âHe loves me.â
She had to admit it. She was in love with Uriel. It was unknown when it all started, but he penetrated into Apolloniaâs bones and had firmly established. She wanted to tell Uriel that she missed him so much. She wanted to hear his voice and tell him that she loved him while looking at his deliriously beautiful eyes but it was a difficult thing to do. Knox, who held the dagger, once again put his strength into his hand. Apolloniaâs heart beat fast.
âApollonia Alistair Ferdinand.â He recited Apolloniaâs complete name. There was a deep sadness in his trembling voice. âNow pay off your debt to me and my mother.â
Apollonia didnât close her eyes. She faced Knox without avoiding his gaze. Unexpectedly, the glint in his sharp grey eyes slightly trembled as the two faced each other in silence. It was Knox who held the sword but Apolloniaâs eyes seemed to see through him.
âListen, Knox,â said Apollonia again. Knox tried to turn his gaze away and shook his head once. Apollonia took another deep breath but at that momentââââ
*CRASH*
With a roar, the cabinâs door broke into pieces. The pitter-patter of rain grew louder, and the wet breeze whipped into the cabin.
âYour Highness.â She thought she was hearing voices, but before the two of them could grasp the situation, something silver flew through the air and hit Knox.
*WHOOSH*
âUgh!â
Sitting on the bed, he was seized by the collar and pushed hard against the floor. The dagger he was holding fell with a clank.
âAre you all right?â
âUriel?â Apolloniaâs eyes widened in shock. It was obviously Uriel. His deep ocean eyes shone darker than usual and water had dripped from his rain-soaked silver hair.
âYou came for me.â Apolloniaâs heart beat uncontrollably fast as tears welled up in her eyes. It was him who always came to her rescue. At this moment, every sound of his face, body, gaze, and breath felt priceless.
âThank you.â Uriel released the strings tying her without a word. When her hands were set free, Apollonia put her forehead on Urielâs shoulder and tightly clasped his hand. His temperature was felt over the wet shirt.
âYour Highness.â Uriel didnât move and let her do what she wanted. His anxious gaze didnât leave Apolloniaâs face.
âH-How the hell do you know about this place?â Knox slowly raised himself, stroking his red neck. Apollonia took her forehead off Urielâs shoulder in astonishment and looked at Knox.
âYou have another person like my father next to you and his ability is very great. I heard youâve won a hunting contest.â His grey eyes moved between Uriel and Apollonia. Instead of his slightly trembling pupils as he held his dagger on Apolloniaâs neck a while ago, only anger burned in his gaze this time.
âLetâs see if theyâre similar.â Knox quickly picked up the long sword from the wall. âStay where you are.â
Uriel took a step and completely blocked Apollonia from Knox while pulling the long sword at his waist with his hand. Uriel and Knox searched each other without moving for a few seconds. The next moment, the two simultaneously pulled their swords out.
*CHENG!*
The sword struck hard, and the resulting sound filled the cabin. The two fought with their swords while facing each other and stepping back one by one.
âWho are you to be this powerfulâââââ Knox murmured in astonishment but Uriel ignored his words.
*CHENG*
*CHENG*
Urielâs sword fell mercilessly on Knoxâs head, his arms and legs moving at an invisible speed. Knox had to rely on his instincts to stop the attack without having time to read the direction of his sword.
*CHA-ENG!*
âUgh.â
How many pairs did they have to compete for? Unable to move by the wall in the narrow cabin, Knox eventually missed the sword in his hand.
âOh, my God.â He breathed heavily. There was consternation in his gaze as if he had come face to face with a monster. Uriel snapped Knoxâs sword into the corner of the cabin. Standing with a sword on Knoxâs neck, Uriel hadnât even lost a breath. At first glance, there was anger in his cold-hearted gaze against his opponent who threatened Apollonia.
When the two stopped moving completely, Apollonia whispered. âUriel put down your sword.â
Uriel obediently listened to her. As he took a step aside, at the end of Apolloniaâs gaze was Knox, who sat with one knee on the floor. One side of her chest ached. He was really similar to the Sid she remembered.
âJust kill me. I donât know what youâre waiting for.â Knox said. There was a deep resignation in his face and in his voice.