DOTD Chapter 18

What he had done wrong to Bella.

 

Adrian searched through his memories, going as far back as he could remember.

 

From the obvious, like not being able to save her from Louis, to the lesser, like eating the pudding she wanted first.

 

“The earrings Bella is wearing, I hear you made them for her, and if that wasn’t bad enough, you forced her into the tower.”

 

Adrian couldn’t argue with Evan’s slow pace, stalling for time.

 

After all, he had made the earrings. He knew it was forbidden magic, but he couldn’t let Bella’s life be in danger.

 

If he could go back, he would do it again, and he has no regrets.

 

Because it was what he wanted to do.

 

But no matter how good his intentions were, he felt guilty that he couldn’t help but give Bella something bad.

 

He had already anticipated how it would look in the eyes of others.

 

And forcing her to come to the tower…

 

I was right to target her in the first place. If she’s in the Land of Gold, she’s an unaffiliated mage.

 

It was wrong. No excuse.

 

That doesn’t excuse the fact that she ran away from him.

 

I’d rather see her face to face and be angry with her. Give her a chance to apologize.

 

Does she not even want to see my face anymore?

 

Adrian’s vision caught Evan raising his sword again.

 

He was weak enough that he didn’t feel threatened at all, even with the tip pointed at him.

 

Was she desperate enough to ask this man to defend her?

 

Adrian was torn for a moment. He wondered if killing Evan would make Bella hate him even more.

 

Unwilling to back down, he fired a final warning at Evan.

 

“Get out of the way unless you want to die.”

 

Evan realized it was his last chance. But he gripped the sword hard enough to make his hand tremble.

 

“No.”

 

Having blown his chance, Evan unleashed all the power he could muster.

 

His sword glowed blindingly bright, and a white beam of light shot toward Adrian without hesitation.

 

The sound of the sword was unbelievably loud, vibrating the surrounding air.

 

Adrian felt the change in Evan’s momentum and was forced to take a large step backward under the blow of the transformation.

 

The power of the attack was immense.

 

Perhaps even fatal.

 

But Adrian was only momentarily staggered, then quickly regained his footing and blocked Evan’s blade.

 

‘Still weak.’

 

Evan slumped against the murderous ice storm Adrian had created.

 

Yet, Evan was no match for the enraged mage of the century.

 

“Co…! Cough…!”

 

Evan breathed raggedly as he forced himself back to his feet.

 

Adrian’s anger was cold and still. His calm black eyes swept over Evan.

 

They were the eyes of a predator watching its prey.

 

The greatest mercy a predator could bestow upon its prey was to cut off its breath in a single stroke.

 

So, go ahead.

 

“Die.”

 

Adrian’s last mercy blossomed from his hand.

 

A jet-blue, icy mana shot toward Evan at breakneck speed.

 

It was enough to kill a man in a heartbeat.

 

Evan lifted his stubborn eyelids and stared straight ahead, not dodging the death that was flying at him.

 

‘…Can I stop it?’

 

Evan’s world slowed to a crawl.

 

There were still people he had to protect.

 

Rowan, the people of his kingdom, himself, his father, and… Bella.

 

The mysterious woman who had somehow found her way into his heart.

 

The one who helped him embrace his power, which had been a curse. His hands twitched in his grip.

 

The small hope that things could get better had a huge effect on Evan.

 

In the blink of an eye, Evan had his sword raised and was blocking Adrian’s magic.

 

But Evan’s sword, shrouded in a pure white sword enchantment, began to freeze at the tip, covering his wrist in ice.

 

Adrian’s emotions were dull as he watched the near-death man squeeze out his last ounce of strength.

 

Mercy was bestowed when it was deserved, and petty writhing only prolonged the pain.

 

Then, without pause, he unleashed the killing spell again.

 

There was no hesitation.

 

Evan’s hand stiffened along with his sword, and he was doomed to die there, unmoving.

 

Nothing would have changed if the one person who thought he had hope hadn’t stepped into the gap between them.

 

It was Bella who suddenly appeared and stepped in front of Evan, blocking Adrian’s magic.

 

Everyone in the room stiffened at her sudden appearance.

 

“…”

 

Silence enveloped everyone. 

 

No one breathed a word, as if the world had stopped.

 

Evan’s eyes widened as he fixed his gaze on Bella’s back, and Adrian stiffened like a statue.

 

Bella pursed her lips, unsure of what to say to her long-lost friend, and then turned away.

 

First, to check on the badly injured Evan.

 

Evan, who had been staring at her flowing black hair, sucked in a deep breath as Bella turned her head and met those emerald eyes.

 

Unable to hide a gasp. The mere fact that he made eye contact with her had dispersed some of the pain that had been coursing through his body.

 

Bella scanned him, her eyes narrowing without saying a word. Her graceful brow narrowed.

 

Evan found her gaze so sweet that his tongue felt as if it had been stiffened by it, and he was surprised to find himself unable to say anything, shuddering as she grabbed his frozen hand.

 

“What are you doing here?” he cried, panting at last.

 

“What are you doing here, we have to leave…!”

 

“What, that’s not what I’m saying…”

 

“Evan! Bella!”

 

Rowan, who had been running after Bella, came up behind her, his expression hardening at the sight before him.

 

Evan used his non-frozen arm to send Bella behind him.

 

“Rowan…! Come on, take Bella and run!”

 

“No, wait…!”

 

Bella couldn’t hide her panic at Evan’s insistence on pulling her back.

 

Rowan realized from Evan’s words and actions why he had started the fight with Adrian.

 

‘You bastard…’

 

He must have stopped Adrian from going after Bella, who had escaped.

 

A sigh rose in his throat at his recklessness, but he held it in.

 

Evan urged me to take Bella and run, but I couldn’t do it.

 

How could I simply leave Evan alone when it was clear he would die if he continued to fight Adrian?

 

“Bella, go. We’ll stop them.”

 

“Rowan, you better leave too!”

 

“I can’t leave you alone. We’re fighting this together.”

 

“But…”

 

“You’re not in the best shape of your life, listen to me.”

 

“…Oh, I’m still fine.”

 

“You can’t be okay, I know you can barely stand.”

 

Rowan was right, Evan’s body was all over the place. The after-effects of his contact with Bella had worn off, but he was still bruised in more than one place.

 

Bella felt a sinking feeling in her chest as she watched the two bicker in front of her.

 

“No…”

 

“Bella… go!”

 

Although he looked like he was going down at any moment, Evan hoped he could buy himself a little more time.

 

He didn’t know why, but Adrian, who was about to attack, wasn’t doing anything, so now was his chance.

 

“Hmm… I wonder who I should run from now…”

 

Bella’s stomach churned as she watched the man, who wouldn’t be surprised if he fell to the ground, desperately trying to defend herself.

 

Unaware of Bella’s strength, Evan and Rowan had no choice but to stop all movement at that moment as they worked together to help her flee.

 

Adrian, who had been standing motionless since Bella appeared, opened his mouth.

 

“…Don’t go.”