BLMLS~18

Chapter 18

Seeing how upset I was, Davin answered firmly as well.

“What I meant was only an explanation of the past events. I did not mean that you should forgive His Majesty the Emperor. I also believe that what happened to Lady Anise today is something that should never be brushed aside.”

His strong agreement made my crumpled mood ease a little. At least he was also angry at the Emperor.

“Then what do you think I should do about the Emperor?”

“First, you should make full use of whatever support you can obtain from His Majesty. For example, capturing the assassins or receiving stronger protection.”

“Hmm…”

What kind of help could I even get from the Emperor?

Maybe I should ask him to help me leave the country quickly…

The first thing that came to mind was emigration, but I would need to break off the engagement first. Would he even allow that so easily?

I absentmindedly scratched my cheek with my finger. Then I noticed Davin’s left sleeve—torn from a blade. Underneath, his arm was tightly wrapped in bandages.

Right. When I was injured in the neck, Davin had also been badly wounded protecting me.

I had almost overlooked how much he had been sacrificing for me again. I felt guilty and asked him:

“Is your arm okay?”

I had felt it myself—how his arm had shielded my neck at the moment the blade came for me. Seeing the blood-stained bandage made my eyes tremble. Davin smiled reassuringly.

“It’s fine. It’s not a serious injury. The doctor said I’ll recover soon.”

“Really?”

Contrary to my careless attitude until now, Davin looked sincerely apologetic.

“I’m sorry. I failed to protect you properly due to my lack of ability.”

What was he talking about? I was speechless.

“No, there were too many enemies in the first place. I’m just grateful you kept me alive. Without you, I would have died right there.”

Even though I said that, Davin’s expression darkened as he looked at the bandage on my neck.

“I let them get too close. If I had gone out earlier and stopped them…”

But at the time, I had been in direct conflict with the Emperor. How could Davin have left my side?

More importantly, if he had gone out and dealt with the assassins without the Emperor knowing, the Emperor would have declared it all a staged act due to lack of evidence.

“There’s no point thinking about impossible things. How could you have left me then?”

And imperial knights had been stationed outside guarding the horses and carriages. If Davin had gone out, they would have seen him—and a mere noble house guard displaying such extraordinary power would have immediately drawn suspicion.

I recalled the rule from the original story: a swordsman at Sword Master level is classified as a special management target within the empire.

That was also why Davin always hid his strength and worked as a mere escort knight.

I smiled at him.

“Anyway, neither of us is seriously injured, right? Then that’s enough.”

Still, Davin looked displeased. My injury clearly bothered him.

But I really was okay. Apart from the stinging pain in my neck, I felt fine.

“Fine, I guess you don’t believe me either, then!”

I said that out of frustration, but Davin was the one who had actually injured his arm protecting me. I felt genuinely sorry.

“Sorry. For what I said this morning.”

Davin looked startled.

“Pardon? About what?”

“Before the Emperor arrived… I said I didn’t trust you.”

“Oh, that.”

He looked as if he hadn’t even remembered. Then he let out a soft laugh.

“It’s alright. You used to act like that when you were upset. I know you didn’t mean it.”

At that, I flinched.

So the old Anise used to act like that…?

“No, I don’t normally act like that… I mean, I really am sorry…”

As I mumbled with my face heating up, I saw Davin smiling gently at me and sighed in defeat.

After that, I felt more relaxed and talked with him about various things.

Rana was currently resting in her room after treatment. Imperial knights would now continue guarding the mansion. Since the attackers had also suffered heavy losses, there likely wouldn’t be another assassination attempt for a while.

Even food would now be prepared by the imperial palace.

As I listened, my tension faded, and I eventually drifted off to sleep without realizing it.

When I woke up, the Emperor had returned.

He looked anxious as he said,

“I really have to go now. I have a lot of pending work.”

Fine. Go already.

I stayed silent, my expression annoyed. The Emperor sighed at my cold look.

“I’ve been thinking… how can I regain your trust after everything that’s happened?”

I had no intention of opening my heart to him, so I stared at him indifferently.

“Everyone except Knight Joshua and Knight Davin, leave.”

At his sudden order, the people in the room looked startled, then quickly left like a receding tide.

“Knight Joshua, the ring.”

At the Emperor’s command, Joshua widened his eyes in shock, then removed the ring from his left hand and placed it in the Emperor’s palm.

Wait… don’t tell me…

I suddenly remembered what that ring was in the original story and stiffened.

Then the Emperor removed a thin bracelet from his wrist and placed it together with the ring in front of me.

“I’ll give this to you, Anise.”

I blinked in disbelief.

It was an artifact that the Emperor wore in the original story—one that allowed the instant summoning of his guardian knight, no matter how far away they were.

In the novel’s ending, Davin had been fatally wounded because he didn’t know about this artifact. He was suddenly teleported behind a Sword Master and caught off guard.

The knight’s ring and the Emperor’s bracelet were a matched set. Pulling the gem on the bracelet would teleport the ring wearer directly to the Emperor.

The Emperor, noticing my reaction, sighed.

“So you know what this is. Did the Dowager Empress tell you?”

“Ah…”

I couldn’t answer.

The Emperor placed the bracelet and ring into my hands.

“There are more artifacts you might need. One that blocks all attacks was used up during yesterday’s battle. It will be recharged and sent from the palace. For now, take this.”

I had no intention of viewing the Emperor favorably, but the artifact was too valuable, so I hurriedly accepted it.

Feeling the metallic weight in my hands, my heart pounded.

If I have this… Davin might not die.

It was an unexpected windfall.