Eaten By The Tyrant I Raised

His hand tightened so much it turned pale.

The sorcerer’s tower.

Certainly, among those inside, there must have been the one who cast that explosive magic.

Since it had already exploded, there would be no evidence.
That’s why they must have committed such a daring crime.

It was clear they did it because they didn’t know the abilities of the Iberian royal family.

Nabel’s lips twisted.
Even if they hid the evidence, he was someone who could identify the culprit.

[Tak!]

Before long, the flames reached the 8th floor.

The fire had spread rapidly and reached the 7th floor.
It was as if Lorna was being chased by the fire.

Thick smoke billowed, covering the 8th floor in pitch blackness.
The light was barely visible.

“…Lady.”

You don’t have to be the owner of a divine beast.

You don’t need such a title.

Nabel’s gaze remained fixed on the rooftop of the tower.

Just come down safely.

At that moment, a bright fire burst forth on the 9th floor of the tower.

***

“Cough.”

The smoke irritated my eyes, causing them to sting.
Even when I buried my face in the folds of my veil, it made no difference.
I could feel my head growing dizzy.

In my attire, black soot, carried by the wind, had left its mark.

[9th Floor]

Lorna’s gaze lifted to the wooden planks above.

We had reached the very top floor.

Creak.

As Belle took a few more steps, the ceiling, enchanted to respond to her magical presence, swung open wide.

Ascending the connected staircase, we arrived directly on the rooftop.

“…”

Naturally, the higher we ascended, the cooler the air should have become.

Yet what brushed against Lorna’s body was the residual heat of the flames, which pursued us all the way from the floor below.

“…”

Lorna tightly gripped Belle’s fur.
It was inevitable for her hands to tremble with anxiety.

She despised being chased.

She let out a short breath, only to have her face enveloped by the acrid smoke.

[“Kwaang!”]

The charred remains of Lady Rida’s childhood residence.

“It’s all because of you!”

Though Lady Rida had wielded the magic, everything was blamed on Lorna.
It seemed like she had escaped from the furious spells of Lady Rida many times in her childhood.

[“Kyak!”]

If it hadn’t been only the maids who perished in the wicked magic, Lorna would have kept on running.

In the spot where she barely evaded the lightning strike, there was a maid who had recently joined the mansion.

She was still a commoner maid who hadn’t heard the proper rumours about her.

“…”

Being embraced by magic seemed more desirable than being pursued.

Hence, she had given up even running away when she saw the Countess.

Memories from that time kept boiling up incessantly.

Like thickening black smoke obscuring her vision, the memories dominated her mind.

“Yaaang!”

At that moment, the sound of a bell echoed through the rooftop.

And a clean breeze spread out from Lorna’s center.

With a swift motion, heat and pungent smoke disappeared in an instant.

Lorna believed that the wind came down from the sky.
The bell, faintly shining, wagged its tail as if reassuring her.
Lorna hugged the bell.

[Thunk]

As if having read her mind, the bell stood at the edge of the rooftop.
Perhaps it was easier to jump from there, as there were no railings on the rooftop.

The lower levels were still ablaze.
The rapidly spreading flames seemed to reach the ninth floor soon.

The heat was being blocked by the blue barrier created by the bell, but there was no time.

“…”

—Hooong.

The wind blew once again, clearing away the smoke in front of her eyes.

And among the bustling crowd below, people caught Lorna’s attention.

Among them, the one at the forefront wore a crimson cloak.

With his radiant blonde hair, he gazed intently in Lorna’s direction, as if seeing through her.

His expression was not visible from afar.
However, knights dressed in black beside him were visibly exerting great effort to keep him at bay.

“…Navel.”

He was keeping his promise.
He would watch over her until the end.
He would watch over her until she came down.

“…”

Lorna looked down below.

Beyond the flames that were visible up close, the ground was pitch black far beneath.
No one could survive jumping from here with their bare bodies.

[Kkiing]

Then, the bell bumped its face against Lorna’s cheek.

She trusted the bell.
And she trusted Navel.

“…There’s no other way.”

Her heart trembled even though she knew.

Standing at the edge of the rooftop, the gusts of wind on the ninth floor swirled her hair wildly.
No magician could penetrate this wind on the ninth floor and use flight magic.

Except for divine beings.

“…”

She trembled.

It was evident that someone had her in their sights.
Had there been any exploding devices, the nobles or sorcerers would have surely spoken about them.

Even if she were to jump from here, whether she survived or not, that someone would continue to target her.

“There’s no need to be tense,” she reassured herself.

She imagined the faint whisper of Nabel’s voice.

And the gentle touch that brushed against her clothes.

The ticking time had escalated her apprehension in a different way, but the fear of the exam was sufficiently alleviated.

If she descended from this place, she would be able to see Nabel.

Together, they would overcome the dangers and defeat all those who set their sights on us, allowing us to be happier than in our younger days.

“Belle,” Lorna beckoned.
Belle lowered herself, offering her a ride.

…

As Lorna looked down below, she recalled a desire she had long forgotten since childhood.

Afraid that the sweetness that wasn’t granted every day would disappear quickly and she would never have it again, the girl who used to wrap herself in fear was no longer there.

She cherished the time she spent with Nabel.

And she didn’t want to part with him again.

This was a step toward that.
She tightly held onto Belle.

Belle lifted her foot into the empty air.

Lorna’s gaze shifted sharply downward.