7. Lie
7. Lie
Princess Bella looked at Haeil.
Yes, everything finally made sense now.
Hector, the leader of the Revolutionary Group, whom she had locked up in the Black Prison to extract information.
And Haeil Cartis, who was right next to him.
Even the Revolutionary Group that had infiltrated to rescue them.
Princess Bella felt as if a puzzle were being assembled, and everything was becoming clear.
'Everything was a lie from the very beginning.'
The person known as Haeil Cartis was a dagger meant to destroy her and the Empire.
Everything made sense now: how Haeil had treated her kindly when they were young, how he had acted like a spoiled brat despite being from a prominent noble family of the Empire, and how, when she had spared him on a whim, he had killed a maid right in front of her, triggering her past trauma.
From the very beginning, Haeil Cartis had been moving to bring her down, to bring this Empire down. Ever since they were young.
Thinking that, a sharp pain stung the corner of her heart. She didn't even know where it hurt. Thinking that even the kindness he showed when he smiled shyly at her was a thorough act, Bella felt her heart aching terribly.
Why?
No one in the Imperial Family shows their true self. Everyone wears a thick mask, smiling while hiding a sword behind their backs. It's no different from a bizarre masquerade. She had been betrayed countless times, had betrayed others countless times, and now she trusted no one. So why, when she thought that such trash had been acting the whole time, did it hurt this much?
Princess Bella bit her lip. The pain, the taste of blood in her mouth, brought her back to her senses.
Yes, it's that dream. It's the aftermath of that strange dream, the ridiculous dream where she relied on a man like him. The aftermath is still lingering, that's why. She is the Princess of the Empire.
The one who leads everyone from the position of being above ten thousand. For someone in such a position to care about a guy like that? That's impossible. It cannot be.
Princess Bella forcibly erased her expression. Suppressing the unknown emotions boiling inside her, she spoke with a blank face and a calm, monotone voice.
"Kill all the traitors who oppose the Empire."
""Yes!""
At the Princess's command, all the Imperial Guards drew their swords. The Revolutionary Group also raised their morale to the maximum to respond.
If things went on like this, everyone would surely die. They were the Imperial Guards who protected the Imperial Family. There was no way out for the Revolutionary Group, who were outnumbered and outmatched in equipment.
If so, Haeil Cartis, that detestable bastard, would die too. Definitely.
Princess Bella bit her lip. She looked at Haeil, who was among the Revolutionary Group. She didn't like it.
The Imperial Guards revealed their intent to charge at any moment. That was when the Princess's mouth opened.
"Bring that Haeil Cartis to me alive."
This wasn't because of any feelings. It wasn't the aftermath of the dream, nor was it because strange emotions welled up when she looked at Haeil Cartis.
It was simply because the price for daring to deceive her, the Princess, ending with mere death was too futile.
Yes, that must be it.
As if the Princess's words were a catalyst, a battle broke out in an instant.
Swords clashed and blood splattered.
'What should I do?'
I had grabbed Hector's hand. If so, should I stick with the Revolutionary Group?
I looked at the Revolutionary Group who were fighting.
"Hahaha! You guys who claim to protect the Imperial Family are weak!"
Hector was running wild like a fish in water.
As expected of the leader, even the knights of the Imperial Guard were being pushed back where Hector was.
'I'm glad I acted politely.'
I couldn't help but think that if I had ignored him just because he was an old man, I might have been sent flying just like that Imperial Guard over there.
I let out a sigh of relief for no reason and looked around. Hector was playing a major role, but the overall war situation was by no means good.
"Keugh...!"
"Damn Empire bastards!"
"Charles, fall back! Secure the escape route!"
Where he wasn't present, they were being pushed back helplessly.
The Revolutionary Group members were trying to fight back as much as they could, but their opponents were the Imperial Guards.
The Revolutionary Group members seemed to be struggling just to hold on, and a few had already fallen back, gauging the situation for a retreat.
There was no chance of winning. At this rate, they would just be pushed back and annihilated.
The Imperial Guards seemed to know this, as those facing Hector had changed their stance and were dealing with him as defensively as possible. They realized that if they just waited, they would win.
'So it ends like this, huh.'
In the game, the tutorial area had traces of battle. I didn't know why there were such traces in the Black Prison, but seeing the Revolutionary Group here, I realized it immediately. There had definitely been a clash.
I looked around. A hole that had been breached, and the Revolutionary Group standing as if to guard it.
"Entrance secured! But I can't hold it for long!"
