“Hmm… This is strange.”
She murmured to herself.
Aisia Lil Shuhain, who had never before contemplated such thoughts, began to speak as she prepared herself.
Aisia Lil Shuhain was the proud princess of the Liberian Empire, but at this moment, she was simply ‘Aisia.’
“Certainly… Certainly, I hated you, yet somehow these feelings are wavering.”
He silently listened to her words.
In a way, this conversation was unfamiliar and awkward for both of them.
‘Feelings wavering…?’
Adolf Kareha was inwardly trembling at the realization that she was being honest with him, despite his stoic expression.
As Aisia realized the meaning behind her own words, she began to panic.
‘What am I saying…?!’
Despite her candid confession, Aisia began to grimace as she noticed Adolf Kareha maintaining a stern expression.
However, an unknown warmth began to slowly spread between the two.
“But still, I don’t completely trust you yet.”
She seemed to draw a precautionary line.
“It’s because I only know a part of who you are.”
“That’s fine. Take all the time you need to observe me.”
He replied gently.
“Once this situation is resolved… I will disclose my true intentions so you can trust me.”
Her heart wavered again at his words.
Even though she wasn’t exactly sure what “telling the truth” implied, she knew for certain he was indeed striving for her.
As night deepened, the camp was enveloped in darkness.
Adolf Kareha was about to leave for his final patrol.
“Looks like you’re cold. Put on this coat.”
Before leaving, he noticed her red cheeks and draped a coat around her before departing.
Aisia watched him leave the tent and bowed her head.
“It’s warm…”
She muttered to herself, feeling perplexed at the stirring emotions within her.
‘Is this cold-blooded man truly heartless, or is it safe to trust him just a little?’
Thus, amidst the new emotions budding within her, the heated conflict within her remained unresolved.
She was all too aware that she was still in a weakened state, unable to properly wield mana, and her condition as a prisoner of the enemy nation had not changed.
She also harbored concerns that Adolf Kareha might have some hidden motive.
But after this attack, there was a definite crack in her heart.
‘I can’t just be protected… Somehow… I need to do my part.’
She realized that this man, whom she had deemed cold-blooded, had actually risked himself to protect her.
‘I am Aisia Lil Shuhain, the first princess of the Liberian Empire. I cannot owe a debt to a man from an enemy country.’
Her perception of him was shifting, and with it, Aisia herself was changing.
The next day, the camp prepared for another cleanup.
“Are there no survivors from the assassination attempt again?”
Kareha muttered to himself as he observed the retrieval of the bodies.
The only positive note was that the allied casualties were fewer than during the initial assault.
“We can’t allow this to keep happening.”
Their group proceeded to collect the assassins’ bodies, tend to the wounded, and prepare for the next leg of their journey.
Despite the rising morale and fatigue among the soldiers, the strategies and plans led by Adolf Kareha helped restore stability.
“Is there anyone to investigate these clothes?”
Kareha sent a note tied to a message hawk that morning, highlighting common insignias found on the assassins’ clothing and requesting an “investigation.”
In the morning, an officer gently informed Aisia by tapping on her tent.
“Forgive me for interrupting, but we plan to explore the inner passages of the ruins this afternoon. Princess, I believe you should accompany us.”
“To go again after yesterday’s chaos?”
She frowned.
“We know it’s dangerous, but staying here for too long isn’t ideal either. There’s a risk of another attack from assassins or monsters, and considering supplies, we need to move swiftly.”
“Understood.”
Aisia accepted without much argument.
Previously, she might have strongly resisted, but she no longer believed Adolf Kareha was deliberately leading her into danger.
Rationally, she also felt the urgency to move forward.
“If the princess feels any discomfort at any point, please don’t hesitate to inform us. Today’s formation will be more solid, and the general has specifically reminded us to prioritize the princess’s safety.”
“The general… he mentioned this?”
She looked up in surprise as she prepared to leave.
‘Even if I have some ulterior motive towards him, this practically makes me part of the protective formation…’
“Yes, he personally emphasized it.”
The officer shrugged.
“The princess’s safety is paramount. If anything happens, whoever is responsible will face severe consequences.”
Aisia Lil Shuhain felt somewhat irked at the notion of being protected when she was supposed to be the protector. However, she knew rejecting such care would appear ungrateful and thus tightly clenched her lips.
At that moment, she recalled the scene where he had shielded her.
Though brief, she realized she had been saved from the brink of d*ath, and her heart grew heavy with these thoughts.
By noon, the exploration team was assembled.
Adolf Kareha led from the front, with his close subordinates following behind him for support.
Aisia was positioned in the center, surrounded by guards.
This formation was designed to minimize any chance of her being attacked.
Unlike before, the soldiers were on heightened alert, meticulously scanning their surroundings for any potential ambushes.
As soon as they entered the ruin’s entrance, a rancid and musty smell permeated the air.
