Turning Chapter 851

Chapter 851

“I've actually heard of your existence before. What I want to say is... I'm sorry that my family couldn't rescue you when I first learned about you.”

Her words came out unorganized and hasty, a result of her heart racing with the realization that this might be her only chance. She couldn't afford the luxury of choosing her words carefully or maintaining the barriers befitting her status and position.

The Cavalry members remained on high alert, wary of any aggressive response from Nahan, but surprisingly, he merely blinked slowly a few times with empty eyes and slightly turned his head towards the source of the sound, making no other movement.

Was he listening? Just as Kanna thought this, Myra, her throat tense with nerves, continued speaking in a slightly shaky voice.

“I've always regretted not learning more about you back then. I don't know what happened to you in our family to lead you to your current state, but I can guess to some extent. The anger and hatred you harbor towards our family seem justified.”

“...”

“I never expected to meet you again like this, in such a place, and I'm not sure if you can even hear me now... but I felt like I had to say this now or never.”

I'm sorry. Myra bowed her head, standing at a distance from where Nahan lay, with Kanna in front of her.

Nahan, who looked almost like a corpse, lay there without any reaction, just listening. The faint, ghostly illusions that barely clung to his body were silent, indicating that only he knew what he was thinking.

But not being able to understand his thoughts didn't mean one couldn't feel anything. At least, Kanna Wand felt that way.

In the silence, Kanna surprisingly did not sense any pain, rough anger, or hatred. Throughout her many experiences using her abilities to help her comrades trace Nahan's steps, she had never encountered such a situation before. It was astonishing to find such calmness in someone who, until their last moment, had been a whirlwind of harsh and terrible emotions.

"Lady Myra, if you have finished delivering your message, we should leave now. Do you have anything more to say?"

"...May I say more?"

Kanna glanced towards Nahan and sighed.

"Normally, it wouldn't be allowed, but... it seems okay for now. Just for a bit."

If there had been any hint of danger in Nahan's silence, Kanna would not have permitted it, but the silence now spoke of a complex inner turmoil, similar to what Yuder felt when thinking about Myra and Nahan.

With Kanna's permission, Myra hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"You might not be curious, but... the funeral held here today was for my half-brother, Ashrav, who was killed by some Awakeners while he was trying to collaborate with the Cavalry. And now, here I am, facing the death of another half-blood at the same place. He is an Awakener... Strange, isn't it?"

Myra spoke without tears, but those who saw her up close could tell she had cried a lot, drenched as she was in the sleet.

"Right now, I... I keep thinking, what if I had gone to meet you a bit sooner? I'll probably live with that thought for the rest of my life."

"..."

"If given the chance... I would ensure that the events of today never repeat under the name of Herne again," she expressed her desire, her voice faint but determined.

Suddenly, a sharp voice interrupted Myra's strained words. "I wondered why you fled so hastily alone, Myra. What are you doing now?"

Struggling to continue, Myra was caught off guard by this interruption. "You shouldn't come here, it's dangerous!"

"Is there anywhere in the South I cannot go?"

Kanna turned her head to find Duke Herne unexpectedly appearing. She frowned at the sight of him; even their brief encounter earlier had left her feeling his rotten interior, despite his beautiful exterior. And now, he had appeared here again.

Moreover, Duke Herne was not alone; he was leading a large entourage. Two servants held a large umbrella almost as big as a tent over him, and sturdy knights surrounded him to shield him from the hail.

There were even those laying cloth on the ground to prevent his shoes from getting muddy. It was an unbelievably grand procession, almost too grand to believe even while witnessing it.

"Running away from everyone to apologize to a violent criminal in Herne's name? Do you think yourself the master of Herne now?"

"Is that all you came here to say?" Myra retorted.

"Just that. If those who trusted you heard this, they would be greatly disappointed. Interestingly enough."

The Cavalry members tried to make Duke Herne retreat, but he wouldn't budge, seemingly eager to seize the opportunity to discredit his rebellious heir. In the midst of their dilemma, unable to use their power against a non-Awakener, Myra cried out in an agitated voice.

"Father! Any other day, I might understand, but please, not today. Do you know who that person is?"

"Why should I know that?"

"He is your child too, Father! One of your countless illegitimate children, a Southern mixed you kept locked away so thoroughly that he couldn't even go outside, remember?"

At this, Duke Herne momentarily shifted his lofty gaze to glance at Nahan, obscured by the foul weather and the members. He might not have seen clearly, but he could discern enough to recognize the burnt face and the hair color indicating Southern bloodline.

Then, Duke Herne turned away and said indifferently, "A Southern bastard? You should moderate your words that insult your parents. Had it not been your words, I would not have forgiven the insult to the name of Duke of Herne."

"Father, do you truly believe that none of what has happened, including the ruin of Ashrav's funeral and the events of today, is your fault?"

"Myra."

"If this is an insult, then punish me as you will. But I will keep saying the same thing until you apologize to that person. Herne has wronged too many children, children who had no choice in where they were born. How do you intend to atone for those sins, Father?"

"Myra!"

Slap. Myra's cheek was struck.

For a moment, everyone held their breath. Duke Herne, who had struck his daughter's cheek, sneered with a colder gaze than anyone else's.

"It's preposterous. You dare to bring up such baseless rumors here, relying on the mere backing of the Duke of Peletta and the Cavalry. You will be confined immediately upon your return. And a Southern bastard? Even if such a filthy thing exists, who would remember it!"

"Don't think I'm speaking without knowledge. You may silence those who want to pretend it never happened, but there will always be those who remember the truth. The existence of that person is no different...!"

Kanna stepped in front of Myra, blocking Duke Herne who had raised his hand as if to strike her cheek again. Duke Herne, looking at Kanna as if she were an insect obstructing his path, gave her a withering look before turning away.

"You claim to be Herne's heir, yet you have no understanding of the weight that Herne's blood carries."

"..."

"If all the vermin could become Herne, there would never be a Herne like today. And now, a vermin tainted with filthy Southern blood thinks to receive an apology just because it shares a bit of my blood? You are disgracing our family name."

Duke Herne turned and stepped out from under the umbrella. His servants hesitated, unsure whether to follow or not. The Duke walked a few steps towards Nahan and looked down in disgust at his bloodied, swollen body.

"You must not come closer!"

"Why hasn't the Cavalry killed this captured rebel yet? Are you hoping to extract any weaknesses of Herne from him? If so, I'll do it myself..."

As Duke Herne began to speak, Kanna made a decision.

This was too much. Despite the risks of meddling with a non-Awakener noble, she had to intervene.

"Everyone, escort Duke Herne outside...!"

"Father!"

"Everyone...!"

In that moment of chaos, with Duke Herne's knights, Myra, Kanna, each about to speak their mind, a tremendous force erupted from Nahan, who had been lying silently. It engulfed Duke Herne.