Thief of Twilight

Part Three: Chapter 112

The emperor bit his lip while reaching for his blade.

Lord Baldwin stood across from him, comfortably leaning against a tree.

The emperor thought carefully about his next action.

"Did you hear that?" Lord Baldwin chuckled.

Emperor Kang didn't respond.

"Her scream. Her pain." Lord Baldwin looked up at the night sky.

The emperor narrowed his eyes.

"It would seem that I struck a nerve." Lord Baldwin stood up. "I never thought she would hold you so dear to her heart. It would seem that using that little trick of mine did the job."

"...Little trick?"

"Why yes. If I isolate the two of you, and keep you two apart for long enough, I can mentally drain and damage Zurine until she has no choice but to listen and do as I say. It is something that has worked on multiple occasions."

The emperor took a breath. "Do you think that she will believe it?"

"I do." Lord Baldwin smirked. "Do you truly believe that I no longer have any control over her?"

The emperor pulled his sword from his sheath.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

The emperor took a step back. "I'm only being cautious because I do not know if you are the real Lord Baldwin or just a mere copy."

Lord Baldwin laughed. "You'd have to fight me to find out."

Emperor Kang pursed his lips.

"Who knows?" Lord Baldwin shrugged his shoulders.

"What will happen if I kill you? And you happen to be a fake?"

Lord Baldwin shrugged again. "Who knows? No one has ever gotten the chance to kill me, be it a copy or the real deal."

The emperor lunged forward.

Lord Baldwin extended a hand, creating a sword of ice at his fingertips.

Their blades clashed against one another, sending sparks in the air around them. The emperor swung his sword downward. Lord Baldwin stepped back raising his arm. His blade was aimed at the emperor's left shoulder. The emperor stepped to the side, raising his blade to block the attack. The emperor pushed back against Lord Baldwin. Lord Baldwin jumped back with a laugh. "My, my! This is quite fun, isn't it!"

The emperor narrowed his eyes.

Their feet danced along the lush grass of the forest. The sound of their blades echoed through the trees.

"Just give up!" Lord Baldwin cackled. "And give her to me!"

"She is free to make her own decision."

"Give her to me, and all of this will come to an end." Lord Baldwin swung his blade at the emperor's side.

The emperor jumped back.

"Give her back to me, and I will leave Sincheon and never return. You won't hear from me or Zurine for the rest of your life. You can marry someone of higher status. Someone who compliments you."

"Do you really believe that Zurine doesn't compliment me?"

"She is a thief! A criminal! Do you want that type of person joining your family!"

The emperor took a step back.

"Just imagine how the rest of your family, the whole country if not the continent would feel if they found out that the future empress was a criminal? Who stole from-."