TLVGAJ 21

~Chapter 21~

“Wait!”

The inside of the cabin came into view.

I was worried Finn might see something too cruel, but it wasn’t that bad. The bodyguard was on the floor, and Eric was already standing in front of the assassin, having subdued him.

The assassin, who was about to shout, turned his eyes toward Finn.

“Huh?”

Eric also turned and tilted his head. He looked confused as if wondering why that little kid was here.

Finn stood at the door, silently staring at the assassin.

In the strange silence, it felt like the two of them were speaking with their eyes.

Then Finn let out a small “Hmm?” sound and stepped into the cabin.

“Finn!”

Harry called out to him, but Finn seemed to have forgotten the warning and was walking toward the assassin.

Harry tried to follow, but I stopped him.

“It’s dangerous. Deon and I will go in.”

“But…”

Harry’s eyes shook with worry.

Step by step.

Calmly, Finn approached the assassin and crouched down in front of him.

The small child’s hand gently touched the scar on the assassin’s face.

“Mister, why do you have a scar like this?”

“…”

“That must’ve hurt a lot… Should I blow on it to make it better?”

In his pure voice, Finn softly stroked the assassin’s scar.

The assassin, quietly receiving the touch, slowly looked up at the child.

His eyes began to waver.

As I thought. It worked. The assassin was calming down quickly.

“Ugh…”

Soon, as if his strength had left him, tears silently flowed down his face.

Tears rolled over the deep scar on his face.

“Finn, come here.”

I went to Finn, grabbed his hand, and stood him next to me.

Then I looked down at the assassin still lying on the floor.

“This child isn’t your child.”

“…”

“But I can save your child. If you stop threatening us.”

I crouched in front of him and met his eyes.

The fierce look in his eyes was gone; he was completely defenseless.

“I don’t know who sent you or what orders you received… but I’ll take responsibility and save your child. Just don’t harm His Highness.”

I felt Albert’s eyes on me at those words.

Would my proposal work?

I looked at the assassin nervously.

He seemed to understand me, but I couldn’t predict his reaction completely.

“Really…”

After listening for a long time, he slowly raised his head.

“Will you really save my child?”

He met my eyes and asked carefully.

There was a spark of hope in his eyes.

…It worked.

“Of course. I promise to do my best.”

I nodded with relief. The persuasion was a success.

[The train will now depart. Thank you for waiting, dear passengers.]

A while later, we heard news that the bear carcass had been cleared.

The repaired Ramier Express blew its horn and started again.

Clatter, clatter. The familiar sound of the train running echoed in my ears.

I sat blankly in Albert’s cabin.

Now that the confrontation with the assassin was over, I felt the tension leave my body, and I couldn’t move.

I glanced to the side and saw Albert was the same.

Eric, meanwhile, moved busily in our place.

He used his holy power to treat Albert’s poisoned bodyguard.

Then he called the train staff to discuss compensation for the furniture and items destroyed during the fight.

The train manager, who came personally, bowed deeply and apologized.

He said the Ramier Express took full responsibility for the assassin’s escape and that they would repair the damaged furniture at the next stop, so no compensation was necessary.

“We will fix all broken furniture while the train stops at the next destination. We sincerely apologize again.”

After apologizing politely, the manager left the cabin.

“Phew, it’s finally over. Still, it ended well.”

Eric turned to us.

“You two did well. You’re not hurt, right?”

“Ah… yes. I’m fine.”

I nodded. Eric crossed his arms and sat on the bed.

“By the way, my lady, how did you think to bring that child? It was a brilliant idea.”

“I found a portrait in the cabin where the assassin had been locked up. It showed him with a child. It was risky to bring the child, but luckily it worked.”

As I guessed, the assassin had a sick child and had taken the job to save money for treatment.

He had now quietly returned to the cabin where he was originally locked up.

At the next station, he would get off the train and return to the Empire, reporting that he had failed to assassinate Albert.

The incident had ended in a way that satisfied everyone.

“Albert, are you okay too?”

Eric looked at Albert, as if checking his condition.

Albert raised his eyebrows sharply and muttered in a low voice.

“…Who sent him?”

“Huh?”

He had been deep in thought with a serious expression.

“They tried to assassinate me during the Grand Tour. Who could it be?”

“Probably one of your brothers. This sort of thing happened a lot since you were young, right?”

When I asked the assassin who had hired him, he said it was anonymous and he didn’t know.

The only thing he knew was that the payment offered was an amount ordinary people would never see in their lifetime.

“…I only have three brothers, but I have no clue who it could be.”

I listened quietly to their conversation.

The truth was, I knew. I knew who had sent the assassin.

But now wasn’t the time for Albert to find out. He would naturally learn it later.

For now, I decided to say nothing.

“Anyway…”

Eric stretched and stood up.

“I’m tired. I’ll go spend some time alone. You two have a good talk.”

“…Huh?”

I realized what he meant and quickly looked at Eric.

“W-wait, where are you going?”

Don’t leave!

I looked at him with a desperate expression, begging him not to abandon me.

How could he leave me alone with Albert…?

But Eric only smiled at me and mouthed,

“Talk with Albert. This is your chance.”

What do you mean chance…!

Before I could protest further, he left the cabin.

I stared blankly at the door, then slowly turned my head.

Albert was staring straight at me with narrowed eyes.

“Haha. Then I guess I should be going too. Goodbye.”

I quickly—though trying to be natural—stood up and bowed.

I just wanted to leave as fast and quietly as possible… but I couldn’t.

I looked down.

Albert was holding my sleeve.

“Irene Hartmann.”

“…Y-yes?”

“Talk with me. Alone.”

A little later, Albert and I were alone in the cabin.

I didn’t know what he wanted to talk about, but he had asked everyone—Sophie, Deon, even his bodyguard—to leave.

Then he stared at me for a long time.

“…First, thank you. Thanks to you, I’m alive, Irene.”

After what felt like forever, Albert finally spoke.

“I also apologize for not thanking you for what happened in the dining car. I was just too shocked at the time.”

“…It’s fine. You’re the imperial prince. It’s only natural as a citizen of the Empire to protect you.”

I smiled lightly as I replied.

I just wanted to finish the conversation quickly and leave.

“And you should thank Finn and Harry more than me. That little boy stepped up to help you and me, even though he was sick.”

“Yes… I’ll make sure to thank him properly.”

Silence filled the room again.

Albert looked at me quietly, then let out a deep sigh, as if troubled.

“I… I don’t know. I never thought I’d be drawn to you.”

“Ah… haha.”

“I think… I’m interested in you.”

Ah… haha?

I had finally heard the words I could no longer ignore.