"..."
The knight of the Dark Army silently opened and closed his mouth. Perhaps only now did he notice that they were not alone in the room. In the darkness, Jacob could vaguely make out the figure of a woman lying in the bed.
He blinked uncomprehendingly.
"Your Highness, and this...?"
"She is the daughter of the master of this house."
The man's eyes widened slightly. His gaze slid appraisingly over the figure of the woman hidden in the darkness, who appeared to be an ordinary young lady. After he completed this brief analysis in his head, a thought flashed through the knight's mind, causing the corner of his mouth to lift in a crooked smirk.
"I knew it. Her Highness hasn't wasted any time!"
Apparently, the Crown Princess intended to use this noble lady as her hostage. By threatening this woman's life, the princess wanted to silence the other inhabitants of this house. And then, when there was no longer any need to hide her existence, simply kill them all. Jacob was impressed by how competently his mistress had managed to orient herself in such an emergency situation.
"Your Highness, you can leave this place right now! Our people are waiting outside and ready to escort you. You no longer need to keep this woman alive..."
But the knight couldn't finish his sentence, as he met that gaze.
"What did you just say?"
The princess suddenly stood right in front of him, and it seemed to him as if the devil himself had cornered him.
"I... I meant that you no longer need this woman, so why not..." he stammered.
The commander of the Dark Army's third division swallowed nervously. Despite the fact that the princess, unlike him, was unarmed now, she posed a greater threat than if a man armed to the teeth stood before him.
The knight felt as if he could feel the tip of a sword at his throat, even though it wasn't there.
"I forbid anyone from touching this woman."
This order, given in a cold tone, completely stunned the knight.
"But..."
The knight looked bewilderedly at Camilla, completely unable to understand his mistress's intentions.
"Judging by her appearance, she definitely doesn't possess any swordsmanship skills, so I don't think Her Highness intends to make her a comrade-in-arms..."
Otherwise, the knight simply couldn't find a reason why the princess would need to keep this ordinary lady alive. For someone who could eliminate the most influential person in the empire without hesitation, some duke's daughter shouldn't be of any interest.
"Your Highness, may I ask why you..." Jacob again couldn't finish and fell silent, feeling himself pinned to the ground by this deadly aura.
His mistress's terrifying shadow still loomed over him.
"You don't need to know about that," Kaena said, "Just keep in mind that any insult to this woman will be equivalent to insulting me."
"Oh... An insult to you?.." the knight hiccupped.
"Exactly."
"..."
Jacob opened and closed his mouth like a fish. He couldn't believe that in just over ten days, his mistress could have changed in such an incomprehensible way — it seemed as if some magical spell had been cast on her, or something of the sort. It was completely uncharacteristic for the princess to spare anyone's life.
Even if it was a child or an old woman who hadn't really done anything bad to her but happened to be under her feet. Like a tornado, the girl destroyed everything in her path. But now... She suddenly says that this noblewoman's life has the same value as her own.
"Who the hell is this woman?.."
While Jacob was increasingly lost in conjecture, Kaena frowned slightly when her subordinate was still here.
"If that's all, you may go."
"Excuse me...?" he asked again.
"I will return myself when the time comes."
The knight of the Dark Army stared blankly at her.
"Your Highness, but what about..." the knight stammered, "How much longer can you stay here? Aren't you going to stop the coronation ceremony?"
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Despite the fact that her younger sister was about to take her rightful place, the current Crown Princess didn't look the least bit alarmed. Or rather, burning with rage and thirsting to turn the palace into a field of bloody battle. Instead, Kaena de Ronan dropped a remark that completely stunned her subordinate:
"Even if that happens, what do I care? Or do you think the crown on her head will somehow protect her from what I intend to do to her?"
"..."
"Now go. I have more important things to do."
Anyone who saw the smile that flickered across Kaena's face at that moment could say that warmth emanated from it.
"Her Highness... is smiling?"
The knight, who thought he was imagining things, stared at her, but it wasn't his imagination.
***
As they say, the best way to get rid of negative emotions is to clear your head with fresh air. I thought that lately I had been staying at home too much, and because of that, my mood had dropped a little.
Especially since there was no longer any need to hide in the estate.
Therefore, as soon as a suitable opportunity presented itself, I decided to take a stroll through the city. And take the commoner with me. After all, fresh air is good for the sick.
She and I walked through the empire's capital, which I had already visited several times to look around. The wind was cool, the sun warm — it was an ideal day for a walk.
We came to a huge shopping district where many fashionable shops and stalls lined the street. I couldn't take my eyes off the colorful display windows and shelves. It seemed that shopping was the only thing in the world that consistently brought me pleasure. The sight of a bunch of expensive, and sometimes useless, trinkets filled me with delight.
