That was a great move, truth be told. That was because Middleton was going to tell the blackguards, who in turn would move all their troops to the gate where they expected Erik and the rebels to come.

It couldn't be different. Erik was the blackguards' primary target, after all, and Volkov had to do as they said. It didn't matter he would Frant, because their real goal would be achieved.

Yet, the only thing they were going to find would be a mass of veritable demons hell bent on killing them all.

Of course, Erik wasn't sure about what would happen. He couldn't see the future, and what he predicted was just an assumption.

The main problem was that Zakir and people with more brain crystal powers were going to be there, at least in theory.

But despite a seemingly harsher situation, Erik doubted the Chimaeric Demons would fail. If the situation turned out as he was thinking, for sure he had to tell the Chimaeric Demons that their main goal was to kill Zakir and to kill all those with more powers.

They were going to ambush the blackguards, who were going to think they were going to ambush him.

"When do you plan to make this operation?"

"In a week," Fischer said. "That's when you should ideally attack the prison. If the blackguards move the troops on the northern gate just to apprehend you, then you will have a relatively free rein within the prison. Of course, we can't be sure of that. The blackguards might expect an attack on the prison, leave people there, or even fortify the place. Most of our plan is based on conjectures."

"It doesn't matter. I bet you thought about this situation a lot. I don't think there will be problems, even if the situation doesn't play out as you imagined. Regardless, they won't find me, at least before I find Richard."

"If you say so."

Erik became silent for a second. "Then I will leave; I have to talk to the others about this." "Yes. take care."

With that, Erik left the room. He had to tell Mira, Amber, and especially Emily about the rescue mission. Besides, he had to tell June not to bring the three on the battlefield. It was too dangerous.

June and the Chimaeric Demons had to do this alone. At least, that was what Erik wanted, but, of course, he also had to respect the three women' wishes.

<Let's hope they will understand.>

Erik wandered the halls of the Red Palace, lost in thought, but heading to Emily's room, since he had to tell the woman they were finally going to move.

He eventually arrived at her door, hearing her voice from within. Erik could sense the sorrow in her tone.

He knocked. "It's Erik. May I come in?"

There was a pause. "Come in."

The man entered and found Emily sitting by the window, her eyes red from tears. "Emily."

But the woman didn't turn to look at him.

He approached the woman and sat down beside her. "We have a plan to rescue your father from the Grand Ducal Prison," he said.

Emily turned to face him. "It's too late."

"It's not too late." Erik tried to sound as sweet as possible to cheer the woman up, even if he had to lie.

"What would you know? Too much time passed; you had to move sooner if you wanted to save him."

"I understand your worry," he said. "But it was not my role to find out where he was; that was Fischer's and van Dyke's. You also have to understand that all of these concerns, not only your father, Emily. There are a lot of lives at stake here. Van Dyke and Fischer have a lot of responsibilities, and lives depend on their decisions."

"My father is not a priority. Right," Emily said while her voice shook a little.

"Every day he's in their clutches is another day of misery and suffering. You could have done more to find him sooner if you focused on that."

Erik paused, gathering his thoughts. He spoke calmly but firmly.

"Emily, winning this fight requires strategy. Storming the prison without a plan would have led to more casualties, including your father's. We acted as soon as we had solid intelligence. I know the waiting has been difficult, but we were always working to find Richard."

Emily's eyes welled with tears. "You don't know how it feels," she said, her voice trembling. "To wait and hope while torture continues. I trusted you to save him."

Erik felt a pang of guilt but kept his composure. "We will save him. You must trust me on this, Emily, but we must do it in a way that ensures the blackguards cannot hurt anyone again. Your father's ordeal will soon be over. I made a promise, and I'm going to keep it."

Emily nodded, wiping her eyes. Erik hesitated, then laid a hand on her shoulder. "We will get him back," he said. "I swear it."

Emily looked at Erik, her gaze searching his. After a moment, she whispered. "Thank you."

It was then that the woman did something he never thought she would do. Emily kissed him.

The man's heart swelled with emotion as Emily's lips touched his, a feeling he had not experienced in years.

While pulling her close, he responded to her kiss with a tender passion, his hands gently cradling her face.

For this brief moment, all thoughts about the blackguards, about vengeance, and danger faded away, leaving only his fluttering heart beating inside of him.

As the kiss ended, Emily gazed into Erik's eyes and smiled. "I've waited so long for this," she

said.

A million emotions swirled within him as she said that, but above all, he felt a strong desire to protect this woman who meant so much to him.

The truth was that Erik never forgot her; he never stopped thinking about her or feeling attracted to the beautiful woman.

But the thoughts of Amber and Mira swirled inside of him. Wasn't he doing exactly the same thing they criticized him for?

Or something similar, at least. But, honestly, Erik didn't care. It wasn't like he was doing this because he wanted to hurt them.

It was just because he had feelings. Not only for Amber or for Mira, but even for Emily.

Amber knew this, Mira not, but at this point she should have suspected it given how he treated her.

Erik embraced the woman, lifting her off her seat and slowly going into another room.

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