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Chapter 37
“There shouldn’t be any wild animals allowed in here…!”
Startled by the sudden attack of a pack of wolves, Lucellin furrowed her brow in confusion.
This was where the tiger lessons were held, connected directly to the imperial palace and the forest, so outsiders were strictly forbidden from entering. Naturally, wild animals were not allowed either.
Moreover, knights should have been stationed everywhere. How had so many wild wolves managed to slip this deep inside without making a sound?
“Lucellin, don’t move away from me.”
“Wait, Lis. What are you trying to—”
Kilris released the hand he had been holding and spoke in a firm voice.
When Lucellin nodded instinctively, Kilris finally turned his head with relief.
“If possible, don’t be startled either.”
A small, earnest plea of please followed, but it was drowned out by the wolves’ howls, so there was no way of knowing whether Lucellin heard it properly.
Since he wasn’t alone, this was no time to waste hesitating over whether to hide his true identity or not.
Blue flames suddenly burst to life at Kilris’s fingertips.
“Fire?”
Lucellin’s blue eyes widened.
How am I supposed not to be startled after seeing that?! Fire coming out of someone’s hand!
What in the world was he for something like that to happen?
Her pupils trembled wildly.
The wolves, seeing the fierce flames, hesitated and stepped back.
But that was all.
Lucellin and Kilris were still surrounded.
The flames that looked ready to rain destruction quickly died out. Kilris withdrew his power, realizing that this incomplete fire was still too weak to truly harm anyone.
Then—
A brilliant white light flashed, and a gigantic white serpent appeared.
It was so enormous no ordinary snake could ever compare—large enough to knock over trees in the forest with ease. From its body poured such murderous pressure that it was hard to even raise one’s head before it.
Lis turned into a snake…!
The savage pheromones spreading strongly enough to make her dizzy left Lucellin standing there in shock, mouth agape, staring at the unbelievable sight.
She wanted to help him immediately, but she knew if she interfered now, she would only become a burden.
The red wolves, sensing danger, lunged at once.
The white serpent bared its long fangs and bit into them without a moment’s hesitation.
Wolves struck by the venomous fangs or smashed away by the heavy tail fell one after another, and most of the pack was quickly unconscious on the ground.
Even amid the chaos, the white serpent did not forget to coil protectively around Lucellin.
When the last wolf collapsed into the grass, the serpent’s body flashed white once more.
Kilris returned to the form of a young boy, gasping harshly as he collapsed to the ground.
Red wounds covered his body.
At first glance he had seemed to fight well, but at his age, there was no way he had real combat experience.
“Lis!”
Lucellin hurried to support him. Kilris slowly opened his eyes as he struggled for breath.
“…You look shocked. It was horrible after all, wasn’t it?”
“Is that really what matters right now?! What do I do? You’re bleeding too much!”
All around them were only piles of half-dead red wolves.
There was no one here who could help Kilris immediately.
Overwhelmed by despair at being unable to do anything, clear tears fell from Lucellin’s blue eyes onto Kilris.
Then—
A bright green light, fresh as a forest thicket, began bubbling up from his body where her tears had landed.
“What is this…? Can you purify?”
The unexpected light of purification rapidly healed the wounds all over Kilris’s body.
Not just the cuts on the surface—it was healing his internal injuries as well.
It was an ability both miraculous and unheard of.
“Purify? What’s that?”
“You’re healing me. Look—my wounds are closing.”
“What…?”
Lucellin’s tears stopped at the absurd statement.
She had only cried—how could that heal someone?
As she blinked in confusion, sudden applause echoed from behind them.
Sensing an ominous presence, both Kilris and Lucellin turned at once.
“As expected, Your Highness really is a snake! The filthy little vipers who deceived the Empire—this is the end of the line for you.”
Beneath red hair, dark crimson eyes gleamed unpleasantly.
Lucellin frowned the moment she recognized the man emerging slowly through the thick vines.
“Duke Hart…? Why are you here?”
That man… he’s Din’s father!
The man was Pandeon Hart.
Whenever Lucellin visited the Hart ducal house to see Din, he had always greeted her warmly.
She could still remember his gentle smile and how he personally offered her cookies, telling her to stay and play as long as she liked.
“My, Lady Erbel. Unless you wish to be devoured by that hideous snake, it would be wise to step away at once.”
“What are you talking about? Lis would never eat me! He protected me!”
When Lucellin shouted angrily, Pandeon clutched his stomach and burst into hearty laughter.
“How could that be? A rabbit’s natural enemy is a snake, no matter who says otherwise. A clever young lady like you surely knows such common sense?”
After laughing for a long while, he loosened his narrow eyes and shrugged. His metallic voice scraped painfully at Lucellin’s ears.
“You released the wolves into this forest?”
“Yes. They are children I cherish dearly. But now that it’s come to this… you’ll have to die.”
He smiled coldly.
“I don’t have much time, so I’ll skip the pleasantries.”
And as if he truly meant it, he charged the instant he finished speaking.
The man who had stood far away was suddenly right before them.
Startled, Lucellin stepped back—
Kilris grabbed her wrist.
In the blink of an eye, Lucellin found herself hidden behind his broad back.
She gasped in confusion as Kilris stared straight ahead and spoke.
“Lucellin, I take back what I said.”
“Lis?”
“Get away from me. As far away as possible.”
Without turning around, Kilris shoved her back with one hand.
“Unfortunately for you, I’m not in any hurry at all.”
Drawing his sword, Kilris glared sharply at Pandeon.
This man was the traitor who had sent threatening letters to the imperial family and dreamed the ridiculous dream of destroying the imperial house and becoming the new emperor.
That wolf dies here.
There could be no mistakes.
This was the moment to prove that all those lessons with the tigers had not been in vain.
Kilris tightened his grip and charged—
Whoosh!
Something cut through the air, passing Kilris in an instant.
Pandeon had run right past him.
Kilris turned with a stunned expression.
“Ahhh!”
“Lucellin!”
His target had never been Kilris.
Pandeon seized Lucellin, who had retreated behind them, and smiled faintly.
“It seems I accidentally witnessed Lady Lucellin using purification. How fascinating…”
He narrowed his eyes.
“I thought the tale of black rabbits possessing purification powers was only an old legend. Yet it seems it still exists.”
“Duke Hart. Let go of her.”
Pandeon met Kilris’s savage golden stare—the kind that looked ready to sever his wrist immediately—and continued with a sharp smile.
“You are aware, are you not, that the only thing capable of lifting the curse upon the imperial family is the black rabbit’s ‘purification’? His Majesty knows that as well. That is why he has overlooked Your Highness’s little rebellions all this time.”
He smirked.
“Surely you didn’t think no one knew of your meetings with Lady Lucellin?”
As he taunted him, blood suddenly ran down Pandeon’s cheek.
It seemed Kilris had slashed him while he rushed past earlier.
Wiping away the falling blood, Pandeon curled his lips.
“So even with the body of a snake, a dragon is still a dragon… I’ll admit that one thing: your aggressive nature that charges in without thinking.”
If Kilris attacked recklessly now, Lucellin would be in danger.
Silently watching Pandeon for a moment, Kilris noticed the hawk that had vanished earlier now circling overhead again.
He took one step back.
“Oh dear. Are you frightened?”
Pandeon laughed victoriously, believing Kilris had retreated in fear.
“I shall dispose of the young lady first, and then send Your Highness off as well. It would be troublesome if either of you remained alive.”
He smiled pleasantly.
“Please forgive my disloyalty.”
Then he raised the sword in his hand—
and pressed it against Lucellin’s delicate throat.
