Silver Lining Yesterday - Chapter 19
“You idiot, you fool. Look at you, how can you call yourself a knight?”
“I’m sorry for my long legs.”
“I should have cut them off.”
“You’re talking about my legs, right?”
Muttering, Jean shook Ernest’s sleeve with the arm that had been crossed with his.
Ernest lowered his head familiarly.
“Why?”
“Don’t you think Karl likes Gemma?”
“Oh… What a dreadful thought to have.”
“He only calls Gemma by her nickname.”
“Isn’t ‘old hag’ closer to an insult?”
“Anyway, the little one sees Gemma as special and treats her differently.”
“Treating someone you particularly dislike as special, huh?”
Jean shot a narrow-eyed glare at Ernest, who was grinning, and kicked his leg.
Ernest, swallowing a scream, bent his long body and groaned.
“Be careful in front of Gemma. She’ll worry if she knows you’re hurt.”
“Dear Jean, if you’re the one careful, maybe it’ll be fine…?”
“Well, you should have worn armor and had your leg cut off if that’s the case.”
Jean replied coolly, signaling him to look ahead.
“Smile, Ernest. Everyone is watching you.”
As the massive doors of the banquet hall before them opened, Jean smiled brightly and took a step forward.
Brilliant light flooded in, soon enveloping their figures entirely.
* * *
The end-of-year celebrations in Satin were charging forward without limits.
A blaze of fireworks lit up the dark night sky, and streetlights that illuminated the streets shone upon the Heidegger flag.
Even near midnight, the castle was in full swing and glowing with lights, celebrating the lord’s birthday.
Servants were making their way with drinks and food, while vehicles quietly left through the back gates, avoiding paparazzi.
Ironically, at the height of the festivities, the most peaceful part of the Swan Castle was the front gate.
Where the streets had once been filled with crowds, pressing against each other in a throng, the front gate now stood silent, without even a mouse.
Occasionally, the sound of opera singers or the sweet sounds of chamber music emanated from within the castle, bringing a festive atmosphere to the otherwise quiet night.
The officers guarding the front gate, enlisted for night duty, were yawning and rubbing their tired eyes.
With the unseasonably warm weather, the cold didn”t bother them as much as before, but the drowsiness was relentless.
The officers, forcing their eyes wide open, one by one, looked down the darkened street.
In the distance, the low rumble of an engine could be heard.
Since the main road to Swan Castle had been closed off from the afternoon, it must be a vehicle coming through a nearby side street.
What had been a passing thought soon shattered into pieces.
The engine noise grew louder, and soon, a faint headlight began to pierce the darkness.
The confused officers signaled for the vehicle to stop shaking their torches fiercely.
However, instead of stopping, the vehicle was rapidly approaching at an even faster pace.
“Stop! Stop right there!”
The officers, unable to stand it any longer, began shouting at the top of their lungs. A few drew their rifles and aimed them into the darkness where the loud engine sound was coming from.
Soon, the red vehicle sliced through the darkness with its headlights shining brightly.
Bang!
Sharp gunshots rang out.
The rifle barrels relentlessly chased the vehicle, and one officer, swinging his torch wildly at the street, threw himself onto the sidewalk just before the crash.
The vehicle, riddled with bullet holes and billowing smoke, finally broke through the closed gates of the castle and disappeared into the fading darkness.
The stunned officers yelled out in panic.
“Contact the main castle right now! Hurry!”
* * *
The castle was immediately thrown into chaos.
The vehicle that had suddenly barged into the garden was battered as if it had crossed a battlefield. It left rough tire marks on the ground before coming to a halt, and then began emitting thick black smoke with a loud rumble.
The Steel Lion Knights, who had received the late notification, drew their weapons and took a defensive stance.
In the midst of the thick smoke, a moving silhouette could be seen. The captain of the knights, who was about to shout a warning to the unidentified intruder, froze in shock.
Walking calmly away from the exploding vehicle was none other than Nix Heidegger.
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