traitor chapter 12

“Understood.” Diana moved to the edge of the balcony, gripping the railing, ready to react instantly.

Ruby extended his arm into the void. His eyes narrowed in concentration as he channeled his power, a white destructive energy spreading outwards in a rectangular shape. Beads of sweat trickled down his temples. The labyrinth was an incredibly complex, high-level spell. Even for a powerful mage like him, breaching it required pushing his concentration to its absolute limit. It was only possible because the labyrinth was unfinished.

Ruby’s face paled. A sharp surge of magical energy flowed outwards, and cracks began to appear in the dark backdrop, accompanied by the sound of splintering wood. Diana hooked one knee over the railing. At the same moment, he spoke. “In three seconds…”

Jump.

A blade of energy sliced through the air, cutting him off mid-sentence. The wind-like force ripped through the curtains, scored the floor, and splintered the railing. The balcony was cleaved in two by the crimson wave of power.

Diana quickly pulled her leg back from the railing. The floor tilted precariously. Debris from the shattered balcony floated in the void. The nature of the labyrinth’s outer barrier prevented immediate collapse, but a fall was inevitable.

Despite the attack, Ruby maintained the destructive spell. A section of the labyrinth’s barrier shattered like an eggshell, revealing the outside world. A patch of blue sky appeared, showcasing the time of day when the court should have been in session. There was much to be done. They had to leave, now.

Watching his focused profile, Diana once again climbed onto the railing.

And at that moment, another blade of energy struck. It sliced through the floor a second time, grazing Ruby’s back. Blood bloomed, staining his skin. The red curtains, now completely shredded, mingled with the droplets of blood and scattered in the air. Swish! The sound of the air being cleaved reached her a moment later.

Ruby gasped, clutching the railing. His ragged breaths spoke of pain. Diana turned and grabbed him, pulling him close. The opening to the outside world sealed shut. The destructive spell was broken. Their escape had failed.

The shattered remains of the balcony, which had been precariously suspended, gave way. Diana, holding Ruby tightly, fell amidst the debris. Gravity seemed strangely distorted, slowing their descent. She calmly looked down into the darkness below. If their captors had truly orchestrated this for something as frivolous as love, then even if they fell, they wouldn’t die. The environment would shift, catching them before they hit the bottom.

As she predicted, the world around them began to warp and twist. A groaning, creaking sound filled the air, and the darkness below seemed to split open. A space materialized beneath them, radiating a chilling aura.

They plunged into it.

***

A flicker. Her vision swam as a memory surfaced.

Atop a high spire, overlooking a distant foreign land, stood the former Emperor. Behind her, Leonhardt slowly approached. He was drenched in blood, from head to toe. He laid his sword horizontally on the ground and knelt on one knee.

The Emperor turned to face him. He bowed his head and reported, “Every last rebel has been eliminated, Your Majesty. Only the princess, who forewarned us, remains.”

“Good. You’ve done well.”

“If you wish, I can arrange the bodies for your inspection.”

“Perhaps identifying them should come first? When dispensing justice, you tend to be rather…excessive, unlike the image of the steadfast knight you project.”

“…My apologies.” He struggled to speak. The Emperor’s reprimand was justified. He was known to be unnecessarily brutal when dealing with his enemies. Dismemberment was commonplace, and he often left his victims alive, their limbs mangled, to suffer for hours. Of course, he didn’t treat everyone this way. His cruelty was reserved for those who triggered his deepest traumas. Those who looked down on him with arrogance, those who recklessly caused trouble and then cowered in fear, those who, driven by emotion, participated in wrongdoing and then tried to shift the blame.

“Leonhardt.” The Emperor called his name and extended her hand. Leonhardt hastily removed his glove. The blood-soaked garment fell to the ground, revealing a hand calloused from years of wielding a sword. He pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket and, with trembling hands, wrapped it around the Emperor’s hand, ensuring not a single drop of blood touched her skin. He carefully held her hand and pressed his lips against the thin fabric.

The Emperor’s hand was cold from the night air. She inhaled sharply, momentarily frozen by the chill that seeped through the fabric.

“Are you loyal to me?”

“Yes.”

“With your life?”

“Since that day, I have been yours, Your Majesty. If you desire my life, I will offer it. I will offer you anything. Use me as you see fit.”

A gust of wind swept past, ruffling the Emperor’s unbound hair. Unlike usual, her hair was loose, and the strands brushed against his forehead and cheek as he bowed his head. He drew a breath, then froze.

The Emperor gazed down at him, her expression unreadable. “I expect that resolve to remain unwavering.”