Ch. 42

“Serina took your mana, which means if she uses that mana to activate the necklace…”

It could put Ardion in danger. If someone were to attack him with the mana in the necklace, he might fall helplessly.

Suddenly, we heard a commotion, and a group of knights in armor walked towards us. They weren’t from Delzion’s order, but the emblem on their chest was quite ornate.

The knight with the most elaborate emblem stepped forward, bowed to Ardion, and said in a solemn voice, “Your Highness, you are to come with us. You are charged with document forgery and disobedience of orders.”

I gasped in surprise and looked at Ardion.

He let out a soft chuckle. “Has Rowell already put those charges on me?”

The atmosphere was tense. I was confused, but he casually smiled. “I’m not planning to go quietly.”

“Then, I’m afraid we’ll have to bind Your Highness.”

“Do you really have to do that? I have no ill will towards you.”

“We are merely following His Highness Rowell’s orders.”

Ardion shook his head. The knight signaled to the others around him. They approached Ardion, carrying ropes. However, he remained in his position, not trying to escape. He just watched them. Suddenly, the ground started shaking, and dust began to swirl around us. The knights rushed towards him.

Ardion drew a sword from its sheath and instantly began slicing through the approaching knights. One of them was charging straight at me, so I quickly created a small pit in the ground with my hands.

The knight slipped and fell. In the meantime, Ardion expertly dispatched him, cutting down every soldier that came near.

I was pressed against the wall of the armory, witnessing this violent scene for the first time.

Just then, Ardion approached me. “Laila, let’s go.”

He grabbed my hand and quickly led me behind the armory.

I struggled to steady my breathing before speaking, “Your Highness, what’s going on?”

“Rowell is trying to force me out for good.”

“So, you’re—”

Suddenly, we heard the sound of horses. Ardion had apparently prepared them. He knelt in front of a horse.

Without hesitation, I used his thigh as a step and mounted the saddle. As soon as he was behind me, he urged the horse forward, and the trees whizzed by us.

Then Ardion’s hand grabbed my waist. “Laila, you’d better bend down. Arrows might fly at us.”

I hunched down, and arrows flew right over my head. The near-miss sent a chill down my spine.

What’s going on all of a sudden? I said shakily, “Your Highness, didn’t you say we were going together because you have something to do?”

“I do have something to do, but things got messed up along the way.”

“Looks like it got really messed up.”

I heard a soft laugh behind me. It was odd to laugh in a situation like this, but soon, the sound of pursuit behind us faded.

I glanced back.

Ardion said calmly, “I blocked them with water magic. They won’t be able to catch up for a while.”

“Did you create a pit with water magic?”

“Do you think I blocked all of them with a pit? It’s just a simple barrier. It’ll dissolve in a few hours.”

“A barrier…?”

I realized just how skilled Ardion was. Water barriers were advanced magic I could barely use myself. It consumed so much mana that most people wouldn’t even attempt it.

Only someone like Ardion could use such magic freely.

He didn’t seem exhausted at all. His hand gripped the reins tightly, and beautiful mana swirled around his forearm and biceps.

The veins in his arm stood out, accentuating his masculinity. I couldn’t help but gaze at his wrist for a moment before looking ahead.

As the horse galloped, Ardion’s body almost enveloped mine, and the wind rushed fiercely in front of us.

I gripped the saddle tightly, thinking I had to survive no matter what.

❋ ❋ ❋

After a while, Ardion halted. The sky was darkening, and it seemed like sunset was near. I quickly dismounted and examined the mana tracker.

The needle was now pointing southwest. I studied the bottom part closely. Back at the palace, it had glowed red. But now, there was no indication at all.

“The signal is gone.”

I looked up, and Ardion came closer. His face was serious as he examined the tracker. I hesitated as I looked at him. He was too close. I had to tilt my head to look up at his face. His brows were furrowed, making him look intense, but it only made him more attractive.