Because in my past life, I couldn't afford this.
In the end, I walked through almost the entire shopping district with the commoner.
"I bought cosmetics, paints, and new shoes. What else... Oh, that looks cute!"
Despite having already bought a lot, I decided to walk around the shops a bit more since I was already here. All this time, the commoner silently followed me and carried all my purchases. Although I thought that walking around shops with me might be somewhat burdensome, there wasn't the slightest sign of displeasure on her face.
I was deeply touched by her patience, and so I repeatedly asked:
"Are you sure you don't need anything?"
Since she was a commoner, she had to live her whole life in constant deprivation. I wanted to give her some kind of gift. For example, new clothes or an accessory she couldn't afford before. But, to my great surprise, to all my questions, the girl shook her head.
"I don't need anything," she declared once again.
"Really? Are you sure?" I tilted my head worriedly.
It really wouldn't have been difficult for me to give her a gift. But because of her pride, or perhaps a sense of duty, she refused. Later, she might regret the missed opportunity.
"If I need something, I can buy it myself," the commoner said.
I took a deep breath.
"Maybe so, but then you'll have to work hard and save money for many years..."
Nevertheless, despite all my persuasion, she still didn't agree to my proposal. In the end, I simply gave up.
"Well, alright..." I made a displeased face, at which the commoner next to me restrainedly chuckled.
"It seems this woman is the type who prefers financial self-sufficiency..." — a thought flashed through her head. Despite the fact that the duke's daughter should have known that Kaena could afford to buy this entire shopping center, she still wanted to give her a gift. It was both sweet and foolish. Nevertheless, she wasn't going to let Camilla pay for her anyway.
When I finally stopped bothering the commoner with my offer, I decided to go into one last shop before finally heading home. A certain item in the jewelry store's display window caught my attention.
"Wow, that looks quite beautiful and exquisite."
Earrings with emerald gemstones in a gold setting. I imagined them on the commoner.
There was no doubt they would look stunning on her.
"Although she refused my gift out of a sense of duty, she won't be able to do anything when I simply present them to her."
Thus, having devised a cunning plan on how to finally give the commoner my gift, I was about to enter the shop to check their price. But at that moment... Instinctively, a chill ran down my spine.
I heard voices nearby. And as soon as I turned around...
"Oh, God...! What are those bandits doing here?!"
Soldiers clad in black armor undoubtedly belonged to the army of the Dark Army. Those very bastards under the command of the already deceased villainess of the novel.
I couldn't believe I had actually encountered them in the city center.
Hadn't the Empire declared them a criminal organization? Then why were they still roaming the streets so freely? As it turned out, the answer came to me almost immediately.
The royal guards patrolling the same street simply shied away from them... Don't tell me they're afraid of them!
I couldn't believe that such cowards were defending our country! And at the same time...
While I was still in complete bewilderment from this encounter, one of those thugs unexpectedly moved in our direction. My legs gave way from fear.
"Big."
He really was big. Was he really human?... or not?
The tall two-meter knight in black armor looked more like a bear.
Such a man would need only one finger to break my neck. And this giant was approaching us.
Oh, damn! Was he really coming here?! But why? What had I done wrong? I was just out shopping!
I turned pale, instantly seized by panic. There was no time to think before we got killed. "Don't stand here! Run, quick!"
"..."
The commoner stared at me in bewilderment when I didn't even give her a chance to ask anything.
I grabbed her hand and pushed her in one direction, while I ran in another. It would be better if we split up. At least then it would be harder for the bandits to catch us.
I ran as fast as I could, while that giant also continued to chase me...
God... What did he want from me?!
Finally, when I physically couldn't run any further and was gasping for breath, I had to stop. We ended up in some alley with few people around. And even if there were, could anyone have helped me?
I took a deep breath, preparing to say goodbye to my life right then and there.
Although no, how can one prepare for such a thing?!
I stopped, and the man also stopped. I was shaking so much I couldn't utter a word. The huge knight with a long scar across his face also fixed his heavy gaze on me.
A few seconds passed when he suddenly reached into his breast. His sword was there...
I squeezed my eyes shut and recoiled, expecting the worst.
When suddenly...
"L-lady, I beg your pardon...!"
I slowly opened one eye.
"Huh?"
"You dropped your wallet!"
"What?"
In surprise, I opened my eyes fully and stared at what was before me. My jaw even dropped.
The knight was bent over double before me, his head bowed. All I could see was the back of his head in a black helmet. And in his huge, scarred and calloused palms lay my little pink wallet.
"..."
The knight was holding it out to me.