The Abandoned Princess, Yet She Is Loved - Chapter 113

“Ugh…”

 

A groan escaped from Grace’s lips.

 

I can’t do this on my own…

 

The mages were gathering mana and launching attacks, but Felixius was blocking them all with just one hand.

 

This won’t work…

 

Then, a figure flashed through her mind.

 

The bird she had seen in the Sertil territory. A divine beast of unknown name. If she could fight alongside it, perhaps she could defeat the Emperor of the Bahorne Empire.

 

It carries Ennis’s energy…

 

The bird that had affectionately called out the name of the fox divine beast she had cared for. But Grace had no idea how to summon it.

 

Please, help me.

 

Even though she knew it was useless, she prayed silently.

 

Help me, I can’t do this alone.

 

If the standoff dragged on any longer, she might be overwhelmed and killed by Felixius. She was already nearing her limit—her legs trembled, her forehead was drenched in sweat, and she was on the verge of collapse.

 

Then it happened. Between the two locked in a standoff, a thunderous force struck from above. Both Grace and Felixius looked up at the sky.

 

“What… is that?”

 

“What… what is this?”

 

They spoke almost in unison, both confused, halting their attacks.

 

Mysterious white forms were flying toward them. It didn’t take long to make out their shapes as they approached at incredible speed.

 

Leading the group was the massive bird Grace had seen in the Sertil lands. Behind it, a giant stag with antlers and a coiled serpent moved through the air, as if running or swimming through the sky.

 

“…My god.”

 

A gasp escaped Grace.

 

“You came… to help me.”

 

From the energy radiating off them, she immediately recognized them as other divine beasts. She hadn’t known where they were, only that they were far away. So how had they come here so quickly?

 

Just from her silent plea? What were these beings?

 

While Grace was still dazed, the divine beasts turned their gazes toward Felixius.

 

“You… you beasts. You were nowhere to be found before, and now this?”

 

Felixius glared, eyes wide, at the sudden appearance of the divine beasts.

 

[So, you’ve managed to mimic our power by sacrificing life.]

 

A low voice echoed from the direction of the bird.

 

[But one cannot face us all alone.]

 

“You filthy creatures!”

 

[You… are the one who killed Ennis.]

 

Felixius didn’t answer, only trembled with rage as he stared at the bird.

 

[Not that it matters now.]

 

The bird turned to glance at the other divine beasts. In the very next moment, their attacks shot toward Felixius in unison.

 

Unable to handle the simultaneous barrage, Felixius threw up a shield instead of retaliating.

 

Watching the divine beasts attack, Grace snapped back to attention and joined in, striking Felixius’s barrier. Not long after their assault began, cracks slowly started to form in the barrier, like an egg beginning to break.

 

“……”

 

Felixius clenched his teeth, trying to restore the shield. But he no longer had the upper hand like he had before.

 

It didn’t last long.

 

With a loud shattering sound, the barrier completely broke apart. Before he could dodge, the divine beasts’ attacks pierced straight through his body.

 

“GAAAAH!”

 

Felixius screamed in agony as the divine beasts continued their relentless assault.

 

“AARGHHH!”

 

His screams went on and on, until foam began to spill from his mouth. His eyes rolled back, his limbs convulsed violently, then fell limp.

 

It’s over.

 

Grace no longer felt the flow of quantum energy from Felixius.

 

He’s dead.

 

She could sense it—his life force had vanished.

 

Felixius’s limp body plummeted to the ground. Grace, watching it fall, turned to the divine beasts.

 

“Th–thank you!”

 

She bowed repeatedly. Without them, she would never have been able to defeat Felixius.

 

[With this, the debt from last time is repaid.]

 

The bird’s voice resonated through the air once again.

 

[Bearer of Ennis’s spirit.]

 

“Thank you, thank you! Truly, thank you!”

 

No matter how many times she said it, it didn’t feel like enough. The divine beasts silently looked at her for a moment, then slowly turned and soared back into the sky.

 

Just like before…

 

They disappeared without a hint of attachment—just like the last time.

 

It’s finally… over.

 

Her body gave out. Grace slowly sank to the ground.

 

“Lady Winstaine!”

 

Before her feet could even touch down, she collapsed to the floor. Those nearby rushed to her side.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

Duke Balkan caught her and supported her body.

 

“You did well! Are you hurt?”

 

“I’m okay. I’m not hurt.”

 

Grace shook her head as if to reassure them. She had no injuries—just extreme exhaustion from using too much power.

 

“H–him!”

 

“He’s dead.”

 

Grace gave a faint smile as she looked at Felixius’s grotesquely twisted corpse.

 

“Thanks to the divine beasts… he’s gone.”

 

“Those animals that flew in just now…”

 

“Yes. Divine beasts. They heard my call and came to deal with him. I’m so relieved.”

 

Thank you… all of you.

 

The divine beasts had vanished without a trace into the distant sky. She might never see them again.

 

And to you, Ennis.

 

She thought of the fox she had cared for without even knowing it was a divine beast. A bittersweet smile crossed her lips. If not for Ennis’s power, she might have died at the hands of Vladimir and the emperor’s army.

 

She owed her life to that creature.

 

“You have saved the Empire, madam.”

 

“I don’t know if I can take all the credit…”

 

“You’ve done a great deed, my lady.”

 

“This is all thanks to you.”

 

Everyone around her looked at Grace with awe and reverence. Embarrassed, she tried to share the credit, but it was clear they saw her as the hero who resolved everything.

 

“I—I just need a moment… I feel dizzy.”

 

Grace held her head. No matter how hard she tried to stay conscious, everything began to blur.

 

“My lady! My lady!”

 

“Stay with us, please!”

 

She felt people shaking her as her consciousness faded away.

 

 

A few days later…

 

“It’s finally over.”

 

Frederick murmured as he looked down.

 

Before him, kneeling with his limbs bound, was Vladimir.

 

After Felixius’s defeat, it hadn’t been hard to suppress the remainder of Vladimir’s forces.

 

The imperial decree deposing Vladimir from his princely status had spread even to the plains. His reinforcements stopped arriving, and his supporters abandoned him. No one wanted to back a traitor with no future as emperor.

 

Frederick captured Vladimir while he was trying to flee with his remaining forces.

 

“…Just kill me.”

 

Vladimir finally broke his silence, his voice like steel scraping metal.

 

“Right here, just get it over with…”

 

“I can’t. You’ll be tried according to the law.”

 

“I’m no longer a prince. Isn’t a summary execution fine?”

 

His voice was calm, almost resigned.

 

“You’ll be publicly executed. A warning to others.”

 

Frederick replied coldly, without emotion.

 

“You married well.”

 

“……”

 

“Thanks to her, I got royally screwed. Honestly, I’d love to ask how you pulled it off.”

 

“We don’t have time for chit-chat.”

 

Frederick cut him off.

 

“We’re heading to the capital now.”

 

His role was to deliver Vladimir to Rubens at the palace. Any interrogation could wait. First, he needed to confirm Grace was safe.

 

He worried endlessly about whether Felixius had hurt her during his rampage.

 

He could only pray she was safe. That mattered more to him than the war’s outcome.

 

Grace… just wait a little longer.

 

If he’s still breathing in the palace, I’ll end it myself.

 

“Prepare to depart.”

 

With firm resolve, Frederick gave the order and stepped out of the tent.