Chapter 287 – Please Be Safe (1)
Carlisle swiftly ordered his entourage to retreat after a boulder had suddenly fallen off a cliff ahead of them. There were a few other dangerous moments of falling rocks, but fortunately for Carlisle and the others, they remained safe. Zenard, who was riding next to Carlisle, exhaled in relief.
“That was a close call. Fortunately it had fallen ahead of us, or we would have been in trouble.”
Carlisle stared wordlessly at the cloud of dirt rising from the boulders. The narrow path was now blocked, making it impossible to get through.
“…Strange.”
“What do you mean?”
“Rocks don’t fall like this. Not unless someone is trying to target me.”
“It does appear to be more than a coincidence, but wouldn’t the rocks fall on top of us as we were passing through?”
“That’s why it’s strange.”
Carlisle stared at the road with a suspicious look. An ominous feeling lingered in the back of his mind.
“The place I’m supposed to meet my wife is a long distance from isn’t it?”
“Ah, yes. Her Majesty wouldn’t have been harmed.”
“…Good.”
Carlisle turned away from the rocks and spoke to the other knights.
“Hurry up.”
Because the shortcut in front of them was blocked, they had to take a much longer detour than originally planned. Carlisle rode away at a fast pace, unable to find the words to voice his unease.
***
The sun set behind the horizon and the land was blanketed in darkness. It was quite late when Carlisle and his party arrived at the place where they would meet Elena. When they rode into the encampment, the first thing Carlisle saw were knights urgently rushing around with torches, and the fear in his mind surged against his will.
As soon as the commander noticed Carlisle’s arrival, he ran towards him.
“You’re here, Your Majesty?”
“What is going on?”
“Well…Her Majesty ran into some unknown men, and we haven’t been able to find her since.”
Carlisle’s eyes blazed at the news.
“How long has she been gone?”
“Well, it’s been a few hours…”
“You’re only telling me this now?”
At Carlisle’s furious outburst, the commander dropped to his knees.
“I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty.”
Carlisle didn’t respond to him, instead issuing an order to Zenard instead.
“Find her, now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Zenard was familiar with the dangers of Carlisle in a temper, and he immediately organized a search party made up of Carlisle’s and Elena’s knights. Another knight returned from his search and yelled out to the camp.
“I found something suspicious!”
The news drew everyone’s attention at the same time. Carlisle stared at the knight with wide eyes.
“Where is it?”
The knight looked taken aback to be suddenly addressed by Emperor Carlisle, but he soon answered clearly.
“There’s signs of a battle on a cliff a little ways away from here—”
Carlisle cut him off as if there was no need to hear more.
“I will go there directly. Show me.”
“Y-yes! Your Majesty, this way…”
Carlisle and his party swiftly rode towards the area the knight indicated, before finally arriving at the top of a cliff. On all sides, several large boulders were secured by ropes. It was easy to surmise that some of the rocks that had fallen off the cliff originated here. Someone had indeed been after Carlisle’s life.
‘Did…did she stop this?’
He imagined Elena fighting here alone, and a dark feeling mounted in his heart. He felt gratitude towards her, but the strongest emotion that filled him was savage rage towards his enemy.
‘How dare they touch Elena…’
Carlisle forced his anger back and focused on investigating what was left of the fierce battle. There had to be a clue that could help find her.
It was then that a small dagger caught his eye, the one that Elena wore for self-protection.
Pas!
Carlisle kneeled and pulled out the dagger that was embedded in the rock. He straightened himself up just as Zenard appeared at his side, looking at him in concern.
“Your Majesty—ah!”
Zenard did not have the chance to finish his words. As he approached, he saw that Carlisle’s right arm was turning darker and darker, and gleaming black scales were sprouting on his skin.
Zenard tensed when Carlisle turned around. The Emperor’s eyes were as icy as a blizzard, and the air around seemed to chill from his cold fury.
“…Get ready to move all the soldiers.”
At the same time, he crushed Elena’s dagger in his scaled hand as easily as if it were paper.
“We look for Elena, even if we have to scour every inch of the Ruford Empire.”
Carlisle’s dark blue eyes followed the blood spots on the cliff.
“If even a single drop of this is her blood…whoever did this will regret being alive.”
Zenard knew not to do anything that would tip Carlisle over from the brink of reason. He hurriedly bowed his head.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”