The Monster Lady and the Holy Knight - Chapter 51

“Princess Johanna has invited you to a luncheon.”

The person who came to the inn along with the innkeeper was the princess’s maid. Veronica agreed to follow without resistance, partly because the visitor was not a knight. The maid was kind enough that Veronica did not recall the fear from the previous day, and Princess Johanna was just as gracious when they arrived.

“Thank you for accepting my invitation to lunch. I found yesterday’s duel incredibly moving.”

The princess greeted her with warmth that seemed unbelievable given her royal background. Veronica lowered her gaze to the smooth silk gloves touching her hand. The luxurious warmth felt unreal. The fact that she held hands with royalty or the mention of friendship did not matter to her at all.

What filled her mind was the lingering memory of the princess touching her cheek and Leon looking down at her.

What was that?

Her chest stung. Just then, a low voice spoke beside her ear.

“I didn’t know you had also invited the assimilated one.”

Leon spoke with an icy tone.

“Didn’t you say it would be just the two of us today?”

The words “just the two of us” made Veronica’s throat tighten, even as she sat before a table filled with delectable dishes.

She couldn’t breathe. The man who had shared an intense kiss with her just the day before was now exchanging glances with another woman. And their treatment of each other was entirely different.

Of course it was. Princess Johanna was called the mercy bestowed upon Kaisenmeer by God, while Veronica wasn’t even human anymore.

What is jealousy? What is it that makes someone feel so miserable and insignificant?

Perhaps, deep down, Veronica had thought of Leon as hers. She believed that only she had seen his vulnerabilities, that only she truly understood him.

We are special.

“We have plenty of time together. Sometimes, allow me some company. Do you not pity a horse fated to die rolling on the battlefield?”

The princess shook her head at Leon, her eyes narrowing in a sympathetic manner. A horse fated to die on the battlefield—Veronica’s eyes widened at the curious phrase, and the princess covered her mouth, feigning surprise.

“Oh, did you not know? Did I make a mistake?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your Highness.”

Leon cut Veronica off, stepping in. The princess nodded in acknowledgment, looking at Veronica with pity. Veronica felt her mood sink. They were clearly hiding something from her.

She felt like a child unaware of being excluded.

She wanted to leave immediately. To disappear. But the woman before her was royalty, and this was the palace, where even her footsteps had to be muted.

“In any case, eat as much as you’d like. Let me know if there’s anything in particular you want.”

The princess led Veronica to a seat in the middle of the long table, then sat at the head, resting her chin on her hand while staring at Veronica. Although it hadn’t been long since her last meal, and she felt unwell, she had no choice but to comply out of courtesy. She carefully picked an unfamiliar dish made with fresh vegetables.

It was then, that the princess, who had been closely observing the movements of her utensils, finally spoke, “Your wrists are swollen.”

Veronica glanced down at her wrists, which bore faint bluish bruises, then covered them with her sleeves and replied, “I bumped into something.”

“On both sides?”

“Yes.”

Behind the intrigued princess, Veronica noticed Leon standing stiffly. She had never seen him look like that before. It was as if he was unaware of the bruises, projecting an unusually uneasy and precarious demeanor.

The bruises on her wrists had been made by Leon the night before.

Perhaps he feared she would tell the princess about what had happened. Why? He spoke as if he would never love anyone. Did he want to look good for the golden-haired woman too?

Even though she knew she should give up, her twisted thoughts led her astray. Emotions that defied reason were a catastrophe for the soul. Still, she endured. Even amid the choking silence and stares, Veronica held on.

The pent-up sorrow erupted when she suddenly noticed a helmet hanging on the wall. It was so openly displayed that she wondered why she hadn’t noticed it before. Directly across from where she sat. The Tanbia Mountain steel helmet hung on the wall.

The artisan who made it had claimed it was the only one in existence. He had crafted it for his lover in Tiran, but after her death, he had taken his own life.

“What are you staring at?”

A gentle voice interrupted Veronica’s daze.

Her lips moved on their own. “The helmet on the wall looks familiar.”

“Helmet? Oh, that one? Sir Berg gave it to me as a gift when I said I had invited you. He needn’t have, but it seems the fact that you are an assimilated one troubled him. It would have sufficed for him to merely guard me,” replied the princess with a bashful smile.

