Chapter 223
I nearly stumbled and fell from the unexpected impact, but the 3rd Prince grabbed my arm and pulled me, so I could barely maintain my balance.
“Ludwig!”
The 3rd Prince raised his voice. At the reproachful tone, Ludwig looked sheepish.
“I pushed gently, but really.”
“I told you to handle him delicately. Duke Vinter’s son is famous for having a weak body.”
“I wouldn’t know that much. Though I do know that if we catch that guy, we can make the Empire’s Crown Prince struggle.”
They also know about the Crown Prince and my sister’s relationship. I had guessed as much since he went around showing off his lovesick behavior so obviously, but hearing it directly made me newly tense.
‘Don’t tell me their purpose in keeping us alive is to negotiate this war advantageously?’
From the Empire’s standpoint, an Aura Master is an existence they absolutely cannot let go of. To get Luwen back, they might accept secret negotiations.
…If that’s the case, I could cooperate.
My purpose from the beginning was to end the war anyway. I don’t care which side surrenders first. I just want to save the lives of Empire citizens who are being tossed around because of royal circumstances.
‘The problem is that I can’t trust the 3rd Prince.’
I’ve already been betrayed once. But what if I help him and get betrayed again? I didn’t even want to think about what results that might bring.
‘I need to be cautious until I figure out their real purpose.’
Since finding the 3rd Prince in the first place was all because of the book, this situation probably wasn’t planned from the start. He kept suggesting I naturalize too.
Maybe that could be the purpose. He did look at Luwen’s swordsmanship as if enchanted.
I moved my steps while being led by the 3rd Prince, steadily increasing the possible scenarios for escape.
* * *
As if the traps weren’t a problem, the 3rd Prince walked with big strides. Traps that we hadn’t triggered while running activated and constantly made noisy sounds. Because of that, I couldn’t sense Luwen’s presence, so I kept looking back.
‘I can’t see him…’
Luwen knows roughly where I am right now, right? Won’t he be anxious knowing we’re getting farther apart?
…This might actually be better. He could subdue Ludwig and take the opportunity to come rescue me.
‘Ugh. No. I shouldn’t think in this direction.’
Not only have my weapons been taken, but as long as I don’t know how these people communicated, Luwen won’t be able to move recklessly. He’ll think they might do something to me if they notice any changes.
“Ah!”
While looking back, my ankle caught on a trap and I staggered.
*Shreeek-!*
*Thunk!*
The frivolous man knocked away the arrow flying toward me with his cleanly sharpened sword.
“It’s disgustingly vicious.”
He poked at the arrow that stuck powerlessly into the ground, then rested the sword blade on his shoulder like carrying luggage and muttered as if annoyed.
“It would be annoying since arrows and non-arrows are mixed together. Don’t let your guard down and protect him well until those guys appear.”
“Yesss.”
Though he answered perfunctorily to the 3rd Prince’s command, his expression was very serious.
From the fragmentary conversations I heard while being dragged along by them, there were two pieces of information I became certain of.
First, that the 3rd Prince really was being chased. Second, that we were now heading toward their camp.
Since it wasn’t a small assassination group but a unit-level force, it seemed he intended to seize command authority. According to the frivolous man, Ethan, they had received orders to pursue a “criminal who betrayed his own country and fled to the Empire.”
*’There are those who are frustrated at not being able to distribute wanted posters. We received orders that once a corpse is found, it must be brought to command unconditionally.’*
That’s why initially, when the soldier who appeared after stepping on a trap was worried about facial damage. This would be possible because the 3rd Prince wasn’t a royal whose face was widely known.
‘The fact that he gathered information among the soldiers means Ethan’s face isn’t known either.’
This part bothered me though. Just from how he treated Ludwig and the 3rd Prince, he seemed like someone who had built a thick friendship over quite a long period.
How could they not know when he’s the confidant of a Sword Master who’s treated as a hero of Tuaso?
“Your Highness, they’re gathering. Should I call the commander?”
“How many are there?”
“Roughly… about 100 people.”
My question was quickly resolved. Ethan answered while pulling down a black hood. Then he re-sheathed the sword he’d used to knock away arrows and drew out a sword with dried blood caked all over it.
