Chapter 170: Relief and Resolve
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 170: Relief and Resolve
Crash—!
With the sound of shattering glass, a volley of arrows flew through the window and thudded into the dragon’s body.
“Ugh...!”
The dragon looked down at the arrows buried in his chest and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
At the same moment, the door was kicked open with a violent force, and light flooded into the room.
The dragon turned to look at me. In his bloodshot eyes, I saw a desperate urgency—he couldn't afford to miss this chance.
His arm, pierced by an arrow, was forced upward as if being wrenched by an invisible hand. Just as he was about to plunge his dagger down again, a broad back suddenly appeared, shielding me.
It was Loik.
With the sharp clang of clashing steel, the dagger was knocked away, powerless.
“How dare a mere contractor stand in my way!” the dragon roared in fury.
“That contract ends today,” Loik shot back, his voice low and dangerous.
His back muscles rose and fell with his heavy breathing, as if he had been running for a long time.
“Don’t make me laugh. A contract only ends when I say it ends. For a mere mortal to—” The dragon broke off, coughing up more blood.
“To think you’d manifest by borrowing the body of such a ‘mere mortal.’ For a grand dragon, you certainly seem to be a coward,” Loik sneered.
“I suppose you’re terrified of your own body getting hurt? What, are you afraid someone might pluck out your scales?”
“Shut up!” the dragon shrieked, his voice rasping like grinding metal.
“Do you not know who the true master of that power you wield is? You are nothing but a vessel!”
However, his struggling voice grew fainter and fainter.
“Just you wait! I will make sure you pay the price for your arrogance.”
“Captain! His body is disappearing!”
Though I couldn't see clearly behind Loik’s back, the light radiating from the dragon flickered and began to fade.
Loik shouted urgently, “Mage!”
Enolius, who was standing by the door, hastily reached out and released a burst of light as if trying to seize the dragon, but the dragon’s body vanished in an instant.
Simultaneously, the tension that had held my body rigid snapped, and I slumped to the side.
A large, firm hand caught my waist before I could fall. The familiar, cool scent of him washed over me. Loik pulled my limp body against him, letting me lean on him for support.
“Loik...”
Only then did I notice the knights filling the log cabin. Sighs of relief and concern broke out from all around.
I was alive.
Loik’s hair was soaked with sweat, showing just how hard he had run to get here. His face, pale with worry, searched mine as his hands carefully checked me over.
“Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”
The hand stroking my cheek was trembling uncontrollably. That touch made a surge of sorrow well up inside me.
“I was so scared.”
“It’s alright now.” Loik’s eyes wavered violently.
“...I thought I was going to die.”
I gripped Loik’s shirt tightly with my trembling hands, and he patted my back soothingly. At that moment, my emotions overflowed, and tears began to stream down my face.
“I was so scared, hic, that you wouldn't be able to find me...!”
Loik’s face contorted with pain. He pulled me into a tight embrace, his powerful frame wrapping around me.
“I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”
As his low, steady voice vibrated against my ear, the relief finally hit me, and I burst into uncontrollable sobs.
“I’m sorry, Annette. I’m so sorry.”
I’m the one who’s sorry.
In the arms of the kneeling Loik, I wailed like a child for a long time.
*
We decided to stay at the villa for another day for the sake of my stability.
Even after arriving at the villa, I didn't leave the bedroom. The terror and dread that had gripped me after meeting the dragon refused to fade. A heavy lethargy weighed me down, making it difficult even to get out of bed.
I couldn't even stomach any food. Only because Loik pleaded with such desperate eyes did I manage to swallow a few spoonfuls of soup.
I couldn't sleep, either. If Loik hadn't stayed by my side all night, patting me gently, I probably wouldn't have slept a wink.
‘I would have been less scared if I’d just been kidnapped by bandits.’
The fact that I could be snatched away at any moment, regardless of my will, was horrifying. Moreover, the thought of illusion magic—the idea that I could disappear and no one would even know—consumed me with a sadness that went beyond fear.
Everything I had built here suddenly felt meaningless. In my profound state of helplessness, I didn't want to move a single inch from under the covers.