The slight bangs that fell over his face gave him a youthful, innocent air, and his sharp nose made him look more elegant.

I couldn’t help but notice how handsome Ardion was.

At that thought, I lowered the mana tracker.

Ardion looked at me curiously. “Southwest. It was definitely north just now.”

At that moment, Derol leaped from my pocket, stood on his two hind feet, and sniffed the air. “There’s no human scent here.”

“Are you sensitive to smells, even though you're not a dog?” Ardion commented.

Derol glared at him. “How rude. Even mice can smell.”

Ardion didn’t respond, only gesturing with his eyes.

“Then, Serina hasn’t given the necklace to Rowell, right?”

“If she had, she wouldn’t have threatened me like that.”

“Threatened?”

Ardion tied the horse to a nearby tree. It was done so skillfully, it seemed effortless. He adjusted the saddle as he spoke. “If I won the hunting tournament, I was going to use my wish to grant you a title.”

I knew Ardion had planned to give me a title, but I hadn’t expected it to be like this.

It was already absurd that someone like me, a commoner, was serving as his personal maid. All the other maids in the palace were nobles.

“But Serina messed everything up, and now, Rowell seems to be in a bind too. He used mana extraction magic in a place where it wasn’t allowed, and because of that, he lost the trust of the nobles.”

“Is that why the nobles came?”

Ardion nodded.

“Some nobles have already been wronged by Rowell. A few are actually quite favorable towards me, especially since I’ve killed many monsters in battle. Some of them even dislike Rowell.”

“…”

“Most importantly, targeting you means targeting me. Rowell is denying it, but everyone knows he’s trying to get rid of me now.”

“If I hadn’t survived back then…”

“Laila, don’t say that. Even if I die, you won’t die.” Ardion’s face was serious.

I felt like I was someone important to him, someone he couldn’t treat carelessly.

Speechless, he asked, “Aren’t you curious about why I’m charged with those crimes?”

His tone was light, and he even had a strange smile on his face.

“You didn’t actually commit those crimes, did you?”

Ardion laughed softly. “I did commit them.”

“Excuse me?”

“From Rowell’s perspective.”

That explanation finally put my mind at ease. I had never raised Ardion to be a criminal. I had tried to discipline him well.

“So, what happened?”

Seeing me curious, he beamed at me. “Laila, you’re talking too much. I’m getting tired.”

He didn’t look tired, but there was something in his expression that made me think he was waiting for something from me. His smile never left his face.

He met my gaze, and his handsome face was right in front of me. “Laila, I’m so tired. Do you have anything for me?”

“… You don’t look tired at all.”

At that moment, Ardion’s eyes slightly opened, and he buried his face in my shoulder, leaning completely against me. “I’m so tired from running here.”

I stepped back because of Ardion’s weight. However, he pulled my waist so hard that I nearly fell. He seemed to be leaning against me, but he wasn’t completely entrusting his body to me.

I could tell just by looking at the arms firmly holding my waist. His warm body felt like it was wrapping me up.

For a moment, I stood still like a stone. I was embarrassed and was at a loss for what to do.

I was also curious about how Rowell could have put such a sin on Ardion, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask.

“Laila, aren’t you curious?”

A pleasant, low voice rang in my ears. He was completely wrapping me in my arms, so our breaths were entangled as he spoke.

What in the world does Ardion want from me? I felt like I knew something, but I didn’t want to admit it.

At that moment, there was a squeaking sound. Derol jumped up and bit Ardion’s calf. His eyebrows seemed to harden slightly, but he soon pulled away from me.

I raised my head and blinked.

Ardion tilted his head. “When will you accept me without any hesitation?”

I couldn’t answer easily. I felt like something was holding me back from just liking him. No, it felt like I was committing a sin.

What on earth is this feeling?

I had a hard time understanding it myself. But what was clear was that I couldn’t see any trace of Ardion as a child anymore.

In fact, that was more painful.

… Because I kept feeling like Ardion was a man.

Comments