The Monster Lady and the Holy Knight - Chapter 55

The sound of cannon fire echoed continuously. The noise, which had gone on all night, grated on the nerves of anyone who heard it, even though it came from far away. Especially for those who had recently experienced the terror of artillery firsthand.

“I heard they’ll keep firing until things outside the wall are more or less cleared up. You’ve seen them with your own eyes. How long do you think it’ll take?” The princess, who was being dressed, spoke in a rare, irritated tone, likely from a lack of sleep.

Veronica, lost in thought, suddenly snapped back to attention and responded politely, “There were a lot of them. Even if they work at it all day today, it might not be enough.”

“Ah, the Founding Festival is almost upon us, and now this, what a disaster. What’s the word among the public?”

This question was directed at one of the maids, who hesitated for a moment before cautiously responding, “As expected, the citizens are uneasy and anxious. Whenever three or more people gather, they talk about a new prophecy.”

“A new prophecy?”

“It is said that the assimilated one made a prophecy—that Kart will fall… It seems the rumor spread from the noble families.”

The princess clicked her tongue. Veronica thought the rumor likely originated not from the noble families, but from the palace servants, but she kept her thoughts to herself.

She had a lot on her mind. From what she heard in the corridors, the emperor had decided to send out an extermination force beyond the walls. Not to go far, but to go out daily and clear the area around the walls. The force would consist of the Holy Knights, who could not be assimilated. Veronica wondered if Leon would be among them, but her chest throbbed painfully at the thought, so she pushed it away.

She needed to inspect the archives as soon as possible.

Called to the princess’s chambers early in the morning, Veronica had nothing to do but stand quietly at the edge of the room.

Standing was exhausting due to her injuries, but the princess seemed unaware of her discomfort. No one with any empathy could ignore the sight of her pale face, drenched in cold sweat.

“You must be happy.”

It was then that Veronica heard words that made her doubt her ears. She looked up in confusion, meeting the princess’s curved blue eyes.

“Pardon?”

“You must be happy to be recognized. Most people didn’t believe in the prophecy you made.”

Veronica found herself speechless.

No matter how accurate her words had been, there was no joy in people dying.

This was no compliment. Veronica hesitated to answer, studying the princess’s reflection in the mirror.

“But, Your Highness, even though people speak of a new prophecy, they still lean toward believing the previous one. The very fact that Bahamut couldn’t enter and used the assimilated ones instead is being seen as proof of this land’s inviolability.”

The maid hurriedly added, her fear evident as if she was worried the princess might misunderstand the rumors.

Fear. That wasn’t the attitude one showed toward a merciful master.

“I see. In any case, it seems everyone is only concerned about the prophecy. That’s truly fortunate. In fact, while listening to the cannon fire yesterday, I found myself thinking…”

“……”

“Oh dear, is this divine retribution?”

The princess, her hair beautifully pinned up, turned her head. Her neat eyebrows arched.

“Could it be that God is angry with the imperial family for protecting a heretic?”

“……”

“It’s strange, isn’t it, that the bombardment focused solely near the palace? Perhaps it’s an excessive thought, but…”

No, it wasn’t excessive; it was a sharp observation. Veronica also agreed that it was her fault. Leon had told her to keep silent, but avoiding guilt was impossible. She had clearly heard the voice say it had found her.

“The truth is, I called you here this morning for that very reason. His Majesty the Emperor shares my displeasure and has decided to send you to join the extermination force.”

The princess’s unexpected words made Veronica’s eyes widen in shock, her expression slipping.

“You’re not the only one. His Majesty has also assigned Sir Berg to the extermination force. This way, it’s not worth the trouble. In the duel where you killed my knight, in the end, I gained nothing.”

The princess crossed her legs, continuing with the shocking news. She looked so displeased that anything said might provoke her anger. Veronica, unable to respond, merely bowed her head.

“Ah, Leon Berg is truly like an untamable lion. He never stays by my side.”

As if in agreement with the princess’s words, the loud boom of a cannon echoed. She sighed exaggeratedly and leaned her arm on the back of her chair.

“Perhaps I should have pulled out his teeth earlier, so he couldn’t act so arrogantly.”

