Her olive eyes, filled with tears, were pitifully rounded. Her pure voice, her expression of resignation, and her appearance of kneeling down and holding back tears were so natural.
If she were to become a stage actor right away, she would be able to sweep all the awards. Even Julia wondered for a moment if this was real, so the reactions of the reporters were even more needless to say.
"Surely not, then she did that injury herself?"
"How would I know? Since she didn't even know how to handle a sword, there might be more to her that we don't know about..."
"It's shocking. No matter how much the Princess overstepped her bounds. It was too much to do something like that."
The conservative knights of the bloodline-based family were muttering. They were loyal to the royal family, but they were reactionary and did not like the idea of a foreign Queen.
The conflict between the powerful and prestigious Young lady from the Duke family and the Queen from a remote rural kingdom.
Julia lived as a perfect member of Semele's royal family for twelve years and did not interfere in politics so as not to cause unnecessary trouble. However, despite her quietly built reputation, her origins, which had no foundation other than her position as Queen, worked against her at a critical moment.
Although they lowered their voice considerably, suspicion spread like an infectious disease among the knights. When the knights' expressions hardened due to him as the trigger, Sir Tremburn, who was at a loss as to what to do, stepped in to calm the situation.
"Your Majesty. I am sorry, but a case involving the Duke's family must be brought to a formal trial. However, the royal family has special immunity, so I will first explain the truth to Duke Soare and do my best to resolve the situation amicably..."
"That's amazing."
Endymion cut off Sir Tremburn's words as if he had no interest in them at all. Then he left Julia's side and took a step closer to Chiara.
Chiara, who had been burying her face in her hands and shedding tears, slowly raised her head.
"Your Majesty...?"
Chiara seemed moved when Endymion, who had been silent for a long time, approached her. Even though she was sobbing, her young eyes were filled with joy...
Julia, who was watching this, felt breathless. It felt like a rock was crashing down on her chest.
"Princess Soare."
Endymion, who had left Julia, knelt down in front of Chiara. Then he raised his hand and wiped away her tears just as he had done to Julia earlier.
'I was angry until a while ago, but I wasn't this desperate.'
Julia bit her lip without realizing it. It was funny how tears were about to burst out, so Julia clenched her throat for no reason.
"Ah, Your Majesty..."
There was joy in Chiara's voice. Julia looked away from them in a miserable mood.
She thought it would be better for her to defend herself without a lawyer in the courtroom. Seeing her like this, seeing Mion believe someone else's words instead of hers...
'No.'
As she clutched the hem of her dress with her sore wrist, the dress wrinkled and wrinkled like her dilemma. Finally, when Julia was about to tell Sir Tremburn that they should hold a trial, she was willing to attend.
"You are truly amazing. How did you defeat a swordsman with your bare hands?
"... Yes?"
It was an interesting voice.
Julia lifted her head, which had been hanging down. She saw Chiara, who had been leaning her cheek against Endymion's hand with an ecstatic expression, pause and ask again.
"That's right."
Endymion's red lips, visible only from the side, were curved as if he had heard a funny joke.
"D-Defeat, Your Majesty? Even with injuries like this..."
Chiara held out her palm again in confusion. Endymion lowered his gaze to the blood-stained palm that was suddenly thrust out in front of him.
Soon, long, strong fingers slowly grabbed Chiara's palm. Chiara let out a groan as if she had been waiting for it.
"Ugh, haa."
"Yeah, you're really injured."
"Ah, I'm fine, Your Majesty. A wound of this level can be healed in no time with a healing potion..."
With a weak voice, Chiara took care of Endymion with a pitiful air. She was truly a pitiful sight with a heavenly heart.
But at that moment.
"Why only this?"
Endymion cut off the words, the corners of his mouth curling deeper. His voice was so cold it seemed as if it would chill you to the bone.
"The Queen who wielded a sword had her wrists broken and her ankles dislocated, but the bare-handed Princess only had her palm cut."
Chiara flinched at the unexpected words and tried to pull her hand away. However, Endymion did not let go of Chiara, who was trying to escape from his grasp.
"Ahh! Ah, no! That was done by the Queen herself! Ugh, my wrist too!"
"You're doing fine."
Seeing her struggle, Endymion said indifferently, squeezing Chiara's injured palm so tightly that it turned white. Chiara shook her head violently, tears streaming down her face.
Only then, belatedly, did some of the reporters frown in puzzlement.
"Oh, oh no! Your Majesty, it hurts, let me go!"
Endymion grabbed both of Chiara's wrists with one hand, preventing her from moving, and then he pulled up the hem of her skirt without hesitation. Startled, Chiara tried to get up on her knees and pull away, but Endymion's hands were faster.
"And your ankles are as strong as a calf's."
Endymion smiled faintly as he lightly grabbed her ankle.
"Sob, sob. Your Majesty! Why are you doing this...!"
Chiara, covered in tears, cried pitifully. The knights' reactions to her sorrowful voice were split in half.
Half of her expression was tense at Endymion's strange behavior, and the other was frowning at Chiara...
The ratio was lower in the latter, but surprisingly it had increased more than before.
Julia blinked her wide-open eyes. No way...
"Ah, ah. Your Majesty, my hand hurts so much, please give me this hand..."
Chiara cried out in a pitiful and sorrowful manner. Then Endymion let go of her hand as if he had been waiting for it.
Naturally, Chiara fell backward and landed lightly on her butt. And in the blink of an eye, Endymion drew his sword from his waist and aimed it at Chiara.
