“Uvv... ah, ah!”

Tie struggled to steady her breathing.

Was it because she had forcefully manifested a spirit that until now only she had been able to see?

It felt as though an icy wind had swept through her body, leaving a piercing cold behind.

But Tie pressed her lips tightly together and lifted her head, trying to focus.

Right in front of her, the blue shadow was still standing there, restraining Reginald.

Adeline’s mother — the very one who had long been sending her silent pleas to appear.

[If it were up to me, I would tear you to pieces and kill you. I would drag you into the underworld this very moment! But... but......]

Stasia’s gaze shifted to Adeline, frozen nearby.

Her eyes, which had been blazing with fury only a moment ago, slowly filled with moisture at the sight of her daughter.

[The pain my daughter has endured is too deep. I cannot do that. I will not grant you an easy death.]

When Stasia withdrew her hand, Reginald collapsed to the floor with a groan.

He touched his half-frozen face blindly and moved his lips soundlessly.

[Live. And atone for your sins in the world of the living. Do not even dare hope that death will bring you peace. The underworld will become yet another hell for you-!]

Reginald slowly fell backward.

Clutching his frozen neck, he lost consciousness.

“......Kkyut!”

At that same moment, Pupu ran up to Tie, having taken the form of a baby elephant.

Pupu swiftly climbed up her body and scrambled onto her palm.

“......Kkyu! Kkyukut!”

His anxious squeaks barely reached Tie’s ears.

“Astie! Withdraw the magic immediately!”

Kkamani rushed over next and grabbed onto her shoulder.

But Tie swallowed and lifted her clouded gaze.

“Faster! Stop it!”

“Lu, Lucarion......”

Tie opened her mouth with a trembling voice.

And weakly rested her forehead against Lucarion.

“S-so cold. It feels like there’s wind blowing inside me.”

Lucarion, his hand shaking, draped his cloak over her.

“Cancel the summon. Then everything will return to normal. It’s already over, understand? Foolish child.”

Tie’s eyes turned toward the opposite side of the castle — where the villagers were beginning to appear.

The villagers rushed at the soldiers, wrenching swords, spears, and shields from their hands.

As if they intended to return all the pain they had endured until now.

“What’s going on? Why is the brat like this?”

Bale ran over from the other side.

Basto, Raul, and Enzo also moved closer to Tie.

“......I-it seems the magic has been exhausted. Both I and that man were drawing on her power. And so many dead were summoned as well.”

Lucarion’s voice echoed dully in her ears.

“What? Then what do we do?!”

“She needs to pull the magic back in, but she still.......”

Leaning against Lucarion, Tie forced her heavy eyelids open.

“Brat, can you hear me?”

Bale’s blood-smeared face appeared right in front of hers.

But Tie weakly pushed him away.

“Bale oppaa...... move. I ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) can’t see.”

Bale froze, pressing his lips together tightly.

Awkwardly, he stepped back.

Everyone turned their heads to where Tie’s gaze was fixed.

Stasia still stood there in the form of a spirit, and before her — Adeline.

“Mother......?”

Adeline murmured, and Stasia extended her hand toward her.

The half-transparent palm hovered in the air, as though about to stroke her daughter’s cheek, and then lowered.

[You did well, Adeline.]

Adeline’s pupils slowly widened.

Heavy tears began to fall from her wide-open eyes.

“Was it... was it you who did this, Mother?”

A disbelieving sob escaped her throat.

“Gathered these people here... hid the will.......”

[No, Adeline. You did all of this. You endured it. You succeeded.]

Adeline covered her mouth with her hand.

Stasia spoke more quickly.

[Adeline, listen carefully. I do not have much time.]

“Mother, what are you......?”

[My daughter, you will manage. Even if I am not by your side, remember — I will always be watching over you.]

Adeline’s face darkened.

Desperately, she reached out her arms, trying to grasp the figure dissolving into the air.

“D-don’t go. Please don’t go-!”

But Stasia rapidly lost her form.

[Adeline, I am simply glad... that I was able to say goodbye at least like this.]

In the next moment, her silhouette scattered into a smoky haze.

But before disappearing, Stasia turned toward Astie.

And a strange ripple passed through the air — like a whisper of wind, like a distant echo.

[I will not forget this day even after death, King of the Dead.]

At that same moment, Tie’s body went limp.

“Astie!”

Basto caught the falling girl.

Her body was ice-cold.

The skeletons that had been surrounding them in a dense wall began to crumble into pale ash.

“Please, follow me.” 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Adeline, who had run up while wiping her tears, said:

“I know a place where Lady Tie can lie down.”

They all hurried toward the castle.

Meanwhile, in the inner courtyard, where the knights remained unconscious—

“Over here!”

“You bastards!”

“Take their weapons!”

The villagers shoved the bound soldiers into the barn one by one.

Among them was the unconscious Reginald.

“Lady Adeline!”

When Adeline entered the castle, the servants who had been watching the events outside from within rushed toward her.

“Milady, how did you... how did you get here......!”

The head chef — the only one who had managed to preserve life inside the castle all this time — grabbed her by the hand.

But Adeline pushed him away, as though this was no time for such things.

And in a firm voice addressed the others:

“From this hour onward, the castle has a new master.”

The servants began to whisper.

Without hesitating for even a moment, Adeline walked to the wall of the inner courtyard and slashed Reginald’s portrait with a long stroke of her dagger.

“Reginald’s era is over. From now on, he will answer with his life for the usurpation of the lord’s title.”

The servants held their breath.

Adeline swept her gaze over them.

“Those who wish to leave — leave now. Those who remain — stay. But you must be prepared to serve me, Adeline Caldenbein, as your new mistress.”

She struck the wall hard, and Reginald’s portrait crashed to the floor.

Adeline stepped on it and added:

“Prepare the bedroom on the second floor immediately. The rest of you — find craftsmen to replace the bars in the underground prison.”

Then her gaze stopped on the chef.

“Chef, prepare something warm. Something that can be poured in — like thin porridge.”

The servants nodded and hurriedly scattered across the inner courtyard.