The Return of the Female Knight

CHAPTER 54

Carlisle's hand led Elena away from the noise of the dance hall. She followed him without a word, and before long a beautiful outdoor garden appeared before her eyes. He inhaled a breath of cool night air, and soon he felt his mind slowly returning.

He almost acted rashly. When he saw Paveluc alive before his eyes, all the anger from his past life hit him instantly. Even now, he could not forget the sight of his father and brother's body hanging on the castle wall. At that moment, his entire being was filled with indiscriminate anger.

Carlisle looked at Elena's fingertips that were still shaking.

"Are you okay?"

"…Him . ”

"You don't look well. ”

"It's okay . ”

Carlisle said nothing more and just stood still. After calming her mind, Elena finally spoke to Carlisle.

“Thank you for bringing me here. ”

If he didn't quickly regain his reason, he would probably attack Paveluc.

"I'd really appreciate it if you told me why you suddenly looked pale. “

He did not reply, instead staring at the scene in front of him. The outer garden was dark, dimly lit only by the soft moonlight. Carlisle's blue eyes shone like wild beasts even in this shade. He's his best chance. He had no idea what his decision would take in the future, but the death was already thrown in and Elena would make him emperor by any means.

However, that didn't mean he really believed in Carlisle. He doubted he would believe his absurd story, and he might treat her like a mad woman if he told her. He won't take any chances. Moreover, it made no sense to tell Carlisle something he had not even told his family.

"I just .. I just feel dizzy all of a sudden. ”

When she finished speaking, Carlisle reached out to her. The moment she realized what was happening, Carlisle had already touched Elena's forehead and muttered,

“... You have no fever. ”

Feeling self-conscious, he quickly pulled his head to avoid his touch. Even though she was distracted in the dance hall, she still clearly remembered what she had done before. He had cupped his cheeks and lowered his head to look into his eyes.

“I don't like to be touched. ”

"So you want me to keep quiet when you're about to fall?"

He could not see his furrowed brows in the darkness, but his tone was quite telling. Elena had something else she wanted to say, and she replied quite calmly.

“Also, I have not given you permission to call me by my name. ”

She heard him call her "Elena" in the dance hall. He was also still upset when he called her "Len" when she served as his bodyguard. He crossed the upper limit of his own will.

"…"

Carlisle said nothing for a moment, but his eyes, however, shone with unhappiness. Want how else; there was nothing pleasant about what Elena said at this moment. However, he was determined to take this opportunity to tell her his thoughts. There's nothing wrong with what he's saying now. They are not true lovers – it is a contractual relationship.

Carlisle's blue eyes turned dark. He replied, his voice calm.

“... I'll remember it. ”

Now that Elena had her alone, she wanted to finish saying everything she could not say in the dance hall. Elena touched the red diamond necklace she was wearing.

"It's too much, too. If you can take this back … "

"Have you forgotten the promise you made me? “

She had promised to take anything without question in exchange for the dress.

"But the price of this necklace …"

“It's still a promise. Didn't Kuhn tell you? I said, 'If he doesn't keep your promise, tell him I won't keep my promise either. '”

"…"

If Elena was the one who protested against him just a moment ago, things were now exactly the opposite. Elena could not deny Carlisle's words, but she could not continue to feel indebted to Carlisle. He also did not want to get used to relying on others. This time, he had to be much stronger than before if he wanted to defeat Paveluc with his own hands.

"I feel like I owe you more .. That's why my heart is heavy. ”

He honestly expressed his feelings, and Carlisle replied in a tone as if what he said was clear.

“Then reply me. ”

"…"

"If I give you a hundred, you just have to give me back. I'm not asking you to give me as much as I give you. Just once ... Please come to me first. ”

Elena was frozen by a completely unexpected answer. The average person would listen to him now and take back the necklace. However, Carlisle had the courage to ask if he would retaliate. His expression also looked sad. He did not think about this development.

'…What does it mean?'

Give her one thing back. He didn't know what it meant to come first. The more he thought about it, the more vague it became. His head was spinning fast, but somehow it was one answer.

"You want me to repay you in the end. '

He knew even in his last life that one could not get something without pay.

"I want to repay you, but the price of this necklace is too heavy. ”

The faint heat seemed to glitter in Carlisle's blue eyes, as if disappointed by his reaction. He opened and closed his mouth several times, then finally managed to find the words of what he wanted to say.

“No matter what you say, I have no intention of taking back what I have given you. ”

"But…"

"That's the deal . So accept my gift without saying a word. ”

Carlisle didn't seem to want to budge. He has promised. She was forced to accept the clothes and jewelry she had given her.

"…Good . Now that you give it to me, I will use it when I become the crown princess. But I won't say thank you. ”

Hearing her words, Carlisle laughed out loud. He would not even say thank you despite being given such an expensive gift. He expressed his dissatisfaction in his own way, and he did not expect to have a positive reaction about it.

“I don't need pleasantries. They are with their rightful owners. ”

Carlisle didn't seem to think too much about the value of those valuables. Somehow, Elena was the one who was busier with these things. It felt a bit unfair, but he made a decision.

"I will use it all to make you emperor. '

He didn't use much luxury, but since he insisted that he keep the items, they could be used in his palace life. Or maybe as funds to help Carlisle take the throne of the emperor, like other spoils of war.

Emperor's throne.

Seeing Paveluc today made him feel even more determined to never let him sit on the throne again. This time he will take what he covets most, like the way he takes his beloved family.

