~Chapter 64~
It wasn’t unusual for a knight to protect not only their lord but also the household.
But Leon’s choice of words—“risking his life”—and his blushing face when Nina questioned him, made things look different.
If only those two details hadn’t happened, no one would have thought anything strange.
Leon quickly tried to explain.
“O-Oh, it’s a misunderstanding!”
Yes, it was true that he often worried about the timid maid, but it was far too soon for others to get the wrong idea.
Unfortunately, Amel had already misunderstood. She nodded knowingly.
“Alright, I get it. I understand how you feel.”
“N-No, that’s not—”
Leon tried to defend himself, but failed as someone else entered.
“Your Highness!”
It was Christan. After clearing the monsters outside, he climbed to the second-floor hall.
“Thee.”
The first thing he did when he met Amel’s eyes was check her condition.
“Are you alright? Were you hurt anywhere—”
“I’m fine, Your Highness. Mother and Nina are safe too.”
At her words, Christan quietly exhaled in relief. Amel, reassured he was unharmed, smirked playfully.
“Oh, and something shocking happened.”
“Shocking?”
She giggled.
“Guess what Leon said earlier? He swore he’d risk his life to protect me, and then right after he said—”
“My lady! N-No, I didn’t!”
“…”
Christan’s face hardened. His sharp gray eyes fell on Leon, who froze.
“Raising your voice at your master is a deeply disloyal act.”
“Y-Yes, sir… I-I’m sorry!”
(Though Gerard often raised his voice too, Christan ignored that fact and scolded Leon harshly. His mood was foul.)
‘Risk his life… and what came after? Nothing positive for me.’ Christan didn’t want to hear more.
He finally spoke flatly,
“…We should return to the mansion soon. The Count is alone, and it will be safer there than here.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The streets outside were quieter now. If they were to return, this was the moment.
“Mother and Nina should ride with me on the broom. It’s safer that way.”
The two grandest buildings in the capital were the Imperial Palace and the Barbate Grand Temple.
Built after conquering the Holy Kingdom of Salo, the temple now served as an emergency shelter.
Inside, chaos reigned.
“My husband is injured, please help!”
“My mother disappeared!”
“Why are monsters roaming the city?! What are our taxes even for?!”
The priests, unprepared for this, scrambled about in panic.
“Please, sit in the designated areas, we’ll help you shortly—”
“Designated areas?! Can’t you see how crowded it is? There’s no space to even stand!”
While the priests turned pale under the angry crowd, one man kept calm.
His long snow-white hair was tied neatly back.
Felix Britney, lord of House Britney.
He was supposed to return to his lands today with his wife, Cynthia, but the Rift outbreak forced them to stay and help.
‘It is the goddess’s will to aid those in need…’
His platinum eyes drifted toward the palace.
‘So, the strongest building that could shelter us all—the Imperial Palace—keeps its gates shut.’
Though his hands healed the wounded, his eyes narrowed with quiet disapproval.
“You’ll be fine now,” Felix said gently.
“Th-Thank you… hhh…” the patient wept, healed but shaken.
Cynthia then entered carrying clean water.
“The streets look calmer. Most of the monsters seem to be dealt with.”
Felix turned sharply.
“You shouldn’t be doing this! This is a servant’s work—”
“What are you saying? In a disaster, there’s no noble or servant. If I can help even one more person, I will.”
Her firm tone silenced him. Felix could only sigh.
“…Please, don’t overexert yourself.”
Meanwhile, the Winterfall mansion was safe, thanks to Camarin.
The moment he sensed the situation, he used his power to repel monsters from approaching. Even Count Conrad welcomed refugees into the mansion for safety.
“Thank you for saving our lives, Count.”
“You needn’t thank me. It’s simply what should be done,” Conrad replied firmly but kindly.
Rosaria returned and ordered the maids,
“Bring these people refreshing tea. They must be parched from running.”
She herself drank two cups of peppermint tea at once.
Upstairs, Amel sat in her room, clutching her head.
“Ugh… maybe I shouldn’t have stepped in…”
『You did step in. Why call it a mistake?』 Camarin’s voice rumbled.
“But of all times, a Rift appears while I’m in the capital! People will suspect me…”
“They will make it suspicious on purpose,” Christan muttered, frowning.
“The Emperor could accuse anyone he pleases, even claim someone created the Rift with new techniques. Truly irritating.”
『Oh? Was that a lie? I thought you humans had invented some new magic.』
Christan’s head snapped toward Camarin.
“What did you say?”
『When I first came to this world, it felt as though someone summoned me—and the demons—with some kind of technique. That’s all.』
“…Why are you only telling us now?!”
Amel bit her lip. She remembered hearing this on the day she first brought Camarin, but she dismissed it then as nonsense.
“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness. Camarin told me before, but I thought it was nonsense and ignored it…”
“…I see.”
Expecting a scolding, Amel lowered her head. But instead, Christan’s expression softened.
“It’s fine. You remembered now, that’s enough. No need to apologize.”
“Yes! I’ll be more careful from now on!” Amel nodded quickly.
Watching this, Camarin grumbled,
‘So strict with me, but gentle with her… unfair humans.’
Time passed, and the refugees left the mansion. The Winterfall family prepared to rest after the day’s ordeal.
But then—
“So, the Duke of Bellerophon was hiding here. I was wondering where you had gone.”
The uninvited guest arrived.
The Emperor himself had come to the mansion.
