Chapter 102
"......How did you know I was here?"
Pepper wore a strange expression as he asked, as if he couldn't believe it. I gave him a meaningful smile.
"Who knows. A hunch?"
Pepper's expression grew even stranger. Pepper Ellerbayne, Diego's guard knight who'd grown somewhat familiar with me through my close friendship with Diego. This man, who had come to fetch him when I first met Diego, was a Sword Expert.
'He must find it suspicious that I detected the presence of a strong Sword Expert like himself.'
I just smiled under his sharp gaze. But I couldn't reveal that I was a Sword Master, so I had no choice but to play dumb.
"Let's sort out the situation first."
I walked past Pepper with composed steps and headed toward Diego. Diego, who had been watching me with a hint of worry in his eyes, spotted the blood on my sword and approached with a hardened expression.
"Shu-shu. ......Are you okay?"
Blood trickled down my sword, dripping onto the ground with soft plops. I clenched my faintly trembling hand and forced a casual smile onto my lips.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
They were assassins. Subhuman scum who took payment for stealing lives. There was no need to feel guilt for striking them down.
'But the moment I spilled blood alongside them, didn't I become the same trash?'
That fleeting thought lodged in my throat like a thorn, tormenting me. My stomach churned, my smile cracking bit by bit. The thorn seemed to grow with the swelling thoughts—I wanted to shove my fingers down my throat and vomit it out.
Shu. Shu-shu!
And then, hands grasping my shoulders. I blinked, snapping out of my daze as Diego's voice cut through my ears.
"Y-yes? What did you say?"
Diego's expression darkened. Embarrassed after spacing out for a moment, I scratched the back of my head sheepishly. As I rolled my eyes awkwardly, Diego released my shoulders and let out a deep sigh.
"You don't seem okay."
"No, I'm......" Slipping. "Just...... a bit tired. Seeing human blood was rough."
His arm lightly wrapped around my waist. The blood on my clothes soaked into Diego's pristine ones. A faint vanilla scent brushed my nose.
'Ah.'
I exhaled a hollow breath. My heart squeezed tight. That brief embrace felt like solace. I smiled like a sigh.
'I have to protect this man.'
I wielded my sword to protect. That was what set me apart from the assassins.
"......I'm really okay now—thanks to you, Didi. Thank you."
I smiled faintly and patted Diego's back as he held me. It touched me that he seemed more shaken than I was; I knew it was because he cared so deeply.
"Liar."
"It's true. I'm fine now."
I whispered softly and met his gaze. Diego looked deeply upset.
"Are you worried about me?"
"Is that even a question?!"
"I'm way stronger than you, Didi."
I teased lightly, and Diego sighed deeply before looking straight at me.
"You're precious to me. How could I not worry?"
Warmth spread through my heart. I smiled slowly.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, I suggested coming along precisely because I worried something like this might happen."
And then, a cold voice cutting between Diego and me. Diego's face hardened chillingly.
"I distinctly told you not to follow, Sir Pepper Ellerbayne."
Diego cut in with a ruthless tone unfamiliar to me, the very picture of the cool-headed crown prince. Undeterred by Diego's icy demeanor, Pepper strode forward, glancing at me coldly before facing Diego squarely.
"Protecting Your Highness is my duty. I couldn't let you go alone."
"Your duty is to obey my orders."
"Didn't you see those assassins just now? If I hadn't come, you would've been in danger."
I sighed as I watched Pepper argue back politely but fiercely in a low voice, while Diego shot retorts without yielding. Pepper Ellerbayne, who had served as Diego's guard for so long, was a loyal and capable knight. It felt like Diego had survived this long thanks to him. He was the type to throw away his life for Diego without hesitation.
'Your Highness! I told you not to go to the bathroom alone!'
If there was one flaw, it was that he focused too much on his own role. Too much. Diego, who harbored bad memories of guard knights, disliked Pepper, but Pepper tried to overprotect him.
That was why the two drifted apart despite Pepper's unwavering loyalty to Diego over the years.
'Diego trusts Pepper deeply but can't get emotionally close, while Pepper serves Diego faithfully as his lord but resents him for not understanding his intentions.'
I understood both sides and watched their bickering.
"Even if you hadn't come, Lady Kashmir Crisis would've protected me."
"Ha! How can you trust Lady Kashmir Crisis?! She's the Second Prince's teacher now. Who knows if she hasn't become the Empress's pawn by now!"
"Pepper Ellerbayne!"
