Chapter 219: Bickering
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 219: Bickering
She had braced herself for agonizing pain.
Constine gasped as her eyes flew open.
A pair of fiercely trembling eyes met hers. Damp golden hair shimmered before her.
This man is…!
Constine stared blankly at his face. He was the very knight who had been so unpleasant to her when she first entered Blenheim.
— “My name is Tiern Vieri.”
She even remembered how he had articulated his name clearly when she told him she would make him pay for his behavior later.
“What on earth do you think you’re doing?!”
A sharp voice rang in her ear.
“Do you have a death wish?”
She really had almost died. Constine panted, unable to find the breath to answer. The knight looked as if he wanted to snap at her then and there, but he waited until she calmed down. Her wildly thumping heart slowly regained its steady rhythm.
“…Put me down,” Constine said coldly, having finally regained her composure.
“You have to let go of me for me to put you down, don't you?”
Only then did Constine realize her hands were deathly gripped onto the knight’s clothes. She released him with a start, and Tiern, his face twisted in a scowl, set her down roughly.
“Ugh!”
The moment her feet touched the ground, a sharp, stinging pain shot through one of her ankles.
“Wh-what now?” Tiern snapped, sounding as if he were the one in pain. “You’re the one who asked to be put down, Saintess.”
“…I think I sprained my ankle.”
You really are a handful.
Tiern let out a heavy sigh, shrugged off his uniform jacket, and tossed it onto a small rock nearby.
“Sit.”
She was in no position to refuse. As Constine obediently perched on the jacket, Tiern suddenly grabbed her ankle without a word.
“Wh-what are you doing?!”
“You said you sprained it.”
“That doesn’t mean you can just grab my ankle without permission…!”
Tiern arched an eyebrow at her blushing face.
“Why? Should I have asked for permission before catching you when you fell, too?”
“Just stay still. Your ankle is swollen like a boar’s hind leg.”
“Wh-what? A boar?”
Ignoring the fuming Constine, Tiern stepped out of the cave. He soon returned with a suitable branch, drew a dagger, and deftly shaved off the twigs to fashion a crude splint. His movements were incredibly practiced.
As she watched him blankly, Tiern glanced at her and suddenly grabbed the edge of the thin mantle draped over her shoulders. Without hesitation, he used his dagger to rip a long strip of fabric from the garment.
“Wait…!”
What kind of man is this?
Constine tried to stop him, but the torn fabric was already being wrapped around the splint on her ankle.
“In a situation like this, wouldn't a knight usually tear his own shirt?” The words escaped her lips before she could stop them, born of sheer disbelief.
“This is a cherished garment,” Tiern replied, giving her a look that suggested she was being shameless.
Cherished, my foot. It looked like an ordinary shirt to anyone’s eyes.
Wait, is it a bit different?
She hadn't noticed while he was wearing the jacket, but looking closely, the shirt was indeed unique. Compared to the shirts of the Imperial Knights, it was a simple design without much ornamentation, yet it possessed an air of elegance and high quality.
“Her Highness the Consort made this for me herself.”
Constine fell silent at those words and watched Tiern skillfully finish tying the splint. Once the knots were secure, he stood up as if his business were done. An awkward silence stretched between them, broken only by the faint sound of trickling water.
“Why did you even come here?”
“Why do you think?” Tiern replied, looking out of the cave without sparing her a glance. “I had no choice but to follow you in case the Saintess tried to pull something suspicious.”
“Are you saying you’ve been tailing me this whole time?”
“I was monitoring you.”
She didn't see the difference, but Tiern emphasized the word.
“If you had somewhere to go, you should have asked for an escort. Why did you crawl all the way up here in secret like a stray cat?”
“Isn't it obvious? Because I didn't want to be ‘monitored’!”
When Constine snapped back, he irritably ran a hand through his hair.
“And why did you steal the Goddess’s Cup?”
“I-I didn't steal it.” Embarrassed, Constine began to stutter. “I just… the water from the Spring of Enlightenment…”
She couldn't bring herself to say she wanted to gain enlightenment like the Goddess, so she trailed off. Tiern let out an annoyed groan.
“You put me through all this hell for a reason like that?”
“Hell?”
“It’s a thirty-minute climb, but I spent three times that wandering around after you.”
She had wondered why the path seemed to go on forever.
“Well, you could have just told me the way!”
“Are you joking? How am I supposed to tell you the way while I’m supposed to be monitoring you in secret?”
“Then why did you save me?”
Tiern stared at the shouting Constine, seemingly at a loss for words.
“After all those pathetic threats about me becoming monster bait.”
“Did you finally grow a conscience?”
“Don't flatter yourself.” Tiern’s voice dropped as he pursed his lips. “It’s just that if the Saintess were to die in the North, it would be a massive headache for us.”