The gentle voice carried such anger that it made Veronica’s skin crawl.

The princess was furious. It seemed Leon’s decision to go to the wall without her was entirely his own. Perhaps their relationship was not what Veronica had imagined.

Countless thoughts flashed through her mind in a short span. The princess was waiting for Veronica’s response, leaving her no choice but to speak.

“I heard that he will soon pledge loyalty to Your Highness.”

“And?”

“Perhaps you could give him a chance until then. Even with my limited insight, I know the importance of a knight’s pledge. His behavior may change afterward.”

A heavy silence filled the room.

The tense atmosphere made it hard to tell if the cold sweat running down her back was from her injuries or the princess’s silence.

Eventually, the princess made a contrived sound and replied, “A pledge is certainly important to a knight. But that’s not enough.”

“……”

“What kind of man is Leon Berg, to your knowledge?”

It was a difficult question.

When Veronica hesitated, the princess asked again, “Can a knight who broke his vow of chastity truly remain loyal to me?”

“Sir Berg has never broken his vow of chastity. As far as I know…”

Veronica, who had been hastily denying it, trailed off as she saw the princess smiling. Her face flushed hotly.

“I never said he broke it with you. You speak as if you two have a special relationship.”

“……”

Her heart dropped miserably to the floor. It felt as if her unrequited love had been exposed. Even amidst her mind going blank, the princess’s words were like sand grating between her teeth.

Leon Berg broke his vow of chastity. With whom?

“Now that I think of it, I’m suddenly curious. I heard that an assimilated one needs holy power to remain sane. How is it that you haven’t lost your mind yet?”

There it was again. Her voice was unnervingly soft.

“That…”

Veronica hesitated, lips trembling in confusion, her face flushing. Having to discuss something so personal felt humiliating. She even felt like she had done something wrong, stealing someone else’s man.

“Kissing… has been enough.”

“A kiss, how romantic. And to think, you’re blushing over something like this—you seem more innocent than I expected.”

The voice, tinged with boredom, was both rude and awkward. Veronica bit her lip. She seemed like a completely different person from when she had first extended her hand in friendship. Veronica had been foolish to trust her.

“Alright, enough of the uncomfortable topics. Let’s move on to something easier. Tell me about yourself. I have many questions for my new friend. Where did you live before you were assimilated, and what did you do?”

“I was born and raised in Bayern. When I was old enough to work, I learned to dance with a troupe.”

“Dance?”

“Yes. Although my skills are humble, it was the only thing I felt passionate about.”

The princess seemed intrigued. Her fingers tapped rhythmically, giving Veronica a growing sense of unease.

“Now that I think of it, it’s been a long time since I’ve watched dancers perform. This is perfect timing. Until the cannon fire stops, give me a private performance.”

As expected, her anxiety had been painfully accurate.

The request to dance wasn’t difficult in itself. Even without a wooden instrument to provide music, she could use the ground beneath her feet as a stage.

The problem was her current physical condition. Standing alone was challenging due to her injuries. And the princess, staring directly at Veronica’s pale face, seemed entirely indifferent.

“Märchen, give her shoes she can dance in.”

Before Veronica could say anything, a maid placed shoes in front of her. There was no choice to be made. Hesitating for a moment, she slipped her feet into them. Immediately, she felt a sharp pain as something pierced her sole. Veronica froze.

“Why? Is something wrong?”

When she looked up, the princess’s face was smiling brightly. It was only then that Veronica understood.

She had been called here for this from the start. The princess was angry that Veronica had been assigned to the extermination force. She hadn’t given her time to visit the archives, wanting instead to torment her.

“…No, nothing is wrong.”

But what the princess had underestimated was Veronica’s mental resilience. She had lost her home and family, crossed the wilderness, faced bandits, and passed by dying people. A bit of harassment from royalty wasn’t enough to break her spirit after all she had been through.

Veronica took a deep breath and rose onto her toes. She wouldn’t fall from just this. She had already prepared herself for hardship when she sought permission to access the archives.

She bowed, lifted her arms, and familiar movements flowed out naturally. Every muscle screamed in pain with each movement. Veronica focused on the physical agony, using it to forget about Leon. She wished she could dance until she collapsed.