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CHAPTER 62…………..
I’ll Protect You
“Celia.”
Vincent, with light-brown hair and violet eyes, was waving at Celia.
It was a face she hadn’t seen in a long time, and not one she was pleased to see.
Beside him stood his father, Viscount Brillion.
‘The Brillion males again.’
Celia’s eyes turned cold.
‘Last time it was Hariel and Gabriel causing a commotion, and now this.’
She seemed utterly sick of anyone from House Brillion.
“I only just heard you went to the Imperial Palace. How much you must have suffered alone all this time.”
As he spoke, Vincent reached to brush Celia’s silver hair.
But before his hand touched, Dietrich seized his wrist harshly.
“Urgh!”
Vincent groaned in pain, caught off guard.
“Do not touch her.”
Dietrich’s chilling voice made Vincent’s back stiffen.
“D-Duke Calypso. I underst—…”
Dietrich flung his hand away.
Vincent rubbed his aching wrist and glared at Celia with resentment.
“Celia, are you not glad to see me? Even at the resort, I thought only of you.”
“…”
“My body was there, but my mind was always with you. When I slept, when I woke, whatever I did.”
Greed gleamed in his eyes.
Celia found no reason to respond.
“Dietrich.”
When his name was called, Dietrich nodded and lifted Celia into his arms.
Celia wrapped her arms around his neck.
Carrying her, Dietrich strode forward with long, unhurried steps.
“Celia! Why do you turn away from us?”
Viscount Brillion’s sorrowful voice called out.
Celia shook her head.
Dietrich walked on toward his estate.
But from behind a tree, a shadowy figure watched them.
Kane muttered to himself, holding a vial of potion he had received from Reina.
“That bastard… I can never beat him. To take back my Celia, I need to find a way to make her drink this…”
“…My Celia?”
Out of nowhere, someone appeared.
Startled, Kane didn’t even dare scream.
“My Celia? Hm? Who said that was yours?”
The man who appeared was dazzling, in stark contrast to gloomy Kane.
Beneath his platinum hair, golden eyes sparkled like stars.
Tall and slender, the man was none other than Arthur.
“Step away for just a moment, and worthless flies start swarming. Well, beautiful flowers do attract pests.”
Muttering to himself, Arthur cracked his neck, then snatched the vial from Kane’s hand in an instant.
Kane gasped, reaching for it desperately.
“G-Give it back!”
“What is this? Tell me, and I’ll return it.”
“R-Really? If I tell you, you’ll give it back?”
“Of course.”
Arthur smiled, showing neat white teeth.
“B-But the one who gave it to me said not to tell anyone.”
“Well then, I’ll just keep it.”
“N-No! I’ll talk! Please!”
Arthur tilted his chin, signaling him to speak.
“I-It’s an aphrodisiac.”
“…Aphrodisiac?”
“Yes. It works within one minute. It makes someone so aroused they lose their sanity—an extremely strong potion.”
“I see.”
Arthur studied the crimson liquid.
“Who gave this to you?”
“They said not to tell…”
“Then I’ll keep it.”
“I’ll tell! I couldn’t see well, but it was a woman with pink hair and blue eyes.”
Arthur’s pupils contracted and expanded.
“Th-There, I told you. Now give it back.”
Arthur nodded. But instead of returning it, he pressed a finger against Kane’s forehead.
Kane collapsed like a marionette with its strings cut.
“Ugly wretch, daring to defile my Celia.”
Arthur ground his heel into Kane’s limp body.
There was no movement—because when Arthur pressed his forehead, Kane’s heart had stopped.
“No… not my Celia. My Princess Anastasia.”
Arthur threw back his head and laughed madly.
Tucking the vial into his coat, he strode toward the palace of Eleon.
Only once they reached the room did Dietrich set Celia down.
She settled safely onto a long sofa.
Dietrich sat beside her.
“Eleon has learned our true identity. If I just use my ability and kill them all, then—”
“Celia.”
He looked at her with worry.
“Don’t worry. Do you remember what I told you? We’re always one step ahead of them.”
Celia recalled his words.
—You said the three dukes are our enemies. I want to hear the full story.
—If you want me to.
That day, Dietrich truly told her everything.
How the three dukes destroyed his kingdom, and every detail she had longed to know.
—I know you don’t fully trust me.
That was the first thing he confessed.
—It’s only natural. I never gave you a proper explanation.
Then, his story had continued through the night.
—The Gredric Dukes of Eleon have always worshiped prophecy. The head of the house is called the Apostle of the Serpent. In the Great Temple, they perform rituals, sacrificing people. Through the “executor,” their god, the Basilisk, delivers prophecies.
—Executor?
—One who scatters the blood of the sacrificed—living or dead. Usually priests of the temple serve as executors.
Celia had noticed then that when Dietrich spoke of dark matters, his crimson eyes deepened in color.
—When Eleon first rose as head of the family, he received a prophecy and immediately destroyed the Kingdom of Shan. I recently learned what that prophecy was…
Dietrich’s gaze fell on her.
—Apostle of the Serpent. I see you losing everything. Your Avalon will burn. Your fate will face ruin. There—the people of Shan. Among them, the one who shines brightest will kill you. The Guardian of Light will protect the light, and as you took everything from them, so shall they take everything from you.
Celia froze.
To destroy an entire kingdom over such a ridiculous prophecy?
Truly insane.
—Eleon believed he’d erased every survivor. He didn’t know about special abilities then. He had no idea we still lived.
Dietrich’s voice grew quiet.
—He pinned the blame on the puppet emperor, claiming the emperor had led the war. He deceived the other two dukes into signing their approval. And after that…
Celia knew the words he left unsaid.
Her kingdom had fallen.
Because of a senseless prophecy.
Her father’s head had rolled to the floor, her mother dying before her helpless eyes.
—So it was all Eleon’s doing. If the other two dukes are innocent, wouldn’t it be enough to just kill Eleon?
Dietrich shook his head.
—No. To completely destroy Avalon, all three ducal houses must fall.
—…
—Alone, I cannot. But together, we can.
Celia looked at his large hand. Just seeing it gave her peace of mind.
—We are always one step ahead of them. At least, they don’t yet know about our abilities.
She blinked slowly.
Dietrich’s gaze remained fixed on her, full of concern.
“If Eleon has discovered who we are, that means he admits we’re a threat.”
He was right.
If they were harmless, no one would go to such lengths to investigate them.
“He’ll try to kill us.”
“It’s fine. Celia, he cannot touch you right now.”
Celia shifted her posture, reclining comfortably against the soft sofa.
Dietrich naturally became her pillow, offering his lap.
Resting her head on his firm thigh, Celia sighed.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
Without a word, Dietrich brushed her hair aside.
It slipped like a veil through his fingers.
“I hate relying on anyone. But with you, it’s different…”
With those words, Celia drifted into sleep.
Her eyelids relaxed, her silver hair gleamed, her soft lips faintly parted.
She was breathtakingly beautiful.
Dietrich could scarcely imagine how much she had borne alone.
He, at least, had escaped others’ greed once he became a Swordmaster. But Celia had not.
Her power was strong—but that very strength only drew men to her.
And with every use, it drained her life. How had she endured that, day after day?
“I’ll protect you.”
Dietrich gently caressed her cheek.
Her brow twitched, and she smiled faintly in her sleep.
Dietrich’s lips curved in a quiet smile as he gazed at her.
