CH 58.1

“…All right. Then I’ll start digging who’s behind this first. And in case something goes wrong with your body, I will send a person from the Medical Bureau right away.”

Iveca nodded, thinking that he should show Reina to the Medical Bureau first. Daniel made a face that he was unhappy until the end and eventually turned around at Iveca’s unwavering expression. Hugging an unconscious assassin, an escort warrior lifted him up, and they disappeared like a tide like the way they appeared.

Daniel glared at Sid and Reina once as a warning until he left the room. Afterwards, Iveca slowly approached Reina and wrapped the bandage around her arm more tightly.

“The Bureau of Investigation is really weird,” Iveca began. She knew that there was no hesitation in Reina to come forward as soon as the assassin rushed in. Iveca suddenly wrinkled her nose. “During the first attack, you also saved me without taking care of yourself like this.”

“It was all for the Queen. I told you before.”

It must have been quite painful, but without making a single moan, Reina just stared at Iveca’s eyes.

“…Pardon?”

“We don’t even trust His Majesty when it comes to the Queen’s safety. I’m sure you’ll be in a lot of danger, but I just decided that I needed to be more vigilant. I thought that we had no choice but to stick together and protect the Bureau of Investigation staff. Rather than being mere bystanders, we have strengthened our guard by decorating your work before the full-fledged attack. In fact, there was a poisoning conspiracy shortly after. Everyone was nervous with the first attack…”

Iveca looked at her blankly, silent for a moment, before finally muttering: “Why… Why are you guys protecting me? If I had judged that it was dangerous, I would have strengthened my escort by telling His Highness. The reason why the Bureau of Investigation has to come forward like this was…”

“The Queen already knows why,” Sid intervened.

“What?”

“One. We cherish our colleagues, protect, and trust each other even in the face of death. You even memorized it.”

Iveca’s hands trembled as her head seemed to ring.

“We will never forget that the Queen was with the Bureau of Investigation before,” said Reina. “It was not because of your status as Queen. We still think that the Queen is a colleague of the Bureau of Investigation, so we decided to protect her by ourselves.”

Iveca had never thought of that. She had never imagined that the people of the Bureau of Investigation would still consider her their colleague and acknowledge her as a member of the organization. Familiar with being kicked out, she had always thought that she was kicked out of the Bureau of Investigation or that she ran away as she could not stand it.

Reina got mad at her for not seeing anything else. It couldn’t be helped. It was a hypothesis that could not be established in the first place, because she didn’t think that the Bureau of Investigation would work for her. It wasn’t within her imagination that someone was doing it for her behind her back.

“Yesterday, I said it was not the Queen, but Reina who was my colleague. That’s a slip of a tongue. The Queen is also my colleague. That’s a fact that doesn’t change,” spoke Sid.

“Ha, but the Bureau of Investigation is not pleased with the existence of the Constitution,” replied Iveca.

“It was decided by the King and Queen of Amethan. The purpose of our existence is not power, but the well-being of our Kingdom. Of course, I’m going to follow it.” Reina sullenly added, gazing into the purple eyes of Iveca which was still in shock. “As long as the Queen does not kill us, we will never harm the Queen.”

“But I am no longer a member of the Bureau of Investigation… why…”

“There are memories we had together. I don’t think the Queen has it. We can give our lives to the Queen just by remembering those memories despite one-sidedly.”

It felt like she was overwhelmed with warmth inside her heart. Iveca never thought that she would be receiving such consideration and favor. She had never experienced such loyalty, so she only had doubts.

“When I was there… were I a good employee?” she asked.

“Absolutely. Even now, when it comes to assassination, you have a better sense than us.”

“Then, were… were I a good, good colleague?”

“No.” Reina replied, wiping away her tears. “From a certain point, you became a colleague who really broke my heart. Just looking at you makes me sad… I just want to keep telling you not to worry. It’s okay…”

“Reina.” Iveca looked at her quietly. “I just need treatment, don’t worry. I’m fine…” Slowly, slowly, Iveca said quietly. At those words, Reina’s pupils shook.

“…At the time of the first attack, the woman who caught me was Reina, right?”

“Queen, no…”

“Obviously, the pink hair was different… but those green eyes are just like Reina’s… Her height and body shape were similar… Most of all, I think I unconsciously called her Reina…”