Chapter 54. What Kind of King Volunteers to Be a Bodyguard?
Deep within the Kingdom of Kalus.
Two men were imprisoned in a room that was too peaceful to be a prison but too shabby to be for honored guests.
They were Leonard and Cedric.
“How do you think Her Majesty the Empress is doing?”
Cedric sighed as he gazed out the window.
It had been hours since the so-called King of Kalus had taken Helena away.
“Since the King of Kalus seemed to recognize Her Majesty… I doubt she’s in any danger.”
Leonard replied calmly.
In truth, Helena wasn’t the only one surprised by the unexpected encounter.
Leonard had also been stunned when he saw Karsen.
With his keen eye, Leonard had recognized him.
‘So he really was the King of Kalus.’
At first, he hadn’t realized.
He had heard rumors about him, but hadn’t paid them much attention.
And he certainly wasn’t concerned about what some foreign king looked like.
Especially since he had been too busy searching for the missing Helena right after returning from external duties to gather intelligence on foreign guests.
It wasn’t until later, after investigating Karsen, that the shock had settled in.
‘He seemed to show goodwill… but still, something about it feels off.’
He couldn’t relax.
In fact, that very goodwill somehow rubbed him the wrong way.
Outside the window, the moonlight, which had drifted calmly through the clouds, began to hide behind a veil of dark clouds.
It was nearly dawn.
Cedric spoke again.
“How long are we going to be stuck in here?”
“Not much longer, it seems.”
No sooner had Leonard finished speaking than the tightly shut door opened.
“Well, well. What a poor welcome for such distinguished guests from another land. I do apologize.”
A man pulled over a chair and sat down.
His voice sounded regretful, but he didn’t even untie their restraints.
“I am Moritz, Chief Secretary to His Majesty Karsen.”
After a brief introduction, Moritz looked between the two men.
“I’ve come to ask a few simple questions. I hope you’ll cooperate—it’ll be easier on all of us.”
“Where is Her Majesty the Empress?”
Leonard asked.
“She’s probably enjoying a lovely dinner with His Majesty as we speak.”
At Moritz’s answer, Leonard’s gaze sharpened.
Like a beast guarding its territory, his eyes were fierce and cold.
“We’re Her Majesty’s guards. If you know who she is, you should release us too.”
“That may be true on paper, but…”
Moritz scratched his head with a pen.
“You did try to sneak into the country with dangerous goods. As bothersome as it is, we can’t skip the investigation.”
By dangerous goods, he meant the explosives in the carriage.
“Oh! And Her Majesty thinks you’ve already been released, so let’s keep this a secret from her, shall we?”
He spoke lightly, but then his expression turned serious as he continued his questioning.
“Let’s get to the point. What are your names and ranks?”
Leonard stared at him silently.
“Not cooperating, I see. As expected, I’ve done a bit of background checking myself.”
Moritz said casually.
“You’re quite famous, Sir Leonard. Many recognized you at once.”
Then he turned to Cedric.
“And I’ve heard plenty about you as well—Guardian of Verdure. Honestly, I thought it was just a rumor. It’s an honor to meet you.”
He even knew about Cedric.
Leonard narrowed his eyes.
“You’ve got a pretty solid intelligence network.”
Though Cedric was well-known by title, his face wasn’t widely recognized.
Only recently had he become more known due to being appointed Royal Magician.
Yet Moritz, from a foreign country, knew him already.
“I’ll take that as a compliment. Now, about the explosives you brought—shall we discuss them?”
“……”
“A silent treatment? That’s fine. The night is long, and I’m in no rush.”
“Is Her Majesty truly safe?”
“Of course. I stake my honor on her safety.”
“I don’t care about your honor. I’ll see it with my own eyes.”
“Now, now. You should be more worried about your own safety at this point. If you remain uncooperative, I might have to get a little rough—huh?”
Moritz suddenly froze mid-sentence.
When had he moved?
Leonard now had a sword at Moritz’s throat.
“W-what is this…?”
He had clearly been tied to the chair.
Yet in a blink, he was holding a sword—Moritz’s own sword, no less—against his neck.
“So it’s true… the Empire’s strongest sword. You’ve been faking it the whole time?”
“I wasn’t the only one.”
“…What?”
Fwoosh!
A small flame flared, and Cedric burned off his restraints.
Moritz asked in protest.
“Isn’t a magician powerless without a staff?”
“A normal one, maybe.”
Cedric replied as he brushed off the ashes.
“Goodness… I must’ve been too lax with my research.”
Moritz sighed.
“No wonder someone like Her Majesty had only two escorts.”
He laughed helplessly.
“If I’d known, I would’ve brought the whole knight order to interrogate you.”
“Enough useless chatter.”
