SWWYV CHAPTER 172

Chapter 172

From below, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed.

Although it was not visible, Beatrice knew perfectly well who had arrived.

‘Showing emotions like that…’

Beatrice shook her head slowly as she sat down and sipped a cup of warm tea.

The howling wind outside the bell tower could be heard.

Perhaps due to the storm, the air felt quite chilly.

“You will regret this, Your Majesty.”

A voice filled with rage was heard next to Beatrice, who was putting down her teacup.

When Beatrice turned her head outside the bell tower, she saw Sophia tied to an arch column.

Despite trembling in the strong storm, her eyes were still alive.

Eyes showing no sign of fear.

How could such strength come from that fragile girl?

Beatrice used to like these unexpected aspects of Sophia.

But now, those traits reminded her of a dead war slave girl, and it was irritating.

“Yes, let’s say I regret it. But you won’t even have time to regret it. So, who’s really pitiful?”

She smiled warmly at Sophia from within the warm structure.

The small woman, with lips turned pale white, bound with arms and body kneeling, posed no threat to her.

Soon, Killian appeared on the staircase of the bell tower.

Beatrice welcomed his visit gladly.

“Sophia!”

Killian, upon reaching the bell tower, searched for Sophia before noticing Beatrice.

“Don’t worry. The funeral of your fiancée hasn’t started yet.”

Beatrice pointed outside.

Killian’s heart sank at the sight of Sophia tied with a long rope on the precarious edge of the bell tower.

“Sophia!”

As Killian tried to rush to Sophia, the knights guarding Beatrice drew their swords and blocked him.

The knight standing next to Sophia also drew his sword.

Thus, Killian stopped in his tracks.

The knight guarding Sophia could either kill her or cut the rope and push her off, if he wished.

Killian could only watch Sophia helplessly.

“You really came alone.”

Beatrice smiled contentedly, confirming there was no one following Killian.

“Put down your sword first, Killian.”

With an elegant threat from Beatrice, Killian clenched his jaw.

In the end, he had no choice but to comply with Beatrice’s demand.

He placed his sword on the ground and raised his empty hands.

Beatrice, satisfied with Killian’s compliance, gestured to the knights.

The knights seized Killian and tied his hands behind his back.

Beatrice felt a bit empty seeing Killian, who had given her so much trouble, easily captured because of Sophia.

Perhaps it would have been better to do this sooner.

They had taken a long detour, trying to conceal their true identities.

But what use was regret now?

Killian was in her hands, and the end was in sight.

“Take him away.”

Beatrice commanded, and the knights dragged the bound Killian outside.

As soon as they stepped outside, the cold storm raged fiercely.

The large bell’s pendulum swayed slowly in the wind.

Even while being dragged away, Killian couldn’t take his eyes off Sophia.

Sophia, who had stood firm in front of Beatrice alone, showed signs of fear when Killian was captured.

The top of the bell tower, with nowhere to escape.

The knight began tying Killian to the column opposite Sophia.

“Thanks to the rain, the dirty blood will wash away quickly.”

Beatrice stood up to prepare for the final execution.

Then, footsteps were heard from below the belfry.

Could it be her knights?

No, all the remaining knights following her were here.

Then, it was more likely Killian’s reinforcements.

“You fool, Killian. I told you not to bring anyone.”

Beatrice’s red lips twisted.

She signalled the knights to guard the stairs with a finger snap and then stepped outside.

“You brought this upon yourself, Killian.”

Beatrice glanced coldly at Killian and nodded to the knight beside Sophia.

The knight raised his sword towards Sophia.

Killian’s red eyes widened as the knight’s sword cut through Sophia’s chest.

“No!”

Killian, shaking off the knights who were tying him, ran to Sophia.

But Sophia, slashed by the sword, staggered, and a red streak spread across her chest.

Then, her body tilted and fell out of the belfry.

“Sophia!”

Killian reached out towards the falling Sophia.

