In an instant, the atmosphere turned as tense as thin ice. Zen was the first to speak, feeling Ascan’s suffocating, murderous aura.

“The author’s words are true. Lady Tanashia Brellof is inside the imperial palace, and her condition is abnormal. I confirmed she can’t move on her own or speak a single word.”

As if guessing something, Ascan’s eyes gleamed. He answered gravely, his voice deeply lowered.

“It seems the Emperor has plotted something filthy.”

“Yes. It certainly appears so. To safely rescue the young lady from Kalua Imperial Palace, we need your help.”

Zen had come to Ascan first, driven by desperation.

It was true that contact with Orland had been severed, making support difficult—but even if they could reach him, it wouldn’t matter now.

Time was running out. They said Helsion and Tanashia would consummate their marriage tonight—there was little time left.

Even for the Brellof family, exerting influence within the foreign Kalua Empire had its limits. The Imperial Guard’s assistance was desperately needed.

Ascan, seeing through Zen’s inner thoughts, replied softly.

“Hey, bodyguard. You don’t need to beg me. Even if you hadn’t spoken, I’d have stepped in anyway.”

Hearing this, Bill and Carlton’s eyes widened in shock.

Ascan rescuing Tanashia meant defying Helsion’s will. There could be no Imperial Guard acting against the Emperor’s wishes.

“Brother, that’s impossible. If we rescue Lady Brellof, all the Emperor’s hard-earned trust in us will collapse.”

“So?”

“Can’t… can’t we just abandon Lady Brellof?”

Ascan stared at Bill with dark, sunken eyes, then turned his head away—as if Bill’s question wasn’t even worth answering.

“Carlton.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Immediately gather the personnel to rescue Tanashia. Those who follow me today will no longer be able to live within Kalua Empire as Imperial Guards. Assemble only those who are prepared.”

At first, Carlton looked startled—but then he pounded his chest with his thick, pot-lid-like hand and answered confidently.

“I’ll be the first to follow you. Didn’t I say before? If there’s anything I can do to help you and Lady Brellof, just tell me.”

Previously, Carlton had handed Ascan a book titled [Eleven Ways to Win a Woman’s Heart], encouraging him and Tanashia.

─I’ve never seen you like this before—it’s wonderful. If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know. I wanted you to know many Imperial Guards are rooting for you.

Carlton’s deep loyalty was palpable. Stepping forward in such a moment was no easy choice.

Ascan had resolved to leave the Imperial Guard to save Tanashia—and not only that, he would have to flee Kalua Empire entirely.

As long as they remained here, they couldn’t escape Helsion’s influence. For now, fleeing to another empire was the safest path.

The same applied to the Imperial Guards who followed Ascan.

Ascan spoke.

“I’ll overlook your past mistake because of those words.”

“What?”

Carlton responded, confused.

Then, a memory flashed through Carlton’s mind.

─Like me more.

─…What?

─A lot. I wish you’d fall for the me standing here now.

Ascan had been speaking those serious words to Tanashia—and Carlton had burst out laughing, cluelessly.

─Pfft!

Carlton’s face turned pale. Surely Ascan hadn’t been holding onto that all this time?

No wonder lately Ascan had been assigning him all the dirty work.

As Carlton gaped, speechless, Ascan fixed him with a sharp gaze.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and gather the others, then report back.”

“Ah, understood.”

Carlton bowed respectfully and turned to leave the room hurriedly—

But Bill, who had silently watched until now, couldn’t take it anymore and cut in.

“Carlton, stop right there!”

At the command of Bill, Deputy Captain of the Imperial Guard, Carlton urgently halted.

Ascan frowned, his voice sinking even deeper.

“Go.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Carlton immediately resumed walking.

“Carlton, are you disobeying my order now?”

Bill grabbed Carlton again—but this time, he didn’t stop.

Bill’s face flushed with rage, teeth clenched—but Ascan ignored him and turned to Zen.

