Chapter 74
“Luce?”
As always, Luce suddenly appeared out of nowhere and stepped between me and Ethan.
“So you threw a kid in prison because you couldn’t even handle a simple interrogation? Looking at you now, I see—it’s like subordinate, like superior. Equally incompetent.”
“Luce!”
Only after calling his name did Luce finally turn around with a curt expression. When he spotted me leaning against a tree, he tilted his head.
“Why are you hanging off a tree?”
“I’m not hanging, it’s just… my, my legs gave out….”
I think he sighed.
“And Sir Ethan isn’t at fault. I begged Harry to let me in.”
“…You.”
Luce strode toward me. He’s going to scold me for doing something useless again, isn’t he? Of course he’ll look at me like I’m pathetic. To endure the embarrassment, I bit the inside of my cheek.
“Who are you defending in front of me right now?”
His words were so unexpected I almost froze.
“Huh?”
“You promised, remember? To put me before Ethan Croite.”
“…I did promise that.”
But does that promise apply here too? I wasn’t prioritizing Ethan—I was just stating the truth.
While I was still confused, Luce continued with his criticism of Ethan.
“What’s the point of saving what I gave you? You should’ve called me, not let Linne in. Can’t even make that simple judgment?”
“Wizard. This is not for you to argue. It’s my duty to apologize directly to Lady Linnegrim.”
“No need. Anything about her is my business.”
“…What do you mean?”
“We’re fami—”
“Luce!”
Horrified that he was about to spout nonsense, I tugged frantically on his robe.
“What now.”
Even though he sounded gruff, he obediently turned when I called. What do I do? If I tell him not to treat Ethan that way, he’ll just say again that I should put him first—so embarrassing.
After a short moment of thought, I released the tree and stretched out my hand to him.
“C-could you help me walk?”
“…Help you?”
“Yes! How long are you going to keep me standing here? I want to get out of here already. I feel gross and I just want to wash!”
Rather than staying caught between the two, I chose to get away. If Luce leaves with me, the problem solves itself, doesn’t it? And if it’s just a personal request unrelated to his so-called “priority,” he won’t argue.
As I hoped, Luce stopped snapping at Ethan and came toward me. He guided my hand up to his neck.
The next moment, I felt his strong arm under my thighs and suddenly I was lifted into the air. Instead of just supporting me, he carried me.
The ground fell away and instinctively I wrapped my arms around his neck. Our eyes met at close range.
“Just helping me walk would’ve been enough….”
“I wanted to carry you.”
“You really don’t hesitate to say embarrassing things, do you.”
“Didn’t I say it? I’ll treasure you.”
Thud. His forehead lightly touched mine.
“So teach me well. So I can learn.”
…Hopefully my face doesn’t look too dumb right now.
I peeked past his shoulder.
“Th-then, Sir Ethan. I’ll head back first. I’m sorry…!”
“I’m the one who should apologize, Lady Linnegrim. Please rest well….”
Ethan kept his head bowed for a long while.
“I dirtied Sir Ethan’s clothes, even though he was protecting me….”
“……”
“I wonder if Lord Teahrn and Lord Tehinra are okay. Their sense of smell is sharp, so it must’ve been awful for them….”
“……”
“But since one culprit is still alive, the investigation should continue, right? I hope it doesn’t interfere…”
“Why are you talking about others when I’m right here? Look at me.”
He pulled me closer with the arm supporting my back. I barely turned my head enough not to bury my face into his neck.
That’s why! Because you’re right in front of me, it’s embarrassing, so I talk about other things!
“Ahem, how did you even get to the prison?”
“I sensed the seal activating. What did that bastard Taran say?”
“He said in ‘his’ vision of the future, I wasn’t there. And apparently someone named Haron brought ‘him.’”
“Haron brought him?”
“Who’s Haron?”
“An elder of the Mage Tower. Well, used to be.”
[“Four years ago, one of the Tower elders stole ritual magic and fled. He was a black mage who worshiped demons.”]
“The one who stole the ritual…?”
“Yeah. And Taran was his devoted follower.”
“I see… Then won’t this Haron want revenge on me? His disciple died because of me.”
“Would someone like that bother putting a ban spell on his disciple? Taran was a discarded pawn. That’s why he let the lunatic infiltrate the palace.”
Luce was right. Haron must be terrifying. To place such a cruel curse on a disciple who worshiped him so faithfully.
“And another thing.”
A breeze rustled by, ruffling my bangs before vanishing again. My vision cleared, and I met Luce’s violet eyes staring intently at me. His brows were furrowed in displeasure.
“Why do you think Taran’s death was your fault? He died because of his own stupidity.”
