Chapter 44…
The Heat-Haze Princess Makes a Decision.
“I’m going to investigate what’s been happening around Felicia.”
After enjoying the clafoutis, Yoan brought the subject up over tea.
“I didn’t want to force you to remember something painful, so I kept putting it off and a month passed… But there have already been two attempts on your life. I can’t just ignore whoever’s threatening you.”
Felicia had tried not to think about the times she had been attacked. She was frightened, of course, but since coming to Yoan’s castle she’d been so happy to finally have a place to belong that she had purposely averted her gaze. Part of her felt that if the problem were solved, she might not be able to stay here anymore. Still, she couldn’t leave things as they were. She set her teacup down and pressed her lips together.
“Do you still think the carriage attack the other day was planned from the start to target me?” she asked.
“I do. They clearly lay in wait for your carriage. Even if it’s a shortcut to the neighboring country, carriages rarely pass near this forest. I had a familiar track the carriage that ran away, but the carriage was abandoned near the border and the coachman was missing. It’s natural to think they arranged in advance for the coachman to take a lonely road so the assailants could attack. It only makes sense that they were targeting you.”
The ruffians who attacked Felicia’s party killed themselves the moment Yoan appeared and the attack failed. They had carried poison for suicide and acted without hesitation — terrifyingly well coordinated. When Yoan sent familiars to trace the escaped coachman and the attackers’ tracks, it became clear they were accomplices, apparently an assassination squad sent from the neighboring country. Each had passed the border checks separately, posing as merchants.
“Until now I’ve prioritized protecting you above all else, so I didn’t pursue whoever was after you. I thought it would be counterproductive if investigation distracted me from defending you. But now that you’re in this castle, my barrier can protect you. I can investigate without putting you in danger. Now is the time to find out who’s targeting you and bring down the iron fist.”
Yoan’s scarlet eyes flared with intensity as he declared that.
Hesitant, Felicia finally confessed the turmoil in her heart.
“—In the last attack, people who tried to protect me were put in danger. I can’t bear to put anyone else at risk because of me. I have to solve this before anyone around me gets hurt… But if I try to learn the truth, I might endanger Lord Yoan. I can’t endure that even more.”
Yoan gently wrapped both his hands around Felicia’s fists, which were clenched so tightly her nails dug in.
“Don’t worry. I’m the man they call the most fearsome Demon King. There’s no one in this country — no, in the world — who can match my magic. I’ve trained hard enough to be proud of that.” Yoan put on a cocky smile to put her at ease.
“My magic has been honed just for you. If I don’t use it for your sake, what use is it? Besides, I’m still the king’s younger brother. This position that used to be nothing but a nuisance — if I can use it for you, that’s not bad at all.”
“Lord Yoan…”
“You needn’t worry about me at all. Only, revealing the truth might cause you pain. I don’t want you to suffer. It’s frightening to know everything — anyone would feel that. So whether we move or stay is up to you. If you don’t wish it, I won’t act. I’ll dedicate myself entirely to protecting you.”
