Chapter 100
Killian said, putting more pressure on the hand holding Sophia.
“Killian, aren’t you quite busy?”
“I can make a brief stop on my way back to the military police headquarters.”
“Killian, I feel so weak…”
Sophia subtly urged Killian and gently pushed him.
“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
“No, Sophia. Go and take some rest.”
Then the Empress let go of the two, telling them to go quickly.
Supported by Killian, Sophia moved her steps.
Killian asked a servant to arrange for his horse to be taken to the military police headquarters and prepared a carriage for Sophia.
Soon, the coachman pulled up the carriage in front of the palace, and Sophia, supported by Killian, got on.
The coachman set off towards the Fraus estate.
However, unexpectedly.
“Are you okay, Killian?”
As if nothing had happened, she, with a perfectly fine face, turned to worry about Killian instead.
‘I expected it to be acting.’
‘But I still don’t know what to do with this bold and cheeky woman.’
“As soon as you go in, treat your legs first. Do you understand?”
“…Shouldn’t you be the one receiving the treatment?”
“What?”
When Sophia looked at him with innocent eyes, he grabbed her forearm.
His gaze was fixed on her elbow.
The elbow had a slight scrape, and there was a bit of blood, but it was just a minor wound.
It seemed to be a wound from when she fell on the grass earlier…
“You want me to treat this?”
Sophia asked Killian, pointing alternately between her own injury and Killian’s thigh, using her fingers.
Comparing such a minor injury to Killian’s injury felt absurd to her.
However, Killian’s expression was very serious.
“If left untreated, it could get infected.”
“Hey, I may not know much because I’ve never seen such a trivial injury before, but you don’t get infections from something like this. It’s not that serious to worry about infections from such a minor injury.”
“Still…”
“Let’s just go along with your worries, shall we?”
With that, Sophia reached her hand outside the carriage and called the coachman.
“It seems there is an urgent matter for the Grand Duke. You should probably go to the Grand Duchy first. Visit Fraus after going to the Grand Duchy.”
“Yes, miss.”
Upon Sophia’s command, the carriage, originally heading towards the Viscount’s residence, changed its direction.
“Sophia!”
“I can easily go home alone. So don’t worry, go in and take care of yourself. I’ll go in and properly treat this elbow.”
Sophia spoke, tapping her minor injury.
Killian couldn’t find a way to persuade this stubborn and determined fiancée.
How does such stubbornness come from such a fragile body.
Just like Ian Fraus, does Sophia also have the blood of a brave and bold knight flowing in her veins?
Certainly, there didn’t seem to be any signs of a knightly spirit in the Count Fraus.
“Your Excellency, but why were you at the palace today? Isn’t it a busy time at the military police?”
“I am very busy.”
“But why at the palace…?”
“There was the most urgent, top-priority task among the tasks assigned to me.”
Killian spoke with tension in his eyebrows.
His gaze dug into her persistently.
Indeed, he intentionally came to see her. Was he concerned about the meeting between Estelle and the Empress?
“Was I untrustworthy?”
‘Are you afraid that you won’t be able to protect Estelle properly?’
In response to Sophia’s question, Killian nodded.
“You couldn’t betrustworthy. You are the fiancée who completely forgot our promise today.”
He didn’t visit the palace for Estelle, but because he was worried about Sophia.
Just the fact that she was going to meet the Empress made him so uneasy.
Having lost Fideut and Percel before, he feared he might not be able to protect Sophia.
There used to be no such fear before, but since meeting Sophia, it seems like he’s becoming more and more of a coward.
Fortunately, there were no schemes from the Empress that he was worried about, but he didn’t expect the magical beast to escape.
“I can’t believe you don’t trust your fiancee.”
“…I will forever doubt you. Whether you get hurt, whether you feel pain, or something dreadful happens while I can’t protect you. I will doubt you for the rest of my life until I see it with my own eyes.”
Killian spoke with his long eyelashes lowered.
“It’s my inevitable paranoia.”
Fideut, Percel, Nicholas, and Liam… and in the distant past, it’s the disease his parents instilled in him.
Even if he tries to cure it, this anxiety disorder is not easily healed.
Not long ago, Sophia started appearing in nightmares that he had often had since he was young.
In the dream, those he loved slowly departed.
And in the end, Sophia leaves.
Because he couldn’t protect her.
Because of his helplessness.
