Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Using the Cards in Hand Here and There (5)
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Cain's hand pointed into the alley. Toward the spot where the thugs, already beaten to a pulp, lay sprawled.
"If he were a proper guide, Your Highness would never have come to a place like this."
"......"
"I understand your curiosity about unfamiliar cultures. But putting yourself in danger is an entirely different matter."
Cain scolded me with his eyes as he continued.
"If you accompany me, you can complete Your Highness's schedule far more safely."
Finally, he tilted his chin up slightly to wrap it up.
"From now on, I will escort you. Please permit it."
Sure, maybe that's how it looked in Cain's eyes. Like I was some scoundrel luring an innocent, naive princess into the depths of evil.
It was a ridiculous and irritating misunderstanding.
"It was because of the princess that we ended up in this alley."
I spoke up abruptly.
"Earlier, the princess punished that jewel scam ring and ruined their business. So these guys, holding a grudge, picked a fight."
I sneered in a twisted tone.
"You said you followed the commotion. Looks like you didn't see everything from the start?"
Princess Violet's face flushed red,
"Hey! Why are you saying that! It's embarrassing!"
while Cain's turned pale by contrast.
"......What did Your Highness do?"
The new side of the princess he'd never seen before, and the fact that he was sharing it with me instead of him.
It was crushing Cain even more.
"......Whatever. What's important is the schedule ahead."
He bit his lower lip, struggling to compose his expression. The moment his face, stained dark with defeat, sank,
"Kyaa! Don't do this!"
A girl's scream echoed from the opposite end of the alley.
"-!"
Cain flinched and turned.
"Well now."
I blew a soft whistle and nodded toward it.
"Looks like someone's in danger."
Cain's body turned back toward us. Fierce conflict crept over his eyes.
'What is he even hesitating about?'
To me, this wasn't even worth agonizing over. A stranger whose face I didn't know, versus Princess Violet, whom I was traveling with.
The scales tipped overwhelmingly toward the latter.
But Cain was different.
'A righteous, kind character who acts for the weak.'
That foolish sense of morality was what trapped Cain in indecision. It was behavior I could never comprehend.
I inwardly mocked Cain as I led Princess Violet away.
"From now on, I'll escort Your Highness 'safely.' Just as someone said."
"......"
"So you, Cain, go help that poor girl."
As we took one step away, Cain's body twitched.
"If not you, that girl might be in real danger."
The distance between Cain and us grew. Cain stared at us, his face etched with obvious turmoil, unable to move forward or back.
"Hurry up, Apostle of Justice."
Even my sarcasm couldn't get his body to budge. Then, the moment we vanished from sight, patter, patter.
The sound of Cain's hurried footsteps rang out. Not toward us, but away, toward the other side.
'He went after all.'
A thick sneer slipped through my teeth.
'That's why you'll never make it, Cain.'
Guilt and a sense of justice were emotions utterly useless to me.
'Whatever, what's the worst that could happen?'
Thinking that, I focused on leading Princess Violet away. Without knowing who Cain might run into next.
❖ ❖ ❖
Patter!
Cain's footsteps pounded roughly as he dashed across the alley.
"Haa, damn it."
He even muttered a coarse curse he wouldn't normally touch.
Everything was a mess. Why did nothing go right lately?
Thinking back, it seemed to start when he came to the capital.
No, more precisely, when he met Abel Kindriel, who had attended the Noble Conference.
Since then, Cain hadn't felt like things were going his way once.
'Why, Your Highness!'
He'd heard through his father that the official proposal to become her escort had been formally passed along.
Yet she rejected it and went wandering with a loafer like Abel Kindriel.
Cain couldn't fathom the princess's intentions at all.
'Why?'
What did Abel Kindriel have over him?
Family, wealth, position in the empire—by every measure, Cain came out ahead. And he was far more masculine than that pale, girlish face.
On top of that, Abel Kindriel casually admitting he disliked him grated even more.
'Why does he hate me?'
The reactions from men standing before him were mostly admiration, awe, respect. There weren't many options when facing an overwhelmingly superior male to begin with.
In the end, he could only reach one conclusion.
'Inferiority complex.'
Wasn't it natural for someone like Abel, who had nothing better than him, to hate him? Those who lack envy those who have.
'It must be a massive inferiority complex.'
No one on the empire's noble roster dared show negative emotions toward him. Especially not among his peers.
Most cowered before the prestige of the Ardante family or were quietly crushed by those around them.
In other words, Abel openly showing animosity meant he envied Cain enough to risk it.
'You brought this on yourself, Abel.'
Cain coldly sorted his thoughts.
He was kind to most people, but he had no intention of extending that to someone who openly rejected him.
