16

“Unless you’ve fallen in love with a monster.”

“…Get out.”

Shouldn’t have asked.

Leo fric frowned deeply, wrinkles forming between his straight eyebrows, and spoke irritably. Edgick chuckled and headed out with the other knights.

“Petsu.”

Leo subtly gestured to his vice-commander and handed over a small, rolled-up note that Nephi had spat out on his way back.

As Jinpetsu took it and quickly scanned through it, relief crossed his face before it hardened slightly.

“His Majesty is safe.”

“At least on the surface. It doesn’t seem like anyone is openly pressuring him.”

Which meant these orders might entirely reflect Wintran’s own intentions.

“…What will you do?”

“I’ll have to think about it.”

“…”

“Either way, the fact that we need to enter the royal palace hasn’t changed.”

Leo fric glanced at the now mostly healed wound on his hand as he spoke.

Going to the capital wasn’t just to have an audience with Wintran.

* * *

The maids quietly brought Ateira’s breakfast and left without a word. Seeing the collected pieces of the broken plate, they sighed softly and took them away along with the other dishes. Since their role was both to attend to her and to monitor her, it seemed likely they would report to Count Zellered.

They exchanged no words. They quietly helped her change clothes, brushed her hair, and then left.

They brought in meals and then left.

Alone once more, she quietly gazed out the window and sat lightly on the long bench.

Last night’s events felt like a dream. If not for the broken plate, she might have doubted whether it had really happened.

Just before she fell asleep, she had heard a pitiful sound, and when she went out to look, she saw that red bird tangled in the vines. Trying unnecessarily to rescue a bird that had an owner…

Thinking about how she ended up atop the suddenly appearing man made her cheeks flush.

Strange emotions swirled within her.

It was easier and more comfortable when she felt only pure hatred. She disliked even the fact that the warm bird belonged to him. She hadn’t wanted his help, but receiving it made her feel even more unsettled.

The instinctive gratitude she felt stirred up guilt she hadn’t fully acknowledged, leaving her even more confused—even though she didn’t regret attacking him.

He was the man who destroyed Ledetian. How many things had he broken and ruined with those hands?

The feel of his arm seizing her waist to help her came back to her. Ateira shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She tried to shake off other emotions and focus solely on the facts.

He is my enemy, my nemesis.

Ateira let out a short sigh.

I wonder if the bird was hurt.

Perhaps when she was cutting the vines, the sharp edge of the shard had touched it, or maybe she pulled the vines too hard. She had fallen over as the bird flapped its wings.

Did I accidentally cut it? Ah, that bird is a monster. Monsters have excellent regenerative abilities, so it should be fine.

It didn’t look like a monster in appearance, so she hadn’t noticed. If she had observed it longer, she might have realized, but she couldn’t tell from just a brief glance.

Other monsters appeared, drawn by that bird…

Although it wasn’t the first time she’d seen monsters, it was rare to encounter several in such close proximity.

It was the first time since she had seen monsters during her time studying for the honorary priesthood with her younger brother Dermin at the Great Temple of Akalem.

She retraced memories of her distant past. The red bird monster reminded her of the bird-shaped monsters she had seen at the temple back then.

She felt a sense of longing. Perhaps that was why she was glad to see the bird monster called Nephi.

A knock sounded.

It wasn’t time for the maids who had just left to return, so Ateira tilted her head and turned around.

They were Count Zellered’s knights.

“The count requests your presence.”

Ateira’s face hardened coldly. She didn’t welcome it, but she couldn’t avoid it. She slowly stood up, straightening her clothes, and followed them.

The long corridor was empty. Not even the mansion’s servants were in sight, making it feel unsettling.

It seemed he had ordered no one to come near.

Standing before a certain room, the knight silently opened the door. Feeling tense, her grip on the hem of her dress tightened slightly.

“You’ve arrived, Princess.”

Count Zellered, comfortably seated on the sofa and sipping tea, spoke without offering her a seat or tea.

“What is it?”

Ateira replied calmly, standing where she was. She was bothered by the broken plate. She remembered the day he left, hinting that Dermin was alive, and warning her not to do anything rash.

If the maids had reported the broken plate as something unusual, perhaps he misunderstood and thought she was trying to harm herself. She thought she should explain it as an accident.

“Don’t you miss your brother?”

“…”

She was startled by the sudden question and almost answered reflexively. But she didn’t respond hastily. She tried to keep her expression neutral and waited for his next words. However, she couldn’t help that her knuckles turned white as she gripped her dress tightly.

“Hmm.”

Count Zellered observed her, seeming amused.

“Would you like to see him?”

Her heart sank.

But this wasn’t an environment where she could take such words at face value. Ateira’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Are you saying Dermin is alive?”

