Chapter 41
My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I looked out the window. A group of men clad in gleaming armor, so out of place against the backdrop of this humble village, stood before the inn, torches blazing in their hands.
The ornate imperial crest, shaped like a lotus flower, was unmistakable even in the darkness.
‘What are the Imperial Knights doing here?’
‘Jumping out the window… No, that won’t work. Ugh…’
This place didn’t have any secret passages like the temple. I bit my nails. A frantic knocking, as unsteady as my pounding heart, cut through the silence.
“A-Are y-you a-asleep?” It was the innkeeper’s shaky voice. “S-Someone… wants to s-see you…” His desperate tone, like a drowning man gasping for air, compelled me to open the latched door just a crack. The innkeeper’s face was on the verge of tears.
“I-I’m so sorry, but… s-someone… is here to see you…”
“Alright.”
How could I, in good conscience, ignore his desperate plea? Besides, escape seemed impossible. After sending the innkeeper away, his face brightened as if grasping at straws, I descended the creaking stairs of the ramshackle wooden building.
I stopped midway, the scene below catching my eye. The two mercenaries Reynard had assigned to me were kneeling on the floor, looking utterly defeated. They were supposed to be among the best of the Black Eagle Mercenary Company, handpicked by Reynard for me.
Clearly, they were no match for the dozen or more Imperial Knights. The man who had ordered them bound and kneeling sat with his legs crossed, slowly turning his head to look at me. His golden hair shimmered brilliantly even under the dim candlelight of the small inn.
His angelic face, like something out of a holy painting, clashed starkly with the shabby surroundings. Just as I had been captivated when I saw him standing next to Hestia, his outward appearance was undeniably flawless.
“Did you enjoy your outing?”
“…Your Highness.”
“I hope you did. It’s best to savor your last outing, so you won’t have any regrets when you can’t go out anymore.”
Clovis offered a sardonic smile. My immediate defiance at his words was a testament to my own will. I suddenly recalled the High Priest’s words, comforting me that my will was also the will of the gods. Clenching my fists, I continued down the stairs and bowed my head to Clovis.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit to such a humble place?”
“I came to see Baron Mason. I don’t know if you’re aware, but the residual monsters are causing quite a commotion. Concerned for the empire, I thought I’d take the initiative and gather our forces as soon as possible.”
“I see. It’s a shame he isn’t here. I’m afraid your journey might be in vain.”
“It’s alright. Instead, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting these mercenaries from the Black Eagle Mercenary Company, who have been so busy lately that it’s been difficult to even request their services.”
Thwack!
Clovis’s long leg lashed out, kicking one of the kneeling men mercilessly. The man groaned in pain.
“If they hadn’t attacked me first, I would have offered them employment.”
“.…”
“So, why are you here? Did you misunderstand what Mother said?”
‘Ugh… that politician.’
My fingernails dug into my palms as I clenched my fists. I lifted my head and met his gaze. “How did you find me?”
“You don’t want me to beat around the bush?” Clovis chuckled and raised a hand. With a casual gesture, the knights bowed in unison and filed out of the inn, dragging the two battered mercenaries along with them. The inn, once filled with the towering figures, now felt like a desolate square.
In the sudden quiet, Clovis rose from his rickety wooden chair and approached me. Despite my best efforts, my shoulders instinctively hunched.
“Interfering with the Grand Temple’s information network is difficult, even for me. Not impossible, of course, but there’s a delicate balance between power and authority. So…”
“Oof!”
Clovis gripped my chin, forcing my head up. His touch was rough, his unchecked emotions seeming to concentrate in his grasp.
“I had people tail those who might know your whereabouts.”
“….”
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