Chapter: 08
“Fortunately, he’s still breathing.”
Aine was relieved to see that Wilhelm was still breathing, but the ceiling was gradually collapsing around them.
She immediately hoisted Wilhelm onto her back and whispered,
“You absolutely cannot die here. So please try your best to stay alive, Your Highness.”
As long as she was alive, she would never let him die in a place like this.
Silence followed her words, but Aine believed Wilhelm had heard her.
At least, judging by how her back was gradually becoming damp.
[SYSTEM: Modifying data.]
[Modifying female protagonist……]
[Progress: Processing]
[Quest Status: Waiting]
Meanwhile, there was something Aine failed to notice because she was too focused on escaping.
[SYSTEM: Data modification complete.]
[Modification complete. Lacey Orion → Aine Kleine]
[Before change: Lacey Orion]
[After change: Aine Kleine]
[Quest Status: Update complete]
‘For some reason, it’s become easier to breathe.’
It was strange.
How could she breathe so easily in a place filled with smoke?
And that wasn’t all. The stamina that had been steadily draining away was now completely fine.
Though she could not see it, Aine was aware of it.
Something different from before was beginning to emerge within her.
“Never do something so dangerous again!”
“You should just order us to do it instead!”
As expected, when Aine returned, her subordinates scolded her.
In fact, from Aine’s perspective, she had done nothing deserving of a reprimand. Risking her life to rescue the next king was simply something a knight was supposed to do.
“We were all worried that we might lose you, Commander.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Still, we’re glad you came back.”
But to the officers who had spent years moving from one battlefield to another, the safety of someone who had shared countless hardships with them mattered more than chivalry.
“Commander. Your hand……”
When Mane stared in horror and pointed at Aine’s hand, everyone’s eyes turned in that direction.
Aine, who had been too distracted to notice while escaping the flames, finally looked at her own hand.
The hand that had been perfectly fine was horribly charred.
Seeing it, Mane’s face went pale as she hurriedly spoke.
“You need to apply medicine immediately! If you don’t treat it now, the wound could become infected!”
At the mention of infection, even the other subordinates insisted that she receive treatment first, but Aine shook her head.
Even when she clenched her fist, she felt no pain whatsoever. Instead, there was only a slight itching sensation.
Just as she had felt while escaping, something strange was definitely happening.
She wanted to find out what it was immediately, but—
“We don’t have time for that right now.”
“Commander!”
“We have to hurry and escape before the Royal Guard enters.”
There was no telling how long the Royal Guard outside would continue waiting.
If they failed to come out eventually, the guards would certainly realize that something was wrong and enter the building themselves.
Now that she had rescued Wilhelm, Aine believed they had to get out of there as quickly as possible.
“We can treat the wound after we get out of here. It won’t be too late.”
“But!”
“The Commander is right.”
“Andrew? Why are you here?”
Andrew, who was supposed to be guarding the entrance, came limping toward them.
Another person rushed over and barely managed to support him when he nearly collapsed.
Andrew stubbornly continued walking until he reached Aine and stopped directly in front of her.
“Commander. I have a report. The Royal Guard attempted to force their way inside.”
The Royal Guard had moved.
Hearing that, Aine could already predict what was about to happen.
“We are still holding the main building, but honestly, I cannot say how much longer we can hold out.”
Blood had already been shed.
There was no telling how long those defending the main entrance would be able to endure.
“We’ll head for the passage Marco is defending.”
“……Yes, understood.”
Even Mane, who had been strongly insisting that Aine receive treatment, nodded.
Now was the time to escape.
Fortunately, Marco truly had not betrayed them.
As though he had been waiting for Aine’s group to arrive, he was standing by with horses prepared.
“Commander. I believe we must part ways here.”
“They will probably discover this place before long as well.”
“We will buy as much time as we can here.”
Aine wanted to tell them all to flee together, but just as they said, someone had to remain behind and create enough time for the others to escape.
Otherwise, they could all be captured.
“Three of you, go to the main army and inform them of the situation. Once Deputy Commander Mary knows, she’ll find some way to handle things.”
“Are you planning to head somewhere other than the main army, Commander?”
Aine pointed toward Wilhelm on her back and said,
“I’m going to the Empire to find an antidote for His Highness the Prince.”
“They’ll never leave you alone, Commander!”
“That’s right. Those Imperial bastards are only waiting for a chance to take the Commander’s head.”
Aine was the woman who had inflicted humiliating defeat after humiliating defeat upon the Empire.
