Chapter 168

After parting ways with Leopold, I headed to the Elpinel Church’s shelter.

Just as Lacey had promised, the church members recognized me right away and promptly guided me to the reception room.

The walls were neatly painted white, and the building was filled with priests and patients.

It felt more like a hospital than a shelter.

Outside in the garden, a few women in nun habits were distributing meals to those who had come to the shelter.

Some patients were strolling around the garden or sitting on benches chatting.

Inside, the building was divided into several rooms, most of which seemed to be wards, judging by the faint smell of blood and the sounds of groaning.

Healing priests bustled about in the corridors.

Some priests even bowed their heads and made the sign of the cross when they saw me… I just pretended not to notice.

If they’re already reacting like this, I can only imagine what would happen if the whole “Twelve Knights” thing became public knowledge. They might start worshipping me or something.

“Being treated so respectfully is actually kind of burdensome.”

“It just means Lady Hasharl’s reputation has grown that much. Isn’t that an honor?”

Nigel, walking a step behind me, smiled and nodded.

He looked like a proud parent showing off their child, and I couldn’t help but chuckle a little.

“You’re lucky, Nigel. You’re so positive about everything.”

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

Well, people like that usually don’t realize it themselves.

—

The reception room wasn’t too far.

The priest who guided us bowed politely and left, while Nigel and I sat down and leisurely sipped the black tea that had been served.

…It was a bit bitter.

Either the tea leaves weren’t great, or they didn’t have time to brew it properly. One of the two.

Not long after, Lacey entered the reception room with a knight in tow.

The knight had long brown hair neatly combed down past her waist.

She was a paladin I had seen at Einfeld Castle. Lacey’s escort, if I recall correctly.

Her name was… right. Bels. Bels Lugna.

Her face was slender, with deep-set eyes.

She looked like a civil servant who had been dragged to a company dinner until dawn.

After a brief exchange of greetings, I told Lacey about my conversation with Prince Leopold.

She listened with interest, while Bels and Nigel chatted about the Einfeld battle.

“Ten days… It’s a bit tight, but it should be just barely possible. Those who trust me will hurry because it involves witches, and those who don’t will see this as an opportunity to bring me down, so they’ll readily agree.”

Lacey, who had been deep in thought while counting on her fingers, nodded readily.

Good. I was worried that coming all the way from the Holy Kingdom might make things too late.

“Are you sure it’s okay to infiltrate the Imperial Palace?”

“Well, we’ll just have to trust them.”

Even for experts, it wouldn’t be an easy task, and Lacey didn’t seem entirely confident either.

Though she didn’t say it was impossible.

I decided to hold off on Lacey’s previous scouting offer for now.

The Elpinel Church—or rather, Lacey—seems quite interested in me, but if I hastily agreed to her proposal to come to the Holy Kingdom once Leopold’s defeat was certain, she might do something to deliberately disadvantage Leopold.

I mean, she probably wouldn’t, but who knows what people are thinking?

Also, the translation of the inscription I requested still needs more time.

It’s similar to ancient Dain language, but there are some subtle differences, so there’s room for mistranslation.

“It’s not certain, but it seems to be criticizing someone.”

Well, of course.

It’s not like the words carved into the wall by people who died fighting would be some kind of love letter.

—

After finishing our conversation, I decided to help out a bit at the shelter since I was there.

I can’t use healing magic, so I couldn’t cure the patients’ wounds.

I could ease their pain and send them to Elpinel’s side, but that would make me a public enemy of the church.

In the end, all I could do was help with physical labor. Nigel was in the same boat.

Moving supplies and relief materials wasn’t too hard.

It wasn’t exactly knightly work, but Nigel seemed quite satisfied.

“Helping priests and the weak is also an honorable duty, isn’t it?”

“If you say so.”

Thanks to that, we didn’t get back to our lodgings until late in the evening.

—

“The prince’s escort knight? You…? Good heavens, the Empire is doomed. I need to flee to Faelun as soon as possible!”

Freide burst out laughing, pounding on the bed.

With each hit, the mattress sank deeper.

She was laughing so hard she seemed to forget how to control her strength…

Do you realize the thing you’re lying on and pounding is *my* bed?

“That’s amazing, sis! Being an escort knight for the royal family is an honor reserved only for the Royal Guard… Wait, you said it’s for the prince, not the princess…? That’s a bit…”

At first, Rana looked at me with admiration, but then, for some reason, her face turned slightly red, and she frowned.

“Lady Hasharl, are you planning to become the prince’s consort?!”

“No, I have no such intention…”

Don’t say such horrifying things.

