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Chapter 86 Part 15 – Things that never change. And a promise. In order to protect the lives of the mother and the baby, Countess Rosenthal will put everything on the line to fight against Alisa.

「…… What a shame. If your opponent wasn’t me, you might have won. I’m glad I left my right hand just in case.」

Alisa fired the ‘Heartless Autumn Leaves’ with only her left hand, while her right hand was prepared for a possible counterattack. Therefore, she was able to immediately crush the reflected power. The Crimson Duke was blown away by that impact.

Alisa has no openings even though she is standing at the pinnacle of strength. A cliff of ice surrounded by storms. However, the empress was in a good mood as she knocked down all who challenged her into despair.

「…… I can’t believe you could fight with me so well without using ‘Dark Illusion’ …… I’ll accept this as the third miracle. The only one in the Seven Phantoms who could beat you is probably Ageros. Even that possibility is uncertain if you had your beloved horse and rod with you. You have a greatness that transcends your combat talent. You should be proud, Cornelia. To have such a great husband.」

Alisa smiled. Her expression was that of a kind-hearted, beautiful girl. But the blue shade of her narrowed eyes was the color of the frozen space.

「…… Embrace the happiness of having been his wife and die. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, but I won the game.」

Alisa approached Cornelia while clapping her hands in commendation. Her blue eyes and the Blue Diamond left a trail of light. Her movements appear to be slow because her center of gravity doesn’t sway at all; in reality, she was terrifyingly fast.

「After all, there’s nothing else you guys can do. This is the end of the miracles.」

Bradd, Seraphy, Arnold, and the Crimson Duke have fallen. Cornelia’s bow has been destroyed. The Ruby hasn’t reached Scarlet. Far from being able to stop Alisa, no one here can even sense or see her.

「At the very least, I’ll decorate your final moments with a dance worthy of you.」

Alisa spun gracefully.

「……!!」

No, there was one person left who was staring intently at Alisa as she activated the killing technique ‘Sky Dance’.

Countess Rosenthal.

The Countess can see Alisa’s figure that is hidden by the ‘Dark Illusion’. However, her dynamic vision cannot follow Alisa’s extraordinary movements.

Countess Rosenthal’s entire attention was focused solely on the steps and sounds Alisa was making.

‘…… This rhythm is …… ‘Thunderbolt’ ……!?’

The answer flashed like a revelation.

‘…… In that case, I know ……!! What the next move is ……!!’

Alisa’s forte, the ‘Sky Dance’, is a skill of the Thorn Princesses buried in the darkness of history. The sole surviving girl of these princesses has passed onto future generations the skill they specialized in by concealing it in the dance, as a substitute of a tombstone for her best friends and sisters. That is the hidden secret of the ‘Thunderbolt’. Of course, Countess Rosenthal does not know that truth.

‘Please!! Ronny!! Teddy!! Help me …… muster whatever strength I have left!!’

She jumped out in a trance.

Fanned by Alisa’s killing intent, the flames of the candles whirled one after another and obstructed Countess Rosenthal’s vision with crimson flowers.

But her deep love for Wendell, her countless hours of solitary practice, and the ‘Thunderbolt’ that is ingrained in her mind and body, guided her in the right direction. It was as if it was feeling sorry for Rona’s unfulfilled love.

Countess Rosenthal recalled the young Wendell and the day they danced. His eyes were smiling as he mischievously looked at the shy girl. The laughter of the three old warriors. Marielle’s gentle voice. She has never forgotten that scene for a single day.

‘It started again. My sister’s prince sickness. There’s no way that such an encounter is going to happen.’

She recalled the days when her younger brothers teased her while she was enraptured after reading the story of the prince on a white horse. Then she got annoyed and chased them around. Their mother was by their side, laughing as she soothed her.

‘…… Mother. Ronny. Teddy. I’ve encountered a prince.’

