VII. A Confession Filled with Courage

The carriage carrying Estelle passed through the massive castle gates and rushed toward the plaza. Perhaps because it was a luxurious and sturdy carriage, there was no shaking inside even when traveling over uneven roads.

Estelle rested her arm on the window and propped her chin with a comfortable expression. The leisurely passing scenery was incredibly peaceful.

Jeff, who had been anxiously watching her in the uncomfortable silence, finally spoke up.

“I… I heard you were injured. Are you alright?”

“……”

Estelle, who had been scanning the outside, turned her head to stare at Jeff. His eyes, tinged with the energy of fresh greenery, were full of innocence. Despite his reputation as the most sociable of the Guardians with his usual well-mannered demeanor, Duke Alexis was actually quite timid in nature.

And Estelle, who had seen him more closely, knew that Jeff was a bashful person who found it difficult to interact with others.

“Yes, I’m fine. The doctor said I wouldn’t have any problems with a long journey as long as I don’t stand in one position for too long. Though riding on horseback would be impossible.”

Jeff asked, surprised,

“You know how to ride horses?”

His expression suggested he couldn’t imagine someone with a body that looked like it would break if squeezed lightly riding a horse.

“Noble daughters learn horseback riding just like the sons do.”

“That’s true, but……”

Estelle knew what he meant by trailing off. Horseback riding was a skill learned by children from wealthy families. It would be surprising that the daughter of Count Arcis, a fallen noble family without enough money to even rent a carriage, would possess such an accomplishment.

“I learned at the imperial palace. I wanted to improve my inadequate background and criticized refinement by learning something. Of course… it didn’t work at all on those who just wanted to slander me. No matter how excellently I jumped obstacles with my riding skills, they cursed me as vulgar. Said it was a skill I learned in bed or something.”

“…Pardon?”

Estelle added a curse under her breath, and Jeff looked as if he might have misheard.

“I have a knack for physical activities despite my appearance. It may seem laughable to Your Highness, but I even learned a bit of swordsmanship. With this body, I wouldn’t look as impressive as before, but I still remember the forms. I was trained rigorously.”

Did she mean she learned it as a child? Jeff tilted his head slightly.

“Who taught you?”

“I learned from the most famous knight in the Empire. Sir Felix.”

“Felix… you mean you learned directly from the commander  of His Majesty the Emperor’s royal guard?”

“Yes. Unlike his reputation, he’s a mean person who threw away the spirit of chivalry. Later, he even betrays the Emperor and becomes a dog who licks Lexion’s boots. Oh, not literally licking—it’s a metaphorical expression.”

Estelle laughed, amused, but Jeff didn’t know how to respond and looked dumbfounded.

“That monster doesn’t need protection, right? There’s a knight order called the Charles Knights that Lexion created, and they handled all his messy affairs. For example, clearing away the corpses he killed, or sending bouquets to his women.”

“……”

Jeff now looked completely awkward, like a broken person. Setting aside how she spoke of the imperial family like she’s calling a friend, she was casually saying outrageous things.

“I didn’t know the sacred Charles Knights handled such trivial matters, but later I discovered that Maria and I received cards with identical messages. When I checked, the lilies he sent were Sir Felix’s favorite flowers.”

Estelle snorted as if dumbfounded.

“Isn’t it funny that he sent lilies, which symbolize unchanging pure love, to two different women? I was suspicious when I received flowers that didn’t match him at all—someone who wouldn’t mind rolling around like a rag to make children… to think even Sir Felix was toying with me.”

“……”

Was she playing a joke on him? Jeff now had his mouth slightly open, just listening to Estelle’s angry outburst.

“I quit sword lessons after that. I treated Sir Felix with sincerity, but it was returned with betrayal… I was too hurt. Well, it was my own ignorance to expect sincerity from a bat-like person who even betrayed the Emperor. So I quit before learning anything properly, not even proper thrusting……”

Estelle’s words were quite specific to be completely made up.

“I had a weapon I cherished at that time. It was a rapier shaped like this… a gift from Lexion, but I was so angry that I ordered a knight to throw it into a furnace. And then……”

By this point, Jeff seriously wondered if she might have developed mental problems from the accident.

The carriage entered a street lined with colorful, splendid shops. Estelle glanced out the window and said,

“Thank you.”

“Uh… pardon?”

“You brought me here to buy clothes after seeing my terrible appearance, right? I won’t decline. I like pretty, expensive things too. I’m not without material desires.”

“……”

“I skipped breakfast because of the quarrel with Lexion, so how about we have a meal? We’ll arrive at the inn after more than half a day, but the food at that restaurant is terrible and causes stomach upset. It would be good to pack some food in advance.”

Jeff, who had been frozen and just blinking, forgot that he needed to escort her until she opened the carriage door herself and stepped out.

“Ah, Lady Arcis!”

Belatedly coming to his senses, Jeff hurriedly followed after her.

* * *

The Emperor received the bow handed to him by his attendant and looked at the target set up in the distance. The concentric circles covered with cloth were so far away that they appeared only as large as a palm.

“What are you thinking?”

The Emperor asked Lexion, who was standing beside him, with eyes full of anger.

“What are you talking about?”

Lexion pretended not to know and extended his hand to the attendant. His custom-made bow, designed for hunting beasts, settled onto his firm palm. It was a bow three spans longer and heavier than ordinary ones.

“I received a report that the Saintess safely escaped the imperial palace.”

Lexion, who had been lightly flicking the bowstring with his index finger to check its elasticity, let out an “Ah” of admiration.

“Her recovery ability was quite good.”

“Are you…… trying to play word games with me right now?”

“Word games? How could I possibly jest with the Emperor?”

“Then explain yourself!”

“I told you already. Being the Saintess, her recovery ability is extraordinary.”

“You—!”

The Emperor, about to roar in anger, smoothed out the deep wrinkles on his forehead, perhaps conscious of watching eyes.

“Hmph!”

Despite the Emperor’s furious demeanor, Lexion calmly nocked an arrow. Aiming at the target, he drew the bowstring with his long fingers with prominent knuckles.

Twang!

Cutting through the air in a parabolic trajectory, the arrow flew smoothly and embedded itself precisely in the center of the target.

A servant approached the target to confirm the score and waved a red flag, prompting applause from the onlookers.

Lexion didn’t forget to flash a charming smile at the nobles watching from beyond a certain distance, holding parasols.

“Did you not understand what I said before?”

The Emperor, drawing his bow with a posture belying his age, also sent his arrow into the red center.

“I took Your Majesty’s wise counsel to heart.”

“Then for what reason do you hesitate! Perhaps it has something to do with the rumors circulating in the palace?”

“……”

Instead of answering, Lexion drew his bowstring. Again, it was a perfect hit. The fluttering flag reminded him of a woman’s dress hem. Suddenly recalling Estelle who had left without looking back, Lexion briefly frowned. Lost in thought as the Emperor took his shot, Lexion eventually displayed a cynical smile.

Yes, go ahead and run. It will bring greater satisfaction than hunting prey that stands still.

“Lexion.”

The Emperor, sensing unease, pressed him.

“Have you truly given your heart to that woman? Would you risk ruining everything because of a woman, even after seeing what happened to your brother?”

“Mother has been quite concerned.”

“What……? What are you suddenly talking about?”

“She mentioned that a female cat has entered the palace and is making the court atmosphere indecent.”

Lexion referred to the Emperor’s new concubine. Unlike other concubines who had been cautious due to fear of the Empress, she openly flaunted the Emperor’s favor.