Chapter 16.2
“I’m the one who can make Theodore happy, you know? I won’t put him in dangerous situations like fighting monsters or playing the role of a bodyguard. I’ll get him anything he wants, and I’ll make his life the best he could ever imagine! So choose me! Not some heartless and inferior woman!”
As the princess glared at me, tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. I couldn’t give up Theodore, and I think her forceful approach was also wrong. However, her feelings for him were genuine, as evidenced by her Kol. Moreover, her statement was mostly true, and I couldn’t come up with a good rebuttal.
But Theodore frowned uncomfortably.
“Ester is not heartless.”
“What are you saying? This woman who doesn’t get angry or even give me a warning no matter how much I bother her? I definitely love Theodore more than this woman who doesn’t even show a hint of sadness after stealing my partner’s position!”
Certainly, given my attitude up until now, it’s understandable to think that way. . .but. . .
“I love Theodore the most. . .”
I couldn’t concede that point and stepped forward in front of Theodore, trying to firmly deny it. I ended up raising my voice more than I thought, and I felt a slight movement behind me, as if someone was shaken. It seemed like the people passing by could hear it too, as I could hear their murmurs in the distance. It was a little embarrassing, but I couldn’t afford to care.
“I don’t deny that you may be superior, or that my attitude up until now has been bad. I don’t deny that you may be able to make Theodore happier or that you may not involve him in danger. However, I absolutely love Theodore the most. That’s something I can’t concede!”
“Hey. . .!”
As I finished speaking, I was suddenly pulled from behind by an arm. He pressed his forehead against my shoulder and said, “I’m happy, but I’m definitely heavier than you,” with a strange sense of rivalry. I wish he wouldn’t do something cute at such a serious moment. Watching Theodore’s behavior, the princess tightly gripped her dress.
“What’s wrong. . .If you had been like that from the beginning, I wouldn’t have had any expectations. . .!”
“. . .Enough, it’s fine.”
“Dorothea! Where are you going?”
She turned on her heel with a mischievous smile and walked away without listening to Diark’s protest.
“It would be better to have Grose Baehr kill that woman. That would be much better.”
It seems that the plan has changed. In other words, she is now heading to Grose Baehr. Since I have no intention of leaving Theodore now, it might be more convenient if the target changes from the princess to me. But then again, that would mean giving up on the goal of dragging down the crown prince. As I was thinking about this, I saw her back.
──Someone’s kol, who appeared from somewhere and approached the princess, began to stab her body with a knife.
“I finally found you. I won’t let you escape. I’ll definitely kill you!”
Even though I can use magic to read people’s minds, it’s not often that I encounter someone with such a high level of murderous intent. For a moment, I was stunned by the sudden turn of events, but I quickly looked around to find the woman who owned that kol.
“There are too many guards, and I can’t get close. . .I don’t want to hit innocent people with stray bullets, but I guess I have no choice but to use a magic gun.”
A magic gun is a magical tool that compresses magic, such as fire magic for a user with a fire attribute, to increase its speed and power.
Wait, it’s dangerous, wait. The kol with the dangerous intent had chestnut-colored hair, which is common among Verdes, but her attire stood out as it was black like mourning clothes. This should make her easy to spot and stand out… I sent my gaze in her direction.
“Ester, is something wrong?”
“Theodore. . .let’s go after her.”
Theodore asked me worriedly if something was wrong when he noticed my strange behavior. Meanwhile, the princess was getting further away, so I grabbed his hand and started walking.
Unlike human voices, Kol’s magical voice can be heard even if it’s a little far away, but there are limits to that. We need to catch up with her before she gets lost in the crowd.
“Is there anything I can do?”
He must have sensed my anxiety. But I didn’t have time to explain.
“. . .Be ready to draw your sword at any time.”
“Understood.”
I let go of his hand so he could move more freely and asked him with a serious expression. His reliable expression made me forget the idea of using him as a human shield in the worst-case scenario.
In just a short time, we had exchanged such words.
────Bang!!
“Aaaah!!”
At the sound of the gunshot and the princess’s scream, I grabbed his hand again.
