Chapter 138
Aurora's scream shattered the night.
"Father!"
The sound echoed through the palace gardens.
Inside the ballroom, the music stopped instantly.
Guests turned toward the balcony.
"What was that?"
"Someone screamed!"
Before anyone could react, another crash of steel echoed through the night.
Lucian's head snapped toward the balcony.
"That was Aurora!"
Without another word, he sprinted from the ballroom.
"Theo!"
The captain of the Royal Guard was already moving.
"Knights! With me!"
The palace guards rushed after them, followed closely by Brian, Isaac, Charles, Anton, Alistair and several Ambrose knights.
As they burst onto the balcony, the scene before them made everyone freeze.
Owen and Bracken's swords collided once again.
Sparks flew through the air.
Both men staggered apart.
Bracken's breathing was ragged.
His clothes were disheveled.
His eyes burned with madness.
Owen's breathing was heavier than usual, but his stance remained disciplined.
Calm.
Controlled.
Aurora stood frozen near the doorway.
"Daddy!"
"Stay back!" Owen shouted without taking his eyes off Bracken.
Lucian instinctively moved in front of Aurora.
The knights surrounded the balcony but dared not interfere.
One wrong movement could cost Owen his life.
Bracken laughed.
A broken...
Almost frightening laugh.
"You see, Owen?"
He pointed his sword toward Aurora.
"Even now.....she runs to you first."
Owen tightened his grip.
"Leave my daughter out of this."
Bracken ignored him.
"I should have killed her when I had the chance."
The words had barely left his mouth before Owen attacked.
Steel clashed violently.
For the first time, Owen fought with genuine anger.
Strike.
Block.
Strike.
Parry.
Bracken stumbled backward under the relentless assault.
"You monster!" Owen roared.
"You murdered innocent people!"
"You sold women!"
"You buried miners alive!"
"You tried to murder my child!"
Each accusation was followed by another strike.
Bracken barely managed to defend himself.
Yet even cornered...
He smiled."I regret only one thing..."
Owen frowned.
"...that I failed."
Bracken suddenly reached into his sleeve.
A dagger flashed in the lantern light.
"Father!"
Aurora screamed.
Bracken lunged past Owen's sword.
Not toward Owen...
Toward Aurora.
Everything happened in an instant.
Lucian stepped forward.
The knights shouted.
Theo drew his sword.
But Owen moved first.
Years of battlefield instinct took over.
He pivoted.
Caught Bracken's sword with his own.
Then, as Bracken drove the dagger forward...
Owen thrust instinctively.
His blade pierced Bracken's chest.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Bracken looked down.
The sword had gone completely through him.
His dagger slipped from his fingers and clattered onto the marble floor.
His breathing became shallow.
He looked at Owen.
Then at Aurora.
Finally...
He laughed.
Weakly.
"So.....this is how it ends."
Owen slowly withdrew his sword.
Bracken collapsed to his knees.
Blood spread beneath him.
He coughed violently.
"I loved her..."
His voice was barely audible.
"I really.....loved Eleanor..."
Owen looked down at the broken man.
"No."
His voice carried neither hatred nor triumph.
"You loved the idea of possessing her."
"Love.....would have wanted her happiness."
Bracken stared blankly.
His lips trembled.
For the first time in decades...
The hatred left his eyes.
Only emptiness remained.
"I wasted.....my whole life..."
A single tear rolled down his cheek.
Then...
His body slumped forward.
Completely still.
The night fell silent.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Aurora slowly walked toward her father.
"Daddy..."
Her voice trembled.
Owen looked down at the sword still in his hand.
His shoulders sagged.
"I never wanted this."
Aurora threw her arms around him.
"You protected me."
Owen closed his eyes.
"I took a life today."
Lucian stepped forward quietly.
"No..."
He placed a reassuring hand on Owen's shoulder.
"You defended your family."
Theo knelt beside Bracken.
After checking for a pulse, he slowly stood.
"He is gone."
Silence settled over the balcony once more.
Queen Amelia quietly wiped away a tear.
Former King Edward released a long sigh.
The nightmare that had haunted the kingdom for years...
Had finally come to an end.
Owen looked toward the stars.
Not in victory.
Not in celebration.
Only in quiet gratitude.
"Eleanor..."
He whispered.
"We're finally free."
Aurora slipped one hand into Lucian's.
The other remained wrapped around her father's arm.
Three generations.
One family.
Standing together beneath the lanterns.
The darkness that had followed them for so many years had finally come to an end.
And somewhere beyond the balcony...
The wedding music slowly began to play once more.
Not because anyone had forgotten what had happened...
But because life...
At long last...
Could finally begin again.
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