IHLRD 68

Chapter 68

It seemed the Second Prince had his own motives.
True, he did play around rather scandalously, but only with commoners or fallen nobles where there would be no lasting trouble.

Why, then, did the Second Prince never have an illegitimate child?

It was because he regularly replaced his lovers. The Second Prince had always believed that if he were to become Crown Prince, his social reputation would matter—so he never touched anyone from a noble family.

That meant there was definitely a reason for him to be pestering Dana like this.

‘Is it because Dana belongs to Wished? Maybe he wants to seduce her to get information later?’

“There’s some dust here…”

It was so obvious he was trying to create an excuse for physical contact. Unfortunately for him, the spot he reached for was right where I was hiding in Dana’s pouch. If he came closer, I was fully prepared to bite his fingers off, my teeth clacking together sharply.

The little gold creature on my neck also raised its head and hissed.

‘Go on, just try touching even a single hair on Dana. I’ll tear you apart.’

Perhaps he really did sense our intent, because the Second Prince suddenly froze midair. With a look of regret, he pulled back his hand.

And that was because the knights—and Wished himself—were returning from battle.

Wished’s gaze landed squarely on this spot.

“Well then, let’s talk another time. I enjoyed our chat.”

The Second Prince, spooked by Wished, scurried off.

“What was that about?”

Wished asked, shaking monster blood off his sword.

“Seems like he has some ulterior motive.”

“He thinks that face of his will work? On someone who sees my face every day?”

…Annoying as it was, I had to admit the truth in his words.

Looking from the Second Prince to Wished felt like having one’s eyeballs scrubbed clean.

Seriously, he was ridiculously handsome.

Wished reached out, ready to take me from Dana’s arms, but suddenly drew back. Lifting his forearm, he sniffed.

“The blood smell won’t wash off… I’ll go bathe.”

Since it was me who had insisted on coming out, Dana returned to the carriage, where the black panther and Helen were waiting.

“Lady Helen, aren’t you feeling stifled? You could step outside, it’s all right.”

“I-I’m… a little afraid of the knights… It’s fine.”

Helen shook her head, her face pale.

We hadn’t realized before, but Helen had a severe trauma related to knights. That was why she had remained in the palace even during the tournament.

{Ughhh, so stuffy!}

{If you’re that stuffy, then just go out.}

The black panther rolled dramatically across the floor. Ever since Wished started feeding him, he’d been eating far too well—so much so that he was plump enough to make the carriage rock.

{Tch. Luna, you’ve got no loyalty. You’re leaving the human girl who feeds me every meal behind?}

Not that he had any right to say that, puffing air at the window.

And since he was large and intimidating—not to mention rare—he could only sneak out at night when no one was around.

Just then, someone tapped on the window and poked his head inside.

It was Miguel.

“Hey, Dana. Hand Lady Luna over. Lord Wished said to bring her to his tent.”

Dana passed me through the window, which was just wide enough for me to slip through. Miguel, his hands faintly reeking of blood, couldn’t resist squeezing and squishing me all over.

So this was why he’d volunteered to carry me?

“Stay here. Lord Wished will be along shortly.”

Wished’s tent had already been set up, indicating he planned to sleep here tonight.

It was spacious but simple inside. Naturally, I hopped straight onto his cot—when suddenly, I heard a suspicious sound.

Rustle.

Shuffle.

I glanced at Geumdong, who was blinking his round eyes at me.

…Was I the only one hearing this?

A chill crawled down my spine.

I swallowed dryly and turned around. The tent flaps rippled, and then—something emerged.

{Boss!}

…Jidori?

Grinning brightly, Jidori waved frantically at me. Behind him, Harry slipped inside the tent.

{What the—how are you two here?!}

{Huff, huff—explanations later! Got anything to eat?}

They looked so desperate that I pointed to the fruit on the table. Jidori and Harry immediately dashed over and began devouring it.

Only after finishing a whole apple between the two of them did they slow down.

{Don’t tell me—you followed me again like last time?}

{I swear, it was weird. I didn’t even realize it, but I just kept running.}

{And you, Jidori?}

{Couldn’t let the deputy commander go alone, right? So I hurried after him!}

Jidori mumbled with his cheeks stuffed full of apple.

Harry smacked the back of his head and sat down.

{Really, it was like something was whispering in my ear, all day, every day—except when I slept. I just couldn’t stop running.}

Now that I looked closely, their condition was terrible.

They hadn’t been especially tidy before, but now their fur was matted with grime and mud, with patches missing. It was obvious they had exhausted themselves to get here.

{Ah! Right. Deputy Commander, you had something to tell the Boss!}

{Something to tell me? Oh, about what I asked you to do?}

I had asked Jidori to watch Duke Persia and Harry to watch Swan.

{That bald guy—you know. I overheard him talking, and…}

At Harry’s words, my eyes widened.

{Really? So it’s true? Duke Persia actually…}

Rustle.

At the same time Geumdong lifted his head from my neck, I turned toward the sound.

“…A spirit beast?”

Oh no.

It was Mikhail.

* * *

Since there was a river nearby, bathing wasn’t difficult.

Wished washed quickly, and without even drying his hair, headed back to camp.

He noticed his tent’s entrance slightly ajar—and at once his brow furrowed. An unpleasant sensation spiked through him.

Holy power.

Wished roughly shoved open the tent flap.

Inside, clad in white priestly robes, was Mikhail. At the same moment, Luna darted into Wished’s arms. Catching her frantic expression in an instant, he tucked her straight into his shirt.

Soft warmth slid down against his skin.

“Duke.”

Mikhail finally noticed Wished’s presence and turned.

“Did you happen to see a mouse here just now? I swear there was…”

Without a word, Wished strode forward and drove his foot hard into Mikhail’s stomach. Caught off guard, Mikhail couldn’t block in time and was sent staggering backward.

Instinctively, he grabbed at the nearby table for support—but only managed to make his fall noisier.

The commotion was loud enough to draw people toward the tent.

Wished advanced on the priest crumpled on the ground.

“Do you have a death wish?”

He ran a hand through his hair, sighing heavily.

“I asked if you want to die.”

This time, he clearly wanted an answer.

Clutching his stomach, Mikhail struggled to rise. But Wished pressed down on the long hem of his robe with his boot, pinning him in place.

“Speak.”

Finally seeming to come to his senses, Mikhail blinked slowly up at him. Only now did he realize his mistake.

“My apologies, Duke.”

“Then why did you come in here?”