From what I can tell, that guy would cheat on and swindle even his own wife.

If he were born in modern times, he’d probably be a host.

“That’s…! It’s scandalous! Scandalous!”

Suddenly, Rana shouted.

She was spewing baseless accusations with a look of utter injustice.

“Scandalous? First of all, the prince and I aren’t in that kind of relationship. I’m literally just going to be his escort. So calm down.”

“I heard from the priests! Nobles who take female knights as escorts are all perverts…! Even if you don’t have such intentions, sis, they might try something!”

“The prince must be planning to toy with my sister! You need to be careful, or you might end up abandoned with a bastard child!”

The shocking words left me speechless.

What on earth have the Shaulite Church Order been teaching this kid?

“That… won’t happen…!”

Freide burst into laughter, clutching her stomach and rolling around on the bed.

Even if she were hit with laughing gas, she wouldn’t laugh this hard.

“Ugh… my stomach hurts from laughing so much…!”

“Why don’t you just explode already?”

It took thirty minutes to calm down the hysterical Rana.

After desperate persuasion, she finally seemed to accept it, crossing her arms and declaring she’d keep an eye on things from now on.

…She accepted it, right?

—

The luxurious room was filled with exotic decorations from all directions.

A delicate woman sat in a rocking chair, clumsily knitting.

Her face above the neck was blurred like a photo erased with a rubber, making her identity unclear.

“…Oh dear.”

The woman, who continued knitting even after pricking her finger, let out a soft gasp of surprise.

She placed the piece of fabric she was working on the shelf beside the chair and gently stroked her belly.

As if soothing a belly swollen like a hill.

“Is something wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

A familiar voice was heard.

A rather smooth voice for a man, tinged with worry and anxiety.

“No, come here. I think our baby is awake. He’s knocking on my belly to say hello.”

The woman grabbed someone’s hand and guided it to her belly.

As if colors were painted on a blank canvas, a tall man appeared and pressed his ear against her belly.

“Hmm, he seems very healthy, taking after you. If he inherits your strength, he’ll be just fine anywhere.”

“You’re such a…!”

Bright laughter and genuine affection overflowed between the two.

“Grow strong, my son, Herpolt. Your father has prepared an empire for you.”

Her… polt?

Finally, the man’s face came into clear view.

He had aged a bit, but there was no mistaking him.

It was Leopold.

Dressed in the emperor’s robes, Leopold smiled warmly and kissed his wife’s cheek.

Then, like a veil being lifted, the woman’s face became clear.

Neatly tied-up black hair. Calm, lake-like blue eyes.

Eyes filled with tenderness and affection instead of fierceness.

Damn it.

Who else could it be?

Of course, it was me.

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

The black-haired woman stood up from the chair, took her husband’s hand, and led him to their nest in the corner of the room.

…That is, to the bed.

Wait, stop. Hold on.

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

“Are you sure? What if something happens to Herpolt…?”

“The court physicians said we’ve entered a stable phase, so it should be fine. Besides, it’s my child. There won’t be any problems.”

No problems? What do you mean no problems? Stop right now!

Don’t lie down on the bed! Don’t let that seductive smile slip as you slide the shoulder strap down!

As expected, my screams didn’t reach them.

All I could do was watch the unfolding disaster from an observer’s perspective.

Her clothes slid off.

Leopold gulped and stared intently at her exposed body.

“But…!”

“Shh… Leopold, just come here. Didn’t you miss my embrace? I can’t hold back anymore. Hold me.”

The woman leaned back on the bed, slightly spreading her legs and reaching out her arms toward Leopold.

I raised my finger and stabbed my own eye.

I’d rather lose my sight than watch what’s coming next.

—

Morning.

I threw off the blanket and sat up abruptly, clutching my disheveled hair and letting out a sigh.

Behind me, the pillow, damp with cold sweat, lay half-torn.

“Damn… what the hell…!”

A curse I hadn’t used since I was fifteen slipped out.

Anyone would curse after having such a nightmare.

Something’s definitely wrong.

This has to be someone’s scheme.

Otherwise, how could I have such a messed-up dream not just once, but several times?

It was more of a conviction than a suspicion.

Only gods could pull off something like this.

I don’t know who, but once I find out, I’ll destroy every single temple.

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

I didn’t have much time to waste.

Starting today, I had to serve as Leopold’s bodyguard.

Leopold’s…

Once again, the vivid scenes from the dream invaded my mind.

Ugh.

It was a memory that made me want to quit my job.

Damn it. Why did I have to dream something like this…?

Chewing on a cigarette, I headed to the bathroom.