Ellie watched Nil's protective reaction toward Aeren with bewilderment, unable to understand why someone would shield the person who had tormented them. As the hall fell into stunned silence around Aeren's bloody collapse, Ellie felt none of the shock that gripped the other spectators. Instead, when she saw her brother's weakened state, a cold satisfaction filled her—this was the opportunity she had been waiting for, the perfect moment to fulfill the promise she had made to herself.
As the silence stretched across the hall, Ellie spoke clearly, her voice echoing throughout the chamber. "You can leave him here, and I'll allow you to walk away unharmed."
But Nil neither responded nor showed any intention of releasing Aeren. Her eyes remained locked on Ellie while she surveyed their surroundings, noting that the royal guards watched them without intervening.
Something felt deeply wrong about this situation. Nil sensed that everyone in the hall wanted to witness Aeren's end—they were all waiting for some predetermined outcome. She could read this intention in their faces and postures.
They're all just spectators, standing idle and waiting for an outcome, Nil realized with growing unease. If I investigate their motives further, I might uncover something that puts Aeren in even greater danger. Deciding to ignore the crowd's ominous anticipation, she turned her complete attention to Ellie.
Without warning, Ellie sprinted forward, slashing toward the side where Nil held Aeren. A shield materialized around Nil's arm, but her blade cut through both dark and light barriers like butter, shattering them instantly.
Nil was stunned by how easily her defenses crumbled, but she quickly composed herself and leaped backward to create distance. Ellie's knife sliced through the space where Nil had been standing, and for a brief moment, reality itself seemed to tear before instantly sealing.
Nil stared in amazement, struggling to understand the knife's impossible power, though she could sense it originated from Aeren himself. The nobles watched both young women with awe—some had never witnessed abilities like this, while others their age looked on in shock that someone their own age possessed such power. Many began admiring both combatants.
"You took that knife from him and now want to kill him with his own weapon?" Nil asked with flat disbelief. The spectators watched like hawks, hungry for something beyond mere conversation.
"You noticed that just by looking once? Impressive." Ellie's tone suggested she was genuinely surprised that Nil had identified the knife's origin. "I thought you knew nothing about my brother, but it seems you understand him better than I do."
As she finished speaking, Ellie charged again. Nil saw her approach and waited in place. Just before the blade could reach her, Nil teleported away. Ellie slashed empty air and felt her frustration mounting.
Spinning around to face Nil's new position, Ellie snarled, "You could have escaped anywhere with that teleportation, yet you stayed here knowing the danger. Why?"
The crowd turned their attention to Nil, equally puzzled by her seemingly illogical decision.
Looking directly into Ellie's eyes, Nil explained simply, "I can only use it once per year."
"Do you think I'm an idiot?" Ellie spoke with forced calm, though her frustration was surging. She had almost forgotten about Aeren in her growing desire to eliminate Nil.
Nil didn't hide her amusement, allowing the most radiant smile to grace her features. Her blue dress matched her eyes perfectly, and her smile was so breathtaking that even the hall's brilliant decorations seemed dull in comparison. Everyone who glimpsed that smile found themselves unable to look away.
With that enchanting smile still on her lips, Nil commanded, "Light, blind them. Dark, open the door."
Blinding radiance flooded the hall, forcing all spectators to shield their eyes except for Ellie, who kept watching to see Nil escape through a spatial gateway. Ellie observed until the very end but chose not to pursue, realizing it wasn't worth the effort and that she could defend herself if needed.
Nil disappeared from the hall, leaving all witnesses unable to comprehend how she had escaped completely unharmed.
A few moments later...
The brightness faded, allowing everyone to see the hall again. Only Ellie remained standing where the confrontation had taken place—Nil and the prince had vanished entirely.
Whispers began spreading among the nobles:
"A goddess descended and took Prince Aeren away," murmured one noble, so entranced by Nil's smile that he had forgotten her name entirely.
"Don't speak such nonsense! She's no divine being—she kidnapped him!" another noble protested sharply.
"What are you both talking about?" interrupted a young noblewoman, drawing their attention.
"Oh, Lady Lisa! Please forgive us," they both said, bowing respectfully. One explained, "We were so enchanted by that mysterious woman that we couldn't think clearly. Please don't mind our foolish words."
Lady Lisa studied them carefully, sensing their dishonesty but choosing not to pursue their obvious fabrication. Instead, she turned her attention to Princess Ellie and the foreign princess.
"Did you see her abilities? Such power at her age..."
"I heard she's connected to Lord Jarek Umberton who gained colors recently."
"The way she moved—like she belonged to another world entirely."
"Princess Ellie held her own against such power. Truly remarkable."
"But where could they have gone? And why did she take the prince?"
Ellie continued staring at the spot where Nil had vanished, able to guess where she might have gone but knowing she could never find that place even if she followed.
She still couldn't believe Nil possessed the power to reach such a location.
A young man with dark brown hair approached her with concern written across his handsome features. "Are you all right, Princess Ellie?"
Turning to face him, Ellie felt her frustration with the situation but concealed it behind a smile. "No, I'm fine. Thank you, though." She continued, "I should leave now. I need to find them before she does something to my brother."
Prince Sinn Sacaler nodded in agreement with her decision, though his eyes lingered appreciatively on Ellie's beauty. "Very well, Princess Ellie. I'll join your search."
Ellie was shocked by Sinn's offer and couldn't think of any excuse to leave him behind when both Olivia and Jarek approached them.
"Princess Ellie, where is Prince Aeren?" Olivia asked urgently, not noticing the frustration on Ellie's face as she spoke immediately without consideration.
Before Ellie could respond, another voice spoke from behind Olivia. "Ellie, tell me truthfully—what have you done with my Nil?"
Ellie looked confused at both questioners. How could they come from the same place, do nothing but watch, and now suddenly act like they care? She didn't know if answering would change anything, but she studied their expectant faces for a moment.
Exhaling slowly, Ellie spoke in a calm tone despite her lingering frustration with these people who barely grasped the truth of this world. "She escaped before I could stop her, and I don't know where they've gone." Her explanation was direct—she had neither the energy nor the inclination to elaborate further, feeling no obligation to serve as their guardian.
"That's why we want to search for them," Prince Sinn interjected politely with a smile.
Both Olivia and Jarek turned to the prince, feeling unsettled by his inappropriate cheerfulness.
"Why are you smiling, brother? In a situation like this?" Olivia couldn't believe her brother was displaying such levity after witnessing such a serious incident. Jarek shared the same question but remained silent since Olivia had already voiced it.
The prince noticed his expression and stopped smiling, composing himself. "I smile most of the time to help others stay calm." This time his answer came without the smile, his demeanor turning serious.
Everyone noticed the shift in his personality but chose to avoid addressing his apparent instability, instead focusing on finding a solution to their current predicament.