Editing Tytania:Volume 5 Chapter 8 (section)

=== II ===
What Francia feared was not being killed by Theodora. It was the prospect of never seeing Jouslain again. To avoid that, she had no choice but to keep running, regardless of whatever insults Theodora hurled at her. There was nothing more foolish than to fight back and risk a mutual death.

As previously mentioned, the inner palace of the Clanner’s estate had not been constructed as a labyrinth. However, given its immense scale, the vast number of rooms, the winding corridors, and the doors that connected rooms directly to one another, it naturally took on the appearance of a maze. While running through it, she occasionally stumbled into rooms she had never even imagined existed.

That was exactly what happened to Francia.

“Francia! You little brat! This is no place for someone like you. To presume to enter the presence of His Highness!”

It was the voice of Countess Theodora.

In that brief, tense moment, several small coincidences had aligned to form a situation that could only be called “fate”.

Just as Theodora had said, the place Francia had burst into was the private chambers of Clanner Ajman. Upon realising this, Francia stood frozen, letting out a silent scream at the sight before her eyes. Jouslain, his face covered in blood, was facing off against the Clanner, who held a whip in his hand.

Ultimately, it was likely Ajman’s own arrogance that had brought about this final outcome.

Suddenly, Jouslain threw himself onto the floor in front of him. As the blows struck his chest and abdomen, his breath caught for a moment. Undeterred, Jouslain gripped the heat gun with both hands, pressed the button, and fired upwards. At the same time, he swept the muzzle from left to right, using the heat beam like a blade to slash sideways.

At a distance, the ultra-high-temperature blade soared over the heads of Francia and Theodora, slashing horizontally across the high wall near the ceiling for seven or eight metres; at close range, it passed from left to right just above the shoulders of Clanner Ajman.

Ajman’s severed head stared down at the body that remained standing, still clutching the whip; after appearing to hover in the air for a moment, it fell behind his back and rolled across the floor.

As Ajman’s head rolled along the ground, his face was contorted with an expression of pure shock and dismay. It was only upon losing his life that the eighth-generation Clanner of Tytania seemed to have regained a human-like expression.

Jouslain, who had instantaneously calculated the angle of fire to ensure Francia remained unharmed, scrambled to his feet by touch alone. Francia ran towards him in a frenzy.

A terrifying scream rang out. It erupted from the mouth of Countess Theodora. Without even looking back, Francia threw herself at the staggering Jouslain, supporting his weight.

“Lord Jouslain, it is I, Francia.”

“Why are you in a place like this!?”

“I am prepared for your reprimand.”

“You fool! You absolute fool!”

Though Lady Theodora condemned him relentlessly, Jouslain only wanted to know what he couldn’t see.

“Francia, what of Ajman?”

“He is dead.”

Jouslain let out a heavy breath.

“I see. So, he has died.”

“You fool! Did you not know? Did you not know!? Without even knowing what His Clanner Highness was doing…”

“What is happening?”

Sensing something profoundly strange in Lady Theodora’s words and actions, Jouslain turned his sightless eyes towards her.

“If His Clanner Highness’ heart stops, this palace will explode! That’s what’s going on. Even in his own death, His Clanner Highness will not allow a hateful culprit to escape. None of you will survive either.”

Jouslain did not know that. The fact that he did not know surely meant that neither Ariabert, Idris, nor Zarlisch knew. How, then, had Theodora managed to learn such an important secret?

A bitter sensation filled his mouth, tasting like blood.

She was likely told about this in Ajman’s bed. Only a woman could achieve something like that. It was exactly as Idris stated. Ajman was obsessed with the Clanner throne.

Jouslain questioned Theodora aloud.

“Well then, Countess, what do you intend to do?”

Though Jouslain could not see it, upon seeing Lady Theodora move her gun, Francia also swiftly raised her weapon.

“Go ahead and shoot if you wish for us to perish together.”

“I have no intention of dying with you. I will live. I will survive, and I will surely become the ruler of Tytania!”

Theodora began to run back in the direction from which she had come. She did not cast even a single glance at the remains of Ajman, whose head and torso had been eternally severed. Since the dead man held no further utility for her, she clearly had no concept of showing them respect. It was a display of magnificent selfishness and sheer tenacity.

“Francia, you must flee quickly as well.”

“Yes. Come, Lord Jouslain, please join me.”

“Don’t bother with me. The only reason Theodora was able to flee was because there was time to escape. Go, follow after that woman now.”

“Lord Jouslain.”

Francia’s smooth palm stroked her master’s bloodstained eyelid.

“Lord Jouslain, will you not consider living on with me?”

“…”

Francia’s white fingers continued to wipe away Jouslain’s blood, becoming the same crimson as her master. Jouslain, however, could not see the sight.

“If you say that you will not flee from here, Lord Jouslain, then I shall do the same.”

“Francia, I have neither the reason nor the right to live anymore.”

“If you will not consent to my plea, Lord Jouslain, then I, too, shall not consent to what you say. I believe that is what it means to be equals.”

Through what was called the eye of the heart, Jouslain perceived the resolute expression on Francia’s face.

“I understand, Francia. Let us flee. Will you take my hand?”

“Yes!”

Francia gripped the offered hand firmly. More than when Jouslain had felt it just a moment before, she felt their respective life forces and wills flowing into one another, merging as one.

They would run towards life.

Francia was fast enough to infuriate Lady Theodora, but as she was leading the sightless Jouslain by the hand, she could not exert her abilities to their full extent. Even so, she ran while desperately trying to recall the route out of the monster’s den.

Even if he had been able to see, Jouslain would not have wanted to behold the corpse of Clanner Ajman. Since Francia had informed him that he “had died”, his death was certain; and since Jouslain had planned, predicted, and fired the shot, he could already surmise the state of the body.

“Ariabert, I avenged you,” he muttered that ''cliché'' line to himself.

At that moment, he felt no such thing as the emptiness of revenge. Since he had missed the first shot, Jouslain was the one who truly deserved to have been killed. The Clanner had spoken of “granting a merciful death”, but of course, Jouslain had not believed him.

In truth, he had not accepted Francia’s words about “living together” either. They would, in all likelihood, die together. As long as Francia’s resolve remained unshakeable, he would let her have her way. That was what he thought as he endured the searing pain in both his eyes.