IMLM 24

Chapter : 24

That evening, at the Amelio County estate.

As he had written in his letter, Enoch arrived leading the knights who had traveled with him to the Kingdom of Allen.

It was his first visit in four whole years since leaving the Amelio estate.

“It’s been a while.”

Enoch smiled brightly at Gilbert.

Gilbert, who had briefly panicked because of Loreina’s sudden departure, soon regained his composure and welcomed the guests with the seasoned skill befitting an old butler.

“It has been a long time, Sir Enoch.”

Gilbert assigned appropriate rooms to Enoch and his knights, and served them a meal, knowing they must be exhausted from their long journey.

I have to do well.

The current situation was practically no different from Loreina having left the manor in Gilbert’s hands.

So no matter what happened, he had to perform better than usual.

So as not to tarnish Loreina’s reputation.

But when Enoch asked about Loreina’s whereabouts, Gilbert couldn’t help showing his discomposure.

Enoch, upon hearing where Loreina had gone, was equally shaken.

He widened his eyes at the unexpected news.

The green eyes that had curved gently while he asked about Loreina now wavered without direction.

“What did you just say…?”

His voice faded away into the air before he could finish.

But from that alone Gilbert could tell exactly what Enoch was feeling.

No—he would have known even if Enoch hadn’t spoken at all.

He had felt the same way when Loreina suddenly announced she was leaving for the Imperial Palace.

“The young lady departed for the Imperial Palace this morning.”

“……”

“…Together with His Majesty the Emperor.”

After stealing a glance at Enoch’s face, Gilbert quietly added the words. Tens of thousands of thoughts flickered through his mind in that passing second.

To mention the new Emperor in front of someone who had been abruptly stripped of his position as Crown Prince.

Of course, it wasn’t that Gilbert feared Enoch would get angry—if anything, the opposite.

Is he all right?

The unspoken question swirled inside his mouth.

He had been thinking that ever since hearing this morning that the man who appeared at the house was the new Emperor.

After all, Enoch, who had lived under the same roof for half a year, naturally felt more familiar than a stranger seen for the first time.

But Enoch was not concerned about the part Gilbert worried over.

From the start, the news of a succession to the throne did not surprise him at all.

His father, who kept track of his movements, had informed him days earlier.

…She went to the Imperial Palace?

Loreina, of all people?

For the past four years, no matter how desperately he begged by letter, Loreina had never once come up to the capital.

She had given plenty of reasons—too busy, unwell—but it had been obvious.

Loreina had no desire to go to the capital.

Yet that same Loreina followed a complete stranger to the Imperial Palace?

“…Did she not say anything?”

“She left so hurriedly she didn’t even have time to speak to me. She barely managed to pack a trunk, my lord.”

At Gilbert’s answer, Enoch reached a conclusion.

Loreina had clearly been taken somewhere she did not wish to go.

What situation could force her to leave without packing properly?

And no matter how he thought about it, there was no reason the Emperor would take Loreina with him.

If she left this morning, he must have come almost immediately after the throne changed hands.

There was only one reason to rush all the way down to the distant Amelio lands.

In case Enoch rebelled against the succession, the Emperor was holding Loreina as a hostage.

Father must have offered no resistance, so they lacked a justification to detain him.

So they chose Loreina instead.

Anyone investigating even a little would know what Loreina meant to him.

It was far too drastic an action to claim he merely brought a fellow non-human species along.

No sane Emperor would fly across the kingdom immediately after his coronation for that reason.

Loreina went to the palace because of him.

…I made a mistake.

This was his error, pure and simple.

He failed to consider what effect his letters might have on her.

Or rather—perhaps he had known, and simply ignored it.

Because he loved sharing his daily life with her so much.

“Why would His Majesty take the young lady? What if something goes wrong…?”

Watching Enoch’s face darken more and more, Gilbert asked hesitantly.

That worried expression made Enoch unable to lift his head.

“…Do not worry.”

Thinking that no words could be more useless than this, Enoch quickly stood.

There was no time to sit here.

“No matter what it takes, I will bring her back.”

Without fail—absolutely.

The carriage traveled for quite a long time. Having failed to sleep earlier, I dozed off, and woke up to find myself somewhere unfamiliar.

Well, any road leading to the capital would be unfamiliar anyway.

The farthest I had gone since possessing this body had been the Crusia Festival.

Even at the Imperial Palace I won’t be able to move without Leonard, so I should take in as much scenery as I can now.

I poked my head toward the window, and a gust of cold wind rushed in.

Startled by the chill I hadn’t felt in years, I quickly closed the window.

Cold was the one thing I despised most. I had suffered enough from it in my previous life.

So the Amelio territory really is warm, just as they say.

I was thinking that I should start dressing more warmly when the sky caught my eye—it had grown noticeably darker.

At this rate, we would probably have to camp.

“Your Majesty, shouldn’t we start looking for an inn soon?”

“……”

“Your Majesty?”

Why no answer? Curious, I turned my head and saw Gerald pressing a finger to his lips.

Leonard lay with eyes closed, breathing evenly.

