Chapter 16: He didn’t look like someone who was sick.
“Sir Leonard, how are you here?”
“I received a report about a commotion at a nearby outpost. I heard not just soldiers but four knights were taken down, so I rushed over… I didn’t expect to find Her Majesty the Empress here.”
As Leonard calmly explained, his gaze suddenly turned sharp.
“What offense did this man commit against Her Majesty?”
Leonard’s glare at the red-haired man was filled with chilling hostility.
Yet, the red-haired man receiving the cold stare only looked dumbfounded.
“Empress?”
Looking between me and Leonard, the man furrowed his brow.
“You… you’re really the Empress?”
“Mind your tongue.”
Leonard drew his sword.
“For daring to show disrespect to Her Majesty, your life alone won’t suffice.”
The blade in Leonard’s hand gleamed coldly under the moonlight.
“The Empire’s way of hospitality is certainly unique. Every person I meet seems to draw their sword first.”
The red-haired man chuckled.
“If we’re talking about breaches of etiquette, drawing a sword on a guest could lead to annihilation for one’s entire house.”
Srrk. Shing.
The red-haired man unsheathed the blades at his waist.
A pair of curved swords, one long and one short.
“Meeting an opponent like you… I can’t just let this go.”
The two men assumed fighting stances, locking gazes.
The tension was palpable, as though the air itself was suffocating.
“Please step back, Your Majesty.”
“Indeed. That would be wise. If you get hurt, I wouldn’t be able to face anyone.”
Neither of them seemed willing to back down.
Instead, eerie smirks crept onto their faces.
The situation felt as though it might explode at any moment.
“Wait.”
I stepped between them.
“It’s dangerous.”
“Step aside, my savior.”
Both of their voices were low, but I shook my head and spoke firmly.
“No, I won’t step aside.”
If I retreated now, the two would undoubtedly clash fiercely.
I couldn’t let that happen.
This wouldn’t end as simply as the fight with the four knights earlier.
“Why are you two even trying to fight in the first place?”
“This man dared insult Her Majesty.”
“It’s rare to find a worthy opponent. I’ll honor my promise to you after dealing with this friend.”
“Sir Leonard, he didn’t really insult me. It was… just a misunderstanding. And you, sir—what promise are you even referring to?”
“I promised to see you safely escorted.”
“Can’t you see? No one here is threatening me. You’re the one causing unnecessary misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?”
“Anyway, let’s stop this for today. Tomorrow is an important banquet. I won’t tolerate meaningless fighting. Sir Leonard, put down your sword. This man is an important guest.”
“……”
Leonard hesitated briefly before lowering his sword.
The red-haired man clicked his tongue in disappointment.
“It seems I won’t be testing anyone’s skills tonight.”
Sheathing his weapons, he gave me a strange look.
“Thanks to you, I had a delightful evening. Until next time, my savior.”
With a hand placed over his waist, he bowed lightly.
I couldn’t help but scoff.
Next time? Next time?
After forcing someone to guide you through the palace, you call this a delightful evening?
Please. Let’s never meet again.
I prayed silently.
The red-haired man waved and walked away.
As I watched his retreating figure, I heard Leonard call out.
“Your Majesty.”
His voice was calm, but his expression was still firm.
“What were you doing here in the first place?”
“Well…”
Should I tell him about the flower-loving lost wanderer who ended up in my room, and how I ended up escorting yet another lost guest?
It was too convoluted to explain.
“I just… felt a bit stifled and decided to take a walk.”
“Without an escort?”
His voice carried a note of frustration.
“…I didn’t want to trouble the maids unnecessarily. And I didn’t think anything would happen.”
It’s not entirely a lie, except for saying I went out for a stroll.
“By the way, Sir Leonard, it seems you were looking for me. How did you know I had left?”
“There were signs of an intruder in the Empress’ Palace.”
“…!”
The flower lover.
He must have left traces behind.
“The trail led to Your Majesty’s bedchamber. When I checked and found you weren’t there, I searched high and low.”
Now that I thought about it, when Leonard first appeared here, he had been out of breath.
Thinking of how he must have run all over the Imperial Palace to find me, I felt guilty.
Leonard silently stared at me.
“…I see.”
Ah, maybe I shouldn’t have asked.
The mood suddenly grew heavy.
“I think it’s best if we return now. Thank you for today. Please, take care on your way back.”
I hurriedly turned to leave.
“…Please.”
Or I would have if his voice hadn’t stopped me.
“Please, never do something so reckless again.”
His voice, suppressed and trembling, whispered through the night.
“Unless you want to see someone lose their mind.”
***
The crimson-haired man walked down the long corridors of the Imperial Palace.
“There you are.”
A young man appeared before him.
With deep green hair and crimson eyes, he gave an exasperated look.
“Do you have any idea how long I’ve been searching for you? Where have you been while my back was turned?”
“Ah, Momo. So, you were here.”
“This is no time for casual remarks. Have you forgotten that this is not your palace but the Empire’s royal grounds? Do you understand how troublesome it would be if you caused a scene?”
“Ah, yes. I forgot.”
“Of course, you forgot. Where exactly have you been all this time?”
“Just wandering here and there.”
“You didn’t cause a commotion, did you?”
“Hmm.”
“That silence makes me nervous! What did you do? Did you challenge the knights to a duel or something?”
“Something like that may have happened.”
“Good heavens. Where is it? Let’s go resolve this immediately.”
“It’s fine. It wasn’t anything major. Besides, there wasn’t even a proper fight.”
Momo placed his hands over his face, sighing deeply.
“Oh, how did I end up serving someone like this…”
“Careful, that’s borderline treason against royalty.”
“Just execute me already. It would be less exhausting.”
“Denied. You’re too useful for that.”
“Glad you know that much. Now, where was it? What trouble did you cause this time?”
“I told you, it’s fine. It’s already been handled.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Really. I even came to an agreement with someone important.”
“Someone important?”
“A rather reserved benefactor. Anyway, there’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“Did you truly resolve it?”
“They seemed eager to settle things peacefully, so it should be fine.”
“Well, if you say so, I’ll take your word for it this time.”
“Good, good. Trust me.”
“By the way, you’re quite intoxicated. How do you plan to handle tomorrow’s banquet in this state?”
“The banquet? Forget it. That bothersome thing. I’m not going.”
“Come now, since you’re here, why not show your face? I heard even Her Majesty the Empress will be attending.”
“The Empress?”
“Yes, apparently she hasn’t attended any official events since her coronation due to poor health…”
“…She didn’t seem unwell.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.”
“You’re making me uneasy with that vague response.”
Momo narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“There isn’t something else I need to know, is there?”
“What do you take me for?”
“Let’s just say I’ve learned not to trust you completely. If there’s something, it’s better to tell me now.”
“And if I do?”
With a serious expression, Momo answered.
“Even if you declared war on the Empire, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Are you serious?”
“With you, nothing would be surprising. But please tell me you’re not actually planning to go to war with the Empire.”
“No, nothing like that. It’s just…”
The man shook his head and continued.
“There was something… quite interesting.”
—
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