Count Millennium was enjoying refreshments with the princess.

Count Warrug didn’t come to the banquet because he had something to do, and Count Skyla didn’t come out of the Mage Tower because of the by-products of the raid.

I was feeling relaxed now that I had completely finished my work today.

“Daria-sama is better at brewing tea. I really like the flavor of the tea.”

“It is an undeserved compliment. I still have a lot to learn.”

At the Count’s words, the princess smiled pleasantly.

As if familiar, he filled the empty teacup with tea.

“So are you all right now?”

“Yes?”

“I heard about the second prince.”

“ah… .”

The princess’s face darkened.

The Count already knew what he had done and what kind of insolence he had shown.

Her hand trembled slightly as she set the kettle down.

The count watched the scene quietly.

“Actually, I knew I couldn’t do that. You helped me, and I know you are still sacrificing for me, but I shouldn’t have done that.”

“… .”

“But I was scared. That someone is harmed because of me. I didn’t know that the action caused more damage. So after the banquet, I was at a loss as to what to do. If this is known, I might be kicked out, I don’t want to go to that hellish place again… How selfish, right?”

The count still didn’t say anything to her with a bitter smile.

“And when that happened, my hair went white. It turned out that I betrayed you in front of Raymond-sama.”

Recalling yesterday, she fiddled with the teacup.

“When I heard that Raymond-nim stole the name of Millennium, my heart sank. Oh, it’s over. They will see me as a traitor… I couldn’t bear to see him.”

“… .”

“Just when I thought it was all over, he said. I’m different. Daria is not Serion, Daria is a millennial.”

“Did he say that?”

“Yes! They told me there was no need to bow my head, no need to worry. I did that behind the scenes… He said it was nothing.”

“Hmm… .”

The Count tapped the armrest and brushed his chin with the other hand.

A smile crept across his lips as he passed his hand.

‘That’s what he said… .’

After staring into space for a moment, he turned to her and saw that she was looking at him.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“… Is the Count all right?”

“What do you mean?”

“I gave you an invitation without permission.”

“Well… .”

At that question, the Count raised his teacup and took a sip.

“Daria-nim has already heard my answer.”

“Yes?”

At the Count’s words, she widened her eyes.

The Count had yet to give her an answer.

But have you already heard the answer?

When she couldn’t get it right, the Count smiled and said,

“Didn’t Raymond say that Daria-sama was a member of the Millennium?”

“Yes… But why… ?”

“It’s crazy what he’s doing, but he’s my son. It’s not like I have another child, and my heir is that one.”

“… ?”

She tilted her head and her eyes widened.

“That means… .”

“The successor’s decision is the millennium’s decision.”

“… !”

She stared blankly at the Count with a surprised face, then lowered her head.

I couldn’t stand the rush of emotions.

Where can she go to get treated like this?

So far, she has been shunned by everyone.

If it wasn’t for the letter of appreciation that was the only one on her side, she wouldn’t have been able to hold on until now.

That is why the Count’s words came to her greatly.

The count’s face, which had been watching her quietly sobbing with a soft smile, suddenly hardened.

“This… .”

I felt a strange wave of mana.

It felt similar to when confusion arose in the barriers he spread in the city.

“Count… ?”

Daria stared blankly at him as he jumped up.

The Count opened his mouth without looking back at her.

“Mahol.”

“Did you call?”

Daria’s shadow shimmered, and then Mahol, who was covered in black, appeared.

“From now on, you must protect Daria-sama first.”

“Yes.”

Mahol lowered his head and returned to the shadows.

“Daria. Please do not leave here until I return.”

“Yes? Yes… .”

cooong-

When he stamped his foot, the entire drawing room was filled with magic circles.

“If you stay here, you will be safe.”

She nodded with a slightly frightened face.

Fierce momentum was surging from the body of the count who was casting magic in the drawing room.

“If someone comes up to you and asks you to open it, don’t open it. Even if I can hear the voice of someone I know, even if I can hear my own voice.”

“Yes.”

“The butler!”

“Did you call?”

“The rats came into the house. Please deal with it quickly.”

“I take orders.”

As the count waved his hand in the air, the magic circle that filled the drawing room melted into the wall and disappeared without leaving a trace.

Ugh, the count looked around the drawing room and opened his mouth with a nod.

“Warp.”

The light enveloped him and carried him from the parlor to the entrance of the forest.

“Meet my lord!”

The knights gathered at the entrance of the forest bent their knees toward the Count.

The Count left them behind and approached the opaque curtain covering the forest.

“This… .”

Gripping support-

Sparks rose fiercely from where his hand touched.

As if refusing his touch, the opaque membrane splattered sparks and prevented anyone from approaching.

“A barrier of this level is at least 7th circle… .”

The count’s expression as he inspected the barrier covering the entire forest was not very good.

