episode_0168

I parted ways with Leopold and headed to the Elfinel Church’s aid station.

Just as Lacey had assured me, the church members who recognized me immediately guided me to the reception room.

Neatly plastered white walls. Priests and patients filled the building.

It was a building that looked like it should be called a hospital rather than an aid station.

In the garden outside the building, several women dressed as nuns were distributing meals to those who visited the relief center.

It was noticeable that some patients were taking a walk in the garden or sitting on a bench and talking.

The inside consisted of several rooms, most of which seemed to be hospital rooms, with a faint smell of blood and groaning sounds.

Healing priests were bustling around the hallways.

There were priests who looked at me and made the sign of the cross and bowed their heads… I just assumed I didn’t see it.

Even now, the reaction is like that, and I wonder if they would bow down if the fact that they were talking about the Twelve Knights became public knowledge.

“If you act so politely, it’s actually a burden.”

“It probably means that Hashal’s reputation has increased that much. Isn’t it an honorable thing to do?”

Nigel, who was walking a step behind, smiled and nodded.

It looked like a parent proud of their child receiving an award, so I smiled a little without realizing it.

“Nigel, I really like you. Because you are so positive about everything.”

“Is that so? I don’t know. Sir Shane and all my superiors said similar things.”

Originally, I had no self-awareness.

—-

It wasn’t that far to the living room.

The priest who guided us bowed politely and then left, and Nigel and I sat on chairs and leisurely sipped the tea served for the reception.

… It’s a bit bitter.

Either the tea leaves weren’t that good, or there wasn’t enough time to brew them properly. It’s probably one of two things.

Not long after, Lacey, dressed in pure white robes, came into the reception room with a female knight.

A female paladin with brown hair that had grown below her waist, combed calmly.

It was the master I saw at Einfeld Castle. Did you say he was Lacey’s escort?

The name is probably… okay. It was Bells. Vels Rugna.

A slim face with deep-set eyes.

He had the face of a civil servant who had been called to a company dinner until dawn.

After a brief greeting, I told Lacey about my conversation with Prince Leopold.

She listened to my story with interest, and a woman named Wels chatted with Nigel about the Battle of Einfeld.

“Ten days… It’s a little tight, but I think it’s possible. Those who believe what I say will hurry because it is about witches, and those who do not believe what I say will readily agree as they will see this as an opportunity to overthrow me.”

Lacey folded her white fingers and pondered for a moment, then nodded willingly.

I’m glad. I thought we might be late because we had to come all the way from Seongguk.

“I have to infiltrate the imperial palace, is that okay?”

“Well, you have no choice but to trust them.”

Lacey also seemed unsure, wondering if it would be easy even for experts.

I didn’t say I couldn’t do it, but I did.

This is the scouting suggestion Lacey made before, but we decided to put it on hold for now.

Elfinel Church – To be exact, Lacey seems to be quite covetous of me, and if I hastily accept the offer to come to the Holy Kingdom when Leopold’s defeat is certain, she might intentionally do something disadvantageous to Leopold.

I don’t know if I should do that, but how can I know people’s hearts?

And, they said that the interpretation of the text I asked for still needs some time.

It is similar to Dane’s gore, but the details are slightly different, so there is room for mistranslation.

“I’m not sure, but it seemed like it was criticizing someone.”

That’s right.

The phrases carved into the walls by people who died fighting are probably not love letters or anything like that.

—-

After finishing the story, I helped out a little with the work at the aid station since it was a long time coming.

Since I don’t have any healing skills, I couldn’t heal the patient’s wounds.

You can take away the pain and send him to Elfinel’s side, but that would be a public act for the church.

In the end, all I could do to help was try my best. It was the same for Nigel.

Because moving things like materials and relief supplies was not difficult.

It wasn’t a knight’s job, but Nigel was quite satisfied.

“It’s about helping priests and the weak, so isn’t this also an honorable thing?”

“If you think so.”

Thankfully, it was almost evening when we arrived at the accommodation.

—-

“The prince’s bodyguard? you… ? My God, the empire is in ruin. I need to flee to Palun as soon as possible!”

Friede pounded the bed and burst into laughter.

Every time I hit it, the mattress sinks in.

I was laughing so much that I think I forgot to control my strength… .

Aren’t you forgetting that the thing you’re lying on and pounding on is my bed?

“Awesome, sister! The escort knights of the royal family are an honorable thing entrusted only to the Royal Guard… Uh, wait a minute. I said, “His Highness the Prince,” not His Highness the Princess… ? That’s a bit… … .”

Lana, who looked at me with admiration at first, also frowned slightly, wondering what on earth she was imagining.

“Under Hashal, do you really plan on becoming the princess?!”

“No, I don’t plan on doing that… ?”

Don’t be horrible.

In my view, that guy is the kind of guy who would cheat and betray my wife.

If I were born in modern times, I would have been a host.

“That can’t be possible… ! It’s lewd! It’s obscene!”

