Ahwin staggered backward, his heart pounding as if it might burst. Only one thought dominated his mind.
He must pay homage.
Immediately bow down in the lowest form and show respect to her.
“What’s going on?”
Just then, a unfamiliar voice sounded close by.
Barely managing to lift his gaze, Ahwin looked up to see a young man with fiery red hair and blazing crimson eyes. His sharply slit eyes looked fierce.
“What brings you here, staring at us from the empire without a word?”
The man’s voice carried a hint of hostility. Still in shock, Ahwin couldn’t respond, only moving his lips slightly.
As Ahwin delayed his answer, the man’s expression soured.
“Why don’t you respond when asked?”
Then, crossing his arms and shaking his leg impatiently, he muttered.
“Either come or go. It’s enough that Lady Leticia is worrying us.”
He tried to lower his voice, but Ahwin, being a transcendent, heard it clearly.
‘Who is this man?’
The man’s dismissive attitude erased the awe Ahwin had just felt, replaced by an instinctive annoyance.
‘This person is near Lady Leticia?’
It made sense.
He was one of Leticia’s Wings, and for a Wing, nothing was more important than the safety of their master.
The idea of such a disagreeable person being close to her was unsettling.
About to frown, Ahwin quickly composed his expression.
‘I mustn’t show it. This is the delegation Lady Leticia has vowed to protect.’
Leticia had declared she would dedicate her remaining life to the delegation.
Even though it wasn’t an official order, it was as good as one. Until she gave her next command, Ahwin too must respect the delegation.
With this in mind, Ahwin bowed deeply.
“Apologies for the late introduction. My name is Ahwin, chosen by the goddess as a Wing, responsible for guarding the delegation.”
“Ahwin? Did you just say your name is Ahwin?”
Surprisingly, the man didn’t properly acknowledge Ahwin’s introduction. He completely ignored it, focusing solely on his name.
Ahwin’s expression hardened with displeasure, not just because of the man’s lack of manners.
‘If it had been another Wing here instead of me.’
The thought of the trouble that would have ensued due to such rude behavior was troubling.
‘That could have brought trouble to Lady Leticia.’
This realization made Ahwin’s gaze turn icy.
Unaware of Ahwin’s thoughts, the man who had been staring intently furrowed his brow.
He then started mumbling something incomprehensible.
“I thought it was Ahin. Or was it Ahwin? Ahhen, perhaps? Or not?”
He grimaced and irritably brushed his hair back.
“Really now. If you’re going to tell me, at least make it clear. Can I even believe this? Can a being that can’t make its voice clear really grant power?”
Ahwin decided to ignore him.
“I have urgent matters to discuss with His Majesty the King. Excuse me.”
He nodded slightly and strode away.
‘If Lady Leticia accepts me, I must advise her to keep distance from this strange man.’
The idea of such a frivolous person near his precious master was unsettling.
‘If he were an imperial knight, I could have managed him.’
Having overseen the temple guards, Ahwin had encountered countless individuals who lacked proper decorum.
He was confident he could have taught someone as frivolous as this man a lesson in discretion, elegantly and efficiently.
‘But as he’s from the Principality, it’s difficult for me to intervene.’
Swallowing his regret about the man’s nationality, Ahwin moved on when suddenly…
“Why are there so many flower petals in the desert…?”
A puzzled voice came from behind.
“Whoa, there are petals falling from the sky.”
Ahwin halted abruptly.
Blinking rapidly, he turned around with a sense of disbelief. The man’s eyes were wide open, staring into the sky. He exclaimed in surprise.
“What the… Where did they go?”
His fierce expression twisted even more fiercely as he rubbed his eyes vigorously, then spoke in confusion.
“Am I seeing things?”
“…”
“I’m sure I saw petals falling…”
Ahwin’s face reflected his astonishment.
‘Could he be the next Wing chosen by the goddess?’
The idea of someone from the Principality being chosen as a Wing would have been unthinkable in the past, but…
‘It fits perfectly with Lady Leticia’s situation.’
A Wing from the empire would inevitably attract Josephina’s attention.
‘A Wing from the Principality would be more beneficial for Lady Leticia in many ways.’
As Ahwin marveled at the goddess’s arrangement, the man turned and asked hesitantly.
“Hey, did you see snow or petals fluttering just now?”
Ahwin looked at the man anew. Despite his unpleasant demeanor and frivolous aura, he seemed to possess a certain determination.
‘Properly guided, he could be quite useful.’
Observing the man carefully, Ahwin chuckled to himself, realizing he was already thinking like an elder Wing, guiding the newcomer.
‘First, I must see if Lady Leticia accepts me.’
The goddess preparing a new Wing meant that soon one of the existing Wings might be gone.
‘That could be me.’
