He had tried to sense Ramos’s strength before, and at best, he had judged him to be a top-ranked SSS level. But there was sothing he could not put his finger on. Perhaps his senses were still too limited to truly understand.
"Then does the Emperor not see you as a threat?" Kael asked bluntly.
Ramos shook his head. "The Empire has its guardians. My presence changes nothing. I alone cannot scratch a wound on the Heinzen Empire even if I tried."
Kael scoffed under his breath. "And here I thought you were a great force, soone who could make the Royals tremble. What a disappointnt."
Ramos’s eyes snapped open, and he slamd his hand against the armrest. The sound cracked sharply through the room.
"Are you underestimating ?" Ramos shouted, his voice thunderous. His eyes glared at Kael with heat. "I am stronger than them, but that is an entire force, an empire, and I am one man. Did you think of as a god?"
His words echoed. For a mont his anger filled the space, but then Ramos let out a long exhale and cald himself. He leaned back, muttering curses under his breath, before his gaze grew steady again.
Kael was about to ask more but Ramos veered it off.
"The Emperor will use tomorrow’s annulnt fight as the start," he said slowly. His tone was calr now, but his eyes were serious. "Are you ready?"
’Sigh..It seems,he is still uncomfortable telling about the past.’
Kael’s expression grew grim. "I hope so," he answered. "I have Ariana and Vic with . If things turn worse, I can ask Seraphina for help."
"Hmm." Ramos rubbed his chin, thinking deeply. "The girl may be strong, but I do not believe she will risk deploying other S-ranks for you. And the Duke will not help you either. If he does, you will be in serious trouble."
Kael froze for a mont. His mind raced. He rembered the rule clearly. Only the one involved in the fight and the followers who had journeyed beside him were allowed to take part. Knights trained by estates or people called in afterward could not join.
The realization sank in, heavy and sharp. If Ramos was right, then he wondered whom she would send
"That is going to be a problem," Kael muttered, clenching his jaw. His eyes darkened as he lowered his head in thought. "I need to co up with a plan."
The room fell quiet again, only the sound of Elfie’s faint breathing as she clung to his sleeve. Kael’s hand moved to her hair again, steadying himself as much as her.
....
Emilia tossed and turned in her sleep. Her breaths grew uneven, her face pale as if trapped in so nightmare. Her fingers curled into the sheets, and a thin layer of sweat began to gather on her forehead.
Jess, who had been sitting nearby, noticed her mistress’s strange state. She rushed closer and called out softly, "My lady... what’s going on?"
Emilia’s eyes opened suddenly, wide and dazed. For a mont she looked as though she had forgotten where she was. Then her expression shifted sharply, turning into one of disgust. She pressed her hand against her chest, trying to calm herself, but her voice cracked when she spoke.
"I... I rembered them. Kael... Adele... and Ruth." Her lips trembled, her eyes flashing with hatred. "I hate them. I hate them so much."
Jess froze at the bitterness in her lady’s voice. Emilia’s gaze was unfocused, her words spilling out like venom, yet there was also confusion behind her anger.
"Huh... what’s happening to ?" Emilia whispered to herself, her brows knitting. "It was fine before... then why am I hating them like this now?"
"I found it disgusting.."
Her hands shook as she clutched her chest tighter. "dicine. Jess... bring my dicine."
Hearing the trembling urgency in her lady’s voice, Jess quickly nodded. "Yes, my lady."
She turned away, walking out briskly. A mont later, she returned and pulled out a small leather pouch from the ring on her finger.
Carefully, she took out a vial of potion and poured the liquid into a glass. Just as she was about to raise it to Emilia’s lips, a hand suddenly grabbed hers.
The glass wobbled, but before it could spill, a cold voice stopped her in her tracks.
"What dicine is this?"
Jess’s heart jumped into her throat. Startled, she slowly turned her head, only to see Ruth standing there, his sharp gaze locked on her. He looked calm, but his eyes carried a dangerous edge that made her stomach twist.
"This... this is dicine for calming the nerves," Jess stamred. Her hands trembled slightly, yet she tried to keep her voice steady.
Ruth’s eyes narrowed. He paused for a mont, studying her. Then his grip tightened suddenly around her wrist. Jess winced in pain, her face paling.
"Your Grace... what are you doing?" Jess asked in a frightened voice.
At that mont, Emilia’s voice rang out from the bed. Her tone was sharp and angry.
"Why are you hurting my maid?" Emilia shouted, her eyes blazing with hatred as she glared at Ruth.
Her face twisted with emotion as she tried to sit up. Her whole body shook, but her voice grew louder. "Let her go, you heartless man! Why do you always hurt ?"
"Bastard ... .What are you aiming for now."
Her words struck Ruth like a blow. Just hours ago, she had spoken normally to him as both of them enjoyed their sweet monts.
He left after she was asleep but for so reason he wasn’t able to calm down so he ca back to take a look.
But now she was acting like a different person, screaming as if she saw him as her enemy. The confusion in his mind deepened.
He suddenly rembered Kael’s warning. The words echoed clearly.
"If you touch her... I will kill you."Emilia shouted.
Ruth clenched his teeth. In a swift motion, he disappeared from Jess’s side and reappeared behind Emilia. With one precise strike, he hit her neck. Emilia’s body went limp as she fell unconscious into his arms.
"Guards!" Ruth’s voice thundered through the halls. "Detain her and call the doctor!"
Jess’s expression changed in an instant. Her eyes widened, and then she gritted her teeth.
The next second, powerful energy flared up around her body. The pressure of her aura spread through the room,it was the strength of an A-rank fighter.
Before the guards could rush in, Jess leapt toward the window. Glass shattered as she broke through
At that mont, she threw the glass containing the potion away from the room.
But just as the liquid sailed through the air, a streak of light struck it.
ZAP!
A strange power froze the potion instantly, trapping it in a block of ice. A shadowy figure trailed through the sky, snatched the frozen block, and disappeared back into the night.
Jess’s eyes widened in disbelief mid-air. She landed heavily on the ground outside, but she did not stop. She dashed forward, desperate to escape.
Before she could take another step, a sword glead in the dark. In one swift slash, it knocked her down. Jess cried out as her body hit the ground hard. Several figures surrounded her at once, pressing her down and holding her in place.
Back inside, Ruth stood at the broken window, holding the unconscious Emilia tightly in his arms. His expression was dark, his gaze growing more sinister as he looked down at Jess being restrained.
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