TPO 07

Chapter 07

Evelyn began returning to the camp where they had come from with Raynard’s support.

She wanted to walk by herself, but her legs had lost all strength, making it impossible for her to walk or even stand properly.

The wounds that had only been treated lightly also contributed to making Evelyn’s movements extremely difficult and uncomfortable.

Evelyn glanced at Raynard.

Even though Raynard knew that Evelyn was the fake Princess Ophelia, he had chosen to overlook it.

Not only that, he had even told her to remain by his side as the princess.

Evelyn could not understand Raynard’s intentions at all.

“Why exactly…”

After thinking for a long time, Evelyn finally managed to speak.

Raynard, who had been looking ahead, only moved his eyes toward her when he heard her voice.

The moment Evelyn’s eyes met his, she quickly looked away.

“Why did you make such an offer to me?”

If the reason he saved her from the Hesta soldiers at first was because he mistook her for Princess Ophelia, then she could understand.

But everything that happened afterward, and his offer of revenge, made no sense to her.

Raynard looked forward again with an indifferent expression.

He looked as if Evelyn’s determination and seriousness meant nothing to him.

“You are dissatisfied with even that.”

Raynard’s voice was buried beneath the sound of the night insects.

Evelyn, who had been focusing on him, quickly raised her head.

“It’s not that I’m dissatisfied…”

Evelyn trailed off, unsure of her words.

The expression “dissatisfied” that Raynard used was not accurate.

This was closer to suspicion.

Evelyn had tried to deceive Bight.

Even if it was something she never wanted to do, the fact itself did not change.

But Raynard—the Emperor of Bight—was choosing to overlook it?

And not only that, he was telling her that she could continue pretending to be Princess Ophelia?

“I just… don’t understand.”

Raynard had said there was no reason for him to kill Evelyn.

However, from Evelyn’s perspective, there were more than enough reasons for him to do so.

She had dared to deceive an emperor and impersonate Princess Ophelia.

What greater reason could there be?

“Is it strange that I want to keep you beside me as Princess Ophelia and gain justification?”

“You would already have enough justification to kill me. Hesta deceived Bight and sent a fake princess. Isn’t that clearly an act of betrayal and deception?”

After Evelyn finished speaking, Raynard stopped walking.

Evelyn also stopped along with him.

He frowned and stared directly at her.

It looked as though he was thinking deeply about something.

As Evelyn held her breath and waited, Raynard suddenly let out a hollow laugh.

Then he took one step away from her.

“I suppose I was mistaken about something. I never imagined you wanted to die.”

“No…!”

Before Evelyn could deny it, Raynard drew the sword hanging at his waist and pointed it at her.

The time it took for the sword to leave its sheath and point toward Evelyn’s neck was less than the blink of an eye.

Even though the blade had not touched her skin, Evelyn’s body became extremely tense.

She swallowed nervously, afraid that even that small movement would cause the blade to cut her throat.

“If you had said so from the beginning, I would have helped you. Why did you keep circling around the subject?”

Raynard brought the blade close to Evelyn’s chin.

From Evelyn’s view, the blade reflected the moonlight and shone silver.

Only then did Evelyn realize what she had said.

Raynard had decided to spare her.

Regardless of his intentions or what he wanted, Evelyn’s position as the weaker party did not matter at all.

The authority to decide her fate belonged solely to Raynard.

Therefore, his words that he would spare her, and that she should remain as Princess Ophelia, were rules she had to follow.

“N-no, that’s not what I meant.”

Evelyn squeezed out her voice with difficulty.

However, Raynard only stared at her as if telling her to continue.

“I’m sorry. That wasn’t what I meant.”

“If it sounded that way?”

At Raynard’s dry voice, Evelyn shook her head slightly.

Fortunately, the blade did not touch her neck.

Unable to look at the terrifying sword flashing before her eyes, Evelyn squeezed her eyes shut.

