Even If It Costs My Life, The One Who Saves Me #10
Roen spoke in her usual calm tone, but inwardly she was deeply troubled.
“……”
Leni remained stubbornly silent.
She hadn’t uttered a single word since that morning.
Roen herself was never particularly skilled with words, so the princess’s unsociable attitude was seriously hindering her duties.
“The knight wearing the pointed helmet with the emblem of a sword cleaving the sunrise is Sir Deorn Anload. He is renowned for his martial prowess. And over there, the one with the dragon and knight crest is Sir Aiden Romanden. The Romanden family is also Lady Cately’s maternal house. Sir Aiden is likewise an excellent—”
In the end, Roen began reciting meaningless names even though she knew Leni wasn’t listening.
As expected, Leni kept her lips tightly sealed.
This is awkward.
Roen knew exactly why Leni was in a bad mood. It was because of Emil.
Last night, Emil had promised Leni they would go for a walk, but he never showed up, claiming something urgent had come up.
For Leni, who had woken early and waited eagerly, it was only natural she would feel hurt.
“Your Highness, I’m sure Priest Emil had an important matter that prevented him from coming.”
“……I know that.”
Leni pouted her lips.
Her sulky expression made it painfully obvious to anyone watching that she was upset Emil hadn’t appeared.
Roen let out a quiet, uncomfortable sigh and continued.
“While it may not be on the scale of the events held in Myrdin, this jousting tournament is still quite grand. It gives us a glimpse into the Ricgard family’s wealth. The participating knights are all highly renowned—”
“—I’m not interested. It’s boring.”
Leni’s words were sharp with thorns.
Roen had no choice but to fall silent.
Under normal circumstances, she would have simply stayed quiet and focused solely on her escort duties, but…
Soon the reinforcements from Locni will arrive. I’ll join up with Neil and escort the princess away. Then we’ll observe Alon Ricgard’s reaction. To see whether he has truly abandoned his plans for rebellion. Or whether…
Roen gazed at the arena with a heavy heart.
At that exact moment, Sir Aiden Romanden—Lady Cately’s older brother—struck his opponent’s helmet with his lance, ending the match.
A scream erupted from the stands.
The opposing knight’s neck twisted at a grotesque angle.
He died instantly, and his squire quickly dragged the corpse away.
“Ugh……”
Leni let out a sound of revulsion, covering her mouth as she dry-heaved.
Only then did Roen realize her mistake.
She should have covered the girl’s eyes…
Leni was extremely sensitive to the sight of blood.
“Are you alright, Your Highness?”
“……I want to go back. Call Emil for me.”
Leni spoke in a petulant, demanding tone.
Roen tried to soothe her calmly.
“Your Highness, if you leave your seat now, Lord Alon may grow suspicious. After the banquet honoring the winner—”
“I don’t want to! I want to leave! Call Emil!”
Leni’s voice grew louder.
Her tearful tone drew the attention of those nearby.
“I hate this. I hate the blood, and I hate all of you too. I hate it so much.”
“Your Highness.”
Roen tried to calm Leni by mentioning Emil.
The priest would be here soon.
How distressed would he be if the princess were gone?
Using that reasoning, she persuaded Leni, who eventually nodded with reddened eyes.
Roen murmured in relief.
“Where on earth is Priest Emil and what is he doing……”
“Who knows, Roen.”
The playful voice from behind made Roen spin around in surprise.
“Priest Emil?”
Before Emil could even respond, Leni shot up from her seat and threw herself into his arms.
“Priest!”
Caught off guard by the sudden embrace, Emil offered an awkward smile before answering.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I had urgent business to attend to.”
“It’s okay. I’m happy you came. Really……”
“Please sit down first, Your Highness. Lord Alon is watching us.”
At those words, Roen glanced sideways at Alon without turning her head.
Not only Alon, but many others around them were staring in their direction.
Roen bit her lip.
We’re being watched.
Emil, seemingly unconcerned by the surrounding gazes, patted Leni a few times before guiding her back to her seat.
After that, the gloomy aura that had clung to Leni completely vanished.
She squealed like a young girl with every match, and even asked Emil questions about each knight one by one.
“That knight is Sir Deorn of Anload. Despite his age, his skill is comparable to the younger generation. His opponent, Sir Nines Eckward, is young but made a name for himself in the war three years ago……”
When Emil repeated almost the exact same explanation Roen had given earlier,
“Wow, really?”
Leni beamed and seemed genuinely entertained.
It was almost comical how obvious her change in attitude was.
Yet she got flustered when asked if she liked him.
The matches grew increasingly intense.
Sir Nines Eckward’s lance drove deep into a gap in Sir Deorn Anload’s armor.
The older knight was thrown violently to the ground, covered in blood, but fortunately he seemed to still be breathing.
As expected, his squire quickly carried him away.
“Ugh… Priest. It’s scary.”
“It’s alright, Your Highness.”
Leni’s fearful reaction was completely different from before.
“Yes, it’s okay because you’re here, Priest. Yes……”
If earlier she had been trembling purely from fear,
now she was scared but clearly finding comfort in Emil’s presence.
To Roen’s eyes, it even looked like the terrifying situation only made her happier because Emil was there.
Is this what a girl in love looks like?
Roen herself harbored some romantic feelings toward Emil, but she had no intention of ever revealing them seriously.
Emil was a priest,
and he was someone who could never be connected to her.
