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Chapter 55
“Of course it reached him.”
Carlos answered calmly.
Even if the cardinal had taken my side,
there was no way the approval of registration from the eastern temple would remain unknown.
Maybe Cardinal Leonard’s excommunication will happen earlier than before the regression.
It wasn’t something I needed to interfere with, though.
“Can you guess how he will act?”
This time, Carlos slowly turned his head.
His red eyes looked at me.
They were sharp, but not as dark or cold as before.
“He failed to stop us in the village.
So he will try to interfere in another way.”
Even after sending many knights,
both the attack and the manipulation of public opinion in the village had failed.
The Emperor was not someone who gave up so easily.
I knew his persistence better than anyone.
Carlos added in an indifferent tone,
“If the guardian disappears, the ward loses their qualification.”
“…Ah.”
Why did this man always speak about threats to his own life so casually?
A sigh escaped me.
“Then we should prepare for an attack.”
As I said that, I looked out the window.
The dense forest stretched endlessly.
The trees were thick, and the road was narrow—
perfect terrain for an ambush.
It wouldn’t be strange if assassins were hiding there.
“We should worry about whether this carriage will reach the archduchy safely.”
Silence passed for a moment.
Carlos stared at me, then let out a short laugh.
“What are you worrying about?”
“…Pardon?”
“The carriage will reach the archduchy.”
His voice was firm, filled with unwavering certainty.
“…It’s not that I don’t believe you.”
Of course—it was Carlos.
Still…
I examined his face.
His color had not fully returned.
He looked paler than usual.
His lips lacked blood.
After spending days in the dense demonic energy of the East, it was only natural.
He needed time to recover completely.
“Please don’t overdo it.”
Carlos narrowed his eyes.
It seemed like he was about to say something, but he stopped.
Instead, he turned his gaze back outside.
“…Not only do you make a foolish face, now you nag too.
Did you receive useless education in the imperial palace while I wasn’t looking?”
“Why do you always have to talk like that….”
I grumbled, then tightly shut my mouth.
Of course.
That moment earlier when he looked like he was smiling—
it was all my imagination.
Instead of continuing a pointless conversation,
I looked down at the document again.
I couldn’t stop the small smile forming on my lips.
Now that the guardian registration was complete,
the official procedures would finish within a week.
Once the temple-sealed certificate arrived at the archduke’s residence,
I would formally act as a ward of House Carter.
I would gain an official status beyond being an imperial princess.
There’s so much to do.
Simply distributing high-quality purification stones wasn’t enough.
I need a way to expand the power of House Carter.
A way for Carlos and Damian to stand firm
even after I disappear in five years.
First, we needed forces to oppose the imperial family.
We had to build alliances with other noble houses
and create chances to improve our image among the common people.
Judging from the reaction in that village,
there’s still a long way to go.
At the same time,
we had to hurry Damian’s awakening,
take care of Carlos’s health…
Five years remained.
…Step by step. Carefully and surely.
I must not rush.
First, we had to return safely.
“Archduke.”
“What is it now?”
“I’m really going to work hard.”
At my sudden declaration, Carlos’s eyebrow twitched.
“Useless words.”
“That’s not true….”
“If you’re going to talk nonsense, go to sleep.”
He reached out and covered my eyes.
“You look weak, like someone who hasn’t slept properly.”
…Now that I thought about it,
I had barely slept since last night from thinking nonstop.
Even I had forgotten,
but Carlos had noticed.
“That’s not… true….”
Despite my murmured reply,
sleepiness rushed over me as if his words were a spell.
I’m sleepy.
Strength left my body.
I was tired.
* * *
Carlos was looking out the window.
They had completely left the East and were heading west.
As the demonic energy faded, his body felt much better.
The tight pressure on his chest was slowly lifting.
His gaze moved across from him.
Lorea had fallen asleep with her head lowered.
Her small body tilted slightly with the shaking carriage.
Her silver hair shimmered in the moonlight.
She was so restless earlier—
and now she sleeps so well.
Carlos quietly watched her clear, innocent face for a long time.
She had kept watching over him.
Constantly.
Asking if he wanted water,
if he wanted the window opened—
tirelessly asking again and again.
…Since when was the princess so meddlesome?
A strange feeling rose inside him.
She was an imperial princess—
blood of the very imperial family that had crushed and isolated him.
The imperial family had taken everything from Carlos.
His house’s glory,
their position in the Empire,
his wife,
even his only daughter.
That hatred was not something easily forgotten.
Then why…
The carriage shook.
Lorea’s small body tilted to the side.
Without realizing it,
Carlos reached out and held her shoulder
to keep her from falling.
He only understood what he had done
a moment later.
Confusion crossed his face.
…What am I doing?
Just as he was about to pull his hand away—
“Mm…”
Lorea made a faint sound
and rubbed her cheek against his palm.
The warmth of her soft, white cheek
spread through his skin.
“……”
The carriage kept shaking.
Carlos’s eyes narrowed slightly.
What a troublesome child.
If he removed his hand,
her head would tilt again.
If she hit the window and woke up,
it would only become bothersome.
Yes.
That was the reason.
So Carlos stayed there awkwardly,
supporting her cheek for a long time.
Lorea’s face was peaceful.
Small. Quiet. Gentle. Innocent.
Too pure to believe she belonged
to that filthy imperial family.
Her tiny frame.
Thin arms and legs.
The childish softness left in her sleeping face.
Slightly parted lips.
Even, steady breathing.
…She’s just a child.
Carlos looked down at her.
She was a strange child.
A blade of the imperial family—
yet she had turned her back on them.
She seemed to want to use him—
yet also seemed to worry about him sincerely.
What was she thinking?
What did she want?
He couldn’t understand at all.
He needed time.
If he kept watching, he would learn.
Just then—
Clunk.
The carriage suddenly stopped.
Carlos’s eyes sharpened.
They were in the middle of the forest road.
Suspicious presences surrounded them.
Trained people.
Not ordinary bandits.
One, two, three…
Fifteen.
No—more than twenty.
…So they’ve come.
Carlos slowly removed his hand from Lorea’s shoulder.
He took off his coat and covered her with it.
Lorea rubbed her eyes and woke.
“Mm… Archduke…?”
“Don’t come out. Stay here.”
“…What?”
Carlos opened the carriage door.
Cold wind rushed in.
Figures in black clothes appeared between the trees.
There was no imperial crest.
Of course not—
they wouldn’t leave evidence for something like this.
All of them wore masks.
Swords in their hands.
Carlos stepped down from the carriage.
Red mana rose from his fingertips—
a vivid crimson glow.
The air itself seemed to heat up.
His eyes shone coldly.
“Come at me.”
