BVWG 21

chapter 21

I grabbed the other end of the rope that Beret had tied to the pillar. Then I ran toward the child lying beneath the tree.

The child was on the verge of losing consciousness, clearly at their limit.

I pushed the rope into the small gap between the tree and the ground, then securely tied it around the tree trunk.

By the time I was done, Beret had run over, fixed his end of the rope to a rock, and expertly tied a knot.

Now, using the pillar as a pulley, we could lift the tree with the rope. All that was left was for the two of us to pull the opposite end.

Beret and I pulled the rope tied to the rock. The tree, which hadn’t moved at all when Beret lifted it alone, now shot into the air.

In truth, lifting it required very little effort—Beret’s extraordinary strength alone could have done it. I merely placed my hands on the rope to look helpful.

Afterward, Beret, having secured the rope on our side to the rock, kicked the tree to give it momentum. Just as it was about to fly, he severed it from the rope.

The tree flew to an unoccupied area. The child was finally free.

Seeing my method succeed the first time, I gained confidence.

“See! I told you it would work!”

I flashed a smug grin at Beret, who only cleared his throat. He subtly avoided my gaze, and I noticed a faint blush on his ears.

We repeated this method, rescuing people trapped around the pillar.

Eventually, Beret became so skilled that he could handle the entire process alone.

I, meanwhile, carried water supplied by the knights to quench the thirst of the rescued.

One by one, knights connected the ladders and ropes, descending to the cliff below. Upon reaching the bottom, they followed Beret’s instructions to manage the situation.

When a substantial number of survivors had been accounted for, a group of people in blue robes appeared. The Royal Magic Corps.

I had braced myself, thinking they might not show up today, so their arrival earlier than expected was a relief.

I had been worried about the injured who had yet to be rescued, so this was fortunate.

As the Magic Corps appeared, my tension eased, and my body felt unresponsive—a sure sign I’d soon be sore from muscle strain.

I leaned against a nearby rock, watching the busy movements of the others.

The mages descended using teleportation magic, healing each injured person and sending them up safely.

Among them, a figure with a particularly dark blue cloak cast healing magic. Upon closer inspection, I realized he looked very familiar.

Of course. With the Royal Magic Corps dispatched, this man couldn’t be missing.

It was none other than Mor, the Chief Royal Mage.

I recognized him from the way his indigo hair flowed as he moved.

In the royal blue uniform of the corps, he exuded authority.

Compared to the simple brown robe I had seen him wear in the slums, it was almost unrecognizable.

With knights and mages working together, the scene was quickly brought under control.

There was no point in me interfering; I was exhausted anyway, so I just watched.

When things had settled somewhat, Mor noticed me and approached.

A warm, playful smile adorned his face.

I stood using the rock as support to greet him.

Having endured hardships together in the southern slums, I felt a sense of familiarity and comfort seeing him again.

From the opposite side, Beret was approaching as well, having seemingly completed his tasks.

Both men spoke to me simultaneously.

One with a grin, the other expressionless.

“Asha, my lady, have you been well under the blessing of the White Dragon? It’s a pleasure to see a beautiful lady again.”

“Princess Esperanza, thank you for your efforts. Thanks to your quick thinking, the injured were treated efficiently.”

Mor’s playful crimson eyes gleamed as he delivered his smooth words, while Beret exuded a serious, armored demeanor.

Now familiar with Mor’s smooth talk, I responded to him naturally, feeling closer to him.

“Chief Mage Mor, were you also under the White Dragon’s blessing? It’s good to see such a familiar face.”

Beret, apparently offended by being overlooked, frowned slightly, but I ignored him, focusing on Mor.

When I finally turned back to Beret, his expression returned to its usual blankness.

Knowing I needed to improve my rapport with him for the “mission,” I spoke to him with mild praise.

“Commander Judicium, you’ve done a great job. Everything went smoothly because you trusted my judgment.”

I inclined my head to Beret.

