Chapter 10
Chapter Translation
Before the vigilance could frost over in Centileon’s eyes, Shailyn quickly poured out her words.
“Don’t misunderstand. I’ve come to rescue you. I happened to see you fighting those things.”
“…….”
“I intend to take you safely home, so I’d like you to just follow me for now.”
Centileon scoffed at her sudden remark.
Was that really something to say while dressed in those suspicious robes that completely covered her face?
“What nonsense are you talking about? You came to save me just because you caught a glimpse of me earlier? Do you really think I’d believe that?”
“There’s no reason not to believe it, either.”
“Hah, I’m not naive enough to take the words of some unknown person I’ve just met at face value.”
“Ah, so you don’t trust me because you don’t know who I am.”
She casually took off her robes.
With a soft rustle, sky-blue hair cascaded down.
Golden eyes fixed on Centileon.
His mouth fell open involuntarily as he pointed at her.
Princess Shailyn, prophesied as the next successor to the kingdom, was standing right in front of him.
Why would someone with power second only to the king come to rescue him…?
Centileon couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
“P-P-Princess…?”
“That’s right. I’m Shailyn. Nice to meet you.”
When she remarked that if he kept his mouth open like that, a fly might fly in, Centileon finally closed it. He also slowly lowered his finger.
Still, he could hardly tell if this was a dream or reality.
“Nice to meet you indeed, but I have much to discuss with you. First, however, I think we need to get out of here.”
Just as Shailyn had said.
This place was not a safe zone.
It was a dangerous place where they could be spotted by Kashireto at any moment.
Exchanging names in such a place would only endanger their lives.
“Let’s focus on getting out for now. It would be better to talk later.”
“…….”
“Pull yourself together. If you space out here and lose your life meaninglessly, the effort of escaping will have been for nothing.”
Centileon barely managed to come to his senses.
She was right. It would be too frustrating to risk his life escaping only to dawdle around and die here.
“Let’s move to safety. I’ll have my guards escort you without being detected until we get out of here.”
“As you wish.”
The knights formed a formation. Centileon finally realized that he had encountered someone of immense status.
A whole group of knights armed with swords, their skills clearly extraordinary.
A woman with an unreal appearance and an unreal status.
Seeing her quietly put her robes back on made him feel disconnected from reality again, but he slapped his own cheek to regain focus.
‘Right. Getting out of here is more urgent right now.’
He obediently ran along the path the knights were clearing for him.
But because they were focused on the escort, they ended up revealing themselves, catching the eyes of Kashireto’s members.
“Unfamiliar faces.”
“Who are you?”
The members who had been on patrol surrounded the knights.
“Hah. What’s this? Centileon?”
“Why is our prospective member here?”
Shailyn found herself in a predicament. Being discovered by Kashireto had not been part of the plan.
What’s more, she felt sorry because Centileon’s escape, which should have been smooth, now seemed complicated.
‘Still, when I sent Relina, I asked for some extra troops just in case, so it should be fine.’
“You all focus on escorting Her Highness out.”
Shailyn’s personal escort knights, who accompanied her everywhere, nodded.
“We’ll clear the way.”
The knights drew their swords. The Kashireto members pulled out their own weapons from their pockets, like assassins.
“Attack!”
“Let’s go!”
Leaving the ferocious sounds behind, Shailyn and her group ran.
“The way out is this way, y’know.”
Centileon volunteered as their guide, and Shailyn felt secretly relieved.
It was fortunate, as she had worried they might get lost in the confusion and have difficulty escaping.
“I know this area like the back of my hand, y’know.”
“Thanks to you, escaping might not be too difficult. Thank you.”
“No need to thank me, y’know.”
The knights clicked their tongues at Centileon’s awkward use of honorifics, constantly adding a forced “y’know” to his casual speech, but Shailyn didn’t mind.
It didn’t particularly bother her, and she was well aware of Centileon’s tendencies.
“It seems not everyone fell for the diversionary tactic.”
