The Holy Kingdom – Siblings (2)

“…You’re scary even though you’re my brother.”

“Scary? That hurts my feelings.”

As Ian frowned, Annie poked his side with her elbow.

“Oh come on, that’s why I like you. Now you’ll be my reliable ally.”

‘It’s really convenient having my brother at times like this.’

That Ian would help despite knowing everything was tremendous news for Annie.

“But isn’t this too dangerous and difficult? You know what this means.”

Saving Rena meant directly opposing the Pope.

Anyone helping her would clearly be considered an enemy by the Pope’s faction.

Though she trusted Ian completely, Annie still feared things might go wrong.

Contrary to Annie’s worries, Ian appeared completely confident.

“Don’t worry. I belong to the Magic Tower. They can’t touch me carelessly unless they want war with the Tower. And if push comes to shove, I can always use force.”

“Hmm… You’d know better about these things. I’ll trust you for now.”

“I’m not saying we’ll rescue your friend immediately. I’ll help investigate first. Let me gather detailed information before reporting back.”

“Thank you. I’ll repay this favor somehow.”

“While I’m helping because it’s your request, there’s ongoing negotiation between the Holy Kingdom and Magic Tower. If the Pope really framed her, this could greatly benefit me too. Don’t feel too burdened.”

“Okay!”

Ian patted the head of the vigorously nodding Annie.

“So what should I do first? I don’t know how to help Rena at all… I don’t even fully understand the situation.”

“First, promise me one thing.”

“Promise…?”

“In exchange for helping with this, leave the Hero Party.”

“Ah…”

Annie felt what she’d been dreading had finally arrived.

‘Just as I expected.’

Annie’s skills and talents paled in comparison to Rena and Jade’s.

Though she hadn’t been a burden yet, it was clear she’d soon become useless in combat.

The day they encountered demons in the dungeon made her truly realize how easily she could die.

‘Right. I was only temporarily part of the Hero Party anyway.’

It was time to leave.

But.

Annie couldn’t bring herself to speak.

‘If I leave the party… I won’t see them for so long.’

The Hero Party would head to increasingly dangerous places, making it impossible for Annie to meet them after returning to the academy.

Her true feelings screamed that she didn’t want to part with her friends.

After brief contemplation, Annie made her decision.

“…I don’t want to leave.”

“Sigh…”

Ian massaged his forehead and sighed at Annie’s answer.

“Annie, consider yourself lucky I’m not angry. What were you thinking joining the Hero in the first place? Fighting demons isn’t child’s play. You’re fortunate to have met me now – I almost lost you for nothing.”

“I had no choice about joining! So much happened since the academy. And Jade and Rena are really good friends…”

“Ha, ‘good’ friends? Those lunatics?”

“Lunatics? Why insult them without even meeting them! Don’t you look down on people too much?”

Annie couldn’t tolerate her friends being insulted, even by her brother.

“Calm down. I’ve already met the Hero.”

“R-really? Then you should know! Jade is the Hero incarnate! He risks his life to save people! And Rena is so wise and kind! Beyond words!”

“Hmm. Strange then that I witnessed something odd.”

“…Odd? What did you see?”

“It’s somewhat embarrassing to say. I discovered them engaging in lewd acts in the garden.”

“Eh?”

Could they really have had sex outdoors…?

Annie was speechless.

‘Now my praise makes me look foolish…’

No matter how much they liked each other, having sex outside? No wonder strict Ian disliked them.

Annie urgently defended them. She couldn’t let her friends’ image be ruined.

“If true, Jade and Rena were wrong. But they overcame so much to be together! Can’t they enjoy some escapism…?”

“That’s not all. The Hero actually attacked me. I can’t let you stay with such people.”

“Y-you must have said something dismissive! If you meet again and talk properly, you’ll see they’re not strange! I guarantee it!”

“Hmm…”

But Ian showed no intention of changing his mind.

She hated to do this but…

‘Oh whatever.’

“A-Annie?”

“Brother, please…”

Annie began rubbing her cheek against Ian’s arm.

“Hmm? My respected brother would give them a chance, right?”

“Understood, now stop this and talk properly.”

“No! I won’t let go until you promise!”

“Grrk…”

Ian finally crumbled under his sister’s sudden撒娇.

“Fine. We’ll discuss this again after everything’s settled. I need to talk with your friends too.”

