The End of Your Arrogance - CHapter 39.2

In truth… I feel unjust too! I wanted you to acknowledge the time I spent without you! To love me and our child! She wanted to shout at the heartless man.

“What did I even want from this pitiful man, crushed by duty and unable to heal his wounds?”

Apologies, guilt, and compassion… Various emotions took form and surged into her heart, making it ache.

“I’m sorry, my love.”

“From here on, it seems we have to walk, Your Highness,” the commander said to the group as the path rapidly narrowed. His gaze, which had been leisurely scanning the surroundings, lingered on Ilya for a while.

The commander approached and stood in front of Ilya, who had dismounted. He lightly tapped Ilya’s shoulder with his remaining arm.

“Your Highness, I can still vividly recall the conversations you had with Nazrang when you first learned the sword.”

“What did I say?”

“Didn’t you say you would become a great knight and protect the Grand Duchess from the witches of the Black Forest?”

Ilya let out a tired laugh and looked at his mentor’s weary face.

With such a great mentor by his side… He’ll be fine. She glanced at her husband’s face and quietly went over to Nicholas.

They walked in single file through the narrow path between the canyons. Fireflies halted and moved forward, as if guiding them. The narrowing path indicated that they were approaching the end of the canyon.

Swwoooosh, a strong scent of blood wafted on the breeze.

Mandras, the ominous plant that grew only on blood-soaked soil, beckoned them.

****

As they passed through the narrow canyon, steep, rocky hills came into view.

“Pia, look over there,” Nikolas murmured, lost in awe.

A large lake appeared below the hill. No, it wasn’t a lake; it was closer to a river. It floated eerily on the surface of the lake, where the crimson moon arched.

“Pia, this was originally a meadow. It’s where Isaiah Azanthis and the warriors of the Black Forest fought their final battle.”

Evelyn stared blankly at the lake.

“Is it because of the moonlight? The water is red, like the blood spilled by the Black Forest tribe.”

“Everyone, unfortunately, I cannot demonstrate my splendid magic here.”

The group sighed at René’s words. Ilya spoke with indifference.

“We’ll have to walk down, then.”

Ilya looked at Evelyn.

“Can you walk down there?”

At Nikolas’ words, the petite figure in a robe shrank. Nikolas gently tapped Evelyn’s shoulder and spoke affectionately.

“Just take it slow. I’ll hold your hand from the front, so don’t worry.”

Evelyn clenched her fist as she anxiously peered below.

“Yes, I’ll give it a try.”

With a grim expression, Ilya glared at them and leaped down below the hill.

“It’s dangerous to go alone!”

“Your Highness!”

The knights ran up the steep hill behind him. Finally, Nikolas and Evelyn followed suit.

Evelyn carefully descended the rocky hill, following Nikolas’ footsteps. Whenever a rock she stepped on crumbled and fell below, cold sweat trickled down her spine.

“We’re here now.”

Reaching the final rock, Nicholas embraced Evelyn and helped her down.

“Thank you, Commander.”

Evelyn adjusted her robe meticulously and smiled affectionately at Nikolas.

“Commander, Pia! Hurry this way!”

At Ione’s voice, who had already descended and was surveying the lake, they started running.

“Ugh! My nose feels numb.”

As they approached the lake, the pungent odor intensified, causing Evelyn and Nikolas to cover their noses.

Finally, the two arrived at the edge of the lake and gasped. The winding lake was filled with thick, sticky blood.

“Oh my!”

The sight of white flowers blooming by the lakeside, swaying under the moonlight, felt eerie and fluctuating. Every time the flowers moved, emitting the scent of death, they all gathered their voices and exclaimed.

“It’s Mandras!”

Ilya approached the dazed Evelyn quickly. He looked straight into her eyes and asked.

“When I remove it, can I eliminate the sound?”

Evelyn met his gaze without flinching.

“I’ll give it a try.”

Evelyn looked at the man with a darker expression than the night sky.

“I hope that pitiful man can look back on this moment and smirk. To say that the canyon wasn’t just filled with terrible memories, but also with moments of laughter and happiness… If only I could say that.”

The few moments of happiness in her life quickly passed by.

In her childhood, when she sneaked out of Madus Castle and ran through the field covered in blooming thousand-day red flowers, when she  first saw him in a white veil on their wedding day, when she held in her arms a child who resembled the man she love, and when the knight who resembled an adorable bear…

The surface of the lake, which spewed blood, began to churn.

Screeeech!

With a loud noise, fish shaped like balls jumped up onto the water’s surface.

One, two, three… Fish with pale pink fins fluttered and swiftly disappeared beneath the lake.

“That… is Marlow, right? Pia, you! Were you from the North?”

Aelon blinked in disbelief at the spectacle and turned to Evelyn.

Screeeech!

As if someone were pushing them up from below, the fish formed a group and leaped up onto the surface.

Like a fountain, the fish that had poured downward now slid forward on the water’s surface.

The sound of their cute fins hitting the water was like the scraping of iron, causing everyone to cover their ears.

“Aaah, how can we do something about that annoying sound! My ears are precious!”

Aelon’s scream pierced through the calm night sky.