Chapter 35

Rosaline listened to Macaron and nodded her head. She also had been watching ever since Balta’s gates opened and as they encountered the guards. Rosaline closed her eyes. The action blocked her sight, but her senses painted the scene around her. The herd of horses, the sound of the knights’ armor rattling. As the wheel of the carriage rolled over the gravel, unstable and violent energy that felt like it would explode at any moment flew around. If the magical power of a beast was a torch, the surrounding power at this moment was like a wildfire that covered the whole area. Rosaline had felt an aura similar to this before. From Fragment mixed into Ricardis’ tea and from those ferocious beasts back in the forest on their way here.

The Prime Minister, Attilak, did not feel it, but each of the guards surrounding the delegation was in a state of embracing that energy. Because of that, the true scenery unfolded before her closed eyes. An image that could not be seen even in the Demon Mountain famous for its many beasts. This kind of power shouldn’t be so concentrated in one place. Facing the bizarre sight, her every nerve was excited to the point of tingling. Goosebumps rose over her arms. It was because of this that Macaron kept chattering out of fear. Macaron didn’t seem to have ever seen a place where magic power was so concentrated. Rosaline looked around her with a sharp gaze. A lot of Balta’s people came out to see the delegation’s party. Fortunately, the ordinary people did not feel the strange magic. Perhaps those guards were a special group.

Feeling anxious, Rosaline drove her horse closer to Ricardis’ carriage. The horses pulling the wagon were nickering and making noises. When Macaron heard the horses’ screeching sounds, she quickly crawled out of Rosaline’s pocket and pointed angrily at the horses. After Macaron lived with the old grandmother, she had a unique ability to swear. As her squeak grew louder and louder, Rosaline forced her back into her pocket. Fortunately, no one witnessed this situation.

Balta was enormous. They finally arrived at the magnificent palace located in the center of the capital after a while. They were supposed to meet with the 1st Prince Haqab two days later as part of the delegation’s schedule. So, for now, they decided to unpack and rest. Attilak left an entire palace empty for the delegation. It was only after the knights thoroughly checked Ricardis’ room that everyone could enter their quarters to rest.

Rosaline was also assigned a room. She took off her armor and polished her weapons. From her armor, Macaron kept looking out here and there. Seeing that its black sesame-like eyes had thinned out and became smaller, it seemed that she was not feeling calm.

The concentration of heterogeneous magical power became so much thicker that it could not be overridden by the lavish scenery. The power that quietly surrounded Balta’s palace caused massive pressure that overwhelmed them. This entire spacious palace felt like the mouth of a large beast. Rosaline drew out the blade of her sword and looked into the moonlight. The sword shone sharply.

“In a dangerous situation, run away, Macaron.”

Squeak. Macaron glared at her.

“I can’t run away.”

Squeak, squeaaak! The mouse hopped around.

“I have someone to protect. I will do it this time for sure.”

‘This time?’ Macaron asked.

Rosaline had to ponder what this sentence meant as she spat it out with her mouth. She never failed her mission to protect him... So, why did the word come out all of a sudden? Rosaline and Macaron tilted their heads. But there was no one to give them an answer. The night was deep.

***

Knight Commander Starz gathered all the Knights of the White Night and delivered a warning.

Rosaline hesitated and approached the Knight Commander. Starz was taken aback by the sight of her approaching closer than expected. Raymond squinted his eyes and looked intently at Rosaline’s actions. With his hawk-like gaze, he was ready to run and stop Rosaline at any time.

Rosaline approached Starz and covered her mouth with one hand as if wanting to whisper in his ear. Raymond pushed his head straight out and placed his ear near them, as he was very concerned about what bombshell remarks she would make. ‘Rosaline, what the hell do you want to talk about?! You’re hungry? What’s for tomorrow morning? Can we go home?’ Every question he thought about wasn’t something that could be whispered secretly into the ear of one’s boss.

Raymond kept his head straight out and his posture became a little ugly. But thanks to that, he could overhear everything she was saying. Deputy Commander Nathan, who was standing next to him, looked at Raymond with a disgusted expression. Raymond looked like a parent who was overprotective of their child. Meanwhile, Rosaline’s question flowed into Raymond and Starz’s ears.

“People are watching in the palace. Can I kill them?”

“...”

“...”

Starz was quiet... then groaned, “You can’t.”

Raymond also said sternly, “No, Rosaline.”

Rosaline frowned and clicked her tongue, looking quite annoyed. They understood her feelings, but they were visiting in the name of a peace delegation. They couldn’t provide a cause for war in Balta. They were all aware that the servants had been keeping an eye on them, but they did not attack. If their side took lives first, the mission’s position could be at risk. Now was the time to be patient.

Rosaline made an ‘ah’ sound before rushing back to the Knight Commander’s ear. Raymond went back to eavesdrop again. This time he was closer than before. Deputy Commander Nathan frowned more than before.

“So, will it be okay as long as I don’t kill them?”

“You can’t.”

“No!”

She didn’t seem to understand at all. Rosaline’s cheeks puffed up, and she got scolded by the Knight Commander and Raymond. They said to never, never, never lay a finger on any of the spies unless they attacked first. In that short period, Rosaline heard the words ‘never’ and ‘no’ dozens of times.

Eventually, she slowly moved her head up and down as a sign of acceptance. A great sigh escaped them. Whatever the case, it was commendable that she noticed the gazes watching the palace. Rosaline informed the knights of the location of each eye and left the room.Nnêw n0vel chapters are published at novelhall.com