The Return of the Female Knight

CHAPTER 73

The Crown Prince's Palace is quite large. It was not as vast as the palace of the Emperor or Empress, but it was still the third largest on the ground and had an impressive size.

Aside from the largest central building in the Crown Prince complex, there were also various small and large buildings next to it, such as training camps, stables, and servants' residences. The same was true for the accommodation where Elena and Mirabelle were placed. It was a quiet building away from the central area to provide the most comfort and relaxation.

"Are some of the Empress' men still on the grounds?"

Zenard, who was walking a step behind, replied immediately.

"Well, it's them."

“Put more guards there. They seem to be hiding, but if you find them, take them away. "

"Then armed conflict is inevitable, Your Majesty. The Empress will not let this stand. What are you gonna say? "

"Do I have to explain myself?"

"…What?"

Zenard did not understand at all. Carlisle replied slowly.

"Kill them all. If we leave no evidence, they will not be able to prove that we have taken Kuhn in our custody. "

"But even without proof, he'll know that you're the one. Is that acceptable? "

“That's no problem. They've done it too often. ”

Despite the violence in her words, Carlisle relaxed as if he was just walking around.

"… They will pay the price for recklessly entering my palace."

"Yes sir."

Carlisle's decision was harsher than expected, but Elena did not oppose Carlisle's opinion. From Elena's point of view, as someone who had been on the battlefield many times, Carlisle's mindset was that of an outstanding general. The public was worried that this side of him was too cruel, but when he moved into a situation of danger like now, he excelled brilliantly. One should never underestimate the enemy, especially on the battlefield.

"I'll go watch over Empress–'s men"

Elena spoke before she finished.

"I'm going to go."

Elena was not only sure that she would not leave any evidence, but she knew she could get Kuhn out safely even if other soldiers found her first. The more important the task, the more he wanted to handle it himself. But Carlisle furrowed his brows.

"Zenard, you go."

"I?"

Zenard could not hide her shock when Elena who had voluntarily left.

"Don't make me say it again."

"My apology. I'll be leaving soon. "

With a questioning expression on his face, Zenard quickly lowered his head, then fell from Carlisle's company and disappeared. When she was completely lost from sight, Carlisle turned towards Elena, her cold eyes shining in the dark.

"… Len, you've tried to break your promise."

Elena looked at him, and she imagined him looking like a black jaguar in the prey, a bloodthirsty predator that keeps its prey on edge. The other soldiers followed behind Carlisle for a moment to lose their breath due to the pressure he emitted.

Elena did not forget the promise she made.

"You can't ignore me."

"…?"

“I won't get hurt by this kind of mission. I'm your sharpest weapon. ”

He had told Carlisle that he would not be hurt, and that he would be as careful as possible. However, he was not so weak as to be injured by such a mission.

The soldiers were dumbfounded by Elena's words. They had never heard anyone speak with confidence. It is not easy to praise yourself even if you are filled with skill. Those who talk like this can be divided into two main categories – Either you are really confident with your skills, or you are a great speaker …

A small smile spread across Carlisle's face as if he agreed with Elena.

“Stay, stay with me tonight. I don't want you to leave yet. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The two were completely relaxed in their conversation, but the soldiers behind them were not easily convinced. In this situation, was it true that Elena was the best of Carlisle's army?

Everyone stared back at Elena and Carlisle with curious gazes. Morgan, who was walking silently behind them, clapped and muttered in a soft voice that did not match his large body size.

"…Fantastic."

*

*

*

They began to find small clues as they arrived in the northwest direction of the Crown Prince's palace. When Carlisle and his group followed the trail of bloodstains on some branches someone came towards Carlisle, gasping for breath.

"Y-Your Majesty. Someone from the Empress' palace has officially requested permission to search your palace. "

A faint smile hung on Carlisle's lips.

"After he infiltrated it?"

They had already expelled those who had infiltrated the palace once. And now that he had already sent Zenard to watch over them now, it was too late for them to come and get permission.

"Your Majesty, what should I do?"

Carlisle dipped his head and touched his chin in thought for a moment.

Swigswigswigeu–

They could hear the sound of movement through the forest. His company consisted of highly skilled knights, and even the slightest movement could not be missed.

Elena whispered to Carlisle.

"It looks like the Empress's people are already around her."

As Carlisle searched for Kuhn, the Empress seemed to have sent more troops. Other than the groups under Zenard's command, there were others in the palace. Perhaps they also found traces of Kuhn, and were looking for blood left in the area.

Carlisle's eyes were cold. Then he spoke slowly.

"I'm asleep now."

"…What?"

The man who ran to report to Carlisle had an expression of disbelief.

“I was fast asleep and could not be awakened. That means I cannot give permission to the Empress's people to search my palace. "

"Well…"

"So now they are the ones who entered without permission into the Crown Prince's palace."

"…!"

The man listening to Carlisle finally realized what he meant and opened his eyes wide. Elena could understand the meaning of the prince once she said the first words.

Officially, the Empress had to ask permission from the Crown Prince to seek her palace on the run, so Carlisle intended to delay her permission as much as possible. Moreover, those who infiltrated the Crown Prince's palace were unknown people, so they had reason to arrest and punish them.

Chaeaengs!

On this dark night, his sharp sword flashed in the soft moonlight. The other men behind were confused by Elena's sudden behavior.

Hwiiigue–

Elena immediately threw her sword into the forest.

Swelter.

