The Person Who Answers When I Call #2
“What? My lady, what do you mean by that?”
“I mean, I want to look around the castle.”
“Lady Daisy, by the lord’s orders, access to most areas is strictly prohibited…”
The guard captain’s face twisted with discomfort as he tried to refuse, but Daisy threw a fit.
“No, you can’t say no! Do you have any idea how bored I am? Everyone’s making such a fuss about the new king this and the new king that.”
“Lady Daisy, however…”
“If you don’t listen to me, I’ll tell Father! Just wait and see. Or are you really going to refuse me?”
In the end, the poor guard captain pressed a spare keyring into Daisy’s hand.
“Thank you, Captain! By the way, do you happen to know where that girl is?”
“That girl?”
“You know, that wench Leni. I asked around, but no one seems to know what happened to her.”
“Ah, if it’s Her Highness the princess, she’s probably in the highest tower of the castle… that is, in the room near the lord’s office. His lordship ordered the security there to be the tightest.”
“The lord’s tower? But I heard someone say Uncle Aiden is locked up there.”
The guard captain frowned.
“Who told you that, my lady?”
“I overheard the maids talking about it.”
“…It seems I’ll need to tell the chamberlain to tighten control over the servants’ tongues.”
The guard captain shook his head with a sigh.
“Yes, that would be wise. It may upset you, my lady… but your uncle, Sir Aiden Romandon, is likely being held there as well.”
“The lord’s tower. Thank you for answering me, sir.”
Daisy nodded.
“Not at all. More importantly, my lady, what I’ve told you must remain secret. It is not something that should be carelessly shared. I only spoke because it was you.”
“Of course. Thank you, sir!”
Daisy flashed a bright smile, then spun on her heel and ran off.
It was unfortunate for the poor guard captain, but Daisy had no intention of keeping the secret.
After all, she had asked for Emil’s sake….
Daisy ran through the castle, mentally reviewing Emil’s instructions one by one.
Good. I have the keys… Next, he told me to get the soldiers’ uniforms and helmets from the storage. And to copy the guard patrol schedule…
Suddenly, sweat broke out on the hand gripping the keyring.
Her heart pounded as if she were doing something wicked.
But wasn’t she doing it for Emil?
Then there was no problem at all.
Daisy hurried through the castle on quick, light steps, avoiding the eyes of others.
Once she had gathered everything, she returned to her room.
“Priest… it’s me…”
Daisy knocked on the corner wall several times, and the narrow gap beyond it began to open.
Emil emerged from that narrow crevice.
Even though Daisy had lived in this room for over ten years, she had never known such a secret space existed.
How did Emil know about it?
She wanted to ask, but the aura radiating from him silenced any such questions.
“Here. The keys, the clothes, and all the things you asked for, Priest.”
“Thank you, Lady Daisy.”
“No, for you, Priest, I would do anything…”
“Those are joyful words to hear.”
Emil smiled faintly.
Just seeing that smile again made Daisy so happy that all her earlier worries vanished.
Yes, no matter the situation, Emil was simply Emil. Her kind priest.
“Ah, and…”
Wanting more praise, she hesitated just as she was about to mention Leni.
If she told Emil where Leni was, wouldn’t he leave to find her?
She didn’t like that….
“What is it?”
“Ah, it’s nothing…”
As Daisy wavered, Emil asked sharply.
“My lady, surely you aren’t hiding something from me.”
“What? N-no, it’s not that…”
“Please, my lady, speak honestly. You are the only one I can ask for help. If even you lie to me… I will be disappointed in you. Truly.”
Emil’s tone grew cold again.
Those words caught Daisy’s breath in her throat.
Disappointed.
Emil would be disappointed in her.
No matter what pranks or accidents she caused, Emil had always smiled, stroked her hair, and gently scolded her with, “Don’t do that next time.” Yet now he said he would be disappointed in her.
He might even come to hate her….
“No, Priest! It’s not like that! I just didn’t know how to explain it. Please… don’t say that. Please believe me. I found out where that girl… where Leni is. For your sake! It’s true…”
Daisy spoke desperately.
Only then did Emil’s coldly hardened expression soften, and he answered gently once more.
“Ah… of course. I believe you would never lie to me. Of course not.”
Emil smiled slowly.
Only then could Daisy breathe again.
She realized it then.
She could not live if Emil hated her.
She simply could not survive in a world like that.
“So, where is Princess Leni?”
“In the lord’s tower… near Father’s office, it seems. The captain said the security there is the strictest.”
Emil’s face darkened.
Daisy watched his expression carefully and continued slowly.
“And the captain said my uncle is locked up there too. Both of them are important people who must be heavily guarded.”
“Sir Aiden, you mean.”
Emil nodded.
“Indeed, the Romandon family—Lady Cately’s maternal house—is renowned for its loyalty. Though the same could be said of the Ricgard family…”
“I… suppose so.”
Daisy Ricgard did not grow angry at Emil’s sarcastic remark about her family—as expected.
But as a Ricgard like her father Alon, she worried that Emil might hate her along with them.
Her chest felt tight.
As if he could see straight through her heart, Emil stroked Daisy’s hair and said,
“Don’t make such a face. If not for you, I would have had no one to rely on. I am truly grateful to you.”
At those words,
at that gentle touch,
Daisy’s heart melted once more.
