TESL 21

Chapter 21

I was running until I was completely out of breath.

It had been a long time since I took this shortcut. The last time I ran through here was three years ago, on that day when I stormed into the palace and declared, in a fit of determination, that I was done with my unrequited love for Rubellus.

I never thought I’d have to come to the palace again, but in the meantime, I had been there twice already.

I gripped the hem of my skirt tightly and started running up the stairs in a flurry.

If I went up through this narrow alley and the steps, I would reach the left side of the palace’s outer wall, bypassing the main road of the capital. And there, there was a tiny little hole.

Still, it might have been blocked. The palace walls were heavily guarded.

Back when Rubellus had been the crown prince, out of the fifty or so holes he had shown me, about eighty percent had already been sealed off.

I looked around, then ran my hands along the wall, tapping my feet to find the hole. If my memory was correct, it looked like part of the wall, but it would crumble easily… here it is.

“Everything’s gone… seriously.”

I kicked it hard a few times. Soon enough, the area around the hole crumbled, revealing the gap. I bent down quickly and stepped inside.

Once through the hole, I could run with my eyes closed. It led straight into the Great Eastern Forest.

I dashed through the thick foliage. On the eastern side of the palace, there was a corridor used by the maids. Using that passage, I could reach the corridor in front of the audience chamber on the second floor in no time.

I moved carefully, making sure not to bump into anyone. If I ran into a patrolling royal guard, it would be a disaster.

“Not a working maid, I take it? Who are you?”

“….”

No, wait.

I looked at the young knight standing right in front of me.

Why did he have to be here, staring straight at me? Normally, there wouldn’t have been anyone here in this corridor… and he wasn’t even a palace guard. Why the…?

Should I run…?

Just then, the knight suddenly acknowledged me with an “Ah.”

“Could it be… Lady Wildenbiston?”

“…?”

What… what should I say?

But how did he recognize me? Had I unknowingly plastered my name “Wildenbiston” on my face?

My eyes shifted to the large, elegant mirror at the end of the corridor.

“Wow… who is that?”

Looking at myself in the mirror, I felt like I might faint on the spot. I looked like an absolute mess. My hair was a complete disaster, drenched in sweat, and the dress I wore was just casual indoor wear, with nothing fancy—just a tiny ribbon at the chest.

I was shocked by my own reflection. Had I not recognized myself, I might have kicked the mirror in frustration.

At that moment, the knight pulled out a sheet of paper from his coat and looked at me.

Ah… a portrait… wait, a portrait?

Why did the knights have a portrait of me? I’m not a wanted criminal… wait, could this actually be a wanted notice?

I froze where I stood.

The knight nodded once, then spoke again, looking straight at me:

“Lady Wildenbiston, identity confirmed. His Majesty is currently in the audience chamber. When His Majesty sees Lady Wildenbiston, he will certainly…”

What… what is this?

I stepped back hesitantly.

‘“He will certainly…”’ Whatever followed that was predictable.

I imagined Rubellus, legs crossed, distributing portraits of my face to the knights, giving them instructions.

Then in my mind, Rubellus tilted his elegant, sharp jaw at nearly a fifty-degree angle, striking a beautiful angle, and commanded:

—She is a madwoman trying to harm me. Make sure to capture her and lock her in the dungeon.

“AAAAAH!”

Thinking of that, I gripped my skirt with both hands and screamed.

No! Absolutely not! I crawled all the way here—there’s no way I’m being locked up!

Rationally speaking, of course, detaining me would make sense. That’s true. But thankfully, I didn’t have a single rational thought in me right now!

The only thing filling my mind was the thought that I had to find that cursed Rubellus immediately.

“L-Lady Wildenbiston?”

I suddenly shouted, and the startled knight faltered. I slowly bent my knees in a low stance.

Sergeant Elphine Wildenbiston, who had taught me self-defense, had once said: to break through an opponent, always aim for the unexpected opening on the lower right side.

I don’t know why, but it was definitely the lower right side.