Leonard pressed the blade harder against Moritz’s throat.
“Tell us where Her Majesty is.”
***
Meanwhile, after finishing dinner with Karsen, I returned to my newly assigned room.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t alone.
Karsen insisted on escorting me all the way.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
“Oh, just this and that.”
Preparing for how to deal with you next time, mostly.
And when is this man going to stop following me?
We’ve eaten, it’s late… isn’t it time for him to take the hint?
“There’s really no need for you to personally escort me.”
Honestly, I don’t enjoy this kind of special treatment.
It was overwhelming, especially considering who he was.
But Karsen responded casually.
“No need to feel pressured. I’m doing this because I want to.”
Oh. That line…
That’s even more pressure, you know?
I narrowed my eyes.
“What kind of king personally volunteers to be a bodyguard?”
“Me. Aren’t I a model ruler for the people?”
“No, seriously—you don’t actually believe that, right?”
“Of course I do.”
“……”
What is this man thinking?
I knew from the moment he demanded directions in someone else’s imperial palace that he wasn’t normal.
Then again, no normal person would shamelessly declare they were going to steal another country’s Empress.
I sighed inwardly.
“Anyway, we’re almost at the room now. Isn’t it time for you to head back?”
“Now that I think about it, it’s a shame to part ways like this. How about we enjoy a drink together and make some memories?”
“I don’t have any memories to reminisce about with Your Majesty.”
“Then we can start making them now.”
No thanks. I really don’t want to.
I needed to turn him down.
It was already late, so I should come up with a good excuse to send him away.
But what should I say to make him leave?
I had a feeling the usual excuses wouldn’t work on someone like him.
Then it happened.
“She said no.”
The voice didn’t come from me.
From the shadows, a man with jet-black hair stepped forward.
It was Leonard.
How did you get here…?
I didn’t even have time to be surprised before he stepped in between Karsen and me.
“I’m sorry, but I think it’s best if you return now.”
Leonard’s gaze toward Karsen was cold as ice.
“Ah, now I remember. It’s you.”
Karsen, observing him, let out a sigh.
“You’re that knight, aren’t you? The one I almost fought back then.”
That’s right.
The night before Jerome’s birthday banquet.
The day I unexpectedly became Karsen’s guide in the palace.
Leonard had found me then.
And nearly ended up clashing with Karsen.
“If you went as far as to illegally cross borders together, then I doubt you’re just ordinary acquaintances. So what exactly is your relationship?”
The atmosphere between Leonard and Karsen was tense.
I opened my mouth to explain.
“This man is my guard—”
“Her Majesty the Empress’s special someone.”
Leonard interrupted me.
And what came out of his mouth was completely unexpected.
“Special someone?”
Karsen’s smile deepened.
And so did the unsettling killing intent that emanated from him.
“Now that I think about it, we never got to finish our duel that time.”
Karsen provoked him.
“……”
Leonard didn’t back down.
In fact, a chilling aura radiated from around him.
Get a grip, Leonard.
This is enemy territory.
The tension between the two was too dangerous to ignore.
Unable to take it anymore, I stepped in between them.
“Hold on. You’re not seriously going to fight, are you?”
“Of course we are.”
“It’s dangerous. Please step aside for a moment, Your Majesty.”
“No. I won’t allow it. Absolutely not.”
I shook my head firmly.
“Hmph.”
Karsen, glancing between me and Leonard, let out a low chuckle.
The murderous aura in the air seemed to subside a little.
“Looks like today’s not the day, after all.”
“……”
Leonard also relaxed.
But their gazes toward each other still crackled with unspoken sparks of hostility.
What is with these two? Why do they act like mortal enemies?
Then Karsen spoke.
“Tomorrow, I’m thinking of holding a small celebration to commemorate the release of the reservoir and to honor the peace between our nations… I’d like for Your Majesty to attend.”
As promised,
he treated me as the Empress.
That was because Leonard was here.
A celebration to commemorate peace between two nations, and the opening of a vital water source—
There was no way I could miss something like that.
“May I consider this as Your Majesty accepting my offer?”
“Of course.”
He answered politely, then turned his gaze to Leonard.
“Then how about this—why don’t we compete to see who is more suited to be at Her Majesty the Empress’s side?”
Excuse me?
What are you competing over exactly?
I blinked in disbelief at Karsen’s sudden challenge.
Obviously, that’s something to be rejected. There’s no reason to waste energy on such a thing.
Surely Leonard was thinking the same.
It’s not like there’s a prize or anything.
Who would agree to such a meaningless fight?
“I think it’s a great idea.”
…Found him.
The one who accepted it.
Karsen curled the corners of his lips with delight.
“Now I’m really looking forward to it.”
No seriously—why are they both so into this?
—
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