I Was Told to Drink Poison, So I Drank It - 42 - Day of Darkness ②
We decided to go outside once.
I had been wondering where we were, but as soon as we stepped outside, I realized the location.
It was a house on a hill near the forest, on the outskirts of the royal capital. It was probably a house that Noah had personally purchased. It might have been a hideout or a base.
As we stepped outside, Noah and I both gasped in shock.
There was black mist—mana—spread throughout the royal capital. If a person without holy power came into contact with it, they would quickly be contaminated by the mana.
The fate of those contaminated by mana was grim. Decay would begin at their fingertips, and eventually, their limbs would rot away.
In the end, the person contaminated by mana would die. A slow death was inevitable, which is why mana was feared by the people.
“What is this…?” I muttered, in a hoarse voice, stunned.
The scene before me seemed unreal.
The city gates were no longer functioning, and they were left wide open. The guards who were supposed to protect them had likely fled. Through the gates, the magical beasts were pouring in like a flood.
The black beasts were gathered in groups here and there, and the town below the castle was now a ruin.
While I was still in shock, Noah took a step forward, almost stumbling.
“Noah…” I said, instinctively looking at him.
He was silently gazing down at the town below.
His eyes were not filled with despair or resignation.
Instead, he was looking down with strong, pale blue eyes.
Seeing that, I realized something.
Noah had not given up.
He was still thinking of ways to overcome this.
In that case, if that’s the case…
I called his name again.
“Noah.”
Noah looked up, as though startled, his eyes shaking in confusion.
I too took a step forward. I could hear the grass rustling beneath my feet.
“I’ll hold them off,” I said.
“What are you saying…?” he began to ask.
“While I’m doing that, Noah, you finish preparing for the revolution,” I cut him off with a strong voice.
Noah’s eyes were filled with unease.
“But you’re still recovering! You’re not fully healed yet. Chalize, you should stay in a safe place.”
“Noah, you understand, don’t you?” I said firmly.
He had been desperately trying to argue, but when I said that, he swallowed his words.
He knew it too.
That I wouldn’t back down.
That I wouldn’t run away. That I couldn’t run away.
That’s why he was trying so hard to speak up.
After a brief hesitation, Noah bit his lip.
He looked down, his lashes lowered, and then he spoke.
“The number of magical beasts is unlike anything we’ve seen before. You can’t handle it alone.”
“Completely wiping them out… is probably impossible. But I think I can weaken them and drive them off. Noah, what should you be doing now?”
“Chalize, I…” he started.
“You’re going to be king, right? Noah Victoire!!”
I said strongly to him, who still seemed hesitant.
Noah gasped and widened his eyes at my shouted words.
His pale blue eyes, like a vivid spring sky, were staring at me.
I kept my gaze on his face and his eyes, then continued.
“You are going to defeat Henry, take the throne, and sit on the royal seat! If that’s the case, you can’t afford to hesitate now. If you’re going to be the king of Victoire, you must not be swayed by something like this and make mistakes in your judgment! Noah, as the king of Victoire, what should you be doing now?”
When I questioned him, Noah seemed to be at a loss for words.
It seemed like he had been struck, as though someone had slapped him across the face.
“─……….”
After a moment, he lowered his lashes.
“Sorry, Chalize,” he finally said.
Noah looked at me again, and when I saw his eyes, I was certain.
His resolve had already been made.
“I can’t let any more victims fall to the mana. In my name, I will issue an evacuation order.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll leave the magical beasts to you. But you don’t have to eliminate them completely. Just stop their movements, or at least drive them away. I will go to the temple and check if there’s anyone left from the saintess’ group. After that…”
Noah stopped speaking there.
I nodded in agreement.
Noah looked at me with strong determination in his eyes.
“I will invade the castle. Once I quickly gain the throne, I’ll move the army to counter the magical beasts.”
His pale blue eyes were like flames burning with high heat.
At that, I smiled.
“Right now, what I need is time. Chalize, I’m going now. …I trust you.”
That was probably the best Noah could say in his current state.
He probably wanted to tell me to run away.
He probably wanted to tell me not to push myself too hard.
But he couldn’t say that.
Because he was going to be the king of Victoire.
As a king, he could not afford to make mistakes in his judgment for the people and the country.
I appreciated his concern, his care, but I too had a duty and responsibility as a former queen.
More than that, I loved this country, Victoire.
Noah and I shared the same feelings.
For the country, to protect Victoire.
We had to act.
“Okay, Noah. I’ll see you later.”