PUBW 43

Chapter 43

Caius burst into the room, throwing the door open roughly.

His insides were burning — that familiar pain, as if his very organs were being scorched.

If he hadn’t already taken possession of a human body, he would’ve surely perished on the spot.

“Damn it.”

He wiped the blood from his lips, gritting his teeth against the pain.

“Lord Caius, are you all right?”

Keenan entered the room. He had evacuated earlier, anticipating that Charlize might use her holy power, and had only just returned.

“Why didn’t you avoid her attack?”

Keenan found a vial filled with yellow medicine and offered it to him as he asked.

But Caius didn’t respond — because he didn’t know the answer himself.

He had only meant to step away for a moment, pretending to fetch champagne. He’d planned to kill Charlize… yet somehow, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

He had promised Chase that he wouldn’t kill her and would hand her over alive — but he was a demon. His whims could turn cruel at any moment, and he could have erased her on a whim.

And yet, inexplicably, he couldn’t take a single step out of that courtyard. Just one more step, and he would have been free — but he’d turned back.

He had run to her instead, only to be struck by that blinding holy light — nearly dying in the process.

“Did you meet the Saint?”

Yes. That must be it — he hadn’t killed her because it was too soon. He would make her suffer first, to pay for his pain.

“I met her only briefly.”

“She recognized you?”

“Yes. She clearly called my name.”

Caius stared at Keenan’s expressionless face.

Keenan had once lost his parents because of the Saint. His grudge ran deep.

“She doesn’t seem to remember much, but you do, it seems. How did she react?”

“At first, she was startled. But when I tried to leave, she grabbed me desperately.”

“Of course. The Saint was always one to pity even demons. She’s probably feeling guilty toward you. She’ll come looking for you before long.”

“However, with the recent accident, it’ll be difficult for her to meet anyone soon.”

Right — the explosion, the miraculous healing, the holy display. Charlize would be preoccupied for a while.

It seemed his plan to kill her had been premature.

Between the Crown Prince, Redmond’s beast, and Keenan, there was still plenty of fun to be had.

“Lie low for now. Keep your ties with Countess Gren strong.”

“Yes, my lord.”

After issuing his brief order, Caius left the room to return to the scene of the accident.

“Lady Charlize, though your identity is confirmed and you used holy power to save lives, traces of dark magic were found at the scene. We must question everyone present. I ask for your understanding.”

The vice-captain of the Imperial Knights spoke politely.

“Yes, I understand.”

I had no intention of causing a scene.

He was right — no one should be exempt, and he’d even come personally to take my statement in his own office out of courtesy.

“As you know, the fountain that exploded was inscribed with dark magic. You were the one nearest to it, Lady Charlize. What brought you there?”

“I was speaking with Marquis Borghese. He left moments before the explosion to fetch champagne.”

I had no reason to lie. There was no point in covering for a demon who had tried to kill me.

He had withheld information from me anyway — he’d used me. There was nothing left to protect.

“Did you plan to meet him there?”

“No. I ran into him by chance at the exhibition hall. He approached me, and we walked together, talking, until we reached the fountain.”

“What were you talking about?”

“My mother’s illness. He asked how she was doing.”

“Before he left to get champagne, did he seem… unusual? In a hurry, distracted, or cutting off the conversation abruptly?”

“No, nothing like that.”

The vice-captain’s expression grew grave as he jotted down my answers. He seemed suspicious of Caius.

“Oh, but there was one strange thing before the explosion.”

“What was that?”

“Before the marquis returned, I tried to walk around the fountain a little. But suddenly, my body wouldn’t move — I couldn’t speak either.”

The vice-captain’s face tightened. After a pause, he said grimly:

“Then it’s possible that you were the target, my lady. The dark magic could have been triggered to attack whoever approached, but given your immense holy power… yes, it’s plausible.”

“I think so too.”

He nodded, then shifted topics.

“You were closest to the fountain, yet thanks to Duke Redmond, you weren’t seriously injured. Do you remember what happened at that moment?”

“Not much. I was bound by the spell, heard the Duke’s voice, and then the explosion — almost simultaneously. It all happened too fast. I think I blacked out for a bit.”

“Afterward, you healed the Duke, who was severely injured.”

“Yes.”

The vice-captain fell silent for a moment.

It was fair to be suspicious of Artif’s quick reaction — but he was a sword master. He could have sensed something off about the fountain, or simply reacted instantly.

“Then—”

Before he could finish, the door slammed open with a loud bang!

Both of us turned toward the sound in shock — and there stood Chase.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince!”

The vice-captain quickly composed himself and rose to bow.

I scrambled to my feet as well.

“Is this how you interrogate victims?”

Chase’s voice was low, menacing.

“It wasn’t an interrogation, Your Highness — I was simply taking a statement. Given the dark magic involved, it’s standard procedure to question everyone present.”

“So you’re saying my fiancée — the Crown Princess-to-be — is suspected of dark magic?”

“N-no, Your Highness. It’s merely a formality. Lady Charlize is a victim herself, but since she was unharmed, we had to include her in the report—”

Unbelievable. Not because Chase had barged in — but because the vice-captain was still explaining himself.

If he knew Chase at all, he’d just apologize and hand things over. But instead—

Sure enough, Chase drew his sword and leveled it at the man’s throat.

“Your Highness!”

I shouted in alarm, but the vice-captain didn’t even flinch.

“Your Highness, he did ask for my consent,” I said quickly. “It was my decision to give the statement.”

Chase’s crimson eyes flicked toward me, burning with fury.

“You’re defending another man — in front of me?”

“That’s not what I mean. I just want the culprit caught quickly. It seems I was the target of the dark magic.”

“You…”

His hand trembled around the sword hilt, veins bulging across his knuckles.

“Let’s talk somewhere private. Back at your palace.”

If I said one wrong word, he’d have cut the vice-captain down right then. Carefully, like taming a beast, I stepped closer.

Thankfully, Chase lowered his sword.

“I’ll overlook it today — for my fiancée’s sake. But you’d better watch yourself.”

He grabbed me and pulled me out of the room.

“The habits from your past life still linger, don’t they?” he said coldly. “You’re no longer a Saint. You can’t save everyone — and you don’t need to.”

“I just don’t want innocent people to suffer,” I replied.

“So you’re saying I’m about to punish an innocent man?”

“Yes.”

Chase stopped abruptly, his eyes sharp as blades.

“So you’re telling me that when my fiancée was nearly killed, I should’ve stood by and done nothing? If you were already Crown Princess, this never would’ve happened. And yet, somehow, it’s still my fault?”

“No. It’s mine.”

“Ha! How bold of you. Then what — shall we marry quickly, to fix this ‘fault’ of yours?”

“Your Highness, your violence and obsession with me — all of it is my fault. I know that.”

Chase’s piercing gaze locked onto mine.

“So you’re saying,” he growled, “that I’m violent and obsessed?”