Every word out of his mouth seemed designed to provoke her. Just as Constine was about to explode, Tiern looked at her swollen ankle, grumbled irritably, and fired something out of the cave. Soon, a trail of blue smoke spiraled into the sky.
He approached her and leaned down.
“Hold on to me.”
Constine’s face turned bright red.
“Are you planning to spend the night here? You can’t walk in that state, so just let me carry you.”
“Are you insane?”
“Should I drag you by the scruff of your neck then?”
“…Are you really a knight?”
“Do you think I’m doing this because I want to? The report is already late; the other knights have probably started searching for us.” Tiern let out a weary sigh. “Make a choice. Either let me carry you down, or I’ll haul you over my shoulder like a sack of grain.”
“I, I…!”
To be forced to choose between such ridiculous options! But regardless, it was impossible to walk down on her own with this ankle. Moreover, she dreaded the thought of people swarming here and gossiping about the situation.
Tiern leaned toward her first, as if making a concession. In the suddenly awkward atmosphere, Constine squeezed her eyes shut and was about to wrap her arms around Tiern’s neck when—
“What are you doing?”
A startled voice echoed through the cave. Both of them whipped their heads toward the entrance simultaneously. A group of Blenheim knights stood there, looking at them with bewildered expressions.
“This is…!”
Tiern’s lips moved as he tried to explain his embarrassment.
“Captain, we found them!”
A crowd of people—the Grand Ducal couple, knights, priests, and mages—soon swarmed the entrance and peered inside. The moment Constine locked eyes with the surprised Grand Duchess, she squeezed her eyes shut in mortification.
*
“Your ankle should be fine now.”
Enolius treated Constine’s injury. Despite her taking a holy relic from the temple without permission and causing so many people to search for her late at night, no one showed any sign of resentment. It was because everyone had been instructed to treat the Saintess with the utmost care.
Except for Tiern, who seemed to be the most worried of all. When one of the knights pulled him aside to whisper something, Tiern’s expression twisted into a grimace.
“Why are you telling me that now?”
It looked like Tiern had caused another scene.
I should at least try to be helpful.
I put on a thick skin and approached Constine, who had just finished her treatment.
“Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere else?”
I expected her to act haughty and claim she didn't need help, but to my surprise, Constine stood up and politely clasped her hands.
“I stepped out quietly because I didn't want to be a burden so late at night, but I ended up causing even more trouble. I am sorry.”
Constine actually bowed her head and apologized.
What is going on?
“Oh, don't say that!” I waved my hands dismissively, trying to sound enthusiastic. “Thanks to you, we got to enjoy a nice walk. Right, Grand Duke?”
“The Consort is correct.”
Receiving my gaze, Loik nodded silently.
“It is good to visit this place thanks to the Saintess.”
Constine flinched slightly at the title ‘Saintess.’ I didn't press her on why she had come all the way here. Her pale face seemed clouded with worry.
Is she having a hard time because of the newspaper articles?
To be honest, living a lie as a Saintess couldn't be easy. Feeling a pang of sympathy, I gave her a soft smile.
“It’s late; shall we head down?”
However, Constine, who I thought would readily follow, hesitated.
“I left the Goddess’s Cup up there.”
“I’ll go get it.”
Leon stepped forward without hesitation, but Constine spoke up before he could move.
“Why don't you try the spring water as well, Your Highness?”
Constine’s expression was somewhat meaningful.
Did something really change after she drank the spring water?
As she bit her lip while glancing at me, Loik unexpectedly leaned toward me and spoke.
“It is the clearest and purest water in the North, so it wouldn't be bad to have a taste.”
“Shall I, then?”
In the end, I was led by Loik toward the stone wall. Up close, the wall was steeper than I had imagined.
How on earth did Constine climb this?
As I looked up, Loik stepped closer to my side.
“Annette, come here.”
I wrapped my arms around Loik’s neck as he bent down. He tucked his arm under my knees and lifted me up in one smooth motion.
Can he really climb up there with only one hand free?
Step.
Loik placed a foot lightly into a crevice in the rock and, making my worries seem foolish, reached the top of the wall in just two effortless steps.
“Whoa.”
He was so light on his feet. A Sword Master really was on another level.
The Goddess’s Cup was rolling around just ahead. Before I could even set foot in the spring, Loik waded in with a splash and picked up the cup. After rinsing it thoroughly, he filled it where the water bubbled up the highest and handed it to me.
As I took the cup, I saw the people standing below the stone wall. Everyone was looking up at me with faces full of expectation.
It’s just drinking water; what are they expecting?
I felt like I had to live up to the hype somehow. I gulped down the cool spring water.
Ah, the water tastes good.
Then, I stood there quietly, waiting for enlightenment.
Nothing happened.