Chapter 2
***
Boom-!
The sound of thunder followed by the blast of explosives rang out. A part of Lutgard Castle was blown up, and then it began to collapse in a chain reaction.
Ezekiel Schwaben, who was watching the scene, spoke in a cold voice.
"The reward for the capture of the fake princess will be a baronetcy, and the reward for the capture of Theodore Lutgard will be two manors."
He spoke again after a moment.
"If you miss, everyone in this room will be held accountable."
Flash-!
A bolt of lightning washed the world white and then dark again. Then came another crack of thunder. In the darkness, only his silver hair shimmered like moonlight.
The adjutant standing at Ezekiel's side muttered to himself.
"I never thought they'd bring the castle down on their own...."
"Probably a ploy to use the chaos to escape the fake princess."
Indeed, the imperial siege was shaking as people fled the aftermath of the castle's collapse.
The adjutant thought it would be difficult to capture Olivia. It was night, after all, and the weather was bad. The people inside the castle came out in droves, and it became a mad rush. The emperor's troops threw their spears into the crowd, even at old men and children, to make sure they didn't miss anyone.
Just then, a new shout came from the main gate.
"For the honor of Lutgard!"
"For the honor of Lutgard!!!"
Someone shouted, followed by knights and soldiers. Ezekiel squinted and looked in that direction.
The roar of the Lutgard army pierced through the rain. It was a triumphant roar, but to Ezekiel it sounded like the final scream.
His attention was now turned elsewhere on the battlefield. No matter how great a warrior Theodore Lutgard was, and no matter how brilliantly the Lutgard army decorated its final battle, it was inevitable that they would eventually be defeated by an overwhelming force. This time, Theodore would die.
The only remaining problem was Princess Olivia.
‘I suppose that's what they're doing to get her out.’
Ezekiel followed the thread of his thoughts, disparaging the determination of others to risk their lives as a small ploy.
Princess Olivia was the only speck of dust in the political strategy of the Duke of Schwaben as the most powerful family in the Sirah Empire. No, not speck, but thorn. An insignificant thorn, but one that could tear a delicate fabric in an instant.
Schwaben's plan to take the throne without violence or usurpation, without anyone to oppose him, was undone by the very existence of Princess Olivia. None of them could have known this would happen 22 years ago, when they lost an infant child.
And she became a blemish on him as well.
Ezekiel remembered her face. The pale face, the terrified turquoise eyes. And her slender, trembling body.
Obviously he liked his fiancée, Princess Loella, but strangely, he couldn't get that face out of his head.
He just had to catch her. Once he had her..., this troublesome desire in his head would be extinguished. Then he would kill her, and that would be it.
It was then.
"Your Excellency!"
Two knights approached where he stood at a brisk pace. Ezekiel turned in their direction.
A woman, covered in mud, was being held by the knights. Rain poured down on her disheveled blond hair, which glistened in the torchlight.
"Oh."
Ezekiel's harsh face softened. The knight reported.
"Found by a soldier waiting by the stream."
"Reward them.”
He glanced at his lieutenant, who nodded. Later, he would find out the soldier's rank and name and give him the promised reward. The same would be true for the knights who had taken her.
"Let her go."
Hearing the order, the knights shoved Olivia in front of Ezekiel like a spinning top.
Olivia's lips were white. Ezekiel cupped her cheek in his leather-gloved hand. Theodore would die soon, and Olivia was captured. It was the best possible outcome. It was terribly satisfying.
"It's been a long time, Miss Olivia."
"......."
A shiver ran down Olivia's spine, like she was scared.
"You should have tried harder to escape. I see Count Lutgard’s death would be in vain."
"Hand...."
"Huh?"
"Hands off. It's horrible."
Olivia made a face as if she were disgusted. But Ezekiel just smirked, as if he'd been pushed, and grabbed her by the hair.
"Ack!"
"Don't be so cheeky."
Her head snapped back as he yanked hard at the nape of her neck. Ezekiel looked down greedily at the exposed white neck. Olivia's body shuddered in his grip.
He felt a fierce desire, always did, to rip her clothes off her right now, and take out his cock and shove it inside her.
He held back because the best part was yet to come.
He grabbed Olivia by the hair with one hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist like he was escorting a lover to a ball, and strode to a spot with a clear view of the battlefield. Olivia flinched as if to resist, but it was useless against Ezekiel's strength.
Ezekiel grabbed her by the back of the head and pinned her down, commanding,
"Open your eyes, Olivia. As a princess should, you should see with your own eyes the end of a knight who dies for you. Don't you think?"
"Ugh...."
"They're all dying because of you."
A tear rolled down Olivia's cheek. Ezekiel licked them with his tongue in pleasure. A sweeter drink would be hard to find.
"Beg."
"No."
"If you beg with all your might, maybe I'll still spare a few of them?"
He said it in a sweet voice, like he was trying to seduce her, but Olivia just shook her head, her eyes tightly shut. Ezekiel was surprised, she was so weak, he'd thought he would definitely get through her.
Waaaahhh!
Then a shout rang out. A scream, too.
"Theodore Lutgard is dead!"
Someone shouted at the top of their lungs. Olivia's body jerked in Ezekiel's arms as if struck by lightning.
"Ugh, ugh...!"
She began to squirm, as if she couldn't take it anymore. Annoyed, Ezekiel grabbed her body as she tried to squirm away and turned her back to him, speaking fiercely.
"You didn't know it was going to be like this, huh, you should have known."
"Haa, haaa.” (Crying sound)
"Well, you should have tried."
Even if she had, he had no intention of letting Theodore Lutgard live anyway.
He wrapped his arms around Olivia's sobbing body, clenching her jaw hard, as if she didn't know where she was standing. Then he pressed his lips to her parted lips.
Her mouth was hot, slightly swollen and soft, and as he slid his tongue in, he wondered if she was this wet inside.
He was about to find out.
***
The head of the traitorous Count Lutgard was hung in the square in front of the imperial palace. His first offense was attempting to disturb the sacred bloodline of the Sirah Empire by claiming the fallen princess.
It was shortly thereafter that the betrothal of the young Duke of Schwaben to Princess Loella was announced, after he returned from crushing the rebellion. Everyone knew it was coming, but it was still cause for celebration.
In preparation for the wedding, the imperial palace and the Duke of Schwaben made large purchases, exchanged visits, and gave charity. The empire was so energized that the effects of the short civil war could not be felt.
Only a few servants tending to the duke's intimate affairs were aware of the imprisonment of a young woman named Olivia in the Duke of Schwaben’s bedroom.
***
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