My Strange Savior - Chapter 147

Chapter 147

“Why?”

“It’s wine made from grapes harvested in the plains of Celestine. Only ten bottles are produced each year.”

“Did you say Viscount Langart? He truly has a discerning eye.”

In response to the emperor’s praise, Spencer awkwardly smiled.

“Now, everyone, let’s fill our glasses.”

The attendants started filling empty glasses as the emperor, having previously raised a toast, began a lengthy speech.

Enduring boredom, Gia raised her glass.

“In honor of the empire’s prosperity and the efforts of the knighthood.”

The emperor maintained a sly smile as he sipped the wine, and everyone followed suit. Glasses were refilled as soon as they were emptied, and the emperor’s smile grew more pronounced.

Clink.

“Spencer?”

Gia turned to Spencer, who suddenly dropped his glass, and her face filled with astonishment. Spencer’s face turned red, and his body began to tremble as if in convulsions.

Gia stood up to go to Spencer, her expression tense. It wasn’t just Spencer who collapsed.

All members at the banquet table were writhing in agony, falling to the floor.

“What is this…?”

Turning to Kalion, Gia found his condition no different. Despite trying to endure the pain with a flushed face, all that emanated from him were strained gasps.

Despite the chaos, no one entered the room, leaving only the seemingly unaffected emperor to enjoy his wine with a smile.

“It seems this rare wine doesn’t agree with you, my lords.”

The emperor, sipping the remaining wine with a smirk, observed the collapsing members. His gaze was incredibly peaceful, making Gia wonder if she was dreaming.

“Kal… Kalion!”

Kalion, with a blood-stained neck, shivered violently. The table shook, and members rolled on the floor. Gia grabbed Kalion and pulled him into her arms.

“Gia.”

A gurgling sound. At the brink of collapse, Kalion’s breath froze Gia’s body.

Squish.

The door opened suddenly, and a familiar figure entered.

“Morrison… Why are you…?”

Despite Gia’s stern voice, Morrison, unperturbed, entered the dining room with a healthy appearance. No one tried to stop him. Only then did Gia realize that she had fallen into Morrison’s trap.

She was too careless. She never expected such an open attempt to eliminate her, Kalion, and the knights. Although Gia admitted her mistake, the situation did not change.

In a helpless state, Gia dragged Kalion. She had to protect him from Morrison somehow. Whether it was poison or the sound of gasping breaths, the banquet hall echoed with the unsettling noise.

“Coward.”

“Heh, calling me a coward.”

At Morrison’s gesture, the emperor rose from his seat smoothly. Morrison, who had taken the emperor’s place naturally, crossed his legs elegantly.

“It’s not cowardly or brave when lives are at stake. That’s just an excuse weaklings spew. Don’t you agree, Emperor?”

“Yes.”

Gia, who looked at the emperor and Morrison in succession, sharpened her gaze.

“Why? Did you think you could pick sides in this world alone? That’s not your privilege. How foolish.”

Morrison, raising one eyebrow and smirking as if finding it amusing, shook his shoulders while laughing.

“Oh, worried that things might go wrong here? Seems like you’ve developed some affection. How pitiful.”

Tsk.

The tip of the tongue that made the sound turned dark red. Morrison’s eyebrows lowered as if he saw something pitiful.

“Well, your resemblance to your father is quite striking.”

Morrison, who had lost one hand for some reason, sneered at Gia, swaying his empty sleeve and crossing his legs.

“Your father was like that too.”

As Morrison reminisced, he looked into the air, using the gasps of people collapsing in the background.

“Morrison! Aren’t we allies?”

Morrison imitated Gia’s father with an exaggerated flair as if he were a musical actor.

“Morrison! Stop this!”

Seemingly pleased with his acting, Morrison stood up and raised his hand.

“There’s no shortage of fools.”

Gia glared at Morrison, sitting in the honored seat, with eyes full of resentment.

“Yes, yes. Your father’s gaze was like this in the end. Now that I remember.”

Morrison, as if recalling memories just now, sat back down and drummed his fingers on the armrest.

“Oh, I didn’t tell you. What they consumed was a paralyzing potion, so there shouldn’t be any harm to their bodies. Probably?”

Sitting down, holding Kalion, Gia trembled with anger.

‘What can I do?’

Unexpectedly faced with this situation, Gia rolled her eyes in bewilderment. There seemed to be no apparent way to save them.

Holding Kalion, who couldn’t stand on his own, in her arms was the best Gia could do.

Despair filled Gia’s gaze. It was a perfect defeat. Without properly starting anything, she was played with by Morrison. How did he persuade the emperor? Even if she knew the reason, it was already too late.

Was it her fault for not considering that they might collaborate? Perhaps that’s why Gregory warned her to be cautious with the emperor. If so, he should have explained it more clearly. 

Resentment turned toward another victim. Gregory couldn’t have spoken up. It was clear. Everything was predictable. Using his grandfather as a hostage, he probably threatened Gregory. 

Shaking in her arms, Kalion couldn’t stand properly.

Gia, full of injustice, cast a resentful look at Morrison sitting on the dais.

“Yeah, I really like your gaze.”

