Returning to the manor earlier than usual, Reika was there to greet me at the door.
“Sir Swoen……! Ah, welcome back…!”
“Is something the matter?”
“No, it’s just… nothing in particular…”
After fidgeting for a moment, she cautiously approached me with tiny steps and whispered.
“Since you’ve come back early today, how about… if you’re feeling up to it, we go for a walk together…?”
Her shy and unsure demeanor was so cute that I instinctively placed my hand on her head.
“…!!!”
Reika seemed flustered for a moment but soon relaxed, letting me pat her head without protest.
Reika is like this, and Lady Iren too—when they act like this, they’re genuinely adorable people.
A walk, huh?
Thinking about it, it’s been quite a while since we went out together outside of the library.
Maybe today I’ll spend some time with Reika.
“Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”
“Eh? No, as long as I’m with Sir Swoen, anywhere is fine…!”
There was something about her determined expression that made me curious, but it didn’t seem like something I needed to press her on. So, we left the manor together.
As we stepped out of the manor, Reika turned to me with something on her mind.
“Ah, Sir Swoen! There’s something I want to show you.”
“What is it?”
“Well… I’ve learned a new magic technique.”
She hesitated for a moment, tapping her fingers together.
“When the right opportunity arises, I’ll show you…!”
“Alright.”
Lately, she’s had a lot of free time, so it seems she wants to share various things with me. Listening to her isn’t difficult, and it’s actually quite heartwarming that she shows such enthusiasm.
I was also worried about leaving her alone because of my busy schedule.
“Okay… hehe… let’s go for a walk then.”
That way, Reika and I ended up strolling around the Einhardt Castle grounds for the first time in a while.
For me, it was practically a rare break.
Together with Reika, we wandered through different parts of Einhardt Castle.
It felt like a small festival, with more street vendors than usual. Visiting each one and picking up nice tea leaves or cooking tools was surprisingly enjoyable.
“You bought quite a lot.”
“Hehe… somehow, being with Sir Swoen makes me feel so excited!”
Seeing Reika’s bright smile made me realize how much she’s changed since we first met. Though she still gets flustered sometimes, the shadow of sadness that used to linger on her face has completely disappeared. She’s become much brighter and smiles more often now, which put my mind at ease.
“Shall we head back soon?”
“Yes…!”
Just as we were about to return to the manor—
“Hm?”
From afar, a familiar figure was running towards us.
Red hair, silver circlet, slightly torn clothes…
‘Lady Iren?’
Iren was rushing over with an urgent look on her face. But that wasn’t all.
She was… carrying someone on her back.
And that person was…
‘Huh?’
Let’s rewind time a bit—
Serpina had recently been conducting frequent inspections within her territory.
While caring for the people is naturally part of a monarch’s duties, it was quite surprising that Serpina, who ruled over the massive former empire, would personally make these rounds. This was unprecedented.
Lately, Serpina has been putting immense effort into her role.
The fate revealed by Swoen: that she wouldn’t become the unifying ruler, hit her hard. However, Swoen explained that this prediction was based on the present moment, and if her efforts could change it, then there was no reason not to try.
Indeed, the people’s sentiment toward Serpina has improved significantly.
When she first became the ruler, despite knowing that royal matters are handled by royalty, the citizens of the former imperial capital weren’t pleased with her continuous purges after all the other powerful emperor candidates—Algord and Sidemid—had died. But as she successfully quelled every rebellion and governed Einhardt Castle well internally, many began to accept her.
In fact,
the mere presence of someone who might have become emperor conducting inspections leaves a deep impression on the commoners.
Humans are surprisingly simple creatures. Seeing the golden-haired empress whose beauty looks sculpted naturally inspires thoughts of her being divinely chosen.
At this point, the bodyguards’ responsibilities hadn’t changed drastically.
To guard her like shadows.
Veteran bodyguard Reni, the highly skilled Shura, and Iren, who earned recognition for suppressing rebellions.
Naturally, nothing usually happened during these rounds.
However.
Among them, only Iren remained constantly vigilant.
Always keeping in mind the worst-case scenario where something might happen to Serpina.
No matter what she did, Iren never took her eyes off her.
Therefore,
“I suppose we should head back soon.”
She noticed ‘that moment’ instantly.
At that moment.
Reni, who had guarded Serpina the longest, approached her closely—
“…My Lord!!!”
Driven by instinct, due to both growing up as a loyal bodyguard of the Brance Clan and Swoen’s warning, Iren immediately rushed toward Reni.
“!!!!”
In the shocked silence, Iren swiftly struck Reni’s wrist hard.
DING!
A small throwing kn*fe fell from his hand.
