Chapter 20
Why is His Excellency here—?
Julius should have been reinforcing the defenses at the royal castle, in the heart of the city, once the war began. Could it be because he is a different person than he once was?
Natalie could hardly believe the sight before her eyes. Above all, she could not believe that the strong man before her had been pierced by a spear. He was the very symbol of victory—someone who never fell.
“Gu…gh—”
Her father, who had been shielded by Julius, still hadn’t grasped the situation, staring dumbfounded. Meanwhile, Julius, struck by the enemy’s spear, groaned in pain. Enduring the agony, he swiftly drew the sword at his waist—
“Wha—”
Before the enemy soldier could react, Julius swung the blade in a mighty arc, cutting through them. Even the soldier holding the spear was no exception. He unleashed a relentless assault that permitted no reinforcements, his blade accompanied by shockwaves of magical force.
In the blink of an eye, every visible enemy had been wiped away. Natalie could only watch, forgetting even to blink. But the moment of awe was shattered as events took another turn.
Confirming no enemy remained, Julius slid from his horse and collapsed to the ground. At the same time, the spear embedded in him clattered out with a dull noise.
“Are you all right?!”
Her father shouted loudly, leaping from his horse and rushing to Julius. Snapping back to herself at that voice, Natalie also forced her legs to move and ran toward them.
“…Such strength, but these terrible wounds—Na, Natalie?!”
“……Th-that can’t be…”
Even her father’s astonishment could not reach her; Natalie was too shaken. His body was in far worse shape than it had been at the ball.
(Before… before, he never tried to save me… so why, why would he go this far now?)
Natalie could not understand Julius’s feelings at all. While her head swirled with that question, she saw the wound in his chest where the spear had struck. It was clearly fatal.
“…yo…”
“…Eh?”
Faint words escaped his lips. Unable to hear clearly, she leaned close to his mouth.
“…goo…d… you’re…safe…”
“………Wh-what are you…?”
Why would he say such a thing? Even as the light faded from his eyes, he closed them and smiled. Blood spilled from his mouth—he had to be in unbearable pain, yet still he smiled. Why? Why?
“…Nothing… about this is good!”
“N-Natalie?”
Her father, who seemed to have ordered his men to summon help, jumped in surprise at her sudden shout.
“Father! I’ll treat him right now!”
“Eh, but… the reinforcements—”
“That will be too late!”
“B-but…”
She understood his hesitation. Rescue would come after the call, and it might be safer to withdraw from here quickly. Even if no enemy could be seen, this was still wartime; another ambush could strike at any moment.
(But if we wait, he’ll die. Without a doubt.)
Julius’s condition was clearly deteriorating by the second. Natalie could never forgive herself for abandoning him. Nor could she allow things to end without understanding the meaning behind his words. She had learned enough in her first life how bitter it was to do nothing.
She pressed her hand to Julius’s chest, blood pouring endlessly, and drew every drop of healing magic from her body to pour into him. To stop the bleeding, to close the wounds.
“Natalie… I understand. I’ll help too!”
“…! Father…”
“He saved my life as well. And besides, I cannot stand by and let someone suffer.”
His words eased her panic and the cold sweat on her brow, if only slightly. Even so, the situation remained dire. Her father added his hand over hers, channeling magic, but Julius’s heartbeat grew weaker still.
“Gh…”
Her father poured in more and more magic, but his expression turned grim at the severity of the wound. Sweat began to bead on both their brows.
“Lord! Enemy reinforcements, in the distance—!”
“Damn… what about our own support?”
“N-not yet…! At this rate—!”
The words of her father’s subordinate were hopeless.
“……!”
Sweat was not the only thing on Natalie’s face now—tears welled as well. Would she have to give up again, accept that nothing could be done? In war, she was powerless… even her talent for healing would end up half-finished, wasted.
“N-Natalie…”
Her father looked to her with searching eyes. She understood—the pounding of many hooves was drawing closer. She clenched her hands harder, pouring everything she had into Julius.
(God, demon, it doesn’t matter who—take everything from me if you must, just heal him—please!)
At that instant, Natalie’s mind went completely white, as though it had sparked. Before her eyes too, a blinding light erupted. She remembered—this light, she had seen it somewhere before…
“Wh-what’s happening…?”
Her father saw it too, pulling his hands back in shock. The light lasted only a moment, then vanished—leaving behind—
“…Haa… haa…”
“…! His wounds—”
The gaping hole the spear had left in Julius’s heart had closed completely, as if it had never been there. Pressing her ear to his chest, Natalie heard it—thump, thump—steady and strong.
Exhaustion flooded her body, her knees giving way until she collapsed to sit on the ground.
“Natalie, this is—but no, we must flee at once!”
Her father blinked in astonishment, but focused quickly on the more pressing matter—the enemy soldiers drawing nearer. Julius was healed, but still unconscious, and the situation remained desperate.
“I’ll hold them off—”
“Captain—!”
Before her father could offer himself as a decoy, Marc’s voice rang out. Behind him, a large force of knights in black armor appeared.
“…Haah… I thought you’d pushed your horse with full magic, and here you were… Hah. Ah, my lovely lady, it’s been too long.”
“Y-yes…”
Marc, panting, rushed over to Julius, then froze in shock at his condition. “Eh? Captain, what on earth—” He quickly realized the sound of hooves from afar.
“…Oh no… and that looks like a large enemy force approaching…”
His eyes went distant, sighing. “So cleaning up after the Captain is also the Vice-Captain’s job, huh…” He seemed to understand the situation at once.
“Ah! Lady Natalie—and is that your father? Please, escape now! And our Captain—”
“A-ah. We’ll carry him. But… will you be all right?”
At her father’s words, Marc bowed gratefully. “Thank you for taking care of our Captain. And now—”
“Leave the rest to us! Black Knights, forward!”
His cry was echoed by the men behind him. With a wink toward Natalie, Marc dashed toward the enemy.
Thanks to his actions, they had the chance to withdraw safely. At once, one of her father’s men, a burly knight holding the reins, lifted Julius onto a horse.
With her father leading the way, Natalie climbed onto his horse, and together they rode swiftly back toward the estate.
