Chapter 97

The knights had prepared for the monster-infested forest in their own way, throwing sachets filled with scents that monsters detested.

Contrary to the heavy atmosphere, the monsters fell so easily that the knights looked somewhat dejected. However, a persistent wyvern continued to pursue us until the end. If anything, it was busy slaughtering other flying monsters as if warning them not to interfere with its prey.

The Wyvern doggedly tracked us and blocked our path. Realizing we couldn’t go on like this, Evan set me down in front of a knight who had been fleeing with us.

“Stay here. I don’t particularly trust you, but… please look after Lep.”

“Y-yes, sir…!”

Even though he was walking boldly toward a monster at least ten times his size, I wasn’t worried. As if everything up until now had been a mere prank, Evan leaped lightly into the air and landed on the wyvern’s back. Startled, the wyvern soared higher, but Evan was faster. Instead, he used its wings as a foothold to leap even higher. With the sharp ring of a blade being drawn, Evan struck down the wyvern’s long neck with the back of his sword. The wyvern let out a shriek and crashed to the ground.

The knights stood frozen like stone statues, watching Evan.

“A S-Sword…!”

Unable to finish the word “Master,” they all fell silent. The atmosphere was so tense it felt as if someone might faint from the shock at any moment. When Evan approached me, the knight who had been protecting me bowed 90 degrees, showing a level of loyalty as if he were ready to give his life for Evan, completely forgetting that Evan had just been a potential threat to his pride moments ago.

“T-The Young Lady is safe!!”

‘Of course she is. It was over in a flash…’

In my mind, it hadn’t even taken a minute. Evan glanced over the knight and immediately checked on me.

“You weren’t scared?”

I shook my head. As we moved further away from the place where the flute had been blown, the appearance of monsters decreased, as the forest creatures were flocking toward that specific spot.

The entrance was a scene of chaos. People were clashing—some insisting they had to rush in to rescue us immediately, while others argued they should prepare thoroughly first since they didn’t know what was happening inside. Fortunately, the coachman had requested help quickly, so the Ducal knights seemed to be mostly unharmed.

“You’re all safe!”

“Lord Evan! Lady Lepina!”

The knights spotted us emerging from the forest and ran toward us. Those who realized we were unharmed let out sighs of relief.

“I… I’m so sorry, My Lady… I was right there with you… hic…”

I had to work hard to soothe Fran, whose eyes were as swollen as a goldfish’s—whether from being scolded or from crying alone, I wasn’t sure.

“Lep sprained her ankle. Fetch a physician.”

“Y-Yes! I’ll go right away!”

Once we were out of the forest, Hedeis regained consciousness and was safely transferred to the guards. Having lost the will to resist, he didn’t even struggle. Of course, his mouth was still working. Even as he was dragged away by the guards, he made a scene, claiming it was all a misunderstanding and shouting for them to arrest Evan for threatening his life, but it was useless.

The knights testified truthfully to the guards. After all, their employer had essentially tried to kill them. We underwent a brief interrogation and returned home safely.

However, news that I had been attacked by bandits had already reached the house. Though they must have also heard I was safe, the fact that an attack occurred remained unchanged.

Piote grumbled that this year was cursed with bad luck. Upon hearing of the attack, my mother told me not to go outside at all, and my father, knowing Evan was involved, was furious, blaming it all on “that brat.”

“I thought you were a devoted daughter, but it turns out you’re a troublemaker…”

I thought I was doing my part by taking care of myself and earning a decent amount of money, but when it came to my safety, I had no excuses.

“So please, be careful!”

“Ugh…”

I was scolded by Mary.

“By the way, why isn’t Evan here? Didn’t he say he was coming?”

I was once again placed under house arrest disguised as medical recuperation. I had just received a letter saying Evan would visit our mansion today to see me.

“I know. He should be here by now…”

“Let’s head out for a bit to get some fresh air.”

“Pardon? But your ankle…”

I moved carefully, leaning on the crutches beside me. And then, I witnessed it: the sight of Evan and my father in a scuffle.

“Father!”

“Le-Lepina!”

If I hadn’t received Evan’s letter, I wouldn’t have known they were wrestling at the main gate. It seemed my father, who was heading out on business, ran into Evan at the entrance, and the two were locked in a war of nerves.

“What are you doing here? Weren’t you busy? Evan, come on in.”

I brought my displeased father and Evan inside. My father was so offended by Evan that he wouldn’t even look him in the eye.

“It is my fault that Lep was put in danger. But no matter what happens in the future, I will protect her, so do not worry, Father-in-law.”