Countess Rosenthal spoke to her deceased mother and younger brothers as she plunged through the sea of flames without caring whether her hair or dress would catch fire.

‘…… In the end, I couldn’t fulfill my dream of dancing with him again, but that’s okay. …… Because that prince saved me again. He praised me and said that I have always been beautiful. He told me that I was a winter rose. With the same smile he showed in the past. He even shed tears for me …… I was so happy that I thought I wouldn’t mind dying at that moment. …… But this must be karma for all the bad things I’ve done. In the end, I’m going to have a miserable and disgraceful death ……’

Countess Rosenthal took a step of ‘Thunderbolt’ and jumped in front of Cornelia to protect her. At that moment, Alisa’s white, slender hand flashed and deeply penetrated Countess Rosenthal’s torso. Countess Rosenthal arched and convulsed. A large amount of blood flowed from her lips. But with her hair and dress on fire, she smiled with satisfaction that she had done it.

‘…… It’s okay even if I can’t dance with the prince. …… Because …… I …… was able to protect his most precious family …… Besides. I …… also think of her like my younger sister. …… It was a good last dance for a terrible, wicked woman …… Ronny, Teddy …… Do you guys …… also think like that …… at least a little bit?’

The petals of the rose hair ornament that had miraculously escaped the flames fluttered down.

Obstructed by the countess’s body, Alisa’s fingertips stopped just short of touching Cornelia.

Even while her consciousness faded, Countess Rosenthal clung to Alisa with her fingernails as she slid down, not wanting to let her get to Cornelia. Alisa looked at her in amazement and let her do so.

「…… It serves you right …… I stopped you …… Even an insect …… has a …… willpower ……」

Alisa didn’t get angry at those words. The harsh look had disappeared from her blue eyes. With a snap of her fingers, the fire that clung to Countess Rosenthal was extinguished.

「…… Brilliant. You are not an insect. You are indeed a winter rose. That dance was worth more than any jewel. …… I certainly accept this as the fourth miracle. I swear in my name, I will withdraw from Cornelia and the unborn child. I know it will leave a lot of trouble, but I can’t think of anything else to reward such tenacity. Though it annoys me that this will make that ‘Time’ guy be delighted.」

While feeling a sense of liberation like the blue sky, Countess Rosenthal vaguely heard the words of commendation and declaration that mingled with sigh. Warmth flowed out of her body like sand. Countess Rosenthal was about to collapse, but this time Alisa put her hand around her back and supported her.

「…… Before you die, listen to me carefully. I discovered this because I had direct contact with Cornelia. She is pregnant with twins. Both boys. I don’t believe in reincarnation …… but such coincidences do happen. This time …… you have protected two lives. There aren’t many people in this world who can do that from me. Smile at them and depart this life while feeling proud of yourself.」

Alisa’s whispers were so gentle that it was hard to believe that such a voice came from her.

Countess Rosenthal’s eyes widened in surprise.

「…… Twi …… ns ……? …… No way …… …… Ronny …… …… Teddy …… …… You two …… the promise that time ……?」

Tears kept falling from Countess Rosenthal’s eyes.

‘It’s a promise.’

Ronny looked straight at her and promised.

‘Yeah, it’s a promise ……’

Teddy promised with a slightly shy expression.

She recalled their voices.

Rona …… Countess Rosenthal vividly recalled the warmth of their huddled bodies and the memory of her younger brothers’ promise under the cold starry sky that they would definitely come to see her again even if they were reincarnated someday.

「…… That’s …… great. …… You guys …… will surely …… be happy …… …… Because …… you’re going to be born …… to the best mother in the world ……」

Countess Rosenthal turned her head back to look at Cornelia and the unborn babies and blessed them. The same gentle smile that she had shown to her younger brothers on that distant day floated like a beautiful moon on Count Rosenthal’s pale cheeks.

From the sky above the mansion, the light from the starry sky that hadn’t changed since that time was pouring down as if watching over her last battle.