Chapter 31

 

"Haah... Haah...!"

 

After running until I was out of breath, I arrived at the castle, which looked like a massive pile of kindling.

 

Although the flames hadn't climbed up the stone walls, it seemed as if all the wooden structures supporting them were ablaze.

 

The banners of Rondor that had once splendidly adorned the castle, along with the emblems of its vassal families, were warping and burning in the flames.

 

The night sky was dyed red by the fire, flickering brilliantly as if the sunset had returned.

 

Flames burst out from various parts of the castle, accompanied by thick, acrid black smoke.

 

The roaring of the fire consuming the castle echoed through the air like a dragon's cry.

 

Chaos filled the scene.

 

People were either fleeing in terror or desperately running out from inside. Soldiers were fetching water from the river and splashing it onto the flames, but it was not enough.

 

A few maids, having inhaled too much smoke, were carried out. The suffocatingly thick smoke and the crackling of burning filled the air, intensifying the chaos.

 

Amidst this turmoil, my eyes searched for only one person.

 

Vivian Rondor.

 

I strained to find her red hair against the backdrop of the blazing flames.

 

A strong wind blew, sparks brushed against my clothes, and the intense heat pricked my face, but I couldn't move.

 

Not seeing her, it felt as if my feet were glued to the ground, and my heart pounded as if it would explode.

 

Then, I saw Rona, Vivian's maid.

 

I quickly ran up to her.

 

Her clothes were burned with holes, and she was coughing incessantly, looking disoriented.

 

"Cough! Cough!"

 

But I grabbed her shoulders, shook her, and asked.

 

"Where is Vivian Rondor?"

 

"Cough...! Sir Kylo... Cough!"

 

"Speak quickly. Where is Vivian Rondor?"

 

"I-I don't know... Cough! We got separated while escaping the flames... She might still be inside..."

 

"Not 'might be'—tell me what you saw!"

 

Rona barely managed to answer. "Inside...! She's inside... Cough...!"

 

The moment I heard those words, my mind went blank.

 

I left Rona and looked around.

 

The soldiers and maids gathered around me were all looking at me with shocked expressions after hearing what had just been said.

 

As the fact that Vivian was still inside the castle spread, shock and fear appeared on people's faces.

 

"..."

 

But no one took action. No one tried to enter those enormous flames.

 

Many of Rondor's retainers were watching the burning castle with bewildered expressions.

 

The captain of the guard, four knight commanders, numerous knights and squires, the stable master, the blacksmith, the kennel master, the horse trainer, Treasurer Brynden, Intelligence Officer Nestor, Scholar Crellin...

 

None of them moved to save Vivian.

 

...I couldn't blame them.

 

The fire was too fierce.

 

Entering there would be nothing short of suicide. Even the most loyal would surely retreat before such a massive inferno. If anything were to be done, it should have been sooner.

 

Now, it was too late.

 

But the words that came out of my mouth were not such rational judgments.

 

"Are you all just going to stand there...?"

 

The retainers' eyes turned to me. Fear and discomfort crossed their gazes, and those emotions transmitted to me in an instant. The feelings I had experienced at the execution ground resurfaced.

 

"...How can we possibly go in there?"

 

Second Knight Commander Thoros asked in a suppressed voice. His tone was mixed with fear, defiance, and shame.

 

"Even so, it's your duty to go in there."

 

I answered him firmly. The knight commanders, in particular, gritted their teeth at my words.

 

But none of them could open their mouths. They looked like cowards who knew that the moment they spoke, they'd have to prove themselves.

 

Perhaps they were alive because they had this kind of character. They became cowards when they needed to save their own lives, so they were standing before me now.

 

Of course, it was hard to call anyone a coward in front of those flames. I knew that, but still, their behavior was disgusting, and I didn't want to be like them.

 

I let out a sigh, and then as if possessed by something, I stepped toward the flames.

 

Baelor blocked my path.

 

"I've told you, we can't afford it if you die...!"

 

"That's not my problem. You figure it out."

 

Was Baelor lacking courage, or did he wish for Vivian's death? Whatever the case, he was far from being called a loyal subject—a parasitic existence.

 

My hesitation was brief.

