TYBMB 11

Chapter 11: The Man Who Betrayed Me
2024.01.11.

Because the joke I made thoughtlessly received a more intense reaction than expected, I was slightly startled.

“I didn’t expect you to go as far as asking if I was out of my mind… I joke around with Karl all the time. Every time he makes a dumb joke, I punish him like that.”

“…Don’t.”

“Karl just laughs it off though… Anyway, I’m sorry. I won’t joke like that with you again, Commander.”

“No, don’t do it with the other members either. That includes Karl. It’s not a good kind of joke.”

Because the others always laughed and took it lightly, I hadn’t realized this could be considered rude.

Resolving to be more careful from now on, I bowed politely to the commander.

“Yes, I’ll refrain.”

“Hoo… In any case, let’s head out. I did carry you off my back, but your injuries probably haven’t healed fully yet. You should lean on me.”

Thanks to the generous amount of potion used, I wasn’t in bad enough shape to be unable to walk, but the commander insisted I lean on him.

It wasn’t difficult, so I willingly accepted his support as we passed through the rift.

Beeeeeeep—

Just like when we entered, a high-pitched ringing echoed in my ears as we exited the rift.

And when I returned to my world with that now oddly comforting sound—

“…!”

I couldn’t help but be startled.

Someone completely unexpected was waiting for us outside the rift.

Staring at that annoyingly familiar face, I stammered,

“Y-Your Majesty…?”

The Emperor, Ernandt, for some reason, was waiting for us.

Was it because I had rudely cut off contact with him and he’d come in person to confront me?

While my mind was racing with such thoughts, Ernandt twisted his lips into a crooked smile.

“Seems like you two have gotten quite close since I last saw you. Stuck together like that—were you having a little chat in there?”

There was a time when just looking at Ernandt’s face would make my heart race uncontrollably.

When I was so smitten, I didn’t know what to do with myself and could only blush like an idiot.

And now, just like back then, my heart pounded and my face flushed hot.

But this time, it wasn’t because of fluttering emotions toward Ernandt.

It wasn’t affection—but anger—that set my body on fire.

Chatting inside the rift? Did he really just say that?

I had fought for my life and got injured battling a monster, and the commander was merely helping me walk.

Yet Ernandt chose to mock us for how we looked, simply because I was leaning on the commander.

He degraded our desperate fight as if it had been some casual chat.

I responded to him in a voice as calm as I could manage, suppressing my fury.

“I injured my leg. The commander was simply helping me. I don’t recall having any chats.”

“…You injured your leg?”

Only then did Ernandt glance at my thigh.

As if he finally noticed the blood soaking through the fabric, his brows furrowed.

His gaze lingered on my wound for a long moment before shifting to the commander.

“You let your subordinate get hurt. I thought you never made mistakes when it came to monster subjugation.”

He was blaming my injury on the commander, belittling him.

Unable to take it any longer, I opened my mouth to say something—but the commander spoke first.

“What brings you here? I wasn’t informed that His Majesty would be coming all the way out here.”

“Do I have to inform you beforehand? As the sun of the Empire, isn’t it natural for me to ensure any threats to it are being properly handled?”

Saying “threats,” Ernandt looked once at the commander, then slowly at the rift, which was now closing.

So I couldn’t tell—was the “threat” he mentioned referring to the commander or the rift?

As Ernandt shifted his gaze between the commander and the rift, he suddenly approached the rift.

For knights like us who worked in the field, it was a familiar sight, but for the Emperor, he likely hadn’t seen many rifts in person.

Perhaps that’s why he looked at the glowing, shimmering gap in space with such curiosity.

Then, suddenly, he turned to me.

“Is this… closing?”

“Yes. We defeated the Queen inside and destroyed the magic stone, so it should close soon.”

“I see. Good work.”

Ernandt gave me a gentle smile as he praised me.

It was the same smile that had once made me fall for him.

Growing up under a strict father, I’d never been praised much, and that smile had been my weakness.

