The Return of the Female Knight

CHAPTER 49

"Haaa, huh."

Elena's disheveled breath sifted through her helmet. There were more men than he expected, and it was harder to catch some than to kill indiscriminately all of them. It was impossible if this was his first time fighting in this life, but because of his training, he was fighting better than before. He was gradually getting closer to his old skills, but it was still a long way to go until he reached his full potential.

He tied the unconscious criminal with a rope, then quickly headed to the bridge. The captives will be interrogated, but first he must remove the explosives from each dock before they can be tampered with.

Ttubugs, ttubug.

Elena returned to the deck and her eyes swept to the festival site, where she saw Carlisle descend after exchanging pleasantries on the podium.

Fortunately, it doesn't seem too late. Carlisle's eyes were fixed on her as she rushed towards him, and when their eyes met in the air she walked even faster.

"What have you done…?"

Carlisle quit. His eyebrows suddenly wrinkled.

"Why do I smell blood?"

He could not help but be surprised by his acute senses. He had washed as much blood as he could from himself in the river.

"Your Majesty, I–"

When Elena started talking.

Hwlig.

Carlisle's hand grabbed her wrist as she looked up and down. His eyes were extremely sharp, like a ferocious beast watching its prey. He didn't know what he was doing at first, but then he realized he was looking for an injury.

"It's not my blood."

Only then did Carlisle's terrifying energy subside. His voice turned very low.

“Then whose blood? I lost you somewhere. Where'd you come back from? "

"Good-well"

Elena tried to explain, but Carlisle cut her off again.

"Are you sure you weren't hurt?"

Although he knew that he was trying to suppress the aggravation in his voice, the emotions behind it seemed sincere. Maybe he was really worried about Elena. What he did or why he was covered in blood seemed insignificant to him before his safety. He'll take Elena's helmet off and check it himself if he can.

Elena fell silent for a moment over her behavior, then quickly regained consciousness.

“I'm not hurt, so don't worry. I have something more important to say first. "

"…What is it?"

Before her disapproving gaze, Elena immediately whispered to him.

“There are some strange men trying to bring down the Flower Bridge. There's an explosive underneath, so we need to get rid of it. I've also arrested some men and tied them up, so if you can question them … "

Carlisle moved away from Elena after listening to her carefully. Then, Zenard arrived at the right time, and Carlisle gave him some orders.

“If you go under the bridge, you will find some captives. Get rid of the explosives placed on the bridge, and interrogate the men and find out who sent them. ”

"What's? Yes, Your Majesty! ”

Zenard was startled, but like an obedient servant, his eyes shone as he quickly changed his attitude and carried out the order. Elena watched him walk out of the festival venue.

Hwiig–

Carlisle started pulling Elena's wrist somewhere. He could not feel his grip for the armor, but he could tell his knuckles were white. A nobleman ran to Carlisle as he walked away.

"Your majesty! Where the hell are you going? You should enjoy the festival night. There are people I want to introduce to you– ”

"So get out of my way."

"…What?"

The man's face was white. There was a terrifying aura coming from the prince.

Carlisle continued to pull Elena towards the secluded festival area where there were no lights in sight, leaving the nobles behind. The man was not the only one surprised. Even Elena was shocked under her metal helmet.

"Your Majesty, what are you doing? If you treat other nobles like that– ”

"Why not?"

"They'll say bad things about you."

"Do I need to care about that?"

"But-"

Carlisle turned towards Elena, his blue eyes as hard as ice.

"You must have forgotten who I am."

Elena tilted her head, unable to understand her point. He turned his face again and continued in a hoarse voice.

"There's nothing I can't do in this kingdom."

That was the height of arrogance. However, Elena knew Carlisle. He's not wrong. He was next in line to become emperor, and not meeting directly with an insignificant noble. However, he hopes that he will build beyond political support. If they don't like it …

They soon arrived outside the Flower Bridge beyond the sight of others. It was already an area that Elena was familiar with since she had already investigated the area. Carlisle stopped and slowly turned to Elena. He could see his eyes shining in fury in the dark.

'…But why?'

Elena could not understand why she was upset. Carlisle's voice rose as he spoke.

"Didn't you promise to stay by my side as much as possible?"

"Yes . With conditions 'if possible. '”

“If you want to keep your promise, you should come to me when you feel danger. ”

“I can't do that. The bridge will collapse when all the explosives are installed. Then the people on the bridge and His Majesty must have–! ”

Carlisle cut.

"What if you get hurt?"

Elena stiffened. He was right that the situation was dangerous. But Elena was sure she could stop them. He often risked his life in the past, and this life would be no different, from the moment he promised to protect her. But what Carlisle pointed out was the danger.

“You were smart enough to threaten me by asking me to give up on my contract marriage. ”

"…?"

"If you get hurt, you don't understand how angry I am. ”

Elena stop. He had not thought that far, but to be fair, he did not have much time to think about it when he was busy saving Carlisle.

“... I understand what you are saying. But if I don't stop them, your life may be in danger. Shouldn't gratitude come first in a situation like this? ”

"There's a chance I could die, but just because the bridge collapsed doesn't mean it's a guarantee. ”

Something bitter appeared on his chest. He never imagined he would be so angry that he would not even offer a simple word of thanks. He would never make such a statement against someone who saved his life, no matter how worried he was.

