≈ Chapter 8 ≈
Anais’s face suddenly became hot.
She was crying in front of other people.
She quickly turned her face away.
But strangely…
The tears wouldn’t stop.
Her vision became blurry, and her eyes stung.
“I’m sorry… It’s just…”
As she spoke…
Anais finally realized why she was crying.
“Are your injuries all right?”
Since waking up yesterday…
Elliott was the first person who had asked her that.
The moment she realized it…
She felt embarrassed.
Was I really crying over something so small?
But when she thought about it…
It was only natural.
Anais had always been the center of attention.
Her family…
Everyone…
Had always worried about her.
Although one whole year had passed…
To Anais, it had only been two days ago.
Yet everything had changed.
If the real Anais had been struck by lightning…
Her family would have rushed to her barefoot.
But according to Anne…
Her grandfather was away recovering.
Her parents had gone with him.
The truth—
That the Thirty-Third Possessor had deliberately sent them away—
Anais had only learned from the diary.
So…
No one except Anne had taken care of her.
And even Anne had been so shocked by Anais’s memory loss…
That she hadn’t thought much about her injuries.
So…
“Commander, why would you ask something like that?”
“Of course she’s in pain.”
Even Atlas seemed a little surprised.
He spoke up awkwardly to ease the atmosphere.
Anne quickly took out a handkerchief and handed it to Anais.
Anais hurriedly wiped her tears.
Her mind was a mess.
I actually cried over a single sentence…
The past two days had been overwhelming.
There were too many things for her to deal with.
And she hadn’t solved even one of them.
She couldn’t even leave the mansion because of her injuries.
It’s understandable…
Anyone would break down.
Anais quietly comforted herself.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’ve just been feeling overwhelmed…”
“I see.”
There was no way she could admit…
That she had cried simply because someone had shown concern for her.
Her pride wouldn’t allow it.
It was different from the fake tears she could easily shed in front of others.
Anais had always cried beautifully.
Delicately.
Always aware of how people saw her.
But…
Never like this.
Never had tears fallen without warning.
Even she was surprised.
Elliott’s expression became strange.
He silently nodded.
Then looked at Anais once more.
For some reason…
His face made even Anais feel uneasy.
…Is it because he’s too handsome?
Before the silence could continue…
Atlas quickly stepped between them.
“Crying won’t change anything!”
Anais narrowed her eyes.
“We’ve already investigated everything!”
“His Grace the Black Dragon sent us!”
“…The Black Dragon sent you?”
“Exactly!”
“And we investigated you ourselves!”
“Among every Possessor I’ve seen…”
“You’re the worst one!”
“…I already told you!”
“The Possessor is gone!”
“Anais is Anais Fleur!”
She wanted to hit her own chest in frustration.
But Atlas immediately pointed at her.
“That lie won’t work!”
“Even if it were true…”
“How can we believe you?”
“Do you have any proof?”
“…Proof…”
Anais suddenly fell silent.
There was plenty of proof that the Possessor had existed.
The countless fraudulent contracts made under Anais’s name alone proved that.
But…
There was no proof…
That the Possessor had disappeared.
After all…
How could anyone prove that a soul had left someone’s body?
“You don’t have any, do you?”
Atlas smiled proudly.
Anais took a deep breath.
“Unfortunately…”
“No.”
She had to stay calm.
She couldn’t let herself be taken away just because she lacked proof.
It was completely unfair.
Someone had stolen her life…
Enjoyed everything they wanted…
Escaped…
And now Anais was the one about to be punished.
Her eyes slowly turned toward Elliott.
Then…
She remembered something.
“Sir Atlas Worsbone.”
Atlas blinked.
Anais’s voice had suddenly become calm.
She looked directly at him.
“Twenty-five years ago…”
“There was a murder case in a certain kingdom.”
“The woman accused of that crime had to prove…”
“That she had not committed it.”
It was a famous story.
The story of a princess.
There was hardly anyone on the continent who didn’t know it.
As expected…
Elliott’s expression stiffened slightly.
Ignoring it…
Anais continued.
“The case involved many complicated circumstances.”
“Eventually…”
“The Blue Dragon Knights became involved.”
It had been a conflict between two kingdoms.
A war could have broken out.
The Commander of the Blue Dragon Knights at the time had personally become the princess’s protector.