He couldn’t remember how he broke the ropes binding his wrists.

He didn’t know how he pushed away the knights blocking his way.

As he threw himself and reached out, he grabbed the long rope tied to the column holding Sophia.

Fortunately, due to the rope connected to the column, Sophia didn’t fall completely and was hanging there.

“Sophia!”

He looked down from the belfry.

She was hanging limply at the end of the rope, blood seeping from her chest.

Her lack of response as he called her name made Killian’s pulse race.

Rainwater flowed down Killian’s face.

“Sophia…”

He called her name again, hoping for a response, but she didn’t answer, dyed in red.

No, she couldn’t be dead.

The rain was just too loud to hear her answer.

Then, the rope that had been slashed by the sword cutting Sophia’s chest started making snapping sounds, about to break.

“No…!”

Killian couldn’t let Sophia fall.

He stood precariously on the edge of the belfry in the storm and pulled her up with all his might.

Gripping the slippery rope tightly, he used all his strength, ignoring his exhausted body from fighting the storm.

But Beatrice wouldn’t just watch Killian like that.

“…If you’re a desperate lover, dying on the same day might be a blessing.”

Beatrice murmured as she watched Killian, fully focused on pulling up Sophia.

Understanding her intent, a knight approached Killian, engrossed in saving Sophia, from behind.

The knight swung the bloodstained sword at Killian.

At that moment, clang! The descending sword stopped mid-air.

“You bastard, you’re desperate to be killed.”

Piercing green eyes glared at the knight.

“S-Sir Ian!”

The knight couldn’t tell when Ian appeared before him.

The empress, too, was taken aback by Ian’s sudden appearance.

Just as she tried to look towards the stairs, a cold metal touched her neck.

“…Your Majesty, please kneel.”

A calm yet powerful voice like the eye of a storm.

Pink hair drenched in rain fluttered in the wind beside her.

“…Estelle Niore?”

When she turned her eyes, she saw her knights lying sprawled out in front of the bell tower steps like water-soaked cotton dolls.

Ian soon completely subdued the knight who tried to attack Killian, making him fall.

Now, Beatrice had no allies left.

She looked around the now silent surroundings and chuckled.

Then, she started laughing louder, like a mad person.

“Ah, truly remarkable.”

She murmured with a voice mixed with laughter like a madwoman.

Estelle, who had pointed her sword at Beatrice, frowned at her actions.

Laughing in such a situation, what could she be thinking?

Beatrice didn’t stop laughing even when Killian gathered Sophia in his arms.

At that moment, a weary voice cut off her laughter.

“…Mother.”

Mikhail had climbed the stairs and stopped there.

He had felt uneasy seeing Killian disappear and Ian and Estelle following him late, so he chased after them.

What he found were the fallen knights of Orhelin, his mother laughing madly, and Killian holding the bleeding and limp Sophia.

Mikhail realised that his mother had finally crossed the last line.

“You’ve come, Mikhail…”

Beatrice wiped her rain-soaked cheek with the back of her hand and smiled faintly.

“You still… turn away from me until the end.”

Mikhail walked towards her.

“…I can no longer side with you, Mother.”

He had tried to stop his mother’s evil deeds, even if it cost him his life.

He had hoped she would repent and reflect somehow.

If only she did, he would defend her to the utmost.

But now he couldn’t defend her in any way.

Beatrice saw despair in Mikhail’s eyes.

Seeing her son’s despair was more painful than anything.

She had thought that if she endured and persevered, the day would come when she could smile in victory, but that wasn’t the case.

A bitter smile escaped Beatrice’s lips once more.

“Mikhail.”

Beatrice called her son.

“If there is a sin, it is all mine, not yours.”

She spoke to him like teaching a child.

Mikhail’s face contorted.

“And I’m sorry. I wanted to leave you something good.”

Beatrice murmured, looking at Estelle and Ian.

“But I cannot go to a dirty dungeon or a cold palace.”