Chapter: 12
“…It felt like flies were buzzing around.”
After a brief pause, Derbel muttered the excuse and let go of Lynette’s hand.
“Huh?”
What kind of nonsense was that?
Lynette frowned and stared at him, and Derbel casually looked at the pig instead.
“Be careful. The pig might breathe fire again.”
“Oh.”
Her gaze then shifted to Françoise.
It might have been an overreaction, but considering the situation, it was understandable.
“It’s okay. I don’t think it’s going to breathe fire right now.”
“And why are you so sure of that?”
“Hmm.”
Lynette thought for a moment and then smiled gently.
“Just a feeling.”
“Hah.”
Derbel let out a dry laugh.
“Monsters don’t usually announce their attacks in advance.”
“Still, this one’s fine.”
“Protecting you is my duty. If the princess gets hurt, the Holy Kingdom might use that as an excuse to make demands.”
If they were that concerned about me, that would actually be nice.
He briefly thought that.
He knew how greedy his mother and Ceriana could be. If given a chance, they would interfere and try to extract something from the ducal house.
‘But it wouldn’t be because of me.’
They didn’t care about him at all.
Perhaps his mother and Ceriana had even forgotten that they were currently at his ducal house. They had acted the same way in the Holy Kingdom.
‘Even though I was sick and bedridden for a week, the only person who knew was Emma.’
Would such people ever change?
Lynette lifted her head with an unaffected air.
Derbel’s gaze lingered for a moment on the hair that swayed with her movement.
But soon, he looked back at Lynette’s face as if nothing had happened.
“As I said before, nothing like that will happen in the Holy Kingdom.”
“Those who plot behind the scenes can even invent things that don’t exist.”
“Well, I’d bet against that. They won’t do that.”
At least, not concerning me.
“A bet, huh.”
Derbel snorted.
“You don’t bet recklessly, Princess. There could be a cost later.”
“You’re just being obstinate. I’m saying it’s fine.”
No one else would rush to protect her like this. At least, not in the Holy Kingdom.
For some reason, the thought left a bitter taste.
“…Let’s just leave it at that for now.”
Lynette lowered her head. Derbel, frowning as if he was lost in thought, let out a small sigh.
In a softer tone, he spoke to her.
“…I think I was a bit harsh. The appearance of the monster here was clearly our mistake.”
“None of us could have expected it.”
“Unexpected or not, it should never have happened.”
Derbel’s tone was firm—so much so that it almost felt threatening. There was even a deadly edge in his warning that he intended to enforce discipline.
“Let’s talk about it later. It seems everyone’s here now.”
As he spoke, the sounds of commotion indicated that the knights had arrived.
It was time to show a friendlier side.
Lynette straightened her expression and stepped forward.
“By the way…”
Derbel glanced at Françoise with disapproval.
‘Does this man still think about putting Françoise on the table?’
Lynette hugged Françoise tighter and gave him a sharp look.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Neither did I, Duke.”
“…….”
“…….”
Leaving a trace of unease, Lynette extended her hand to him. Derbel naturally took it and escorted her.
When he had been scolding her earlier, he had been sharp and infuriating. But now, he behaved like a devoted fiancé, treating each action as if handling a precious person.
‘I really don’t know what he’s thinking.’
Lynette looked at Derbel. The hand she held for the escort was larger than she had expected. She could feel calluses and scars no one else had.
‘The strongest person of all.’
Perhaps that was why.
Before she realized it, Lynette said to him:
“Thank you for saving me, Derbel.”
She spoke with genuine gratitude. Because of him, they had been able to easily defeat the monster.
“You’re welcome.”
Derbel placed his hand on his chest and gave a slight nod. There was a hint of playful mischief in it, and Lynette couldn’t help but smile.
After all, Derbel Crissian was her fiancé.
A fiancé with only one year left on the contract.
“What exactly is this child?”
An ordinary pig could not breathe fire.
And yet it didn’t seem like a monster either.
—Take her. She will be of use to you.
Thinking of that voice, she didn’t seem dangerous at all.
“A fire pig.”
Lost in thought, Derbel muttered abruptly.
“Huh?”
“Because it breathes fire.”
“…….”
Lynette was momentarily at a loss for words but couldn’t help laughing.
“Surely, you’re joking?”
“Depends. Whether it’s a joke or not is up to that thing.”
“Ha… Don’t ever say that out loud.”
“…….”
Derbel smirked, and Lynette shook her head.
Escorted by him through the ruins, she left the broken building behind.
‘For now… all we can do is observe.’
Unaware that Derbel was watching her sharply with the same thought.
Lynette stepped outside the annex toward the waiting knights.
Outside the annex library, the Aster Knights were lined up.
She hadn’t noticed it from inside, but stepping outside revealed the annex had been thoroughly destroyed.
Perhaps because they had collided with it while trying to enter, the outer wall was in ruins.
Olof Henrik, spotting the two of them, approached and bowed.
“Malphas.”
“…!”
When Derbel casually spoke the monster’s name, Olof’s face stiffened.
Of course, he seemed to know about the monster that appeared today. And naturally, he knew its habitat wasn’t here.
“A monster in Aster? How was the defense handled?”
Derbel’s sharp reprimand cut through the air.
“We apologize.”
“I will hold you responsible later for putting my fiancée in danger.”
Olof bowed deeply, offering no excuses. A silent and responsible knight commander.
“When we return to the main building, call a meeting immediately.”
“Yes. I’ll prepare it right away.”
Evan answered, having arrived quietly, his expression serious.
Then, Derbel and Olof’s gazes sharpened as they sensed something.
“Olof.”
Derbel pulled Lynette close to shield her. At the same time, the silent commander stepped forward protectively.
“When did that guy become worse than a monster?”
As Derbel sighed, a distant sound grew closer.
“Princess Lynetteeeeee!”
It was a scream resembling that of a monster.
