THJDM 22

chapter 22

Miranda was always the same, no matter how many times she was warned that a lack of patience would ruin things.

The Empress spent each day consumed by worry and anxiety, with the bad habit of imagining the worst possible scenarios.

She wasn’t exactly the kind of person suited to plotting grand schemes, but there was no helping it.

Miranda was the Empress of the Hasmik Empire, the mother of the Crown Prince, and a staunch supporter of her father, Duke Miren.

Florencia exerted her patience, trying her best to endure Miranda’s quivering voice.

“Every time monsters appear, isn’t the Royal Knights Order taking care of them? Especially that Duke Klitzman! I’ve heard that the elite unit under his command is performing remarkably. I’m worried that the Crown Prince might not even get a chance to step in.”

Miranda’s expression twisted harshly as she mentioned ‘Duke Klitzman.’

Knowing well of Miranda’s vigilance, hatred, and fear toward Elion, Florencia spoke even more gently, trying to reassure her.

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. No matter how many monsters are cut down, the Duke will not be able to solve this problem.”

“Really? It has to be that way.”

“Yes. Only His Highness, the Crown Prince, can resolve this and earn the praise of the entire nation.”

“……”

“But now is not the time. Please be patient a little longer until the fruits are fully ripe.”

“I understand. I will trust the Saint and Duke Miren and wait a little more.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Only then did the storm of fear in Miranda’s eyes finally calm.

“Is that really okay, Rubiana? Are you sure you can manage alone? Maybe I should’ve brought Sophie too.”

“Yes. I just wanted to visit the bookstore after a long time and look at some books. You know, browsing books is best done alone. I’ll be back in time for dinner.”

“Alright. Be careful then.”

Virginia couldn’t shake the worried expression from her face even as she climbed into the carriage.

“Take care, Mother.”

At last, when Rubiana smiled brightly and waved at Virginia, she finally returned the gesture with a smile.

After waving until the carriage disappeared from sight, Rubiana turned toward the bookstore.

There were few better ways to kill time than browsing books in a bookstore.

“Oh, there it is!”

Excitedly, Rubiana walked toward the bookstore.

But just as she was about to open the door…

“Ah… ugh!”

Suddenly, her stomach churned violently.

The familiar sensation made Rubiana panic.

‘Why is this happening all of a sudden? I even received magical power yesterday!’

Frustrated, tears welled up in her eyes.

But there was no time to cry.

She had far too much to do today.

‘I can’t cry, but I can’t collapse either!’

Clenching her teeth, Rubiana clicked her communication stone twice.

She prayed fervently that Elion wasn’t busy, that he would answer immediately, and that he would rush to her side quickly.

Elion, hiding behind a tree, slowly counted the monsters creeping through the barrier.

“Forty-five, forty-six, forty-seven…”

He intended to count only up to 100 while waiting for his subordinates.

He feared that if he faced the monsters alone and overused his magic, he might end up pushing Rubiana too hard again, like yesterday.

One mistake was understandable, but he considered doing it a second time utterly foolish.

“Seventy, seventy-one, seventy-two…”

However, he could only wait exactly 100 seconds.

Anything longer was unacceptable. The safety of the citizens came first.

“Oh, Captain! You’re waiting for us today?”

Fortunately, before the 100 seconds were up, his subordinates began to arrive one by one.

Elion immediately drew his sword and shouted as he ran forward.

“Hurry and get over here!”

“Yes, sir!”

Leaping into the air as if flying, Elion began swinging his sword mercilessly.

The moment the blade, imbued with magic, touched a monster, it was cut in half.

In the blink of an eye, the monster’s pieces formed a small heap, and its blood created a puddle.

Within five minutes, he defeated all thirty monsters that appeared in the area.

But unlike usual, his team’s expressions were grim.

“This is already our third dispatch today. Other units are facing the same situation.”

“The monsters are appearing more frequently.”

Elion responded in a low voice to their worried complaints.

“Hold on a little longer. Soon, the High Temple will reinforce the barrier.”

“The High Temple still hasn’t identified all the problems. Can we trust it as it is? Shouldn’t we consider other options?”

“….”

Fred’s observation struck directly at Elion’s inner thoughts, and one of Elion’s eyebrows shot up like a mountain.

“…For now, let’s trust it. We’ll stop by the High Temple on our way back.”

“Yes… Your Highness? The communication stone is flashing.”

Fred was right.

The purple communication stone on Elion’s wrist was blinking.

Separating from the group, Elion pressed the stone.

“Miss, what’s wrong?”

-“Ah… Your Highness….”

Hearing Rubiana’s groaning through the stone, Elion’s face contorted.

His heart thudded heavily in his chest.

“Miss, are you alright?”

-“Ugh… No, I’m not. Your Highness… Haah… Can you come now? I feel… like I might collapse. Ugh…”

He didn’t need to hear more.

He had to reach Rubiana immediately.

Elion pressed his magic stone firmly.

Rubiana leaned against the wall of a building, clutching her stomach.

Her insides felt like they were burning and twisting.

Exhausted, she sank to the ground.

At that moment, a purple magical circle appeared in front of her, gradually forming a silhouette.

“Ugh!”

Blinded by the light, she closed her eyes tightly, then opened them to see Elion standing there.

“…Your Highness?”

“Miss!”

Elion’s eyes widened at Rubiana’s worse-than-expected state.

Had their senses somehow connected after exchanging magical energy?

The twisting pain in her stomach made Elion grit his teeth.

He immediately lifted her into his arms.

Her small, delicate body fit perfectly against him.

Magic naturally flowed between them.

‘Ah… I feel like I can survive now.’

Rubiana wrapped her arms around Elion’s neck.

Her previously furrowed brows slowly began to relax.

“Ugh… Thank you for coming, Your Highness… Ah…”

“You can thank me later.”

“…Yes.”

Rubiana bit her lower lip, trying to suppress her groans.

Elion looked around for a place where she could rest comfortably.

Panicked, he spotted a large hotel ahead.

It was the recently opened, modern Scoby Hotel.

Elion ran toward it without hesitation.

A strong man running at full speed with a woman in his arms drew everyone’s attention.

Moreover, his striking features only intensified the focus on him.

Elion ignored all the stares, running relentlessly.

Finally inside the hotel, he spoke in a terrifying voice to the staff.

“I am Elion Klitzman.”

“Elion Klitzman… Ah… Your Grace, Duke, welcome.”

The perceptive staff immediately guided him to a room, seeing his urgency.

“This way, Your Highness.”

Elion followed briskly.

Crossing the central lobby, they reached the staircase.

The staff, chest out and proud, explained,

“This is a staircase, but you don’t need to walk. If you stand still, it moves automatically to the next floor. It’s the third moving staircase completed in the Empire.”

“….”

Elion paid no attention, his mind entirely occupied with concern for Rubiana.

Feeling awkward, the staff fell silent with a forced smile.

Then…

“Wow… That’s amazing! A moving staircase!”

A small exclamation escaped Rubiana’s lips.

Elion looked down at her, and their gazes softly met.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Yes. Much better now.”

Seeing the faint smile return to her lips, Elion’s expression relaxed slightly.