After looking around for a while, he clicked his tongue.

“It will take a little while. It would be good if you could hold out until then.”

As the Count beckoned the knights, the knights quickly gathered beside the Count.

“Be vigilant while I resolve the barrier.”

“insect!”

The Count reached out his hand to the barrier, and a huge magic circle began to form in his hand.

“From now on, I won’t let even a single ant come in!”

thud!

The knights pounded the ground in unison and surrounded the Count.

The weapons they were holding were pointed in all directions, giving off the momentum as if they were about to swing their swords at any moment.

***

Beatrice was held in the hand of the red mask.

“driving me crazy.”

Like the last time I was aiming for the princess, when I was cleaning, when I was raiding, and until now.

They openly ignored me and Millennium.

‘No matter how much the empire is. Isn’t this too much?’

Even if the power of the empire is strong, it is not enough to deal with the entire continent.

No matter how much the empire is, it can’t deal with the entire kingdom.

No, even dealing with one Serion with a central mage tower was quite a burden for them.

The Empire wouldn’t lose, but that didn’t mean that good results could be obtained.

When a war breaks out, the empire suffers formidable damage.

In severe cases, it could be eaten by other kingdoms.

That’s why, from before until now, empires and kingdoms only kept each other in check, but did not touch each other hastily.

“Lowering.”

“say.”

“I’ll draw their attention, so please save the hostages.”

“I get it.”

The Crown Prince nodded.

“Miss Selina, please move along with the lowering.”

“Yes.”

“What… It’s so whispering… ?”

The red mask came one step closer.

Beatrice, whose hair was caught in her hand, was dragged helplessly to the ground.

As long as she’s in his hands, it’s going to be difficult for me to deal with him.

At least I think I can do anything after I save her.

If that’s the case, I’ll have to get them off guard somehow.

Is there any better way?

“What the hell are you guys doing?”

“… .”

“Is this the third time? You guys did this.”

“… .”

The red masked man who had initially shouted that he would kill me stared at me.

“Looks like they’re targeting Princess Daria. Why the hell are you targeting her?”

“… only ours… .”

The guy opened his mouth.

The sound of scratching metal hurt my ears.

Looking around, the crown prince’s escort knight was quietly moving behind them.

“What the hell did you do with her… !”

“It’s ours!”

As soon as the red masked man suddenly shouted, black masked men jumped out from behind him and charged.

“Damn it. It is now!”

“The escort knight!”

He pulled out his name and ran. I saw the prince’s escort knight cut down the masked people.

Aww!

arrows flew

Cacan!

Scary to deflect the arrows, the masked men brandished their weapons in all directions.

Instead of dodging, he moved faster and swung his nameless sword.

Chow!

Blood spurted into the air, and the head that had been separated from the neck rolled on the ground.

“Kill hostages… !”

Watching me get closer, the red mask raised a dagger and aimed it at Beatrice.

Then he yelled at me to stop.

That short act became an opportunity for me.

I focused my aura on my legs and kicked the ground as hard as I could.

Read at noblemtl.com

Kwaaang-

The ground his feet touched was hollowed out, and objects around him stretched out.

In front of her nose, she saw a red mask stabbing a dagger at Beatrice.

He swung his cotton wool toward his wrist.

squeak-

The hand holding the dagger fell to the ground and blood poured out like a fountain.

Swinging the cotton ball once again, he cut off the hand holding Beatrice and rammed his shoulder into it.

Read at noblemtl.com

Kwaaang!

It flew off and crashed into a tree. I carried Beatrice on my shoulders and returned to Selina’s place.

“I will take care of Beatrice.”

Selina nods.

She drew her sword and swung it at the masked people approaching her.

Unless you are a knight who uses an aura, you cannot be her opponent.

Chow ah-

He jumped between the masked people and swung his sword.

The blood soaked his head and made his body gooey.

“Kill… Kill me!”

The red mask screamed and rushed at me.

The man who had lost his hand swung both his legs and showed his intention to kill me somehow.

“Go quietly. Because it is noisy.”

Chew!

I slashed his chest and swung my elbow to the right.

Read at noblemtl.com

Kwajik!

I felt the nose of the masked man rushing at me from behind.

‘It’s not a joke.’

The number of masked people was greater than expected.

Even though there are more than a dozen masked people I have killed, the masked people have filled the vacancy of the dead masked people from where they appear like that.

“It’s not a tactic of any kind.”

It wasn’t too threatening since no one used Aura, but I got tired of the endless number of them.

It wouldn’t be an illusion to feel like you’re in the North.

Whii profit!

It was about time to cut down a masked man.

A whistle was heard, and the masked men, who were rushing to death, stopped attacking and retreated.

“what?”

I wiped the blood from around my eyes with my sleeve and looked at the place where the masked people had retreated.

“That’s great.”

The masked people parted and a man appeared.