He has seen this look before.

More than once.

In the Manor of Manchuria, when the Ghost in the Wind was dragging his crippled body and struggling in pain.

In the Renaissance Palace, when Val Arend shook his head sadly and revealed the conspiracy.

In the Hall of Heroes, when Officer Michael picked up his daughter's body absentmindedly.

In the wasteland, when the dying Crow confessed everything with a crazy smile.

They are all equally gloomy, equally hopeless, and equally...numb.

That's the look in the eyes of someone who has lost the thing they cherish most.

And the Sak'el in front of me...

What is the thing he values ​​most?

Thinking of this, Thales' chest sank and he sighed softly.

"But, Thacker."

"When and why did you put on this mask?"

Sacher froze.

He stood there, with complexity written all over his face.

The silence lasted for several seconds.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness," he said with difficulty after a long while.

"But we...we have to end this."

After Sak'el finished speaking, the weapon in his hand shook slightly, as if he had once again confirmed his determination.

Thales raised his eyebrows.

"Ah, I know."

"You still want to kill me."

The young man's tone was understated, but it made the guards behind him nervous again.

"And none of us can stop you."

Sak'el frowned and said nothing.

But he seems to have a talent that just by being silent can make the surrounding atmosphere cold and condensed.

But then the prince smiled

"I have to admit, when you were still that heinous traitor who chased me all the way... I at least felt at ease when facing you."

"But now..."

Thales sighed.

"You found out the truth about the stories you told, so you were dissatisfied with the late king, so you planned the palace coup alone and framed everyone. You are the traitor and culprit for the past eighteen years..."

He sneered and shook his head.

"At least half of it is fake."

The punishment knight's cheeks moved slightly.

Thales looked directly at him.

"That's the mask you wear for other people to see."

Sak'el pursed his lips tightly, his face stiff and gray.

"You made it up in order to hide the truth and protect both the dead and the living."

"So that your guards will no longer be divided by internal strife, so that the surviving people will no longer endure torture, and so that the old memories that lie underground will no longer be difficult to rest in peace."

"For this reason, are you willing to be the sinner and traitor who made things out of nothing, and bear the resentment that should not be directed at you, so that they hate you alone, better than they hate each other?"

The punishment knight closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Little Barney looked at Sak'el, his eyes mixed with hatred, complaint, confusion and bewilderment.

Others sighed.

Only Samir shook his head in disdain.

Thales raised the corners of his lips and continued

"It wasn't until I saw what you just did that I finally understood that this is the real Sak'el."

Sak'el's brows twitched sharply.

But Taylor is still going on

"Eighteen years ago, as a watchman guarding the inheritance, you couldn't bear to choose sides. You could only witness your colleagues turning against each other, fighting each other, and blood flowing in rivers."

"After the tragedy, for the sake of the reputation and dignity of the royal family, you cannot tell the truth. You can only sit back and watch innocent members of the guard being imprisoned unjustly."

"But in the face of their suffering and tragedy, you can't forgive yourself for your inaction and silence. You voluntarily isolated yourself from the outside world and buried yourself deep underground as a punishment for yourself."

Thales looked at Sak'el sadly.

Every time he finished speaking, the pain and confusion on the knight's face deepened, and the rise and fall of his chest became more intense.

The complexity and contradiction in the eyes of the guards also deepened.

Their gazes focused on Sak'el were already chaotic and changeable, but now they were a little more obscure and hesitant.

"So, Lord Thacker," Thales sighed

"Whether you wear a mask or not, you never forget what you believe in."

Sacher suddenly opened his eyes!

"Are you done?"

His right hand holding the weapon was shaking just like his voice. "This won't help you..."

Thales interrupted him.

"Soon."

"But until then."

Thales exhaled softly.

"Before you do anything, I want you to know and I want them to know,"

He turned around and looked at the confused, bewildered, nervous and doubtful former royal guards.

"Sak'el, you are neither a traitor nor a villain."

"On the contrary, you did not hesitate to bear unwarranted grievances and undue stigma, but you also wanted to guard the reputation of the deceased and protect the reputation of the royal family."

"You would rather remain silent and bear all the misunderstanding and hatred behind the tragedy than see brothers turning against each other and killing each other."

Thales looked at him indifferently

"You are even willing to sacrifice their trust, friendship, respect, and admiration for you. These are the only things you once cherished, as long as this can protect and save them."

The dungeon became quiet again, and the only sounds that could be heard were the breathing of people, which was fast or slow, but not even and steady.

At this moment, the royal guards looked at Sak'el with extremely complicated and difficult to understand eyes.

Sak'el stared at Thales, the bloodshot eyes clearly visible in the firelight.

"You can't shake me."

The punishment knight's voice was very deep, with a hint of bitterness in his words.

"Of course," Thales chuckled, "because no matter eighteen years ago or eighteen years later, from beginning to end, you are the noble knight who is selfless and fearless, regardless of reputation or reputation, and can be called a model."

"The watchman who protects the heritage of the Guard."

Thales sighed softly

"You are just unfortunate enough to be involved in the torrent of the times, lose your way, and be unable to wake up."

The torrent of the times...

Sak'el's trembling became more violent.

Terrible memories came over him like a surging tide.

Sak'el gritted his teeth and tried not to look at other people's expressions.

Because he is afraid.

Fear……

But while Sak'el's thoughts were still agitated,

"Everyone present..."

Thales turned around and glanced at the people around him. He took a deep breath and sighed.

It's like he has made a decision.

He knows what to do.

Everyone looked at the prince.

"You know," Thales lowered his eyes and said softly

"Why did Sak'el want to kill me?"

At that moment, Sacher's erratic thoughts were momentarily interrupted.
To be continued...