Proxy Assassination
"What do you think? These terms aren't bad at all, are they?"
The Emperor helped me to my feet, his eyes locking onto mine.
…….
But I couldn't bring myself to answer right away. It wasn't because the offer tempted me.
The reward the Emperor proposed was marriage to the princess.
It was certainly an extraordinary offer.
After all, it was a chance to become a member of the imperial family.
But that was the kind of thing that would only appeal to ordinary people.
My position was completely different.
My head was filled with only one thought: I needed to eliminate the princess as soon as possible. Marriage to her directly clashed with my original goal.
Even so, openly refusing in front of the Emperor wasn't easy.
"Why? Surely you don't dislike the idea?"
"Ah, no. It's not that, but—."
"There's no need to feel burdened. Consider it the reward I postponed yesterday."
The Emperor urged me again with a kind expression, certain that someone of my caliber would be more than enough.
"Your Majesty, I will do everything in my power to heal the princess. However, the matter of marriage is not something I can decide alone."
I indirectly expressed my stance.
"Are you saying you cannot accept without Violetta's consent?"
"That's correct. I believe mutual feelings are the most important part of marriage."
"Hohoho, it's been so long since I've seen a knight with such upright character…. You truly are a model for all knights. Everyone else is desperate to get something from me, yet here you are, refusing a reward twice?"
The Emperor let out a hearty laugh.
Yet somehow, that smile felt slightly off.
There was a hint of unease hidden beneath it, or so it seemed.
Still, one thing was clear: the Emperor was growing more and more fond of me.
It was as if he was shouting that I had passed the test as a potential son-in-law.
Ah, I managed to dodge the question for now, but something feels off….
That was what I was thinking when—.
"…No matter how many times I chew on it, that answer is still a perfect score."
"Pardon?"
"The truth is, Violetta was the one who first brought up the marriage. So there's no need for you to worry about it."
"……?!"
Ah, no wonder I had a bad feeling—.
I froze on the spot.
I was so dumbfounded that no words came out.
I knew the princess liked me. But I never imagined she would actually bring up marriage.
How long had we even known each other? And she casually mentioned marriage to her own bodyguard, of all people.
As expected, the princess really wasn't in her right mind.
"During lunch earlier, she wouldn't stop talking about you—. It seems my daughter likes you quite a lot."
"But Your Majesty—."
"Honestly, as a father, sending my daughter off to marry someone isn't easy. But if it's a dependable and upright knight like you, I think I could entrust her with peace of mind."
The Emperor took my hand, pressing the matter so I couldn't refuse.
"Please take good care of her. Violetta is the future of the empire, after all."
The negotiation proceeded entirely on its own. Regardless of my will, my marriage to the princess became a foregone conclusion.
The Emperor is practically pushing his daughter into my arms—.
I was simply stunned.
I couldn't bring myself to spit out a refusal in the Emperor's presence.
But it didn't matter. There was no need to commit a discourtesy by correcting the terms.
After all, once I eliminated the princess, everything would be over.
"By the way, Your Majesty, what do you mean by 'the future of the empire'?"
Something else bothered me more than the marriage.
The princess who would bring about the end of the world was the future?
"Exactly what it sounds like. I'm nothing but an old man now, grown frail. Soon I will no longer be a special existence. Like everyone else, I too will close my eyes one day."
The Emperor's gaze suddenly grew serious.
A sigh-laden story flowed from his wrinkled lips.
"I have devoted my entire life to fighting the demon race for the sake of humanity. For the empire and its people. As a result, the empire has finally prospered and the citizens can live in peace. But unfortunately, I lack a suitable successor, don't I?"
No suitable successor—.
The Emperor continued with a bitter expression.
Besides Violetta, whom he had brought in from outside, he had two princes.
The First Prince, the leading candidate for the throne, was notorious for his greed.
He openly indulged in alcohol and women.
He held banquets every day, turning them into drinking parties.
He was a good-for-nothing interested only in pleasure.
Even so, the Emperor could not pass the right of succession to the Second Prince.
The Second Prince was every bit as greedy as the First Prince. To be precise, he was cruel and ruthless.
Rumors said he was always watching for a chance to slip poison into the First Prince's cup in order to inherit the throne. He even eyed the Emperor's cup.
Moreover, the princess—third in line—was a daughter born from a different woman, a concubine. To anyone, she seemed far removed from the line of succession.
On top of that, she was destined to become the worst evil magic dragon that would throw the world into chaos.
In short, his children were a complete disaster.
No matter who became emperor, the empire was fated to fall.
Just like in the original story, only the extinction of humanity awaited.
Yet now, a single ray of hope had appeared before the Emperor.
"…In a way, you could say the future of the empire rests in your hands."
The Emperor finished with a click of his tongue, but his face was filled with bitterness.
"I'm sorry to say this, but… honestly, I'm not sure if I can do it well."
"Oh dear, have I placed a burden on you?"
"I am confident in protecting the princess. But to be honest, I lack confidence in fully restoring her health."
"Why?"
"The truth is, even this morning I infused her heart with holy power. Yet a monster still attacked. It may be too much for my power alone."
I answered with my head lowered.
In truth, I could have glossed over it. Since everything would end once I assassinated the princess anyway.
But I couldn't do that.
Because of that damned precognitive symptom, every assassination attempt had failed so far. I hadn't even been able to test whether I could pierce her heart with pure aura stripped of holy power.
And now the issue of imperial succession had gotten mixed in? The situation was clearly going to get more difficult.
"Well, it's not unreasonable for someone who isn't a mage or a physician to be unfamiliar with it."
The Emperor, who seemed to have read my true intentions, gave a slight nod.
"But don't worry too much. I know that terrible symptom very well."
"Oh? Is that true?"
