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Nerumport had been at the center of fierce siege warfare for four months since the spark of war ignited.

The 2nd Knight Order, 3rd Knight Order, and 4th Knight Order tirelessly worked to break through the sturdy walls, while Robert’s soldiers resisted with relentless determination.

On one side, they cried out for justice for Vivian Rondore, while the other endured in desperation, knowing that death awaited them at the moment of retreat.

When Nesto revealed that the assassin targeting Vivian Rondore was commissioned by Robert Rondore, the justification for war was more than sufficient.

Nerumport became the tragic stage where life and death intertwined.

However, the tides of battle slowly but surely began to tilt.

There was no way a small city like Nerumport could withstand the wrath of Roktana.

An endless army and abundant supplies bloomed.

And amidst this growth, the soldiers’ morale soared with their unwavering loyalty to Vivian.

On the other hand, Nerumport was the opposite.

Living off scraps like rats.

The grim reality that their lord was so consumed by greed he tried to kill his own niece.

Nothing was in their favor.

Eventually, the walls began to crack slowly, and the defenders’ food supplies dwindled.

Moreover, the weather was getting strangely cold.

It was the kind of cold that made me long for home.

Especially the southern women, and Robert’s soldiers, who were trying to hold the line, were struggling against this bitter cold.

“…It’ll be today.”

I said to Burgor, the commander of the 4th Knight Order.

I could feel it.

Today, Robert’s army would collapse.

There had been several signs.

Robert’s soldiers fighting among themselves, sneaking in surrender flags at night…

Robert’s army had been teetering on the edge but had managed to hold on for a while, and it was clear they had hit their limit.

“…I feel the same.”

Burgor muttered.

This was the last stage.

If we could just kill this guy and force him to submit, Vivian’s safety would be secured.

The Rondore family would continue to rise with Vivian’s strength, and neither I nor Vivian would have to tremble before the elders anymore.

It was the moment we could dispel the long darkness that had befallen us.

Vivian had promised to have children with me.

Well, to be exact, she said to ask her again when everything was over… but isn’t that basically what she meant?

Perhaps I should prepare a letter to send to Keila.

Or maybe I should visit home once, explain the situation to my father, and settle down here.

The thought of returning home was slowly fading away.

I was struggling to find a reason.

I’ve been an adult on this land for just eight months now.

It’s been about six to seven years since I entered Roktana.

Honestly, I don’t really think about home much anymore.

Maybe it’s because I’ve experienced so much more in this land.

Unlike my ordinary growth back home, I’ve had to do everything by my own hands here.

From the menial tasks I had to manage in the Punishment Unit to the kiss I shared with Vivian.

At some point, I began to think of this place as my home.

There’s a faint longing left, but… I wonder.

If I were to go back home, would I even be able to adapt?

Even the awkward, cold air feels strange to me now.

Perhaps all this is my weak heart trying to find excuses.

I must surely be stringing together all these reasons to avoid leaving Vivian’s side.

Or maybe the curse inside me is squeezing out its last bit of strength to drag me into a pit of despair?

That thought made me chuckle cynically.

Yeah. What curse?

It’s just me having weak thoughts.

However, no matter how much I tried to shake it off and be self-deprecating, that last unease always lingered in a corner of my heart.

…

“The gates have opened!!”

The deep, resonant sound of a horn echoed across the battlefield.

At that moment, it felt like time, which had been standing still, began to flow again, and the entire siege army erupted.

The cry of victory rang out as if to pierce the sky, and the soldiers’ cheers flowed down like the crumbling walls.

I wiped the blood from my sword as I watched the scene from atop the city gate.

As the west gate opened, hundreds of armored soldiers surged into the castle like a wave.

“Get in!! Get in!!”

“Die, all of you!!”

“For Lady Vivian!!”

Victory after four long months.

I let out a long sigh and raised the flag I had prepared.

-Thump!

The flag with the red sun emblem was hoisted high above the city gates.

“The flag is up!!”

“We won!!”

Our soldiers gained strength from that sight, while Robert’s troops crumbled.

“Kyle!”

My comrades, who had achieved this moment alongside me, called out to me.

We had crossed the high gates, but the fight wasn’t over yet.

