Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 197

"We have no time! We need to close the portal now, or more than just the Death Basilisk will emerge," Nerva urged, his voice tense with urgency. The battle against the mana hunters had been won, but the real threat was still looming. He knew that if they did not take action soon, then the chances of living were slim.

"We can't leave them both trapped in there!" Noah shouted, stepping forward with desperation in his eyes. He looked directly at Nerva, the man responsible for this chaos, his anger barely contained. He knew that it was Nerva who started it, stranger that he would want to stop it now.

Nerva met Noah's gaze; guilt and resolve mixed in his expression. "If we don't close it now, we all die here together. There's no other choice." He knew he had been the catalyst for this disaster, but hesitation would only lead to a far worse outcome.

"Close it!!!" Mila's voice echoed from within the portal, filled with urgency. The sound of her command cut through the air, reminding everyone that they couldn't afford to waste another second. Inside the portal, Mila was fighting with all her might, summoning her beasts to fend off the Death Basilisk that was relentlessly pursuing her.

With no time left to hesitate, they had to act, knowing that closing the portal was their only hope of survival.

"Mila!!!" The desperate cry echoed from everyone as they realized that both Mila and Ambrose were trapped inside the portal. It was nothing but a dark void where they were.

"Do it!!! Don't waste any more time!!!" Mila's voice rang out from within the portal, filled with determination and urgency. She poured her mana into the effort, fighting against the monstrous prison that threatened to consume them both. Beside her, Ambrose appeared, his presence a source of strength. He grasped her hand tightly, and together, they focused their mana to close the portal from within.

"Close the portal!!!" Ambrose commanded, his voice resolute as he urged those outside to act. The portal, which had been slowly expanding, began to shrink as everyone channeled their mana into sealing it. The effort was immense; the strain showed on their faces as they forced the portal to close, inch by inch.

Inside, Mila's beasts fought valiantly, but one by one, they grew weaker and retreated into her for recovery. Mila herself was drained, feeling her mana ebbing away with every passing moment. "Mila, stay strong," Ambrose whispered, his voice steady despite the dire situation. "Like you said, fate will always bring us back together." His words were a promise, even as he smiled gently at her, knowing what was to come.

Suddenly, Mila felt herself being pushed toward the portal's diminishing opening. "Ambrose!!!" She cried out, her hand reaching for him, but it was too late. She was expelled from the portal, tumbling back into the real world, and caught by Leo just as the portal was sealed completely behind her.

"Ambrose!!!" Mila screamed, her heart shattering as she realized the portal—and Ambrose—were gone. "No!!!!!" Her anguished cry echoed through the hall as the reality of her loss settled in. The threat had passed, and the Mireraweth Kingdom was finally at peace, as if a dark curse had been lifted, leaving the people feeling lighter. But for Mila, the world had never felt heavier. She was supposed to be with the love of her life till the end.

***

Days turned into weeks as the kingdom adjusted to a new ruler—Leroy's only son, guided by his uncle Nerva, the child of a previous Mireraweth emperor and a barmaid. The other rulers returned to their kingdoms, bearing both good and bad news, but none were as heartbroken as Mila. She had lost her husband in that fateful battle, and the grief was unbearable.

Confined to her chambers by choice, Mila wept endlessly. Her father and eldest brother did their best to comfort her, but their efforts were in vain. Bert and Thelma, who tended to her, noticed she was pregnant—the only thing that could keep her holding on to even a little light. "Mila, you must stay strong. You have his child within you. You cannot give up," Sara gently reminded her every day, urging her to survive for the sake of Ambrose's child. There was no other way to encourage their poor empress who like everyone's daughter.