“Whew…”

‘Thank goodness.’

Annie felt relieved at his compromise.

Though merely postponed, this was better than being forced to leave her friends.

“Now let’s decide our next steps. Tell me everything you know.”

“Well… You know what happened to Rena?”

“‘What happened’ isn’t quite right – more like ‘what your friend did’… But yes, the Grand Temple’s been in chaos for days.”

“I came to you because I got a letter today. Don’t know how it reached me, but it simply said the Pope orchestrated everything and Rena was framed.”

Annie continued explaining everything she knew.

“That’s all I know. I wonder if I should ask Jade for help too.”

“Good call not telling Jade immediately. Hard to trust someone who betrayed you.”

Annie beamed at Ian’s praise.

“Hehe, I thought so too.”

“If Rena’s innocence becomes clear, we should ask the Hero then. His influence could help. For now, wait here.”

“Huh? Where are you going?”

“I’ll meet her directly. Best to hear from the source.”

**

-Creak.

Lucas opened the steel door and entered.

Inside sat naked Rena leaning against the wall.

“Haah… haah… You’re here?”

“Don’t tell me you…”

Lucas noticed cloudy fluid dripping between her legs.

Evidence she’d had intercourse.

Lucas urgently checked Rena’s condition.

“Damn. Did someone come while I was gone? Are you alright?”

“Yes. A Holy Knight visited this time. He was… relatively gentle.”

“…Sorry I couldn’t stop them while absent.”

“I’m getting used to it. And thanks to you, Lucas-nim, it ended quickly.”

Rena smiled, but her body trembled violently.

Seeing this, Lucas clenched his fists.

‘…There’s no way she could get used to this.’

Clearly Rena was forcing herself to appear strong.

Falsely accused, then endlessly raped by strangers.

People believed she’d conspired with demons.

Thus she was treated worse than prostitutes.

Without his help, she might have died within days.

Every day must feel like hell.

“I want to abandon everything and confront His Holiness. You don’t deserve this treatment…”

“Enough gloomy talk. Did things go well?”

“Yes. Miss Annie received the letter and contacted someone named Ian. That should help, right?”

“Exactly. Thank you so much.”

“Did you know about their relationship?”

“Hmm?”

“I never imagined Miss Annie was the Magic Tower Lord’s disciple’s sister. And that he’d be staying at the Grand Temple.”

Lucas had initially worried when receiving Rena’s request.

‘Deliver the letter to Annie instead of the Hero?’

‘Yes. Jade can’t help me now. I’m worried he might not believe me either.’

‘Hmm. No offense to Annie, but she’d struggle to help alone…’

To Lucas, Annie seemed ill-equipped to handle the Pope’s schemes. She might even get dragged into danger.

‘Don’t worry, just deliver it to Annie.’

‘…Alright.’

Having vowed to help, Lucas obeyed.

Only after seeing Annie meet Ian did he understand Rena’s plan.

“When I inquired about Ian, they said he’s the Tower Lord’s disciple. With someone that powerful, we might turn things around. Did you foresee all this?”

“Hoho, that’s a secret. Maybe I predicted it, or maybe we got lucky.”

“My, my. Impressive you can joke in this situation.”

Still, Lucas felt relieved thanks to Rena.

-Thud. Thud.

“Wait, someone’s coming.”

Lucas hurriedly opened the door and looked outside. Recognizing the approaching man, his heart sank.

‘Damn. Why is he here…?’

Lucas bowed toward the man.

“Good day.”

“My, what a surprise meeting Interrogator Lucas here.”

“The honor is mine, Cardinal Cassios.”

Stay calm. Mustn’t show panic.

Lucas controlled his expression to hide his turmoil.

Cardinal Cassios was completely loyal to the Pope – essentially their enemy.

Lucas tried discerning Cassios’s purpose.

“What brings Your Eminence here…?”

“To check the prisoner’s condition, of course. Must ensure she’s not plotting escape.”

“No need for concern. I’m personally overseeing this criminal.”

“Oh? Since when do interrogators manage prisoners?”

‘Need to answer carefully.’

A mere interrogator lingering here was suspicious.

If he misspoke and revealed helping Rena, all would be lost.

“I volunteered. Having previously interrogated her, I wanted to witness her suffering.”

“My! Such hatred for criminals. May I speak with her?”

“Of course. Right this way.”

Lucas guided Cassios into the cell.