“So, you’re going back, aren’t you?”

The Adventurers’ Guild branch in the capital. The adventurers’ gazes were a mixture of surprise and apprehension as they looked at the unexpected arrival of the First Princess’s party. There was still no sign of Louis, who was supposed to meet them here. Suppressing an ominous feeling deep in his heart, Maxim looked at Marion, who had approached him.

“Yes, I have to go back. Not only has His Highness the First Prince not yet arrived, but there are still too many people left in the palace.”

Marion gripped the lapel of Maxim’s coat. He gently stroked the mask that covered her face, and as if trying to dispel her own anxiety, Marion placed her hand over his.

“…Be careful, Maxim. The palace is dangerous right now, no matter how skilled you are.” “I know, Marion. I’ll be careful.”

Maxim glanced up at the second floor, where the First Princess was speaking with the Guild Master.

“Please look after Her Highness, Marion.”

Marion nodded. With that, Maxim stepped out once more into the chaos of the capital. His sword, White Fang, seemed to echo his own tension, humming quietly. As he retraced his steps, he soon spotted armed men—likely soldiers released by Leon Bening. Maxim had no intention of evading them.

“There! An intruder!”

One of the soldiers shouted upon spotting him, but it was already too late. White Fang had already swept through the surrounding soldiers, now heading for the one who had cried out. Maxim clicked his tongue, glancing at the fallen soldiers. The presence of Bening’s forces even near the side paths meant they had already half-occupied the palace.

“Damn.”

Maxim cursed under his breath as he looked toward the palace. The entire palace, not just the First Princess’s quarters, was engulfed in flames. Grinding his teeth, Maxim headed for the palace, realizing that Louis was likely still trapped inside.

“Stop him!”

The moment he entered the palace, Maxim found himself surrounded by knights. They were all skilled enough to manifest aura, their eyes brimming with murderous intent as they watched his sword.

There was no time to waste here.

Maxim gripped his sword tightly and took a deep breath. The wind stirred around his feet as he dropped his stance, watching the knights. Even amidst the constant booming sounds echoing throughout the castle, Maxim held onto White Wolf, closing his eyes. He intended to bring them down in one sweep.

Just as Maxim began to draw up his mana—

“So this is where you were.”

The low voice that called out was all too familiar. Maxim turned toward the voice, letting out a faint laugh as he recognized it.

“You are a child of the Bening family, Theodora.”

Her father often said those words. They defined Theodora’s childhood. Those were bitter years. After losing her mother, she lived with neither affection nor care, pouring her life solely into the sword. As Leon Bening had intended, Theodora grew into the perfect knight, following his every plan and instruction. She never considered those years to be cherished memories.

“Listen to your father’s words, Theodora.”

A puppet? Brainwashed? From the start, Leon Bening hadn’t even needed to place any spells or curses on her; she had been raised as his puppet from the very beginning.

“…I won’t go back.”

Theodora’s first act of defiance against Leon Bening held significant weight. The shackles that had kept her bound had been unlocked by the key Maxim had given her. Moving forward, she loosened her chains, breaking free little by little, even through reunions and separations. The wolf, finally freed from its bonds, bared its fangs at the chains that tried to restrain it once more.

“I’m done following your orders.”

It was a message for her father, even though he wasn’t there, and it was also a message for herself. Bernardo Lennon looked at her with an expression that seemed genuinely regretful.

“You still can’t beat me, young lady. Just as you couldn’t when you were a child.” “That’s what people who end up losing to me always say.”

Black Wolf roared wildly. It wasn’t only her sword that let out a fierce cry. The air around Theodora responded to her mana, swirling violently as if it would tear the world apart.

“You’re making a regrettable choice.” “Regret…”

A mist of platinum gathered around Black Wolf, like wings unfurling. The aura enveloped both her sword and herself, swirling in a storm of mana as Theodora’s storm-colored eyes opened.

“I’ve done more than enough of that for a lifetime.”

Bernardo’s mana surged sharply in response. His aura intensified, as if trying to counteract the phenomenon Theodora had created. The aura on his blade tore apart everything around it. A crimson aura blade grew in power, matching Theodora’s platinum aura with fierce intensity.

“Well then, it’s not a bad time to test how strong you’ve become.”

Any other knight would have lost their resolve by now, but Bernardo leisurely observed Theodora’s sword. Responding to his provocation, Theodora gripped her sword and lunged forward.

Light exploded. If stars clashed in the heavens, it would look like this. The night palace turned as bright as day for a fleeting moment. There was no sound. Every person watching was etched with a clear memory of that destructive impact, like a picture imprinted in their minds.

“You’ve grown considerably.”

Bernardo’s voice didn’t sound particularly moved, nor did it seem like he was complimenting her. Looking around at the area now reduced to ruins, Theodora squinted. She had fought with all her strength from the start, but it seemed Bernardo had fended her off without much effort.

“I didn’t expect you’d be able to disrupt my aura.”

As he said this, Bernardo raised his sword, his crimson aura now distorted and flickering.

“But it still doesn’t seem to be enough to defeat me.”

With a flick of his wrist, Bernardo shook off the distorted aura, and it reformed, humming lowly. Theodora clicked her tongue and raised her sword again. No more words were needed. She shot forward, and crimson and platinum flames clashed violently, each trying to consume the other in an explosive display. It looked like an even match, but Theodora knew she couldn’t keep up this stalemate for long.