Realizing the implications, Serpina’s gaze sharpened as she stared at Reni’s face.
“This… this is…!!”
Leaving the startled Serpina behind,
Upon discovering the weapon, Iren wasted no time and quickly drove her sword into Reni’s ankle.
A principle ingrained since childhood: no compromise with assassins.
“AAAAAAAGH!!!”
Assassination.
By someone who had been her bodyguard for years?
Though confused, she believed she had subdued him enough to interrogate about the conspiracy behind this.
But… was there something she missed?
Iren’s mind raced faster than ever before.
If Reni decided to attempt assassination today, even though Shura and I are here, why would he proceed recklessly?
Even with one person missing, 2-on-1 would surely be disadvantageous for him.
Hold on.
2-on-1?
‘Eh…?’
At that moment,
A dark shadow enveloped Iren’s back.
In the 2-on-1 scenario, the ‘1’ wasn’t Reni, but maybe…!!!
“HAHHH!!!”
‘d*mn it!’
Fortunately, Iren had deduced this possibility through logic despite no visible signs, otherwise attempting assassination under such unfavorable conditions would have been impossible.
Considering the accident that excluded one person as an opportunity, it was natural that…
Hearing Shura’s scream, Iren quickly turned her head, but…
She knew.
It was too late.
‘d*mn it… I should have dealt with Shura first… d*mn it…!’
She understood.
Predicting and acting like this was already beyond human capability, entering the realm of divine insight.
Still,
Swoen warned me that assassination might occur.
I promised not to take unnecessary risks.
If she got hurt, or worse, died here… I wouldn’t be able to fulfill Swoen’s request to stay safe.
Why didn’t I suspect the existing bodyguards?
Well,
At least, let’s protect Lady Serpina.
Since Swoen entrusted her protection to me, saving Serpina must be important to him too, and I owe her a debt of gratitude.
With that resolve, she tightened her grip on her sword to resist the inevitable future when—
“…Huh?”
Instead of Shura standing before her, another figure appeared.
Long golden hair.
The person she was supposed to protect… stood in front of the one targeting her.
“Foolish girl.”
THUD!
“Ugh… ugh…”
“In acknowledgment of the time you spent enduring beside me, I shall pay my respects. Shura. However, whatever you thought, you were wrong. Rest peacefully in the afterlife without chasing illusions.”
Serpina said this while pulling the sword embedded in Shura’s body.
SPLURT!
Seeing the red bl**d gush forth, Iren instinctively realized:
She’s dead.
A sight she’d seen countless times on the battlefield. When someone bleeds this much, they d*e.
Their life force extinguishes without even a final word.
No, more importantly…
“My Lord! Are you alright?”
“…What about Reni?”
Turning her head, Reni was still groaning helplessly, having been quickly incapacitated by Iren.
“He’s still breathing.”
“Don’t k*ll him… leave him be. It doesn’t appear to be… the act of a lone conspirator… we need to find out the background.”
“Yes, understood….”
Though she answered quickly, something about Serpina’s condition seemed off.
Breathing heavily… the vitality in her eyes fading.
Sensing something amiss, Iren noticed—
Thud.
The bl**d dripping from Serpina’s side caught her eye.
“My Lord…?”
Only then did she notice.
bl**d flowing from Serpina’s side.
Having experienced many battles, Iren quickly understood what had happened.
She intercepted Shura’s attack meant for Iren.
“…What are you doing, Iren…? Take Reni and… head to the Royal Palace… investigate the… conspiracy.”
“My Lord…! The bl**d…!”
“This much is… fine. Let’s get to the palace… and take care of it….”
Why?
It’s not like bodyguards sacrifice themselves for their protectees.
Did the protectee just throw herself in front of a mere bodyguard?!
‘…No!’
There’s no time to dwell on the situation or blame myself. What needs to be done now is to save the protectee.
Though the wound in her side is deep, it’s not fatal enough to cause immediate d*ath.
Iren swiftly raised her sword and stabbed Reni’s other thigh.
“AAAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!”
“You won’t d*e, but making any reckless moves will truly endanger your life. Best to behave yourself.”
Then, she tore her outer robe to wrap around Serpina’s waist.
“My Lord. Please don’t speak. I’ll ensure you receive immediate treatment.”
Finishing the makeshift first aid, she bent down and lifted Serpina onto her back.
“Bear with me for a little longer, even if it’s uncomfortable.”
“…Sorry, Iren….”
“…”
Hearing the apology almost brought tears to her eyes, but indulging in emotions would risk missing the golden hour.
Thus, Iren began running with Serpina on her back toward a place where she could receive treatment.
And then…
From afar, the person Iren carried was…
Lady Serpina.
*
