Trap (1)
The next morning, while I was getting ready, Rahon knocked on the bedroom door.
"It's me."
"Listen"
Before I could finish speaking, the door opened wide. Rahon came in quickly and examined my face.
"Were you sick yesterday?"
"Ah I'm okay now."
"Where, how much, and how did it hurt? Why do you get sick when I'm not around?"
I was a little taken aback by the questioning voice.
"Don't most people not know when they will get sick?"
As he answered and winked at Nadia, she sent out the maids in charge of the decorations.
It was when I briefly glanced at the maids who had been glancing at Rahon until the moment they went out.
The field of vision became completely white.
For a moment, I couldn't see ahead. I blinked a few times and asked.
"What did you do to me just now? I suddenly felt lighter."
"Cure."
"Did you use your power? I'm all better now."
"If you're all better, you won't feel anything."
He replied curtly and crossed his arms.
"Ian took care of you."
"Yes, he stayed with me until I fell asleep."
"Until you fall asleep..."
Rahon muttered softly. Soon, he pursed his plump lips.
He seemed uneasy today. I asked cautiously.
"Didn't your conversation with the Cardinals yesterday go well?"
"No? It wasn't bad. The old people who used to treat me like a bug noticed me for the first time."
"Then why are you feeling bad?"
"...How do you know that?"
"I can tell by listening to your voice. You're in pain right now."
"Disposition..."
Rahon, who had been muttering absentmindedly, suddenly turned his head to the side.
His handsome earlobes began to turn a shade of red. Soon, unexpected words flowed out of his lips.
"That's not it."
"Sure?"
"I feel bad for myself for not even knowing you were sick and being so busy making old people suffer."
"..."
Do you like me?
I swallowed the question that was on the tip of my tongue. I felt like the moment I said those words, my relationship with Rahon would change irreversibly.
I laughed playfully.
"If someone heard you, they'd think I was on the brink of death. I just had something on my mind and was worried, so I felt a little uneasy."
"What were you so worried about?"
I couldn't open my mouth right away. I couldn't carelessly talk about Anton's personal life.
"His Highness the little Grand Duke of Romena. Did he not seem to be in good health?"
"Why?"
"Yesterday, um... It wasn't that hot, but he smelled a little sweat."
Rahon raised his head with a displeased expression.
"He sweats an abnormally large amount."
"Could it be a disease?"
"It might be, it might not be. We'll have to get it examined to know for sure."
"If it's a disease, can it be cured?"
"He is a member of the royal family of Romena. It's not like he doesn't have money, nor is he in a position where he can't afford to call a doctor. If he had gotten sick, wouldn't he have already been treated?"
"It could be a disease that can't be cured with medicine."
Rahon narrowed his eyes faintly.
"Do you want to help that guy?"
As Rahon said, I wanted to help Anton.
If there was a problem with his body, I wanted to heal it and fill his rock-bottom self-esteem.
I wanted to let him know that there is someone out there who truly loves him, so I wanted to free him from Sierra's clutches...
It may be self-satisfaction. I also know that helping Anton won't make my stupid past disappear.
'It doesn't matter though.'
The plan was to just tear out the new support that Sierra had anyway. The method was just a little different.
"I got the impression that he was like me in the past while talking to the Grand Duke, even if it was just a short conversation. There were times when I was afraid of people's gazes. So help him."
"Yes, honestly, I want to..."
Rahon let out a thin sigh.
"If it is a disease that originates in the mind. It cannot be cured even by power."
"Do you mean you will do it?"
"I'll try."
"I'll pay as much as you want. Thank you so much, Rahon..."
I reached out my hand out of habit but stopped. I was reluctant to touch Rahon as casually as I used to.
Rahon stared at me intently. A smile spread across his beautiful face.
"I'll do it for free."
"...Why?"
"I suddenly felt really good."
Why do you feel better?
I was about to ask, but I thought I knew the answer.
Now, I was conscious of being alone with Rahon in the bedroom. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I grabbed my cane and tried to stand up.
"Young Lady. I have something to tell you."
“Ian?”
Ian came into the bedroom and immediately grabbed my hand.
"A little while ago, an urgent message from Beorn arrived."
Beorn is the Vice-Captain of the Knights of Eldern and is currently leading a force of one hundred knights to the capital.
If he sent a letter, something has changed.
"Something bad happened."
"They say that the assailants set fire to the prisoner transport wagon. It seems that they were late in responding because they attacked with flaming arrows in the middle of the night."
"The prisoners..."
"Everyone died."
The prisoners weren't important anyway. They didn't even know who was behind it.
It was just bait to divide Oslo's attention in two, but it was bitter to hear the news that they were killed.
Because they are people who did not die in their past lives.
I know I can't lead everyone to a happy future, but I still find myself worrying.
Am I walking the right path? Is there a better path than the one I am on now?
Of course, if anyone is to blame for the assassins' deaths, it's Oslo, not me.
I stood up, holding my cane.
"I think it is time to meet His Majesty."
***
The chief steward urgently reported to Oslo, who was preparing to attend the meeting.
"You must go to the palace quickly. His Majesty is calling you."
"Why?"
"I'm fine with that."
"Tsk, nothing is done properly."
"I'm sorry."
Oslo led the cavalry to the main palace.
There were two other people in the audience room besides the Emperor.
Millenia and Baron Nokron.
Unlike Millenia, who stood calmly before the Emperor, Baron Nokron was kneeling.
'Why did the Baron...'
Oslo bowed to the Emperor, hiding his ominous feelings.
"Did you call, Father?"
The Emperor stood in silence for a while, leaving Oslo and Millenia standing.
Just looking at a large piece of paper.
Oslo carefully examined the shape reflected on the back of the paper.
'Is it a painting?'
As he was thinking that, the Emperor threw the paper away.
Oslo's gaze landed on the paper that had fallen to the ground.
It was a picture, as expected.
Even though it's just a sketch that hasn't even been colored, it's quite complete. You can tell at a glance what was drawn.
"What is this? It looks like a drawing of a prison."
"This is Nokron's prison."
"...!"
Now Oslo finally understood why I had been summoned along with Millenia. And why Baron Nokron was there.
Millenia told the Emperor what had happened in Nokron.
A sneer spread across Oslo's eyes, then quickly disappeared.
"Are you sure? You can't just show any picture and say it's Nokron's prison."
At that moment, the Emperor's chief chamberlain as if he had been waiting, handed something to him.
"What is this?"
"This is an incident report sent to Your Majesty by the captain of the Nokron Guard."
Oslo frowned and quickly read through the report.
"...and so they put the innocent in prison.
Among them were the 'Saviors' and His Highness the First Prince, and it is understood that the Captain of the Guard and Baron Nokron were aware of this.
I would like to reveal the truth and receive punishment for my crime, and I will await Your Majesty's decision."
Oslo clenched his teeth.
'If it's like this. I have no choice but to admit it.'
The only fortunate thing was that Baron Nokron, although incompetent, was not the kind of person who would betray Oslo.
"There's no evidence that it's related to me anyway."
He quickly regained his composure and handed the report over to the Emperor's chief chamberlain.
"My brother has suffered greatly. Please punish those involved severely."
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