"Your Majesty the King!"
"Whoa!"
Even though he was a King, Chiara
was still the daughter of a duke. Furthermore, her family was related to the royal family of another country, so if she were to kill her here, it could have escalated into a diplomatic issue.
The knights were calling out for Endymion in panic, and Chiara instinctively reached out to block the sword aimed at her. It was a complete mess.
And in the midst of it all, only Julia saw Endymion's eyes.
It was the same eyes she had seen before, like the boiling deep sea.
"You're right-handed."
Endymion pointed his sword coldly at Chiara's palm. Chiara hesitated and looked down at her outstretched hand.
It was a healthy right hand that reacted naturally and unconsciously.
"But why did the Princess hurt her left hand?"
"...!"
Chiara was speechless, looking as if she had been taken aback by the sight. She pursed her lips a few times before quickly coming to her senses and quickly switching hands. But it was already too late.
"It seems like reason has triumphed over instinct."
"Your Majesty! This is just!"
"Or, for example."
Endymion chanted as he sharpened his sword. His voice was like that of a beast, suffocating.
"You cut your left hand with your own right hand."
"Oh, no, that's not it!"
Chiara's voice rose in shock.
But Endymion turned around coldly and faced Julia directly, his lips expressing a cold-blooded punishment.
"Tie it up."
The ice-like walls were curved for just one person.
***
4. My wish is two beds
"It is done, Your Majesty."
The medic carefully took the empty vial.
Julia looked curiously at her wrists and ankles, where the pain seemed to have washed away.
A few minutes ago, she had been in so much pain that she had to be carried by Endymion to the carriage but now he felt like she could do a somersault.
"Your broken bones and muscles have all been restored, but you must recuperate sufficiently. Since the healing potion is an artificial treatment, if you do not increase your body's ability to recover through natural healing, there is a high possibility that aftereffects will occur."
"Yes."
As Julia nodded, the medic who had come running from the hunting grounds bowed and stepped back, eyebrows raised.
"You heard? Don't even think about leaving the bedroom until you're better."
Endymion personally wrapped and tied the bandages around her wrists, his hands as delicate as if he were handling a fragile glass doll. Then, he quickly pulled back the hem of her skirt and began to bandage her ankles as well.
Shudder.
"Why?"
Then Endymion, who had noticed like a ghost, looked up and asked.
The purple and blue eyes were so close that they reflected each other. They were pure and clear eyes. As usual.
"Uh, no."
Julia shook her head slightly, straightening her shoulders that had been hunched without her knowing it. Then she relaxed and placed her ankle in Endymion's hands.
Then as if he had been waiting, Endymion tightly bandaged both of her ankles.
'It must have been my imagination.'
The eyes she saw earlier. The unfamiliar appearance that had changed as if it were someone else's...
'I guess it's because it's my first time seeing such a scene in person.'
Julia thought as she closed the blanket Endymion had placed over her lap.
Well, looking back, his actions earlier were natural. Lady Spare was a traitor who framed the Queen.
However, when he told the knights to drag Chiara out, his gaze was so indifferent that it seemed like he was looking at an animal or an insect, not a human, so for a moment...
"Your Majesty, we will arrive at the palace in three hours. I will increase the carriage speed as much as possible!"
The prepared Sir Tramburn reported. At the same time, Julia suddenly woke up from her slumber. When she came to, she found that a soft cushion had been placed on her waist.
"That can't be true. They're so affectionate."
Julla smiled in gratitude. Endymion responded with delicate eyes and sat down across from her. Then he gave an order through the window.
"We're going to the nearby Duke Hyde's residence. We shouldn't speed up and cause trouble for the Queen."
"Yes. Your Majesty! I will send a messenger to Hyde Manor immediately!"
The Duke of Hyde's house was about forty minutes' walk from here, much closer than the palace, and therefore more suitable for a rest.
After Sir Tramburn saluted, he immediately sent one of the knights off first. Then the royal couple's carriage set off.
***
"Your Majesty!"
Duke Hyde, who had come out to greet them, came running. Julia, who was half-embraced by Endymion and carefully got out of the carriage, greeted him gently.
"Thank you for welcoming me so readily, even though I came suddenly."
"What are you saying? Of course, I should serve you! Your Majesty, are you feeling well?!"
Duke Hyde's eyes widened as he saw the bandages wrapped tightly around both wrists. Julia readily replied, grateful that the Duke was worried about her as if it were her own.
"Yes. Fortunately, thanks to the healing potion..."
But before he could finish speaking, someone passed by. In the noble Duke's residence, no servant would move so hastily. Everyone's head turned, including Julia's.
And...
"Open it!"
"Oh, Duchess?"
"Hurry!"
It was Iris.
Sir Tremburn, who was guarding the small carriage that had been locked tightly, was nervous. Unexpectedly, Iris's face was distorted instead of her usual proud expression.
"Madam, calm down!"
Duke Hyde hurriedly ran over and tried to stop the excited Iris.
"Get out of the way right now, I have something to say to Chiara!"
But it was no use. Pushing away her husband's arm, a sharp voice rose high and high. At the rebuke of the Duchess, the former Princess, Sir Tremburn reflexively looked at Endymion.
Julia, who opened her eyes wide in surprise, also looked back at him. And, as expected, Endymion had an indifferent expression.
"No..."
"Mion?"
Julia intercepted Endymion's attempt to dismiss the idea without a second's hesitation. Endymion blinked down at her.
"Open it. Let me hear what you have to say."
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