'Next time we meet,'
He wouldn't show Abel Kindriel any mercy.
In truth, Abel had gotten under his skin too much. Whether building rapport with the princess or sparring with Mikel, whom he respected.
Everything stirred an inexplicable discomfort in him.
'The nerve......'
Cain never even considered that he himself might be feeling that 'inferiority complex.'
He just chalked it up to Abel's flippant attitude and insolent speech.
"Don't do this!"
With that sharp scream, the girl's cries cut off.
"-Damn."
Cain shook off stray thoughts and quickened his pace. He reached the spot where the last scream came from and thrust himself forward.
"Why are you screaming?"
"No one's gonna help you anyway."
Two men had a girl pinned against the alley wall.
Compared to their massive builds, the girl's body was so small and frail that Cain could barely make her out.
"Please, let me go!"
Only her terrified, fragile voice reached him.
"Why'd you come here alone if you knew you'd get in trouble?"
"Shh, shut up. Who's gonna eat you?"
One man chuckled and gripped her chin.
"......"
The moment his hand touched her, the girl's eyes froze cold.
The look mixed with utter contempt didn't suit her youthful face at all. It was as sharp and ruthless as a honed dagger.
"Pfft."
A sneer flickered across the girl's lips. As she slowly raised her hand, a faint swirl of light gathered in her palm.
"Is this bitch crazy?"
The men, oblivious, stepped closer in disbelief when,
"Stop. Stand down."
Cain positioned himself behind the men.
"-!"
The girl instantly withdrew her hand, dispelling the light.
"Ah, who the hell's interrupting?"
"What the—?"
As expected, the men reacted with vulgar bluster. Cain stood firm and stated resolutely.
"If you back off now, I'll spare your lives."
"Well, look, a knight of justice arrives."
"You think we're gonna say 'sorry' and retreat?"
One man deliberately tightened his grip on the girl's arm.
"What're you gonna do about it, huh?"
They were heavily drunk, blind to Cain's blazing eyes or noble features.
They just howled with laughter.
"Huh? What're you gonna do?"
Cain let out a low sigh and muttered.
"Neither of you knows your place."
Whoosh!
He charged straight in, striking one's solar plexus.
"Gah!"
The unprepared man toppled over. Ignoring his choking gasps, Cain turned to the other.
"Uh, wha?"
The man holding the girl's arm stood frozen like an idiot. His alcohol-soaked brain wasn't functioning.
Cain's eyes gleamed coldly at him. His sword drew in a chillingly precise arc.
Shing!
The blade sang a clear note, aimed at the man's throat.
"No second chances."
The clean, efficient motion was that of a seasoned swordsman.
Trained with the Sud Knight Order since childhood and personally gifted a sword by Hector, Cain's skill was unmatched among his peers.
"U-uh."
Pierced by the razor-sharp killing intent, the man's eyes darted wildly.
"S-spare m—"
"Get lost."
The men fled in panic without looking back. Cain glared at their pathetic retreating figures before turning.
"Ah......"
The girl was pressed flat against the wall, rigid with fear.
She looked barely into her late teens. Dull gray hair, a somewhat gloomy face.
From her clothes, she seemed like a commoner girl out enjoying the festival streets who'd run into trouble.
More than that, Cain noted how she trembled faintly.
"Are you alright?"
He approached gently, stopping a few steps away to respect her space.
"Are you okay? Can you speak?"
The girl just shuddered without a word.
Suddenly, Cain realized his towering, intimidating posture might remind her of those men.
Thud.
He immediately dropped to one knee, lowering himself to eye level.
"Don't be scared. I mean you no harm."
"......"
"How about it? Can you talk?"
Then Cain noticed her teal eyes were unusual. The pattern in her pupils seemed to ripple like living waves.
"......Yes."
But her small voice drew his focus more.
"Good. I'm glad I got here in time."
As Cain smiled faintly, the girl's cheeks flushed slightly.
"Tha......nk you."
She stared piercingly at him, stammering.
"For......helping me. Thank you."
"No need. Helping a lady in distress is only natural."
Cain rose and offered his hand. The exceedingly graceful, courteous gesture left her mouth agape.
"Heh......"
"I'll escort you home. Is that alright?"
"Ah, y-yes."
The girl readily placed her small, slender hand in his palm. The moment her delicate fingers touched his,
"......"
Cain felt the surrounding air vibrate faintly.
'......Imagination?'
Shaking it off, Cain led her out of the alley.
"Don't worry. You're safe with me."
"......Yes."
"May I have the lady's name?"
Her thin lips moved.
"Siena."
An inexplicable gleam flashed in her low-saturation eyes.