NOVEL NEXT Chapter 161: What's In Your Arms?
“What on earth is going on?”
“Isn’t that the Duke of Lavaltor’s mansion?”
People were buzzing.
The Duke of Lavaltor’s mansion was not only half destroyed, but a massive storm had enveloped it.
It seemed as though there was some kind of control preventing anyone from approaching.
Even the knights were unable to approach.
“Captain! We can’t break through.”
“The storm is too intense!”
The complexions of the knights in charge of the capital’s defense turned pale.
Some knights bravely attempted to approach but were immediately thrown back.
“What could possibly be happening inside there?”
“Shouldn’t we report to His Majesty first?”
“The messengers have already been dispatched.”
However, that wasn’t the most important matter at the moment.
“W-what is that?”
“Everyone, take cover!”
The problem lay with those attempting to break through the storm.
For some reason, unidentified people around the Duke’s mansion approached the Duke’s mansion.
Their attempt to pierce through the storm clashed with its power, triggering a shockwave that caused nearby rocks to collapse.
Thud!
“Damn it! Falling rocks!”
As the rocks flew towards them, the nearby residents tightly closed their eyes.
They didn’t need to see what happened next; they could tell.
But that’s when it happened.
Bang!
The flying object exploded with a huge explosion.
An incredible aura emanated from a single sword.
“T-That sword… Could it be?”
“It’s the Seventh Prince!”
It was Ian.
Behind him, Galon and Hite also displayed their respective auras.
Crash!
In an instant, the flying rocks crumbled.
The citizens cheered and shouted in excitement.
“Long live Prince Ian!”
However, Ian was focused on the mansion enveloped by the storm rather than the jubilant crowd.
‘What on earth happened inside there?’
Ian asked the knights in charge of defense.
“What exactly happened?”
“Suddenly, a storm erupted from the mansion.”
That’s why it was impossible to approach.
Even Lavaltor’s soldiers couldn’t get in either.
Ian raised an eyebrow.
‘If it’s a storm, it must be the duke’s oath, right?’
“This is a big problem. My sister is inside.”
Upon seeing Ian’s expression, Galon tilted his head.
“Sir Nathan is also inside, isn’t he?”
“Let him fend for himself, live or die. He’s not someone who can be killed no matter where you throw him.”
“That’s right.”
Ian gazed at the storm for a moment.
Since the Duke of Lavaltor was there, there shouldn’t be any major issues.
But he wanted to reunite with his mother and younger sister as soon as possible.
Thus, he had only one choice to make.
“I must go inside.”
“What? Are you serious?”
Hite shouted in disbelief.
The level of the storm indicated that the Duke used his full strength.
“Unless you’re at Sir Galon’s level, you’ll be swept away by the storm. Even if you are, you’ll have to endure a certain amount of damage.”
“I understand that.”
“But why do you intend to go inside?”
“Because I have to.”
Ian’s gaze was firm.
Only Nathan and Galon knew that the saintess was his younger sister, but as a prince and brother, it was something he had to do.
He asked Galon to look after his mother.
“Sir Galon, please take care of my mother.”
“…”
Galon shook his head with a stern expression.
“I’d rather go by myself.”
“No, please protect my mother. I trust you.”
“But…”
“We don’t know what’s happening inside.”
“That’s why I should go.”
“It won’t be just a matter of brute force.”
Ian slowly let go of the hand that Galon was holding.
If Duke Lavaltor turned out to be an enemy…
“If it’s not me, no one else can stop it.”
Faced with Ian’s resolute appearance, Galon had no choice but to step back.
He knew that he couldn’t break his will.
Instead, Galon stood by Lila’s side.
“I will protect your mother with my life.”
“I believe you, Sir Galon.”
Ian bid farewell to his mother as well.
“I’ll be back.”
“Sure. Go inside and give him my regards.”
Ian tilted his head.
‘Him? Regards?’
Could it be that his mother also knew the Duke of Lavaltor? However, his thoughts didn’t last long.
Bump.
Instead of replying, he leaped into the storm.
***
Bang!
With a loud impact, Nathan was pushed back forcefully.
To make matters worse, blood dripped from his lips.
Gasp…
Elaira was surprised and tried to reach out to him, but Nathan raised his hand to stop her.
“It’s dangerous. Please stay where you are.”
“But you’re bleeding right now…”
“I’m fine… Cough…”
He knew he was in danger, too.
But there was nothing he could do.
It was inevitable.
“You blocked my attack. Impressive, Nathan Adelas.”
A man approached him with a menacing aura.
It was none other than the Duke of Lavaltor.
Nathan swallowed a groan.
‘Impressive my foot. You’re just standing there, watching.’
If he’d set his mind to it in the first place, he’d have been in trouble long ago.
He truly was the best knight on the continent.
Duke Lavaltor was playing with Nathan, even though he wasn’t doing his best.
Still, it was not for any other reason than what was behind him that he was able to survive.
‘Because the saintess, no, the princess is behind me.’
However, Nathan casually wiped the blood and smiled.
“Of course, as a knight, I cannot retreat. I have someone to protect right now.”
“Discussing chivalry, huh? Tomorrow the sun will rise in the west.”
“Even so, I am Prince Ian’s knight.”
“!”
Of course, his inner thoughts were different.
‘Elaira is Prince Ian’s younger sister. If something happens to her…’
Gulp.
It was hard to deal with the aftermath.
His skill was one thing, but the venomous determination Ian had towards his enemies was enough to make even Nathan, who was on the same side, shudder.
Ian was more fearful than Duke Lavaltor in front of him.
However, Duke Lavaltor seemed to have taken it differently.
“I didn’t see it that way. You’re quite the chivalrous fellow.”
