Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Union
"Wait a minute..." Another guard stepped closer, his eyes widening as he studied her. "Gray hair... gray eyes... are you the hero, Bennett?" His voice trembled with awe.
"The talks can happen later. Open the gates! Can’t you see I’m in an urgent situation?" Bennett growled, clutching Alia tighter.
"Uh, oh..." The guard glanced at the unconscious girl in her arms, nervously rubbing his chin. "But sir, you can’t enter without an appointment."
"Grr..." A cold wave of aura erupted from Bennett’s body, the sheer force freezing the guards in place. Their breath caught in their throats, sweat trailing down their faces.
"S-sir, wait! No, you really can’t...!" one guard cried, his voice breaking as Bennett strode forward. His legs quivered, but he couldn’t move an inch against the crushing weight of her aura.
"Tch..." Bennett clicked her tongue, her gaze locked on the towering iron gate ahead. She surged forward, aura flaring wildly around her body, and with a single leap soared over the gate, landing hard inside the palace grounds.
"Stop! Intruder!" voices roared from every direction as guards rushed toward her, blades drawn.
Bennett exhaled slowly, her eyes glinting with cold fury. Then she released it, her full aura as a Sword Master.
The air itself shuddered. A crushing wave of power swept across the palace garden, slamming into the guards like an invisible storm.
The lush greenery trembled, flowerbeds flattened, and every man froze in terror as the suffocating pressure swallowed the grounds whole.
"Who dares!" A deep, resonant voice resonated across the courtyard.
Bennett narrowed her eyes, her senses prickling; dozens of Sword Master auras flared into existence, heavy and sharp like blades drawn against her.
"I need to meet His Majesty!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the air. "I mean no harm. This is urgent!"
But she didn’t wait for permission. Her legs coiled, and in the next instant, she bolted forward, carrying Alia in her arms. The polished marble of the palace echoed beneath her boots.
Her eyes flicked sharply to the side. She could feel them, Sword Masters closing in from behind.
"Call His Majesty right now!" Bennett’s voice thundered through the palace hall the moment her eyes caught the butler and maids.
"Sir, who are you—"
"Stop."
The command froze the hall. Bennett’s gaze snapped upward. On the second floor, she saw the Emperor descending the stairs at a measured pace, an amused smirk tugging at his lips.
"Hoh," his voice rolled low, carrying authority, "you realize I could consider your actions treason."
"Please, Your Majesty, help me! Call the royal physician, my sister’s life is slipping away!"
"Why," William drawled, leaning lazily against the stair railing, "would I bother?"
Bennett’s eyes widened in horror as fresh blood spilled from Alia’s lips. Her legs trembled, her strength threatening to give out.
"Your Majesty, please!" she cried, sinking to her knees, clutching Alia tightly against her chest.
Her voice cracked as she bowed her head low. "I’ll do anything, anything you command. Just save her!"
"Remember your words, young man." The Emperor’s voice echoed coldly as he gave a slight nod.
The butler bowed and turned away, hurrying down the corridor.
Bennett’s tears slid freely, falling onto Alia’s pale face as she clutched her tighter. Her heart thudded with a flicker of hope when hurried footsteps finally approached. The butler returned with the royal physician and his assistants in tow.
"Quickly," Bennett urged, stepping back reluctantly as the physician’s helpers lifted Alia from her arms and carried her to the sofa.
William stifled a yawn, leaning his chin on his palm. He glanced at the scene with all the interest one would give a passing play, his eyes already straying as if longing to return to his Empress.
"Don’t worry, they can save her. Now, come with me." William descended the stairs with measured steps, his presence commanding the room without effort.
Bennett’s gaze lingered on Alia, still being tended to, before she forced herself to follow him.
Inside a lavish chamber, William settled into a broad sofa, gesturing casually for Bennett to sit across from him.
"Listen, young man," he began, folding one leg over the other, his tone carrying a weight of authority wrapped in feigned warmth. "I had intended to speak of this after you officially claimed your title. But since you’ve come here on your own..."
