Turning Chapter 820

Chapter 820

"Father probably has never seen his reputation damaged in such a perfectly unexpected way in his life. It's really satisfying."

Myra laughed heartily. With a relieved expression, she then made a request.

"I implore you to apprehend the uninvited guests who ruined Ashrav's funeral. I wish I could join in the effort myself, but regretfully, I lack the strength to do so in such times."

"Not so, Lady Myra. Do you not possess a unique power befitting a lady of your stature? The ability to effortlessly comprehend and navigate the overall situation amidst this chaos, and the capacity to maintain composure even under such circumstances."

"That is…"

Myra trailed off, seemingly unsure of how to respond.

"This is not a situation where only one side should be asking for favors. Do not forget that we can act with ease only with the aid of the lady’s support."

"Commander Kishiar is correct," Yuder agreed, nodding.

"Indeed. Understood," Myra replied, a new emotion intensifying on her face.

"Even though it might seem presumptuous, I can't help but feel glad to hear that. I was ashamed and angry, thinking I had only shown you the disgraceful aspects of my father and our house until now."

He had suspected as much. But it was a different matter to hear her say it herself. For the first time, Myra was laying bare her pride and speaking candidly about her own feelings.

"These experiences are not new to me. Being touted as the 'Scion of Decades' sounds grand, but in reality, it’s like being a pretty ornament. And no one likes an ornament stepping out in front of its master."

"..."

"Of course, today has been exceptionally harsh, but there have been times when the internal conflict within this house was so severe, I questioned if I should continue enduring. What helped me then were the words of Her Majesty the Empress."

Upon mentioning the Empress, Kishiar showed a reaction.

"Really? What did she say?"

"Her Majesty advised me to stay, saying that if someone capable of such contemplation remains in Herne, the shame and anger I feel now can eventually be transformed by my own efforts."

"Hmm... Such wise words indeed befit the Empress."

"Yes. She also joked that, by choosing my own path, I will find people who recognize and support my efforts. Since the Empress herself became my ally, that's already one person added."

Both Kishiar and Myra smiled simultaneously.

"Despite being forced to become an adopted daughter because of my father, she has always been a good sister to me. Her advice motivated me to strive for the title of the next Duke of Herne. And today, witnessing the shameful behavior of my father and our house, I met people who still trust in my abilities, proving her words to be true."

Yuder suddenly recalled the first time Myra, as a member of the Herne family connected to the Empress, approached the Cavalry for collaboration.

Back then, she appeared bold and intelligent yet noticeably impatient, and somewhat inexperienced in dealing with people for negotiations.

However, the Myra before him now seemed so much more mature that it was hard to connect her with that earlier image, even though not much time had actually passed.

Even within a short span of time, people can change and grow remarkably. This truth was vividly felt through the weight of experience in her eyes.

"The people of Herne are taught to uphold the resolutions they make. Long ago, the first Duke of Herne decided to settle in the south to monitor the ancient masters who had retreated there, and to protect the people. I may not be as strong as him, but my desire to safeguard the south, where I was born and raised, is just the same."

After saying this, Myra gracefully adjusted her disheveled dress and offered a courteous bow.

"Please, take care. I hope to see each of you return safely after completing your respective duties. Afterward, I would like to formally express my gratitude to the Cavalry."

They reached the outside. The scene outside the chapel was utter chaos. Witnessing the panicked screams and people fleeing, Myra's expression briefly clouded, but she quickly straightened her shoulders and called out to the bewildered soldiers of the Herne family.

"You there! As soldiers of the Herne family, what are you doing losing your composure?"

"La-Lady Myra!"

"Where have the others gone? What? They all followed my father? Unbelievable. Lead the way at once!"

"It seems that side is no longer a concern," Kishiar remarked, brushing off his sleeves. His red eyes meticulously scanned the complex and tumultuous surroundings, while Yuder noticed a slender shadow emerging from the recently evacuated chapel.

