CH 22

The arrow that grazed above my head is replaying in my mind.

If Yuren-kun hadn’t protected me or if I had noticed even a moment later…

I would have been dead.

As I feel this, my body shakes with fear, more than confusion.

“Aria! Are you okay?”

“Y-Yeah.”

Yuren-kun grabs my shoulder.

Even in this situation, his touch is gentle and it calms my tremble a little.

But fear still lingers.

I’m also confused because I don’t know what happened.

“Y-Yuren-kun, what just happened?”

“I don’t know. So don’t move for now.”

Yuren-kun holds up his sword and keeps watch of our surroundings.

I never thought the sound of the forest trees swaying in the wind could be so eerie.

Something is out there.

But I can’t see it.

I’m sure I’m the one being targeted, not the prince, but me, a Transmutation Master.

“Damn, following you was the right choice.”

“Yuren-kun.”

“It’s okay. I’ll protect you.”

When Yuren-kun turns his head back, he shows me a gentle smile.

To reassure me,

Right after that, another arrow came flying towards me.

This time, from two directions, aimed directly at me.

“I won’t allow it.”

He used his sword to deflect the arrow coming from the right and pulled out his sheathed sword to hit the arrow coming from the left.

“Two people, no――.”

Yuren-kun looked up.

As I followed his gaze and looked up, I saw a man in black holding a knife and charging towards us.

“Three people.”

I felt like I was going to scream uncontrollably.

But Yuren-kun calmly caught the attacking man’s blade with his sword.

Before they clashed in sword lock, he kicked the man away and put some distance between them.

“An assassin, huh? Who hired you?”

The man didn’t answer.

The other two showed no sign of revealing themselves, lurking in the shadows.

“You won’t answer, huh? Well, it’s okay. I’ll force it out of you.”

For the first time, I saw Yuren-kun’s angry face.

With furrowed brows, he glared at the man with anger and killing intent.

Even I, who was protected behind him, felt a chilling sense of oppression that I couldn’t imagine coming from his usual calm and gentle demeanor.

The assassin trembled for a moment.

Yuren-kun does not miss that moment’s opening.

“You let your guard down.”

“What…”

Moving at a speed that I can’t keep up with, Yuren-kun sneaks into his pocket and hits him on the back of the head with the hilt of his sword.

Unable to withstand the impact, the man falls to his knees.

Lowering his head as he kneels, the man’s consciousness fades away.

“Take a little nap.”

“Gah, ugh…”

Yuren-kun strikes the man on the back of the neck, causing the assassin to lose consciousness and fall over.

Yuren-kun then looks at the two on his left and right.

Does he sense something that I can’t?

Nothing comes from the left and right.

They don’t attack me despite having an opening in my guard.

“…Looks like they escaped.”

“R-Really?”

“Yeah. We can’t let our guard down yet, but we’re safe for now.”

I’m relieved to hear that.

I slump down, feeling drained, and Yuren-kun rushes over in a panic.

“Are you okay? Did you get hurt anywhere?”

“N-No, I’m fine. I just got really tense and my strength drained away.”

“I see.”

I could tell Yuren-kun was relieved.

The expression of anger he had briefly shown disappeared, and he returned to his usual self.

“Can you stand?”

“Yeah.”

I grabbed his hand and pulled myself up, no longer feeling the fear from earlier, although my body still trembled slightly.

After analyzing that I was able to walk without any problems, I turned my gaze to the person lying on the ground.

“Yuren-kun… That person was…”

“An assassin. They were targeting you, Aria.”

“Why me…?”

“I don’t know.”

Yuren-kun shook his head.

He sheathed his sword and slowly approached the unconscious person.

It seemed like he intended to restrain him so he wouldn’t wake up and resist.

Yuren-kun rummaged through his body.

Then——

“Hmm? This is…”

“Is there something wrong?”

“…Yeah.”

He replied in a low tone.

The reason for his reaction was the pocket watch he showed me.

“Wait… This emblem…”

It was a familiar emblem.

A shape I had seen many times and could never forget.

The crest of the Mayquin royal family was engraved on the assassin’s possession.

❂❂❂❂❂❂

After the attack, we hurried back to the royal castle.

The assassin was reported to the castle guards by Yuren-kun, and we were able to hand him over.

For the time being, we were safe.

Yes, for the time being.

The fact that I was targeted remained, and as time went on, I felt more and more fear and anxiety.

“Don’t worry. It’s safe within the castle walls.”

“Y-Yeah.”

“Heh, normally I would be scolding you for leaving without permission… but today, you did well, Yuren.”

“Who could be after Aria-chan? There are only a limited number of people who can afford to hire assassins, right?”

Hisui-san and Laura-san were also in the room with me.

The two of them came to worry about me.

Yuren-kun had already told them the current situation.

Hisui-san put his hand on his chin and asked Yuren-kun.

“Is it true that the royal family over there might be involved?”

“I’m talking about a possibility. A clock with the royal family’s crest was found among the assassin’s possessions.”

“Isn’t it stolen?”

“If it’s stolen goods, why would he carry it with him? I think he was intentionally made to carry them.”

The employer of the assassin must be someone related to the Mayquin royal family.

Someone from that family requested my assassination.

That’s what Yuren-kun thinks.

It’s an unbelievable reason, but I suddenly thought of a certain person.

Knock, knock, knock.

“What’s the matter?”

“Your Highness Yuren, Aria-sama, a guest has arrived.”

“At this hour? Who is it?”

“It’s His Highness Laurus Mayquin, the second prince of the Mayquin Kingdom.”

The moment I heard that name, I felt an extreme chill run through my body.

Because just earlier, the person who came to mind as someone who wanted to kill me was… His Highness Laurus.