“Thank you… Priest.”
“I should be the one thanking you.”
Then Emil began to remove his clothes.
Daisy nearly screamed in surprise, but Emil tossed his robes aside and picked up the soldier’s uniform she had brought.
Oh, he’s changing clothes…
With a flushed face, Daisy stole glances at Emil’s body.
The physique hidden beneath his priestly robes was so finely honed it was hard to believe he was a priest.
It rivaled that of a knight who trained his body every day.
Though embarrassed, Daisy felt curious about the adult male body so different from her own and kept sneaking looks.
“Good. It fits well enough.”
“That’s… a relief.”
By the time he finished changing, she even felt a pang of disappointment.
When their eyes met, her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
“Then I must go now.”
“Ah… what?”
He was leaving.
Emil was leaving.
At those words, Daisy’s heart churned again.
“Leaving… where are you going?”
“I am going to rescue Princess Leni.”
Emil picked up the keyring, pulled the helmet over his head, and spoke.
For Leni. For that girl.
Why did Emil have to risk so much… No. It wasn’t merely a risk.
What if Emil…
died?
“You can’t. Priest… please don’t go.”
Daisy’s voice trembled.
Why.
Why would he go that far for her…?
Was it because she was a princess?
“You don’t have to be the one to rescue her… Father won’t harm her either. I’ll speak to Father instead… I’ll ask him to make you my personal priest…”
“Lady Daisy.”
Emil’s voice sank again.
Colder and more resolute than before, it cut her off.
“That cannot be done.”
“But…”
“No. Absolutely not.”
“Why? Why go that far for her…?”
Emil looked at Daisy with cold eyes.
At that gaze, Daisy could only feel despair.
Even if it cost him his life,
Emil would throw himself into saving Leni.
She could see it in his eyes.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
“Ah…”
Emil walked toward the gap in the wall.
No.
She had to stop him….
“…What if!”
Daisy cried out without thinking.
Emil only turned his head slightly to look at her.
“What if I… refuse to let you go? What if I call the guards right now, have them capture you, lock you away rather than let you die, and stop you from going to her?”
Daisy was sobbing.
Whenever she cried like this, Emil would always come to her, pat her back, hold her, and comfort her.
But not this time.
Emil answered with icy detachment.
“If you do that, Alon Ricgard will have me killed.”
“I… I won’t let him.”
“No, he will. Because if he doesn’t, I will surely find a way to escape and rescue the princess.”
Those words
shattered Daisy.
“And if he still doesn’t kill me, I will try again. If that fails, then I will die.”
Daisy’s legs gave out and she collapsed to the floor.
Emil glanced at her crumpled form and continued.
“It won’t be an easy death. First, my head will be severed and displayed on the castle walls, so no one dares entertain foolish thoughts. Then how many pieces will my body be cut into? In any case, as many as possible, and they will be fed to the dogs. Iredain’s kennels are full of starving hunting hounds. The poor creatures will finally have a full meal.”
Emil spoke as if chewing on the words.
“Hungry dogs will devour even my bones. There will be no trace left. They say the dead rise from their graves on God’s day after Man’s day ends, but where would my corpse resurrect from? Inside the dogs’ stomachs? Quite the interesting theological debate for a priest.”
“That… it won’t be like that.”
“It will. Alon Ricgard claims to be a servant of Guildon. A few of your tears will not solve something so simple.”
Emil’s words… ah…
pierced Daisy’s heart with unbearable coldness.
With every sentence,
her heart crumbled further.
“If you do not wish for that, then do not interfere. At least allow me a peaceful death.”
With those words, Emil opened the gap in the wall, slipped through, and closed it again behind him.
And Daisy…
Daisy remained collapsed, sobbing endlessly.
She could do nothing but cry.
Because there was nothing else she could do.
She did not have the courage to tell Emil to choose her instead of Leni.
She did not have the courage to risk his rejection.
That… was impossible.
* * *
Emerging from the secret passage into Iredain’s castle, Emil examined the patrol schedule Daisy had copied.
Good… It’s almost time for the guard shift change. The ones on duty at the lord’s tower right now are…
Emil spotted a group of guards changing shifts and approached them naturally, altering his voice in case anyone recognized it.
“Hey, Sweb! Which one of you is Sweb?”
When he called out one of the patrolling guards’ names, someone fortunately responded.
“That’s me… What’s going on?”
“Ah, I’m not entirely sure, but the captain is looking for you. Did you skip duty last night to visit a brothel or something?”
“Damn it, really? That bastard, how did he find out?”
“Just as I thought. He’s furious.”
Emil led the guard to a secluded spot.
The guard grumbled as he walked, then seemed to notice something odd and asked Emil,
“Hey, are you sure you know the way? The captain is over here?”
“Yes. He’s on the opposite side of the castle because Lady Daisy dragged him around earlier.”
“Ah, Lady Daisy… I see.”
He briefly removed his helmet and scratched his head vigorously.
“Ugh, it’s so damn itchy. By the way, you look familiar. What was your name again…”
At that moment,
Emil took off his own helmet and smashed it into the guard’s head with all his strength.
The poor guard died instantly without even a scream.
“—!”
Emil wiped the blood from the helmet onto the guard’s cloak, put it back on, and muttered,
“Seriously, who takes their helmet off so carelessly? What an idiot…”