But Leni didn’t seem to wrestle with such concerns. Even though she was the one who should be most mindful of her position and status.
I… could never be like that.
Leni was still a girl,
and right now, she was clearly in love.
Lady Cately Romanden Ricgard was currently attempting something she had never done once in her entire life.
From a young age, she had been strictly raised to become a proper lady,
and having grown into exactly that, she now stood as the respected mistress of the Ricgard family.
“……”
Yet right now, that same Cately—was rummaging through her husband’s study.
Anyone who knew her even slightly would be shocked by this behavior.
Even she could hardly believe what she was doing.
“It must be here somewhere……”
She was even secretly searching through her husband’s desk, looking for letters addressed to him.
This was hardly the conduct of a refined noblewoman.
Emil…
The one who had driven her to this was Emil.
Normally, no matter how much he asked, she would never have done something like this.
No matter how charming he was…
Lady Cately. If you truly love me, please uncover Alon’s secrets. He may not have given up on his rebellion after all.
When Emil had said those words that day,
no matter that they came from his lips, she could not simply laugh them off.
Cately had slapped him across the face.
Emil, do you think you can toy with me just because I slept with you? How dare you say such a thing to me?
……
I am not your tool. I am not a stepping stone for your ambition! Did you think I would sell my honor and the honor of this family so cheaply?
She had felt a vicious sense of betrayal.
This priest was mocking her.
Say it again! I could have your tongue ripped out and fed to the dogs. And if I buried you where no one could find you, who would come looking? That little princess? Or your knight escort? Don’t make me laugh!
But he remained completely unfazed.
Instead, he looked her straight in the eyes and said,
But you will do it, Lady.
Slap.
The sound of another slap rang out.
Blood trickled from Emil’s lip.
The sight made her heart ache without her meaning to, but she clenched her teeth.
Emil, I… I loved you! Yet now you humiliate me. Did you have to trample on my heart with mud-covered feet?
What must I say for you to listen to me?
Emil asked, still looking at her with those steady eyes.
I won’t listen! Why should I follow the words of a priest who would bring ruin to my husband and my family? Who do you think you are!
Because you love me, Lady.
She tried to slap him again, but Emil caught her wrist.
Let go!
I already knew. I knew that a woman with such pride in her family would not easily follow my words.
Let go…!
Whether you do or not, Alon Ricgard will eventually try to kill me. That much is certain.
Die.
Emil would die.
The weight of those words drained the strength from Cately’s body.
She tried to maintain her composure, but,
Just because you say that doesn’t mean I… That’s ridiculous. Why would Alon want to kill you?
It was impossible.
Emil spoke calmly.
He has already tried to kill me several times. Because I protected Princess Leni. If he still hasn’t given up on that, then my life is already forfeit.
Cately could neither rip out his tongue nor slap him again.
That can’t be… Even if the power of Iredain is strong, to start a rebellion alone is…
That is exactly why I need your help. To confirm the truth.
Emil’s eyes flashed.
Even though his backer, Lord Damon, is dead, many questions remain. First of all, this very jousting tournament. It was prepared in advance of the rebellion. Yet even after the rebellion failed and the family faces ruin, it was not canceled.
That’s…
Lady, I am not asking you to betray your husband or his family. I simply want to tell you that there may be a conspiracy behind this tournament, and that as a result, I might die.
With only those words, Emil had left her.
She had not wanted to do this at all.
But those eyes of his kept appearing in her mind.
Those steady eyes had led Cately’s steps to her husband’s study.
Almost as if possessed, she frantically searched for any trace of her husband—plans, letters, anything.
……There must be something.
And finally, she found the letter.
It showed clear signs of having been opened multiple times.
The moment she picked it up, her heart pounded as if it would burst.
—To my dear friend, Alon Ricgard…
The letter began with typical formalities, but its contents were anything but ordinary.
The plan is proceeding smoothly. I have earned the trust of my beloved, and she believes everything is over… But that is not the case. This is only the beginning.
The contents were filled with code words Cately did not understand, making it difficult to grasp everything.
But one thing was clear.
……I will come soon, so wait for me. And there is no need to worry about that priest. What I need is the curse. I have no use for someone who can cure it. After the jousting tournament ends, you may dispose of him as you see fit.
To my dear friend Alon Ricgard.
The plan proceeds smoothly. My beloved trusts me completely and believes it is all over… but it is not. This is merely the beginning.
I will arrive soon, so wait for me. There is no need to concern yourself with the priest. What I require is the curse itself. I have no use for one who can cure it. Once the jousting tournament concludes, you may dispose of him at your convenience.
Goosebumps rose across her skin.
It was difficult to tell whether this letter was directly plotting a rebellion, but… it was unmistakably discussing the death of a certain priest.
“Emil… is going to die.”
The moment she spoke the words aloud, terror gripped her.
Tears threatened to fall.
No. That can never happen…!
Just then, the sound of footsteps approached.
“……!”
Cately jumped in fright and quickly hid the letter back where she had found it.
The moment she finished, the owner of the footsteps appeared.
Cately tried her best not to show her shock as she greeted the newcomer.
“Alon… what brings you here?”
Alon Ricgard stared at her with an unusually stiff expression.
He frowned deeply and replied,
“That is what I should be asking.”
Alon walked toward her with heavy, deliberate steps.
“What are you doing here, Cately?”