“Moreover, you protected me and my nanny with your aura when we fell earlier. Truly, you are my lifesaver. I thank you deeply.”

Mor, observing our conversation, suddenly interjected with a grin.

“Oh? So he’s your lifesaver, Lady Asha? I’ve also saved you before—does that make me your lifesaver too?”

I responded with a playful smile.

“Of course. Chief Mage Mor, you are also my lifesaver.”

Beret remained silent for a moment before speaking gravely.

“…Then will you forgive the discourtesy I showed in the Commander’s chamber?”

Strictly speaking, Beret hadn’t been rude—he had only behaved formally in a way that might irritate me.

An outsider hearing our conversation might take no side. Still, Beret seemed to feel unsettled about it.

By my nature, I would have immediately accepted his apology. But thinking of them as potential suitors, I decided to appear gracious and earn their favor.

“There’s no need to forgive you since you haven’t done anything wrong.”

“No, I was prejudiced and treated you with disregard. That was my fault.”

Beret bowed, and this time his apology sounded sincere, unlike in the Commander’s chamber.

“Having witnessed the scene, you are not as the rumors say. I was at fault. Please forgive me.”

“…Very well.”

I accepted his apology, feeling it genuine. Beret’s face then brightened with a confident smile, revealing his handsome features.

“Thank you. And our promise remains. I will continue to treat you as the finest lady.”

Ah, he remembered our promise.

“Indeed, the Judicium family keeps their promises.”

I smiled, and Beret’s eyes softened, a faint blush coloring his face.

As my conversation with Beret concluded, Mor suddenly chimed in, his crimson eyes sparkling.

“By the way, Lady Asha, what happened between you and Beret?”

He looked like a hunting dog sniffing out prey.

I glanced at Beret, whose expression stiffened, clearly aware he was the target. He looked like a giant dog about to relieve itself.

Through his expression, I realized one thing:

If I tell Mor about what happened between Beret and me, he’ll likely scold Beret!

Mor clearly saw through Beret’s polite facade.

“I notice from the way you address Commander Judicium, Mor, that you two are quite familiar.”

“Yes, we are close in age and served together at the royal court often.”

Mor draped an arm over Beret’s shoulder, still grinning, while Beret tried to distance himself.

“Also, I’m a year older than Beret.”

I was surprised—based on looks alone, I would have thought they were reversed. Mor looked far younger than expected.

As Mor continued clinging to Beret, he protested.

“Chief Mage, please show me some respect at work.”

“Why? The Emperor isn’t nearby. We can be casual among ourselves.”

“But Princess Esperanza is here too, isn’t she?”

“You understand, don’t you, Asha?” Mor prompted, and I nodded eagerly. Perhaps he was teasing me, or maybe his playful energy had rubbed off on me.

“So, what rudeness did Beret commit that has him so flustered?”

I studied Beret again. He subtly shook his head, signaling me not to answer.

All the more reason to tease him!

“Chief Mage Mor, since you are so close to Commander Judicium, can you keep this between us? No one else must know.”

Mor nodded enthusiastically, while Beret’s face displayed utter dismay.

I paused, savoring the moment. Taking the upper hand felt exhilarating.

Beret looked at me with desperate eyes. Those violet eyes were too beautiful to ignore.

“…Still, judging by Commander Judicium’s expression, I suppose it’s best to bury that incident in my heart.”

Indeed, revealing the past wouldn’t benefit either of us. Both had made mistakes, perhaps more so on my side.

So from the start, I resolved to keep that incident buried.

“Commander Judicium seemed too distressed,” I said, using Beret as an excuse.

Beret finally exhaled in relief.

Meanwhile, Mor’s expression suggested he was displeased. The mischievous young man’s demeanor made me chuckle.

“This ignorant fellow may have been rude, but he’s not a bad person,” Mor said, slinging an arm around Beret to lighten the mood.

Clearly, he was defending Beret. But Beret’s anxious gaze showed he didn’t welcome it.

Mor’s playful expression made me want to join in the mischief as well.