Chapter 44

Translated by Watermelon and Doldrums.



The Flight of the Raven :



At the sight of Llewellyn falling, people began to scream, and Pamela, as one would expect, tried her best to appear startled as well. However, after a while, her feigned surprise started to turn into an actual shock. Indeed, according to the original plan, all the feathers on Llewellyn’s dress should have come off during the fall, leaving her in a disgraceful state.

But what was the meaning of this? What Pamela had wanted was to bring Llewellyn down and turn her into a farce, just like in the old myth where Icarus, who had forgotten his place and came to covet the skies, fell in disgrace. However, at that moment, while waving her beautiful golden feathers, Llewellyn looked more like a forlorn raven than an object of ridicule.


Not just Pamela, but every person who was attending was sharing similar thoughts while looking at this falling woman, with her glinting feathers and her floating gown.

But soon enough, upon watching Llewellyn’s unending fall, they started to wonder how this could be. Indeed, her body should have long crashed onto the floor.

Yet, Llewellyn still seemed to be in the midst of falling, and oddly enough, her speed had noticeably slowed down. Llewellyn, who had dived headlong into the precipice, had managed to turn around and was now standing upright, giving the impression that she was floating in the air.

Her feathers swelled up, as if the wind was blowing from below, and she came down very slowly, as softly as the feathers she was wearing. She looked like a bird gracefully landing on the ground.

Llewellyn braced herself, waiting for the pain to hit.

‘Why am I still breathing?’

She had been certain that the fall would kill her, or at the very least leave her with a severe injury. But her body was perfectly fine. Llewellyn looked around with her eyes full of confusion, and caught sight of the nobles’ faces, their bewildered expressions mirroring her own.

Then came the cheers. Llewellyn looked down from the tower with a blank expression.

The people were celebrating what had seemed to them like an elegant landing. Llewellyn hesitated, not really knowing what to do, then started walking toward the tower’s banister. There, she held up the crystalline fruit for the crowd to see, the magic it had been infused with giving it a light glow. At the sight of it, the cheers grew louder.

Llewellyn's heart was pounding.

“This is it”, she thought.

In the past, being acclaimed like this used to make her heart flutter.

Infinite worship, endless love.

When she was a child, Llewellyn used to think that one day she’d rule over these people. But now...

Llewellyn quickly came back to her senses. Right. Now she was the Queen of no one, she thought before glancing behind her shoulder.

“Princess!”

Tristan was running towards her. Llewellyn’s face hardened, although her glare wasn’t directed at Tristan.

“Are you fine, Your Highness? Were you hurt anywhere?”

But Llewellyn was looking at Pamela with an impassive expression. The woman’s murderous thoughts were blatantly displayed on her face, causing Llewellyn's heart to skip a beat.

“No, I didn’t get injured. I’m alright.”, replied Llewellyn with a trembling voice.

Bastian, as if his mind had finally processed what had just happened, came rushing to her.

“Llewellyn! Are you okay?”

“Yes, brother.”

This was the worst situation Pamela could have hoped for. Whether they realized it or not, the two worried men drew closer to Llewellyn.

"Thank god you’re okay."

Tristan was almost at Llewellyn’s level when Bastian brushed past him and went up to his sister. It was for the best, thought Llewellyn with a faint smile.

“What on earth caused you to fall like this?”

Llewellyn composed herself.

“I got startled by a beast that had disguised itself as a branch.”

“A beast?”

People began to murmur at Llewellyn's words.

“Llewellyn, couldn’t you be mistaken?” asked Pamela after a while.

“Mistaken?”

Llewellyn frowned. She was convinced that this attack had been Pamela’s doing. And of course, Pamela seemed intent on making Llewellyn look completely delusional. Llewellyn bit her tongue. She should have gathered evidence before saying anything. But the attack had been so sudden that she hadn’t had the time to do so.

“Also tell me, what was that strange ability of yours? Why did you fall in such a manner?”

“...…Pardon?”

“Well I know how dramatic you can be at times. You must have taken your role as the Golden Raven too seriously.”

Llewellyn's expression hardened at Pamela's comment. Even though she had no clue what kind of power could have hindered her plan, Pamela still seemed to wish to pass the prowess as sheer luck.

“If I may, the Princess wasn’t acting.”

Everyone turned their heads to face the person who had spoken these words. The voice was soft and gentle, the kind of voice that could soothe people’s worries and put their hearts at ease. Wait, put their hearts at ease? Llewellyn was surprised to realize that she had indeed calmed down when she saw Ernell walking towards her.