Diego's face twisted in rare fury—a sight seldom seen from the usually rational man. I glanced at him, then at Pepper with slightly impressed eyes. Pepper's words just now were quite rude. They could even be interpreted as implying I was in league with the assassins.
I was a member of the Crisis Ducal House. If I pressed the issue, Pepper couldn't escape responsibility.
'What incredible loyalty.'
I smirked faintly and brushed my lips. Pepper wasn't a fool. He knew those words could cause problems. Yet he stared straight at Diego without sparing me a glance—he seemed utterly steadfast.
Pepper was voicing his honest opinion to Diego, even at the risk of backlash.
'He's truly strong.'
Vaguely, I recalled not thinking much of Pepper when reading the original story in my past life. He seemed too rigid and stubborn back then. But seeing him up close now, his deep loyalty moved me, sparking a subtle fondness. I didn't dislike Pepper.
"Do you know what that remark implies?"
Most people heated up when angry. Diego, when truly furious, cooled down instead. His already subdued blue eyes filled with icy rage, like the heart of a frozen wasteland.
Pepper, bearing the full brunt of Diego's anger, looked indignant.
"What about Lady Crisis......!"
"This isn't the time for this."
I cut in between them to intervene. If left alone, Pepper would commit an unforgivable act of insubordination. His loyalty was admirable, but its intensity often teetered dangerously on the edge.
"Your Highness, you must be fatigued from this sudden ordeal. You should head in."
"This is between Your Highness and me! Lady Crisis is......!"
"Pepper Ellerbayne."
I turned to Pepper with impassive eyes as he tried to retort. He flinched noticeably upon meeting my gaze. I stared straight at him with a chilling smile.
"How many times must I overlook your rudeness?"
He hadn't even greeted me upon crossing paths, and I'd let it slide without a word. But if he kept this up, I wouldn't stay lenient forever. Regardless of my fondness for him, hierarchies needed clarifying.
I was the duke's daughter; he was a knight from a count's family. I had no intention of tolerating further insolence.
"......I've been disrespectful to you, my lady. Please forgive me."
Whether he sensed this was my final line, Pepper bit his lip and bowed politely. I nodded in acknowledgment and turned to Diego. He'd calmed his momentary anger by then and was gazing at me intently.
"Your Highness, you must be exhausted. Shall we head in?"
"......I wanted to see you off too."
"I should see you off as well. You were the one in danger tonight, so please yield this once."
I smiled softly at Diego, whose expression had softened. He finally smiled back weakly and nodded.
"......I'll summon the mages from the Crown Prince's Palace. Use teleportation."
Pepper, who had been watching us intently, said gruffly. I blinked.
'The Crown Prince's Palace is a five-minute walk......'
"It's close enough. Do we really need to call the mages?"
Diego looked dubious, sharing my thoughts. But Pepper remained firm despite our reactions.
"Other assassins might be lying in wait on the way back. I'll call them right away."
Pepper pulled a communication magic orb from his pocket. Diego sighed in resignation.
'Truly...... hard to say if it's insubordination or overzealous loyalty.'
That was Pepper's issue. He overprotected Diego to the point of seeming arbitrary out of excessive worry. It kept their relationship from closing the gap.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince. I'll escort you to the palace."
A mage appeared at Pepper's summons and bowed to Diego. I nodded to the mage, who greeted me as well.
"Then I'll be off. Ellerbayne, come."
Since it was a short-distance magic circle, the mage drew it quickly, and Diego stepped inside. Pepper, watching him, shook his head.
"My apologies, but I should handle the assassins' aftermath before returning."
Diego's eyes narrowed suspiciously, but Pepper stood firm.
"......Fine. Clean up and come back."
Diego sighed in acceptance and gestured to the mage. And then, the light faded. The last sight of Diego was him smiling softly at me.
'The moon is pretty.'
The hill fell quiet. I averted my eyes from the blood-splattered surroundings, gazing uselessly at the night sky instead. The twinkling stars felt like the world's eyes condemning me, making me even more uneasy.
I shoved my stupidly trembling hands into my pockets to hide them. After closing my eyes for a deep breath, I spoke softly.
"Alright. Now, out with it."
The shadowy figure at my side flinched slightly.
"......What are you talking about?"
Pepper's voice was curt. I chuckled and slowly opened my eyes, turning to him. His beige-tinted eyes stared straight at me.
"Your business isn't the assassins—it's with me, isn't it, Sir Ellerbayne?"
He had something to say to me.