The floor was slippery, and the stone walls were covered with cryptic inscriptions.
Occasionally, areas radiated magical energy, and each time, the soldiers tightened their grips on their spears and shields.
“Be cautious. If there are traps, we must coordinate effectively.”
Adolf Kareha commanded in a low voice.
“Behind this pile of broken rocks… Yes, there’s another passage.”
They illuminated their lights and squeezed through the narrow crevices.
Aisia followed, her expression tense.
Each time they passed through cracked doors or corridors, dust and stone particles rained down from the ceiling.
The smell of decay lingered.
“Monsters may appear within these ruins. Be prepared.”
When the stench of a decaying corpse alerted the officer to the possible presence of predators nearby, Aisia found herself unable to fully focus on the warning.
Her unstable mana offered no assistance.
‘Perhaps… will he protect me again?’
Unconsciously entertaining such expectations, she was taken aback.
However, yesterday’s events had left such a strong impression that his image lingered in her heart.
About an hour passed when a sudden tremor shook the ground.
“It’s a tremor!”
The soldiers exclaimed in alarm.
“Is the ruins collapsing?”
“It’s not clear yet… It might be the sound of something massive moving,” Adolf Kareha said, raising his hand to halt everyone.
The surrounding area grew suffocatingly silent, and a dull thudding sound could be heard beyond the cracked stone walls.
“Could it be a monster?”
One soldier whispered, while another nodded.
“It’s highly likely. This area has long been rumored to be a nesting ground for monsters.”
“Unit, prepare for battle.”
At his signal, the soldiers readied their spears, swords, and shields, forming a defensive formation.
Aisia, surrounded by her guards, anxiously gazed ahead.
Suddenly, a colossal shadow emerged from the cave’s depths.
The creature had horns on its head, a robust, armored body with sharp claws.
Its eyes glowed red as it let out a menacing roar.
“Could it be an ogre?”
One soldier nervously asked.
Adolf Kareha steadied his breath and adjusted his sword, immediately realizing this was no ordinary ogre.
“Though it resembles an ogre, this is no simple one! Everyone, maintain your formation!”
The beast, unfazed by Kareha’s authoritative command, let out a thunderous roar and started pounding the ruins’ walls.
The ceiling shook, and fragments fell, causing the soldiers to crouch low and struggle to maintain their formation.
With every heavy impact of its fists on the hard rock floor, the monster’s movements caused the ground to tremble.
“If we let it continue, it might block our path! We must eliminate it quickly!”
Adolf Kareha shouted.
“Archers and mages stay back, while the melee team advances with me!”
“Advance!”
Several knights and officers swiftly moved forward.
The monster, having gone berserk, surged forward with astonishing speed for its size.
A frontline soldier tried to block it with a shield but was violently hurled against a wall.
“d*mn, it’s monstrous!”
Soldiers cried out as they were pushed back.
Adolf Kareha circled around to the side and pierced at the monster’s flank with his sword.
Though the blade couldn’t penetrate the tough armor, it was enough to provoke the beast.
“It has its attention on me! Attack from the other side!”
Confirming that the ogre’s gaze was fixed on him, he gave the order.
The knights split left and right to look for opportunities while waiting archers struggled due to the narrow confines of the cave.
“What do we do? There’s not enough space to sh**t!”
Though the archers were at a loss, Adolf Kareha instructed them.
“Wait until we can create an angle. When the monster is driven towards the wall, you’ll get your chance.”
Thus, a fierce battle ensued.
When the monster’s fist slammed into the ground again, a massive stone pillar tilted and crashed down.
As the debris rolled towards Aisia, she froze with fear.
‘I need to move!’
One of her guards helped her dodge at the last second, barely avoiding being crushed.
But in that moment of distraction, the monster altered its course to target the rear.
“d*mn it…”
By the time the officer realized, it was too late. The monster, swinging its massive body, began charging towards where Aisia stood.
“We need to stop it!”
Adolf Kareha turned and rushed forward.
However, it was evident that the monster’s charge was faster than his advance.
“If this keeps up…”
Aisia was trapped, with no chance to evade the incoming collision. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the worst.
Several surrounding soldiers attempted to intervene but were easily pushed aside by the creature’s force.
“This is the end!”
Someone shrieked in despair.
In that instant, Adolf Kareha arrived in front of Aisia with a clanging sound of his armor, raising his shield to block the attack.
But the beast’s power was overwhelming, and he was thrust backward, rolling with his shield.
“Khh…”
A bloody cry escaped his lips.
The ogre shifted its focus immediately, intent on finishing off Adolf Kareha.
Everyone witnessing the scene was certain that if Adolf Kareha were struck again, he would not survive.
“No!”
Aisia instinctively screamed.
[Aisia, you are the First Princess of the Liberian Empire.]
Before she knew it, her body moved on its own…
