The Change in Gabella 3

Translator: Cinder Translations

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Felix sat inside his carriage, his expression one of carefree satisfaction. He half-closed his eyes, humming an unknown tune as his right hand gently tapped a rhythm on his knee. Since the departure of McDonald and Siegfried with their troops from the capital, he had experienced a few days of excitement and tension. But as his and his grandfather's forces rapidly gathered, Felix gradually settled his emotions.

His patience seemed to have grown, and he began working alongside his grandfather, Duke D'Arshi, to organize the forces for their planned uprising.

Today, he had just visited Duke D'Arshi's residence and was now on his way back to the palace.

As the carriage neared the palace gates, the guards recognized it as the Crown Prince's and moved aside the barricades to let it pass.

Felix was accompanied by a large contingent of guards—twenty in total—who marched in neat formation, following his carriage into the palace.

Through the carriage window, Felix glanced outside.

"Hm, some new faces among the palace guards?" he muttered to himself.

The carriage moved into the palace grounds, stopping at a large open square. Following court etiquette, he was supposed to disembark here and continue on foot.

Felix stepped out of the carriage, surrounded by palace servants who hurried over to assist him, some opening doors, others holding the reins.

He casually asked, "Where is my father?"

One of the guards nearest to him answered, "His Majesty is in the northern gardens, by the lake."

A smirk crept onto Felix's face.

With both of his sons on the brink of open conflict, Emperor Bartley Griffin still had the leisure to go boating.

Or perhaps, he simply didn't know what was about to unfold.

As he thought this, another question popped into Felix's mind—where was his brother?

'Antonio, oh Antonio', Felix thought with a touch of regret. 'If only you weren't my brother.'

He was so brilliant, so beautiful; if he were just an ordinary noble, Felix would certainly have made him his closest friend.

As for his rumored witch lineage—hmph, who cared?

But alas, Antonio's blood tied him to the family, making him Felix's mortal enemy.

He, too, was the Emperor's son, and the biggest obstacle between Felix and the throne.

Everyone thought Felix despised his brother because of his witch blood, but the truth was quite the opposite.

As Felix walked across the square with his guards close behind, he approached the palace's front hall, only to notice a figure standing atop the steps.

Looking up, he recognized his brother—Antonio.

"My dear brother!" Felix called out, smiling. "I thought you'd gone off to meet with your little group in secret again, but here you are, right in the palace."

"My dear brother, I'm actually here to wait for you," Antonio replied from the top of the steps, a smile on his face. But to Felix, there was something unusual in Antonio's expression.

"Wait for me?"

Felix asked, puzzled, before chuckling. "What, do you want to discuss something?"

His first thought was that his brother might want to make peace. Perhaps Antonio had caught wind of his plans.

But give it up, Antonio, Felix thought to himself. I won't tolerate such a massive threat continuing to exist.

"Yes," Antonio replied. "I have something I want to discuss with you."

Felix's smile grew, his gaze laced with disdain.

"Need a quiet spot? Ha! This is hardly the place for a chat."

Antonio shook his head. "No, this place is perfect."

"Well, well!" Felix shrugged. "How could I refuse my beloved brother? Go ahead, Antonio—say what you need to."

Antonio looked at him, his lips moving slightly.

"Please… go die."

At first, Felix didn't understand, even though he clearly heard every word.

"Uh… what did you say?"

"I said—please go die!"

This time, Felix finally grasped the meaning!

It felt as though a massive, invisible hand had reached out, seizing his heart with a painful grip.

Felix wasn't a fool. He immediately understood why his brother was here.

"You're bold!" he roared, quickly retreating as his guards rushed forward, surrounding him protectively.

His guards reacted quickly, drawing their weapons and forming a tight defensive ring around him, watching all directions.

From the palace doors, figures began to flood into view, and Antonio stood unmoving, as if watching a theatrical performance.

"Quick! We have to escape the palace!"

Following Felix's command, his guards ushered him toward the palace gates. The square was open, and they expected no obstacles.

But halfway there, they realized the palace gates were tightly shut.

The guards standing by the gate had assumed combat stances, facing Felix and his men. No doubt, they were Antonio's people now.

"Anbolov!" Felix glared angrily at the gate, where he spotted a figure he wanted to tear apart—Anbolov, the captain of the guard.

Realizing they couldn't escape through the gate, Felix made a swift decision.

"To my quarters in the palace!"

His quarters were guarded by loyal followers, and there was even a secret passage leading outside.

Following his orders, his guards pivoted and began heading toward the palace residence.

But the figures emerging from the hall began closing in.

"What's that?"

Felix and his guards recoiled in shock!

A red glow appeared among the crowd, shooting straight at them.

They quickly realized the red light's true nature—searing flames.

"Aaah—!"

A guard by Felix's side was hit by the fire, screaming in terror.

He fell to the ground, rolling desperately to extinguish the flames.

Others nearby tried to help him, but Felix pulled them back.

"Forget him—getting to my quarters is what matters!"

Magic! That was surely vile magic!

So, Antonio's heritage was real? He truly had ties to the witch!

And so, the chase between the two groups began in the palace!

(End of the Chapter)

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