Chapter 70
Washud slowly let go of Luna’s hands, revealing her hidden feelings.
“Do you resent me?”
“No. Thank you, Washud.”
“…What?”
“After all, you saved me.”
Luna understood. If Washud had been just a little slower, she would have been captured and dragged away by the assailants.
Of course, it would have been better if Washud hadn’t hesitated, but no one is perfect. What mattered was that Washud had ultimately been the one to save her in the end.
Perhaps Luna’s reaction had been unexpected. Washud was silent, staring at Luna without saying another word.
『What on earth were you two talking about, making those serious faces?』
Gar, furrowing his brows, shifted his gaze between their faces like a meerkat. As usual, he was keenly aware of every little thing. Washud narrowed her eyes and turned her attention toward Gar.
『You somehow knew we were talking about the First Prince, huh?』
『What? Not Kadan?』
『Yes, not Kadan, but Gar.』
Washud no longer referred to Kadan as Kurua.
『Is there something to criticize about someone as perfect as me?』
『That’s exactly it.』
Washud shook her head when someone suddenly knocked urgently at the door, requesting to enter. Sensing that the person wasn’t a threat, Gar allowed the visitor in.
As soon as the door opened, a pale-faced Ruth rushed into the room.
“Luna! Are you safe?”
Ruth didn’t bother to show respect to Gar and Washud, rushing over to the bedside in a panic.
Gar tried to stop the unfamiliar person from approaching but found it difficult to do so. The man was wearing clothes that resembled the wings of an insect, and his body was slick with oil.
『What is this guy?』
Gar stepped back, creating distance between himself and Ruth. A chill ran down his spine, and he instinctively grabbed Washud, who was standing beside him.
But Washud was just as unsettled as Gar. She, too, was stiff, her face bright red.
『What are you doing, Washud? Restrain him!』
Gar prodded Washud in the side. Washud immediately followed Gar’s command and lunged at Ruth. She tried to grab his arm and twist it behind his back, but his oil-slicked skin made it impossible to hold him.
What was that strange, pleasant sensation? Washud glanced down at her hand.
『What are you doing, Washud?』
Gar, now clearly frustrated, urged her again. Washud made several more attempts, but Ruth slipped away from her grasp like an eel.
“Hey, lady. I’m not a threat.”
Ruth raised both arms to emphasize that he meant no harm. As his half-transparent clothing shifted, his well-toned stomach became visible. The lace strings below his navel hinted at the unusual undergarments he was wearing.
Washud’s face turned a deep shade of red.
“Wh-what are you?!”
“Huh?”
“…Are you a fairy?”
“Huh?!”
“I’ve never heard of fairies living in the Brillan Kingdom.”
Embarrassed, Washud babbled, not even realizing what she was saying. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t meant the words. She did think Luna and that man were both as beautiful and delicate as fairies.
‘Suddenly, my chest feels tight. Is it heart disease?’
After seeing only the rough, burly Inut men, now that she was faced with a soft and handsome man, her heart was racing uncontrollably.
Washud clutched her chest and stumbled backward and collapsed onto the bed where Luna was lying.
“Washud, are you okay?”
Luna shook Washud’s shoulder, who was unable to tear her eyes away from Ruth, who was still in front of her.
“What’s going on, Luna? This Inut woman is weird.”
Ruth looked at Washud with suspicion.
＊ ＊ ＊
The rebels had begun guerrilla warfare in the capital. It was a delaying tactic. The rebels’ main plan was to enter the royal palace and kidnap the saintess, who was closely tied to the aging Inut Emperor and the second prince.
“It’s the scheduled time. Why hasn’t she shown up?”
One of the rebels, disguised as an Inut soldier, paced nervously by the small hole in the palace wall. It had been over an hour since the messenger sent to relay information about the guerrilla tactics had failed to report back.
Just then, a large shadow loomed overhead.
“Who are you waiting for?”
A voice from behind was friendly and spoke the common tongue fluently. The Inut soldier had heard that the Inut didn’t speak the common tongue, so this had to be an ally.
“Our people haven’t—”
The rebel turned and froze. The second prince of the Inut, Kadan, was holding a knife to his throat. There was no next moment. His head rolled off, his body collapsing with a thud.
『This is the end.』
Kadan exhaled deeply, shaking the blood off his armor.
『Well done.』
Dwabo, stepping over the body, gave a salute. Like Kadan, his entire body was soaked in the blood of the rebels.
『Shall we prepare for the return?』
『I’ll go ahead.』
『Excuse me?』
『I’m in a hurry』
Kadan kicked the small hole in the palace wall with his foot. The bricks above crumbled, revealing a gap large enough for a person to pass through.
“Make sure to repair this later.”
With that, Kadan stepped into the palace. Dwabo, after ordering the soldiers behind him to repair the hole, followed Kadan.
He couldn’t help but wonder why his lord was in such a hurry to return.
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