So I Was the Persecuted Grand Duchess Destined to Die? Chapter 84

Chapter 84

There wasn’t even time to scream.

With a sudden explosion, the palace wall beside the terrace shattered into pieces.

Thanks to Xavier Celeste, who instantly wrapped me in his arms, I wasn’t hurt in the slightest—but my heart was pounding wildly for an entirely different reason than before.

What… what was that?

For a fleeting moment, the thing that filled my vision—

“A m-monster!”
“Kyaaaah!”

Even without any prior knowledge, its identity was obvious at a glance.

A monster.

That was unmistakably what it was.

“Kiiiiiiik—!”

The monster roared, opening a maw lined with jagged teeth. Its appearance was grotesque—like a dragon that had failed to fully become one, or a dragon half-melted by acid.

“What is that?! What the hell is that thing?!”
“Oh gods!”

Bang! Bang!

With claws as sharp as an eagle’s, the monster tore through the adjacent terrace, ripping open a massive hole into the banquet hall. Its two enormous wings—each easily five meters long—beat relentlessly, whipping up a violent sandstorm.

“Save me! Aaaah!”
“What is that?! What do we do?!”
“Mother! Where are you?!”
“Kyaaah—move!”

Panic erupted.

The refined elegance everyone had worn moments ago vanished, replaced by raw terror as people fled instinctively toward anywhere far from the monster. They trampled over one another, but even that hardly registered anymore.

“Renée! Are you all right?”

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

Even as Xavier shook my shoulders and called my name, I couldn’t regain my senses. If he hadn’t been holding me, my legs would have given out and I would’ve collapsed on the spot.

Perhaps from the shock, my head throbbed and my vision blurred.

“Good heavens—Xavier! Renée!”
“Grandmother!”

From afar, I briefly met the stunned gaze of Diana Celeste—

And then my consciousness slipped away.

Damn it!

Amid the unprecedented chaos, Xavier clenched his teeth as he lifted Renée’s limp body into his arms.

“Kyaaaah—!”

The enormous monster had already torn away half the banquet hall wall and was still roaring ferociously.

Armed guards were present inside the hall, but faced with a creature they’d never seen before, they were completely overwhelmed—frozen, useless as a fighting force.

In truth, this was the first time Xavier himself had ever seen a monster.

But—

He was the only Swordmaster here.

So I have to do it.

Even knowing that, he couldn’t move his feet.

It wasn’t fear of the monster.

He simply couldn’t bring himself to leave the small woman in his arms.

And to make matters worse, weapons had been forbidden at the banquet—he didn’t even have a sword on him.

“…Damn it.”

Just as Xavier anxiously tracked the monster with his eyes—

[Hey.]

A sudden voice echoed in his head, and the air itself split open.

[Take it, for now.]

“!”

It was Ternox’s subspace.

Without hesitation, Xavier reached in and grabbed the sword stored inside.

Still, he couldn’t leave Renée behind. But he also couldn’t fight while carrying her.

Perhaps sensing his dilemma, Ternox soon appeared himself.

Still in human form, his expression was deeply displeased.

Never taking his eyes off the monster, Ternox sneered,

“Where the hell did that trash crawl out from?”

“Is that the kind of monster you know?” Xavier asked.

“Well, it’s similar… but it pisses me off more than before. How dare it imitate a dragon.”

Ternox’s pupils narrowed, becoming those of a true reptile. He looked ready to unleash magic at any moment.

“Please take care of Renée,” Xavier said.

He glanced down at her pale face, which looked as though it might crumble at any moment.

Ternox understood immediately.

In the Rembrandt Empire, magic was all but a forgotten concept. If a dragon were to suddenly appear in the middle of the imperial palace—

That would reveal their hand.

A monster appearing out of nowhere…
It likely wasn’t unrelated to the people Xavier had met today.

Which meant he wanted to keep Ternox—an entirely unexpected card—hidden for now.

It’s still only suspicion, but…

Impressed by Xavier’s foresight, Ternox quietly took Renée into his arms. He planned to erect an invisible barrier beyond the remaining crowd and safely separate them.

“All right. Leave the rear to me.”

“Make sure it’s discreet.”

“Of course. You won’t take long, will you?”

“Five minutes.”

With sword in hand, Xavier turned to face the monster.

His gaze grew cold.

“Kyaaaah—!”

The monster continued its rampage, threatening everyone nearby.

“Please save us!”
“The pillar’s collapsing—aaagh!”

Screams echoed everywhere as massive claws shattered marble columns.

Xavier assessed the situation swiftly.

If I use full Swordmaster power, the building itself will be endangered.

But drawing things out to lure it away wasn’t an option either.

Leaving the monster unchecked would only lead to more casualties.

[I’ve put up a barrier. Don’t worry about the people—go all out.]

“We’ll hold the line here! Evacuate calmly!”

As the voice faded, someone shouted from behind.

It was the Crown Prince, Callian Rembrandt.

Their eyes met briefly before separating.

At some point, Callian had begun directing his soldiers, helping people escape.

They’d never fought together before, yet their coordination was surprisingly seamless.

An unfamiliar sense of camaraderie swelled in Xavier’s chest, and he let out a brief chuckle.

But it vanished just as quickly, leaving only a grim expression.

Everyone had his back.

So—

I’ll finish it in one strike. Cleanly.

Xavier reversed his grip on the sword and lowered his stance.

Blue mana began to swirl violently around his body.

At the same time—

The flow of air changed.

His blue-violet eyes darkened, glowing intensely as azure aura gathered densely along the blade’s edge.

“Th-that is—”
“Swordmaster aura!”

Even amid the chaos, nobles who recognized it stirred, but Xavier paid them no mind.

All his focus was on the enemy before him.

Sensing his power, the monster snapped its head toward him.

“Kiiiiik—!”

With a piercing screech, its massive wings spread wide—

Flap!

With a single beat of its wings, the monster charged straight at Xavier.

Boom!

Its claws slammed down where he had been standing—but he was already gone.

Xavier dodged effortlessly, moving to the side.

Slower than I expected.

Its massive size made its movements clumsy.

Having lived constantly on edge—and with Swordmaster-honed senses—Xavier quickly spotted its openings.

“Hah!”

He swung his sword with full force.

A deep blue blade of aura cleaved into the monster’s side.

“Kyaaaah!”

The monster howled in pain.

But—

Those aren’t ordinary scales. Is it really some kind of dragon-like being?

The brief contact felt like slicing through thick iron.

Xavier leapt back, narrowly avoiding the monster’s snapping jaws.

Now he understood why Ternox had been so displeased.

This creature was clearly a failed imitation of a dragon.

A manufactured monster…? How is that even possible?

There was no time to dwell on it.

From deep within the monster’s gaping throat, a blazing yellow mana began to churn.

Breath?!

The instant Xavier recognized it—

Kwaaaaaah—!

A pillar of crimson fire poured down like a torrential storm toward the man standing firm beneath it.