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Chapter 6
“If it would not inconvenience you… we would like you to come with us.”
…Come with them?
I stared blankly.
“W-Why?”
“There are questions we need answered.”
“N-No.”
My refusal came out pitifully small.
“Since you were in possession of His Majesty, we cannot simply let you go.”
…I should have listened to Sir Ranster.
I was only trying to save someone who was still alive instead of leaving him there to die.
So why…
Why did it turn out like this?!
“We do not wish to force you by violence,” the man said calmly. “So come quietly.”
…What choice do I even have?
Why, out of all people…
Why did it have to be the Emperor?
The very act of trying to save someone had cornered me instead.
I never imagined I would regret saving a life.
I wanted to cry.
Really.
If I refused, Sharmel and Tiana would absolutely find some way to help me escape.
But they might get hurt.
And I couldn’t allow that.
“…Alright.”
I lowered my head.
“I’ll go.”
For Sharmel.
For Tiana.
For their safety—
Elenoa obediently climbed into the carriage Ren had opened for her.
The carriage finally came to a halt.
The door opened.
“Please disembark.”
Though the knight’s tone was polite, Elenoa sat there blankly, her lips moving faintly.
“The Emperor… it was the Emperor…”
Only when Sharmel called her name did she finally snap out of it.
She stepped down from the carriage and was escorted—not quite as a prisoner, but certainly not as a guest—toward a large tent.
Then—
Neighhh!
At the sound of horses, she turned.
A silver-white-haired man was dismounting.
Alongside him were several knights.
“They found His Majesty?”
“Yes, Count Philemon.”
“…That is fortunate.”
“Suspicious individuals were hiding him.”
Suspicious… individuals?!
Allenwalker’s sharp gaze shifted toward the tent entrance.
“Suspicious?”
“It is not yet confirmed,” Kyle cut in sternly. “Do not spread assumptions carelessly.”
But Allen’s eyes had already landed on her.
On the woman standing frozen at the entrance.
…Why?
Why does she look familiar?
Before he could think further, the knights ushered Elenoa inside.
Allen looked away.
“Sorry to drag you here too.”
“It’s fine,” Allen replied coolly. “Be grateful this was resolved without mobilizing either House Philemon or House Ridevain. I’ll inform Grandfather and Father that His Majesty has been found.”
“Do that. Ah—and what about your siblings?”
“…Not yet.”
“You stopped searching when you heard?”
“Yes.”
Kyle exhaled.
“Ren is causing chaos. He brought the women in, and now the nobles are shouting that they may be accomplices to the assassins. Duke Retron is already demanding immediate confessions.”
Allen frowned.
“Retron… the commander of the Imperial Guard?”
Kyle nodded.
Retron and Ren had never gotten along.
…This is bad.
If Ren becomes too emotional—
That other thing lurking in his shadow might emerge.
“I’ll handle it,” Allen said at last. “Go on ahead.”
“Excuse me.”
Kyle entered the tent.
“Please come with me for a moment.”
“No!”
Sharmel immediately stepped in front of Elenoa.
“Our lady is not going.”
“Sharmel.”
“If she is truly uninvolved, then nothing will happen. She only needs to explain before His Highness how she found His Majesty.”
“Then surely my lady doesn’t need to go personally.”
Sharmel’s arms tightened protectively around Elenoa.
“You can see she’s trembling. In this state, how do you expect her to speak?”
Kyle paused.
His gaze fell on Elenoa, whose body had been shaking violently ever since learning the identities of the golden-haired man and Ren.
“…Then only the two of you will come.”
Unable to force the matter, Kyle took only Sharmel and Tiana.
The three departed.
Left behind, Elenoa slowly lifted her head.
Her gaze drifted to the opposite side of the tent.
And there—
A gap.
The tent fabric had lifted slightly between two ground stakes.
…The Emperor.
And Ainhardt.
I absolutely did not want to get involved with either of them…
But I already had.
…I have to leave.
Now.
If I stay here—
I’m doomed.
“You left possible accomplices to the assassins unbound?!”
“It has not yet been confirmed.”
“If they were innocent, why would they refuse a carriage inspection?! His Highness personally discovered His Majesty!”
“And one of them was disguised as a man! They are clearly suspicious!”
…How noisy.
Ren’s expression darkened.
