Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Seven: To the Blank Zone
“How did we not notice something this simple!? The Royal Knights should be ashamed!”
“My deepest apologies, Your Highness.”
Boromias’ angry shout could be heard.
From a distance, Karen could see Tristan bowing his head beside Boromias. There was no sign of Stef, the Royal Guard who whispered those bizarre sweet words to the prince.
After Karen compared the stories of the adventurers and knights, it became clear that there was a blank zone on the eighth floor of the dungeon that hadn’t been investigated at all. Once they realized this and tried to investigate it, no matter how many times they sent knights or adventurers, they somehow got lost and couldn’t reach it. Therefore, they had currently approached the shortest distance where they wouldn’t get lost even when approaching the blank zone, and were devising their next strategy.
The reason Boromias was reprimanding Tristan was apparently because he suspected that the Royal Knights’ negligence was why they hadn’t understood something this simple until now.
Several tents stood in the narrow spaces between the rocks, and Waltride’s tent, where Karen was staying, and Boromias’ tent were close together, all clustered together with knights and adventurers. If this situation continued for long, trouble was inevitable.
“Karen, do you have a moment?”
The one who called out to her was Lyos. Since Lyos was an old acquaintance of Karen’s, he seemed to have established a position like a negotiator for the Royal Knights’ side. It was a position similar to how Karen was a spokesperson for the noble side to the adventurers.
“What is it?”
“A message for you from Sir Tristan. He wants you to know that the Royal Guards won’t participate in this operation and have been left on the seventh floor under the pretext of rear support, so you can rest easy.”
“Wait, he left them behind because of me?”
“It’s simply because they’d be in the way. But there are those who insulted you and consequently ended up dueling Sir Julius, and those who were punished by Sir Tristan. A few irrationally resent you, too. Sir Tristan said having them nearby would only make you uneasy. That’s why I went out of my way to come tell you.”
“I see. Tell Sir Tristan ‘thanks’ for me.”
“I’ll phrase it in a way that won’t cause trouble.”
“Please—”
Karen’s words were cut off midway. It was because she was embraced from behind.
“Karen, what are you talking about with that man?”
“M-Mr. Julius? What are you doing in a place like this!?”
“I’m asking what you’re talking about.”
“It’s about work! Could you let me go!?”
“Just as Karen says, I only came to deliver a message from Sir Tristan—”
“I’m not asking you, Lyos.”
Glared at by Julius, Lyos choked on his words.
Looking down at Karen, who glared up at him from within his arms, Julius furrowed his brow deeply.
“Even if it’s work talk, I don’t want to see you talking with your former fiancé.”
“I’ll talk to anyone if it’s for work! Mr. Julius, you talk with Lady Therese because it’s work, right!? It’s the same thing! If you don’t like it, you should go somewhere where you can’t see us!”
Julius’s eyes widened at Karen’s words.
“—Could it be that the reason you’ve been avoiding me is because of Miss Therese?”
“S-So what if it is? I manage my own mood, so don’t worry about it—please do your work to your heart’s content! In any case, stop this in such a crowded place—ah!?”
Karen’s voice flipped at the end.
Julius had bitten her earlobe.
Karen, who barely swallowed her scream, struggled in Julius’s arms, but he didn’t budge.
“—What are! You doing!? We’re in public!?”
“If I vow never to exchange words with Miss Therese again, will you vow never to converse with Lyos again?”
Karen was stunned. Just as Therese had said at the hot spring, Julius really was saying he’d never speak to Therese again. Karen was near Waltride’s tent, and of course, Therese was also nearby. When Karen reflexively looked toward where Therese was, Therese had her back turned to them. A party member was holding her shoulders, and Karen felt unbearable.
Whether it was for the Ehlertt family’s sake or whatever, these weren’t words he should say now, nor things he should do. While wondering what had gotten into Julius, Karen said:
“I won’t vow that! Please converse normally with Lady Therese! I’ll converse too. Not just with Lyos, but with anyone if it’s necessary for work!”
“—I’m sorry. Blood rushed to my head, and I said something strange.”
Julius said this and released Karen. Once freed, Karen hid behind the shadow of the nearest obstacle.
“Coming to me here is the height of foolishness, you know!?”
“There’s nothing else to use as a shield, so what can I do!?”
“Don’t use me as a shield! Have your lovers’ quarrel somewhere else!”
Julius looked down with dark eyes at Karen, who was using the flustered Lyos as a shield.
“I see… so I’ve been making you feel this way.”
In those dark, shadowed golden eyes, magical power writhed and swirled.
Karen gasped and peeked out from behind Lyos.
“Mr. Julius, do you have enough sachets?”
Fragrant sachets with calming effects. Karen had been regularly giving him batches of magical sachets. Normally, he wouldn’t be low on them yet, but because Julius seemed as if he were slipping into magical intoxication, Karen voiced her concern.
But Julius didn’t answer—he simply turned on his heel and walked away.
No comments:
Post a Comment