ESMLT 09

Chapter 9

The sound of a small animal—perhaps a squirrel or chipmunk—rustled through the leaves.

The wind, the crackle of embers.

And, melted into the primal sounds of nature, the soft breathing of a woman.

Lihad, who had been listening with his eyes closed, slowly opened them.

Next to him, Redria was fast asleep, unaware of his lingering gaze.

I get it, I get it! I’ll die with you. So…

He recalled the blazing red eyes, hot as flames, peering at him from beyond strands of silver hair that had fallen across his face.

A sudden pang pierced his chest, and he rubbed the spot with a grimace.

It was uncomfortable, but not unpleasant.

After calming himself, he withdrew his hand from his chest and turned his gaze back to Redria.

“We don’t have any information about this situation. For now, we’ll just have to watch and wait.”

Saving her once didn’t mean he could lower his guard. Just because she wasn’t baring her fangs now didn’t guarantee she never would.

As he watched the sleeping Redria for a long while, a memory surfaced.

If you’re going to keep spouting nonsense, I’ll just go to sleep. Your Highness can do whatever you want.

Tilting his head, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“…Is it that my face isn’t to her liking?”

He had meant it when he suggested marriage.

The temple’s overwhelming influence.

The imperial family, losing the people’s trust because of a debauched and incompetent emperor.

Perhaps that was why the faction supporting him desired his marriage to the Saintess.

He could only delay so many times—once he returned, excuses would no longer work.

If he could marry here before the unavoidable marriage talks began back home, that would be best.

“Mmm…”

Just then, Redria curled up, clutching her arms.

Lihad carefully draped his jacket over her.

“Sleep well, my lady.”

Between the crackling sparks of the fire, his quiet voice rang out.

…I’m so thirsty.

Parched as if her throat were burning, she opened her eyes.

Dawn’s bluish light spread across the sky.

At some point, the once-roaring campfire had gone out. The Crown Prince was nowhere in sight.

Where did he go?

The fire had long since died, the ashes cold. It had been quite some time since he left.

I told him to wake me up…

Maybe his conscience pricked him, because she sensed a tinge of guilt.

Sighing, she decided to drink some water and then look for the prince. She rummaged through her pack for her canteen.

She headed toward the pond, planning to wash her face as well, when—

Whoosh!

The cold edge of a blade pressed against her neck.

“Why are you here?”

The chilling voice froze her spine.

She raised her hands and slowly straightened her back.

Turning her head, the blade grazed her nape, stinging slightly.

Once it pulled back just enough, she dared to look at the man holding it.

“…Duke Muehen.”

It was Jaeger Muehen, another male lead trapped within the zombie zone.

At her words, Jaeger’s expression twisted in displeasure.

Can’t blame him.

After all, the scar across his eyebrow was Redria’s doing.

When the Saintess passed away, a successor was always chosen to protect the Empire.

Yet, unusually, two provisional Saintesses had appeared.

Redria, daughter of a count’s family.

Roeni, the commoner heroine.

Roeni’s holy power had manifested belatedly, so she was temporarily entrusted to the powerful Muehen dukedom.

The two girls lived and studied together at the temple, with Jaeger as their companion. Naturally, the three became close friends.

But one day, Redria began losing her holy power—and started tormenting Roeni.

Even then, Roeni endured the one-sided bullying, believing it merely her friend’s waywardness.

But then came the incident that shattered everything: Redria sent assassins to kill Roeni.

By chance, Jaeger had gone to see Roeni and ended up saving her, though he was scarred across his eyebrow in the process.

Redria denied it, and with insufficient evidence she was released, but the assassins’ confession made her guilt undeniable.

Soon after, as if fated, Redria lost her holy power completely, was disgraced, and stripped of her Saintess title.

That was the turning point. From then on, Jaeger completely abandoned her.

“To harm a friend… unforgivable.”

“Please, don’t. Ria is our friend.”

“Redria never once truly cherished us.”

Perhaps that was why she found Jaeger even harder to face than the Crown Prince.

After all, rebuilding trust was far more difficult than building it the first time.

Gulping as the blade glinted under her chin, she swallowed hard.

“Your Grace, can we lower that weapon before talking?”

“Answer me first. Why are you here? And where is the Saintess?”

Her eyes widened.

Wait… does he still…

Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, the icy edge of a spear pressed under Jaeger’s jaw.

Following the weapon, she saw the Crown Prince, grinning crookedly.

“A man threatening a woman—how shameful.”

Jaeger frowned at the sight of him.

“…Your Highness.”

“What? Am I not allowed here? Should I apologize for interrupting your little moment together?”

His tone was mocking, but his eyes were murderous.

Sure enough, the playful curve of his lips slowly straightened.

“Put down your sword.”

“Tch.”

Jaeger let out a sharp laugh, then lowered his blade.

Only then did the prince pull back his spear.

Those cold, chiseled gray eyes then turned on her.

“Whatever you told His Highness, I won’t be deceived by your words.”

“What do you mean?”

“I saw you when the disaster struck. You acted without a shred of confusion.”

Her heart dropped.

Even the prince’s eyes widened at that.

So he really was watching me all along… damn it.

Jaeger’s eyes narrowed as he bit his lip.

“You. Are you involved in this incident?”

“And what exactly do you expect me to say?”

“Stop playing games. Answer properly. Your fate depends on it.”

Ha. A short, incredulous laugh escaped her.

“In this situation, where each of us barely holds onto a single life, who has the right to judge anyone? Especially you, Your Grace—without even grasping the true nature of this disaster, do you really think you’re in any position to condemn me?”

His brow furrowed.

“I do know there was an earthquake. The land split, lives were lost.”

She let out a hollow laugh.

Not mocking, but half in envy, half in disbelief at how little he understood the reality.

“You still don’t get it, do you?”

The Crown Prince shook his head with a sigh.

Jaeger’s steely gray gaze flicked between the two of them, suspicion dawning in his expression.

“When did you wake up?”

“Last night. I came to, and I was in the forest.”

She knew from the original story that Jaeger awakened in the northern sacred forest. That was why she’d suggested staying in the forest under the guise of resting—to draw him here.

Though usually cautious, he lost all restraint when it came to matters concerning the Saintess. He had scoured the entire forest the moment he awoke.

No doubt, that was how he’d run into them now.

“Duke Jaeger, I know it’s hard to believe, but listen to me carefully. We…”

By the time she finished explaining everything, Jaeger’s expression was so grim she couldn’t dare to speak further.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll confirm the truth with my own eyes.”

“And after that?”

“I’ll return to the Empire, to see with my own eyes that the Saintess is safe.”

“And do you think you can get out of here alone? We’ll have to work together if we want to escape.”

Jaeger suddenly stopped walking. She, following behind, froze as his icy gaze cut back toward her.

“Work together? With you? What part of you am I supposed to trust?”

There he goes again.

Even after she’d shown him the Warp Scroll, this was his attitude.

His eyes narrowed, filled with derision.

“Besides, would you even be of any use? At best, you’d just be another mouth to feed.”

This man…!

Planting her hands on her hips, she glared at him defiantly.