I lowered myself like an enraged bull, and the knight, flustered, opened his mouth to try to calm me.

“Lady Wildenbiston, I—”

“Move!”

I charged at the knight. “Hey, hey!” The knight scrambled to dodge.

As his eyes went wide, before his trained reflexes could recover, I had to get out of there quickly.

Even if I got dragged out, I would still say everything I wanted to say!

“Lady Wildenbiston! Wait, stop right there—”

“Move!”

I sprinted madly, not looking back at all, turning the corner.

Right in front of me, I saw the grand double doors engraved with the royal emblem. The guards standing there gaped in shock as I barreled toward them.

“Ladyee—!”

“Move!”

At that moment, their movements seemed to slow in slow motion. Their panicked hands reached out toward me.

I ducked, avoided them, and kicked the door open with a sideways kick, stepping in with force.

Ah.

There he was. Rubellus.

Right in the center of the sunlit, spacious audience chamber.

Rubellus sat on the throne, propping his chin on his hand. Even in this large room, all I could see was his face.

What a picturesque sight. In the past, I would have flusteredly called an artist to capture it… yesterday, I might have even fussed over remembering it visually.

But not now. Not today.

“Your Majesty!”

I shouted as if coughing up blood, bursting through the open door.

Rubellus’s head snapped up. He recognized me immediately, and his face was painted with shock.

“Ahira…”

He seemed about to speak, but I didn’t care. Clenching both fists, I yelled at the top of my lungs:

“This is really too much! You call me your fiancée?! Your fiancée?! And you show up with the knights and say that in front of everyone—what about me? When did I ever become betrothed to you?! That’s way too much of a joke!”

“…Wait a moment.”

I saw Rubellus rise from the throne, appearing flustered.

For the first time, I felt a twisted sense of satisfaction rise within me.

Yes. After dragging myself here looking like a mess, seeing His Majesty flustered felt incredibly rewarding!

I clenched my fists again as Rubellus approached.

“I’ve liked you for twelve years and followed you everywhere. I understand that it must have been troublesome for you! But still… I never imagined you’d go this far! What about my reputation? What about Shoden Youngsik, who was with me? How could you call me your fiancée there?! Did you hate me so much that you’d cause such a mess?!”

“Wait, Ahira.”

“My words aren’t finished yet… ugh!”

I stumbled backward, shocked by the uniform suddenly before me.

The emperor himself. Rubellus had approached me without me noticing. How… how did he get this close?!

Just as I tried to step back, His Majesty raised his hand and spread the cape he was wearing.

I standing at the doorway was completely hidden by it.

“Wh-what is this?”

“I’m protecting your honor. There are many people in here. Did you see them?”

Rubellus’s purple eyes glowed gently as he smiled. Smiled? Wait… people?

I cautiously moved a half step closer and peeked past the edge of his cape.

“Whoa.”

I gasped in shock.

The audience chamber was full of people.

There was Count Tohan, my father’s close friend. Next to him was Duke William. And… my father. He couldn’t hide his astonishment.

There was also Viscount Salenne, looking anxious and sweating. Oh, the viscount too… this is really dangerous.

For someone timid like him, the famous gossiping socialite Lady Viscountess Salenne wouldn’t listen even if he tried to stop her. She would only provide material for gossip, as was well known.

Seeing everyone cleared my mind like rain washing away mud.

They had apparently been holding morning assembly in the audience chamber. Everyone looked bewildered and unsure of what to do.

“….”

Seeing their faces, my lips went dry.

There was only one thought running through my mind. As always, I thought the same thing in situations like this, but today it felt utterly desperate.

This… this is a disaster, isn’t it?

I looked up at His Majesty with a sullen expression. Rubellus was smiling gently.

“Lady Wildenbiston, we should move to another place.”

With that, His Majesty nodded to the knights behind me.

“Please move to another location.”

“….”

Ah… this time, it really seems like I’m doomed.

I squeezed my eyes shut tightly.