Married To Darkness
Chapter 275: Winning Against The Selfish

Chapter 275: Winning Against The Selfish

"But it’s true!" Richard shouted, his voice rising. "You think you’re protecting them? They’ll turn on you the moment they have the chance. The moment they don’t need you anymore. Just like they’ll turn on her. And when they do, you’ll wish you’d taken my path."

Salviana flinched at his words, her hands trembling, but she stepped closer to Alaric, trusting him to keep her safe. "You’re wrong," she said softly but firmly. "He’s not like you. And neither are the people we protect."

Richard rolled his eyes. "Spare me the lovebird nonsense. It doesn’t matter. The ritual is already in motion. Even if you kill me, Alaric, you can’t stop it. Soon, this kingdom will belong to someone who deserves it."

Alaric’s red eyes gleamed in the darkness, a deadly warning. "I’m not like you, Richard. I’ve never sought power for its own sake. But you’ve made one fatal mistake tonight."

Richard narrowed his eyes. "And what’s that?"

"You underestimated me."

Before Richard could respond, Alaric vanished from sight, his movements faster than the human eye could track.

Richard spun wildly, searching for him, but it was too late. Alaric reappeared behind him, striking with unrelenting force.

The sound of swords clashing echoed through the forest as the two fought with everything they had.

Richard, though skilled and fueled by dark magic, couldn’t match Alaric’s precision and strength.

"You can’t win, Richard," Alaric said between blows, his voice calm despite the chaos.

"Then I’ll take her instead!" Richard shouted, lunging toward Salviana with desperation.

But Alaric was faster.

He intercepted Richard mid-attack, slamming him to the ground with a feral growl.

Pinning him with inhuman strength, Alaric leaned close, his red eyes burning. "You’ll never touch her. You’ll never hurt anyone again."

Richard gasped for breath, his bravado finally cracking as he realized the true extent of Alaric’s power. "What... are you?" he whispered hoarsely.

Alaric’s voice was ice. "I’m the one thing you’ll never be: a protector."

Alaric ignored Richard’s question, his face twisted with disdain. "You wouldn’t understand even if I told you, Richard," he said coldly. "You’re too much of a fool to fathom what I am."

Richard, though battered and bloodied, managed a twisted grin. "A monster hiding among mortals? That’s what you are, isn’t it? Something unnatural."

Alaric’s lip curled. "Call me what you like. It won’t change the fact that you’ve betrayed everything we stood for."

Richard scoffed, wiping blood from his mouth. "How did you even find me?"

Alaric’s gaze darkened, his sword steady as he pointed it at Richard. "I set a trap. I left the princesses—Christina and Jolene—where the killer couldn’t resist taking them. And here you are, proving me right."

Richard’s smugness faltered, but he quickly covered it with another sneer. "So you’re using innocent lives as bait now? The righteous Alaric stooping to my level?"

"I did what I had to," Alaric snapped. "Unlike you, I have no interest in spilling innocent blood. But I needed to stop this madness, and you’ve just made it clear who’s behind it."

From the side, Salviana shuddered, her hands trembling as the weight of Alaric’s revelation hit her. She hadn’t known. The thought of the princesses being used as bait unsettled her deeply, but what terrified her more was Richard’s twisted grin as he stared at her.

"And how are your precious princesses now?" Richard mocked. "How’s Miss Margaretha? Do you think you saved them, Alaric? You’re too late. Even if you kill me, the ultimate ritual is already in motion."

Alaric stepped closer, his voice low and deadly. "What are you planning, Richard?"

Richard laughed, the sound chilling in the dark woods. "Oh, it’s beautiful, really. All the power I’ve gathered, all the rites I’ve completed—it’s unstoppable now. Soon, this world will know true power. And you, Alaric, will be nothing but a memory."

Salviana felt her knees weaken. "The princesses... Miss Margaretha... What’s happened to them?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Richard’s grin widened as his eyes flicked to her. "They’re already part of it, dear redhead. Don’t worry; I’ll make sure you join them soon enough."

That was the last straw. Alaric’s rage boiled over, and he lunged at Richard with a speed that made the air around him shudder. Their swords clashed again, but this time, Alaric fought with an intensity that left Richard struggling to keep up.

"You think you’ve won because of some ritual?" Alaric growled, driving Richard back with each strike. "You’ve sacrificed innocent lives for power, and you think that makes you strong? It makes you pathetic."

Richard snarled, his movements growing desperate. "I’ll kill you, Alaric. And when I’m done, I’ll take your little wife as my prize!"

The threat against Salviana sent Alaric over the edge. With a burst of strength, he disarmed Richard, sending his sword flying into the underbrush. Pinning him against a tree, Alaric leaned in close, his red eyes glowing faintly.

"You’ll never touch her," Alaric hissed. "You’ve lost."

But Richard only laughed through the pain. "You think killing me will stop this? The ritual is beyond you now, Alaric. It’s already begun."

For a moment, the woods were silent except for Salviana’s uneven breathing. She clutched her cloak tightly, watching her husband—her protector—with wide, terrified eyes.

"Then I’ll stop it myself," Alaric said, his voice like ice. "But first, you’re going to pay for what you’ve done."

With one swift motion, Alaric plunged his sword into Richard’s chest. The traitor gasped, his laughter choking off as he slumped against the tree.

As Richard’s body slid to the ground, Alaric turned to Salviana, his expression softening. "Are you all right?" he asked, stepping toward her.

She nodded shakily, her voice barely above a whisper. "The princesses... Miss Margaretha... We have to save them."

Alaric’s jaw tightened. "We will. But first, we need to make sure this ritual doesn’t claim anyone else."

The two of them stood together under the moonlight, the weight of what they’d just faced settling heavily over them. The fight was over, but the battle was far from won.