“F-Father-in-law?!”

Upon hearing Evan’s words, my father nearly collapsed, clutching the back of his neck. Piote looked like he had given up, signaling for them to handle it themselves.

“We are scheduled to have our engagement ceremony soon. Surely you know the weight of that ceremony? Calling you ‘Father-in-law’ now is just to get used to the title early, isn’t it?”

“W-Who gave you permission?!”

“For your information, my mother is already calling her ‘daughter-in-law.’ My father will also correct his form of address soon. You may call me ‘son-in-law’ as well, Father-in-law. What do aristocratic ranks matter between us?”

At Evan’s nonchalant face, my father let out a roar.

“I have no such son-in-law!!”

“Ahaha, what a joke. We’ve been close since we were children.”

Evan endured my father’s harsh words with a persistent smile. Though that seemed to make my father even angrier… I used my body to nudge my father away.

“Why are you being like this! It’s not Evan’s fault I got hurt. If anything, he protected me!”

“…D-Daughter…”

“Do you know how amazing Evan is? He’s a Spirit Summoner and a Sword Master. That’s the man who’s going to be my husband. Plus, he’s from a Ducal house!”

Wow. Listing it out like that, I really have hit the jackpot in life…

“It’s not like you’re marrying Evan, Father! And it’s still a long way off, so why are you being so hostile already!”

I practically pushed my father out, telling him to hurry along. After closing the door, I let out a sigh and wiped the sweat from my forehead. Evan approached me and asked in a slightly dejected voice.

“Lep, is marriage still a ‘long way off’ for us?”

“Uh…? Oh, no! That was just to calm my father down!”

If anything, I was thinking quite positively about it…

“I know.”

Evan laughed, saying he was just teasing, and I led him to the drawing room, asking if his legs were tired from standing so long.

“By the way, what happened to Count Peralt?”

“His title was stripped. To put it nicely, he was divorced.”

The Peralt title originally belonged to his wife’s family. Since the Weiss Ducal line was inherited by Evan’s father, the Count had married into the family.

“If they divorce, doesn’t he lose the name Peralt?”

I was confused because I hadn’t heard of a case like this before.

“We can’t let a man like that keep the name. He was given a small estate. He’s no longer a Count.”

“Well, that’s a fitting punishment.”

It was only natural since he had targeted someone’s life. But Evan didn’t seem satisfied.

“I earnestly requested a much harsher punishment, but my father stopped me.”

“Huh? What kind of punishment did you want?”

Evan only gave a thin smile. What? What kind of punishment did he have in mind?

“More importantly, has there been any word from the Emperor? My father was worried. I heard His Majesty is furious. Between your achievement in successfully presenting the Bellian seeds and securing the contract, the revelation that I am a Sword Master, and Bastien bringing the rain…”

“Is it because Prince Fedeshar didn’t have a chance to shine?”

“Something like that. I didn’t plan on being found out this early, but it seems as soon as he realized I’m a Sword Master, he intended to recruit me to his faction before the Empress’s side could get to me. Not that I have any intention of joining the Empress’s side…”

I sipped my tea and thought to myself.

‘He’s completely fallen out with Bastien. Well, it makes sense…’

“My father is blocking him for now, but we don’t know what excuse he’ll use to summon me or you. We need to be careful just in case. I’m doing my own investigation, so it will be over soon.”

“Huh?”

“Everything. I’m going to end this damn struggle for the throne once and for all.”

I wanted to hear more, but Evan changed the subject, saying we should stop talking about such things. It seemed the Ducal house was planning to make a move… judging by Evan’s attitude, it wouldn’t be for Bastien. Does that mean they intend to support Fedeshar? My head began to ache as the situation diverged further and further from the original story.

***

“Is that the truth?”

“Yes, it is. They say it was Her Majesty the Empress who ordered the assassination of Lord Evan…”

The knight following Rishana lowered his head, acting like a sinner. Rishana ground her teeth.

“I would never issue such an order!”

Rishana massaged her throbbing forehead. Then, with smoldering eyes, she glared at the distant palace. She stared at the palace of Bastien, who had instigated the people. She had used his feelings for Lady Clies to fuel his ambition for the throne, but she hadn’t expected it to flow in such a negative direction. She didn’t like how Bastien was acting—slipping out from under her thumb.

‘And here I thought I had a firm grip on him!’

As soon as Rishana arrived at Bastien’s palace, she scanned the surroundings. Normally, her people would have been stationed everywhere, but as if to signal his intent to make Fedeshar the Crown Prince, the Emperor had decisively cut away her servants.