Chapter 89

***

Diaquit chewed on his lips.

His plan went awry once again.

He was going to cross the border by surprise and turn as many places as possible into mugwort fields. If the Imperial Army comes, it’ll be swept away.

It was a surprise attack that was tantamount to suicide. Before that, he tried to destroy the empire as much as possible. Since Usphere destroyed his plan, he couldn’t leave her alone.

Diaquit predicted that Usphere would come to see him in person. Just in case, he also prepared bait to lure Usphere.

As long as she appeared in front of him, then…….

However, Diaquit’s surprise plan was seen through, and the wall was guarded by Kwanach.

“Ha.”

Diaquit laughed in vain.

It was strange. Obviously, when he first planned to conquer the continent, everything seemed perfect. He didn’t know where it went wrong.

The way it was now, some of the northern monarchs had reluctantly led their soldiers to give up.

This wasn’t in Diaquit’s imagination.

“Well, it doesn’t matter…….”

Diaquit murmured grimly.

Today was not a battle to win anyway. It was the last struggle, because he couldn’t die in vain like this.

‘All I have to do is pull Usphere out. I just need to get her in front of me.’

While Diaquit was steeped in despicable thoughts. Jenner, standing right next to him, asked in a trembling voice.

“Brother, don’t tell me…… The man standing there, isn’t he the Emperor?”

Jenner, the youngest brother with a long age gap, was too early to participate in the war. However, he joined the war outraged by Diaquit’s lies. When he heard that his sister Usphere was being treated badly in the empire, he came here to bring her back and defend her honor.

Jenner was like that in the past life. A war that broke out after the death of Usphere, broken marriage alliance. At a young age, Jenner entered the war and was eventually killed during the war.

Jenner was a typical Northern man, willing to sacrifice his life to honor.

Diaquit stared at Jenner with a cold, subdued face. His eyes were calm but full of madness.

Diaquit whispered.

“Jenner.”

“Yes, brother.”

“I think our plan went awry. The captain of the guard was found and they must have noticed our plan.”

Jenner ground his teeth.

“Oh, what do we do? Even at this moment, our sister may be suffering in the palace……!”

Jenner’s young face flushed red. His chagrined eyes were even filled with water.

“Yeah…… We can’t back down like this. Even if I die, I’ll do anything for our sister. Will you join me?”

Jenner nodded quickly. Diaquit smiled with one corner of his mouth raised.

It was time to throw the bait that he had prepared just in case.

* * *

The beginning of the war was not as intense as I thought. Those who defend may watch and wait, while those who wish to attack may camp outside the walls for a few days in anticipation of the attack.

In that way, they tended to fight for a long time, but now the soldiers on the wall immediately began to stir.

Impatient and curious, I moved forward. Kwanach looked back urgently at me and frowned.

“I said it was dangerous.”

“It’s all right. We’ve prepared everything.”

“That’s true, but…….”

I didn’t spend all my time waiting for Diaquit’s troops. I haD prepared myself to use my powers in case of emergency.

I stood next to him holding Kwanach’s hand tightly. Only then did the situation below appear properly.

The 3,000 troops, which covered the plain, stood still, and only two men were riding horses and approaching the wall. One of them was carrying the flag of the Achaia royal family.

As the two approached, their faces were dimly visible in the distance.

One was Diaquit, and the other….

“……Jenner?”

It was my little brother.

When the marriage alliance came in from Kwanach, Jenner was vehemently opposed. He said he couldn’t give me away. Not only in this life, but in the past life.

Jenner tried to protect me even though I hadn’t been able to be a proper sister because I was in hiding since I woke up.

He was such a child. A child who strove to keep faith whenever and wherever he could. Sincere, even though it didn’t suit his young age. Jenner was the kind of child who was well suited to his status as royalty.

My brother’s bright blond hair came into view.

The frame of a boy who was still not yet grown. Jenner was only 13 years old and was not old enough to join the battlefield.

‘But even in my previous life…….’

As soon as the war broke out, Jenner came out with a sword. And eventually he was killed in the battle.