 

I pushed Baelor aside and snatched a water bucket from a soldier who was fighting the fire.

 

"Ah!"

 

The soldier let out a surprised cry, but I didn't care and poured the water over my head.

 

My entire body became soaked, water dripping down.

 

Those who understood my actions swallowed hard and kept silent. They seemed to see my reckless determination.

 

Dripping wet, I looked back at the retainers one last time.

 

Actually, I knew.

 

That I was being foolish.

 

Especially since I had no reason to enter those flames.

 

Who is Vivian Rondor to me? Why should I, her enemy, do what even her family's retainers wouldn't?

 

Besides, Vivian might already be dead. I might be diving in just to retrieve a corpse.

 

I might not even find her. It could just be a suicidal act.

 

Even knowing all this, my body kept moving. As always, I still didn't know the reason, and now I accepted that fact. It's impossible to understand everything in this world.

 

Therefore, I had no right to judge them... But even so, I wanted to give them a warning.

 

"I know that one of you set this fire."

 

I said to the retainers.

 

As if confirming that the traitor was right here in front of me, I spoke without hesitation.

 

It was a kind of declaration of war. Although they attacked first.

 

"Just wait. I will definitely find you."

 

None of the retainers refuted me. They probably already suspected that this fire was started by someone within.

 

I turned to head into the flames.

 

—Thud!

 

Burger grabbed my arm.

 

"Kylo Allen... I know, I know, but...! This is really suicide...! Aren't you old enough to distinguish between recklessness and courage...!"

 

I shook off Burger's arm. The image of a terrified Vivian flickered before my eyes.

 

So, I ran into the burning castle.

 

****

 

"Cough...! Cough...!"

 

Vivian gasped desperately in the ever-thickening smoke.

 

The castle seemed to be toying with her, driving her relentlessly, and she dodged the flames this way and that.

 

Every time she moved toward an area with less fire and thought she finally saw an exit, a massive flame blocked her path.

 

Then, despairing once more, Vivian retraced her steps.

 

"Cough...! Cough...!"

 

The whole world was red.

 

Flames closed in on her from all sides, and the scorching heat enveloped her as if to tear her skin.

 

Her eyes stung from the smoke, and every breath brought crushing pain to her chest.

 

Despite her frantic attempts to escape, the flames continued to drive her into despair.

 

Vivian ran through the castle to survive.

 

She wanted to call for help, but no one was in sight.

 

The maids and retainers seemed to have already evacuated; only Vivian remained, floundering in confusion.

 

She wondered if this was a terrible nightmare.

 

How could she be alone in this vast space until the moment of death?

 

Why was there not a single person willing to help her?

 

‘I always helped everyone. I've tried so hard all this time.’

 

Once again, tears of frustration streamed down her cheeks, only to evaporate quickly in the scorching heat.

 

The great fire was gradually burning away her hope to live.

 

And as her hope diminished, only desperate prayers and longing for help accumulated.

 

"Please... anyone... sob..."

 

She pleaded in a faint voice amidst her sobs.

 

Burning to death was terrifying. For the head of Rondor to die unable to escape a burning castle was too shameful. Dying alone was... so miserable.

 

As the realization that the past year's suffering was a futile struggle sank in, her desire to live grew stronger.

 

Why did Kylo's face suddenly come to mind?

 

‘If I hadn't pushed him away, would he be by my side protecting me now?’

 

She even let out a bitter laugh as she wept.

 

What a ridiculous delusion. Why would Kylo, her enemy, ever...

 

‘If I burn to death, perhaps even he would understand that I've suffered enough. Or, seeing me in such agony, he might even laugh.’

 

However, no matter how much she tried to erase such thoughts, Kylo's face wouldn't leave her mind.

 

—Rumble! Crash!

 

A wooden pillar engulfed in red flames fell heavily in front of Vivian.

 

At that terrifying sight, even her legs froze.

 

She couldn't even scream in fear. Her hands were trembling uncontrollably.

 

Looking up, she saw one of the ornate Rondor banners, hung for decoration, burning.

 

The moment she saw the banner burning as if heralding the downfall of her family, sorrow and fear crossed her eyes.

 

—Thud!

 

"Ah!"

