Chapter 07 ….
The Ice-Cold Imperial Prince
āReinforcements!ā
One of the escorts facing the bandits raised a voice of joy.
At the same time, the sound of multiple horsesā hooves could be heard approaching from afar.
(Help has arrivedā¦!)
Soon, a group carrying a magnificent banner came into view.
Fluttering on it was the royal crest of the Kingdom of Ernstal.
Immediately, the arriving knights engaged the bandits in battle.
Elze pressed herself against the carriage window, holding her breath as she watched.
Though the reinforcements appeared to be few in number, they seemed to be eliteātheir movements were remarkably sharp.
Among them, one individual stood out in particular, mercilessly cutting down bandits without hesitation, to the point that even watching him inspired fear.
His movements were like those of a slaughtering doll without will.
(Even if they are highly trainedā¦ to be that emotionlessā¦)
Gradually, his clothing became stained with splattered blood.
Perhaps realizing they were at a disadvantage, one bandit trying to flee was pierced through the chest from behind by a sword.
In that instant, his faceāuntil now turned away as if shielding the carriageāwas revealed.
An expressionless face with no emotion at all. So perfectly beautiful it was terrifying.
The moment Elze saw it, she gasped.
āR-Richardtā¦!?ā
There was no doubtāthe man there was Richardt, the same person she had seen in her precognitive dreams, and the same portrait attached to the document recruiting bride candidates.
(Whyā¦ why is Richardt here!?)
While Elze was still in confusion, the ambassador traveling with her raised his voice in delight.
āWho would have thought His Highness Prince Richardt would be here!ā
So it truly was Richardt.
The moment she confirmed it, the fear she had begun to forget returned.
In her dreams, he had mercilessly slaughtered the people of MagrielāElzeās familyājust like the bandits lying on the ground.
The terror and despair from that moment were still vividly engraved in her memory.
(Thatās the man who killed my countryā¦ everyoneā¦)
Even as blood stained his clothes and skin, he paid it no attention.
A cold, merciless imperial princeālike ice itself.
āElze Princess!ā
The ambassadorās voice snapped her back to reality.
āUmā¦ it seems weāve been saved, havenāt we?ā
āYes! This is all thanks to Prince Richardt! Since the opportunity is here, you should speak to the princeāā
āEh!?ā
(Talk to him!? To Richardt!?)
The ambassador was likely suggesting this out of consideration for Elze as a bride candidate.
But imagining herself standing before Richardt made Elze shiver.
(Is that really okay!? If I say the wrong thing, wonāt I be killed on the spot!?)
The image of him silently thrusting a sword into her, just like in her dream, flashed through her mind and drained the color from her face.
Cautiously, she looked outside the windowāand saw one of the knights who had come with Richardt pointing toward their carriage, apparently reporting something to him.
(Butā¦ if I keep running away, nothing will change.)
Elze had come here to change her fate.
Meeting Richardt before the bride selection even began should be seen as an opportunity.
With that thought, she placed her trembling hand on the carriage door.
Butā.
āEh!?ā
Without even glancing in her direction, Richardt turned his back on them.
He mounted his horse and rode off somewhere.
It all happened within the few seconds it took for Elze to try to step down from the carriage.
(He knows a bride candidate is in this carriageā¦ right? Even so, that attitude? Heās completely uninterestedā¦)
Realizing just how formidable Richardt truly was, Elze trembled.
(Noā¦ I canāt be intimidated. I was just a bit late earlier. Next time, if an opportunity comes, I have to act immediately!)
Once again, Elze silently swore it to herself.
