Chapter 106
Chapter 106
Translation: godsn
'Just how far is the author planning to drag Valdina around?'
Medeia frowned as she looked at Cesare.
Never imagining that he had come all this way to find her, she assumed they had simply crossed paths by coincidence once again.
Just as she was about to ask how he had gotten here, the mercenary suddenly contorted his expression and strode toward her.
His lips, which always carried an air of leisurely composure, were twisted, and his sharp jaw was clenched as if gritting his teeth.
The distance between them closed in an instant.
"Medeia."
Then a solid embrace darkened her vision.
So startled was Medeia that she even forgot he had rudely called her by name, abandoning all decorum.
In her dazed state, the mercenary's vivid fury poured over her.
"Why are you being so foolish? Why do you keep moving alone? Don't you know it's barbaric to hold a tool and not use it?"
Medeia couldn't comprehend why the mercenary was lashing out at her as if in agony.
She looked up at him with a puzzled expression.
"Acares, have you lost your mind?"
"There was no need to go this far. Where are your precious handmaidens, your chancellor, your Queen Dowager? Why must you always sacrifice yourself alone!"
Cesare's reason told him to stop, but his instincts refused to relent.
Damn it, who was he seeing in this woman?
Did he want to help the princess, or was he trying to save that younger version of himself who had been left alone?
He wanted to make her understand that she wasn't alone.
That someone understood her, that someone could take the hand she reached out.
At the same time, Cesare knew.
Just as he had been, the princess would neither believe nor accept those words.
"Why must I?"
As he expected, the princess asked with pale eyes. Her expression was as calm as undisturbed water, without a ripple.
"If you don't see me as a woman, you'd do well to release this arm quickly. Otherwise, this poisoned needle you gave me might just pierce your throat."
Only then did Cesare notice the small metal needle pressed beneath his jaw.
With a soft chuckle, the arm that had been constricting Medeia like a vice slowly loosened.
"......"
A short, sharp inhale. It was enough time for Cesare's reason to return.
"...I've made a fool of myself."
"Good that you realize it."
"...Hah."
Her blunt reply, devoid of even denial, left a scratch on his haughty pride.
Silence flowed between them.
"How are things in the Royal Castle?"
Medeia asked offhandedly. Cesare responded with disbelief.
"Princess, are you treating me as a messenger now?"
She didn't answer, only glancing sidelong at Cesare.
Moonlight streamed into the cave, finally revealing Acares' appearance clearly.
Sweat-drenched hair, dust and leaves clinging to his limbs, a pallid face.
Even his hands, stained crimson beneath his sleeve cuffs.
Medeia couldn't fully understand all the words he had poured out, but at the very least, she could tell this mercenary had come searching for her.
Though he had leaped off cliffs and tracked hidden traces to find her, oddly enough, she felt no wariness.
Perhaps it was because she had glimpsed the concern for her that flickered in those vivid golden eyes.
As if coming to his senses, Cesare took a belated step back from Medeia.
"Sit. I was just about to have dinner."
Medeia withdrew her gaze and made room for him.
"Let me do it."
Cesare, who had been staring intently at the small scratch on her pale, delicate hand, took the dagger from her grasp.
Medeia watched his movements as if observing him, her green eyes faintly glinting with interest.
Soon, the cave was filled with a delicious aroma.
"I knew you were skilled with the sword, but you're quite the cook as well."
Medeia praised him with an indifferent face.
Perhaps from traveling as a mercenary, he had a talent for making decent meals even with limited ingredients.
"Just eat."
Despite his cold retort, he snapped off the sharp end of the skewered rabbit meat to prevent her hand from getting pricked before handing it to her.
"......"
Cesare felt an inexplicable irritation seeing the princess's small face, seemingly thoroughly enjoying her camping life outside the Royal Palace.
"Preparation is always key."
"You came very well-prepared indeed."
Cesare said dryly as he watched Medeia take out salt to season her food.
"Want some?"
"No."
A frosty refusal.
Medeia shrugged her shoulders and took a bite of the meat.
The taste wasn't bad.
Valdina Royal Castle.
"Have you heard the news? At the hunting grounds, Her Highness the Princess—"
"Ha! Of course! Even the culprit knows! It was Duke Claudio's son who tried to kill Her Highness!"
