Chapter 101
"This is a place I've loved visiting since I was little."
The spot we arrived at after a leisurely walk was a hill-like mountain encircling the back of the Imperial Palace. I gazed at Diego, who had plopped down casually on the grass, then sat beside him. The shadowy figure trailing us seemed to have settled into a good position behind.
"You can't see the stars from the palace either, right?"
"True enough. But the palace is so brightly lit even at night that the starlight gets drowned out. And with all those buildings packed together, it feels suffocating."
Diego murmured softly as he looked up at the sky. I glanced sideways at him—he seemed somehow weary—and then tilted my head back to gaze at the heavens myself.
Countless twinkling stars. A brilliantly risen full moon. The wind, gentled into calm by the night's quiet hush.
......I'm glad I came out here.
When I lived as a mercenary, I had no choice but to take in natural scenery and the night sky whether I wanted to or not. To hunt magic beasts, I'd head into the forests, and when camping there, I'd often sleep with the sky as my roof.
But after becoming the Duke's daughter, I guess I never had the leisure to stargaze like this.
I inwardly marveled at the night sky's beauty and stared up endlessly for the first time in ages. Innumerable stars, too vast to count, loftily reflected their light, illuminating the hilltop. I felt a profound awe, as if billions of eyes were gazing down at me.
For a long while, I immersed myself in the cool night air, counting the stars. The night's fragrance brushing my nose made my whole body languid. In this moment, no thoughts intruded. No worries about the future—just savoring the beauty before me.
Ah. I can't just sit here like this.
I snapped back to my senses. I'd completely forgotten Diego was right there beside me. I quickly turned to him—and locked eyes directly with those deep blue depths.
......Was he watching me?
He'd invited me out to see the stars, so why was he staring at me? No way to know. I rolled my eyes awkwardly, but he just smiled, crinkling the corners.
A bit embarrassed that I'd been so lost in the stars, I cleared my throat with a fake cough.
"You seem like you have something to say. Go ahead."
"......Was it that obvious?"
Diego looked mildly surprised, as if he hadn't expected me to pick up on it before he even spoke. I chuckled softly.
Diego wouldn't come find me like this without reason.
He might loosen up around me, but at his core, he was someone who moved by thorough plans and calculations. For such a Diego to show up unannounced meant he had something urgent to discuss.
"You think I can't read you that well, Didi? Tell me."
At my certainty, Didi let out a hollow laugh.
"How did you even know......" he muttered under his breath before broaching the subject. "I heard you've become His Majesty's conversation partner and Serenon Solatine's swordsmanship instructor."
"Word travels fast."
"The palace is in an uproar over it. His Majesty even decided without consulting the Crisis Ducal House, so everyone was bracing for the Duke's wrath. They were shocked you accepted so quietly."
"I see."
"I was against you entering the palace like this, so...... I was pretty surprised too."
"......Pardon?"
Diego opposed it?
I'd assumed Diego would support me joining the palace, so this was unexpected inside information. I stared at him wide-eyed. Our gazes met, and he gave a wry smile.
"I figured out why the noble faction wants you in the palace. The moment you step in, you'll be dragged into the imperial family's filthy power struggles. I was worried—you'd definitely be in danger."
"......Ah."
I let out a soft sigh. Diego had spent his life suffering under the shadow of the throne dispute.
His blue eyes, filled with bitter regret, turned briefly to the sky as he sighed.
"Right. You're strong, so you'd survive even this dirty palace. I know. I believe in you. But from what my informants told me......"
He slowly turned his gaze back to me. Those jewel-like blue eyes rippled deeply.
"The noble faction plans to make you a crown princess."
Diego's red lips pressed hard under his pristine white teeth. He was visibly shaken. He hugged his knees, resting his cheek on them as he turned his head. Those blue eyes fixed on me obsessively.
"Did you get the proposal today?"
"......Yes."
"Did you accept?"
He tried to sound calm, but his voice had dropped to a growl. The warm eyes that always softened for me now seemed devoid of temperature. A chill prickled my neck, and I slowly shook my head.
"I won't marry. Not anyone. I don't want to live as someone's wife."
I would die as Kashmir Crisis. I'd come to love this new name too much to take another.
"That's so you, it's not even surprising."
Diego blinked, then smiled faintly. I looked at him and slowly opened my mouth.
"Even if Didi sees me as an equal, to me, you're still my lord. Becoming crown princess would be no different from serving another master."
I met those moonlit blue eyes. Eyes like a rippling lake.
"There's one sun under heaven, and my sun is Diego. I don't serve two lords."
Diego was beautiful under the moonlight, but he suited the sunlight best.
"......"
Diego stared blankly at my resolute expression, then let out a defeated laugh. His eyes half-closed in sadness. He parted his lips as if to speak, then pressed them shut again. Soon, the usual smiling Diego slowly spoke.
"You met Serenon today, right?"
"Yes."
"How was he?"
I rolled my eyes.
"Better than I expected...... a good man."
"Right?"
Diego's sparkling eyes brimmed with affection for Serenon.
"He's a good kid. Too good, even—the puppeteers who try to string him along can't bring themselves to cast him aside. He's not all that interested in power; he just craves affection."
Meaningful words slipped from his mouth. I narrowed my eyes.
Diego's words were ambiguous, but his intent was clear.
Serenon Solatine isn't vying for the throne against Diego out of his own will.