The Revolutionary Group member called Charles shouted. They had secured an escape route, but just heading toward it looked difficult. The knights began to apply even more pressure at the news that the escape route had been secured.
"Leader! At least you, get out of here!"
"You idiot, what kind of leader leaves everyone behind!"
One of the Revolutionary Group members shouted, knowing the disadvantageous situation, but the leader, Hector, yelled as if it were nonsense and sent the knight in front of him flying.
Watching that, I thought.
A brief opening.
If I could create a brief opening, they could escape through that route.
But how?
I had the guide system, but it only showed trajectories at best. The Rune Bear had been essentially manual labor using the iron bars. It was different from a battle where life and death were actually on the line.
Even if I, who had only played the game, participated in the battle, nothing would change.
That was when Hector said.
"Those who can get out, get out first! Charles! Take Haeil and get out of here!"
At those words, the Revolutionary Group members seemed hesitant, but when Hector shouted once more, they gritted their teeth and moved.
I also tried to move backward, but at that moment, a yellow trajectory appeared before my eyes.
I instinctively moved my body to avoid it, but my physical body was the problem. At this rate, it would be a direct hit before I could properly dodge.
'Can I dodge this?'
The trajectory was gradually disappearing. It meant there was no time. In front of me, I saw the Revolutionary Group member called Charles approaching me. It seemed he intended to grab me and go, but right now, that was actually a good thing.
The only thing I could do before the trajectory disappeared completely was to swing my arm once. If so, pushing away Charles, who was approaching me, to move my body was the best option.
I pushed away Charles, who had been coming toward me.
"What the hell are you doing...!"
Charles looked at me as if asking what I was doing, but his expression soon turned to horror. Because a sword had flown at incredible speed to the spot where Charles and I had been standing.
Kwaang-!
I had dodged the blade by the recoil of pushing Charles, but I couldn't avoid the aftermath.
A tremendous impact struck my body.
"Keuhuk!"
Pain rushed in. I rolled on the ground and checked my body.
'Didn't die...'
My body ached, but I wasn't bleeding. I tried to move my body, but it wouldn't budge.
"Ho."
I looked at the person who had swung the sword at me. A giant sword—no, looking closely, it wasn't a sword. The person who had swung it at me, scabbard and all, was the Captain of the Imperial Guard.
"You saw that?"
The Captain of the Imperial Guard said to me, looking surprised.
But I kept my mouth shut and glared at the Captain.
Come to think of it, if this guy had just spoken up, it wouldn't have come to this. He definitely must have seen the maid aiming for the Princess and thrusting the dagger at that time. No, he definitely saw it. He had even made eye contact with me. Yet, he hadn't said a word.
If he had said just one word to Princess Bella, I wouldn't have ended up locked in the Black Prison. No, I would have been treated as an honored guest instead. After all, I had saved the Princess of the Empire.
Thinking about it, I got angry. This damn Captain of the Imperial Guard. I didn't like him even in the game.
I said, pouring my emotions into it.
"A knight's sword that can't even stop a maid's knife strike is easy to read."
At those words, the Captain of the Imperial Guard's eyebrows went up. At the remark that he couldn't even handle a simple escort and had left it for me to solve, the Captain's lips curled up. He seemed properly riled up by my words, and his aura changed.
While looking at the Captain of the Imperial Guard, I glanced around. As the Captain of the Imperial Guard who had been dealing with Hector stepped away, the Imperial Guards began to be pushed back.
The extent wasn't severe, but if this continued, the Revolutionary Group members might all escape.
The Captain of the Imperial Guard must have seen that, as he approached me.
"Everything is for the Empire."
And then, he struck my solar plexus with the tip of his sheathed sword.
"Keuk!"
My head went blank on its own, and something flowed from my mouth. Saliva? I don't know. My head turned white from the pain.
Seeing me unable to move and suffering from the pain, the Captain of the Imperial Guard said.
"Bind him and take him to the Princess."
"Yes."
A nearby knight bound me and soon began to carry me away.
'Where are they taking me...?'
My head wasn't working well due to the pain. The knight carried me, walked for a while, and then dropped me as if throwing me onto the ground.
"Keueuu...."
With the pain in my solar plexus followed by my back, a groan escaped my lips on its own.
My writhing in pain lasted only a moment.
A thick scent wafted into my nose. A scent that was sweet yet cold.
Wondering what kind of scent it was, I opened my eyes, and what I saw before me was the Princess.
"Finally caught in my hands, aren't you?"
Princess Bella was looking at me with an expression that was impossible to read—as if she were filled with rage, as if she were looking at someone she missed, as if she were sad, as if she were happy.