TVWD 28

Chapter 28

Even though I thought my emotions had dulled, when Merina later said she wanted the mirror I’d received as a prize at the hunting tournament, I truly wanted to kill her.

It was a shame that, being the heroine, she couldn’t die — not even from poison or an assassin’s blade.

When I finally took matters into my own hands, the attempt worked — but I was caught, revealed as the culprit, and executed publicly.

The memory of that burning rage made my voice tremble on its own.

“The fox’s remains should be over there. Will it… will it count as my catch? I worked so hard to find it…”

“Ha!”

The man let out a short, incredulous laugh, but I was being sincere.

I tried to stand by grabbing a tree, but my legs had no strength; my palm scraped against the bark with a harsh, grating sound.

“Rocia, allow me to help you.”

“No, I can walk on my own.”

“Look at your hand.”

Rexian poured clean water over my hand, then pulled a handkerchief from his coat and wrapped it around my palm. The skin was scraped raw from when I’d slipped.

“You’re so exhausted you can’t even feel your injuries.”

“Even so, I’ll walk. I can walk.”

“Once we leave the lakeside, I’ll let you go. And my knights are discreet — they won’t speak a word of what they saw here.”

Because he gave the answer I wanted, I obediently let him support me.

I should have distanced myself from Rexian, and yet, being this close — even like this — made me happy.

A kind man.

I couldn’t let him die because of me again.

In his broad, steady arms, I felt myself drifting toward sleep, but I bit the inside of my cheek to stay awake.

“Don’t bite yourself.”

“Huh?”

“You’re biting the inside of your mouth again, aren’t you?”

Oh — he’d noticed before, hadn’t he?

When I’d collapsed at the duke’s estate, he’d given me ointment to apply inside my mouth.

“If you fall asleep, I’ll wake you. So don’t hurt yourself, Rocia.”

I didn’t answer, and Rexian didn’t press further.

The place where the silver fox had been wasn’t far.

Rexian set me down on the bed of leaves and looked around. Away from the blood-soaked ground, he found traces of the fox.

“The tail remains. That should be proof enough.”

A shadow of concern crossed his well-shaped face.

“But you’ll have to explain why only the tail was left. Will that be all right?”

He meant that I’d have to tell everyone about being attacked — which would surely stir up gossip.

“It’s fine.”

“You worry about your reputation in society, yet this doesn’t bother you. Curious.”

He handed me the silver fox’s tail and gave me a searching look.

“You’re… really impossible to figure out.”

I didn’t answer, and he silently lifted me again. Once we left the lakeshore, he set me down as promised.

“Pipi!”

“Hiiiii!”

The horse, tied to a tree, neighed happily when it saw me.

The medicine’s effect was wearing off, and I could move again — enough to ride on my own. We headed for the forest’s entrance.

When I blew my whistle, Calvin came galloping toward us.

“Sister! You caught the fox— huh?”

As he drew closer and saw my neck, his eyes went wide with horror.

“S-sister, what happened to you?”

Was it really that gruesome? It had to look better than being burned all over.

“Sister, gods, what on earth happened to your neck!”

There were too many eyes around, so I motioned for him to follow me.

“I’ll tell you on the way.”

As I explained what had happened, Calvin’s expression darkened more and more.

“My apologies, sir. I failed to protect Lady Rocia — she’s badly injured because of me.”

“No, Commander, you have nothing to apologize for,” said Rexian.

When Rexian called me “Rocia,” Calvin’s brows twitched, and he shook his head. Rexian seemed displeased by his reaction and frowned.

“It’s my fault for letting my sister go alone — and for not hearing the whistle…”

While the two men spoke, I lifted my collar and wrapped a scarf around my neck.

The collar was too short, and the scarf was small, but I did my best to cover it.

“How’s this? Does it look less obvious?”

Calvin’s face was still grim.

A royal knight who’d been patrolling the forest came by; I showed him the silver fox’s tail and briefly explained what had happened. He sent word to headquarters, and another knight blew his horn twice.

Pwooooooo—

Pwoooooooo—

The hunting tournament was officially over.

We waited at the forest’s edge for all participants to return.

In the meantime, Rexian went to report to the Emperor. The Emperor’s expression darkened as he listened.

An assassin attacking a noble within the imperial hunting grounds was no small matter.

Once everyone had gathered, the Emperor stepped forward. In his hand was the silver fox’s tail I had brought.

“This year’s silver fox has been reduced to only its tail, it seems.”

I worried that he might cancel the award because of it, but thankfully, he didn’t.

“Though the fox’s body is gone, we’ve discovered something far more valuable — brave and capable subjects of the Empire.”

He explained that the assassin was the reason only the tail remained, and that imperial knights were now searching the forest for clues.

“This year’s winners, who faced down the assassin targeting an imperial noble — Rocia Levian and Calvin Levian!”

We were listed as joint participants, but Rexian had advised that it would be better for public perception if it seemed we were together.

He’d been right — saying I fought off an assassin alone would only invite scandal, whereas facing him with my knightly brother sounded much more credible.

“His Majesty will now personally bestow the prizes. Step forward.”

Calvin and I each received a prize and a floral crown.

In my hands lay an ornate hand mirror — the Mirror of Truth.

To most people, it was just an old relic with no real use, which was why the royal family had offered it as a prize.

Thankfully, no one knew its true nature. I slipped it quietly into my pocket, relieved.

“I’m glad you both returned safely,” said the Emperor, clapping a hand on each of our shoulders.

“Loyal and courageous subjects like you are the Empire’s greatest strength.”

After some perfunctory words, he laughed heartily.

“Now then! Let us see who shall receive the crown of honor. Calvin Levian, choose your lady of honor.”

Of course, I thought it would be Merina, and began to step back — when something landed lightly on my head.

Huh?

Startled, I turned to look. My younger brother Calvin, whose brown hair came from our mother, and whose red eyes matched mine, was blushing deeply.

“Sir Levian, are you sure your choice is Lady Levian?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I grabbed his arm and whispered urgently.

“Wait, Calvin. Weren’t you going to use this to confess to Merina?”

“Confess—!”

His face flushed scarlet, but he quickly shook his head.

“No, Sister. This is right.”

Then, turning to the front, he declared loudly:

“My greatest lady is my sister, Rocia Levian!”

“Ha ha! What a fine display of sibling affection. Such a sight deserves reward. Two bottles of Aran’s Dance for the pair of you!”

The Emperor bestowed two bottles of the famed wine as a token of praise for our “loving sibling bond.”

Aran’s Dance was one of the Empire’s finest wines — worth enough to buy an entire estate.

I could almost hear the envious murmurs of the nobles, but my mind was elsewhere.

The tournament’s banquet had been canceled due to the ongoing investigation of the assassin. I grabbed Calvin by the arm.

“Why did you do that, Calvin?”

Had my brother gone mad? He’d never done anything like that before.

Could it be… that the Blue Bird had done something to him?

“Here — give this to Merina now.”

If he refused again, I decided, I’d have the Mage Tower examine him for any magical interference. I held the floral crown out toward him.