Chapter 51
“Roaaar!”
A monster suddenly jumped out from the bushes. Jex slashed it down with his sword.
“How is this a small monster portal?! It feels like the entire mountain is full of portals! Are your eyes, ears, or brain broken, Your Grace?!”
“Lord Dierian, please be careful!”
“Ahh! It has three eyes! That’s so gross!”
Dierian used his magic to make the monster explode. Red chunks of flesh scattered through the air.
“My lady, are you alright?”
Their magical blue horse was moving slowly—it had to go up a steep, rough mountain path.
“Haa… I’m okay.”
Eslyn answered, pressing her aching head. Since halfway through, she’d been riding on Jex’s horse. Her strength had almost completely left her body.
Dierian, who had been watching silently, clicked his tongue.
“The potion is starting to take effect. We’d better hurry to the cave. Ugh, this is the last thing I wanted to do… but we have no choice.”
Rrrgh! More monsters burst out of the bushes again.
“Sir Jex, stay back for a moment.”
Dierian stepped forward and made the monsters explode.
“Lord Dierian?”
“If I collapse from using too much magic, you’ll have to carry me, Sir Jex. If not, I’ll become a ghost and haunt your closet forever.”
“I don’t like ghosts.”
Whoosh. Dierian raised his hand wide.
Magic energy gathered tightly in his dry palm. A glowing blue orb appeared in the air above it.
Fwoosh!
The orb split into hundreds, even thousands of tiny pieces, and shot out in every direction.
“……!”
The mountain shook. Birds flew off in fear. The ground trembled, and the magical horse reared back.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The attacking monsters exploded from the inside out.
“What… was that?”
Jex muttered in disbelief.
The sound of explosions continued all over the mountain for a while.
Then, silence.
Smoke rose in several places, and the scent of blood drifted in on the wind.
Eslyn slowly lifted her head.
Everything around them was completely destroyed.
Looking at the piles of monster corpses, she silently stared at Dierian.
“Don’t look at me like, ‘Why didn’t you do that sooner.’”
Dierian panted heavily.
“Then… can I say it out loud?”
Jex mumbled, glancing at his bloody sword.
“This was only possible because His Grace already killed so many monsters. Otherwise, even if I risked my life, it wouldn’t have been possible—”
“Diel!”
Dierian suddenly lost his balance.
His magical blue horse disappeared.
“Are you okay?”
“My lady.”
Eslyn stumbled as she got off. Her legs were shaky too.
“Lean on me.”
Jex gently picked her up.
“But Diel…”
“I’m fine, I’m fine… I didn’t use all my magic. I can still walk.”
Dierian waved his hand weakly. His voice was rough and hoarse.
He pulled out two magic potions from his coat and drank them quickly.
“Ah, if only Sir Jex would lend me one of those bear-like arms of his… I know none of us like the idea, but what choice do we have? My legs are shaking like a newborn deer’s…”
“That’s enough talking.”
Haaah… Dierian let out a long sigh.
Jex supported him with his free arm while still carrying Eslyn.
“We’re close to the cave now. Let’s leave the remaining monsters to the crazy duke and get out of here…”
The mage sounded like he’d aged ten years in a day.
Eslyn lost consciousness in Jex’s arms.
The potion’s effects had pushed her past her limit.
When she opened her eyes, she saw a dark ceiling.
Cool air brushed her cheek. She heard the soft sound of water dripping somewhere.
The smell of damp moss filled her nose.
It seemed they had reached the cave safely.
Of course… Dierian Frey really is an amazing mage.
That was her first thought.
Eslyn slowly sat up.
Thud. Dierian’s robe slipped off her shoulders.
The cave was dark and quiet. It was large and well-hidden, a perfect place to rest. Magic lights flickered on the walls, and magical shields surrounded the entrance.
He must’ve been exhausted… yet he still did all this.
Eslyn sighed, as if waking from a long dream.
At that moment, Dierian turned his head, holding a magic potion.
