RATBA 57

Chapter 57

I knocked on the door of His Majesty’s study.

Upon hearing the news that Regis was in danger, my first action was to do this.

‘I must tell His Majesty my thoughts immediately. This could be an opportunity.’

Of course, the news that the imperial army was in a precarious situation was not good at all.

But within it, I saw an opportunity.

A shining opportunity that could turn the current frustrating situation on its head in an instant.

“Claudia? What is it, so late at night?”

“Your Majesty, may I have a moment to speak? There is something I must ask you.”

“Hmm? Go ahead.”

“Actually, I heard that the imperial army, led by Regis, is having some… difficulties.”

“Is that so…?”

His Majesty removed his monocle.

Then, he rubbed his tired face with his palm.

“I didn’t want to worry you, but I see you’ve already heard.”

“Yes, so I wanted to ask…”

Before I could speak further, I clenched my fists and steeled myself.

Perhaps after bringing this up, I would be harshly scolded.

But even knowing that, I wanted to speak.

Whether this would be the seed of opportunity or the seed of despair,

I would only know the result after planting it.

“Your Majesty, what if I used the power of the spirit to turn the tide of the war?”

“…What? What did you say?”

“Would that be acknowledged as a contribution of Lord Naitan, possibly aiding in the succession to the throne?”

“Enough!!”

His response was immediate and intense.

His voice rang out loudly.

Just like when he commanded the soldiers on the battlefield.

“Claudia!! I’ve already warned you twice! Never use the spirit’s power!! You seem to think my warnings are trivial!!”

It was the first time I had seen him this angry.

But I didn’t back down.

Staying inside the palace, sipping tea, wouldn’t help anything.

“I never took Your Majesty’s warnings lightly. I simply looked at the reality coldly.”

“…”

“If we continue as we are, the duchy could push us to a dangerous point. This is the reality.”

In truth, it was a dangerous proposal.

I knew that His Majesty intensely disliked the use of spirits, but still, I made this suggestion.

I could already sense that His Majesty’s voice wasn’t calm.

“Claudia.”

I swallowed nervously, then responded to his call.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Leave.”

“…”

“Leave the palace and walk out of here. You are no longer the crown princess.”

My heart felt like it was being torn apart.

Even though I had expected it, it still hurt.

I tried to convince him again, but he cut me off first.

“I’ve treated you specially. I’ve overlooked your mistakes several times. And it wasn’t just because you’re the daughter of a loyal subject.”

“Your Majesty…”

“The bigger reason is because I thought you were a wise child.”

“…”

“I saw great potential in your progress. But it seems it was all an illusion.”

He looked at me with a regretful expression.

“I’ll give you one last chance. Pretend the conversation we just had never happened, apologize, and get rid of that ring you’ve been secretly wearing.”

“…”

“This is really the last chance. I’ve warned you three times. There will be no fourth.”

I silently touched the spirit ring hidden beneath my gloves.

I could feel the power of water within it.

It was a powerful force that could turn the tide of the war.

‘If the empire were in a peaceful state, I could have left this power sealed away. But now…’

Had I not heard that Regis was losing, I would have willingly sealed it away.

If Naitan were in a stable condition, I wouldn’t need to use this power.

“If you truly despise me, I’ll leave the palace on my own. But…”

“…”

“I will not withdraw my words. This power… I cannot give up. If the empire is pushed to the edge, I believe this power will be the only hope.”

He let out a heavy sigh, like a rock pressing down on his chest.

“Even after all I’ve said, you still… Leave. I don’t want to see you anymore.”

I bowed deeply and gave him my final words.

“I truly thank you for leading me warmly all this time. I… will take my leave now.”

He didn’t respond to my farewell.

I left the study, feeling a sense of loneliness.

After closing the door, a bit of regret crept in.

‘If I had said I would give up the spirit, would I have remained the crown princess? Should I have just stayed quiet after hearing that the empire was in danger?’

I had thrown away the title of crown princess, a noble title.

Perhaps it was a foolish choice.

‘No, my choice was right.’

Although this result came, I had done my best.

I made the choice I thought was best.

So, I had no regrets.

‘Someday, everyone will know that I was right.’

With that thought in my heart, I slowly took my steps.

Regis felt like blocking his ears.

The horrible screams were constantly echoing from his side of the battlefield.

‘Damn it! I never expected this to be a trap!’

He thought he was chasing the enemy who was fleeing unguarded, but it turned out to be a trap.

As he chased them frantically, he realized too late that he had already stepped into a trap.

