The Only Choice Is to Come Find You

The imperial capital of the Elschweig Empire, Bahaborden.

And among it, the central plaza—packed with hundreds, no, thousands of people.

Standing among the crowd shouting loud enough to hurt one’s ears, Kyle stared intensely at the stage in the plaza.

And finally— his eyes met Riela’s.

Just as I thought. You recognize me.

Kyle felt overwhelmed.

It was only for a brief moment, but he clearly felt his soul connect with Riela’s.

I felt like I was dying.

Kyle let out a heavy breath.

Just meeting your eyes makes me feel like I can live again.

The long journey to reach this place had been worth it.

Riela… how strong your power has become.

Compared to when they spent time together as children—

and even compared to when they met at the imperial banquet—

Riela’s power had grown much stronger.

She was like a fully blooming flower.

Not only beautiful enough to draw every gaze,

but also giving off a dizzying fragrance that filled the air.

Of course, only two people here could sense that fragrance.

Kyle himself— and the arrogant Emperor standing beside her.

Herhan.

Kyle glared at the Emperor, who immediately pulled Riela into his arms and looked around cautiously.

Then Kyle lowered his head and slipped away from the crowd.

He took a carriage to the outskirts of Bahaborden and entered a random inn, collapsing onto the bed.

He was exhausted.

But he had recovered enough strength to use his ability once more.

Just seeing Riela from afar had been enough.

Just once more. who should I use?

The King of Aran, who immediately changed sides after being threatened by Emperor Herhan?

Or one of the alliance officers who had already fled as things turned bad?

The greatest obstacle was Archbishop Ludovico.

But he was protected by the barrier of the Central Temple and couldn’t be controlled.

In that case, the next best choice was— Princess Greta.

And the useless thugs currently traveling with her.

I’ll deal with them all at once.

Kyle buried himself into the bed and closed his eyes.

Goodbye, Princess.

You were a completely useless card.

* * *

Pim and Derek complained without stopping.

They didn’t like the makeshift hideout they had found.

But what irritated them even more was the sick person they had been forced to take care of.

“If she was going to go crazy, she could’ve done it quietly! Because she struggled like that, we even lost the horse!”

“Why don’t we just kill her already?”

Pim snapped at Derek, then spat on the ground.

The black-haired princess.

No— not even a princess anymore.

Just a crazy woman.

Who knew what kind of karma she had accumulated in life?

Greta had been stabbed by the man who used to be her lover.

Since then, she had completely lost her mind.

Sometimes she laughed wildly like a madwoman. Other times, she collapsed like a lifeless doll.

“But what can we do? If we were ordered to take her outside the temple, it must mean she’s important to the plan.”

These men had no kindness.

Yet they had still treated her wounds, calmed her down, and dragged her here while escaping.

“All I know is we follow orders. When have we ever understood the higher-ups’ plans?”

“They said if we hide, they’ll tell us where to move next. But those bastards haven’t contacted us at all.”

The comrade who left to receive orders from their superiors had disappeared days ago.

He had run away to save himself.

They had even considered begging the temple for help.

But that failed too.

Bishop Ludovico told them not to come near the temple for a while.

Instead, he gave them some money and jewels so they could survive temporarily and then drove them away.

“Damn it. How did things end up like this?”

Pim and Derek cursed while drinking the alcohol they had bought with their remaining money.

Night came quickly in the mountains.

One drink from frustration.

Another drink from complaining about their miserable lives.

Soon they were completely drunk.

“Hey, Pim.”

“What?”

Derek nudged his companion with his foot.

Pim glanced toward the direction Derek pointed while taking another drink.

Greta lay thrown on the bare ground.

She occasionally gasped for breath.

The wound they had roughly treated had clearly worsened.

“She looks like she’ll die soon even if we don’t touch her.”

“Yeah.”

The two men chuckled without a hint of sympathy.

Then they staggered to their feet.

“Guess we’ll have to clean up a corpse tomorrow morning. What a pain. Let’s sleep.”

They threw away the empty bottle and went into the cabin.

* * *

Greta lay on the damp ground, staring up at the dark night sky.

Maybe this will be the last sky I ever see.

As that thought came to her mind, her consciousness slowly faded.

Tears were a luxury.

Greta never believed she had lived a life worthy of such romance.

After her heavy eyelids finally closed— She suddenly rose again.

Like a completely different person.

Her wound resisted painfully, but Greta lowered her head slightly and stood up without hesitation.

Blood flowed from the infected wound.

But she showed no reaction.

As if she couldn’t feel pain at all.

Greta walked slowly to the cabin and opened the door.