He wasn’t afraid of death. He just wanted to do everything he could, whether for Leticia or for the new Wing, whenever his time came.
“What’s your name?”
“Eh?”
“Your name, what is it?”
“Ba…”
Banessa, about to respond reflexively, paused abruptly. The attitude of the Wing, who had just been exuding courtesy and bowing, had changed completely. The arrogance in his eyes was off-putting.
‘What’s with him? Just because he’s a Wing?’
Despite trying to keep his temper in check, Banessa couldn’t help but scowl.
“Banessa.”
“What?”
“Banessa. My name is Banessa. But why do you ask?”
Ahwin, who had been staring wide-eyed at Banessa, suddenly burst into laughter.
“Ha ha!”
The fate arranged by the goddess was astonishingly precise. The name of the patient Leticia had asked to be treated was none other than Banessa.
Ahwin’s eyes softened.
“Banessa, is it? I’ll remember that.”
With that, he used the power of the wind to roll up Banessa’s pants.
“What are you doing!”
Banessa was startled by the sudden action.
“Aaaah!”
But as a blue light flashed and his wound healed, he quieted down.
“What… What is this?”
“Lady Leticia was worried about you, right? If you need power, come to me. I’ll awaken you right away.”
“…What?”
“But be prepared for it.”
Banessa blinked in bewilderment.
“To gain great power, a suitable price must be paid.”
Leaving the stunned Banessa behind, Ahwin chuckled to himself and turned away, feeling more at ease than ever before.
He had felt the goddess’s watchful presence over Leticia, reinforcing his belief.
‘In the end, Lady Leticia will be the victor.’
Meanwhile, the delegation, which had reflexively clenched their sword handles at Banessa’s scream, was bewildered.
Banessa’s previously injured leg was now completely healed, evident to all.
“His leg, it’s healed?”
“Healed with divine power?”
“Already recovered?”
Then came another surprise.
“Sorry for the disturbance. I need a moment with His Majesty the King and Lady Leticia.”
Approaching the delegation, Ahwin bowed deeply with exceptional respect, something unimaginable for a saint’s Wing to offer to a mere knight.
“The third Wing, I understand you have something to tell me.”
Still bowing, Ahwin hesitated.
‘King Dietrian.’
Taking a deep breath, he slowly stood up.
His black eyes, unreadable in emotion, focused on Ahwin. This was a different feeling from the tea party a few days ago.
Now, Ahwin was the one in need. He needed Dietrian’s permission to check on Leticia.
With an earnest voice, he spoke.
“I am Ahwin, a Wing serving the true representative of the goddess. I wish to examine Lady Leticia’s condition.”
* * *
After Ahwin left, the delegation resumed their preparations to depart. Dietrian, holding the sleeping Leticia, listened as Yulken cautiously spoke.
“Your Majesty, can we really trust what that Wing said? Although he healed Banessa, he is still a Wing of the goddess. Wouldn’t it be safer to return to the capital and consult a doctor?”
Dietrian, instead of answering, gazed down at Leticia, who was still deeply asleep.
After examining Leticia, Ahwin assured that she was fine and explained that this occurrence was simply due to her being the daughter of a saint. He stated that she would wake up in a few days.
‘Dare I trust his words?’
Dietrian was still uncertain.
Even if Ahwin had healed Dietrian himself, he might have remained skeptical, especially regarding matters concerning Leticia’s safety.
“For now, we’ll wait as he suggested.”
He hadn’t initially planned to follow Ahwin’s advice. He had accepted Ahwin’s help out of urgency, but even as Ahwin examined Leticia, Dietrian kept reconsidering.
Would it be better to return?
Should he seek help from the saint?
Amidst this conflict, Ahwin spoke.
“If you feel it necessary to consult a doctor, you should go somewhere away from the saint’s reach in the capital.”
Surprisingly, Ahwin’s gaze was filled with earnest concern, as if he feared that Josephina might harm Leticia.
“If you must travel, it’s best to do so at night to avoid others’ eyes.”
He even offered proactive assistance.
“I will divert people’s attention.”
The desperation in Ahwin’s voice to help Leticia made Dietrian wonder if he was indeed Josephina’s Wing.
“I owe a great debt to Lady Leticia. A debt I cannot repay, even with my life.”
Ahwin’s voice trembled slightly as he spoke.
“I understand it’s hard to trust me as a Wing. But for Lady Leticia’s sake, I implore you to believe me.”
“…”
“Lady Leticia will wake up occasionally. It will take time for her to fully regain consciousness, but she’ll be able to communicate.”
“…”
“If you have doubts about me, you can ask Lady Leticia. If she says she cannot trust me, then at that time…”
Ahwin bowed deeply.
“Act as you see fit, Your Majesty. Whatever you wish, I will assist to the best of my ability.”
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