Seeing the swamp-like despair in Gia’s eyes, Morrison’s mockery became more pronounced.

“Yeah, that’s it. You should be in despair like that. Losing consciousness with the expression of everyone dying…”

Morrison, intoxicated by the fact that Gia, like a thorn in his side, knelt beneath him, burst into laughter.

“Very pleasing to the eye.”

At that moment, as if he had been waiting for this moment, Morrison’s gloomy pupils flashed.

“What do you want?”

While unable to move his body, Kalion tried desperately to grasp Gia’s hand. Kalion rolled his eyes at Gia’s words. A faint strength transferred to her palm, but Gia decided to accept defeat dumbly.

How to restrain Morrison’s rampage? Though worries arose, their survival here was the priority. They had to live to plan for the future. Of course, Gia strongly felt that she wouldn’t be on that list.

“Fast talker, aren’t you?”

Morrison’s crimson lips twisted.

“Do you also think it’s now time to end this stubborn fate? That would be my perfect victory.”

As expected. Morrison’s thoughts did not deviate from Gia’s expectations. Until today, she wanted to be a happy princess in a fairy tale. Even that she couldn’t decide. Resignation quickly deflated her swelling heart.

“Come here.”

Morrison snapped his fingers.

“If you willingly surrender, I’ll let them go unharmed. How about it?”

Gia stood up from her seat. Even in a paralyzed state, Kalion’s fingertips, still holding onto Gia’s hand, trembled with effort. The bloodshot eyes of Kalion met hers.

“It’s okay.”

Kalion’s lips twitched at Gia’s words.

‘Absolutely not.’

That seemed to be what he was saying. He was making an effort to somehow get up from his lying position. Gia noticed the desperate struggle of Kalion trying to move even a little.

The firmly shut eyes contained determination.

“Promise. Promise to let them go unharmed.”

The hem of her dress fluttered as Gia took a step forward. If these people could survive, Gia was willing to pay any price, even her own life. Even if Morrison’s words couldn’t be trusted, there was no sharp move she could make at the moment.

Tap, tap.

The sound of shoes hitting the floor was distinctly heard. With outstretched hands, Gia stood in front of Morrison.

What did he want to say? Kalion’s groans sounded like screams. Perhaps he was yelling, ‘Don’t go,’ over and over again.

If only she could see him one more time. If only she could see his face just one more time. If only she could properly confess her love. Gia’s eyebrows twitched, and a transparent film covered her pupils.

“Oh, seeing you cry like this.”

Morrison’s fist plunged into Gia’s abdomen without hesitation. 

Thud. It wasn’t just a fist; the impact felt more like a heavy metal ball hitting and passing through the stomach. A resonating vibration echoed to the bones. 

Gia’s small body rolled and tumbled to the center of the dining table.

“Ugh.”

“I want to torment you more. What should I do?”

With a groan, blood trickled from Gia’s mouth. The hand holding the fist trembled. Morrison’s strength seemed stronger than before; it wasn’t supposed to be this severe. 

Gia easily succumbed to his punch.

Morrison swiftly jumped to his feet. Morrison’s hand, beautifully adorned, grabbed Gia’s entire head.

Thunk.

Jewelry scattered on the floor as the ornament with embedded gems fell. Seeing Morrison raising his fist, Gia instinctively flinched.

“If you dodge, one of them over there dies one by one.”

At Morrison’s words, Gia’s body stopped abruptly. Blood filled her mouth even though she tried to hold back. Yet, Gia couldn’t avoid it.

He’s going to kill her anyway; might as well die gracefully. She hadn’t forgotten all those years of suffering. Morrison’s eyes glinted as if he wanted to return everything he had received back to her.

Morrison twisted Gia’s head back with an overwhelming force as if he were going to tear it off.

“How disgusting it was every time you came after me.”

The strong grip felt like her head was being torn off. Gia, trying to suppress the flowing moans, stared straight into Morrison’s eyes.

“Why did you commit a crime and run away?”

With a mocking smile, bloodstains tainted Gia’s teeth.

“You barely survived.”

Morrison, who had released his grip, turned his body, then rotated his waist in an instant and threw a punch.

Thunk.

It sounded like something was breaking. The intense impact made Gia unable to make a sound.

“Ugh, ugh.”

“Ugh, ugh.”

Even the paralyzed members, who had been blinking their eyes, twisted their bodies and made noises. The same went for Kalion. Perhaps he believed that Gia being helplessly hit was their fault. 

No, it wasn’t. Foolish people. A sigh escaped from Gia’s mouth, pressed against the wall.

It felt like the impact had twisted her internal organs. Fragments of the broken wall scattered over Gia’s shoulders.

Dust spread over the beautiful dress. The sparkling gems lost their luster, and the dress was stained with blood from where Gia had bled.

It was a gift from Kalion. 

Looking at Gia in the dress, Kalion’s smiling face flashed in her mind. Before finishing the reminiscence, the battered body was forcibly raised by Morrison.

“Ugh.”

“Now.”

Every time Morrison’s lips opened, hot breath scattered across Gia’s face. Morrison’s face, stained with excitement, was now full of anticipation to end this destiny.

“Let’s finish it.”