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“Killian Haunbert attempted to assassinate the Holy Emperor!”
This was an event that shook the Empire greatly in the original story, and marked the first time Killian faced a serious crisis. As a result of this incident, Killian was bound, and imprisoned in a tower, enduring hardships until Arwen rescued him.
I can’t let that happen.
Elshnain clenched her fists as she glared at the back of the cotton candy haired prince’s head walking briskly ahead of her.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Did I…..Did I do something wrong? Sniff.”
Misinterpreting her gaze, the prince cautiously asked in a cute voice.
“No. I’m just suddenly hungry,” Elshnain replied, shaking her head.
“…..”
For a brief moment, contempt flickered in the prince’s golden eyes, but it quickly shifted into a sparkling look of greed.
“Hehe. My lady sure has a stomach to match her generous spirit! You ate so much earlier, and you’re already hungry again!”
Is he dissing me right now?
She wanted to smack that round head, but since she was currently disguised as his maid she couldn’t.
What a shame.
She could only click her tongue in frustration, and continue walking behind him.
The attendant who had tried to take his gloves was not by his side today, claiming he was assisting the Holy Crown Prince.
So, he’s lost even his servant, huh? It seems his position in the palace is more precarious than I thought.
“Hm-hm. W-Will Father really come out today?” the boy suddenly asked.
I think I’m starting to get used to this prince’s high-pitched voice, which is usually accompanied by a lisp, except when he talks about something superficial. Elshnain thought as she glanced at his deer-like eyes before replying,
“Well, why? Do you want him to come?”
Oh? I had only thought of him as a character obsessed with money, but it seemed he had some genuine affection for his father after all.
“Yes. The stakes are quite high this time,” The prince spoke clearly in a low voice. “I had bet that he would attend the New Year’s celebration last time, but in the end he didn’t come. Tsk. Thanks to that, I lost quite a bit of money.”
He clicked his tongue in disappointment, a sound that didn’t match his cute appearance at all. It looked so strange that Elshnain stumbled for a moment.
So, he made a bet regarding his father’s health?
No wonder the readers didn’t feel sorry for him even when he’s in trouble.
Casting aside the sympathy she had briefly felt for him, Elshnain put a nonchalant expression on her face.
“Your Highness! Please come in. His Highness, the Crown Prince is already seated.”
As she followed him with lighthearted pace, they soon arrived at their destination.
It was a large hall.
In the spacious circular hall, where the Holy Emperor would typically spend time with high-ranking nobles and royalty before bestowing his blessing, many people had already gathered
I’ve never seen them up close before.
Since Elshnain had been busy patrolling the outskirts of the capital, she rarely had the chance to see the royal family. The only one she remembered seeing a couple of times was the designated Holy Crown Prince, Seamus.
With long white hair that reached his waist, loosely tied to the right, he had an appearance that made it hard not to call him beautiful.
“Haha! The prince has arrived,” Seamus said, waving his hand as he spotted his little brother coming in.
While the scene seemed quite friendly, to the prince and Elshnain, who were aware of his dark intentions, it looked as if a devil were chuckling.
So, that’s the kind of person who engages in politics.
His smiling face seemed so warm and inviting. But beneath that facade, he must be plotting how to eliminate Killian.
The Crown Prince was part of a faction that was politically at war with Killian.
No, let’s correct that. While Killian showed no particular interest in him, Seamus designated Killian as his rival, and sought various ways to undermine him from his position as the protector of the Empire.
And that one-sided beef, in turn, naturally led him to ally with the demon clan.”
The Crown Prince of the Holy Empire, teaming up with demons?
Does that even make sense?
Elshnain glanced at Seamus, who was laughing heartily, exchanging pleasantries, and internally grumbled; I should have nipped this in the bud when he was a child.
At the time, she firmly didn’t want to alter the original story, so she had allowed him to live. Now, even if she had come to regret that choice, there was nothing she could do about it.
“Ah, the Guardian is coming in,” someone suddenly half-screamed.
At those words, the cheerful expression on Seamus’ face slightly faltered.
Killian was entering the hall.
“It is the Guardian!”
“He looks as gallant as ever!”
“Ha, but isn’t he a little intimidating?”
The surrounding nobles started whispering among themselves.
“They say he went crazy after Elshnain disappeared.”
“Right? Last time, he took down the king of the neighboring kingdom, Dairn, in one go…”
At this, someone urgently said in a startled voice.
“Hey! Watch your words.”
