Chapter 11
The Male Lead Went Crazy for the Troublesome Villainess — Episode 11
The black sword radiating blue aura was the one Kael had purchased at the black market in Rainford and bestowed upon Seraphine, and it formed a pair with his own sword.
Huh, so it went to Seraphine after all.
It suits her.
The sword added even more dignity to the striking heroine with her softly swaying short hair. Look at that vivid blue aura. If only I could use a longsword...... What a waste, even seeing it again. I smacked my lips.
It would be far more efficient for Seraphine and Kael to have it. After all, I had ten daggers of my own.
"Do not forget why we came here. Everyone gathered here has effectively enlisted in an army. In wartime, disobeying the commander-in-chief's orders means immediate execution. Do not forget that."
I almost clapped without realizing it.
The nobles who had been demanding Seraphine protect them began edging away under her forceful warning.
That was why I'd read this novel: I loved Seraphine's forcefulness. Even through one frustrating situation after another, the cathartic moments Kael and Seraphine delivered—and their bantering romance—were incredibly satisfying.
And now I could witness it right before my eyes.
That is, if I survived.
If I could learn swordsmanship from Seraphine, my chances of survival would rise even further.
I cheered Seraphine on inwardly, pleased.
Go, Seraphine! Wreck them all!
* * *
Most people participated without complaint in the training that Seraphine and a few knights made time to conduct.
But there were also those who still refused to train or quietly slipped away. Their resentment built day by day, and they increasingly took it out on the people around them.
There were always nuisances like that.
It was the universal law of lunatics: if there's no lunatic in your group, suspect yourself.
They were people whose intentions differed from mine anyway, so there was no need to pay them any mind. Vanessa, perhaps thanks to me working her hard, was adapting better than expected.
We would arrive at Willow soon.
Willow was the last gateway to the north. We would probably purchase supplies here. Was there anything worth buying here for me too? Hmm.
I rubbed my chin.
Just in case, it seemed like a good idea to wander the market while Kael bought supplies and look into real estate. Since this was an apocalyptic romance fantasy, proper real estate information was hardly ever mentioned. Maybe the occasional passing reference?
It was mentioned so little that I wouldn't have remembered even that much if I hadn't read the novel like I was studying for a major exam.
All right. I've slipped away once already—how hard could doing it a second time be?
I just had to slip away while everyone was busy! All I had to do was put Vanessa to sleep!
* * *
Meanwhile, Rosana was making those hopeful plans.
The first to enter Willow were Kael, his aide Millus, and Masca.
It was a small village, but conditions there were far better than in Greystone, which had been nearly overrun by monsters, making Willow a suitable place for the expedition to replenish its supplies.
No, at least they had thought it would be.
"What? Five gold coins for one sack of flour?"
Masca's gruff voice rang out across the market. Register, the supply officer, scratched his chin with a troubled expression and continued.
"All prices have risen to five times their usual levels. The merchants know the expedition has arrived and clearly intend to make a hefty profit."
Even in times of chaos like this, money was still necessary. Business could hardly be thriving, so it wasn't strange that merchants hoping to seize this opportunity were popping up one after another.
"Damned thieves."
Masca ground their teeth. Register spoke.
"Your Highness, given the current situation, the merchants are asking for understanding and seem to have no intention of negotiating."
Using the state of affairs as an excuse to profiteer was a crime, but here there was no one left to punish such crimes. The lord of Willow had long since fled.
The farther one traveled from the capital, the more lawless areas appeared as public order collapsed. If even Willow, supposedly one of the better-off settlements, was in this state, it was easy to imagine what the others were like.
"The prices are all identical, as if the merchants colluded. They insist they absolutely cannot sell for anything less."
Kael frowned.
Unfortunately, the expedition did not have the funds for that. This expedition was entangled with profit, power, and politics. It was a world overrun by people who wanted salvation but refused to sacrifice anything for it.
The emperor had tried to siphon off the relief funds entrusted to him, and the ministers and officials were eyeing the money as well. The fund needed more contributions, yet people were swarming to take from it instead.
In such a situation, Kael had to secure supplies as best he could.
It wasn't even certain whether supplies and funds would arrive later. If possible, it was best to conserve money as much as he could. That was why Register was troubled.
"Haah. What shall we do, Your Highness?"
It was a time when both goods and people were precious. Even if they went to another village, there was no way it would be better off than here.
Kael roughly swept his hair back. It seemed that after overcoming one hurdle, another was waiting for him.
Then, suddenly, someone came to mind.
Rosana, who had shown a different side of herself in Rainford's black market. She had managed to protect both herself and her purse from black-market merchants reckless enough to turn violent.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
The strands that had fallen over his forehead trembled slightly.
"Bring Lady Rosana."
"Lady Rosana, do you mean?"
At Millus's question, Kael nodded. Right now, no suitable person came to mind besides Rosana. Rosana had seemed quite skilled at bargaining, and above all, she had not backed down easily even in a rough black market.
"Yes, Lady Rosana."
It was the first time.
The first time Kael had been the one to seek Rosana out and wait for her.
He suppressed a disbelieving laugh. Who could have known it would come to this?
That he would come to hope for help from the fiancée he had so thoroughly despised.
And yet Kael found himself looking forward to it: Rosana's impressive bargaining skills, and those lively eyes of hers.
Everything about her, really.
* * *
I gave Vanessa, who shared a tent with me, a sedative and put her to sleep. Once Vanessa was asleep, there was no one who would notice me slipping out.
It was just about time to go take a look around Willow. That was when Millus, one of the Crown Prince's aides, came looking for me.
"Lady Rosana."
Why was he here for me? Completely caught off guard by the unexpected visit, I looked at him uneasily.
Could it be that he had noticed I was planning to go into Willow village? Were they going to brand me a deserter and expel me from the expedition? How on earth did they find out?
I swallowed hard from tension.
"What is it?"
"His Highness is asking for you."
"For me?"
"Yes. He said he needs your help purchasing supplies."
Purchasing supplies? Help?
That was a plot development I'd never even considered. What did Kael trust me enough to ask for that kind of help? We weren't even on those kinds of terms to begin with, and didn't he hate Rosana?
The Rosana of the original work was someone who had left only the worst impression on Kael. Because of that, Kael had despised not only Rosana but even the Ardena ducal house that had raised her that way. And now he was asking me for help?
Something was off.
Was it a trap?
"......Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It's nothing. Where is he?"
Of course, as a member of the expedition, I couldn't refuse an order from Kael, the commander-in-chief. And rather than sitting around with an uneasy feeling, it was far better to go directly and hear what it was about.
I followed Millus to the Willow market, where Kael was.