Suddenly, Lana shouted.

While spewing out outrageous false accusations.

“So obscene… , the prince and I don’t have that kind of relationship in the first place? They literally said they would only serve as escorts. So calm down.”

“I heard it from the priests! All the nobles who use female knights as bodyguards are perverts… ! Even if you don’t intend to do that, the prince is definitely planning to play a trick on you! You have to be careful, if you are too picky you will be abandoned along with your illegitimate child!”

I was speechless at the sound that made my mouth drop.

What on earth did these bastards of the Shaulithe Church teach this child?

“Sure… No work… !”

Friede couldn’t help but burst out laughing and was now rolling around on the bed, clutching her stomach.

It would be difficult to laugh like that even if you were hit with laughing gas.

“Huh… , I laughed so hard that my stomach… !”

“Why don’t you just explode?”

It took thirty minutes to calm down Lana, who was running wild.

After some desperate persuasion, Lana seemed to be finally convinced, crossing her arms and saying that she would watch from now on.

… You understand this, right?

—-

A luxurious room filled with exotic decorations everywhere.

A neat woman sitting in a rocking chair was knitting with clumsy hands.

The woman’s identity was unknown as the face above her neck was blurred, like a photo erased with an eraser.

“… Oh my.”

The woman who continued knitting even though her hand was pricked by a needle let out a light exclamation as if she was a little surprised.

She put the piece of fabric she was weaving on the shelf next to the chair and gently stroked her abdomen.

As if comforting a stomach as swollen as a garden.

“What’s going on? Do you have a stomach ache?”

A quite familiar voice was heard.

A pretty eloquent voice for a man. There was worry and anxiety in the slightly trembling tone.

“No. Come here. I guess my baby woke up. Are you greeting your mom by patting her stomach?”

The woman grabbed someone’s hand and led them toward her boat.

As if color was added to the pure white background, a tall man appeared and put his ear to her lower abdomen.

“Hmm, he seems to be very healthy, just like his wife. If I inherited my wife’s power, I wouldn’t have to go anywhere and get hurt.”

“You too… .”

Bright laughter and unaffected affection were overflowing between the two.

“Grow up well. My son, Herpold. Your father has prepared an empire for you.”

Hey, fault?

Only then did I properly see the man’s face.

Although I’m a little older… A face you can’t recognize.

It was Leopold.

Leopold, dressed in the emperor’s robes, smiled sweetly and kissed his wife’s cheek.

Then, as if a veil had been lifted, the woman’s face was clearly revealed.

Black hair neatly styled. Blue eyes as calm as a lake.

Even the eyes are filled with kindness and affection instead of ferocity.

Damn it.

Who could it be?

Of course it was me.

“Hehe… . Leopold, you’re done with today’s schedule, right? Then it’s my time.”

The black-haired woman got up from the chair, grabbed her husband’s hand, and led him to the couple’s nest located on one side of the room.

… So, to the bed.

No, wait a minute. stop. stop.

What kind of scene are you trying to show me now?

“Are you okay? If you overdo it and something happens to Herpold… .”

“The courtiers also said that we have now entered a period of stability, so it must be okay. Plus, it’s my child. There will be no problem at this level.”

There is nothing wrong with it. Stop it right now!

Don’t lie down on the bed! Don’t even pull down your shoulder straps while smiling seductively!

As expected, my screams were not heard.

All I could do was watch the devastation in front of me from the perspective of an observer.

Her clothes are flowing smoothly.

Leopold swallowed his saliva and stared intently at the exposed female body.

“But… .”

“Shh… .Leopold, just come here. Didn’t Leopold miss my embrace? I can’t stand it anymore. Please hug me.”

The woman lay down on the bed, spread her legs slightly, and stretched out her arms toward Leopold.

I lifted my finger and pierced my eye.

I would rather lose my eyesight than watch what would follow.

—-

It’s morning.

I jumped up, threw away the blanket, hugged my loose hair, and let out a sigh.

Behind his back, a pillow damp with cold sweat was lying half torn off.

“dog… Fuck… … !”

Cursive words that I had rarely uttered since I was fifteen came out of my mouth.

Anyone who has a dream like this would not be able to endure it without swearing.

Something seems strange.

This, this must be someone’s plot.

Otherwise, there’s no way you’d have this fucking nightmare not just once, but multiple times, right?

It was a thought closer to certainty rather than doubt.

Only gods can do things like this, right?

I don’t know who he is, but if I find out his identity, I will destroy the entire temple.

After wheezing for a while, I got out of bed.

There wasn’t much time to waste.

Because from today onwards, I had to work as Leopold’s bodyguard.

Leopold’s… .

Once again, the explicit scene I witnessed in my dream burrowed into my mind.

Ugh.

It was a memory that made all thoughts of wanting to go to work disappear.

Damn it, why did I have a dream like this… .

I chewed a cigarette and headed to the bathroom.