This fact complicated my heart terribly.
In this palace, maybe everyone's a victim.
There are no perfect perpetrators. In a world shaped like an endless circle without beginning or end, everyone is both victim and villain.
And perhaps Diego is the greatest victim in this mudslinging fight.
At that moment, a sharp prickling sensation hit me, and I let out a deep sigh. An arrow nocked to the string, a hand drawing the bow.
"Didi. From now on, never come out alone."
Crack!
With a chilling sound, I drew my sword—in a blur too fast for ordinary eyes—and positioned myself behind Diego, slicing through the arrow flying at him without hesitation. The bisected shaft plummeted limply to the ground.
"That's what happens when you come out alone—these small fry target you."
I coldly fixed my gaze on the black-clad figures emerging from behind the hill and raised my sword.
"Damn it! What the hell is that bitch! Some noble lady?!"
"Shit...... Thought that sword was just decoration...... This is a headache."
Evidently thinking I was some ordinary noble lady, flustered murmurs erupted from the assassins whose attack I'd blocked.
Four in total. Not even Sword Experts.
Child's play for me—not even a post-meal stretch. I clicked my tongue faintly in pity, but Diego groaned from behind me.
"Damn. I figured after yesterday's, they wouldn't send more today...... Two days in a row......"
"You met assassins yesterday too, and you still came out alone?!"
Diego averted his eyes guiltily. Worry-fueled anger surged, but I couldn't lash out knowing why a man so meticulous otherwise was so lax with his guards.
"But you'll protect me, won't you?"
He rolled his eyes sheepishly, then beamed at me dazzlingly. His voice brimmed with utter confidence, as if he hadn't a doubt I'd prevail. Those eyes filled with trust in me.
Absurd, yet my chest swelled at that steadfast faith. In the end, I chuckled softly and raised my sword.
"I'll finish in two minutes. Stay put. ......Actually, no need."
Thud—
"Gahhh!"
The shadowy figure who'd been lurking behind sprang into action, taking down the assassins. I smirked at the familiar aura.
"Make that one minute."
Whoosh.
I infused mana and leaped lightly, arriving at the fray in an instant. The figure battling the four assassins frowned slightly upon spotting me.
"You......" Slash. "Arghhh!"
The man's words scattered under the assassin's scream. I ruthlessly slashed the assassin's shoulder, then kicked his ankle to topple his balance as he staggered.
"Let's sort this mess first, then talk."
Thwack. I struck the nape with my sword hilt. The assassin crumpled without a groan. I'd put some force into it, but his neckbone held—small mercy as I flourished my blade.
The man eyeing me as if he had much to say seemed to agree finishing this came first; he resignedly swung his sword.
"Urk!"
Even amid the chaos, an assassin tried shooting an arrow at Diego—his arm came off with a sickening serk, blood spraying. I wiped the splatter from my face roughly, flipped the assassin prone, and stomped the back of his neck to knock him out.
That side's done too.
I'd held back to avoid showing too much skill, handling them perfunctorily. The man on the other side seemed to have wrapped up as well.
I kicked the unconscious assassins into a pile and dabbed the blood on me with a handkerchief from my pocket. No way I'd let Diego see me splattered like this.
......Has cutting people down become nothing to me now?
A sense of alienation washed over me as I calmly wiped the red from my body. I drew a shaky breath, then exhaled in lament.
Kal. Could you make a training dummy as human-like as possible?
......Like a human?
Yes. Skin like real flesh, blood when stabbed. Can you do it?
Not hard. But you...... are you okay?
......I have to get used to it. I'm fine.
I'd slain countless magic beasts, but killing humans still felt alien. Yet I was soon headed to the battlefield. So I'd chosen to swing at human-like dummies to acclimate to slaughter.
I'd puke my guts out after training for a while.
Kal was an incredible magician. From the texture of skin parting under the blade to the spurting blood—it mimicked dying humans so perfectly that I'd hole up in the bathroom post-session.
You suffer like this, and you want me to keep making things to torment you? Why! Shh, you're a Crisis! My little sister! You have zero reason to cut people yourself. Let others do it! One word from you, and a whole knight order moves. Why......!
Kal, please......
Just make them. Don't ask why. I need to get used to it.
Kal had once raged madly upon realizing his dummies were why I couldn't eat. Holding his hand, forcing that on him—it was all to grow numb to slicing human flesh.
I can't tremble like a coward on the battlefield, unable to kill even one.
To become a monster.
......Good thing the training's paying off.
I ignored my churning gut and shaking vision. No puking this time—that was progress enough. I swallowed back the rising bile and scanned around.
Ah.
The thick, metallic reek of human blood, unlike magic beast gore. Flesh clinging to my sword. Blood-soaked figures sprawled about.
None of it was familiar. Truth be told, it was horrific. I'd lived my life as a mercenary, but I'd only ever killed a human once.
That winter at thirteen, on that nightmarish day when I lost my master and my one and only friend.
I have to get used to it now.
I steeled my heart and forced myself to take in the blood-misted scene. I was fine. I'd be fine.
Time to wrap this up.
A short deep breath steadied my ragged breathing. Composing my expression, I turned to the man who'd shadowed Diego and me, helping subdue the assassins.
"Long time no see, Sir Pepper Ellerbayne."
Short light-brown hair, hazel eyes. The second son of the Ellerbayne Count family and Diego's guard knight, Pepper Ellerbayne.