"Yes, even if you survived, many people on the bridge–"

"…?"

"I told you, if you get hurt, I could lose my mind …"

His gaze turned heavy and lit up brightly like daylight in the darkness. His sharp gaze was fixed on Elena.

“Have you thought about what I would do with them if you got hurt? I could tear off their limbs so they looked dead, but still alive. ”

Elena was silent for a moment.

He's serious. His calm voice spoke cruel words without hesitation.

"Then if you die...What do you think I'll do?"

If an injury alone could push him into this terrible state, and he could not imagine what he would do other than that. Carlisle continued in a low voice.

“... Ruford Empire should probably prevent me from becoming emperor. ”

Wh why? What's he gonna do?

Elena couldn't keep up with how Carlisle easily picked up on these horrifying stories. He knew he was worried about her, but this made no sense. Perhaps it was Elena's fault that she left her side without a proper explanation, but the contract had allowed her to act as a knight. Now Elena's mission is to change her terrifying future. Family life is on his shoulders. No matter how much Carlisle hated him, he would defend him and make him emperor.

Elena replied in a calm voice.

"Caril .. I want to be empress, and that's why I entered into a contract marriage with you. But that doesn't mean I'm a puppet waiting for you inside the glittering palace. ”

He calls her by her pet name to calm the atmosphere and convince her to allow him to keep as much of his contract term as possible. Whether his heart was delivered or not, Carlisle's fiery eyes seemed to soften slightly.

"There are some things I understand about Caril, and some things I don't understand. ”

But the point is …

“... Here I am. ”

Elena was not just a beautiful noblewoman in a beautiful dress. He was also a knight in armor who held a sword.

“I will wear this armor, whether you want it or not. ”

Suddenly, there was a loud explosive sound coming from the direction of the festival. Maybe the end of the festival is near.

A gentle breeze moved and spread the red flower petals in the air, which began to dance like snowflakes around Elena as she stood in her black armor. His petals were the same color as his red and bright eyes shining from under his helmet. Hard armor and red petals are contradictions but harmonious at the same time.

A beautiful woman by day, and a swordsman by night.

“... Don't try to change me. ”

Carlisle did not respond. He only looked at her elaborately, but there was no more anger in his eyes.

The two of them just stared at each other in silence. The whisper of the river flowing in the distance was strangely uncomfortable. If these two people had hidden parts of themselves from each other so far, it was at this moment that their layers were slightly exposed.

Carlisle's hand was still holding onto Elena's arm, and he suddenly pulled his body onto himself. He momentarily lost his balance of power. Carlisle hugged Elena's head with his other hand. His eyes were wide open under the helmet, while he whispered thickly in his ear.

"Don't get hurt. ”

“... I'm not hurt. “

Carlisle seemed to have forgotten that Elena had never been injured in battle. Instead of a proper hug, he hugged his head in his chest. He could not feel his touch due to his armor, but he wanted to withdraw from this awkward and uncomfortable situation. As Elena tried to return to her original position, Carlisle tightened his grasp.

"Nurtain …"

“You are a very dangerous woman. You make me selfish. ”

He wanted to ask what he meant. Carlisle's voice returned with more resolution.

“... You don't need to change, so please stay like this any minute. ”

*

*

*

"Eugh — why is the weather like this?"

Helen got down from her luxurious carriage and collected her scarves on her shoulders. The coachman stepped out of his chair and bent over with enough bow to break someone's back.

"Miss, this is the weather in the capital. ”

“I'll catch a cold before I attend the dance. ”

Sophie followed behind the grumbling Helen. Sophie is rehired by the Selby family and is generously compensated. He quickly tried to impress Helen more than anyone else.

"Mrs Helen, please come in. It would be terrible if you catch a cold! "

"Yes . All of you, grab my luggage. For God's sake, I hope the cold won't ruin my beautiful dress. ”

Another servant appeared on Helen's instructions. She was Tilda, the one who had smashed Elena's clothes and escaped.

"Y-yeah! Yes, my lady . ”

Tilda hurriedly moved the suitcase with a panicked expression on her face. Helen headed towards the mansion with casual steps as the servants made a fuss with her. He walked across the park from where the carriage stood, looked around and murmured uncomfortably.

“The old man..give me a nice house. ”

It was a grand mansion with a large garden, unlike the humble Blaise residence. But even that could not compare to Helen's palace.

Helen saw the butler running towards her, after being late to receive the news that she had arrived at the mansion. They had been far too late from schedule due to the long journey, and the butler had not been given proper notice.

"Geez, Madam, have you arrived?"

"Yes . Your reception is in a hurry. ”

"M-my apologies. ”

The butler lowered his head and Helen smirked at him.

"I've sent a man, but I haven't heard from him. Find out what's wrong. ”

"Yes, woman!"

"And send someone to see if the Empress can receive an audience. ”

"Yes, soon. ”

Helen slid past the butler.

“Do not just talk about it. Accelerate . ”

"Y-yeah!"

The butler hurried off to carry out the task he ordered. Immediately the sound of urgent footsteps faded, and Helen calmly entered the mansion. Now that the ball is close, there is a lot of work to be done. Fortunately, Tilda tore off Elena's party dress, making Elena unlikely to attend. However, this alone did not quell his anger.

'Lady Blaise, some fun things are about to happen. '

Helen's smile glittered as she recalled Elena at the tea party.