The two men were snoring loudly, unaware she had even gotten up.

She limped inside and searched through their bag.

From it, she took the jewel Bishop Ludovico had given them.

Then she walked back outside.

–Crackle.

The only sound in the silent night was the burning campfire.

The wind blew emptily.

Sometimes bushes rustled nearby.

There were probably wild animals nearby.

But it didn’t matter.

Once this cabin burned down— everyone here would go to the other world together.

“….”

Greta approached the fire and stared at the red flames.

Then she picked up a burning log.

And threw it into the cabin where the men were sleeping.

The wound tore open further from the strain.

But Greta didn’t even change her expression.

The straw the men used for warmth caught fire instantly.

The small fry are taken care of.

Now next.

Greta threw the jewel into the fire.

Then— just as she was about to throw her own body into the flames—

“Stop!”

A black figure suddenly jumped out from the bushes.

Several people grabbed Greta’s arms and legs, restraining her.

Others surrounded the area.

Some rushed into the burning cabin and dragged the men out.

Dozens of soldiers moved in perfect coordination.

Ah. So this is how it ends.

Greta sighed softly.

Bootsteps approached her where she knelt on the ground.

“Meeting again.”

A man wearing leather boots and a black cloak stood before her.

His eyes shone coldly.

How unfortunate.

This was someone she never wanted to see again.

“Should I say I’m happy to see you?”

The man standing before Greta—

Herhan— said that.

But he did not call her by the name Greta.

Because he knew the one he faced was not truly Greta.

* * *

“What should we do, Your Majesty?”

Asion added further details while reporting that Greta had been found.

“Two men believed to be servants of the alliance are with former Princess Greta. She appears severely injured, and the men seem to be wandering between cabins in the forest.”

“If you give the order, we can arrest them immediately. Eric is ready to carry out a summary execution.”

“No. Tell them to hide nearby and wait.”

Unlike the excited Asion, who wanted to eliminate Greta immediately, Herhan remained calm.

“Greta must be captured alive. There will definitely be important clues about the alliance in her memories.”

“But if we wait too long, she might end up like Duke Sion or that soldier.”

“Then I should go myself.”

The one who answered was Riela.

“If Greta is being controlled, I’m the only one who can release her.”

She clenched her fists.

Hating someone was a terrible feeling.

But now— she didn’t even feel that hatred toward Greta anymore.

“I want to see it myself.”

“What kind of state she’s in.”

Herhan placed his large hand over Riela’s trembling fist.

Riela took a deep breath.

And prepared herself for the final conclusion.

* * *

In front of the soldiers surrounding Greta, Riela stepped forward.

Her red hair flowed gently behind her.

Until now, Greta had been completely motionless.

But suddenly her body trembled.

More precisely— Kyle’s soul inside Greta trembled.

“I don’t know who you are. But I already know all your tricks.”

Riela’s voice rang clearly.

Just like the voice Kyle remembered from childhood.

So fragile— yet always trying her best to help him.

“We’re taking Greta back now.”

Riela stepped closer.

“This woman shouldn’t die so easily here.”

Kyle looked up and stared at her.

Riela met his gaze boldly.

She hadn’t recognized him when he possessed Karnel.

She hadn’t suspected him when he controlled Duke Sion.

She had been confused when it happened to the soldier.

But now—

“Aren’t you embarrassed?”

She even knew how to warn him.

“Is hiding behind other people the only way you know how to fight?”

She reached out and grabbed Greta’s chin.

“How about showing your real self next time?”

Greta’s pupils—once like an abyss of darkness—shook violently.

Then suddenly— light returned.

Red filled her wide-open eyes.

Whether it was Riela’s light— or Greta’s bloody tears.

“You…”

“Yes, Princess.”

Riela answered softly.

“Have you finally come back?”

Greta’s lips trembled.

Her mind had returned.

And with it, the pain of her body.

But the pain of her torn soul hurt even more.

Fabian had torn her soul apart.

And now she had to look at the woman he tried to protect even while destroying himself.

“Princess.”

Riela spoke gently.

“Let’s finally end our terrible connection.”

* * *

Kyle suddenly jolted upright from the bed.

At the same time violent nausea surged up his throat.

Blackened blood burst from his mouth.

For a moment he thought— he might die like this.

He had only barely recovered enough strength to use his power once.

He never expected to be expelled again by Antu’s power.

“Why not show your real self next time?”

Kyle clawed at the floor in pain.

His heart burned.

He couldn’t tell if the pain came from his body— or from his obsession with Riela.

You still call me first. If that’s what you want…

Then there was only one choice.

To survive—he would have to come find her himself.

* * *