It hit an enemy soldier who had been hiding. The sound of flesh piercing the metal confirmed that its purpose was correct.

"…Wow."

There was a faint compliment from someone's mouth. Elena turned around and calmly spoke to Carlisle.

"I will go and arrest all the unknown people who have infiltrated the palace."

If those people followed them, they would try to escape. It was not very dangerous, and no one could seriously threaten him in a one-on-one fight.

Carlisle shot Elena a conflicted look, but immediately nodded.

"…Go."

"Yes sir."

After this rare exchange, he dashed into the dark forest. As expected, once he moved he could feel the enemy strewn on all sides.

Carlisle turned towards his other men for a moment.

"What are you doing? Did you not go? "

"Yes sir!"

After Carlisle's words, the other people followed behind Elena to capture the Queen's people. The sound of countless steel collisions on the steel rang in the dark. Carlisle had no doubt that Elena could capture all of the Queen's men. Even though he was unwilling to admit it, with his ability he knew he would not lose them.

Carlisle observed the battle with his hands folded when he suddenly realized there was still one person by his side. That person had previously told him that the Empress wanted to obtain permission to search the palace.

"You have to go and tell them I'm too asleep to get up."

"Y-yes, Your Majesty!"

He had been staring at Elena's back and coming at himself as the prince greeted her, and then rushed off. His mission was to tell them that Carlisle was still sleeping.

Kuhn, who was momentarily unconscious, began to move. The first thing that came to his mind was that his entire body was sick like fire. Every muscle hurts. Not only was he severely tortured in the palace, but he also used his strength to escape.

"… Keut. ”

He groaned as he lifted his upper body. From his side sounded like birds singing.

"Are you okay?"

Kuhn's gray eyes turned towards the unexpected voice, and Mirabelle's anxious face swam into view. When he looked into Mirabelle's innocent eyes, all the events that had happened before passed through her like a panorama. The young noblewoman took her clothes and opened up for Kuhn's sake. She was Elena's sister, and would soon become Carlisle's sister-in-law, meaning that their difference in status was too great for her to be unreachable by him. And thus, Kuhn owes him that he can never pay.

'…Let go of me . '

He was not so helpless that he would give up his own life, but like so many people he had killed, he knew one day he would die. It doesn't matter if it's today. If he struggled to live but remained dead, it was inevitable.

Kuhn looked at him in annoyance, but she spoke to him in a voice full of worry.

"Do you want a glass of water?"

"…I'm fine . ”

He refused his drink despite his cloudy throat. However, when Mirabelle heard how her voice broke, she quickly left then returned with a glass of water from her room, and carefully pointed it at her mouth.

When things continue like this, Kuhn only drinks the water Mirabelle gave him. It's funny how a mouthful of water seems to make her feel more energetic.

After finishing the cup, Mirabelle put the glass away neatly. Come to think of it, Kuhn was still lying in the bathroom. It might have weighed too heavy for Mirabelle to carry, but her body was covered in a thick blanket, so it wasn't cold at all. He felt a little guilty imagining Mirabelle flicking all the blankets inside.

"Your name .. What is it?"

Hearing his sudden question, Kuhn turned his head and looked at him. There was something wary about his gaze. Or maybe he was too curious to know what to do. What is his name …

"I don't want to tell you. As you can see, my job is very dangerous. ”

She is not wrong, and she does not want to continue her relationship with Mirabelle anymore. However, he had helped her, and if she was going to receive a reward, that was all.

"I want to know . I promise I won't tell anyone, so .. can you tell me? ”

"…"

After a while, he thought it would make no difference if he would never see her again. He felt bad for being too difficult for him after he had only saved his life.

"Mahr .. Kasha. ”

He regretted it as soon as he spoke. He should have given her an alias. Maybe his head didn't work properly because he was injured.

"Kuhn Kasha's. ”

Mirabelle repeated her name. Those words tickled Kuhn strangely, and he forced himself to pull his upper body. Mirabelle held him back with a surprised look on her face.

“J-don't move. The wound is too serious– ”

“This injury occurs frequently. And if you don't leave now, you and I will be in trouble. ”

However, something different had caught Mirabelle's attention.

"That injury .. is common?"

Kuhn's primary mission before she was assigned to infiltrate the Queen's palace was to keep Elena's side like a silent shadow. He had Mirabelle's face from a distance. She could tell that she was a very intelligent girl like the sun. A completely different type of person than himself.

She did not know if Mirabelle was acting like this every day, but Kuhn was troubled as her kindness and warmth turned towards her.

"I'll go now. ”

Kuhn staggered to his feet. It was not the first time he had overcome a situation where he thought he would die like this. He staggered straight ahead, and Mirabelle quickly went to his side and grabbed his arm.

"Can you continue like this?"

“Yes, this is enough. ”

He replied calmly as if he had gotten used to this, and Mirabelle could not help but think about how unfortunate this situation was. He looked at Kuhn with glittering eyes. It felt like it contained a feeling he had never received from anyone. He speaks apart from himself.

"…Thank you . “

Mirabelle's eyes widened. Kuhn, who had finished speaking, walked out of the room staggered. Mirabelle chased after him, and spoke with her backward back.

"Since I saved you, can you grant my request?"

"…?"

Kuhn stopped walking and looked back.

"Please .. let me see you one more time. When you're okay, come see me. My name is Mirabelle Blaise. ”

"…"

Kuhn tightened her lips and turned around without answering. Mirabelle looked at him sadly as she left.