Chapter 168
Clang, clang, clang!
Instead of fully blocking the sword thrusts aimed at me, I merely redirected them just enough to change their course, conserving my strength.
‘This damn Second Prince—!’
I focused on deflecting attacks while promising myself I’d thoroughly question him later, as any lapse in concentration could result in serious injury.
Thanks to those protecting me, not many attacks reached me, but the assassins were skilled enough that even deflecting them was challenging. This quickly drained my stamina. My arms tingled, but I couldn’t stop wielding my sword. The gaps widened as our side was outnumbered.
“Huff, huff, huff…”
My breathing grew ragged in an instant. There were dangerous moments, but each time, people who appeared to be the Second Prince’s subordinates somehow blocked the attacks.
‘That bastard. He must have known about the attack!’
The Second Prince was the only person I could think of who would plant his own people among the assassins. If this was prepared in advance, it’s highly likely the attackers didn’t know Cromwell would be present.
Yes, the Second Prince deliberately revealed his whereabouts, along with a fake list.
“Ugh.”
Perhaps due to rising irritation, my mistakes increased. I couldn’t deflect an attack aimed at my arm. This time, it seemed no one was available to help me.
‘Damn it.’
Just as I turned to minimize the injury, a blue sword energy drawing an elegant line swept before me, cutting off the arm of my attacker. Then, before he could even scream, his head fell. It happened with such speed that it seemed like a single attack.
“Young master.”
I felt a hand gently pressing down on my trembling arm.
“Luwen…”
“Close your eyes for a moment. The scene doesn’t seem very pleasant.”
Luwen softly stroked the back of my head with one hand and buried my face in his chest.
Clang—
Perhaps from the tension releasing, strength left my hands. I dropped my sword, but it didn’t matter anymore. My chest felt heavy. My eyes stung inexplicably, and I embraced Luwen with my lips tightly closed.
Thump-thump-thump. Even amid the commotion, the sound of a heartbeat was clear. I couldn’t tell if it was my heart or Luwen’s.
“Fei!”
At that welcome voice calling me, I raised my head abruptly. My sister was approaching, swinging her sword with a fierce expression. The Second Prince and Cromwell were with her.
She looked very angry, but appeared uninjured. That was a relief.
* * *
Leaning against a soft pillow on my comfortable bed, drinking warm milk with honey, this feels like heaven.
“Irene, I’ve already apologized.”
“I heard you. Didn’t I say it’s fine?”
“But your expression right now…”
Plus, the pleasure of watching the Second Prince squirm before my sister is incredibly sweet. No one else would understand this except me.
Sip.
There’s a reason the Second Prince is being so submissive.
As I expected, he knew there would be an attack and deliberately made himself bait with the dual purpose of persuading Cromwell and finding evidence of the First Prince’s assassination attempt. That’s why he didn’t immediately return to camp despite knowing about the ogres heading there.
My sister apparently expressed concern about me several times, but he seemed to have reassured her that I wouldn’t be harmed since he had planted people there.
‘If Luwen is here too, who’s left at the camp? You clearly said there was nothing to worry about.’
When Luwen heard my sister questioning the Second Prince like this, he sensed something was wrong. Luwen said he asked my sister for permission, left the remaining few ogres to the Deputy Minister and other guards, and rushed back.
The reason I didn’t see Luwen’s sword energy after I emerged from under the platform was because he was already rushing toward me by then.
Contrary to his bold claim that I would be safe, I nearly died. As a result, my sister is now furious. Though she can’t openly criticize him as he’s royalty, her cold attitude is making the Second Prince squirm.
‘This is also evidence of how much their relationship has progressed.’
Otherwise, my sister wouldn’t show such an attitude toward the Second Prince. And the two of them certainly wouldn’t be in my room together.
When the Second Prince returns to the imperial palace, my sister, as Imperial Guard, must follow. In fact, her being here now is entirely due to the Second Prince’s consideration.
“Fei, how’s your fever?”
When my sister checked on me with a kind and gentle attitude, the Second Prince’s expression changed like a used tissue. Probably because it was so different from how she treated him. Ah, so satisfying.
I had planned to question the Second Prince thoroughly when I met him, but since he’s already being sufficiently scolded by my sister, I decided to let it go.