“Immediately relocate the Brellof family members to the border. Once I extract Tanashia from the palace, we must leave Kalua Empire at once.”

“Understood. If you have any other orders, please tell me. I will obey your commands.”

For now, following Ascan’s orders was the best course. Without his help, rescuing Tanashia—or even escaping Kalua Empire—was impossible.

But that wasn’t the only reason. Zen had erased his previous distrust of Ascan and now genuinely believed in him.

The sacrifices Ascan was willing to make to save Tanashia were immense.

As Captain of the Imperial Guard and Count Atreias, defying Helsion meant abandoning all the power and influence he’d gained.

Ascan looked at Zen with a surprised expression.

He, too, had disliked Zen—but when Tanashia was in danger, they naturally found themselves uniting their strength.

After briefly organizing his thoughts, Ascan spoke softly.

“You said earlier you saw Tanashia unable to move or speak alone. Did you confirm which palace she’s staying in?”

“Yes. I can guide you there.”

“Good. After relocating the Brellof family, you come with me. We’ll head to the palace together.”

“Understood.”

“And while you’re going down, tell the steward I’ve decided to abandon this mansion.”

Ascan had been preparing for the end of the world. He’d always kept contingency plans ready to escape at a moment’s notice.

But Zen, unaware of this, asked in surprise.

“Is that all I should tell the steward?”

“Yes. He’ll handle the rest.”

“Understood. I’ll relay that.”

Like Carlton, Zen quickly left the room—there was no time to hesitate with tasks at hand.

Thus, only Ascan and Bill remained in the room.

Bill looked at Ascan with a betrayed expression.

“Brother, are you really going to do this? Didn’t you just tell me not long ago that you’d never forget avenging the lab children? Was that a lie?”

Ascan met Bill’s gaze with abyss-like eyes. Though his sincerity kept failing to transmit, honesty was his only option.

“Bill, I’ve never once considered giving up revenge. I won’t in the future, either.”

“Then why! Why are you insisting on rescuing Lady Brellof?”

“I regret having watched helplessly as the lab children died one by one, pretending I knew nothing. But now you expect me to stand by while the Emperor steals my woman too?”

“That’s… a bit different.”

“How is it different? I built my strength because I refuse to let anyone take what’s mine. Revenge is the same—I want those who exploited and destroyed my comrades to pay the price.”

Bill shook his head. He simply couldn’t empathize with Ascan’s words.

“How—how can Lady Brellof and the lab children be the same? She’s an outsider. We’re one!”

“Bill, Tanashia is more precious to me than my own life.”

The genuine emotion in Ascan’s voice was palpable. But Bill couldn’t accept it. No—he couldn’t allow it.

“So you’re saying… you’d abandon me and the lab children… for just one woman?”

Ascan sighed softly. Then he looked squarely at Bill and spoke again.

“Bill.”

With a firm voice, he gripped Bill’s shoulder tightly.

“Everything I’ve said is true. I will never abandon you or the lab children. I was already planning to step down as Captain and observe other empires—after rescuing Tanashia, I’ll start by investigating Arwen Empire.”

“It might become difficult to return to Kalua Empire because of Lady Brellof. What will you do about your vacant position…?”

“You’re here. You can fill it perfectly. Our plan won’t suffer any setbacks.”

“I don’t want to take that kind of risk.”

Ascan gave a bitter smile. He felt the gap between his and Bill’s thinking was unbridgeable.

Bill was right—rescuing Tanashia carried undeniable risk. But it wasn’t a choice that would ruin their entire plan.

Even though they could easily pivot in another direction, Bill refused to accept even that.

Ascan patted Bill’s shoulder one last time, then slowly let go.

“If I leave today, we won’t see each other for a while. Stay healthy.”

“Brother, please… don’t go.”

Bill’s expression looked as if he might collapse—but this was something Ascan couldn’t compromise on.