Amidst the soldiers waiting for orders, Balron, with a bandaged head, approached me.

He sheathed his sword and said to me, “You did well. It’s finally over—”

“—Not over yet.”

I told them.

“Catch Robert. Let’s see this through.”

****

My unit, a.k.a. the Kyle Unit, advanced toward the inner castle where Robert was holed up, alongside other soldiers.

The residents of Nerumport hid with their doors tightly shut, and we meant them no harm.

Upon reaching the castle, numerous soldiers who had arrived before us were already engaged in another fierce battle.

There weren’t many opponents, but all of them bore familiar faces.

Those who had once belonged to the 1st Knight Order.

Or rather, Baelor and his officers.

“Defend!! Defend the castle!!”

Baelor was bleeding as he defended the main entrance of the inner castle.

As I tried to walk towards him, Martin stepped in front of me.

“Kyle, wait a moment.”

“…What’s up all of a sudden?”

Willas and Balron were the same.

They exchanged glances before speaking.

“…Kyle, you need to stay back.”

“Why?”

“Lady Vivian’s orders. If this moment ever comes… she said to block you from participating.”

“This moment?”

“It’s hard to explain. Just stay back.”

I stood frozen for a while at their words.

Why would Vivian want to stop me?

Was she worried I might get hurt in this fight?

After staring down my trio of friends for some time, I finally said, “…You guys really think you can stop me?”

Balron clicked his tongue as if taken aback.

“See, this brat doesn’t listen at all. How in the world can we stop him?”

Martin quickly stepped aside as well, saying, “It’s just as you predicted. We thought we might not be able to stop you.”

Since they backed off so easily, I felt the need to make an excuse.

“I need a good reason to step back or not. Baelor is right there.”

“Yeah, we get it. We’ll be satisfied knowing we made an attempt.”

“…”

Without hesitation, I pushed past our soldiers and stepped in front of Baelor.

Baelor and his officers froze when they saw me.

“…Kyle Allen.”

His face wore a cold smile, but it concealed undeniable fury.

But that anger soon shifted to resignation, extinguishing itself.

He was already defeated before the battle began.

“…You were right.”

He whispered.

His nearby officers stared at him in disbelief, slowly losing their will to fight as their swords drooped one by one.

“You once said, loyalty is shown not by words, but by actions. If you act like me, you’ll get your neck chopped off and displayed on the walls.”

“That’s true.”

“Yeah. My loyalty was lacking. I should have trusted Lady Vivian and upheld the Rondore family’s will. But I wondered if Robert was the right one to lead the family, as I thought Vivian didn’t have the strength to manage vast territory because she was so weak.”

Baelor tightened his grip on the sword.

“Maybe I deserved to lose my head the moment I thought that. Who knows? My loyalty may have died with Duke Rondore on the battlefield.”

“…”

“I didn’t want to believe it, Kyle Allen. That Robert was after Lady Vivian’s life. The Robert I fought alongside was not that kind of person. I would have willingly given my life in service to him. So until recently, I believed in Robert. I thought Vivian was just being unreasonable.”

“You were wrong.”

He nodded with a smile.

“Told you I was wrong. I just didn’t want to admit it. But… now I must accept it. I was mistaken. Robert Rondore is… um.”

He couldn’t finish his sentence, seemingly unable to speak ill of his lord.

However, there was still something I didn’t understand.

“Even after realizing all of this, are you still willing to sacrifice your life for Robert?”

Baelor looked at me in disbelief.

“Why? I thought you’d understand my actions the best.”

“What?”

“When Vivian had nothing, wasn’t it you who stood by her side? I find your choice back then harder to understand. Just what did you see in Lady Vivian?”

“…You wouldn’t understand.”

Baelor slowly raised his sword.

His officers also raised their swords in unison.

Preparing for the final battle, he took his stance.

“…I chose the wrong lord.”

“…”

“…But I won’t make the same mistake twice. I’ve realized too late that a knight must act as a sword without thoughts. This time… I’ll try to imitate you.”

I too lifted my sword.

My comrades did the same.

“Any last words?”

I asked, and Baelor let out a roar as he charged at us.

 

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