Abduction (2)
“How long do you plan on holding him?”
At Lucia's question, the guards quickly released me. Their rigidly tense bodies showed just how on edge they'd been.
“And lock that woman up for a day or so.”
“Let go of me, you bitch!”
“But considering our past ties, I won't press charges for insulting royalty.”
Lucia snapped open her fan with a flick and covered her mouth. But I, standing beside her, could see it—the victorious smile hidden behind the fan.
Clatter— The carriage we were riding in now was on a whole different level from the one before. Spacious enough to enjoy tea inside without spilling a drop. And there were no ropes or shackles binding me, either. For a kidnapping, it was downright luxurious.
“This is fine tea. Why not taste it before it cools?”
Just the aroma told me how precious it was. I'd never smelled anything like it in my life.
But the thought of drinking it didn't cross my mind.
“Hm? Is something bothering you? Feel free to tell me anything. I'll listen intently.”
The person before me was none other than the empire's third princess. I wasn't fearless enough to casually sip tea in a situation like this.
“Perhaps we should change the subject. So, how much did that crazy bitch spill? In your words... that the heroines have regressed? That you met your death?”
A word slipped from Lucia's mouth that I couldn't just let pass.
“Heroines... you say?”
“You hadn't realized that far, had you? To cut to the chase, all the heroines you know have regressed. Carrying memories from the previous playthrough.”
I never imagined the word “heroine” would come from Lucia's lips. But what followed was even more shocking.
All the heroines had regressed. Including Alessia, who'd been captured, and Lucia right in front of me. Even the ones I hadn't met yet.
“You're at a loss, aren't you? I understand completely. It must be hard to accept all this as is.”
The carriage door opened, and Lucia stepped out first. She extended her hand toward me.
“You wouldn't leave a lady's hand hanging, would you?”
Lucia smiled faintly.
“Not just anyone gets to escort a princess, Sir Rion.”
I'd always thought escorts were something men did for women, but Lucia assumed the pose with practiced ease, like she'd done it many times before. Her movements were perfectly natural.
I cautiously took her hand and let her guide me down from the carriage. I ignored the stunned stares from the surrounding guards as best I could and walked with Lucia.
Following her led us to the academy dormitories. But not the commoner ones—this was the exclusive dormitory for royalty, a place a commoner like me couldn't even set foot in.
“Open it.”
At Lucia's command, the knights guarding the dormitory moved immediately. The heavy doors swung open, revealing a beautifully manicured garden.
“Oh? Do you like it? I should reward the gardeners.”
She was paying attention to every single one of my actions, every glance.
This is starting to feel a bit much...
The dormitory building we reached after walking through the garden was astonishingly massive.
“Your Highness.”
One of Lucia's escort knights stepped in front of her.
“I'm sorry, but we can't allow someone of unverified status inside.”
“Do you think me so frail that I can't protect myself?”
“My apologies. This is our duty.”
The knight stood his ground firmly, unmoved by Lucia's words. She raised her fan and—
Thwack!
—struck him down with it.
“...”
“This man is my guest. Not someone for you to block lightly.”
“...Understood.”
Blood began dripping from the knight's head where the fan had hit. Yet he didn't falter, simply stepping aside to let Lucia pass.
Thud—
As Lucia and I entered, the dormitory's thick doors closed behind us. Aside from a few servants, the place was empty.
“Are you concerned about that knight from earlier?”
“...Yes.”
Had she caught me glancing back at him before the doors shut? Lucia smiled softly as she spoke.
“No need to worry about him. He'll be treated with a potion right away—no scars. The real question is, why did I wound him like that?”
Her sudden question threw me off, but I had to come up with an answer.
He stepped aside the moment the fan hit him.
For someone blocking the princess's path, he'd yielded awfully quickly. Just because of a fan strike that drew blood? If he was going to give way so easily, why block at all?
“Plausible deniability...?”
“Exactly. He just needed an excuse. One where he had no choice but to let you in because of me.”
Lucia gazed at me for a moment, looking pleased—like a teacher whose student had nailed the answer.
“There are a few days until the entrance ceremony. You'll have to move to the commoner dormitory after that... but until then, make yourself at home.”