“I know, but… it just feels…”
“Why’d you go to the prison in the first place?”
“I got formal permission from Harry.”
“Which means the crown prince is to blame.”
“Hey!”
This guy really would do it! I quickly yanked his robe, practically grabbing him by the collar to stop him.
“I asked to go. Harry opposed it but I insisted. I just wanted to help somehow….”
“So you went straight to the man who tried to kill you.”
“…That’s true.”
“Without me.”
His jaw tightened. I thought I even heard his teeth grind. I added hurriedly, almost defensively:
“But even if you weren’t there, Sir Ethan, Lord Teahrn, and Lord Tehinra were!”
“And did Ethan Croite protect you properly?”
“Why do you keep picking on him? If you’d just told me who the traitor was, none of this would’ve happened!”
“I told you—if you’re not going to kill them, forget the traitor.”
“How could I forget? It’s terrifying!”
Luce suddenly stopped walking.
I beat his shoulder with the hand gripping his robe.
“I said it’s scary! You didn’t tell me anything when I was trapped in the greenhouse, either. And now because of that traitor, I almost died again! You still don’t plan on telling me, so what am I supposed to do?!”
“Wait, wait a moment.”
“What do you mean wait? I don’t want to kill them, I just want them caught and thrown in prison! But you say if I don’t kill them, you won’t tell me anything! Damn it, what am I supposed to—!”
“Linne.”
“What!”
“People are staring.”
Oh. Only then did I notice. At some point Luce had carried me all the way into the main palace, and the servants in the corridor were staring at me shouting my lungs out.
“You hate things like this.”
“…Thanks a lot.”
I buried my face in his shoulder, praying everyone would lose interest soon. Meanwhile, Luce just kept walking steadily.
“Lady Feahil?”
“Y-your Highness the Crown Prince…”
If it were just Helion, I’d have stayed in Luce’s arms and bowed. But next to him was Princess Rowina.
I squirmed until Luce set me gently on the floor. My legs had regained a little strength, enough to bow properly.
“Linnegrim of House Feahil greets Your Highness the Princess.”
“That’s enough. You’re a mess.”
Is it that bad? I didn’t think that much blood got on me….
Rowina wrinkled her beautiful face and turned aside, pressing her hand against her nose as if she couldn’t stand the smell.
“Your Highness, may I take my leave first?”
“Yes, Rowina. You don’t look well, go rest.”
She swayed faintly as if unwell, then walked gracefully away, still dignified even in retreat.
Once she disappeared, Helion reached out and brushed my cheek. A smear of blood came off on his fingers.
“…Linne. What happened?”
“I’ll say this first: don’t blame Harry. No apologizing! I went because I wanted to.”
“…I can’t promise, but I’ll try.”
“The wizard who attacked me had a prohibition spell on him. Probably the other one too. He said that in the future ‘he’ saw, I wasn’t there. Then he died after saying that.”
I didn’t add that he exploded.
“As I thought, I never should have let—”
“Shh, you promised not to say that. Enough~”
Oops, I slipped into a tone like coaxing a child. Flustered, I covered my mouth, but Helion only blinked and chuckled softly.
“Sorry.”
“No apologizing, I said.”
“I can’t help it. You did well, Linne. Sending you was the right choice. The fact that they had to put a prohibition spell on him means you uncovered something critical.”
Even if Ethan saw me vomiting on his clothes and collapsing like a fool….
“By the way, Luce. Are you really not going to tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
“The traitor, of course! Don’t tell me you forgot already?”
“Of course not. My shoulder still aches from your punches.”
“Then hurry and tell me. Who is it?”
Luce didn’t answer. I shook his sleeve furiously. His eyes, fixed on me all this time, shifted to Helion.
“…I still can’t—”
“Hey! Are you seriously doing this? You said you’d treasure me! Did you even mean it?”
For the first time, I felt genuine resentment toward Luce. My hands trembled as I clutched his sleeve. He raised a hand as if to touch me, but let it fall again.
“…Never again.”
Sniffling, I looked up at him. He avoided my gaze, mumbling under his breath.
“They’ll never threaten you again. So just wait a little, just a little longer.”
“…Sniff. How long?”
“Until I’m certain.”
“Certain of what?”
“That I don’t need anything but you.”
Nothing but me? He needs that certainty? I couldn’t make sense of what he was saying.
“What does that even mean? When will you be certain?”
“Who knows. I’d have to think about it to find out.”
Is he joking right now?
I raised my weak arm to smack him, but my fist was gently caught.
“So for now, I can only promise you this. You’ll never be in danger again.”
His hand slid from the back of mine to wrap around my wrist.