"Yes. It's practically a curse that has fallen upon our entire clan."
The Emperor's white eyebrows drooped. A heavy sense of guilt could be felt on his face.
"What do you mean by—."
"I hear one of your epithets is 'Master of All Swords,' correct?"
"Yes, that is right."
I tried to ask for more details, but the Emperor quickly changed the subject.
It seemed he didn't want to delve too deeply.
"Can you truly handle every kind of sword?"
"Yes. I was taught that a knight must possess the strength to protect what is precious without being bound by any weapon."
Master of All Swords.
It was an epithet given to me quite literally because I had mastered every type of sword.
In reality, I could manifest aura even with a small dagger—or even a butter knife.
"An excellent answer. Perhaps it was that mindset that allowed you to use the Holy Sword."
"But why are you suddenly asking about this?"
"While your nature played a part in alleviating Violetta's symptoms, it would have been impossible without the Holy Sword. You wouldn't have been able to leave even a scratch on her skin."
"Ah? Does that mean—."
The Emperor pointed at my chest. It was where the Holy Sword was kept.
Even though it was hidden beneath my uniform, the Emperor accurately pointed out its location—.
"Yes. You might be able to handle 'that sword.'"
A brilliant gleam sparkled in his aged eyes.
In the Empire, there are several special swords similar to the Holy Sword you possess. If it's 'that one,' it might be able to cleanly erase symptoms like the curse.
The Emperor's words from before leaving his chambers kept circling through my head.
A special sword like the Holy Sword—. Was there something like that?
I tried to rack my brain based on what he said, but unfortunately, nothing came to mind.
It had been quite a long time since I read the original story.
The only things I remembered were the major, pivotal events.
…Yeah, I really don't know.
I shook my head, clearing away the thoughts. Well, I'd find out when the time came.
For now, go and rest. Once Violetta's condition improves, I'll tell you the details.
With those words, my second private audience with the Emperor came to an end.
But I couldn't rest as the Emperor had suggested.
"Haaa—."
The moment the audience ended, I returned to the princess's room and took my place beside her.
After encountering the monster, the princess's condition was far from good.
It was as if the precognitive symptoms had returned; she lay on the bed, letting out weak groans of pain.
She writhed in agony so intensely that I wondered if she might suddenly shed her form and transform into a magic dragon.
"N-no…."
Is she having a nightmare?
The princess tossed and turned, moaning. There was no trace of imperial or draconic dignity in her appearance.
She looked like nothing more than a frail woman.
…It's strange.
The princess was the mastermind destined to awaken as the worst evil magic dragon.
Yet here she was, falling into a panic over a single monster—. It was hard to understand.
Just how terrible was this curse…?
No, was she even truly a magic dragon?
She might not be in her right mind, but she didn't seem to have a bad heart.
The story got discontinued right after dropping a huge piece of foreshadowing, so I have no idea what's going on.
I sat beside the princess and occasionally changed the wet towel on her forehead.
What was her true identity?
I didn't know how a child could be born between a human and a dragon, but the Emperor's love for the princess seemed genuine.
"Mmm… Armaaand…."
When I changed the towel and brushed her hair aside, my name slipped from the princess's lips.
Tsk, when she's quiet like this she seems like a completely different person.
She really was beautiful, no matter how many times I looked.
With that delicate, sickly beauty added on top, a strange protective instinct surged within me.
Ah, get a grip. No matter how you look at it, she's still my assassination target.
No matter how pretty or beautiful she was, I couldn't let her destroy the world.
I didn't want to die yet.
Wait, now that I think about it, it's just the two of us right now.
Looking back, this was the perfect moment for an assassination.
The princess was defenseless, just like on the first day.
She had fallen into a deep sleep without waking once.
Besides, even if I failed this time, there was nothing to fear. The Emperor had even permitted me to plunge a blade into the princess's heart.
Shing.
I slowly drew the sword from the Royal Guard.
What would happen if I excluded holy power as much as possible and wrapped it only in aura?
I was about to put into action the test I hadn't been able to try earlier.
Vrrrr…!
I was carefully drawing aura up from deep within my body when—.
"Tsk, what sharp senses!"
"Hm…?"
"Just as I heard, you're no ordinary fellow."
Suddenly, a figure squirmed into view from the dark shadow opposite the bed.
From head to toe, the figure was entirely clad in black.
A sharp dagger held in reverse grip.
With their face also covered by a black robe, the intruder was unmistakably an assassin.
"…I was certain I had completely erased my presence. How did you notice?"
The assassin spoke in a voice mixed with confusion.
"???"
But I was just as bewildered. I had been so focused on the princess that I hadn't sensed anyone's presence at all.
Still, I roughly understood the situation.
I had suddenly drawn my sword and begun raising my aura, so the assassin must have thought they had been discovered.
"Who sent you?"
I naturally leveled my sword at the assassin.
"What assassin reveals their employer? I simply cut the throats of all who get in my way."
The black-clad assassin responded in kind, taking up a stance.
To raise a blade against me, a Sword Master, showed tremendous confidence.
They must have judged that they could eliminate the target without needing a surprise attack.
There was even backup waiting outside.
"Could it be the Second Prince?"
"What a foolish question, fitting for a knight. Shut up and step aside. I'll spare your life, at least."
"So the princess is definitely your target."
Two assassins in one room—.
Haha. A dry laugh escaped me.
"What's so funny? If you won't step back, then you'll die along with—."
"No, I'll step back."
"…What?"
A guest had come to save me the trouble. There was no reason to refuse.
"I'll yield the chance to assassinate the princess. You go first. In exchange—."
I generously gave up my turn.
"…What kind of crazy bastard are you?"
The uninvited guest didn't seem to understand my goodwill, but—.
"If you fail, you'll die by my hand."