It was a different gaze, looking at Nathan in a slightly different light.
Of course, it wasn’t as if he would go easy on him.
“However, I cannot tolerate you touching my family members.”
The Duke of Lavaltor raised his sword.
In an instant, the once calm surroundings of the Duke of Lavaltor roared fiercely like the eye of a storm.
Roar!
A powerful storm surged forth from the Duke’s sword.
A storm within a storm.
This was the greatness of Duke Lavaltor’s Oath of Tempest.
“Do you have any last words?”
“Well, first, I have an outstanding bar tab to settle. You can check my vault if you want…”
“Let’s pretend that doesn’t exist.”
The giant storm sword fell as if piercing through Nathan’s head. It was at that moment.
Bang!
With a huge bang, the storm was torn open on one side.
And something flew at an incredible speed.
Duke Lavaltor, who was swinging his sword downward, twisted it to the side and deflected the incoming object.
Crash!
With a tremendous sound, something bounced off.
Duke Lavaltor’s eyebrows twitched at that sight.
“A royal sword?”
He recognized the object right away.
Thud!
The royal sword had landed right next to the saintess.
Just as expected.
“Even if you are Duke Lavaltor, you shouldn’t lay a hand on someone else’s knight.”
Breaking through the storm, Ian appeared, his cloak fluttering.
His expression showed signs of urgency, as if he had hastily intervened.
Upon seeing his appearance, the saintess shouted.
“Brother!”
However, she didn’t run towards Ian.
She ran to Nathan, picked him up as he collapsed, barely able to move, and breathed holy power into him.
“Just hold on a little longer. I will treat you soon.”
“Miss Elaira…”
Only then did Nathan seem to relax, collapsing into her arms. Seeing the sight, Ian’s eyebrows twitched.
“Was it really necessary to go this far?”
However, Duke Lavaltor answered firmly.
“My family members were injured and killed by the hands of the prince’s knight.”
“!”
Ian, taken aback, looked at Nathan, questioning if those words were true.
In response, Nathan chuckled, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
“No, that’s not it… Yes, it is true. I was the one who killed the servants first. The duke deserves to get angry.”
It seemed awkward to make excuses.
At that moment, Elaira stepped forward.
“No, Sir Nathan was trying to help Duke Lavaltor!”
Ian narrowed his gaze.
“What do you mean by killing the family members to help him?”
“There were enemies among the butlers and servants of the mansion. They tried to blow up this mansion.”
Ian’s eyebrows twitched.
‘So Cesare’s scheming reached this far?’
Even the Duchy of Lavaltor, which was thought to be impenetrable, was a target of their scheme. But what mattered now was that it wasn’t their scheme.
“Do you have any evidence?”
“Check the butler’s arms. There will be explosives.”
At Elaira’s words, Ian searched the butler’s arms.
True enough, explosives were found.
But that wasn’t all.
‘No way… this butler was also a follower of the Holy Empire.’
Ian thrust the explosives at Duke Lavaltor.
“This proves it, doesn’t it? So let’s clear up any misunderstandings.”
However, Duke Lavaltor slightly raised the corners of his mouth.
“Misunderstandings or not, I knew from the beginning.”
At his words, everyone’s expressions changed.
Especially Nathan, who was the most surprised.
“You knew, since when?!”
“Since you were killing people?”
Nathan was enraged at those words.
“If you knew, then why did you?!”
“You shed blood in my mansion. Shouldn’t you face the consequences?”
“!”
He never had the intention to kill Nathan in the first place.
He only planned to break a few limbs or arms.
Of course, there were probably other things he didn’t like about Nathan.
Ultimately, when Nathan seemed defeated, Ian, as if saying it was obvious without even looking, spoke.
“Then it’s time to calm down this storm.”
“I cannot do that.”
“What?”
Ian raised an eyebrow.
They had already cleared up any misunderstandings.
They had caught the assassins targeting the mansion and Duke Lavaltor. So why continue?
But the Duke of Lavaltor was firm.
“There are people attempting to infiltrate this place right now. They were probably the ones who targeted me and this mansion.”
“!”
He wasn’t kidding.
And the mention of Nathan’s disapproval was just a deception; perhaps the Duke had intended this from the beginning.
Surprised, Ian checked with Jealousy’ eyes.
Then he could see it.
‘Is that… divine power?’
There was certainly a gaze flowing outside, beyond the massive storm. At the moment, they couldn’t see beyond the storm.
What if there is no storm?
“It seems like they are searching for something.”
It was just as Duke Lavaltor said.
Still, it was fortunate that he pretended to fight Nathan, just to avoid any suspicion.
He almost revealed the presence of the saintess in this place.
That wasn’t all.
‘Could it be that he fought with Nathan from the beginning to block the enemy’s sight and buy time for my arrival?’
From the beginning, it seemed like he was fighting Nathan for this purpose, as if he had summoned the storm.
It was clear that he intended to crush them all.
Indeed, it was Duke Lavaltor.
“I understand. Then what should I do to assist?”
“No assistance is needed. The power of Lavaltor is sufficient. Just watch from there.”
To witness Lavaltor’s wrath.
How they truly treated their enemies.
That was his message.
“I will show you why our family is the Sword of Kaistein.”
It was when Duke Lavaltor’s storm gradually subsided.
People began to appear beyond the storm.
But then…
“Sir…Nathan? Who is that woman?”
Somewhere, a voice filled with shock could be heard.
No, it was closer to anger than shock.
Startle.
At that moment, Nathan, who collapsed, was bleeding, and the saintess, who was holding him tightly to treat him, flinched.
It was inevitable.
“S-Sister?”
It was none other than the First Princess.
Even Ian broke into a cold sweat without realizing it.