Soon, she felt the sharp killing intent disappear.

Then she heard the sound of something cutting through the air.

Evelyn shrank her neck and clenched her fists tightly.

It had truly been a hopeless night.

However, even after some time passed, the sharp sword did not strike her neck.

The tense Evelyn carefully opened her eyes and checked the situation.

The first thing she saw was Raynard’s back.

Confused, Evelyn could only stare at him.

Meanwhile, Raynard swung his sword once, shaking the blood from the blade.

Only then did Evelyn notice the wild dog’s corpse lying nearby, split in half and gasping.

Its severed body spilled blood-covered organs onto the ground.

At the horrifying sight, Evelyn felt nauseous.

“Not good. The smell of blood will spread.”

Raynard put the sword back into its sheath and turned around.

“We should go. A pack of wild dogs will gather soon. Or perhaps other beasts.”

“No, wait.”

Raynard’s attitude had changed completely, as if the moment when he had pointed a sword at Evelyn’s neck had never happened.

Evelyn could not hide her confusion at his impossible mood swings.

“What is it this time?”

Raynard asked as if nothing had happened.

Evelyn hesitated, moving her lips slightly before closing them and shaking her head.

She did not want to create another problem for herself.

The awkward silence that followed only made things more uncomfortable.

She could not run away now, and once they returned to the camp, she would have to tremble in fear because of Raynard’s unpredictable behavior.

Evelyn felt as though she were a cow being dragged to a slaughterhouse.

“It was a joke. Though I suppose it wasn’t a joke from your position.”

Raynard, who had been walking silently toward the camp, suddenly spoke.

Evelyn only blinked and listened.

“I had no intention of killing you.”

Even though what had just happened had been terrifying, Raynard spoke seriously, trying to ease Evelyn’s fear.

“You were someone Hesta used and then abandoned. I am simply taking in someone like that. As you said, you do not necessarily have to remain Princess Ophelia. That identity is already more than enough justification for me. But if you want to stay here, remaining as Princess Ophelia will be more advantageous for your safety.”

By the time Raynard finished speaking, the two of them had reached the camp.

The camp was quiet.

It seemed as though no one even noticed that Evelyn and Raynard had left.

Only a peaceful atmosphere remained.

“As I said earlier, before long, I will conquer Hesta.”

Although it was still only a plan, Raynard spoke with complete confidence in victory.

The unwavering confidence in his clear eyes showed that nothing could crush him.

“Then you will be free from Hesta’s threat.”

Raynard was right.

Even if Evelyn ran away now, the matter would not simply end.

Since the Hesta soldiers disguised as bandits had failed to kill the fake Princess Ophelia, the news would soon reach Hesta’s leadership.

Then they would send more soldiers to cover up their crime.

Evelyn, a citizen of Hesta, could not simply seek asylum in the Bight Empire, and she could not return to Hesta either.

“For one year, until then. After that, you may do whatever you want. If you wish, I can even provide you with living expenses and a place to stay.”

It was an unbelievable offer.

Regardless of whether Raynard wanted to disguise Evelyn as Princess Ophelia to conquer Hesta, the fact that he was promising to secure Evelyn’s future was something she had never expected.

“Can I trust you?”

Feeling that Raynard’s attitude had softened compared to before, Evelyn carefully asked.

“Even if you say you don’t trust me, there is nothing you can do right now. You cannot escape, and you cannot seek asylum.”

“That…”

“Just consider it a favor. I take responsibility for the things I do.”

There was no choice.

In the end, the only option Evelyn could choose at the moment was Raynard’s offer.

Even if Raynard changed his mind and she ended up dying, it would only mean her death had been delayed.

“May I ask why you are showing me such kindness?”

This was the question Evelyn wanted to ask even if she had to risk having her throat cut.

After hesitating for a moment, Raynard let out a meaningless laugh.

“Who knows. Perhaps it is better if you remain unaware.”