Bennett’s fists clenched tightly on her knees, bracing herself for whatever decree was about to fall.
William leaned back, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I see great potential in you. Which is why I’ve decided—I want you to marry my daughter, Lilian. I won’t have her shipped off to some distant kingdom, tied to a foreign prince. No... her place is here, at the heart of the Empire."
"Eh... what?" Bennett tilted her head, her mind going blank.
William chuckled, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Yes, you heard correctly. I want you to marry my daughter. This union will not only secure her future, but it will also strengthen your position in politics. A perfect match, don’t you think?"
’Wh-Wh-Whhaaaaaat!’ Bennett’s thoughts spun in chaos, her gray eyes widening. She had faced blades, assassins, and bloodied battlefields without flinching, but this? This was far beyond anything she’d prepared for.
’I’m a girl, how can I marry a princess I barely even know?!’ Bennett’s mind screamed, her throat tightening.
"B-but..." she stammered, her voice trembling.
"Do you have something to say against it? Are you going back on your words?" William’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
"N-no... b-but—"
"Stop." William cut her off with a raised hand, his tone final. Rising from his seat, he adjusted his cloak.
"I will announce it at the upcoming ball. And since Drohan’s blunder has already paved the way, your path should be much easier. Finish it quickly."
Without another glance, he turned and strode out of the room, leaving Bennett frozen in silence.
---
’I have to stop this engagement before it reaches the future duke’s ears. Aahhh, why did I have to be reborn in this body?!’ Lilian groaned inwardly, clutching her skirt as she hurried down the stairs.
Her golden eyes caught sight of William leaving the room, his usual smug air surrounding him.
"Ah, Father, wait a moment!" she called, quickening her steps. She reached him and tugged lightly at his sleeve. "Father, I want to talk with you. I don’t want—"
"Ah, Lilian, you came at the perfect time," William interrupted smoothly, his voice filled with satisfaction. "I’ve already arranged your engagement. You can go see him if you like, and make sure to tell your mother I’ve done exactly what she asked for."
"Father, wait—!" Lilian’s hand shot up in protest, but William had already turned away, striding off before she could finish.
"Gosh..." she muttered, pressing her forehead with both hands in despair.
"Ah—!" Lilian yelped softly, nearly stumbling back when a tall man with striking gray hair and cold eyes stepped out of the room.
He paused upon seeing her, his expression unreadable. After a brief silence, he gave a slight bow.
"Greetings, Princess," he said calmly, then walked past without waiting for her reply.
Lilian stood frozen, her golden eyes wide, her heart thudding in her chest.
’W-was that... my future husband?’ she swallowed, watching his back disappear down the hall. ’Even if the novel describes him as cold and ruthless... I can’t deny it. He’s... he’s really handsome.’
"Ahhh, wake up, this isn’t the time to panic. I have to figure out how not to die," Lilian muttered under her breath, still standing in the hallway where she had just spoken with William.
Her fingers twisted the hem of her dress, golden eyes darting around as if answers might appear on the palace walls.
’What was the first mistake this body made after marrying? Right...’ A wry smile crept to her lips.
’She slapped the Duke across the face, blaming him for ruining her life, when in truth, it was Father who forced the marriage.’
She buried her face in her hands, muffling a groan. "Ugh, I can think of dozens of mistakes already... I just have to make sure not to repeat them. I’ll survive. Even if that man ignores me, good, let him ignore me. That’s even better."
---
"How is my sister?" Bennett asked as she walked up to the physician.
The physician wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face pale from the intensity of the work. "Sir, we’ve managed to extract the poison from her body. She’ll recover, but she needs plenty of rest."
Bennett let out a long breath of relief. "Can I take her home?"
The physician nodded. "Yes. We’ve already neutralized the poison, but..." His tone darkened.
"Whoever gave it to her was ruthless. This particular toxin kills slowly, torturing the victim for twenty days. Each hour it seeps deeper into the body. You brought her here at the right time. Any later..." He trailed off, shaking his head.
"Thanks for your hard work," Bennett said, her eyes turning cold with killing intent.