Veronica clenched her pale fist so tightly that her knuckles turned white, veins standing out on the back of her hand. A surge of emotion welled up, blurring her vision. Monster, monster. Though she had been hurt by his words before, she had never truly accepted them. Did he really think she was a monster intent on devouring the princess’s brain?

Leon was silent for a long time. He gazed at the princess before looking at Veronica. Their eyes met, but his gaze was as inscrutable as an impossible riddle.

“I’m glad it pleases Your Highness.” He finally spoke in a low voice.

The tiny spark of hope that had flickered in Veronica’s heart was snuffed out. Her blackened heart ached with a deep, throbbing pain.

Veronica clenched her teeth to keep herself from crying. If she had felt sadness yesterday, today she felt anger. She understood drawing a line, telling her not to cross it. But there was no need to trample over a heart that had already crossed that line. Leon had no right to do that. He was being unnecessarily cruel to her.

However, if his response had satisfied anyone, it was the princess. She smiled brightly and waved her hand at the servant bringing another dish.

“That’s enough; take the plates away. I believe this meal is sufficient.”

The banquet ended as capriciously as it had begun. As Veronica put down her cutlery, the princess watched her and spoke.

“Ah, I never properly explained why I called you here today. You might not know, but the knight who died yesterday was my guard.”

“…I apologize.”

“No, I’m not telling you this to hear an apology. Sir Theodore was cherished by His Majesty, but I wasn’t particularly attached to him.”

The princess smiled pleasantly, but for the first time, Veronica felt something unsettling. No matter how little she cared, how could she smile when talking about someone’s death? Was she seeing the gentle and modest princess through the lens of her own jealousy?

The mere mention of the knight’s death made Veronica’s hands go cold. The princess continued speaking, oblivious to Veronica’s reaction.

“I’ve gained two people, so it’s not a loss for me. Sir Berg has sworn loyalty to me, and the other one is sitting right here in front of me.”

Loyalty. The word grated in her ears like grains of sand, but Veronica forced herself to focus on what concerned her.

“May I ask what you wish from me?”

“As I said before, be my friend.”

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I do not believe I am qualified to be your friend.”

“You have eyes that can see the dangers beyond. That alone is enough to make you my little bird. The emperor, after watching yesterday’s duel, was opposed, but what do I have to fear with Sir Berg by my side?”

“……”

“Being my friend isn’t a bad position. By staying by my side, you can have anything—jewels, dresses, anything,” said the princess as if offering her a choice. As if she would let her go unharmed if she refused.

As Veronica rubbed her fingertips, feeling her blood run cold, a sudden idea struck her. She could have whatever she wanted. In that case, perhaps…

“Could I also see some records?”

“Records?”

The princess echoed, sounding perplexed. It seemed she was more surprised that Veronica had directly made a request rather than by her mention of records.

But Veronica had never been the shy, hesitant type. The only reason she had been quietly shoveling food into her mouth was because she felt down.

“More precisely, historical records. The more visions I see, the more curious I become about past prophecies. If I were to become Your Highness’s friend, could I be allowed access to the imperial archives?”

Veronica spoke clearly, daring to make her request to royalty. It was unrelated to her feelings toward Leon.

She didn’t care if her phrasing was polite enough. When she raised her previously downcast gaze, the princess looked intrigued.

“The archives, you say. That’s an unexpected request. Leon, what do you think?”

“The Holy See has more documents related to prophecies.”

Leon answered the princess, but his gaze remained fixed on Veronica. He was silently telling her to change her mind. But he had no right to control her.

“No. I trust the records in the imperial archives more,” answered Veronica firmly.

From what she had seen, the Church always concealed the truth. Even now, the people of Kart were unaware of what was happening outside. Those who controlled information could distort history as much as they wanted. So, regardless of how many records the Church had on prophecies, it was more likely that objective records were kept in the imperial palace.

At Veronica’s words, which seemed to place more trust in the imperial family than the Church, Johanna burst into laughter.

“Very well. I will gladly grant you access to the archives. However, the condition is that you must reside in my palace.”

Having obtained what she wanted, Veronica allowed herself to relax slightly. In contrast, Leon’s face hardened coldly.