“…He hasn’t been able to sleep at all these past few days.”

“Ah…”

“We’ll find the inn, so please watch over His Majesty for a moment.”

“Yes. Please go ahead.”

I whispered softly to match his quiet tone, and Gerald gave a small laugh before climbing down from the carriage.

Even then Leonard never opened his eyes. He must be truly exhausted.

And he still came all the way down to Amelio on top of that.

I watched him sleep peacefully—until suddenly he furrowed his brows.

He crossed his arms and shivered faintly.

“…Is he cold?”

Of course he is—why wear something so thin? How bothersome.

…This won’t do. I should ask someone to fetch the blankets I brought.

There were plenty of knights, so Mary probably hadn’t gone with them to look for an inn.

She would be nearby—

“Mary!”

I swung the carriage door open without thinking and stepped outside.

The moment I lifted my head, I locked eyes with a man. His pupils were unfocused—the man was clearly drunk.

But I didn’t need to look closely to know he was staring straight at me.

With a distinctly unpleasant glint in his eyes.

“…Excuse me.”

So please go about your business. I’ll just get back inside.

I smiled as harmlessly as possible and took a small step back. We were strangers—he wouldn’t care.

Just as I was about to slip back in, the man spoke.

“…Aren’t you Lady Amelio?”

I flinched at the sound of my name from his mouth.

He curled his lips smugly.

“So you are. Loreina Amelio.”

His eyes gleamed with a twisted delight.

How does he know me?

As I wondered that, he spoke again as if reading my mind.

Meanwhile his body swayed drunkenly.

“First time I’ve seen you since Baron Hentison’s. You were pretty then too, but now you’re even prettier.”

Ah, so he’d seen me at Diana’s party. Even if he hadn’t, my hair alone would have given it away.

But no matter how I looked, I had never seen this man before.

If he had spoken even once to me, there’s no way I’d forget.

So we didn’t know each other—not personally.

Maybe he knew the original Loreina before I possessed her…

But even so—it’s been six years without contact. That makes us strangers.

If he had been important, Mary or Gilbert would have warned me. So this wasn’t worth caring about.

I gave a small nod and turned to go back inside.

But the next moment, the man grabbed my wrist roughly.

“Damn it. Why won’t you go on a single date with me?”

“….”

“Why won’t you answer my letters? I sent so many! You should meet me at least once!”

At that I lowered the foot I had lifted—ready to kick between his legs.

A man who had sent firewood—no, letters—to the Amelio estate?

All the ones who wrote to me were high-ranking nobles.

If I’d been alone, I wouldn’t have cared and would’ve kicked him already. But I was on my way to help Leonard at the palace.

If something happened and I ended up barred from Leonard’s side…

The thought alone made my vision dim.

Right. I should endure—for Leonard’s sake…

“I felt sorry for you, all alone with no family, so I thought I’d look after you. Why act so high and mighty?”

“….”

“Well, you don’t even have a fiancé at your age, so I get it now. You were embarrassed, weren’t you? I understand. Then how about if I secretly take care of—”

…No. Absolutely not. I cannot just swallow this.

I took a deep breath and spoke, slowly and clearly so he wouldn’t miss a syllable.

“I’m not engaged yet because I don’t want to meet someone like you.”

“…What?”

“Have you ever spoken to me even once? And you think you can confess out of nowhere and I’m obliged to date you? What law says that?”

Saying it aloud, I felt even more incredulous. I leaned slightly toward him.

“Even if there were such a law, I would never meet you.”

At my low whisper, the man trembled with rage and raised his hand.

“You—!”

Smack. A sharp crack rang across the wide road.

His strike hit my cheek. My right cheek burned as if seared.

A fingernail must have scratched me—there was a sting of blood.

…How perfectly predictable.

And he even struck the most visible spot. I subtly scanned the area.

A girl with brown hair at the house with the blue roof. A man with navy hair at the crossroads…

Perfect. Five witnesses.

At this rate, if he complained later, I’d be fine.

“Let’s get one thing straight.”

“What…?”

“You attacked me first.”

Before he could ask what that meant, I kicked exactly where I’d planned, with all my strength.

“Guh—!”

His eyes bulged, then he let out a pained groan and collapsed unconscious.

Judging from his expression, my attack landed beautifully.

“Serves you right.”

Really nothing to it. I grinned down at him triumphantly.

My cheek throbbed, but I felt rather refreshed.

Until a voice suddenly sounded behind me.

“What ‘serves you right’?”

“Ah—! You scared me!”

I turned to see Leonard poking his head out of the carriage, eyes hazy with sleep.

My heart pounded wildly and I clutched my chest.

I nearly died of fright.

“Why are you so jumpy? What did you do wrong?”

“W-well…”

Instead of pointing to the man sprawled behind me, I simply smiled and turned around.

Shocking things always feel easier to face after a moment to brace oneself.

“Actually, something happened—”

Just as I began speaking, calmly and with a smile, a cold voice cut through the air.

“…Who is that?”

Only then did I realize Leonard had a perfect, unobstructed view of my cheek.

Ah, damn.