Kyaaa!

Just as the sharp, hooked claws of the demonic beast, which had let out a piercing shriek, were about to strike Vanessa…

An arrow flew in from somewhere and pierced the beast’s leg. Seeing the golden energy imbued in the arrow, Vanessa realized it was shot by Jurgen.

More arrows followed, embedding themselves in the writhing body of the demonic beast in pain. Brilliant golden light shimmered from the arrows that successively pierced its eyeball, neck, and heart.

The demonic beast, which had been trembling with its massive wings spread, soon collapsed with a thud. Blood endlessly flowed from its body, which was undoubtedly dead, soaking the debris of the carriage.

“……”

Someone roughly pulled up Vanessa, who had collapsed with her legs giving out. Staggering as she stood up, Vanessa looked up at the person.

Having somehow rushed over here, Jurgen was holding her arm and looking down at her with a cold face.

Vanessa blankly opened her mouth to call him.

“Duke…”

“Don’t get separated. Stay close to me properly. If you don’t want to die.”

After saying that, Jurgen pulled an arrow from his quiver and nocked it to his bow. Both in his eyes and in the bow and arrow he held, a shimmering golden energy swirled.

He doesn’t seem human at all… Vanessa suddenly thought. Enveloped in light, he looked as grand as a being from mythology.

The arrows that left Jurgen’s hand accurately pierced the vital points of the targets. This happened dozens of times. The horde of demonic beasts that had been endlessly surging forward began to hesitate and retreat. It seemed they had judged that they could not possibly defeat Jurgen and his knights.

Jurgen carefully observed the direction in which the demonic beasts were fleeing. Vanessa, who had been clinging to his back like a limpet, soon came to her senses and slowly distanced herself from Jurgen.

To desperately cling to him as if he were a lifeline… although it was an unavoidable situation… Vanessa fidgeted with her hands, hiding her face that was flushed with embarrassment.

Of course, she didn’t forget to express her gratitude.

“Thank you for saving me, Duke. I owe you my life twice now. …No, is it three times?”

“……”

Jurgen, who she expected would sneer with an obviously ridiculous expression, was strangely silent with an odd look in his eyes. He seemed troubled, and also somewhat irritated.

Vanessa watched his reactions and stood a bit further away. Although the commotion caused by the demonic beasts had been settled, Vanessa’s heart was still pounding loudly due to the scary and unfamiliar experience she had just been through.

Jurgen glanced indifferently at her, who looked as deflated as a borrowed sack of barley, and gave orders to the knights.

“Clean up the surroundings. And send carrier pigeons to inform the capital and Valencia about this incident.”

Apparently accustomed to such chaotic situations, the knights skillfully began to clean up the surroundings.

They gathered and burned the corpses of the dead demonic beasts, and covered the pools of blood on the road with soil. They retrieved the undamaged luggage from the wreckage of the collapsed travel carriage and used the wooden planks as firewood.

On one side, knights who could read and write composed letters and sent them off to the capital and Valencia. Two carrier pigeons that had miraculously survived the chaos fluttered their white wings and melted into the rosy sky.

The reason for informing the capital and Valencia about this incident seemed to be to prevent any potential additional attacks. It would be a disaster if unarmed travelers passing through this main road were to be attacked by demonic beasts.

While the group efficiently carried out their respective tasks, Vanessa crouched in a corner, drawing on the ground with a twig or eavesdropping on the knights’ conversations. Since the commander of the knights, Arthur Cromaine, happened to be nearby, his voice was the most audible.

“This is strange. A demonic beast attacked in such a plain… This main road is supposed to be safe.”

“Could this be due to Her Highness’s misfortune?”

The cheeky one who uttered those annoying words was none other than Garcia. Vanessa glared at him with narrowed eyes. Seeming to feel her gaze, Garcia turned slightly towards her and grinned mischievously.

“Don’t talk nonsense, Garcia. There must be another reason for the demonic beasts’ abnormal movement. …If I had known this would happen, I should have brought a mage. She could easily trace the cause.”

“You mean Jenelly? That reclusive loner is always cooped up in her tower doing research. There’s no way she’d come along on a journey like this.”

“That’s true, but…”

Vanessa had heard about a mage belonging to the Drake family, but she had never met her in person. As Garcia said, it seemed this mage was a reclusive loner who rarely engaged in outside activities.

“Well then, it seems we should get ready to depart again― Your Highness? Please take my hand. This Garcia will serve you wholeheartedly.”

“……”

Garcia, who had quietly approached Vanessa, smiled like a sly snake and extended his hand. Vanessa glared at him fiercely as she stood up. Ignoring his hand, she strode away, causing him to let out an “Oh” and quickly follow after her.

“Your Highness, you can’t just leave me behind. I’m your guard knight, you know.”