‘It’s infuriating that he kept it to himself, but the Second Prince doesn’t owe me an explanation.’
Above all, he deserves credit for planting subordinates to protect me. I would have truly died without them.
“I’m fine.”
I smiled brightly at my sister, emphasizing my robust health. While doing so, I debated whether to relay what the assassin had said.
‘I think I know why they targeted me.’
Earlier, I was confused about the comment regarding time passing, but now I understand.
‘The assassin was waiting for a signal that the Second Prince had been dealt with.’
But since the assassination was predetermined to fail, there was naturally no signal. That’s why they attacked me. In other words, they tried to kill me because they failed to assassinate the Second Prince.
‘The reason is… probably my sister.’
It’s already well-known that my sister cherishes me. Additionally, there are rumors that if the Second Prince becomes emperor, my sister will become empress. The Second Prince hasn’t yet welcomed a crown princess, and my sister is the only woman he cares about.
However, since they couldn’t touch my sister because she was with the Second Prince, they targeted me instead. If I died, my sister would be plunged into grief. They might have planned to deal with her during that vulnerable time. Or, in the worst-case scenario, it could disturb the relationship between the two, diverting the Second Prince’s attention elsewhere.
‘…Hmm. But something still feels off.’
Why did they wait when they had already killed so many uninvolved people? What were they planning to do if they had succeeded in assassinating the Second Prince? It’s unreasonable to assume they would just leave.
No matter how I thought about it, there was no connection between the success of the Second Prince’s assassination and my fate. They had so many opportunities to kill me.
‘This is giving me a headache. I’d better not mention it.’
It’s a past matter anyway, and speaking about it would only cause sadness. They would worry and feel anxious about me even more than before.
‘The same goes for Luwen.’
He held my hand tightly throughout our carriage ride back. Luwen, who easily dispatched ogres, was anxious because of me. If he learns I was deliberately targeted…
‘He might insist on staying by my side even during my clinic hours.’
I considered whether there’s a possibility of me being targeted again, but I doubt they would have the luxury. Since the Second Prince has deliberately gathered evidence to bring down the First Prince, things will likely be resolved soon. Of course, it never hurts to be careful, but…
‘I won’t be alone during clinic hours, so it should be fine.’
I glanced at Luwen standing by the door. He must have been watching me because our eyes met immediately. When I smiled at him, he smiled back.
‘And I’m always with Luwen otherwise.’
Yes, there’s no problem.
As I smiled broadly, feeling relieved, my sister followed my gaze and turned her head.
“Luwen, make sure Fei doesn’t go anywhere.”
“Why me?”
“You overdid it.”
My sister shook her head while looking at me, her tone suggesting I was asking the obvious.
“I didn’t overdo anything…”
I expected to catch a cold from shivering in the cold, but perhaps due to sweating while wielding a sword, my condition was better than expected. Judging by the muscle soreness, I wouldn’t escape muscle pain though.
“You didn’t overdo it, yet you collapsed?”
“I did?”
“Stop pretending you’re fine.”
That’s strange. I don’t remember collapsing.
After the assassins were dealt with, I treated the injured and checked on Theobalt’s condition. Unfortunately, all the people who participated as medical staff were found dead inside the medical tent, so Taran and I had to step in.
After finishing treating people, my legs weakened and I staggered. Immediately, Luwen moved me to my tent, then I was loaded into a carriage, and now I’m sitting on my bed in my room.
But in my sister’s eyes, Luwen’s support must have looked like he was catching me after I collapsed. I explained that I hadn’t collapsed, but my sister didn’t believe me.
“Don’t think about leaving the house for a while.”
“No way. I need to visit the Margrave’s mansion. Lord Theobalt is injured.”
“I’ll go instead. You stay home.”
“Sister. He’s my friend.”
I pleaded, calling Irene in an affectionate voice. The Second Prince’s face twisted peculiarly, but who cares. My sister likes it when I act weak.
“Still, no. Stay put for at least a week. Hospital visits can come after that.”
But this time, she wasn’t easily persuaded. Given her adamant attitude, it seemed I would have to show that I was recuperating obediently for a week.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
