My Fiancee Was the Villainess of This World

44 – (Interlude) Dawn of the Empire

The position of captain of the knights, also called the sword of the empire, is definitely an honorable position.

But originally, a sword is something that cuts something.

As such, it was accompanied by countless deaths as the sword of the empire.

I can confidently say that he was the man who was closest to death in the Empire.

‘Your Highness….’

However, the scene in front of his eyes was so terrible that even such a man could not describe it.

“Quaaagh aaa!!!”

Fire erupted from Maximilian’s screaming body.

Originally, the mana flowing from my body won’t hurt me at all.

Because mana, a power born from her soul, originally seeks to protect its owner.

But the flame sleeping inside Maximilian was mercilessly burning him.

The burning of the skin was not enough, so perhaps it was burning his lungs from the inside, even the scream that came out of Maximilian’s mouth turned into something incomprehensible.

“Ms. Priscilla!!!”

Bessie, frozen at the shocking sight, moved.

Chiiik!

As soon as the water spouted from Bessie’s hand touched Maximilian, it created a huge amount of steam.

“Ugh!”

After the fire that burned Maximilian’s skin calmed down a bit, Priscilla hurriedly hugged Maximilian from behind.

Chiik.

“Wow!”

However, the flames that did not go out and remained like embers began to burn Priscilla’s body.

That was the moment.

Light returned to Maximilian’s eyes, which had been teased by the flames and thought they had become cloudy.

He tried to shake off Priscilla, twisting his body greatly, as if telling him to get away from him.

Noticing him, Priscilla put her arms around Maximilian’s body and hugged him tightly.

Mana, who had been running amok, began to create her own flow very slowly.

“Ugh… !”

“I-i-i-ik!”

However, the sight was devastating.

Her man, whose flesh has all been burnt and turned black, and the woman who is teased by the fire while holding him tight.

And the sorcerer’s whole body was soaked in sweat as he struggled to save those two.

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The distinctive stinky smell that comes from burning protein was really disgusting and terrible.

“Hee, hee hee!”

It seemed a terrible smell to her man, who preferred her meat to her vegetarian diet.

Even in front of the young lady whose burnt skin was bleeding with ooze, she didn’t think she would fulfill her duties as a priest, because she was busy gagging and keeping her distance.

Bertrand’s intent to kill was instantly stirred, but if anyone used magic, the same phenomenon as before might be repeated.

So Bertrand gritted his teeth and decided to remove him from the ceremony.

“Maxi, Mr. Milian….”

Koo Woo-wook.

It’s okay, I’ll be by your side.

Perhaps that’s what she wanted to convey, Priscilla struggled with a smile as her body was getting used to her residual fire.

It was a shabby appearance that was rare even in the slums, but Bertrand recalled the beautiful appearance of his wife in his childhood.

‘The sword of the empire is truly fleeting.’

If I had learned magic instead of swords, I would have taken the place of that child who hadn’t even had a coming-of-age ceremony yet.

Bertrand gnashed his teeth and lowered his head at the feeling of helplessness he felt for the first time in his life.

Wow.

Bertrand, who was lowering his head like that, raised his head to a warm kind of light that was clearly different from before.

The flames that had felt like the horrors of hell a while ago began to feel warm like the warm sunlight of a spring day.

The moment I thought that, a miracle happened.

Maximilian’s body, which had been burnt black like charcoal, began to slowly regenerate.

As if a new sprout sprouted from the ruins where everything was burnt down, his whole body began to recover quickly.

That light didn’t just stop with Maximilian himself.

‘Ah, mana was such a warm thing….’

The light emitted from Maximilian’s body was truly warm.

The gentle light warmly embraced even the two sorcerers nearby who were groaning in pain.

Priscilla’s half-conscious eyes returned to life.

“Mrs. Maximilian….”

Maximilian was still wandering between death and death.

But it felt like his eyes, which had been blurry for a moment, had found Priscilla’s figure.

Rest.

But that miracle was short-lived.

As if stimulated by the sun rising from his body, the fading flame began to flick his red tongue again.

Seeing him, Priscilla hugged Maximilian even tighter and closed her eyes.

Then Priscilla’s shadow swelled and wrapped around the two of them.

“Uh, uh uh?”

Bessie, who was cooling Maximilian’s body down, was surprised by the sight and knocked him on the butt.

