The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 39.1

“The moon poured down as if it were flowing.”

Everyone was overwhelmed by the sight before their eyes, their mouths agape. Ilya, too, was astonished by the miracle caused by the woman in his arms, unable to close his mouth.

The moonlight, pouring down steadily, instantly ignited the intertwined branches that resembled erupting lava, causing them to flow downward.

The trees, bathed in the flowing moonlight, began to twist and writhe. The trees that seemed to have been entangled for ages and would never separate suddenly split apart, one to the left and one to the right, with a loud crack.

As everyone gazed at the forest that had split in the middle, akin to the parting of the sea, their mouths hung open.

Ilya, who had been scrutinizing the path opened up by the trees, shouted, “What are you all doing? Now is the time to enter the Black Forest!”

Ilya, with Eveline in front of him, urged the horse forward without any hesitation. The horse carrying the two of them galloped along the path opened up by the trees.

Thanks to the mad rush of the horse, Evelyn’s golden hair fluttered in the night sky as her robe came undone.

“What awaits at the end of this path?”

Excitement and anticipation blended together, and Evelyn’s heart beat vigorously. The man sitting behind her felt his heart beating in the same rhythm.

The hearts of the two of them moved together for the first time, beating as one.

“Yeehaw! How exhilarating! It’s an adventure!”

Like children filled with excitement, the knights joined together as a group and rushed forward like a storm.

Swoosh! The barrier of trees swallowed them all and closed behind them, as if nothing had ever happened.

****

After the barrier of trees closed, a completely different world welcomed them, contrasting with the outside.

A massive gorge made of layered, reddish-black rocks appeared, and a winding, rugged path seemed to have been carved through it.

“This is the Azlan Gorge. The ancestors of the House of Azantis passed through here on their march to the Black Forest.”

The voice, usually composed, sounded slightly excited, deviating from the demeanor of the deputy leader.

The hero who saved the empire from the Black Forest tribe, Isaiah Azantis. It was the era of heroes, when the empire expanded its reach. Among the countless heroes, the figure who stirred the blood of knights the most was none other than the Sky Knight, Isaiah Azantis.

“Ah, I’m thrilled! It feels like standing in the midst of legends.”

“Yes, for any Black Forest knight, it’s a moment they’ve dreamed of at least once.”

As Ione trembled with excitement, the commander responded politely. However, even in the voice of the elderly knight, he couldn’t hide his trembling.

“The path is narrow, so we must go in a single file.”

Evelyn looked at the crimson ring snugly worn on her ring finger and sighed deeply.

“What have I done? The moon is melting, the barriers of the trees are breaking apart, and what is this ring?” Evelyn was completely distracted.

In the distance, René and Nikolas raised their thumbs. The commander and Ione also glanced at Evelyn sneakily.

They wore various expressions, but the excitement was the same as that of a child. As Evelyn’s tension slowly eased, the surrounding scenery came into view.

Ilya drove the horse along the winding path between the cliffs. Evelyn, sitting in front of him, looked around in awe.

“The rocks are stacked like layers of cake. Can you see the moonlight reflecting on them?”

“······.”

Filled with awe at the surreal sight, Evelyn forgot who was sitting behind her and rambled on.

Huffing and puffing, instead of an answer, a harsh exhale of breath pierced her ears. The rapid heartbeat felt from behind was also unsettling.

Instead of looking down, she saw a large hand gripping the reins. Veins bulged on the pale hand, trembling uncontrollably.

“Your Highness! Are you alright?”

Instinctively, Evelyn placed her hand on his right hand.

Thud. Ilya rested his weary face on her shoulder. At the same time, a heavily suppressed voice whispered in her ear.

“I hate the canyon. It’s dreadful.” The voice, as if boiling up from the throat, made Evelyn lose her senses. She quickly pulled her hand out of her husband’s hand. The touch that had just been there stung as if it had been burned.

“Even if I didn’t ask to go into the canyon…”

“It’s not your fault. It’s all Father’s doing.”

As she turned her body to see his face, she saw the commander following closely behind. His right sleeve, without an arm, fluttered with his movements. The one-armed knight, living proof of betrayal right before her eyes.

Evelyn had never truly understood what war meant. She hadn’t experienced it firsthand. She could only imagine the sense of betrayal and hatred that her husband had gone through, almost crossing the threshold of death due to the betrayal of his comrades and barely returning alive.