In the nightmares, Sophia resented him, disappearing silently like smoke, or tearing his heart to shreds, wordlessly.
When he woke up from the nightmares, his back was drenched in sweat, and his hands, once pale, trembled.
And he feared that the recurring nightmares might turn into prophecies.
To the point where closing his eyes became terrifying…
Unaware of this, Sophia listened to his heartbeat.
It’s not that she didn’t understand his heart, but he hated that side of Sophia.
Hating her, he had to love her even more intensely.
“I… hope you won’t leave me.”
“I won’t. Never.”
“…”
In response to Sophia’s words, he bit his lip and shook his head.
His expression clearly conveyed his anxiety.
“I won’t make you uneasy from now on. If there’s ever a decision worth worrying about, I’ll make sure to tell you.”
Sophia interlocked her fingers with his, and Kilian couldn’t help but feel comforted by her warmth.
The time spent with her was too precious to let it slip away with exhaustive arguments and worries.
“Oh, by the way, wasn’t there a competition scheduled between the Military Police and Ruchtainer on the last day of the founding festival?”
Sophia suddenly remembered.
“Did they cancel that competition?”
The reason she asked about this schedule was because of Ian.
The Military Police had been extremely busy recently, and given the rumours about the murderer, it wasn’t the atmosphere for a friendly competition.
However, Ian seemed more excited and joyful during the drills than before.
“…It hasn’t been canceled.”
Kilian’s response widened her eyes.
“It hasn’t been canceled? Why?”
“They say in the imperial palace, facing off against the best swords in the empire in the Black Moon arena is a way of showing defiance to the Black Moon.”
“That’s one way to see it… But you’re not personally participating in the competition, are you, Your Excellency?”
Sophia asked, relaxing.
If Kilian was a thoughtful person, he would surely not participate.
“I will participate.”
“What?!”
Sophia looked at him with her mouth agape.
“It’s unavoidable.”
“Unavoidable! How can it be unavoidable? There are so many knights in the Military Police!”
Sophia countered, as if she couldn’t accept it.
“People have already decided they want to see the showdown between the Military Police and Ruchtainer. Moreover, even in the imperial palace, they wish for my participation.”
Kilian spoke about the orders that came down from the imperial palace.
Furthermore, now that the competition has been significantly scaled down, what people desire most is the duel between Kilian and Ian.
If he refuses to participate here, it will be problematic.
It would be better to say that the military police are afraid of Ruchtainer.
(T/L: Here it is said in a criticizing tone.)
“Until now, I’ve been able to stay out of the Military Police’s investigations because I’ve faithfully fulfilled my duties as the head of the Military Police.”
If he rejects this, it might give them a reason to investigate him. Especially if the Empress already has suspicions about him.
But Sophia shook her head vigorously.
“No! Cancel it! Absolutely don’t go!”
“Sophia.”
“What if you get caught? Fighting with that leg, is that a sensible thing to do?”
Sure, let’s overlook the fact that he’ll get more wounds and worsen the inflammation by conceding for a while.
But will he reveal his true skills by fighting with that leg? Moreover, what if he makes a mistake and the wound bursts?
It’s like revealing to the whole world that he is the Black Moon.
‘Why did this event, which wasn’t in the original work, happen?’
Sophia was angry about why such an event occurred.
“Who’s to blame for all this happening?”
‘Whose fault is it? It’s my fault…!’
The only thing that changed from the original is Sophia, so every change is because of her.
Sophia lamented, beating her chest, realizing that her fluttering action led to this.
“Don’t worry. I have a plan too.”
“Your Excellency, I may not like my brother, but Ian is much stronger than you think.”
As far as Sophia knows, he is one of the two people in the original who can confront Killian.
Mikhail and Ian Fraus.
Of course, Ian’s importance in the story was not properly portrayed, but his skill was outstanding in both the original and the current story.
The current commander of Ruchtainer is also entering the twilight of his career, crossing the age of sixty.
Although he leads Ruchtainer based on long experience, respect from the knights, and accumulated wisdom, when it comes to skill alone, Ian has already surpassed him.
And Ian will become even stronger.
He is only nineteen, and there is still time for his body to fully mature.
But to face him with an injured leg?
It’s absolutely impossible.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TRANSLATOR:
Read exclusive chapters (101, 102, 103, 104, 106, 107) on ‘Patreon’ (click on the image for the link)
If you find any mistakes, please let me know in the comment section. Happy reading : )
