The Runaway Maid is Loved by the Archmage - Chapter 36
Roina turned her head. At the end of her gaze, there was a knight, blood dripping from him, his head lowered. Whether he had heard her words or not, he slowly raised his head, his blurry eyes slowly blinking.
“Ethan, can you move?”
Ethan nodded. Roina looked at Maili. Maili, looking as if she had a headache, pressed her hand to her forehead.
“Ugh, is it really the time to be worrying about others?”
Maili said that, but still grabbed Roina’s hand and helped her move as she wished. Roina staggered and reached out toward Ethan.
“Ethan, if you can move, come with me. If we stay here, we’ll die.”
“……”
The loyal knight, looking at her hand, was speechless for a moment. He stared into Roina’s clear eyes. It was the first time he had seen her with such shining eyes. In that instant, he felt a strong desire to hold her hand. But soon, he shook his head.
“……I will stay here.”
“Huh?”
Before Roina could respond, Maili let out a snort, as if in disbelief. Ethan continued calmly.
“If it weren’t for Your Highness, I would already be dead. My life belongs to Prince Roberto.”
He spoke with a neutral, detached expression, but it almost seemed like he found reassurance in his own words, as if he had no attachments left except to her.
“So, please don’t worry about me, and go quickly. Your Highness the Crown Prince is blessed by the Dragon, and he will wake up soon.”
Roina was left speechless, staring at Ethan. He was the first person in this world to show her something that could be called love between a man and a woman, yet she had to leave him behind after he betrayed her trust like this—it was a painful thing to do.
But Ethan’s resolve was firm. Maili, holding Roina’s shoulder, shook her head. Roina bit her lip, and with a heavy heart, she turned away, leaving Ethan behind.
***
When she came out of the dark room with Maili, the vast room of the Imperial Crown Prince unfolded. In one corner of the room, a bright blue light flowed from the pillar she remembered, filling the room.
It was a warm, liquid-like energy—it was him. Even without seeing it, Roina could feel it. She instinctively understood that the magic, which had sprouted previously, had taken root and permeated the Crown Prince’s room, and now, at last, it had blossomed fully, splitting the space.
“It’s amazing, no matter how many times I see it,” she heard Maili muttering beside her. Roina briefly thought that Maili seemed to have changed in a strangely carefree way.
“Well, I don’t quite understand, but…”
Suddenly aware, Maili cleared her throat and spoke again in a somewhat prim voice. This seemed to be more of a facade.
“If you pass through this blue light, you’ll be transported to the Tower of the Archmage.”
“…I see.”
Before Maili spoke, Roina had already understood in her mind. She had known that the space would lead to the owner of this blue mana. She only now realized that the person was the Archmage. After all, someone capable of controlling mana so freely was rare.
‘Then, what about me…?’
That thought rose in Roina’s confused mind but she quickly dismissed it. The answer would come soon enough.
As Roina and Maili, or rather, as Maili, who was supporting Roina, approached the “Gate” from which the blue light was spilling out, she suddenly lifted Roina up and took large steps forward.
“Who do you think you are, daring to stab me and run away?”
A voice trembling with anger was heard.
The Imperial Crown Prince had appeared. Covered in blood, dressed in his battle attire, the Crown Prince staggered behind them, his eyes glowing. This time, the black aura was swirling dangerously around Roberto.
Roina felt a chill again. She didn’t know what that black aura was, but she instinctively sensed its danger. The space, which had been consumed by the blue light for a moment, began to tremble uneasily, and cracks appeared in the door that had opened with the blue light, making the space shrink.
“Tch.”
Maili clicked her tongue and then jumped up. She seemed ready to run, avoiding the black aura. But the Crown Prince was not far behind. The black aura extended like a massive shadow toward them. Like a serpent, the energy was about to devour Maili’s ankle, tearing and gnashing at it.
In fact, the moment the black energy touched Maili’s ankle, it turned black and twisted. In an instant, her golden hair scattered in the air as Maili collapsed.
Bang! Bang!
As Maili fell, Roina also collapsed.
“…!!!”
Roina wanted to call Maili’s name, but conscious of the Crown Prince, she only opened her mouth without speaking.
Maili shouted forcefully.
“Go!!”
Suddenly, Roina’s pupils contracted. The moment Maili shouted, the shadows distorted.
“Gah!”
With a final gasp, the Crown Prince’s waist twisted. Behind him, Ethan’s body was thrown forward, crashing into the Crown Prince.
Maili didn’t miss the opportunity, quickly grabbing Roina’s waist and leaping into the blue light of the Gate.
“Ethan!!”
Through the closing blue Gate, the rigid knight, pierced by the Crown Prince’s sword, could be seen being consumed by the darkness. Even as he disappeared, his lips moved, as if saying something.
“Go.”
That was likely what he said. A single tear fell from Roina’s eye.
