IBTCETEC 05

~Chapter 5~

Let’s See

Regina was frozen in shock for a moment, but quickly slid off the bed, knelt on the floor, and bowed deeply.

“I greet the Empire’s greatest sword.”

One sentence echoed in Regina’s mind as she bowed her head.

[Black hair and blue eyes.]

When she first read that line, she had been curious—someone with the same blue eyes as her.

[Clear features. A face so beautiful it could be mistaken for a woman, but no one can match him with a sword—knight among knights.]

She used to think, “A knight can’t be stronger than me.”

[He reached the level of Swordmaster, freely uses aura, and always rides a white horse.]

‘And that horse’s name is Douglas.’

Remembering up to that point, Regina almost bit her lips. She held her trembling hands in fists to hide it.

Meanwhile, Conrad, watching Regina’s face, felt a strange sense of déjà vu since yesterday.

He stroked his chin for a moment, ignoring his aide Limutan’s shout, and asked,

“Have you met me somewhere before?”

He was sure he had seen her somewhere. Not now, but when he was young.

Even back then, he thought the same thing when he saw burning red hair like hers. She looked like the portrait of the empire’s founder.

Suddenly, Conrad wanted to look at Regina’s face more closely.

“Madarin Baron Family is a small house from the border, so there was no chance to meet Your Majesty,”

Regina explained quietly, but Conrad didn’t back down. He leaned forward and grabbed her chin.

His blue eyes scanned Regina like they could pierce her. She felt pins and needles in her hands and the hairs on her neck stood up, but Regina couldn’t move.

How much time passed like that?

“Well, with hair this red, I wouldn’t forget it easily.”

His cold but captivating blue eyes moved closer and closer. Regina held her breath and focused all her senses on him.

In that moment, something cold and blue—like his eyes—seemed to rush into her body where he touched her.

The strange energy made her dizzy for a moment.

Conrad paused when he saw Regina’s face turn pale.

He looked over her thin, bandaged body, then let go and stepped back.

‘Ha…’

As his face moved away, Regina quietly let out a breath of relief.

“You know your blood is making all the monsters here go wild, right?”

“Yes… I’m sorry for that.”

“It’s not something you can fix just by saying sorry, since you’re already causing trouble for the hunt.”

“……”

It couldn’t be helped. A magician’s blood always made monsters more wild.

‘If only I could use my magic, this would never have happened…’

Regina swallowed her anger and bowed her head.

Conrad gave a natural-sounding order.

“It’ll be a problem if you interrupt the hunt again. You can’t leave here until the fighting is over.”

After he finished speaking, Conrad left without looking back.

Regina only relaxed after his footsteps grew far away. She sat on the floor, leaning against the bed, too weak to get up.

Conrad walked straight out of the tent, crossing through the hunting camp.

His aide Limutan followed, but he was too nervous to say anything, seeing Conrad’s serious face.

“Madarin Baron Family, huh?”

Conrad let out a laugh. Limutan stepped closer at his mumble.

“Well, it’s not impossible there’s a connection. Limutan, go investigate that family.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As soon as he gave the order, Limutan hurried away. Conrad watched him leave, the corners of his mouth lifting in a smirk.

“Let’s see… Are you really the girl from my memories?”

There’s no way she could run away now that she was in his hands.

Conrad had been searching for a woman for years.

Twenty years ago, when he was eight, he had visited Permang Empire with the previous emperor.

There was a girl who fought off assassins with magic and disappeared with a beautiful woman.

‘I wonder if she remembers.’

She was only six years old back then—would she even remember him?

If this woman really was that girl, what would he do?

Conrad clenched his fist.

“Nothing is decided yet.”

He turned and walked toward the knights.

Life in the Fredericks camp wasn’t so bad.

The army doctor came to check on Regina’s wounds at set times, so her body was healing well.

‘I have to escape from here and go to the Madarin Baron Family.’

Back in the monster zone, her only goal was to survive. Now that she was safe, she could make plans.

She would go to the Madarin house, meet the hidden magicians from Permang, and find a way to break her magic seal.

Thinking about her goal made Regina feel better. She welcomed the doctor with a smile.

“You look happier today, Lady Madarin.”

“It’s a nice day.”

“But it’s still a bit windy, isn’t it?”

Allen Ashula.

He was the second son of Viscount Ashula of Fredericks, and also the army doctor.

Regina couldn’t decide whether to like or dislike Allen, who visited every day. She knew Emperor Conrad sent Allen to keep an eye on her.

Regina’s smile became small.

“I didn’t notice since I stepped out for a moment.”

Seeing her clumsy answer, Allen lifted his medicine box.

“May I check your wounds?”

“They’re almost healed.”

Regina showed her arm, barely a mark left, and waved her hand to say she was fine.

“I’m glad you’re better.”

Conrad came into the tent without making a sound.

‘When did he come in?’

Even if she was hurt, she shouldn’t have let her guard down this much.

Blaming herself, Regina greeted Conrad.

“Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“No need.”

Conrad said she didn’t have to bow since she was still hurt. Regina sat up straight, glad she didn’t have to kneel on the floor anymore.

There was a small table and chairs in Regina’s tent. Conrad sat down like it was his own tent and told Regina to sit too.

“Why are you just standing? Won’t you sit?”

When Regina stayed standing, Conrad asked again.

“Do I have to pull out a chair for you?”

“No, it’s okay.”

Sitting across from Conrad was uncomfortable, but she had no choice.

After she sat, Conrad’s aide brought two cups of tea, poured them, and left.

Now they were alone, and the tent was silent. Feeling awkward, Regina picked up her cup and brought it to her lips.

That’s when Conrad spoke.

“After Permang set up the magic barrier, monsters started coming to Fredericks.”

“Cough…!”

Regina froze, her heart going cold.

Conrad continued like nothing happened.

“There are so many monsters now, we don’t even call it an attack. We call it a monster wave.”

It sounded like he was just talking to himself, but Regina felt worse and worse.

“In the end, I had to come out here myself.”

She already knew the Emperor was leading the hunt in person, but hearing it for real was different.

Feeling the guilt stabbing at her, Regina took a sip of tea to steady herself.

She was scared she’d confess the truth if she didn’t.

“Anyway, I’m sorry you got hurt because of all this, Lady Madarin.”

“It’s fine.”

“Of course, you said you don’t remember why you’re here.”

“……”

Regina didn’t even feel like smiling, but she couldn’t just sit with a blank face while Conrad stared at her.

She forced a smile and touched her teacup.

She couldn’t tell him she was banished from Permang beyond the magic barrier.

‘Wait, if I was banished, that means…’