“It can’t be helped.”
“We need to increase our speed.”
The knights were tense. They had to ensure the safe escape of those under their protection.
Consequently, their psychological tension was high, and their energy was draining even faster.
Shailyn clicked her tongue inwardly.
It seemed that, due to the concise reports she had received, she had underestimated this task.
Moreover, since the same events as right before her regression were unfolding, it felt like she had gone back to that time—when she had endangered everyone as the incompetent king…
No, that wasn’t it. She shook her head.
Right now, escaping quickly was better than dwelling on the past.
That was the way to ensure the safety of both the knights and Centileon.
“This way leads to a shortcut.”
“Wait.”
There were pursuers right behind the wall. The knights gestured for Shailyn to move further inward.
Shailyn held Centileon’s hand tighter and slowly walked backward.
The knights spoke in hushed, almost whispering voices.
“Their pursuit is fast. I think we need to subdue them here.”
“Just kill them.”
“Pardon?”
“They are parasites gnawing at the kingdom. If you aim for capture and end up getting hurt or disadvantaged, I wouldn’t be able to face your families.”
“Then… we shall follow Your Highness’s command.”
‘Besides… I hear those kinds of scum are trained to endure torture and pain. So it’s better to just kill them than to try half-heartedly subduing them.’
No matter how skilled at killing, knights were distinctly different from mercenaries or assassins.
Their attacks were straightforward and honest. No tricks, only precise striking points.
The latter, however, use any means necessary to kill their targets.
Of course, Kashireto belonged to the latter category.
“So don’t give me any nonsense about not wanting to show me anything gruesome. Eliminate the enemies quickly.”
“…Yes.”
“I’ll go on ahead and wait. If you return alive, I’ll suggest to His Majesty that you be given vacation time or a reward.”
“Yes!”
At her gesture telling them to go, the knights quickly ran off.
Soon, the sound of clashing swords erupted, accompanied by screams from all directions.
Centileon pinched his nose tightly against the smell of blood wafting over.
Even though he had grown up in the slums and was used to death, that smell always turned his stomach.
But Shailyn seemed fine. Her hands were trembling, but her expression was as usual.
She seemed amazing. Despite presumably having seen and experienced only good things, she appeared calmer than he was.
‘Why does a princess who must have been raised so delicately seem so accustomed to this…?’
“I need to get both you and myself out of here. So pull yourself together and guide me outside.”
“Huh? Oh, no… Yes, ma’am!”
Centileon ran with her through various alleys, guiding her toward a doghole.
He didn’t want to take such a noble person to such a shabby place, but it couldn’t be helped.
“Go straight from here, then turn right. There should be an entrance. I mean, there will be an entrance.”
“Understood. Lead the way.”
The two ran towards the doghole.
The sound of someone’s footsteps grew closer.
“Hurry!”
Before entering, Shailyn fiddled with the firework she had brought just in case, then crawled into the hole.
Though larger than her frame, a doghole was still a doghole; moving around was cramped.
She had been running continuously, so her breathing was rough, but she couldn’t die until she had finished what she needed to do.
Centileon, who had gotten out first, pulled her out.
“Huff… huff….”
“Get up, I mean, please rise. They’ll catch up soon.”
“I’m sorry….”
Shailyn barely managed to stand. Her legs were wobbling. If she had known this would happen, she should have exercised rather than staying in bed all the time.
The two turned right. The entrance was now close.
But just before reaching it, they were surrounded.
Kashireto members were waiting for them, armed with various weapons.
Shailyn set off the firework without delay.
A red firework painted the sky. The signal meant ‘emergency.’
“Oh my, what’s this? A big catch.”
“Why would a noble princess be in a place like this?”
It seemed her robe had come off during their escape.
“That doesn’t matter. Our target is that guy.”
Shailyn immediately stepped in front of Centileon. She couldn’t let them take him away.
And Centileon stared blankly at Shailyn’s small back.