At the end of the still wavering shadow was Gakane, rushing towards them.

"Yuder! Commander!"

Gakane's attire and hair, which had been neat upon his arrival, were now in disarray. He exhaled a breath of relief, a shadow clone as tall as himself standing behind him.

"I'm relieved to see you've finally emerged. I was worried about the glass breaking, but thankfully, it seems you're unharmed!"

"It was thanks to your continuous signals outside that Yuder was able to notice and prepare accordingly. I appreciate it."

"Oh, no! I was just doing what I had to do."

"It may be what one ought to do, but to actually accomplish it at the necessary moment is difficult. Seeing you grow to that extent makes me, as your Commander, proud."

"...Th-Thank you."

Gakane's face flushed instantly upon receiving Kishiar's praise. Simultaneously, the shadow clone mimicked his pose, scratching its head in embarrassment. It was a sight not seen since Gakane had become proficient in manipulating his shadow clone - the synchronized expressions of the original and the duplicate, which had seemed to disappear, reappeared amusingly, reflecting his immense joy and embarrassment.

"Gakane, the shadow."

"Ah!"

Prompted by Yuder's remark, Gakane quickly regained his composure and stood upright.

"Then I shall report on what happened while you were inside."

"Which appeared first, the sage or Nahan?"

"First, the sage was... Oh."

Interrupted by Kishiar, who seemed to anticipate his words, Gakane stopped speaking, looking flustered once again. However, this time, his expression suggested he had expected it.

"Indeed, you guessed everything from my signal alone. Then I won't elaborate further. During our surveillance, Kurga and I spotted a suspicious individual attempting to meet with a noble. As we approached stealthily to confirm the identity, Nahan and his party appeared, and a fight ensued. Thanks to that, we were immediately able to confirm that the suspicious individual was indeed the sage."

"The sage's side must have been significantly outnumbered compared to Nahan's, right?"

"Yes, it wasn't just a few; in fact, the sage appeared alone, completely concealing his identity. At first, it was hard to distinguish him. Nevertheless, Nahan recognized him immediately, despite his disguised state."

"Hmm. So, what happened then?"

At Kishiar's inquiry, Gakane replied with a serious expression.

"The sage loudly called for help, and we, along with the Special Forces Brigade, set out to apprehend both parties. It was utter chaos. The fleeing crowd, the useless soldiers of the Herne family, people from the temple, and even someone claiming to be of the imperial lineage got involved. It was difficult to fight while ensuring the non-Awakeners remained unharmed."

Someone claiming to be of the imperial lineage.

The identity was quite guessable. It was all thanks to Kiolle.

'I told him to run away as soon as he got out... but it seems everything had already ended without the need for that.'

Where could Kiolle be now? He turned his gaze toward the commotion unfolding in the distance, but it was hard to discern anyone in the crowd.

"So it was like that. Did the one claiming to be of the imperial lineage say he was the Crown Prince?"

Kishiar's narrowed eyes prompted Gakane to widen his own.

"How did you...? Wait, don't tell me that person is actually...?"

"He really is the Crown Prince. I personally confirmed it with the guy we brought in, right inside the chapel."

At this, Gakane blinked in disbelief, then gasped, swallowing hard.

"What do we do? Everyone, including me, thought it was a ploy by the sage, using mind control on someone... As soon as that person stepped forward, I hit him on the back of the head and separated him from the rest..."

"You hit him on the back of the head? You did, Gakane?"

"Yes, well, it was probably my shadow clone... It's quite useful for that sort of thing....?"

"..."

"But that person, or rather, he had his face covered with a robe, so I couldn't guess his identity... I naturally thought he was a brainwashed impostor... What do we do now? If he wakes up, will I be arrested for striking a member of the imperial family?"

"Don't worry. Nothing like that will happen," Kishiar assured with a smile, comforting the distressed Gakane.

"With me here, would a Cavalry member really be arrested for such a minor incident?"