One of the knights guarding Tenua’s corpse yawned loudly.
“Yawn, why am I so sleepy? Should I wash my face or something?”
“Hurry back. I’ll keep watch until then…….”
The knights couldn’t finish their sentence. They nodded off to sleep, slumping down.
Shortly after, a purple energy revealed itself from the darkness.
It extended its hand towards the carriage. A purplish mist that flickered at its fingertips slithered into the carriage.
The carriage’s back door creaked open, and Tenua came out, creaking.
His bones, broken by stoning, were grotesquely twisted.
Tenua looked blankly at ‘him’ and murmured.
“Who…….”
「I am your true master. Show the proper respect!」
“Master……?”
「Yes. The real master who gave you power!」
‘He’ spat out angrily.
Tenua, watching him blankly, awkwardly bowed his head.
“I greet……my master.”
「Worse than trash. Entrusted with precious power to such a lowly being, and you couldn’t even keep it properly, ending up like this?」
“I apologize…….”
「Josephina and you are equally foolish. She trembles in fear over some prophecy, and you, despite receiving my power, got killed!」
‘He’ gritted his teeth.
「To think I have to break the law of causality because of this. What will you do about the power I lost to revive you!」
The law of causality was very strict yet greedy.
Reviving the dead was one of the most taboo acts.
Because he revived Tenua, ‘he’ had to lose a significant amount of power.
“I am truly sorry…….”
Despite the heavy price, Tenua wasn’t completely well. His eyes were empty, like a doll speaking.
It couldn’t be helped. Fully reviving someone dead was a significant matter even for ‘him’, requiring readiness for dissolution.
That he could revive even a shell was only possible because Tenua hadn’t been dead for long.
「Reviving you is the last time. Show the damned descendant of the dragon what despair is.」
‘He’ grabbed Tenua by the collar. A purple energy seeped into Tenua’s body.
Shortly after. Tenua’s twisted arm returned to normal, and his wounds healed. His bent back straightened as well.
Tenua’s eyes were still murky, but they flickered cruelly, like a beast with only its killing instinct remaining.
He bowed his head.
“I accept my master’s command.”
* * *
From afar, the goddess Dinute’s eyes sparkled with delight.
“Finally.”
She whispered with a bright smile.
“Finally, you too have violated the law of causality.”
* * *
The Principality’s delegation kept running. They stopped for breaks at springs and dealt with the beasts. And then, ran again.
Crossing the harsh desert on horseback all day was not easy. Yet, the morale of the Principality’s delegation was sky-high.
Even while preparing to camp in the evening, smiles never left their faces.
“Not having to see those unlucky fellows anymore feels like a ten-year indigestion clearing up.”
“Exactly. Except for Ahwin, the Wing who healed Banessa’s leg, I disliked all of them.”
“It’s all thanks to that Tenua dying. He stole Rozantine’s Holy Grail and received the goddess’s punishment, right?”
“Haha, the goddess finally punished that wretched man. Seems she does act, after all.”
Their happiness had another reason.
Leticia seemed to be in very good condition.
Having struggled with riding all morning, she was fine after parting with the Imperial knights.
“Indeed, it was the Imperials causing trouble. Our Highness’s face is blooming.”
“Right. Once we return to the Principality, she’ll smile even more, won’t she?”
Leticia, who had made the delegation happy, approached Yulken, who was preparing the meal. She called him carefully.
“Yulken, may I use some warm water?”
“Of course. How much do you need?”
“About two cups should do.”
“Just a moment.”
Yulken quickly brought a large bowl and then scooped boiling water into it with a ladle.
“It’s hot, I’ll carry it for you. What will you use it for?”
That’s when Yulken noticed the white towel Leticia was holding.
“Are you planning to wipe something off? I’ll do it. You must be tired from riding; please rest, and give that to me.”
“No, it’s just that His Highness seems to be returning soon.”
It was about time for Dietrian, who had gone out to clear the nearby beasts, to return.
“There would be a lot of blood on him… I wanted to wipe off the dried blood. That’s why I needed the warm water.”
“Oh, you intend to clean His Highness’s blood? Ah, naturally, Your Highness should do it yourself. I almost committed a great disrespect to the sovereign.”
Yulken quickly offered a chair.
“Please sit and wait. Using it as is will be too hot. I’ll bring some cold water.”
“No, it’s fine even if it’s hot. Better than the water cooling down before His Highness returns.”
Leticia smiled and shook her head.
“Understood.”
“I’ll take care of the rest. Thank you for your help.”
“Yes, yes.”
After Yulken left, Leticia adjusted the water to a temperature that was a bit hot to touch.
Her hands turned red quickly while soaking the towel but she didn’t mind.
Just then, Dietrian and the knights who had gone out to clear the beasts returned. Dietrian dropped a sack he was carrying on his shoulder with a thud.
The delegation crowded around.
“Your Highness, what is this?”