“Your Highness, you’re awake—are you crying?”
“My lady?”
Jex, who was standing nearby, rushed over.
Eslyn touched her cheek. Drops of water stained her fingers.
She stared at her hand in a daze.
“No way…”
Dierian’s expression changed.
“Have all your memories come back?”
Eslyn looked into his eyes and slowly nodded.
Thump. Dierian collapsed into a seated position.
“Finally…”
Jex knelt beside her, staying respectfully close.
“I’m glad, my lady.”
Eslyn smiled softly, looking into their loyal, concerned eyes.
“Diel, Sir Jex… You’ve both been through so much.”
Her gentle voice echoed off the cave walls.
The two men’s faces showed deep, mixed emotions.
Silence followed. The only sound was the water dripping from above.
Then Dierian spoke, his voice trembling slightly.
“Now that I’ve heard that… I can rest easy.”
He looked utterly exhausted, like someone who had walked a long, painful road.
“Diel.”
“But now please answer me, Your Highness.”
Eslyn looked down at him quietly.
“Why did you lose your memory?”
“…”
“It wasn’t that kind of spell!”
Dierian raised his voice. Jex turned to look at him.
“It was only meant to move your soul. There shouldn’t have been a problem with your memory. I… we…”
His voice was unusually emotional. His hands trembled slightly.
“We couldn’t even tell you the truth, and I nearly died trying to make that stupid memory potion!”
“I know.”
Eslyn said softly.
Dierian bit his lip.
“You did more than enough. Thank you, Dierian.”
She placed a hand on his shoulder and patted it gently.
His shaking slowly stopped.
His throat moved as he swallowed hard. Then he let out a long breath.
When he looked up again, his usual cold and grumpy expression was back.
“So? Will you tell us now? Why did you really lose your memory?”
“Hmm… I’m not sure. I don’t think I remember that part yet.”
“Your Highness.”
“Later, Dierian.”
She whispered.
Dierian twitched his nose.
So… she’s not going to tell us now, huh.
He clearly didn’t like it, but he accepted it. He had no way to force her if she stayed silent.
He finally stood up.
“Sigh. Fine. I can’t win against you. Just tell us when you feel like it.”
Eslyn gave him a faint smile.
“My magic’s mostly back, so I’ll reinforce the shields. Your Highness, please rest more. Sir Jex, help me.”
“Yes, Lord Dierian.”
The two men walked toward the cave entrance.
Eslyn wiped her face with her hand. Her palm quickly got damp again.
She slowly scanned the inside of the cave.
Then her eyes landed on a dark water puddle in a shadowy corner.
A drop of water fell from the ceiling and splashed into it.
It looked just like… the poisoned drink from that day.
‘Princess Eslyn of Bertania, I’ve brought you the poison you must drink.’
Ah. She finally understood.
That emotionless face of his… it was a mask. A mask to hide his pain.
Sir Tebet…
She felt breathless. The truth hit her like a heavy fog.
From the very beginning…
She pressed her palms to her eyes.
He was always on my side.
He wasn’t a man in love with a maid.
He was—
‘The one I’ve chosen is you, Eslyn Bertania.’
A man who had chosen her.
‘I will never again hide behind the name Ripherius.’
She had only realized his true feelings at the very end.
She’d only heard those words… right before the end.
Even as her breath faded, those words had filled her with joy.
But—
[You’ve defied fate. There must be a price.]
The gods were cruelly fair.
Mausis…!
[And now you finally have something worth losing.]
“…A price.”
Eslyn slowly lifted her face from her hands. Her teary eyes were now calm.
She stared silently into the air.
Her icy blue eyes were steadier than ever.
A price for possession…
She bit the inside of her cheek.
Would Tebet return?
Even that, she couldn’t be sure of anymore.
But things won’t go your way, Mausis.
The dim light flickered across her pale face.
I won’t run or submit anymore.
This was her second chance at life.
And it was too precious to waste in regret.
A glimmer of resolve sparked in her blue eyes.