“Uh, uh uh… I heard that Miss Priscilla definitely has the attribute of water….”

The shadow was as dark and ominous as gazing into the abyss.

But there was no hostility in that shadow.

On the contrary, it felt like a strong will to save Maximilian.

Slowly.

The shadow that enveloped the two began to slowly lift.

Then, although weak inside, Maximilian, who radiated only the energy of the sun, appeared.

“Whoop, whoop, whoop….”

From his mouth came a still rough, but steady breathing sound that was distinctly different from before.

“Ugh, ugh… !”

But on the contrary, Priscilla emerged from the shadows and began to moan more painfully than before.

“Ph, Miss Priscilla….”

Bessie began to control the flow of mana rampaging inside Maximilian’s body in place of Priscilla.

“Whoa… Whoa….”

Maximilian, whose breathing was visibly stable, began to wriggle.

Are you still conscious through the pain?

Bertrand couldn’t help but feel awe at Maximilian’s unimaginable mental strength.

“Ph, heh….”

The bloody tears that flowed from Maximilian’s eyes hardened and covered his eyes.

Even in that state, Maximilian struggled to move his body as if he were looking for someone.

Soon he noticed the presence touching his body, and he raised his trembling hand.

His hands overlapped those of Priscilla, who let out a groan of pain.

That was the moment.

‘This is… How….’

The moment I felt that a strange flow of mana was suddenly created, a strange sight unfolded before my eyes.

In a forest with lush green vegetation, it was the sight of a boy about 10 years old trying to protect the girl behind him.

The boy’s face was hardened from so much tension, and his hands, clenched tightly on a wooden stick, were white.

However, the boy’s eyes were filled with a strong will that would not be broken by anything.

“What, what?”

And if it wasn’t only Bertrand’s misunderstanding, Bessie also started to freeze while making strangely flustered noises.

‘What kind of scene is this?’

Mana is the power derived from the soul.

That’s why mana was still a force in the unknown realm.

Is this phenomenon also a phenomenon created in such an unknown area?

What is that ominous shadow overflowing from Priscilla’s body, previously known as the attribute of water?

I could feel the energy of mana in that shadow.

Does that mean that even that ominous shadow is a type of mana?

Thoughts of this and that were biting his tail, but Bertrand shook his head and shook his mind.

‘… An uninvited guest.’

It was because I could feel countless people outside the cathedral.

‘I will wait, Your Highness.’

Just in time, I was thinking about my powerlessness.

It is only now that you will be able to carry out your duty as a person called the sword of the empire.

It was regrettable that the sight of the dawn of the empire could not be captured, but now was the moment to raise the sword to protect them.

Bertrand nodded slightly to Bessie, who met his eyes, then took out the sword from his waist and headed out of the cathedral.

Then, the knights who found Bertrand began to line up with nervous expressions.

‘… Your Highness, I don’t think I can last long.’

Most of the people guarding the teleport gate were soldiers.

But now, the heroes of the reversal created by the empire’s all-out efforts were slowly approaching in line with their ranks.

And in the middle of the ranks stood the emperor of the empire who did not leave the throne for anything.

“What is this, Sir Bertrand?”

“… I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

“What is happening inside now.”

“….”

Sure.

Bertrand raised his sword without a word.

“Is that your answer?”

“I am the Imperial Sword, commanded by Your Majesty to protect the future of the Empire.”

“You who know that, what are you doing right now!”

“I am protecting the future of the Empire, Your Majesty.”

“Bertrand!!!”

‘Ah, they really look alike.’

The father and son were very similar.

‘… Father, when I stand here, I understand the meaning of what you said.’

Bertrand ran forward, keeping his eyes on the knights rushing towards him like a tidal wave.

─ I am proud of you. But more than that… I envy you so much, Bertrand.

─ What do you mean by that?

─ Unlike me, who will grow old raising horses in a rural area like this, you will be able to live with him until the moment you die as the sword of the empire.

─ Are you referring to His Majesty the Emperor?

─ Maybe you will know when that moment comes. hahahaha… I really envy you.

My father’s eyes were wet with longing.

It was a sight that even Bertrand was familiar with.

Children running around with swords saying that they are playing knight commander.

And the children who are a little younger than that who follow behind them.

It was the eyes of those slightly younger children looking at the children playing the role of knight commander.