“It is said that the breath of God descended upon this very place, so it wouldn't be strange for God to manifest himself on a whim.”

“…Your Holiness.”

Despite Pamela's sizzling wrath, Ernell continued to speak with nonchalance.

"Please, forgive me, Your Majesty. As a priest, I so dearly wished to know what Brygent’s Golden Raven entailed, that my curiosity got the best of me and I ended up attending the ceremony inconspicuously.”

“How did he manage…?”

Llewellyn heard Pamela mutter under her breath. There were knights guarding the entrance of the tower, how could he have succeeded in sneaking into the hall? Ernell grinned and reached out to Llewellyn, placing his hand on the back of her neck.

“I can clearly feel God’s divine touch.”

Ernell pressed the exact spot Asmodeus' brand had been cast on, making Llewellyn suddenly realize something. She had been so worked up that she hadn't really felt it until now, but Asmodeus' stigma had awoken, again.

‘W-wait. This…’

What Ernell was implying was rather evident: Asmodeus’ stigma had saved her. Then a forbidding voice was heard from a distance.

“What the Princess said was not a lie.”

Those words caught everyone’s attention. Almondite, who had come down from the altar, was walking briskly towards them. People gasped and covered their noses at the stench that was following him; in his hand, Almondite was holding the corpse of the snake-like creature.


The whole place had been restricted by a weapon ban, could it be that he had subdued the beast with his bare hands? Considering the speed at which the snake had attacked her, catching it was nothing short of a feat...

“This is undeniably a case of attempted murder aimed at the Princess.” said Almondite with a somber look on his face. Although, only a fool would have tried to assess the extent of his wrath, everyone could feel how angry he was.

“This cannot just be ignored. Don’t you agree, Your Majesty?" Almondite asked, much to Bastian's embarrassment, as if prompting his answer.

“In-indeed.”

Llewellyn could guess why Bastian was so restless. In general, he wouldn’t dig too deep into whatever was usually happening to Llewellyn. That was because there wasn’t an ounce of doubt about who the culprit was. It was of course Queen Pamela. Bastian's mother.

Llewellyn had never once minded Bastian's indifference. Rather, she appreciated his poor effort at pretending to muzzle his mother’s actions. She hadn’t had wanted his help back then, but it wasn’t the case right now, so she kept silent.
.

A dark glint appeared in Bastian's dull eyes. He seemed hesitant.

“I’ll uphold Your Majesty’s decision”

Tristan, who had strayed discreet until now, came out of the shadows and bowed his head to the King.

“As the leader of the Red Knights in charge of escorting the Princess, I feel responsible for what happened.”

What could Tristan feel responsible for in this situation? The accident had happened where her escort was out of reach. Llewellyn tried to dissuade Tristan.

“Wait…”

“It is a felony to try to assassinate Your Majesty's sister. I will definitely uncover the truth behind all of this.

Before Llewellyn could answer, Bastian nodded.

“Sir Tristan Jayad.”

"Your Majesty."

“I’ll leave the investigation to you.”

Light gradually returned to Bastian’s eyes. Clenching his fists, he said,

“Trying to harm my sister during this sacred ceremony is a blasphemy against Brygent's ancestors. Get to the bottom of this.”

“Your wish is my command, Your Majesty.”

Llewellyn wavered. No, why did Tristan have to investigate this matter?! The culprit was so evident! Did he really wish to bring the queen’s wrath upon him? Llewellyn seriously began to wonder whether Tristan truly despised Pamela.

Now Bastian was looking directly at his mother, speaking to her at last,

“You agree with this decision too, right, Mother?”

“O-of course.”

Then turning to Almondite, “Duke Biserk, I hope you’ll welcome this decision as a token of my sincerity and that this will appease your anger.”

“My anger is not what matters here.”

“...…”

“What’s important, however, is that Princess Llewellyn almost lost her life.”

Almondite was glaring at Pamela.

*

“Are you really okay?”

After getting into the carriage, Almondite was no longer showing the respect he had ostensibly displayed until now. Llewellyn kept a blank expression on her face.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“As you can see, my appearance is all neat and tidy.”

Llewellyn bit her lip and stifled a sob as she struggled to suppress the vivid emotion that was about to burst. She avoided Almondite's gaze.

“Llewellyn, why are you so angry?”