As we walked the corridors, Lucia gestured to the rows of empty rooms.
“Plenty of vacant ones anyway. Pick any—no issues. If problems arise, I'll handle them, so don't worry.”
The room she led me to was the largest and most lavish of all we'd passed. It screamed Lucia's personal quarters at a glance.
After showing me in, she began brewing tea herself. The aroma was the same as the one from the carriage.
A princess personally serving tea? I shot to my feet in surprise.
Lucia glanced back with just a tilt of her head.
“Do you know how to brew tea, by any chance?”
“...No.”
“Then sit. It's my way of treating you.”
She brought over a tray with the teapot and two cups, then poured.
“My favorite tea.”
She slid a cup toward me.
“And yours, too.”
Just as she said, the scent alone made my mouth water. But there was something more pressing.
“Your Highness. May I ask why you've brought me here?”
Lucia's expression soured for a split second. I tensed, wondering what I'd said wrong, but her voice remained calm.
“You don't need to be so formal with me. It feels like you're keeping too much distance, and it doesn't sit well.”
She sipped her tea, savoring the aroma with a swirl of her tongue—like she was choosing her words carefully.
“In private spaces like this, just call me Lucia. It's just you and me, after all.”
The air around Lucia shifted as she spoke again. Moments ago, she'd been every inch the authoritative princess; now, she was just a girl her age.
“Your Highness Lucia, what do you mean by 'our relationship'?”
“'Your Highness Lucia'... Hm, I'll settle for that for now.”
Unlike with Alessia, casually dropping titles felt wrong with her position. Being a princess commanded caution, even in this empire.
“About us? Sorry, I can't tell you that yet. Guess I've just piqued your curiosity for nothing.”
Lucia was just like Alessia. They'd both seem on the verge of spilling everything, only to cut it off firmly at a certain line. Especially Alessia, who'd stopped at my death.
So I could guess.
“Does it have to do with my death?”
“...You're sharp as ever.”
Lucia gave a faintly sad smile and moved to brew more tea. My eyes followed her back involuntarily.
A spear?
Next to where she was brewing sat a spear, catching my eye. Its position right by the bed made it stand out. And a spear didn't fit beside a princess's bed at all.
Lucia isn't the type to use one anyway.
She excelled in intellect over physical prowess. She knew basics, sure, but she wasn't the type to keep a spear bedside for combat.
Our eyes met as she turned with the fresh tea. Her face had gone pale.
“...Does the spear bother you?”
“It just caught my eye.”
Nothing more—just noticeable. No real interest.
...Though it does draw me in a little.
Lucia set down the tray and walked to the spear. Was she going to show it off? She lifted it with one hand.
Whoosh!
And hurled it straight out the open window.
It clanged dully against the stone path outside.
“Hah... hah...”
Breathing raggedly, Lucia turned to me.
“Forget it. Forget everything about the spear.”
This was the complete opposite of her gentle demeanor moments ago. Why toss it out the instant I noticed it? It looked meticulously maintained—the blade gleamed in the light.
Her face regained some color as she spoke.
“...Sorry. I'm suddenly feeling tired.”
“Your Highness Lucia...”
“Pick any room you like. If you need anything, ask the servants—they're prepared.”
She was telling me to leave. I had no choice but to stand.
Creeeak—
Lucia avoided my eyes until I was out the door. She just stared out the window.
Click—
The door shut. Lucia didn't move. The Rion she knew wouldn't, but this one might burst back in any second.
...Should be safe now.
A few minutes after Rion left, Lucia leaped out the window she'd thrown the spear from.
“[Flight].”
She cast the spell flawlessly and landed softly in the garden.
“...Where is it?”
Lucia dropped to her knees and crawled across the dirt. Her outfit—worth dozens of gold—got filthy and torn, but she didn't stop. Fabric scraps meant nothing right now.
“Found it...!”
She located the spear she'd tossed and immediately inspected it. Any scratches? Cracks? She examined it like a jeweler with a priceless gem.
Slumped on the ground, Lucia pored over it.
“Phew... A little care, and it'll be fine.”
Confirming no major damage, she finally stood. Using magic again, she floated back up, cradling the spear preciously.