Free Web NovelChapter 35: Shadows in the Dark
After we passed through the huge main gate, supported by two gigantic pillars that were now partially repaired, I turned my gaze toward the outside.
There, the twenty Bronze Knights had formed four defensive groups, each guarding one side of the carriages.
Then I turned to the side and observed the bustling road. Tired adventurer parties were returning from the wilderness, while merchant caravans loaded with goods traveled in the opposite direction, their wagons protected by armed mercenaries.
"The territory has changed so much in only a few days. If Lady Seraphina could witness all of this, she would surely be happy."
Margaret spoke to Aurielle with an emotional voice. Aurielle didn’t say anything in response, and although I heard their conversation, I didn’t ask any questions.
"She will tell me if she wants to."
With that thought in mind, I turned my attention back to the scenery outside. As the carriage slowly descended the cliff road, I noticed several damaged sections along the path.
As we continued our descent, the cliffs lining the road rose higher and higher, casting long shadows over the path.
Then I turned toward Aurielle and asked a question that had been bothering me.
"Aurielle, has Blackstone ever been attacked before?"
As I looked at the narrow road winding through the cliffs, I found it difficult to imagine any army trying to invade from this direction. To me, that sounded like a suicide mission.
Aurielle snapped out of her thoughts about her mother after hearing Luke’s voice.
She turned and looked behind them.
In the distance, the Lord’s Estate stood atop the plateau, overlooking the territory below. Four watchtowers surrounded it, standing as silent guardians.
Merchant caravans traveled through the territory from the south before continuing toward the northern mountain slopes. The region was covered with scattered trees, though old roads could still be seen winding through the landscape before disappearing into the mountains.
"It did."
Her voice sounded distant as old memories resurfaced.
She remembered those rainy days when her mother returned covered in blood. Panic had spread throughout the territory, and people had been shouting in fear.
"Run! This territory is going to fall anyway!"
Yet Aurielle’s eyes had remained fixed on her mother. Worry and tears filled them as she watched the bloodied woman return from the battlefield. At that moment, nothing else mattered to her. She only feared that her mother might never come home again.
"Mom, everything will be okay, right?"
She asked softly, her voice trembling with uncertainty. Deep down, she wasn’t sure she believed it herself, but she desperately wanted her mother to say yes.
But her mother smiled.
"Yes."
She looked toward the territory walls in the distance.
"If they think they can take my land, then they will get only one thing."
With that, she walked toward the cupboard and opened it. Resting inside was a purple sword, its color deepening into a dark violet hue beneath the room’s dim light.
"Death," she said.
Then she picked up the sword, gave her one last smile, and walked away, leaving the door open behind her.
She watched her departing figure before turning her gaze outside.
There, the knights of Blackstone Territory marched in disciplined formations, heading toward the final defensive line known as the Unbreachable.
"The final barrier has fallen! All forces, retreat to the high slopes and hold the Unbreachable!"
Commander Taron thundered, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
She looked at him with worry in her eyes. His body was covered in blood, and it was clear he had been badly injured, as his left arm hung limply at his side.
CREEK.
The guard outside finally closed the door.
Before it shut completely, She caught one last glimpse of my mother standing before the massive gate, framed by two gigantic pillars.
Tears began to gather in my eyes.
"Why...?"
"Why did no one come?"
She gritted her teeth as She continued staring at the closed door.
Her mother had asked many nobles for help. She had even reached out to the royal family.
But when Blackstone needed them most...
No one came.
Those were the final words She spoke.
Her eyelids gradually grew heavier, and before long, they closed completely as she drifted into sleep.
Aurielle finally emerged from her memories and looked toward Luke.
"They did," she answered quietly.
"Ten years ago, demons attacked this territory. However, they failed and were forced to retreat after suffering a devastating defeat."
A smile appeared on her face as she spoke those final words.
She still remembered how happy and relieved she had felt when she woke up and learned that the demons had been defeated.
"Crazy."
I couldn’t help but feel surprised. For the demons to attack this territory despite such unfavorable terrain, they must have been either incredibly brave or incredibly desperate.
Margaret smiled from the side as well, though sadly, she had not been present during those events.
After that, we rested inside the carriage while the convoy continued its journey.
Eight Hours Later
"Sir, we will be making camp here for the night."
A knight’s voice pulled me from my sleep, and I slowly opened my eyes, still feeling groggy. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
I looked around and noticed that both Aurielle and Margaret were asleep, leaning against each other in their seats.