Count Zellered didn’t answer and just smiled broadly. As expected. No matter how much she pretends otherwise, she must be concerned. The count, with a satisfied smile, asked in return:

“Princess, answer my question first. Do you want to meet him or not?”

“…”

The princess gritted her teeth slightly. The count was thoroughly enjoying his position of superiority.

“…If I can meet him, I definitely want to.”

“See? It’s good to be honest, isn’t it?”

The count put down his teacup and clasped his hands together with a smooth smile. He looked like someone contemplating how to handle the prey before him.

“I should arrange for you to meet. You’re family, after all. It’s heartbreaking to see you separated like this.”

“…”

Ateira wondered what price she would have to pay for that. This man had mentioned Dermin several times, planting hope that she couldn’t let go of.

“But only if you successfully carry out one task.”

“…What is it?”

The count couldn’t hide his delight. With a broad smile, he continued:

“The death of Leo fric Helton.”

Ateira’s red eyes widened in shock, unable to hide her surprise.

What is he saying?

She was greatly taken aback. It was such an unexpected proposal.

“…”

“Why? Is that disagreeable to you?”

“…Isn’t he your hero?”

He was probably the greatest contributor who delivered Ledetian to Thornfeld.

“Hero.”

Count Zellered chuckled softly. The word “hero” always grated on his nerves.

“Heroes are only needed in times of war. Now is an era of peace.”

So he’s no longer necessary?

She contemplated what kind of political issues might be occurring within the Thornfeld Kingdom.

The war has ended, the hero’s name is celebrated, and there are those who dislike that.

“Anyway, that’s not important. So, can you do it?”

“…”

What does this man take me for? Ateira asked the count.

“Do you really think I’m some kind of assassin? It’s true that I attacked him, but that was because of my personal grudge. And even that failed.”

Killing that man was something she couldn’t do.

Ateira recalled Leo fric’s appearance from last night. A man with inhuman reaction speed and movements. Someone who could appear without any detectable presence, making it impossible to know where he came from.

Her initial attack was thrown without intent to kill, and she hadn’t expected a high chance of success.

But after last night, it was safe to say that her chances of killing him were virtually nonexistent.

She couldn’t gamble with Dermin’s life on such an impossible task.

Ateira calmly said to him:

“Even you know that wounding him last time was purely luck. What can a mere princess like me do to a war hero?”

“A mere princess, you say.”

The count scoffed.

“I know all about the unusual training the Ledetian royal family provides to its royals to prepare them against assassination.”

“…Training to prepare against assassination is something many royal families do. Isn’t it common for high nobles to educate their children to protect themselves?”

Her heart sank.

But this was no environment where she could take such words at face value. Ateira’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Are you saying that Dermin is alive?”

Count Zellered didn’t answer. Instead, he smiled, his expression twisted in amusement. Of course, no matter how much she tried to feign indifference, she was clearly anxious. Satisfied, the count continued with a mocking tone.

“Princess, answer my question first. Do you want to see him or not?”

“…”

Ateira ground her teeth softly. The count was relishing his position of superiority, his tone dripping with arrogance.

“…If I can see him, then yes, I want to.”

“See? Isn’t honesty refreshing?”

The count set down his teacup, clasping his hands together with a polished smile, like someone calculating how best to deal with his prey.

“Naturally, I’ll arrange a meeting. After all, you’re family. It pains me to see you separated.”

“…”

Ateira wondered what price he would exact for this. He had dangled the hope of seeing Dermin multiple times, knowing she couldn’t turn away from it.

“But only if you carry out a certain task.”

“…What is it?”

The count couldn’t conceal his delight, his smile broad as he spoke.

“The death of Leo fric Helton.”

Ateira’s red eyes widened in shock, unable to mask her surprise.

What is he talking about?

She was taken aback. It was such an unexpected demand.

“…”

“Why? Don’t want to do it?”

“…Isn’t he your hero?”

After all, he was the one most credited with bringing Ledetian to Thornfeld.

“Hero.”

Count Zellered scoffed. The word “hero” grated on him every time.

“Heroes are only needed in times of war. Now, it’s an era of peace.”

So he’s no longer necessary?

Ateira thought over what sort of political struggle might be occurring within the Thornfeld Kingdom.

The war was over, and the hero’s name was celebrated. Naturally, there would be those who resented him for it.

“Anyway, that’s irrelevant. So, can you do it?”

“…”

What does he take me for? Ateira looked at the count and asked.

“Do you really believe I’m some kind of assassin? Yes, I attacked him, but that was purely out of my own grudge. And I failed.”

Killing that man was beyond her.

Ateira recalled Leo fric’s movements from last night—a man with inhuman reflexes, able to move without a sound, appearing out of nowhere.