“Exactly! Although he has shown a slightly different side in recent years, the fact that our Empire is still safe is all thanks to the Protector!”
“That’s right! That’s right!”
Soon, other comments started to float around.
“Well, It doesn’t matter if he’s gone mad. If he becomes my son-in-law, what flaw could there be in that?”
“Oh my, that’s true. By the way, I hear the Guardian has no shortage of marriage proposals?”
“Give up on what?”
“On finding Elshnain,” someone whispered cautiously.
Elshnain, on the other end, felt a shiver run down her spine as she overheard their conversation.
Yikes.
Everyone seemed to know that Killian was chasing after her. How ferociously must he have searched for her for everyone to gossip about it like that?
He really loves Arwen after all.
Although she already knew this, hearing others speak about Killian’s reaction to the whole thing made her realize it all over again.
I seriously need to get back on track with the original story and revive Arwen.
Elshnain gazed at her dear friend Killian, who was more precious to her than anything else, and once again made a firm vow.
***
Killian stood somewhat apart from the crowd of nobles, alone.
Despite having spent eight unstable years that others could easily notice, he dutifully attended every scheduled event that he, as a Guardian, was required to participate in.
It was somewhat amusing that his unwavering commitment to attending all these functions stemmed from the very person who had caused his unstable eight years.
[Killian, they say a position shapes a person.]
[Huh?]
[Ah, maybe that wasn’t the best analogy?]
When she had said to him as a child, he had not yet gotten used to the Guardian title weighing on his shoulders.
[It’s like character, you know? Oh, no, I mean, when a person takes on a certain role… if they don’t fulfill it properly… Ah right, gears! You know gears, right?]
[Gears?]
[Exactly. Gears. They interlock and allow a large machine to function.]
Being a spirit, Elshnain, who had always appeared grown to him even when he was a child, was gesturing with her small hands while looking down at him.
Yet, even though she was bigger than him, he had always thought that she looked quite cute.
[What do you think would happen if one gear stopped moving?]
[..Then the other gears would stop moving too.]
[Exactly. So if we all think of ourselves as gears… if someone doesn’t play their role, then the world won’t function properly, right?]
[Hmm…]
Elshnain, scratching her head as if she couldn’t explain it well, lightly patted my shoulder and added:
[So, being the guardianmeans you’ve just taken on one of those roles as a gear. You just need to be faithful to your designated role.]
[…..]
[Don’t think you have to do it perfectly. Just take it one step at a time.]
Looking at her bright smile, Killian couldn’t help but have an absurd thought that didn’t fit the situation.
What kind of gear would Elshnain be?
And what about himself…?
“I thought I would be the gear that stays by your side for a lifetime,” Killian muttered softly, lightly swirling his wine.
Yes, there was a time when he truly believed that.
“How foolish.”
His voice was icy.
After taking a sip of his wine, he gazed at the opposite side of the hall.
There was a large painting on one of the walls depicting a scene of him, and his comrades fighting against the demons. His attention was drawn to a blue-haired woman, running with water in her hands beside him holding a sword, caught his eye.
It was at that moment, when he couldn’t take his eyes off her and was standing for a long time, that someone approached him.
“Um, Guardian,” the man called, coming closer to him.
“…What is it?”
It was someone he had encountered before.
He seemed to be the cursed prince’s, but judging by his attire today, it would be more appropriate to say that he was the Crown Prince’s person. Servants were supposed to match the color of their master’s clothes, after all. And right now, he was matching with the Crown Prince.
The servant spoke cautiously, his voice slightly trembling, as if he was afraid of Killian.
“I…I think I just saw something really incredible.”
“What did you see?”
“Well, I saw a woman with blue hair at the entrance to the Grand Palace…”
“…Blue hair?”
“Yes!” The servant nodded vigorously, then quickly added, “It seemed like a bit of an urgent situation. I just thought I’d mention it, just in case.”
Upon hearing that, Killian’s expression hardened. Then, he glanced at the bracelet on his arm before looking back at the servant
“Show me the way.”
***
“Ah! Sister! Is it now?”
It was around this time that the prince, who had been exchanging playful banter with Crown Prince in a high-pitched voice, secretly called out Elshnain.
And Elshnain, who had been trailing behind him like a maid while stealing glances at immediately replied, “Yes, it is.”
Pointing with her fingertips at the distant exit, Elshnain looked down at the fluffy white head.
“Let’s go! Cotton candy!”
It was the exit from which Kilian had just left the hall.
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