“Gazelles.”
“Oh! Are you saying gazelles roam around here?”
“It seems they were driven here by the beasts.”
“Sometimes the beasts did us a favor. Tonight will be a feast.”
“I must show off my skills for once!”
Gazelles were among the desert herbivores with the best meat taste. The delegation hummed as they carried the sack with the gazelles away.
Leaving his buoyant subordinates behind, Dietrian went to the side of the tent and opened his hood.
Blood was smeared here and there due to the fierce resistance of the beasts. The smell of blood made Dietrian slightly grimace.
“Your Highness.”
Then, from behind, Leticia called him. Dietrian flinched.
“May I have a moment?”
“Just a moment, please.”
He quickly took off his hood and turned around, stepping back.
“The smell of blood might be strong. May I see you after changing clothes?”
“Actually, that’s why I came to see you.”
Leticia stepped forward carefully and spoke.
“I wanted to wipe off the blood.”
Steam was rising from the hot towel in her hands, which were slightly red.
Dietrian’s eyes widened.
“Would you sit here, please?”
Dietrian sat down heavily on a pile of gear. His lean muscles showed through the thin black shirt.
Leticia carefully wiped the dried blood from his cheeks and neck.
“How’s the temperature?”
“It’s perfect.”
“I’m glad. I was worried the water might cool down.”
“…I see.”
Dietrian thought of the warm towel just taken out of the hot water and her hands that had turned slightly red.
He could vividly imagine her anxiously waiting for him, worried that the water might cool down.
The overlay of her expressions as she dabbed at his face evoked an almost overwhelming feeling.
“I heard the beasts have become fiercer than before.”
“They’ve grown in size. And in number too.”
“It must have been tough for you.”
“I’m accustomed to it, so it wasn’t that hard……”
Dietrian hesitated, then quietly looked up at her and whispered.
“A little, yes. It was a bit hard.”
Because I missed you.
“Would you comfort me, then?”
“What?”
“May I lean on you for a moment?”
Without waiting for an answer, he pulled her slender waist closer and buried his face in her embrace.
“I’ll just stay like this for a moment.”
As he expected, Leticia did not push him away. Instead, she gently stroked his black hair.
“Your Highness, there’s blood here too.”
“I was covered in the blood of a large beast. But thanks to that, I could catch the gazelle it was chasing.”
“Ah, I saw the sack you were carrying earlier.”
“Have you ever eaten gazelle meat? It’s the best delicacy you can have in the desert.”
“This will be my first time. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Martin is very good at cooking gazelle. You’ll be surprised by the taste.”
“I’ve had the steak Martin prepared at the welcome party. It melted in my mouth.”
“I should tell Martin to quit being a knight and become a royal chef.”
“He said he would consider it if I approved……”
“Ha, I thought so.”
Dietrian chuckled softly. The vibration of his laughter against her body made Leticia’s cheeks flush a bit.
“If you wish it, I will command Martin to change professions.”
“We can’t do that. He’s an excellent knight.”
“And a skilled chef as well.”
“But it would be a loss.”
“He would be happy to do it if it’s something you want. He wanted to repay you for your kindness.”
“…To me?”
“Martin was originally my brother’s knight. He’s very grateful to you for retrieving his remains.”
Leticia didn’t know how to respond.
Dietrian was right. Martin cherished her, so he would gladly comply with her request.
That made it even more awkward. Recognizing someone’s kindness intellectually and accepting it naturally were entirely different matters.
Leticia changed the subject.
“We’re nearing the end of the desert soon.”
“Yes, it’s been a long journey.”
“But it was much easier than I expected. Thanks to everyone’s care. I slept through the most challenging part……”
“Ah, you mentioned you’ve crossed the desert before.”
“Yes.”
After a moment of silence, Dietrian softly asked.
“Who were you with at that time? Hopefully not bad people, like Josephina’s minions?”
“No, not at all like that.”
Leticia quickly shook her head.
“I was with very good people.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course. If anything, I was the one who caused them trouble.”
“You causing trouble? That seems unlikely.”
“No, really. At that time, I did. I didn’t know much and acted recklessly. Besides…”
Her words trailed off.
“Actually, I fell quite ill then. I hurt my foot crossing the gravel desert, and the wound got infected.”
“…”
“One of the people with me carried me on their back.”
“You mean they carried you across the desert?”
Dietrian blinked.
It felt strange.
Something seemed familiar, yet he couldn’t quite place it.
“Not just that, but they also took care of me when I was sick. Because of that, I didn’t feel much hardship. They often shared various stories with me, too. Listening to them made me feel at ease.”
Leticia smiled faintly.
“It’s one of my most precious memories.”
“Then I’m glad.”
After a while, having cleaned all the blood from his hair, Leticia said,
“It’s all done, Your Highness.”
“Thank you.”
Dietrian said, releasing his embrace. Leticia was looking down at him with a gentle smile.
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