She hadn’t intended to kill him in her initial attack, and she hadn’t expected a high chance of success.

But after last night, it was clear that her chances of killing him were next to zero.

She couldn’t risk Dermin’s life on such an impossible task.

Ateira spoke calmly.

“You must know that injuring him was purely by chance. What could a mere princess like me possibly do to a war hero?”

“A mere princess, you say.”

The count sneered.

“Don’t try to deceive me with such words. The Ledetian royal family went beyond mere self-defense training. Not only did they develop immunity to poisons…”

“…”

“They were thorough in their methods, weren’t they? Combat training, poison detection, and even instructions on how to use it?”

“…”

“Given what we’ve discovered from sources outside Ledetian, I’m very curious about what else your royal family taught.”

Ateira silently stared back at the count, showing no reaction to his taunts.

“Am I wrong? If I am, then correct me. Surely there are still a few Ledetian servants left alive in the Thornfeld palace. If I were to question them, the truth would come out, though it may not be a pleasant experience for them.”

Ateira glared at the man, who spoke so casually of torture. To hide her trembling hands, she tightened her grip on her skirt. Her choice was clear—she’d never truly had a choice. Resigned, she asked quietly.

“…And Dermin?”

“The prince is very safe, so there’s no need to worry.”

“Let me see him first. I need to know for myself that he’s safe.”

“Princess, you seem to misunderstand. I’m not here to negotiate with you on equal terms.”

Ateira bit her lip as he continued with a sharp look.

“If you resist, the prince’s safety may become… uncertain.”

She lowered her eyes slowly. This wasn’t a fight with many options. If she knew exactly who was behind this, she might have something to negotiate, but without any information, it was a heavily lopsided battle.

The count watched her as she stood in contemplation, patiently waiting. He seemed to relish the time she spent deliberating, as if he were savoring her torment.

As if he already knew exactly what her decision would be.

“…I’ll do it.”

“Haha! That’s the spirit!”

The count, unable to contain his excitement, tapped the table gleefully.

“…”

Watching him, Ateira hesitated and then spoke up.

“What if I fail?”

She raised her head and looked at the count intently.

“What happens if I fail?”

“If you’re caught after failing, we’ll say it was all your own doing. Don’t forget that the prince’s safety is in our hands.”

“That’s not what I’m asking.”

She shook her head, clarifying her question. It wasn’t her own safety she was concerned about if she failed—it was her brother’s life.

“I want to know if Dermin will be safe even if I fail.”

Can I truly kill that man? Is it possible?

Doubt gnawed at her.

“Who knows,” the count replied, scratching his chin as he considered, then answered with a shrug.

“It depends on how earnestly you go about it. Even if you fail, you’d better make sure you try your hardest. Don’t you agree?”

“…”

It was an extremely unfair demand. But it was a skewed game from the start, and she had little choice. She was a prisoner, a war prize. The only card she had left was her willingness to risk her life, her last hold on her pride.

But now, with someone’s life at stake, she was more vulnerable than ever.

Ateira nodded to the count.

“Haha, such compliance deserves a gift.”

The count chuckled as he placed a small box on the table, urging her to take it.

“Well? Go ahead.”

“…What is it?”

“Proof that the prince is safe.”

Ateira’s movements halted momentarily.

She reached out slowly, doing her best to keep her fingers from trembling.

The box was very small, almost like that little monster bird, Nephi.

The time it took to open the box felt endless. She tightened her grip to prevent her hands from slipping, making it take even longer.

When she finally opened the box and looked inside, she quietly closed it again.

“Do you like it?”

“…Thank you.”

Seeing her lack of reaction, the count’s enthusiasm waned slightly. With a casual shrug, he added.

“You have one week.”

“…”

The timeframe was laughable. The task, impossible from the start, seemed even more unattainable now.

Ateira gave him a slight nod and turned to leave. The count called after her back.

“If there’s anything you need, let me know. I’ll support you however I can.”

“…”

I already have everything I need.

Without responding, she left the room, holding the box carefully.

Inside the box was one of Dermin’s clothing ornaments—a pin bearing the royal family’s crest, used to secure his collar.

Years ago, on a long-ago birthday, she had received a hair ornament while her younger brother had received that pin, proudly wearing it on his clothes.

He had insisted on putting it on himself with his small hands, pricking himself in the process and crying until his nanny finally fastened it for him.

After that, he practiced putting it on by himself, initially crooked, but over time, he’d grown and learned to place it straight.

That pin had always been worn proudly on her brother’s chest.

Walking back through the corridor to her room, Ateira suppressed the stabbing pain in her heart and held back tears.

She thought she had failed to protect anyone.

But perhaps, this time, she could save him.