CH 167

Rian had a disappointed look on his face as he nodded at my words. I’m so thankful that he cared. But my feelings were for someone else now, and I didn’t deserve it. I reminded myself to properly decline his confession and to save my cousin.

***

To save Rey, I took Daisy and walked out of the mansion, disguising it as going out for a walk.

“Did she say she’s taking a walk? How can a person be so cruel? He wasn’t just a knight but her cousin…”

“Shhh! Be quiet! She’s a central officer!”

I heard whispers as they watched me. But I didn’t care. What’s important to me right now is to escape the mansion without being noticed.

“Do we really have to do this, milady?”

I nodded at Daisy’s words. The letter that the Guild Master had sent threatened to take another’s life on top of Rey’s.

You’d better come before the sun sets if you wish to see the dawn of the morning.

My country, the empire, serves the God of the Sky. Therefore we call our emperor, the sun, the empress, the moon, and the future emperor, the crown prince, as the sun of the dawn. The wording he used to tell me to come if I wanted to see the dawn of the morning meant that he’d kill the Crown Prince if I didn’t come. I had no choice.

“Don’t worry. I have to find a way to get us out alive.”

Daisy looked confused at my strange confidence, then enlarged her eyes. “M-Milady!”

I became confused by her sudden stuttering. I tilted my head, and she pointed toward my back with a shocked expression. I turned and saw Beth looking at us with a frown.

“Marin, where are you going?”

Honestly, I was shocked by her sudden appearance, but I pretended to be calm. “I was out on a walk, Your Grace.”

“Don’t lie! You’re going after Rey! Don’t try to lie to me! I knew you were going to do this.”

She sure had a keen eye for catching lies, so I decided to quit acting. No matter what lies I came up with, she was going to try to follow me. “You will only get in the way, Your Grace.”

Even at my cold words, her golden eyes had a certain determination. “Same goes for you too. You had worse grades than me in sword class. Take me with you. I won’t get in the way. Please? Or at least take Mion with you. He’ll be of help.”

At that, I spat sarcasm at her. “Why? Why don’t you go tell His Highness to come too? Your Grace?”

“Marin, please! I’ll persuade Mion. Take me with you. Mion probably can even take on wizards. He’s…”

“He’s- what? Is he a Sword Master or something?”

Nonsense. By wizards, does she mean the ones that are in fairy tales where they shoot fire or create ice? Well, there are summoners, which seem similar in concept, but even that made no sense either. Realistically speaking, what Mion can do is use a bow and sword. Even if his grades in sword class were quite good, they weren’t that exceptional. His archery was exceptional. I give him that. But… I’m pretty sure he won’t be able to defeat an enemy who’s about as strong as an actual Sword Master.

I was about to reject her plea when Beth grabbed both of my hands. “I’m begging you. I have been mean to Rey because he tried to distance himself from me lately. If I can’t see him anymore, I’ll regret it for my entire life. Please. Help me…”

Her plea made me feel sympathetic, but I shook it off. If a fight breaks out, Beth is going to be in danger. That’s why I roughly shook her hands off and declined her once again.