“That day, who tried to destroy the Flower Bridge? Is that the Grand Duke of Lunen? "

Paveluc currently ruled over the great duchy of Lunen. But despite Elena's expectations, Carlisle shook his head.

“No, but you seem to think badly of my uncle. Next time you tell me to watch out for it. ”

He talked about the night he first saved Carlisle. He nodded in response.

He couldn't say that he knew of future events, but he could still give him a warning.

"Maybe. But he's not the biggest obstacle for me to become an emperor. ”

"Then ... is that the Empress?"

While she did not forget that the Empress was the most powerful actor now, Elena put more emphasis on Paveluc as he had taken the throne in the future.

"Yes . It was the second son of the emperor and my brother Redfield who threatened to ascend the throne now. The Empress and Anita's family have a strong history. ”

"Then those who tried to destroy the bridge?"

"I believe so. Anitas was the only one who could do so while avoiding the eyes of the Imperial Family. I know it's them, but it's hard to find evidence. We are still interrogating the men you arrested, so hopefully something will come up soon. ”

“They look trained. I am worried . ”

“We may have to manipulate the evidence. ”

The Empress' position was stronger than she thought. Although Elena already knew it was because of Kuhn, she had a feeling that the Empress would be a major obstacle in the future. In his past life, Paveluc killed Empress Ophelia. But will another future be revealed if he doesn't die?

Carlisle continued in a calm voice.

“Everyone's attention will be on you from now on. Even more so after we announced the wedding. Just like the warning you gave me earlier, I will also say something. ”

Elena nodded weakly. Carlisle's low voice broke through his contemplating mind.

"… Beware of the Queen. ”

Carlisle's eyes instantly turned sharp. He caught the anger lying beneath the surface, like a volcano ready to explode. Perhaps Empress Ophelia would be the person she met the most after becoming the crown princess. While the emperor ruled the empire, it was the emperor who ruled the household. It was a power that had been passed down only to empresses from generation to generation.

"I'm definitely ready. '

Elena was not a prominent member of society and it would be difficult to position herself. But Elena spoke firmly, convincing him not to worry.

"I'll be fine . I will never be caught so easily. ”

At the same time, Elena made her vow to herself once again. Immediately after she turned towards the brightly lit dance hall.

"How about we go back to the battlefield?"

It would still be a while until the ball would end, and he was worried about Mirabelle. Experiencing Paveluc had driven him away, but at this rate the longer he stayed here with Carlisle, the more gossip would grow. This is enough.

"Good . Come back . ”

Carlisle stretched out his hand and Elena gently took it.

“This place seems familiar, somehow. ”

Freesia Palace. He had never been to the many orbs held by the Imperial Court, but he felt like he had seen this place before.

As Elena looked around her, Carlisle watched her profile calmly.

"I always thought the necklace would suit you, but …"

"…?"

“I think it suits you better than I imagined. “

Her cheeks flushed. He had already asked a lot about the Freesia Palace, but they instantly exploded like smoke.

"Whoever wears this necklace will–"

"Red sparkles resemble your eyes. There's no one else. That's why it looks so beautiful on you. ”

Her sincerity left Elena at a loss for words. It's hard to find something to say after someone compliments your beauty.

She wet her lips a few times and looked forward, her cheeks too red for her to face Carlisle.

*

*

*

When they returned, they found the dance hall just as they had left it. There is a sea of guests enjoying themselves, and couples of all ages are spinning in the middle. Some simply indulged themselves with wine and laughed out loud. When Elena walked into the dance hall beside Carlisle, countless eyes turned to her once more. This time he actually regained his composure and floated up gracefully.

“I'll see my sister now. ”

"Call me if anything happens. ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty. ”

Elena falls from Carlisle's side and returns to where she left Mirabelle. There was someone there that he didn't expect at all.

"… Mrs Lawrence?"

Margaret Lawrence's. She was one of Helen's friends who helped put salt in her tea. Later Helen blames Margaret for the crime, but everyone knows that the shy Margaret is not the type to do such a thing.

"Oh, sister!"

Mirabelle welcomed Elena's return with a bright look. Fortunately, he did not look bored and seemed to be having fun.

"O-oh. It's been a long time, Lady Blaise. ”

Margaret began to stutter at Elena's appearance, and Elena looked at the two women in turn.

"How are you two doing?"

By the way the tea party turned out, things should not be friendly between them. Mirabelle quickly recognized Elena's meaning and explained.

“When Lady Lawrence saw me here, she came up to me and apologized. So I decided to accept his apology. ”

“Maybe it's too late to say this, but I'm really sorry. ”

Elena slightly nodded at Margaret's withered expression. Even if Margaret apologized now, it would make little difference. It has been widely rumored that he was the one who put salt in the tea. Some people knew that the real culprit was Helen, but since they couldn't tell her face, Margaret was the one who accepted all the blame. It was irreversible, but Margaret seemed sincere enough to come and apologize in advance.

"I won't think about it anymore, so please forget about it too, Lady Lawrence. ”

"Mrs Blaise. ”

Margaret looked at Elena with a moved expression, and Mirabelle looked between them with satisfaction.

Tang, tang, tang!

The bell rings on the platform. The voice caught the attention of the room, and a man standing on the platform opened his mouth.

“This is what you've been waiting for. Should we announce who the candidate selected as Madonna ball is? "

Elena had completely forgotten about that. The most beautiful woman at the dance. It's time to find out who it is.