He seemed to be someone recognized by the public through symbols rather than face. A black hood that hid his face and a blade that had turned black from being soaked in blood.
‘So he was confident he could overthrow the command even without Ludwig.’
The person protecting the 3rd Prince and those secretly assigned the mission to assassinate royalty. Even a child would know which side held the cause without explanation.
“Or should I just cut them down first and then start talking?”
Ethan asked with a bright smile. I was disappointed since I was planning to confirm how they would contact Ludwig.
“We don’t need all of them anyway, so it would be fine to reduce the numbers appropriately.”
“I’ll be back.”
Ethan, who bowed elegantly while greeting with a voice tinged with ecstasy, disappeared from sight leaving only traces of wind. I turned my head to follow his afterimage, but I could gauge his location with my ears rather than eyes. Through the screams heard from afar.
“He must be a high-level swordsman.”
“That’s right. He’s considered talented material to become the third Sword Master.”
“Is it okay to tell me that kind of information?”
The 3rd Prince shrugged his shoulders.
“You probably already roughly figured it out anyway, so what’s there to hide? Especially Sir Blight has already finished figuring out that information. There’s no point in hiding it.”
The expected answer came back. Then I laid the groundwork to bring up the question I really wanted to ask.
“Is Lord Ludwig coming this way too?”
“Why? Are you worried about Sir Blight?”
“Of course. You know what’s between us, so why ask that?”
“Ahaha. That’s true. Don’t worry. He’ll come too.”
Was separating us because they anticipated a moment like this would come? One person for Luwen. One person for me. The two people had to stick together. It seemed they judged that was the only way to restrain Luwen. The 3rd Prince’s combat power is similar to mine, so they probably didn’t count it as fighting strength.
But if combat breaks out, there will be moments of neglect. Wasn’t it to prevent the possibility of Luwen snatching me and fleeing by targeting that moment that they separated us?
“What if we miss each other? We didn’t even decide on a meeting place in this vast forest.”
“Those two should be able to find us easily.”
At the light response, I lowered my head with a gloomy expression and let out a long sigh.
I don’t know what purpose he has, but this guy is paying considerable attention to me. He shows similar behavior to how we tried to protect him because we needed him. Maybe it would be okay to throw a bit of a tantrum.
“If it were Luwen normally, that would be true, but Lord Ludwig is holding him back. His mobility will be poor while keeping Luwen in check, so how is he supposed to find us?”
If he doesn’t give me the answer I want this time either, I’ll have to ask directly. If he noticed the intention of the question and is gradually slipping away, then no matter how I ask, it can never be resolved.
“Hmm. You’re curious about how I called Ludwig?”
Damn, these royal bastards are all equally disagreeable. Our Crown Prince is like that too, seeming to have swallowed hundreds of cunning snakes, but this guy is no less formidable. Is only the 5th Prince pure?
“If you noticed, then tell me.”
“It’s not exactly a huge secret, so I could tell you… but then what will you do for me?”
What the hell are you hoping for from me when I’m captured? Conscienceless bastard.
“I’ll tell you how to make pigments. I know what that tree is.”
The 3rd Prince blinked rapidly. Then he burst out laughing, “Puhaha!”
“Are you serious? Just that?”
“You said it wasn’t a huge secret either. Then this is just right.”
“No way. No matter what, I’d be at too much of a disadvantage.”
“If you don’t like it, then don’t.”
Honestly, I’m dying of curiosity, but naturally the more desperate I seem, the bigger their demands become. It would be better to think about it later with Luwen and my sister putting our heads together.
“Don’t be like that. If you just grant me one favor, I’ll tell you. How about it?”
“Let me hear what the favor is first and then I’ll judge.”
“It’s not difficult. Really.”
He doesn’t seem to have any intention of telling me first. I don’t want to continue word games with this guy, so I just shut my mouth and looked back again. Wondering if I might catch sight of Luwen.
“Fei.”
But the 3rd Prince grabbed my chin and turned my head sharply. He made me meet his eyes forcibly and then looked at me reproachfully with a displeased face.
“We were in the middle of a conversation.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