I still can’t win.

She had no intention of being reckless. If she lost to Bernardo here, her resolve and the reconciliation with Maxim would be for nothing. Despite pressing her attack with all her might, Theodora pondered a way to escape the situation.

Should I just strike and retreat? Or hold out and hope the Raven Knights arrive in time?

Countless options crowded her mind, and her sword strikes began to show a faint hint of hesitation.

“I thought I told you not to get distracted.”

Boom!

Bernardo exploited the slight irregularity in her movements, lunging his sword into the gap. The impact resonated through Black Wolf, throwing Theodora back, skidding across the ground. Bernardo’s assault had only just begun. She watched in alarm as he closed the distance in an instant, forcing her to unleash a burst of aura.

“Urgh—!”

She barely managed to deflect the attack, but Bernardo’s strike carried significant weight. On the other hand, Bernardo raised an eyebrow, surprised that her aura remained steady despite his assault. The quality of Theodora’s aura was truly of the highest caliber.

Bernardo’s strikes intensified. Theodora recalled the final match against Maxim at the martial tournament. How she had defended, the paths Maxim’s sword had taken. Drawing upon these memories, she adapted her technique.

“An impressive sword.”

Bernardo remarked as Theodora’s sword met his every strike. She had no room to respond. Even as she deflected his blade, Bernardo’s strikes grew more precise, relentlessly piling on small wounds that wore her down like layers of dust. Yet, the wings of aura surrounding Theodora remained unbroken. She focused on enduring, absorbing the attacks, and waiting to reclaim her rhythm.

“It’s useless.”

If finesse didn’t work, brute force would. Bernardo’s aura roared violently, his powerful blade carving fresh scars into the ruins. He slammed his sword down upon Black Wolf, finally disrupting Theodora’s aura, sending her sprawling backward.

“…You’ve squandered your chance to yield peacefully.”

As she rose, gripping Black Wolf, Theodora’s eyes still burned with resolve. Her platinum wings remained unbroken. Bernardo narrowed his gaze, watching her aura.

“This is the path you’ve chosen.”

His sword shot forward. Anticipating a strong recoil if she blocked directly, Theodora angled her blade to deflect the strike. Yet, Bernardo’s power pierced even that defense.

Boom!

The impact sent Theodora crashing onto the rubble of a collapsed building. She tried to regrip Black Wolf, but Bernardo’s foot pressed down on it, his expression eerily impassive as his crimson aura surrounded him.

“Well then, my lady. Let’s be on our way.”

Bernardo’s eyes widened as he felt resistance beneath his foot. Black Wolf pulsed with amplified aura, growling fiercely in defiance.

“It’s not over yet.”

Theodora’s gaze met Bernardo’s. He sighed, raising his sword.

“I hope you’ll forgive me for a few injuries.”

Theodora stared at the tip of Bernardo’s blade aimed at her. Slowly, he lifted his sword, and she resolved not to close her eyes, meeting the blade head-on.

“A few injuries, you say?”

Boom!

The weight pressing down on Black Wolf disappeared. The voice she heard was unmistakably familiar.

“Maxim…?”

Attempting to call his name, Theodora stopped mid-motion as she saw two figures standing in front of her. The familiar brown-haired man turned to her with a troubled smile.

“Hello, Theodora. Quite a coincidence.”

The man beside Maxim glanced briefly at Theodora before turning back to Maxim. It didn’t take her long to recognize him. Hugo Bern, known as the kingdom’s strongest knight, was now facing Bernardo with a piercing gaze.

“I didn’t know the Count had such a knight.”

Hugo muttered thoughtfully before tapping Maxim’s shoulder.

“Take the captain of the Raven Knights and get back to His Highness the First Prince. The knight before you is beyond your level.”

Before Hugo had finished speaking, Maxim extended his hand toward Theodora, who stared at it in mild astonishment. He playfully wiggled his fingers, making her chuckle as she took his hand and stood. She leaned against him.

“…You fought well.”

Like a child who had kept a promise, Theodora smiled. Maxim smiled bitterly at her innocent expression.

“You did great, Theodora.” “I was holding onto my resolve.”

Her resolve to never yield to the Count again. Maxim understood that she had been fighting to uphold the promise she had made to him amidst the flames.

“Thank you for keeping that promise.”

Maxim patted her head and glanced around. Here and there, Raven Knights fought valiantly against Leon Bening’s forces, but they were overwhelmingly outnumbered. More soldiers piled onto the struggling knights. If they stayed like this, they would lose many of their comrades.

“Gather your knights and retreat for now, Theodora. Fighting the Count’s forces unprepared will only lead to total annihilation.”

Theodora nodded heavily.

“Maxim, what about you?”

Maxim turned his gaze toward the direction of the First Prince’s quarters, his expression dark. There was still no sign of Louis, and that weighed on him.

“…I have to find His Highness the First Prince and ensure the King’s safety.”

Maxim looked uneasily at Hugo. Seeing how he had handled Theodora, Maxim knew that Bernardo wasn’t just an ordinary knight.

Then again, Sir Hugo is more than capable of handling it, he thought.

Neither Theodora nor Maxim warned each other to be careful. Their mutual trust in each other’s strength was absolute. They exchanged a final nod, then dashed off in separate directions.

Through the flames, smoke, and ash, the palace wavered in the distance. Maxim could only hope he wouldn’t be too late.