"Looks like I fell asleep," I muttered as I lightly stretched my body.
Then I looked outside and saw that the sky was beginning to darken.
"Alright," I said.
The knight respectfully bowed before leaving.
"This place is good."
I examined the campsite the knights had chosen. It was situated beneath a large tree and rested on slightly elevated ground, ensuring that rainwater wouldn’t easily flood the area. The surrounding trees had also been cleared, providing a clear view of anyone approaching the camp.
After some time, the knights finally finished setting up the camp. Several tents had been erected, and a large cooking area had been prepared to feed the more than twenty people.
I reached over and gently pinched Aurielle’s cheek.
"Wake up, darling."
Then I lightly shook Margaret’s shoulder as well to wake her up.
Margaret slowly opened her eyes. The moment she realized where she was, she hurriedly stood up and bowed to me, a flustered expression appearing on her face.
Beside her, Aurielle stirred slightly before mumbling,
"Ugh... a little longer."
I shook my head at her behavior.
Then I bent down and lifted her into a princess carry. freewebnøvel.coɱ
Margaret smiled from the side and opened the carriage door before stepping out first.
"Thanks, Margaret."
She simply shook her head in response.
Carrying Aurielle in my arms, I headed toward the seating area the knights had prepared for us.
I waited for Aurielle to wake up, but before she did, dinner was already prepared. The rich aroma of the food spread throughout the campsite.
Even some of the knights standing guard couldn’t help but glance back toward the cooking area, where Margaret was busy preparing the meal.
"Here, my lord."
Margaret personally brought our meal over and placed a bowl of soup filled with meat and vegetables in front of us.
I nodded in thanks before scooping up a spoonful and bringing it to Aurielle’s mouth first.
After that, Margaret began distributing food to the rest of the camp with the help of several knights.
"Come on, baby, say ahh."
I spoke in a gentle, coaxing tone.
From the side, I could hear Margaret giggling softly, while several knights hurriedly looked away, clearly trying not to laugh.
Meanwhile, Aurielle absentmindedly opened her mouth after catching the aroma of the food.
"Mmmh..."
I watched as she chewed the food before swallowing it.
"Good girl."
Despite that, she still didn’t wake up.
After feeding her a few more spoonfuls, I finally started eating as well.
By then, everyone else in the camp had already finished their meals.
"My lord, this way please."
One of the knights guided me toward a large brown tent that had been prepared for us.
I nodded at him and carried Aurielle inside.
Margaret, meanwhile, was escorted to a separate tent of her own.
However, all of the knights chose to sleep beneath the open sky and take turns patrolling throughout the night.
Seeing that they had already made up their minds, I simply shook my head and let them be.
Feeling relaxed, I eventually drifted off to sleep with Aurielle in my arms, holding her close.
But neither Luke nor the knights knew that, in the distance, a group of black-clothed figures was watching them.
They had been following the convoy from the moment it left Blackstone Highlands.
Suddenly, one person stepped forward from the group of ten.
He wore a brown glove bearing the symbol of a black open hand with a single eye in its palm.
Turning toward the man standing at the front, he asked,
"Sir Reaper, do we really have to do this?"
The man standing at the front continued to watch Luke’s group in silence.
Like the others, he was dressed entirely in black. However, unlike the brown-gloved assassin, he wore a silver glove bearing the same symbol—a black open hand with a single eye in its palm.
When no reply came, the brown-gloved assassin hesitated before speaking again.
"There is a princess among them. Even if she has been exiled, isn’t this still too risky?"
He finally voiced the question that had been troubling the other brown-gloved assassins as well.
The Black Hand cared little about a target’s identity. As long as the payment was sufficient, they would accept almost any contract.
But this time was different.
Their target was traveling alongside a princess—the daughter of the Human Emperor himself.
Even if she had been exiled, touching someone of her bloodline was not a matter to be taken lightly.
Finally, the silver-gloved man reacted.
He slowly turned around.
"Fang, we are not going to kill the princess."
He paused after saying those words.
The ten brown-gloved assassins remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
"Our target is only the Hero."
His voice remained calm and emotionless.
"He has already been declared useless. As long as we eliminate him quietly, neither the Holy Church nor the Imperial Court will concern themselves with the matter."
After saying that, he fell silent and allowed his words to sink in.
The ten brown-gloved assassins exchanged glances before nodding in understanding.
"Let’s move."
With that final command, the group disappeared into the darkness and began advancing toward Luke’s camp.
[Chapter End]