“Your Highness. The witnesses have arrived.”
At Kyle’s words, Ren gave permission.
Sharmel and Tiana entered.
“I heard there were three,” Ren said sharply.
“It seemed best to let one rest.”
“Are you out of your mind, Duke Ridevain?!”
“Count Dmitron,” Allen interrupted coldly, “your voice is excessively loud.”
The tent instantly fell silent.
“Count Philemon is correct,” Ren drawled lazily, resting his chin against one hand. “Yours is the loudest here.”
Dmitron’s face twisted.
Ren ignored him.
“I was told your lady went on a secret walk and found His Majesty. Is that correct?”
“Yes,” Sharmel answered carefully. “While searching the surrounding area for my lady’s safety, we were informed she had vanished. We followed a scream… and found her with His Majesty. He was already unconscious.”
“And why should we believe that?”
“My question was not finished.”
Ren rose abruptly.
His icy gaze swept across the nobles.
“You are not from Astrian.”
“No. We came from a territory five days from the Roland Empire’s capital. Our lady is the daughter of that lord.”
“…What is your lady’s name?”
The question struck like lightning.
Sharmel bit her lower lip hard.
Elenoa did not want her identity revealed.
But if they refused—
They could be accused of attempting to assassinate the Emperor.
And executed.
“That is…”
What do I do?
If Miss is sent back…
She may be forced into that marriage…
Then—
Her eyes landed on Allen.
…Wait.
That face.
That name.
Allen.
Her breath caught.
No way…
Could it be…?
Allen frowned under her stare.
“You.”
His voice cut through the room.
“Who are you? Do you know me?”
“I cannot reveal my lady’s identity.”
“How dare a lowborn—”
“But…”
Sharmel’s trembling fingers clenched her skirt tightly.
“I can tell you my name.”
“Who cares what—”
“I heard someone call you Allen.”
She cut directly over the noble’s outrage.
“Is that your real name?”
The entire tent froze.
For a maid to interrupt nobles—
It was unthinkable.
But none of that mattered.
Not if this gamble could protect Elenoa.
“Does that matter?”
“It does to me.”
Allen’s gaze sharpened.
“…That answer assumes I would know you.”
“Why are you humoring this nonsense?!” shouted another noble.
Allen’s voice dropped to ice.
“Silence.”
The entire tent went deathly still.
“My name… is Sharmel.”
Her voice shook.
“I served House Ricardo.”
Allen’s expression changed.
“Before Young Master left for the Academy… he entrusted Miss Elenoa to me.”
CRASH!
A chair toppled violently.
“He promised…”
Tears welled in her eyes.
“He promised he would come back for her.”
Allen stood so abruptly his chair slammed backward.
“…What did you just say?”
“Count Philemon!”
“You’re… Sharmel?”
Sharmel’s breath hitched.
It really is him…
But—
Count Philemon?
So the rumors were true.
Young Master wasn’t Baron Ricardo’s real son…
“Allen.”
Isaac’s voice was tense.
But Allen barely heard him.
“Where?”
His voice was almost dangerous.
“Where did you come from?”
“From Baron Hern de Ricardo’s lands.”
Isaac’s expression darkened.
Ricardo.
That cursed name.
The one tied to Allen’s bruised childhood.
And then—
Sharmel delivered the final blow.
“The woman traveling with us… disguised as a man…”
Her voice cracked.
“Is Miss Elenoa En Ricardo.”
“…Ah.”
“ALLEN!”
But Allen was already gone.
He bolted from the tent.
Isaac followed, pausing only long enough to glare at Sharmel.
“If you lied…”
His voice was lethal.
“You’d best prepare yourself.”
Because even if Allen forgave her—
He would not.
Allen tore through the camp and straight to Elenoa’s tent.
He yanked open the entrance.
…Empty.
His eyes instantly swept the interior.
Then—
There.
A wide gap between the tent stakes.
Allen exhaled sharply.
“She escaped through here.”
A slow, incredulous laugh escaped him.
“Honestly…”
His lips curved despite himself.
“She really never could sit still.”
Just like when they were children.
So she came quietly…
Only to run the first chance she got.
“Wait—what?! She’s gone?!” Isaac shouted behind him.
“What were the guards doing?!”
But Allen was already moving.
He strode right past Isaac—
And began chasing after his runaway little sister.