Would they really leave her alone?
‘They certainly won’t, especially considering all the people who died because of me.’
Even if she requested to defect or seek asylum, she might have to spend the rest of her life imprisoned.
“Please return to the main army instead. Everyone there is on your side, Commander.”
“That’s right. If you make your resolve known, everyone will gladly lay down their lives for you.”
All of her subordinates expressed the same sentiment.
They wanted her to return to the main army and prepare for the future.
But Aine smiled bitterly.
“Why do you think they took up arms in the first place? Wasn’t it to protect the families waiting for them at home?”
“Commander.”
“Vinet will definitely take them hostage. Can you abandon your families? Can you throw away the lives of your parents, your wives, and your children waiting at home?”
She would be putting a blade to the throats of their families.
Even then, some of them might still choose to follow her and fight Vinet until the very end.
But she did not want to leave an indelible wound in their hearts.
She had no desire to give them another reason to wonder whether they could have made a better choice, or to leave them burdened with regret.
“That’s why the future I’m thinking of lies here.”
The future Aine had in mind to avoid such a situation was none other than Wilhelm.
If he survived safely and inherited the throne of the Orion Kingdom, everything would eventually return to normal.
“If the Grand Duke becomes king, they won’t leave us alone.”
“That’s right. Especially if they find out that even the Commander has surrendered to the Empire……”
“Don’t worry. There are Mary and General Manila, the Second Commander, even without me. The moment they try to strip you of your positions, General Manila will find a way to deal with it.”
The military had many capable figures besides Aine.
Aine believed that as long as they remained in power, Vinet would not be able to act recklessly.
Of course, she had a feeling Linus would come up with some kind of scheme, but what Aine needed was time.
‘At least until this child is old enough to ascend the throne.’
With that desperate wish in her heart, Aine mounted a horse.
“I doubt this will be a permanent farewell. We’ll meet again someday.”
“We believe that too.”
“Please stay alive. Someday, we’ll make it possible for you to return, Commander.”
They would definitely meet again.
Aine was certain that, at the very least, this would not be their final meeting.
“As the First Commander of the Kingdom’s Army, I give you my final order.”
Aine etched the faces of her subordinates into her memory.
Perhaps it was because she had said the word ‘final.’
The eyes of those who had never shed tears on the battlefield were now reddened.
The moment to part had arrived, but as Aine looked at their faces, she found it difficult to part her lips.
However, time would not wait for her forever.
With great reluctance, Aine forced herself to speak.
“No matter what happens, never die.”
Goddess of War, please watch over the lives of these people.
After finishing her prayer, Aine hurriedly left the royal palace with Wilhelm.
“We’ll be waiting for the day we meet again!”
Watching Aine depart, her subordinates expressed their resolve, their trembling breaths accompanied by fists pressed against their hearts.
“So please, Commander, don’t you ever die either!”
Aine continued forward without stopping.
She did not want to show them the pathetic sight of herself shedding tears.
“I thought the Commander would return triumphantly as a hero.”
“Only Brandtport remained. Once we captured that place, everything would have been over.”
“Damn it. But why should the Commander have to flee?”
Those who remained behind were furious.
Not a single one of them thought that she had abandoned them and fled.
Their anger was directed at the very country they had fought so hard to protect.
Was this really all they had received in return for risking their lives and devoting themselves to their country?
What angered them most was that the person they respected was now forced to flee.
“Mane, follow the Commander.”
“That’s right. The Commander can’t use one of her hands right now.”
“Treat the Commander. Please.”
“Yes, I understand. Then I’ll leave this place to you.”
The remaining members of her forces split into smaller groups.
Just as everyone was about to leave, countless footsteps could be heard, followed by the appearance of a familiar figure.
The instigator of this entire situation, Vinet Orion.
Those who remained tightened their grips around their swords.
“Where is that damned woman?”
They stared at Vinet with eyes filled with hatred and resentment.
“Why don’t you find out yourself, Grand Duke? Perhaps she burned to death over there.”
“If that’s the case, then you can step aside and let me pass. At least that way, I’ll know the woman isn’t here.”
Unlike when he had confronted Aine, Vinet did not react to their insolent attitude.
If anything, he looked bored and uninterested.
“Unfortunately, this is not a path suitable for royalty. Therefore, would you kindly proceed elsewhere, Grand Duke?”
Despite their stubborn resistance, Vinet suppressed a hollow laugh and ordered the Royal Guard,
“Suppress them and bring Aine to me.”
