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THE commotion at the main gate of Kingsley Castle had reached its peak. As guards gathered to let Ist’s carriage pass, the crowd grew enraged, with skirmishes breaking out here and there.
One of the knights guarding the gate was stumped. It would be easy to draw his sword, but a riot was sure to happen if he cut someone down. The crown prince had also commanded them to handle the situation with care and avoid violence. So, what was the best way to deal with this?
Just then, the mood shifted. Surprise and agitation spread like a wave among the guards inside the gate.
The knight turned back to see what was happening, but before he could find the cause, the opening of the main gate caught him by surprise.
“Close the gate!! Who gave permission to open it?!!”
Screaming loudly, the knight pushed back through the guards towards the gate again. However, that soon became unnecessary as the guards moved to the left and right, opening up a single path from the main gate to where the knight stood.
When he saw what was at the end of the path, the knight’s shock increased as he fell to his knees.
A woman on a black horse, the symbol of Erdal, looked down at the people, the castle glittering behind her. Her wavy hair, reminiscent of the scorching sun, and golden dress fit for an empress flowed down over the back of her horse.
“Your Majesty…!!”
“Make way.”
Her voice was quiet, but her command cut through the air. The knights and guards panicked as they rushed to the sides, creating a path for Empress Elizabeth as she rode forward, accompanied by Clovis and Albert.
“Listen, people of Erdal!!” the empress shouted as she turned to look at the citizens. “A usurper with evil in his heart is attempting to steal the crown in my absence. But I will not yield, for he believes in no faith and works with no justice.”
Clovis reverently raised his sword and handed it to the empress, who held it straight in front of her.
“If you love peace and seek prosperity, follow me! I am protected by the guardian star!!”
The black horse neighed, and an earth-shattering cheer followed. The people followed the empress as she rode forward, and before the guards could even react, they rushed into the castle after her.
“Th-This is amazing!” Albert yelled excitedly to Clovis as he chased after the empress, jostled left and right by the enthusiastic crowd. “I don’t know how to describe it. It’s like being part of a revolution!”
“A revolution,” Clovis chuckled. “I guess that’s what this is.”
“Is something the matter, Lord Clovis?”
Albert frowned as a strange smile spread across the adviser’s face, but Clovis shrugged lightly.
“Actually, I guess this is my second time joining a revolution.”
“Second time? Have you experienced one before?”
“In the distant past, or, should I say, in a future that is no more.”
Albert’s confusion deepened at Clovis’s strange response, but that was to be expected. The only one who could understand his words in this world was Alicia.
Clovis smiled and shook his head.
“I’m sorry, I was just joking. Let us go and rescue our princess.”