Chapter 125 - THE SPY WHO TAILED THEM

"She?" Arthur muttered. For some reason, he wasn't surprised that the spy of the assassin guild was a girl. He slowly turned toward Catherine. "Was it you?" he inquired.

"No way!" Veronica firmly believed that her friend would never do that. She grew up with her. She knew what kind of person Catherine was. If one day she became blind, she would let Catherine be her eyes – that's how much trust she had in her friend.

Unfortunately, she only heard Catherine say, "I'm sorry, Ver." Her voice was low. She sounded low-spirited.

Veronica was shocked. She couldn't believe her own ears. She didn't want to believe them.  She said, "There must be some reason. There has to be something that made you do it. Tell me. Did they force you? They must have threatened you." Her voice was unshaken. She thought there must be a reason.

The more she spoke, the more Catherine's head lowered. She looked downcast. She was trying hard to speak but nothing came out. She opened her quivering lips. Even so, she could only choke her words out. She sensed something breaking her throat as she could only mutter, "I'm sorry, Ver."

"It can't be." Veronica shook her head. She pulled the reins and her horse stepped away from Catherine. Her horse then got close to Arthur's.

Arthur gently held her hand, feeling sorry for her. He tenderly said, "Don't worry. Everything will be fine." Afterward, he looked at Catherine and said, "You should be ashamed of yourself. You are so unlucky to lose a friend like her."

Catherine finally raised her head and looked at him with clear eyes. She didn't even look guilty for a second as though everything she did up until now was nothing but a pretense to be a friend of Veronica. She sneered and said, "Unlucky? Ashamed? I think you got everything wrong. I deserved everything. I'm more beautiful, more talented, more hard-working, more deserving than Veronica. However, suddenly she got herself some healing power. Everyone started to give her priority. A lazy, ugly girl like her doesn't deserve any attention."

She continued, "She doesn't work hard and diligently. She always looks for trouble and fun. Everything seems nothing but an adventure to her. Life isn't a playground. She thinks she is the best and she can do anything. But she's the one who's making everyone suffer. How am I unlucky to lose a friend like her? She should be glad that I've been a friend of hers until now."

"That's why when I heard that people were looking for her, I volunteered. I wanted her to know what it feels like to suffer. I will take her back to Lord Alexander. He will decide what to do with her. He promised to make me his queen once he took over the world. I will rule the world with him," just talking about that thrilled her endlessly.

"…" Her mocking words hurt Veronica so much that she became speechless. Her only friend whom she cared so much said such hurtful words that she couldn't say anything in return.

"Is that what you think?" Arthur asked. "Then you know nothing about her. She is the most caring person who would even give up her own life to protect someone precious to her. But there is no point in talking about it right now. You betrayed her. Your friendship ends here."

"Whatever you say," Catherine shrugged. She moved her horse to where the assassins were standing. "It doesn't change the fact that so many people have died because of her."

"…" Sebastian also looked visibly shocked. He didn't speak but his grip on his short swords got tighter. He felt guilty because he was the one who brought Catherine with him. And because of him, Veronica lost someone very close to her. And, they were now in danger. 

"Enough! Let's kill them all and get the blessed child," the leader of the assassin Guild ordered his fellow men.

The assassins drew their weapons and dashed toward where Arthur, Veronica, and Sebastian were standing. Arthur and Sebastian covered for Veronica. They didn't bother to think about Catherine who already went over to the safe side.

Arthur told Veronica, "Close your eyes, Princess. I don't want you to see what's going to happen next."

"Okay," Veronica agreed without hesitation and shut her eyes. She didn't move from her spot. She completely trusted Arthur and Sebastian. She also knew that no one from the assassin guild would hurt her.

With her eyes closed, she heard sharp metals clashing and people shouting in pain. Her blood turned cold and her heart shook. Not that she was sad for the assassins who came to kill Artur and Sebastian, but she was dejected and sorrowful for those that were the family members and friends of those assassins. They were going to lose someone they held dear. 

However, there was nothing she could do other than praying for their lost, sinful souls. She had to survive as well. She accepted this truth long ago. 

Arthur taught her, "Survival of the fittest." As long as you are alive, you win. 

Her life had already turned like this. She had to live in order to fulfill her dreams. 

Arthur and Sebastian were both masters at sword fighting. However, it was hard to fight twenty professional assassins and protect Veronica at the same time. They had to keep an eye on her so that she wasn't taken away from them. 

As long as she wasn't taken, they would be safe too or the assassins might use some kind of explosive to finish them off at once. And, Arthur and Sebastian didn't have any weapons to stop an explosive. Since Veronica was in between them, the assassins couldn't use an explosive to finish them off recklessly.

The assassins were masters of their weapons themselves. They weren't easy to deal with. As a result, Arthur and Sebastian were quickly cornered even though they injured more than ten assassins.

When there was no hope left for Arthur, Veronica, and Sebastian, someone shouted, "Everyone stop right there! If you move for even an inch, you will be shot to death."