 

When she hurriedly attempted to flee, Vivian tripped over a broom hidden by the thick smoke and fell to the floor.

 

Her ankle twisted unnaturally with a strange sound. A sharp pain shot up her leg.

 

"Ahh..."

 

She tried to get up again, but her ankle betrayed her will and wouldn't move.

 

The pain was so intense. It was sharper than the heat burning her skin.

 

Vivian collapsed onto the floor, clenching her fists.

 

She curled up in fear.

 

What would happen to her now?

 

Would she be swallowed by the flames chasing after her?

 

It was too terrifying. She hated it so much.

 

And at this moment, more than anything, the profound loneliness surrounding her was terrifying.

 

What scared her most was that in this vast castle, everyone had left, and there was no one to save her.

 

It was as if everyone was telling her that she was the head of the family with so little worth.

 

The events from when she was poisoned were repeating themselves.

 

‘If it was going to be like this…’

 

Vivian thought miserably.

 

‘If it was going to be like this, I should have become a witch.’

 

‘If I had become a witch, I could have surely escaped this moment.’

 

‘Without pathetically running around begging for help when no one would help me... I could have survived with dignity.’

 

It was too late to regret now, but she deeply regretted her choice back then.

 

Even amidst the scorching heat, her tears didn't dry up and kept flowing.

 

If only her father were by her side, he would have surely pulled her out of these flames.

 

Her brother would have done the same. He would have shown her the way out in a firm tone.

 

Her mother would have surely comforted her, telling her not to worry.

 

She missed them all so much.

 

...And finally, another face came to mind.

 

She didn't know why, but his face kept appearing.

 

—Crack!

 

She heard something breaking above her head. Small, burnt wooden debris fell near her.

 

—Crack! Crack!

 

The sound grew louder, forcing Vivian to look up.

 

—Whoosh!

 

The moment she looked up, a large wooden beam was falling toward her head.

 

"Ah!"

 

Crushed by fear, Vivian quickly curled up, covering her head.

 

In that brief moment, she prayed to God one last time.

 

She had never believed in God... but she prayed earnestly.

 

‘Someone… Please help me. Save me.’

 

—Boom!!

 

With a massive sound, the roaring flames that had been so loud seemed to pause momentarily, as if it were a lie.

 

The noise ringing in Vivian's ears disappeared, and the heat enveloping her body seemed forgotten for a moment.

 

Crouched on the floor, holding her breath, Vivian could feel nothing anymore.

 

Amidst the chaos of the flames, everything was still, as if time had stopped. She didn't even know how much time had passed.

 

After staying frozen like that for a while, Vivian hesitated and slowly opened her eyes.

 

Beyond her tear-blurred vision, she saw something.

 

She blinked a couple of times and looked ahead again more clearly.

 

A steady hand was extended in front of her.

 

As if God had answered.

 

She stared at the hand as if she couldn't believe it.

 

The fingertips reaching out to her were so vivid she couldn't believe it.

 

She couldn't understand at all how a saving hand could appear amidst these flames when everything was collapsing.

 

But one thing was certain... that hand was gently melting away her despair.

 

"Ugh."

 

At a low groan, Vivian slowly lifted her head to look at the owner of the hand, feeling as if she were dreaming.

 

"Ah."

 

At that moment, her heart skipped a beat.

 

—Thump... thump...

 

His hair and face were covered in black ash, and parts of his clothes were burnt away, but he was looking at her with resolute eyes.

 

The face Vivian had longed for, even if briefly, was right there.

 

The face she kept thinking of even amidst the flames was truly there.

 

It was Kylo Allen.

 

Kylo pushed aside the heavy wooden beam he had just caught.

 

On his exposed shoulder, there were red burn marks.

 

But he seemed not to care at all.

 

"How... how..."

 

"Get up."

 

Even amidst all this pain and chaos, Kylo's voice was unwavering.

 

Vivian's heart began to pound intensely for reasons she couldn't understand.

 

His words echoed in her ears and pounded against her heart.

 

—Thump... thump... thump...

 

Whether it was relief or surprise... she didn't know.

 

But unaware of this, Kylo looked at her without the slightest wavering and whispered, almost as an order.

 

"Get up, Vivian."

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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