Helsion had publicly declared he would consummate his marriage with Tanashia tonight. There was no more time to argue with Bill.

Having made his decision, Ascan turned his back to Bill. As he walked steadily out of the room, he murmured in a low voice.

“Believe in me and wait. I’ll rescue Tanashia—and make our revenge succeed.”

“Brother, brother…!”

No matter how desperately Bill called, Ascan didn’t look back.

From that resolute silhouette, Bill realized he could no longer hold Ascan back.

Twisting his eyes in anguish, Bill let a single tear escape the corner of his eye.

“You’re… a liar.”

Bill could no longer believe in Ascan.

Someone more precious to Ascan than Bill—or even the lab children—had appeared.

Bill swiftly wiped his tear with his sleeve. When he lifted his head again, his gaze was different from before.

His ashen eyes now brimmed with venom cold enough to freeze one’s soul.

“From now on… I’ll carry out revenge alone.”

It was the moment when the plot of , like misaligned gears, began twisting—and finally snapped completely.

Carlton gathered the Imperial Guards who would follow Ascan tonight, while Zen first sent the Brellof family members in the mansion to the border.

Upon hearing Ascan’s order to abandon the mansion, Bishop generously compensated all staff and dismissed them—then gathered critical documents and assets.

With all preparations complete, Ascan headed toward the imperial palace. Behind him, riding swiftly on horseback, followed Carlton, Zen, and over ten Imperial Guards.

The palace gate guards blocked Ascan and the Imperial Guard, following protocol.

“Halt.”

Ascan dismounted. This was as far as horses could go.

Recognizing his face, the guard bowed respectfully.

“Captain of the Imperial Guard. What brings you here at this hour…?”

“Step aside. I’m here to see His Majesty.”

Even for the Captain, demanding an audience with the Emperor so abruptly was impossible—but the guard didn’t dare press further.

In Kalua Empire, Ascan was the feared Captain who could make even flying birds fall.

No mere guard could possibly dare block him.

Thud. Thud—

Ascan passed the guard and entered the palace smoothly. Zen and Carlton flanked him, forming an orderly procession.

Everyone who crossed paths with Ascan held their breath and stepped aside—their aura radiated overwhelming intimidation, as if marching to war—but no one dared obstruct them.

Ascan turned to Zen.

“Where is the palace where Tanashia is?”

“Follow me.”

Zen stepped forward immediately to lead the way.

He had previously infiltrated the palace secretly using his darkness attribute ability to pinpoint Tanashia’s location.

Normally, someone of Zen’s non-noble status couldn’t freely roam here—but with Ascan beside him, no one dared question his position.

Ascan frowned at the wedding decorations visible throughout the palace.

White flowers and carpets—he had visited the palace often enough to instantly recognize what the newly changed atmosphere signified.

It was to commemorate Helsion and Tanashia’s wedding night tonight.

Crack—Ascan clenched his fist without realizing it.

Guided by Zen, they arrived at the palace where Tanashia had been.

Ascan immediately grabbed the nearest palace maid.

“Where is Lady Brellof?”

“She was moved to His Majesty the Emperor’s bedroom already.”

Though barely any time had passed since sunset, hearing she’d already been taken to Helsion’s bedroom made sparks fly from Ascan’s eyes.

The maid, unable to endure his murderous aura, trembled violently and collapsed to the floor.

“C-Captain…?”

Anyone could feel the rage radiating from Ascan’s entire body.

At that moment—

Seven flames rose around them. In the blink of an eye, the flames scattered in all directions, engulfing the palace where Tanashia had stayed in fire.

Whoosh—

Towering flames surged upward.

All the wedding decorations seen along the way were swallowed by the blaze.

“Kyaaaaa!”

“Fire!”

People witnessing the unexpected inferno screamed—but Ascan’s flames would never extinguish, no matter how much water was poured.

The greater problem was that his rage burned even more fiercely than those inextinguishable flames.