SRVB 11

Chapter 11

“……Whaaa!?”

No matter how many times he looked, the black spot that had clearly been sitting above his eyebrow was completely gone.

“I don’t know if it’s my eyes or the glass, but it seems the curse is gone.”

“It’s gone, alright.”

“R-really? Did Your Majesty remove Nox’s curse?”

“It wasn’t me. It was the painting.”

Maximus stared at the painting that had turned pitch black.

Even after Raphael’s explanation, he couldn’t comprehend it. The painting eliminated Nox’s curse? How? By what principle?

“Did the painting… absorb Nox?”

“More precisely, it annihilated it. Enough questions. From now on, you’ll be her protector.”

The sudden influx of information left Maximus feeling dizzy.

One thing was clear: even the person who painted it, Strawberry, didn’t seem to know that her painting had the ability to cure Nox.

Even though this could turn the entire empire upside down, she seemed completely unaware of her own value.

“As far as I know, she doesn’t realize it herself.”

“Exactly. When the time comes, it will be revealed, but for now, keep it a secret from her as well.”

Only then did Maximus understand why Raphael had paid a thousand gold for an unfinished painting and why he had searched through small rural villages not even marked on maps to find Lilia.

The ability to cure a deadly disease was a miracle that could change the world.

If this information leaked, she would become a target everywhere.

It would be too much for a woman who had lived in the mountains to handle.

Maximus knelt on one knee and swore.

“I will protect her, even if it costs my life.”

It was no empty promise. As a knight, it was his duty not only to carry out his lord’s orders with utmost effort but also to protect the savior of lives.

Where Maximus had been, a heavy silence settled.

Everyone must have been worried about him after Nox had afflicted him.

Like the other knights, I wasn’t at ease either.

“Hey, why the long faces? Don’t make the mood gloomy—smile a little.”

I raised my head sharply and saw Maximus laughing heartily, waving one hand.

Is this really a situation to laugh in?!

Riven jumped up from her seat and strode over to Maximus.

“Sir Maximus! Are you really laughing now?”

Riven voiced what we were all thinking.

“It’s a funny situation, so I should laugh. You came close anyway. Look at this.”

Maximus lightly tapped near his eyebrow with his fingertip. Riven’s eyes widened.

“Nox…!”

“Nox, what? It was just some charcoal-like stain. I rubbed it off and it disappeared.”

“I already tried rubbing it myself.”

“You should have used some saliva and rubbed it well.”

Phew. That was a relief.

I exhaled without realizing it.

With long, measured footsteps, Maximus approached me.

“Lady Bridge.”

And suddenly, he looked at me with an intense gaze, as if smeared with butter.

Moreover, it wasn’t Strawberry’s casual way of speaking; it was deliberate.

“W-what?”

“From now on, I will be your protector, Lady Bridge. I will guard you with my life.”

W-what? Just like that?

Had he eaten something strange to suddenly behave this way?

His behavior, so out of character, gave me goosebumps.

Not only I, but the other knights also gaped in surprise.

Some even twirled a finger near their temples, as if to signal he had lost his mind.

I took a cautious step back, narrowing my eyes.

“What’s with you?”

“Do not refuse. We must be closer than anyone else from now on.”

“Don’t say things that could be misunderstood!”

“It’s not a misunderstanding. I will protect you day and night.”

No, that will definitely be misunderstood!

“Why on earth are you protecting me?!”

Maximus tilted his head slightly. His mouth was closed, but it seemed to silently say, Well, that’s true…, which only made me more bewildered.

If he didn’t even know why he was protecting me, how was I supposed to respond?

After a brief pause, he finally spoke.

“Your Majesty ordered me to protect you with my life. Lady Bridge, you will… draw a lot of paintings for His Majesty in the future!”

Ah, right.

I was being pulled along because of the painting.

Judging by the fact that he even assigned a personal guard, Raphael must have considered me some kind of prized talent.

Right.

I remembered the problem I had momentarily forgotten because of Nox.

I still couldn’t draw!

I’m screwed.

As I rubbed my head in frustration, a large hand was suddenly extended in front of me.

“Get in the carriage. I will assist you.”

Maximus becoming my bodyguard was probably Raphael’s decision.

If I wanted to overturn it, I’d have to see Raphael—and there was no way I wanted that.

Then I had to deal with Maximus’s tone.

If I left it as it was, the goosebumps would take over, and I’d crow like a rooster!

“Ugh, it’s creepy! Just call me by my usual name!”

Other knights nodded up and down, seemingly agreeing.

Maximus, who had been wearing that intense expression, smiled broadly as if he had been expecting it.

“Is that easier for you? Then I’ll keep calling you Strawberry!”

He switched gears quickly.

But unlike his speech, his actions remained polite, escorting me into the carriage.

My first ever escort in life… and it’s just getting into a carriage.

Life really is unpredictable.

And this chapter of my life would end as soon as we reached the capital.

Naturally, I didn’t intend to let it end like that.

Let’s run away!

Unfortunately, I couldn’t return to Potato Paradise.

Raphael knew exactly where I was, enough to find me there.

If I returned, he might come after me—and the villagers could get caught in the crossfire.

I should be in another town or city, but I don’t know the geography… where should I even go…

Maybe there’s a hint. I went through the original story in my head, and suddenly an idea struck me.

Exile.

Celestine, who had had her mental state crushed, had tried desperately to find a way to escape the empire.

The method she discovered was to seek asylum in a neighboring country, Alpha.

The problem was that immigration was strict, and they demanded a high settlement fee upfront.

Alpha, like the empire, was a class-based society but valued talent highly.

Celestine’s painting skills allowed her to pass the immigration inspection easily.

Of course, as for me…

I’m confident in my cooking!

I tested my cooking on the neighbors to gauge their reaction, and it was well received.

Immigration wasn’t an issue; what remained was the settlement fee for exile—money, and a lot of it.

After several days of travel, we arrived at Raphael’s mansion in the capital.

In the meantime, no further incidents with Nox occurred.

I even thought about trying to escape before reaching the capital, but I couldn’t even attempt it with Maximus guarding me so closely.

Raphael’s mansion, where I was dragged like a captive, was enormous, as if flaunting his wealth.

While I was admiring it, Raphael himself disappeared somewhere immediately upon arrival.

Instead, he sent a maid, effectively doubling the surveillance. Damn!

“Nice to meet you. I am Hena, the maid who will serve Lady Bridge. I will first guide you to your studio.”

Usually, the first thing shown would be the living quarters, right?

At the House of Duke Recongias, they bypassed the guest room and went straight to the studio.

It was practically forcing me to start my new works immediately.

“This is Lady Bridge’s studio.”

Wow!

Upon entering, I was stunned by the massive size and the extravagantly decorated interior.

The room was as vast as a soccer field.

Through the large, open windows, a garden bursting with flowers stretched out like a painting, almost deceiving me into thinking it was a landscape painting on the wall.

A vase holding blooming roses sparkled as if adorned with gold and jewels, and every piece of furniture in the room bore the touch of a master craftsman.

Maximus followed behind, whistling in admiration.

“Whiiish! See? I told you, life’s comfortable now, didn’t I?”