The moon was beginning to wane. At this point, it was clear they wouldn’t reach the palace by tonight. Pointing this out, Ail waited for Leysha’s response as their eyes met.
“I told Ruth to escape. This is the only chance. If you don’t want the prince, if this isn’t what the child wants, I told him to leave. I alone have made the mistake.”
As she explained, Ail’s golden eyes began to shine fiercely. Even with the cold, murderous gaze, Leysha calmly met Ail’s eyes. Ail could have ordered her death right then and there, but he was barely holding back the words rising in his throat.
“I will discuss the two of them after I find Ruth. As for this matter, I’ll have to speak with the Chancellor of the Kaizel family. If we don’t find Ruth by sunrise, there will be consequences.”
It was a clear threat. Ail was truly unwilling to forgive Leysha and Leia for siding with Ruth. As he quietly observed their faces, Leysha looked at him with pity in her eyes. Seeing that expression, Ail felt a surge of emotion. In a fleeting moment, his face revealed his inner turmoil, but Leysha lowered her gaze and spoke quietly.
“If you want that child, you won’t achieve it this way. I know, because he’s my son. He pushes back against those who approach him with force. But if you treat him kindly and gently, he’ll give everything to you. The more you try to hold him, the more he’ll try to escape. He won’t be able to bear the pressure from others.”
“That’s none of your concern.”
“It’s my son’s business.”
“No, he is mine. You have no right to interfere.”
Ail coldly cut her off and stood up. Before he left, Leysha spoke one last time.
“Ruth will resist if you try to oppress him with force. Keep that in mind.”
Ignoring her quiet voice, Ail left the room. He gave orders to the waiting knights to keep watch over them and, grinding his teeth, descended the stairs.
“I won’t let this go.”
He couldn’t forgive Ruth for humiliating him like this and betraying his trust. If he caught him this time, he would kill him.
He would kill him, without fail.
For whatever reason, the man who tormented him would die. The reason didn’t matter.
The pain he felt when he realized Ruth was gone was something he could never forget. He could never go through this kind of suffering again. And he couldn’t contain this anger either. This was the first time in his life that he experienced such emotional turmoil.
It was painful and loud.
His head and chest felt like they were going to explode from the anger and pain.
So he would eradicate the source of that pain.
He would kill him, without fail.
This time, for sure… he would kill him.
“Block every route from the capital to Vera. Prioritize blocking all the paths where the military isn’t stationed. They are people who know the exact locations of the capital’s soldiers.”
After giving the command to another knight who followed him, Ail left the Kaizel mansion and boarded the waiting carriage. As the carriage door closed, he issued one final order.
“Ruth Kaizel must be captured alive. The others can die. Bring him to me. As long as he’s still breathing, I don’t care. Cut off a limb if you have to, just bring him to me.”
The knight hesitated for a moment but then bowed respectfully and replied.
“I will follow your orders.”
With the knight’s response, the carriage door closed. The carriage slowly started moving, leaving the Kaizel mansion behind.
It was a particularly cloudy night.

The moon had already begun to wane. As Ruth ran along the mountain path, he looked at Erita, who was running ahead with excitement, and felt relieved. He had been worried that she might tire first, but she seemed to have more stamina than expected.
At this pace, they could probably reach the border with Vera by tomorrow morning. Although the Virel region was vast, if they continued running nonstop at this speed, it seemed entirely possible. By now, Ail would have realized he was gone. He might have sent out his soldiers in anger, but it was already too late for them to follow.
If they hadn’t been discovered by now, there was no need to worry about the soldiers. The real problem was the private soldiers of the Kaizel family spread throughout the Virel region. Ruth had planned to pass through areas where he could use his name, but he was also prepared for any unforeseen situations and had his sword ready.
While Ruth was crouching and running swiftly, a sudden arrow flew through the air, stopping his horse. It wasn’t a volley of arrows, just a single warning shot. As Ruth stopped, Elsen and Erita also halted and looked for the direction from which the arrow had come. In the dark, deep within the mountains, they relied on the faint moonlight to locate the arrow lodged in the ground, and in the distance, they saw torches burning from the mountainside.
It was the capital’s soldiers.
They had stopped at the mountainside and were signaling something with their torches. It seemed there were soldiers waiting below. Their pursuit was faster than expected.
Hearing the sound of hooves from far away, Ruth spoke in a low voice without looking back at Elsen.
“Elsen, Erita. Run.”
“What about you?”
“Go ahead. I need to check something.”
“But…”
“Don’t worry, just go. You’ll reach Vera by tomorrow morning. Go find Kasha. He’ll protect you.”
“Ruth, I can’t leave you behind.”
Elsen tried to turn his horse, but Ruth spoke firmly again.
“Don’t worry. I’ll catch up soon. That person no longer has the right to catch me.”
“Ruth?”
“Go now. Erita, pull Elsen along. Don’t look back, just keep running.”
Since Elsen probably wouldn’t listen, Ruth spoke to Erita, who nodded and then grabbed Elsen’s arm. Elsen looked at Erita with an awkward expression, and he turned to Ruth to say his farewell.
“I’m sorry. And thank you.”