I had some kind of debt to Jenner. In my present life, I was busy going around after I woke up, so I couldn’t take care of Jenner like in my previous life.

My mother died giving birth to Jenner. I tried to take care of Jenner as my mother’s replacement, but I didn’t know if the affection was enough.

‘And I’ve been full of thoughts that I must survive in this life…….’

Jenner must have been lonely since he was young.

It was on my mind that I had left my dear little brother in the clutches of Diaquit. It was an inevitable trip to the empire to protect Jenner and the Achaia kingdom.

In the meantime, I was worried that Diaquit’s ugly heart might have tainted Jenner.

‘Did Jenner fall for Diaquit’s lies?’

I didn’t know how Jenner felt about dragging his frail body all the way out here.

Jenner was born in a difficult labor. He was extremely premature. He grew very slowly compared to his peers. The men in my family were usually large, but Jenner was slender. The armor Jenner wore seemed to hold him down.

At that time, Diaquit raised the flag of my motherland and said loudly.

“Give me back my sister!”

I could feel everyone’s eyes glancing at me. I was so embarrassed by the unexpected words.

Then Jenner shouted.

“I can’t leave my sister to the emperor who insulted her and spread the sclerosis disease and violated the continent. I’m here to break up the marriage alliance and get my sister back.”

I heard Kwanach’s small laugh next to me. At the sound of insulting, the knights standing around seemed suspicious. No wonder, just watching us stay together for a few days, they knew how sweet Kwanach was.

Only then did I realize how Diaquit had received military aid. He badmouthed Kwanach. He turned me into a pitiful scapegoat caught by Kwanach. My hands trembled with anger.

Moreover, my younger brother, Jenner, has been dragged here by his lies. He was a war criminal.

I spoke in a trembling voice.

“Kwanach… Jenner was tricked by my brother. It’s not his fault…….”

“I know.”

“If Jenner gets hurt, I…….”

I felt dizzy before my eyes.

In the first place, it was a marriage alliance to prevent the collapse of my motherland. But if Jenner dies here, how can I live with the guilt?

Kwanach reached out and wrapped his hand around my cheek. Although his warm skin was not felt under the gloves, indirect contact calmed me down a little.

“Don’t worry. If you want to protect your brother, I won’t let him get hurt. I swear.”

“Yes…….”

“If he’s someone you cherish, I’ll protect him, too. Like last time…….”

Kwanach continued in a subdued voice and stopped mid sentence. He removed his hand from my cheek and looked down again.

“What should I do with that…….”

What Kwanach referred to was Diaquit.

Diaquit was constantly demonstrating loudly to get me out of the wall.

“Should I go out? I think I should talk to him.”

“That’s ridiculous. You’re going out on your own? You want me to send you to die?”

“All the soldiers must be aiming the bows on the wall. He won’t be able to attack me easily.”

“But you can’t do that. I know you’re strong, but…… Please don’t say anything like that. My heart is going to drop. I’m going crazy.”

Kwanach’s face wrinkled and he bit his lip.

It was then, cried Diaquit, staring at me.

“Usphere! Your brother is here. Come out!”

I looked at him coldly from above.

‘Why are you trying to pull me out?’

“You must hate me, Diaquit.”

Since I stopped Roman’s escape, Diaquit will think everything went wrong because of me. His grand plan was destroyed by that one girl.

It was not difficult to guess how Diaquit would express such anger.

‘You want to kill me.’

He was the one who killed me just for political reasons in my past life. It would be easy for him to make a commitment to deal with a family.

However, as soon as he attacked me, arrow rain would pour from the wall.

‘What the hell are you trying to do?’

While I was in agony, Diaquit shouted as he moved quickly, pulling out his sword.

“Hurry up and come out!”

His voice was full of nervousness and anger.

Diaquit suddenly grabbed Jenner from behind, and brought a sharp blade to Jenner’s neck. Jenner struggled in a panic, but he couldn’t overcome the power of adult Diaquit.

I covered my mouth with my hands in surprise. There was a reason why Diaquit came with Jenner next to him.

Jenner was the bait to catch me.