Envy for not having it.

Bertrand had thought that his father’s eyes were directed at His Majesty the Emperor.

But now I thought I knew.

‘Sorry, father. I don’t think I’ll be able to share that honor.’

Bertrand swung his sword, remembering his beloved wife, his proud son, and finally the dawn of the empire.

Chaeeng!

The sword that was prepared to break was forged sharper than ever.

He cut down opponents who showed gaps without hesitation, used his once-colleagues as his shields, and sometimes even made dirty tricks to be used as courtesans.

The sword, which lost its dignity and turned into a sharp weapon, cut down everyone who came in front of it.

But even the sharpest sword cannot cut through water.

Bertrand’s whole body began to be slowly hacked to pieces by the swords that were like a tidal wave of knights slowly rushing in.

However, even while being engulfed by such a tidal wave, Bertrand swung his sword, protecting only his vital points from being swept away by the rapids.

The morale of the knights who were about to attack with their swords drawn began to plummet at that gruesome yet brutal sight.

The one who stands in the most honorable position of the sword of the empire is wielding the sword resolutely.

If you can’t feel anything from that scene, that’s probably wrong as a knight of the Empire.

Although the knights knew that it was wrong, they had no choice but to relax their hands holding the swords that were slowly raised.

Desperate struggle, prepared for death, pity and longing of the knights.

The miracle created by the overlapping of many other conditions—

Puffed up.

Finally he fell to his knees.

“Haa… ha…. Cool!”

Now, Bertrand could be decapitated at any time.

But no one could swing the sword at Bertrand.

A sword that has become a mess as if it will break if hit with it is stuck on the floor.

However, it was because the moment I touched it, a bloody scene was vividly drawn, as if the blade of the broken blade was about to be swung at my neck.

The emperor looked at Bertrand with a confused expression and hurriedly ordered the door to the cathedral to be opened.

It was the moment when Bertrand was about to stand up again after hearing those words.

Kikiiik.

The door of the cathedral, which had been firmly closed, began to open.

Bertrand, half-conscious, caught the shadow in front of him.

‘Ah, dawn is coming.’

The sun, which had set in the western sky, was rising behind him again.

After confirming him, Bertrand laughed hard and dropped his sword and fell to the side.

“If you sleep there, your mouth will go back, Sir Bertrand.”

Are those the first words the Empire’s dawn uttered?

Did he go through such hardships just to hear those words?

You really are too kind of a lord.

Bertrand thought so, closed his eyes and ate and laughed.

“Isn’t it too noisy to catch a runaway idiot, Your Majesty?”

“… Ugly guy.”

“I decided to take responsibility for everything. It was named after the royal family. So, if you do not intend to throw me away, please order me to withdraw the sword.”

Clap clap clap clap clap.

Silence came to the square where there was a bloody sound as if a war had broken out with the sound of metal ringing.

“Why did you do this?”

“I thought that Your Majesty would never allow it.”

“Someone who knows that will do this!”

“Your Majesty, I will take a reprimand later. There is no time, so hurry up and go to the imperial castle.”

“This rotten bastard….”

Fast deuk.

Bertrand carefully opened his closed eyes at the brutal sound of teeth grinding even though he was quite far away.

‘… Hmm?’

It was a truly strange sight.

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The divine light, which he could feel even with his eyes closed, brilliantly illuminated the surroundings from behind Maximilian’s back.

That overwhelming halo was nothing short of calling it the dawn of an empire.

But—

“Wow.”

For some reason, Bessie was retching all over the place while wearing the big clothes that piglets were wearing.

Sueuuu

Priscilla, dressed in Bessie’s clothes, was held by Maximilian, and she rubbed her head against Maximilian’s bare breasts in a very leisurely motion to avoid being noticed.

Lastly, Maximilian himself wore a gauze around his waist that looked like it was made of pieces of cloth, and it looked more like a barbarian than an imperial prince.

It was too laughable a sight to be called the dawn of the Empire.

‘It’s a complete mess.’

Bertrand, who caught the sight for the last time, closed his eyes.

‘It’s fortunate though.’

It seemed that she would still be able to observe the scene that her father longed for.

She will be scolded by her wife for doing such a foolish thing, but that scolding will prove that she is alive.

Today is such a long day.

Bertrand thought so and let go of the consciousness that was shaking like a lamp before the wind.