“I think it would be better to change my guard knight.”

“What? Why? Where else could you find a knight as skilled as me?”

“You’re too frivolous. You don’t know the first thing about chivalry.”

“Well, that’s because I’m a former battle slave, right? Please take pity on me.”

“Didn’t you say before that you didn’t want sympathy?”

“I thought it might be okay if it’s Your Highness’s sympathy.”

The more Vanessa engaged in this pointless conversation with Garcia, the more she felt her mind becoming hazy. As she glanced back at the annoying chatterbox following closely behind her, Vanessa’s feet got tangled and she bumped into someone.

When she looked up to see who it was, a pair of cold, golden eyes met hers. Vanessa froze, unconsciously flinching.

Jurgen’s chilly voice settled like frost.

“Watch where you’re going.”

“…Sorry.”

Vanessa apologized briefly and subtly averted her gaze. Was it fear? Her heart still raced when she looked at him.

“You’ll ride in the servants’ carriage. Fortunately, that one is intact. It might be uncomfortable, but it’s better than the luggage compartment.”

“Alright.”

Vanessa nodded silently at Jurgen’s unchangingly authoritative order. As she fidgeted with her hands, she suddenly recalled the moment he had saved her. That brilliant golden light.

When she fell into the lake due to Escal’s scheme, and when she was attacked by the demonic beast… He didn’t let her die.

This fact made Vanessa feel conflicted.

“Um, Duke…”

Vanessa called out to Jurgen as he was about to turn away after glancing at her. His gaze fell on her indifferently, as if asking what she wanted to say. Vanessa hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Even if I ask why you hate me, you won’t tell me the reason right away, will you?”

“……”

His existence was a puzzle thrown before her. Vanessa vaguely guessed that he wouldn’t explain, that she had to find the answer herself.

This time too, as expected, Jurgen chose silence instead of answering her question.

Vanessa gazed blankly at his back as he turned away without a word. A man who suddenly appeared in her life one day. He saved her from the hellish hands of Leroy Terevron, but for some reason, he hated her and said he would break her… this mysterious man…

He said the reason for the abduction, for wanting to marry her and keep her by his side, was revenge and punishment, but…

Is that really all there is to it…?

…She might not be able to find the answer right away, but one thing seemed certain.

Jurgen Drake― he didn’t just hate her.

✦ ✦ ✦

Brigenz, the capital of the Cartes Empire.

This city, built on the foundation of the old kingdom’s capital that existed in this place over two hundred years ago, was the undisputed center of the Astra continent.

As the city where the Emperor, the most powerful figure in Astra, resided, Brigenz was majestic, splendid, sophisticated, and clean.

To have even a slight connection with the Emperor, notable power holders from all over Astra often maintained their townhouses in Brigenz.

Among them, in the so-called ‘prime location’ of the central residential area closest to the imperial palace.

The Drake family’s townhouse was located right there.

‘…It’s incredible.’

That was Vanessa’s brief and honest impression upon seeing the Drake family’s townhouse.

A grand mansion that gave an imposing feeling and a vast garden beautifully and tastefully landscaped. This level was on par with a royal villa. No, depending on the case, it might even be more impressive.

Vanessa, who had stopped in her tracks as soon as she got out of the carriage, soon began to carefully move her steps while looking around.

Although she couldn’t see the flowers because it was winter, judging from the climbing roses and lilac trees placed here and there, it seemed that a spectacular scene of blooming flowers could be seen if one came in early summer.

“There’s a tulip garden in the backyard. There’s also a greenhouse, but it’s not maintained now.”

“I see…”

Renee, who was walking beside her, kindly informed her, and Vanessa nodded while admiring the scenery. Garcia was following a little distance behind.

“It might be difficult to tour the mansion right away, so would you like to take a bath and rest first?”

“Yes, please prepare the bath first. And, Sir Garcia.”

Garcia raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised when his name was suddenly called. Vanessa turned to him and commanded with her own form of consideration.

“You don’t need to guard me here, so you should go and rest too. I’ll call if I need you.”

“Hmm… Thank you for your words, but…”

Garcia trailed off, glancing at Jurgen who was some distance away. He was in the middle of a conversation with the caretaker of this mansion.

Vanessa side-eyed Garcia, who was obviously watching Jurgen’s reaction, and snapped at him with feigned sharpness.

“Do as you please. Just keep in mind that you smell because you haven’t washed properly during the journey.”

“What? Smell?”

Garcia jumped in shock and then lifted his arm to sniff it. Vanessa ignored him and entered the mansion with Renee. Judging by the groan-like scream she heard from behind, it seemed Garcia had finally realized his unkempt state.

In the end, Garcia returned to Vanessa’s side around five o’clock that afternoon. He looked neat, having bathed thoroughly, combed his hair properly, and changed into new clothes.