“...…”

“I know it’s your habit to keep your mouth shut whenever you’re angry, but it’s really driving me crazy.”

But Llewellyn still remained silent.

“I can’t seem to know you anymore. What was this power you exerted back there? What is it that makes High Priest Ernell seem so fond of you… No, actually, this much I can figure out on my own.” he said, clenching his jaw.

Almondite ran his hand through his hair then let out a sigh. Llewellyn couldn't erase the desperate look on Almondite's face from her mind. Even with her eyes closed, she could vividly remember it. Why had he looked like he had just lost everything?

Besides…

“...Almon.”

“Yes, tell me.”

Almondite's reply was too quick, betraying his impatience, but he paid no mind to it. As a proper gentleman, he always displayed easy manners and a mellow air about him, befitting his noble rank. It was a kind of dignity that only Almondite Biserk seemed to possess. But he just didn’t have the luxury to be proper when it came to Llewellyn.

“I have no intention of forgiving you.”

Almondite's face sank at Llewellyn's words.

“So why are you trying so hard?”

“......”

“You’ve seen the way I’ve been treating you, just give up already.”

Llewellyn, who had been facing the window, turned her body forward. Only the rattling sound of the carriage’s wheels could be heard.

Llewellyn, unable to stand the silence, turned her gaze and stared at Almondite, finally facing him after trying so hard to avoid him. Only then was Almondite able to take a proper look at Llewellyn’s face. Even when they had been intimate, she had hardly let him lay his eyes on her.

The sharp scowl had vanished from her face. Instead, raw devastation was shining through her eyes.

She said, "Our situation is quite clear to me. It’s because you have trouble coming to terms with it that we keep having this kind of discussion."

“......”

“I am just trying to keep my promise to you.”

“And pray tell, what promise is it?”

Almondite only laughed at Llewellyn's question, the look on his handsome face daring her to remember. Llewellyn sprang up in anger.

“Why are you doing this now? Why after all this time?!”

“Because I have committed a crime that cannot be repaid to you, even in death.”

“That doesn’t explain your behavior form earlier”

He then raised his arm to Llewellyn’s eyes.

“Should I have just let you get hurt?! Did you expect me to just stand by and do nothing?”

The arm that Almondite had used to grab the beast had become necrotic. Black blood was pouring out from the part the creature seemed to have gnawed at. As time passed, the wound that initially looked like a mole had gotten bigger and bigger.

“Were you worried about me?”

At Almondite's words, Llewellyn yelled.


"Of course I’m upset! I feel terrible!”

She was finally letting her pent up feelings run wild. Almondite looked down at his darkening arm.

“It’s not a big wound. Besides, I’ve just received the Divide Benediction, so I’ll be fine in a few days.”

“Are you even listening to me? This situation angers me so much that I could kill you!”

The corners of Almondite’s mouth rose at the rage that was erupting from Llewellyn's mouth. He reached out to her with his uninjured hand and pulled her closer, landing her in front of him. Llewellyn screamed and tried to get up, but Almondite’s hand wrapped around her waist prevented her from doing so.

Almondite buried his face into Llewellyn's shoulder.

“Llewellyn.”

With his forehead still pressed against her shoulder, he raised his head towards her face. A warm breath wafted to the back of her neck. That alone stimulated her stigma.

“Even now, I’m still a helpless fool in front of that damn tender heart of yours, I don’t know what to do.”

He pressed lips on Llewellyn's nape, sending a shiver through her body. It was weird. Every time Almon touched her skin in this way, her body heated up.

“Aah…”

At the moan that came out of Llewellyn’s lips, Almondite whispered,

“Even more so when you make this kind of sound.”

This was not normal. She let out a scream as the stigma that should have still been dormant for a while, suddenly flared up. Now, Almondite was hugging her. Then Llewellyn's mind became blank and she blurted out the first thing that went through her head.

"Do you like me?"

“Why do you ask when you already know the answer?” calmly replied Almondite.

But Llewellyn didn’t really process his words. All she could think of was her burning desire to hold this man, and making conversation was just a process that led to it.

“Will you embrace me?”

As she spoke affably, Llewellyn buried herself into Almondite's arms. There was a sweet scent coming from Llewellyn. Almondite's eyes darkened.


“Of course, If that’s what you want.”

At that moment, Almondite's cold voice reached Llewellyn.

“If you reveal who you really are.”



******

TL/N : The title is another play on words, since 비상 means "flight" but also "to be in dire straits"

Chapter end