“But proving something you didn’t do…”
“Is incredibly difficult.”
“Because if you truly did nothing…”
“There is nothing left behind as proof.”
“But Miss…”
Atlas shrugged.
“Your situation is completely different.”
“In the end…”
“The real criminal was caught.”
“And Princess Ridens had the Commander of the Blue Dragon Knights standing beside her.”
That was true.
The Commander had trusted her more than anyone else.
He knew she would never commit such a crime.
So he personally guaranteed her innocence.
“But Miss…”
“Where exactly did the criminal who stole your body go?”
Anais bit her lip.
Back then…
It had taken a very long time to catch the real culprit.
Without the Commander’s guarantee…
Princess Ridens would have been executed.
Atlas was reminding her of exactly that.
“Do you…”
Atlas glanced toward Elliott.
Elliott frowned slightly.
Atlas smiled anyway.
“Have a Commander of the Blue Dragon Knights who will stand beside you?”
My Commander…
It sounded almost laughable.
The current Commander…
Was Elliott Thessaloniki.
The very man sitting in front of her.
The man who had come here to arrest her.
It was painfully ironic.
In Princess Ridens’s story…
The Commander had protected an innocent person.
The hardest part was…
Anais could understand Elliott’s position.
To anyone looking at the situation…
She was nothing more than a liar.
A deep sense of desperation filled her heart.
At this rate…
She would truly be taken to Fortuna—
The home of the Black Dragon.
There was no one…
Who could prove Anais’s innocence.
Then…
Elliott finally spoke.
“[Do not lie.]”
The instant the words left his mouth…
The atmosphere in the room changed.
Anais instinctively looked up.
His beautiful autumn-green eyes remained calm.
But his words…
Were a direct accusation.
Yet…
For some reason…
Anais saw something else hidden in those eyes.
Regret.
Remorse.
Or perhaps…
Pity.
The moment she noticed it…
A wave of anger rose inside her.
Anais stared directly into his eyes.
“I’m not lying.”
“Oh dear…”
Atlas sighed and shook his head.
Anais swallowed her frustration.
Then spoke honestly.
“I am Anais Fleur.”
“The one who crossed the Rainbow is no longer inside me.”
“…”
“I have nothing else to say.”
“And no one who can guarantee my innocence.”
She slowly lowered her eyes.
“So…”
“If you want to take Anais away and cut off her head…”
“Then do it.”
But…
Elliott did not.
*
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Someone knocked loudly on the door.
Elliott slowly stood up and opened it.
The moment the door opened…
A familiar head of brown hair popped inside.
“Commander!”
It was Atlas.
He hurried into the room and asked before he was even fully inside.
“Are you really backing down?”
“What if that woman escapes?”
“Didn’t I tell her to remain inside the mansion?”
“Yes…”
“But that doesn’t mean she won’t run away!”
Atlas raised his voice impatiently.
Elliott slowly looked at him.
Atlas immediately pouted and became quiet.
The two had just finished meeting Anais Fleur, the eldest daughter of the Fleur family.
She was believed to be the Thirty-Third Possessor.
She had calmly told them to cut off her head if they wished.
But…
For some reason…
Elliott hadn’t done it.
Instead…
He had said,
“Will you give me a little time?”
Anais had stared at him in confusion.
Rather than explaining…
Elliott had simply changed the subject.
“The Blue Dragon Knights are an organization that serves the entire continent.”
“No matter which kingdom or noble house it is…”
“If a member of the Blue Dragon Knights requests a place to stay…”
“They are expected to provide one whenever possible.”
“Commander!”
“We won’t take Miss Fleur away immediately.”
But…
That also meant…
We cannot simply let you go.
Anais understood exactly what he meant.
After staring at Elliott for a long time…
She finally called a maid.
She ordered her to prepare a guest room for the two knights.
And now…
They were staying inside the Fleur mansion.
“I don’t understand.”
“Why did you do that?”
“…Atlas.”
“Yes?”
“You know…”
“That His Grace the Black Dragon’s authority still remains with me.”
“…Why bring that up all of a sudden—”
Atlas, who had been absentmindedly scratching his ear…
Suddenly froze.
His eyes widened.
“Don’t tell me…”
“You used the Word of Command?”
“I did.”
Atlas stared at the Commander as though he had completely lost his mind.
“Commander…”
“Have you gone insane?”
