Married To Darkness-Chapter 455: Loyalty And Disappointment in knights

She nodded once, she had things to say but they needed to leave.

The battle was not over.

But for now, they had a foothold.

And they had each other.

The carriage finally rolled up the long palace path—sleek black with silver trim, a far cry from the dust-covered horses they had ridden for days. The velvet-lined doors opened with a creak, and Alaric helped Salviana in first, her gown brushing the steps. Lucius and Jean followed, with Sebastian trailing, muttering something about how "royalty sure had a flair for entrances."

But just as they were about to step inside, a roar erupted from the side yard.

Steel clanged against steel.

Men shouted.

A sharp grunt of pain tore through the air.

Alaric’s head snapped to the sound. His senses flared. He raised one hand, halting the group.

Then he heard it again, another cry, another thud—and it was familiar.

His heart stopped.

"That’s... Jaefel."

Without another word, Alaric leapt from the carriage steps and ran.

The others followed quickly behind, rounding the corner toward the courtyard tucked behind the outer gates. What they saw made the breath leave their lungs: Samion, Jaefel, and a still-bandaged Heappal, barely on his feet, were locked in a vicious swordfight with royal knights—fully armored, seemingly relentless. The clash of blades echoed across the yard. Dirt flew. Heappal stumbled but blocked a strike. Jaefel shoved a man off Samion. Samion roared as he parried another attack.

"What in the gods’ name—" Lucius muttered, stepping forward.

Salviana gasped. "They’re wounded! What are they doing?"

"Why are they fighting them?" Jean asked breathlessly. "They’ve been pardoned!"

That was when Alaric snapped.

"ENOUGH!" he bellowed, his voice cracking like thunder through the yard.

The swords froze in mid-air. The knights stopped, breathing hard. Samion held his blade up for one final strike before he recognized the voice and halted.

All heads turned as Alaric strode forward, his face a storm barely contained.

He reached the nearest knight and—crack—his fist collided with the man’s jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Gasps.

Silence.

Even the castle guards stood still.

Alaric stood over the knight, chest rising and falling with fury, his voice cold but loud enough to split the courtyard.

"Can you not see they’re wounded?! Is this the discipline you were taught in the battlefields I led you through? Where is your loyalty? Your decency? Your damn honor?!"

The struck knight groaned from the ground. Another stepped forward, eyes lowered.

"F-Forgive us, my prince... they refused to show formal travel orders, and we were told—"

"They were pardoned! A guard was sent to tell that to the gate" Alaric growled. "Or has the king’s order become a suggestion to you now?"

The knights immediately bowed. "No, my prince. We are deeply sorry."

Sebastian muttered, "This is why I don’t wear uniforms."

"Shut it," Jean hissed.

Lucius stepped between the knights and Samion. "They don’t need your blade right now. They need a healer."

One of the senior knights swallowed hard, then nodded. "We’ll take them. Our best physician is just inside the western wing."

But Jaefel, still gripping his sword, lifted a hand and shook his head. freeweɓnovel-cøm

"No," he said, voice hoarse but firm. "I’ll go where I was headed. My fight isn’t done."

Samion clapped his shoulder. "He means the training barracks," he explained. "We were supposed to... never mind. He’s just being Jaefel."

Alaric stepped to Jaefel, meeting him eye to eye.

"You’ve all bled for me. You’ve stood your ground even when I was called traitor. If you say you’re not done, then I believe you."

Jaefel exhaled slowly, he was holding back a smile, He only wanted to go and meet his Emma. "Thank you, my lord."

Heappal, leaning heavily on Samion, gave a weak grin. "They didn’t teach me to be cautious. But I guess surviving counts for something."

Alaric smiled, brief and proud. "It does."

One of the guards, ashamed, bowed and gestured toward the inner wing. "Come. We’ll see to you all. Please, let us do our duty now."

Alaric turned to his men, his brothers in arms, and one by one, he gripped their shoulders.

"You’re warriors. You’re alive. And soon, we’ll all fight side by side again—but for now... rest. Heal. Prepare."

"Always ready, my prince," Samion said.

Jaefel gave a nod. "Tell our princess I said hi."

Heappal gave a salute. "And a hug. When she’s free."

They talked as though she wasn’t standing feets away. They knew they couldn’t actually hug her.

They shared a rough, manly embrace, forearms locked and chins nodding in silent brotherhood. Then, without another word, the three knights were led away into the castle’s west wing, where healers awaited.

Salviana watched them disappear through the archway, tears soft in her eyes. "They fought so hard to return..."

"They always do," Alaric said, gently guiding her back toward the carriage. "They are Wyf-gardians. And they are mine."

Sebastian yawned, hopping in next. "Alright then, demon prince. Let’s go see how long this peace lasts."

Alaric helped Salviana in last, his hand lingering at her waist as he whispered: "Let’s go. Before another blade needs raising."

The carriage rolled forward.

Behind them: bruises, battles, and blood.

Ahead of them: the throne.

And whatever war would come next.

The carriage wheels creaked against the stone path, rolling toward the east wing of the palace—their wing, once branded by scandal, now freshly polished as though nothing had happened. Maids scurried ahead to light torches along the path. A soft mist hovered near the marble stairs as the golden hour of dusk bled through the clouds above Wyfkeep.

Inside the carriage, Jean sat unusually stiff. Her brows furrowed, eyes locked on the window, scanning the blur of the courtyard they were leaving behind.

"...Where is he?" she whispered under her breath.

Salviana, seated across from her, glanced up. "Lucius?"

Jean gave a shallow nod, her voice cracking. "I turned for one second... and he wasn’t there. He was right behind me before the knights came. And now—nothing."

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