provoke him.
“Yes, just as you wished, she has gone to Illiad! Are you satisfied now?!”
At the word “Illiad,” Diego narrowed his eyes in confusion.
He knew she wanted to go far away, but he hadn’t expected it to be this far.
Still, he had thought it would be somewhere he could reach. But Illiad was too distant.
As Diego fell into thought, the Emperor turned back to the Count.
“Let’s return. Count, prepare quickly.”
It was an order to bring Ariadne back.
The Emperor was extremely anxious. Without Ashley’s Saint power, he feared he might die. He needed someone with healing power by his side—no matter who it was.
“Yes, I will follow Ariadne immediately.”
“Good. Do not fail this time.”