A large number of enemies had ambushed him and suddenly emerged.

“Retreat!”

Regis gave the only command he could at that moment.

To minimize the losses, they had to retreat.

There was no other option.

Immediately, the leader of the imperial knights informed him of an unpleasant fact.

“Your Highness, if we retreat any further, we’ll be…”

“I know there’s nowhere to go!”

They were in a canyon surrounded by cliffs on all sides.

The cliffs behind them were steep and impassable.

But there was no other way.

Even knowing the cliffs were behind them, retreating was the only best option.

It was like a mouse crawling into a trap on its own.

‘Damn, I hope we don’t get completely wiped out!’

Every time he learned about a commander who had wiped out his army in history, Regis would curse.

Such a weak and foolish commander was the true enemy of the empire.

Now, Regis himself was on the verge of being recorded as that weak and foolish commander.

‘This can’t happen…!!’

He prayed fervently for a miracle to reverse the situation while retreating.

On my lonely way back to the duke’s house, after being kicked out of the palace.

Inside the carriage, I sighed more than ten times.

‘This is the path I chose, so there’s no need to be sad or regretful.’

…That’s what I tried to tell myself.

But emotions were not so easily controlled.

‘I never got a chance to properly say goodbye to Naitan…’

He probably didn’t even know I had been kicked out of the palace.

That fact kept stabbing my heart, over and over.

“Sigh…”

I tried to hold it in, but the sadness finally spilled out, running down my cheeks.

It fell onto the hands I had placed on my knees.

Thinking I was alone, I shed tears, quickly wiping my eyes.

At that moment, the fire spirit’s appearance made me angry.

“To appear without warning…!”

Ignoring my complaints, he continued with his own words.

“…”

To my surprise, he materialized and sat beside me.

Then, he reached out and wiped my eyes, brushing away my tears.

The small tear that touched his fingers vanished with a sizzling sound.

Watching that, I suddenly thought of something absurd.

‘Is he feeling sorry for me?’

But then I realized, after hearing his words.

How foolish my thoughts were.

“…”

“Was that the real reason you asked for sacrifices?”

He chuckled, as if to say I was asking a silly question.

“…”

“…”

<You’ll slowly break down, and eventually, you’ll become a madman drowning in insanity. I can’t wait for that day to come.>

After hearing his honest feelings, I was left speechless.

‘I thought he felt pity for me… What a foolish delusion.’

It was ridiculous to think that he had any empathy for me.

“Things won’t go the way you want.”

<You’ll see.>

With that final comment, he disappeared.

Once he was gone, all I was left with was frustration…

To tell my father the truth, I had to brace myself.

How much he had wished for me to become the empress.

And yet, I had been kicked out of the palace after barely lasting a month.

“I’m sorry. There’s been a slight deviation in my plan… I had to return home for a while.”

I told my father everything that had happened.

He remained silent throughout.

The silence was broken by his heavy sigh.

“I remember you promised me that once you were married to the first prince, you’d live well.”

“….”

“And yet, you were kicked out of the palace… You’re tearing my heart apart.”

“I’m sorry… But don’t worry too much. I’m not giving up.”

He sighed heavily again, for what felt like the hundredth time.

“Just tell me this. Why are you so obsessed with spirits?”

Although I had decided to consider him as my father, there were still things I couldn’t tell him.

The most decisive reason for my obsession with spirits had to be hidden.

“I heard that the imperial army led by Regis is in danger. So… I had to bring up the spirit issue, even though I knew His Majesty would be angry.”

“….”

“I started seeking this power because I wanted to make Naitan the emperor, but beyond that, I sincerely wanted to save the empire.”

I stepped a little closer to him, hoping my sincerity would reach him.

“Father. I don’t want to back down like this. I want to prove to His Majesty that this power is useful. So… please allow me.”

“Prove it yourself? Allow you? You’re not serious, are you?”

“Yes. I swear on our family name that I will go to the battlefield myself.”

“….!!”

“I will defeat the cruel Duke Espiar with the spirit’s power and prove that I wasn’t wrong.”

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, my father’s silence felt heavier than ever. I could feel his confusion and worry clouding his features.

“You’re talking about the Duke of Espiar…”

“Yes. I will use the power of the spirits to defeat him, and then no one will be able to question my intentions anymore.”

My father didn’t say a word for a long time. His eyes were fixed on me, studying my face, as if trying to determine whether I was speaking out of desperation or conviction.