Back then, I had given my heart away without realizing the true face hidden behind that smile.

But that was the past.

Now, seeing that smile didn’t make my heart flutter or tremble.

Rather, all I could remember was his face, smiling as I lay dying before my regression—and that filled me with disgust.

“Your Majesty, I’m having difficulty standing due to my injury. May I go rest now?”

At my dry tone, Ernandt’s eyes twitched momentarily—but he quickly put his smile back on.

Wearing that impeccably fake mask, he patted my shoulder.

“I kept an injured person here too long. You may return. Ah, but now that I think about it… with that injured leg, it must be difficult to walk back alone, isn’t it?”

At first, I couldn’t figure out what Ernandt was trying to say.

So I just stood there blankly, like when the commander offered to carry me.

Then Ernandt grabbed my arm and slung it over his shoulder.

“Y-Your Majesty…?”

“Lean on me comfortably. I’ll escort you back to your tent.”

“…There’s no need for that. I can walk on my ow—”

“If you can walk on your own, then why were you leaning on your superior earlier?”

At that, I was momentarily at a loss for words.

Even I had to admit—it would seem odd to accept help from the commander but refuse the Emperor.

While I struggled to find an answer, the commander cut in.

“Didn’t Your Majesty say you came to inspect the rift?”

“…Yes. Is there a problem?”

“In that case, it seems you’ve completed your inspection. You should return now. I’ll take care of my subordinate.”

“…What?”

Ernandt’s mask of politeness was usually unbreakable—it would take quite a bit to shake it.

But now, for the first time, cracks appeared in that composure.

At the commander’s rather—no, very—disrespectful tone, Ernandt didn’t bother hiding his anger.

A sense of danger suddenly rushed over me.

Yes, they had argued before.

At imperial events, whenever they met, they’d engage in subtle power struggles.

But this… felt different.

It wasn’t a polite quarrel—it felt like something serious might actually happen.

I glanced at the imperial guards nearby, who had started to twitch their fingers toward their swords.

Then I quickly called out to Ernandt.

“Your Majesty, in that case, could I ask just for your help getting back to my tent?”

“Oh? So you’re accepting my help? Even though your superior disapproves?”

He mocked me with that same smirking tone.

But his gaze—sharp as a blade—was fixed on the commander.

Afraid they’d start bickering again, I hurriedly spoke to the commander.

“I really want to go rest. Please allow me to leave, Commander.”

“…”

“Commander?”

Even after I called out to him, he stayed silent for a long time.

Just when I started to worry that I’d said something wrong, the commander finally replied.

“…Fine. Go ahead.”

I bowed deeply to him, then reluctantly leaned on Ernandt.

The imperial guards closed in around us, escorting us as if to protect the Emperor.

That’s how I ended up heading to my tent surrounded by guards.

“Whew…”

When we finally arrived after what felt like an endless stretch of awkward silence, I let out a small sigh.

It was a genuine relief to finally be back in my personal space, after barely surviving that tense atmosphere.

I could’ve enjoyed that relief longer—if Ernandt hadn’t followed me into my tent without asking.

“…Is it really okay for you to follow me in? The guards outside are probably waiting for Your Majesty.”

“It’s their job to wait while I handle my business. If I say I have something to do, they wait until I’m done.”

Once we were alone, Ernandt dropped the formal act and became noticeably more casual.

Without other eyes watching, it also became slightly easier for me to deal with him.

“I need to change clothes… Could you please step outside?”

“I’ll just turn around. Don’t mind me.”

“…”

I was boiling inside, but Ernandt was still the Emperor.

As a mere knight from a marquess family, I had no power to forcibly kick him out.

Swallowing my irritation, I quickly changed into clean clothes while he faced the other way.

“Why did you really come all the way here?”

Once I was dressed, I naturally asked.

Ernandt turned to look at me, letting his gaze roam over my fresh clothes, and replied:

“Because I was worried.”