So I Was the Persecuted Grand Duchess Destined to Die? Chapter 113

Chapter 113

What…? The color of its breath just changed.

At first, the Griffin’s energy had burned red.

But gradually—

Blue seeped into it.

Then purple.

Its power weakened.

Suddenly, the beast snapped its beak shut.

A strained, pained whine echoed through the ruins.

The massive creature crashed to the ground and writhed, groaning.

Did my attacks finally cause internal damage? No… it was far too overwhelming for that.

Before Xavier could think further—

The monster’s golden eyes flashed—

And turned blue-violet.

Then—

Flap!

Its enormous wings beat once.

A violent gale exploded outward.

“—!”

Xavier was blown away and slammed into a civilian rooftop.

Taking advantage of the moment—

The Griffin retreated.

It rose into the sky and sped west.

Toward the Imperial Palace.

The Crowd’s Misunderstanding

“Is it… running away?”

“The Grand Duke won!”

“We’re saved!”

Cheers erupted among the fleeing citizens.

“No… no, that’s not it.”

Blood-soaked and staggering, Xavier forced himself upright.

The Griffin wasn’t fleeing randomly.

It was heading west.

“Damn it!”

He sheathed his blade and shouted to a stunned knight.

“It’s heading for the palace! Send word immediately—I’m going!”

Before the knight could answer—

Callian arrived on horseback.

“Xavier! Ride!”

No time to hesitate.

They spurred their horses forward.

Citizens parted like waves before them.

But no matter how fast the horses ran—

They could not match the speed of wings.

At the Palace

“Your Highness—the outer wall!”

The knight’s warning came too late.

BOOOOM—!

The palace wall collapsed under the Griffin’s talons.

Blood pooled where it stepped.

Screams filled the air.

By the time Xavier and Callian burst through the gates—

The Griffin was already vanishing over the horizon.

“I’ll pursue it,” Xavier growled.

Callian shook his head.

“The Emperor comes first. Second Division—pursue the beast!”

“Yes, sir!”

They rode for the Emperor’s quarters.

The building was half-destroyed.

Servants trembled.

“Where is His Majesty?” Callian demanded.

“In… in his chambers… as usual…”

They ran.

The corridor itself was shattered, open to the burning sky.

Xavier’s unease deepened.

Callian kicked the chamber doors open.

What lay inside—

Was hell.

The room was shredded.

At the center—

The Empress clutched the collapsed Emperor.

“Your Majesty! Please—wake up!”

Blood stained her young, beautiful face.

The aged Emperor hung limp.

Callian fell to his knees.

“This can’t be…”

Xavier stood frozen.

His breathing turned cold.

Then—

The Empress looked up.

Her eyes burned with venom.

“Grand Duke Celeste.”

Her voice trembled with fury.

“Your incompetence caused this! You couldn’t even stop a single monster!”

“…Your Majesty.”

“I will see you punished. I will never forgive you!”

Silence fell.

Then she turned to Callian.

“You as well. His Majesty always feared your reliance on the Grand Duke. And now—listen carefully.”

She pulled out a scroll.

“A new will. His Majesty’s true final testament.”

“What?”

Whispers spread like poison.

“The Emperor… is dead?”

“Even the Swordmaster couldn’t stop it?”

“A new will?”

Xavier said nothing.

This is a trap.

Perfectly constructed.

He had been a chess piece all along.

But worse—

Where is Renée?

In the center of this vast conspiracy—

She was not by his side.

Meanwhile — Underground

Where… am I?

Cold.

My body trembled.

My eyelids forced themselves open.

Rust-covered iron bars.

White silk priestly robes.

Instinctively, I shut my eyes again.

They must not know I’m awake.

Before the white-robed figure noticed—

A young voice rushed in.

“High Priest! The Archangel is showing abnormalities! Is it alright?!”

I cracked my eyes open slightly.

Raphael.

But—

He looks older.

Before, he had appeared youthful.

Now—

Middle-aged.

Even the young priest who had run in seemed startled by his changed appearance.

Then—

Our eyes met.

The young priest froze.

I immediately shut mine again, praying he would think it a trick of the dark.

“Brother,” Raphael said smoothly before the boy could speak.

“Describe the Archangel’s condition.”

“He refuses the humans we offer him. Even the young girl he favors most—no reaction. Since the battle, something seems wrong.”

“Hmm.”

Soft footsteps echoed in the damp underground.

I peeked again.

Raphael grasped the young priest’s hands gently.

“Do not worry. Our Archangel—the Griffin—is strong. Pray with faith. It shall be fulfilled.”