Chapter 62

Dante and I moved to the carriage, which quickly set off toward the Central Temple.

Dante, who had been resting with his eyes closed as if asleep, opened them.

“Will you accept my help?”

“Let’s be clear, Your Highness. You have your own reasons for using me, don’t you? If we join hands, it will be a partnership of mutual benefit.”

“I want to help the Princess out of the goodness of my heart. My family has done you harm, after all. I have no other intentions.”

“You don’t actually expect me to believe that, do you? Are you trying to get me to treat you like a fool?”

A corner of Dante’s mouth lifted into a smirk.

I glared at him, tired of his constant attempts to test me.

If he was so eager for a dose of reality, I was happy to oblige.

“You, Your Highness, are on a path to be thoroughly used and then miserably cast aside.”

“…”

“If you’re lucky, after the First Prince ascends the throne, you might be granted a small territory to barely scrape by.”

Dante let out a short laugh, as if the idea was absurd.

It was no secret that he and the First Prince were on bad terms. Rumors even circulated that Dante would have to fear for his life once the First Prince became emperor.

“Unfortunately for you, however, you have awakened as a Hunter. The First Prince will see you as a tremendous threat.”

“Igrid has been afraid of me since we were children. I don’t know why.”

Dante said it as if he were genuinely curious.

Even though he might be killed if Igrid became emperor, his demeanor was utterly calm.

“There is only one way for you to survive, Your Highness. You must shatter His Majesty’s plans.”

“…”

“That’s why you considered joining the guild I’m creating. Because following His Majesty’s will leads to an obvious and grim conclusion.”

Dante was silent for a moment before propping his chin on his hand, a peculiar expression on his face.

“If that’s my situation, isn’t it to your advantage to join hands with me?”

“The advantage would be yours, Your Highness. I refuse. Why would I team up with someone I can’t trust, only to be stabbed in the back?”

“Is it trust you need? Shall I rip out my heart and give it to you?”

“What would I do with something like that? There’s a simpler way.”

“And what is that?”

“Escort me to the upcoming party. Act as if you’ve fallen completely for me. Then, in front of everyone, you will declare your intention to join my guild.”

“…You intend to cement the rumors as fact. To ensure I can’t back out later.”

“This isn’t a permanent arrangement. When the time is right, I’ll stir up some trouble. Then you can claim I was too much of a madwoman to handle and that you had to break things off.”

“And what do I gain from this?”

“I’ll make you the emperor.”

Dante’s dark pupils contracted for an instant.

It was just a shift in his expression, but the entire atmosphere changed.

The inside of the carriage suddenly felt cold and dark.

I swallowed a dry lump in my throat, unseen. Tension spread rapidly through my entire body.

I had never met anyone who could pressure me so intensely with their killing intent alone. It was on par with the oppressive aura of an S-rank monster.

Was this the true power of a Sword Master? But even Duke Ruthius hadn’t been this overwhelming.

“Are you trying to incite treason?”

“Then by all means, go and die.”

“Princess.”

“Don’t test me. Treason or whatever else—you don’t actually care, do you? Am I wrong?”

The suffocating killing intent vanished all at once. Dante must have relaxed his aura.

Breathing became much easier.

“You’re right, Princess. Treason and the like are not what’s important to me. But the emperor…”

Dante’s voice trailed off. He looked somewhat displeased.

Did he think I wasn’t capable? It would certainly be an impossible plan if I were alone.

But I had Duke Ruthius on my side. The most powerful man after the emperor.

“Don’t doubt it. I am the only one who can make you the emperor.”

“…”

“You want to live, don’t you? Then take my hand.”

I extended my hand to him.

Dante stared quietly at my hand, which was still messy with Duke Ruthius’s blood.

Presently, his large hand enveloped mine in a firm grip.

A shiver ran down my spine.

*He’s not a reptile, is he? Why is his body temperature so low?*

I maintained my composure and looked at him in silence.

For some reason, he squeezed my hand tightly and smiled brightly.

“Since we’re on the same side now, I should tell you. You’ve misjudged something.”

“What is it?”

“I’m not joining you because I want to live. And I have no interest in being emperor. I despise troublesome things.”

“Then why?”

“Because you seem more interesting.”

“…”

“That’s the only reason.”

“Are you saying you don’t care if you die?”

“No. I’m saying I won’t die.”

“…”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I find it fascinating. You’re the first person I’ve met who’s crazier than I am.”

“Hahaha!”

He released my hand and burst into loud laughter.

“See? This is fun. Princess, you may continue to speak to me informally. I permit it.”

“I’ll pass. It makes us sound like we’re close.”

