To be the Villainess

O63.

Chapter 63

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third person

“I’M EXHAUSTED,” Crown Prince Lumine muttered, his voice strained as he cleaved a monster in half with a powerful swing of his blade. His black eyes flickered with determination despite the exhaustion weighing on him. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his furrowed eyebrows conveyed his frustration. He bit his lower lip, scanning the battlefield with sharp precision.

The chaos was overwhelming. Knights fought valiantly, but they were being outnumbered at an alarming rate. For every monster slain, three more seemed to rise from the darkness. It was as if the monsters were endless, an unnatural tide threatening to drown them all.

“You’re not the only one feeling the strain, Your Highness,” Darious said, his voice calm but strained as he lowered his glowing hands. A shimmering barrier rose higher, stronger than before, encasing the frightened townsfolk. The barrier hummed with arcane energy, flickering slightly as it absorbed the impacts of clawed monstrosities trying to breach it.

“Thank you, my lord!” an elderly man called from behind the shield, his voice trembling with gratitude. Others echoed his thanks, their faces a mixture of fear and hope.

Darious gave a tight smile and nodded in acknowledgment before shifting his gaze back to the battlefield, where the Crown Prince stood, sword in hand.

Lumine exhaled sharply, pressing his fingers to his temple as he surveyed the carnage. “How I wish this were a political war. At least I know how to cut through bureaucracy. This... this is madness.”

Darious let out a low chuckle, his blonde hair glinting faintly under the barrier’s glow. “I seem to recall you saying you’d rather face monsters than political affairs, Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince allowed himself a fleeting grin. “Well, I take it back.”

Both men ran their hands through their disheveled hair, exhaustion etched into their every movement. But even as fatigue threatened to weigh them down, they unsheathed their weapons once more, the steel glinting menacingly in the dim light.

“Reinforcements would be nice about now,” Lumine remarked dryly, his tone masking his desperation.

“That would be a miracle,” Darious muttered, raising his stance, his sword gleaming with an aura of magic.

“Exactly,” Lumine replied, no further words needed. The two men rushed back into the fray, their movements fluid and precise despite their weariness.

The Crown Prince moved like a tempest, his swordsmanship unmatched. His blade danced in arcs of silver light, severing limbs and piercing monstrous hides with practiced ease. Each swing was delivered with deadly precision, his royal blood granting him strength beyond that of ordinary men.

Darious fought with a commanding grace, his magic enhancing every strike. A surge of energy erupted from his sword as he struck, sending monsters flying with each calculated blow. Even as he fought, his gaze darted toward the barrier he had erected, ensuring it held firm against the relentless assaults of clawed creatures.

Behind the barrier, the townsfolk huddled together, their faces etched with fear. Mothers clutched their children tightly, and men whispered prayers to deities they weren’t sure could hear them.

“I hope the barrier holds,” one woman murmured, tears streaming down her face.

“It will,” an elderly man replied, his voice steady. “The Grand Duke’s son is protecting us. He won’t let us down.”