Leticia was talking about a wound that even he had forgotten.
But it wasn’t a dream.
“Banessa, come on. Show me the wound.”
“Huh.”
Banessa involuntarily took a step back. Leticia’s gaze was unnervingly steady.
‘How could she know?’
He had hidden it with all his might. No one was supposed to know. He managed to speak, his voice strained.
“Why do you ask about the wound on my leg?”
“I need to see if it’s fully healed. With my own eyes.”
Banessa’s face turned pale.
Leticia observed him quietly.
Banessa hurriedly shook his head, trying to smile.
“There’s no need for that. It healed long ago. I can even run perfectly. Want me to show you?”
Banessa rolled his injured foot in place. The pain throbbed up to his head, but he desperately endured it.
“Ha-ha, see? I’m really fine.”
Even as he spoke, anxiety gnawed at him. After watching him closely, Leticia sighed and closed her eyes.
“So, you were hiding your injury this time too.”
Banessa gritted his teeth.
Suddenly, Leticia’s eyes looked accusingly at Banessa.
“How long will you keep hiding your wounds?”
“Hiding? I really don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“You need treatment, immediately.”
“Your Highness.”
“It’s no use pretending. It will all come to light eventually.”
“You’re misunderstanding. It really has healed. There’s no pain at…”
“So, you won’t show it to the end.”
Leticia cut off Banessa’s words and turned away.
“It doesn’t matter. I will inform His Highness as soon as he returns.”
“No, you can’t!”
Banessa, panicked, grabbed her quickly. Leticia looked up at him sharply.
“What can’t I do?”
“Well, it’s just that…”
Banessa couldn’t meet Leticia’s eyes. He blurted out a disjointed excuse.
“I don’t want to trouble His Highness unnecessarily. I can endure it. Instead, I promise to get treatment immediately upon arriving at the Principality.”
“Is that another futile treatment you’re talking about?”
Banessa swallowed hard. Leticia spoke with a bitter smile.
“Waiting until then will be too late. You know that.”
“Your Highness.”
“We need to use divine power before it’s too late.”
“How do you propose to use divine power?”
“There are two Wings of the Goddess here. Their abilities should be enough to heal your wound.”
“You want me to ask them to heal my wound? That’s not possible. They will certainly make an unreasonable demand.”
“If you don’t like that idea, let’s return to the empire.”
“Please, Your Highness.”
“Don’t worry about being a burden to His Highness. There’s someone in the empire who can help with the treatment. Don’t worry and…”
Banessa clenched his eyes shut. His hand, which had been holding onto Leticia’s robe, fell limply.
“I refuse.”
“Banessa.”
Leticia called out to him in a chiding tone. Banessa lowered his head.
“I know it’s madness.”
To give up on his injured leg. It was an irrational decision for a knight.
Yet, despite this,
“I’d rather suffer than accept help from those imperial bastards.”
His voice trembled as he spoke.
“My nephew died because of them. How can I live with myself if I accept their help?”
Banessa collapsed to his knees, soon resting his forehead on the gravel.
“Your Highness, please, just pretend you don’t know.”
Even as he said this, he was terrified.
He couldn’t even imagine a life with one leg missing.
He was also worried. Worried that he might succumb to fear and beg the imperial priests for help.
Leticia, watching him with a somber gaze, knelt down beside him.
Her touch was gentle as she helped him up, but her voice was firm.
“I’m sorry. I can’t fulfill that request.”
“For your sister’s sake, I can’t. You remember her last words, right? She wanted you to live a proper life.”
Banessa’s eyes widened.
His bright red irises shook violently, as if in disbelief.
“How do you know my sister’s last words?”
“It’s not important how I know.”
Leticia whispered.
“You can’t give up on your future so easily. Pride is temporary. If you endure for just a while, you can protect what’s truly important. His Highness needs you. Will you leave him to defend the Principality alone? You must continue to be his sword, to support him.”
Her voice was filled with desperation. Banessa’s face contorted. Finally, his eyes brimmed with tears. Leticia whispered earnestly.
“I will help you. Just trust me this once. You won’t regret it. Please.”
“Your Highness…”
He closed his eyes tightly.
Thick tears left trails in the sand.
A small hand gently patted his trembling shoulder.
“Don’t worry. It will be alright.”
That slight touch made Banessa clench his teeth.
It felt like a white hand pulling him out of a swamp, rescuing him.
In that moment, he instinctively realized.
He would never forget this feeling for as long as he lived. It might even become the most important moment of his life.
He also sensed that this noble woman would be the savior not just for him, but for everyone.
She had saved Enoch, his lord, and now seemed to be his salvation.
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