Finally, he sighed again, the weight of it pressing down on both of us.

“Claudia… Do you even understand what you’re saying? The power you are talking about… it’s not just something that can be wielded without consequences.”

“I do understand. And I’ve accepted the consequences. But I won’t stand idly by while the empire crumbles.”

His eyes softened for just a moment. “I see. You’ve already made up your mind.”

“I have.”

After a long pause, he finally spoke again, but his voice was quieter now, filled with resignation.

“Very well, Claudia. If this is the path you have chosen, then I will not stop you. But know this—there’s no turning back once you walk down this road.”

“I understand, Father. I’ll make sure to prove that this is the right choice.”

His expression tightened again, a mixture of worry and pride.

“Do not forget, Claudia, the power of the spirits is both a blessing and a curse. Use it wisely, or it will consume you.”

“I will be careful, Father.”

I turned to leave, but just as I reached the door, my father called out to me one last time.

“Claudia… You may be my daughter, but this time, I cannot protect you. You must protect yourself, and if you fail, you will have to live with the consequences of your actions.”

I nodded without turning back, the weight of his words sinking deep into my heart. The door closed softly behind me, and I was left standing in the hallway, feeling the heavy responsibility that now rested on my shoulders.

As I walked away from my father’s chambers, I couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of determination and fear. There was no going back now.

The choice had been made, and the path I was on could lead to either salvation or destruction.

Back on the battlefield, Regis was struggling against the overwhelming tide of enemies. His heart raced as the situation continued to spiral out of control.

“Damn it! How could this have turned into a trap?” Regis cursed under his breath.

He had thought he was closing in on the enemy’s retreat, but instead, he had walked straight into an ambush. A massive force of enemies had emerged from the shadows, surrounding his forces.

“Retreat!” Regis ordered, his voice hoarse with desperation. He knew there was no other choice. The enemy’s numbers were too great to face head-on.

His men scrambled to obey, but even as they retreated, the enemy pressed hard, determined to drive them into a corner.

“Your Highness, if we retreat further, the cliffside is ahead!” one of his knights warned, panic rising in his voice.

“I know!” Regis snapped, gritting his teeth. “We have no other option. We must keep retreating, even if it means being cornered. It’s the only way to survive.”

Regis’s mind raced. Was this really the end for him and his men? Was his army destined to be wiped out here?

But in that moment, amidst the chaos and confusion, Regis refused to give up. He couldn’t afford to.

‘I can’t go down like this… not yet. There has to be a way. We can’t let the enemy win like this.’

He clutched his sword tighter, focusing on the small, seemingly impossible hope that still burned in his chest. He would fight until the last moment. If a miracle could happen, he would seize it.

Meanwhile, in the carriage heading back to the duke’s estate, Claudia struggled to keep her composure. The decision she had made weighed heavily on her heart, but there was no turning back now.

‘This was my choice. I won’t regret it, no matter what happens.’

Yet, despite her words, she couldn’t stop the tears from falling. The pain of leaving the palace, the uncertainty of what lay ahead, and the heavy responsibility on her shoulders made it hard to breathe.

‘I couldn’t even say goodbye to Naitan…’

She hadn’t been able to see him, to tell him the truth of what had happened. He didn’t even know she had been exiled from the palace.

The thought of him not knowing, of him being left in the dark about her fate, made her heart ache with a sharp pain.

‘I hope he’s alright. I hope he understands why I had to do this.’

But as the tears fell, she quickly wiped them away, determined not to show weakness.

She heard a soft voice in her mind, the voice of the fire spirit that had been with her from the beginning.

You are foolish to cry, Claudia.

Claudia couldn’t help but scoff bitterly at the spirit’s words.

“Foolish? Maybe. But it’s hard not to feel something after all that’s happened.”

You still don’t understand, do you? You’re just one step away from embracing madness. Don’t you see? The path you’ve chosen will consume you.

Claudia’s mind swirled with confusion, but she refused to let the spirit’s words control her.

“I will make it through this. I will prove that this was the right choice, no matter what it takes.”

The fire spirit’s laughter echoed in her mind.

We shall see, Claudia. We shall see.

With that, the spirit faded, leaving Claudia alone with her thoughts.

Back at the duke’s estate, Claudia knew her journey was far from over. She had set her path, and the empire’s future now rested on her shoulders. Whatever happened next, she would face it head-on, without fear.

As the carriage rumbled toward the estate, Claudia’s resolve solidified. There was no turning back. The battle for the empire—and her own future—had just begun.