As I lay buried in the blankets, a knock sounded, and Cecilia entered the room.
“Your Highness, it’s time for your meal.”
“I’m fine. I don’t want to eat.”
“You barely ate anything yesterday. You have to eat at least a little. I brought some soup and soft bread.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“It’s the clam soup Berni made. It’s your favorite, Your Highness.”
I had heard that last night, per Loik’s orders, the castle’s chef, the butler, and even the maids had all moved to the villa. He must have thought that creating a familiar environment would help me feel more secure.
“The Grand Duke personally instructed the kitchen before he left. He said Your Highness must eat today, no matter what.”
Loik and the knights seemed very busy. They were likely tracking the dragon or the shaman.
“Just try one bite. Your appetite might come back.”
If I sent the tray back untouched, Berni would be heartbroken. Eventually, I leaned back against the headboard. Cecilia handed me the tray and watched me eat with a face full of worry.
My mouth felt dry and sandy, so I could only manage a little before putting the spoon down.
“Please, just a bit more.”
When I shook my head, Reta eventually came and took the soup bowl away.
“Don’t lie down right away or you might get indigestion. Sit up for just a little while.”
As Cecilia leaned over me to prop up more pillows behind my back, a drop of water fell onto my face. I flinched and looked up.
“...Cecilia? Are you crying?”
Large tears were falling from her brown eyes. Cecilia hastily wiped them away. I was taken aback; I had never seen this maid cry before.
“Why are you crying? Did something happen?”
Cecilia spoke with a choked voice. “I’m just... so relieved that Your Highness is safe, and I’m so sorry I didn't realize sooner...”
Seeing her red-rimmed eyes, I realized I wasn't the only one who had been frightened. Cecilia had been in the same carriage as Meisel. The shock of Meisel’s true identity being revealed must have been immense.
“Sit here.”
I pulled the sobbing maid’s hand and made her sit on a stool.
“It’s not your fault. Even the knights said they didn't notice anything.”
Thinking back, it must have been a bolt from the blue for the knights as well.
“But the Grand Duke knew immediately.”
“...Immediately?”
In truth, I owed my life to Loik. Because he had come out to meet me, the fact that I had been swapped was discovered much faster than expected, allowing them to start searching for me right away.
“How did the Grand Duke know?”
Last night, I hadn't been in any state to ask such questions.
“I don’t know. He just took one look and knew it wasn't Your Highness.”
“Really? Just one look?”
Cecilia went on to describe how shocked everyone was when the Grand Duke violently dragged Meisel out of the carriage.
“Wait, the Grand Duke grabbed Meisel’s arm?”
“Yes. He grabbed her wrist and threw her out of the carriage in an instant.”
How?
If Loik had touched Meisel, his mana should have clashed and caused a scene.
‘Did Cecilia mistake what happened?’
But Cecilia had already moved on to how the knights were buzzing with curiosity about how the Grand Duke had recognized the fake.
“Everyone is saying the power of love is truly great.”
Cecilia talked for a long while about how desperately Loik had searched for me.
“I see.”
Strangely, the heavy weight on my heart began to lift bit by bit.
‘Loik recognized me.’
Suddenly, I felt foolish for being so terrified of the dragon.
‘He’s just a reptile with wings, after all.’
Besides, they said he was dying. Seeing how he rushed to steal my holy power as soon as he learned of the imprint, the dragon was clearly in a desperate situation himself.
The reason my fear kept growing was likely due to my own ignorance.
‘I don’t know anything about holy power.’
Perhaps it was my own fault for closing my ears every time the word "Saintess" was mentioned.
‘I can’t keep running away like this.’
Since I had decided to live in Blenheim—no, since I had decided to accept this place as my world—I had to solve this problem one way or another.
There was no need to be so afraid. I would learn more about the Saintess and study holy power.
‘There are mages here, and priests.’
There were plenty of people to help me.
And above all, I had Loik.
Recalling that broad, solid back that had stood before me, I felt much more secure.
As I thought, moping around like this really didn't suit me.