The disgraceful incident at the hunting grounds quickly reached the royal castle.
"You vile wretches! Bring our princess back alive!"
"What have you people ever done for our Valdina?"
The rumors spread like wildfire, and soon even the commoners in the streets knew of Medeia's disappearance.
The Fourth Imperial Princess clicked her nails together impatiently.
The situation had spiraled out of control before she could intervene.
'What should I do? I never expected the Queen Dowager to regain her composure so quickly.'
Moreover, the Queen Dowager seemed to already suspect her. The way she glared at the Kazen diplomatic mission was downright piercing.
'If they find out I was the one who released the wolves in the hunting grounds, I'm finished.'
A diplomatic envoy attempting to assassinate a direct royal family member of their host nation? No matter how small Valdina might be, they wouldn't let this slide.
'Samon, that imbecile. I shouldn't have trusted him. To fail at handling even this simple matter!'
Caught between anger and anxiety, the Fourth Princess felt her nerves fraying.
'His Majesty won't let me off easily if I'm caught. What should I do if they find out? But there's no evidence anyway. How could they possibly—'
"Your Highness."
The sudden voice made the Fourth Princess jump. Kensington was staring straight at her.
"...Surely you're not involved?"
"W-what are you talking about?"
"Regarding this incident. It's absolutely certain that you have no connection—"
"Th-that's absurd! What nonsense!"
The Fourth Princess exploded in anger, her guilty conscience showing.
"Count Kensington, don't falsely accuse people! What does the princess's disappearance have to do with me?"
Huffing indignantly, she stormed out of the room.
"Leader, the Fourth Princess's reaction was unusual. I'll investigate further."
"Enough. Leave it be."
At Umberto's words, Kensington sighed and waved her hand dismissively.
"Even if it was the Fourth Princess's doing, what could we do? If I tried to clean up this mess, I'd only end up sharing the blame for the princess's crimes."
She lamented bitterly.
"I've always given my all when it comes to Kazen, putting everything else aside. But that didn't mean they could use me as they pleased."
The Fourth Princess, the Grand Duke, and even her own liege, the Emperor.
Deep skepticism showed on her face.
"Leader...?"
"If you have the energy to spare, focus on learning more about the princess's situation instead."
Kensington stared intently at the map of the forest where the princess had disappeared.
Her gaze lingered on the densely shaded green area for a long time.
"The princess wouldn't be taken down so easily. She must have another plan this time too."
"Are you saying...?"
"The problem is, I can't tell who she's targeting."
Regent Claudio? The Fourth Princess? Grand Duke Castulo?
Or perhaps all three?
She could only hope this wouldn't result in a single flap of wings sweeping everyone away.
Looking out the window at the distant princess's palace, Kensington let out another sigh.
Deep in the night, the forest air was chilly.
Crackle, crackle. The campfire's warmth heated the air.
"When do you plan to return?"
"Who knows."
The curt reply made Cesare, who had been looking at Medeia, pause.
Crackle, crackle. He'd noticed the darkness settling over her emerald eyes as they blankly stared at the scarlet flames.
"So, what's your plan going forward?"
Medeia fixed him with a look that asked, Why would I tell you that?
"You know you can't stay away too long anyway."
The mercenary was right.
With time, both memories and emotions would fade.
Medeia needed to reappear when suspicions against the Regent were at their peak.
Reading her thoughts, Cesare suggested,
"We could say the Magic Tower found you. It would make your return easier."
The Magic Tower was notoriously strict about verification. They were a reclusive organization that rarely involved themselves in worldly affairs or politics.
Yet their reputation and influence across the continent were undeniable.
'Several days have already passed since I disappeared. There's no avoiding rumors when I return.'
Especially since Duke Claudio's faction would undoubtedly try to discredit her, claiming she'd hidden herself to deliberately frame Samon for their own survival.
'But if the Magic Tower intervenes—'
The Regent wouldn't be able to force his narrative.
Medeia nodded. There was no reason to refuse when he'd offered her a better hand.
But a question arose.
"Acares, why do you keep helping me?"
No kindness comes without a price. And the mercenary before her didn't seem naive enough to abuse such generosity.
Cesare, who had been staring at Medeia with sunken eyes for a long while, finally spoke.