“It may be fake, but aren’t lovers close enough?”

“No, they are not. Don’t try any funny business, or you’ll regret it.”

“Hahahaha!”

Dante laughed again.

His expression, as if he were having the time of his life, felt utterly genuine.

*He’s certainly handsome… Flawlessly beautiful, even. So why does he make me so uneasy?*

It wasn’t because Dante was insane enough to believe he was immortal.

It was because he was a man who lived for amusement.

A person like that was dangerous. If the emperor’s plan had seemed more intriguing, he would have gladly played the part of a puppet.

*Did I make a mistake?*

Just as I unknowingly furrowed my brow, the carriage came to a halt.

We were in front of the Central Temple.

***

Johan and Kaiel moved Duke Ruthius, who had been fully healed by Closo’s divine power, to a recovery room.

Thankfully, some color was returning to the Duke’s face.

“He’s past the worst of it. I expect he’ll wake up sometime tomorrow.”

Kaiel wiped sweat from his pale face. He was suffering from mana depletion after overusing teleportation magic.

“Whew, we were almost too late. I’m relieved we could treat him in time. You’ve done well, Sir Johan.”

“It wasn’t my doing. It would have been difficult without the High Priest.”

Johan replied humbly with an awkward smile.

Kaiel lowered his voice, his expression turning chilly.

“You must have noticed as well, Sir Johan. There are not many people in the capital who could orchestrate something like this. To attack the Duke, no less. This is not something a mere noble could accomplish.”

“…Then there is only one person. Why would he do such a thing?”

“Who knows. I find myself asking a different question, rather than wondering about the reason.”

“A different question?”

“Was Duke Ruthius really the target?”

“…”

In truth, it was a question that had been weighing on Johan’s mind as well.

*Who was the real target?*

First, the culprit had to be someone who would gain the most from the disappearance of the Ruthius father and daughter.

But there was no benefit in killing Duke Ruthius.

His status and wealth couldn’t be claimed just by eliminating him.

*But it’s a different story with Lady Astell.*

Rumors had spread throughout the capital that Astell was planning to create a guild, and with the full backing of Duke Ruthius.

Hunters were eagerly awaiting the day her guild would open.

It had even reached a point where people joked about having to line up to join.

Therefore, to the emperor, who was also planning to establish a guild, Astell was undoubtedly a thorn in his side.

*The target was Lady Astell.*

Johan clenched his large hands into fists.

“Lady Astell is in danger.”

Kaiel shook his head.

“The people around the Princess will be in more danger than the Princess herself.”

“What?”

“The Princess is too powerful. They must know that attacking those around her is a more effective way to bring her down.”

“Such… such villainy! This won’t do! I must protect Lady Astell!”

Kaiel stared at Johan, dumbfounded.

“You, Sir Johan?”

“Yes!”

“…This ambush ended in failure, so she should be safe for a while. They will have to lay low. The Princess must have also realized her weakness through this incident. You shouldn’t worry too much.”

“Still, she would be safer if I were by her side.”

Kaiel’s expression slowly hardened.

“…Is it not forbidden for a Paladin to use his power for personal reasons? You are, after all, a warrior of God.”

“That is true, but it is not entirely impossible.”

“Is that so?”

“The Temple sometimes dispatches Paladins to protect individuals deemed important to the world. I will persuade the High Priest.”

“…You seem to be quite fond of the Princess.”

At Kaiel’s words, Johan’s angelic face flushed pink.

“I-It’s not that I like her, it’s just… she is a very important person… Th-that’s why I want to protect her, I have no other thoughts! Really!”

Johan stammered, avoiding his gaze. His behavior was suspicious to anyone watching.

Kaiel’s eyes narrowed.

He couldn’t understand why Johan’s attitude bothered him so much.

*Whether he protects Astell or not, what does it have to do with me?*

But it was too late to pretend he didn’t care.

“You’re right, Sir Johan. The Princess is a very important person. I will send a few people from the Magic Tower as well.”

“From the Magic Tower?”

Even as Kaiel wondered why he was saying this, he didn’t stop.

“Wouldn’t it be more certain if the Temple and the Magic Tower protected the Princess together?”

For a moment, Johan’s expression darkened.

*I’m more than enough on my own…*

The thought came unbidden, and Johan was startled by it.

The more people protecting her, the safer Astell would be. How could he be so greedy?

*God, what is wrong with me?*

As Johan fell silent in self-reproach, the recovery room grew quiet.

After an awkward moment, the door to the recovery room finally opened.

The two men’s faces, which had brightened at the thought of it being Astell, were now painted with shock.

“…!”

Astell was not alone.