~Chapter 68~
Amel could only stare blankly at the sight before her.
Boom! Bang—Boom!
Flashes of multicolored flames exploded loudly. From Erman’s hands, countless spells burst forth as he leapt straight into the enemy’s midst.
“Kaaak!”
“Kaaaak!”
The skeletons shrieked, rattling under the rainbow-colored fire. In the middle of them, Erman let out a heated laugh and released more magic.
“Th-that’s…”
Was this really the same person?
Amel’s mouth fell open, forgetting even that Christan was beside her.
Until now, Erman had only ever looked lifeless, with no drive at all. But now he looked as if he had finally freed some side of himself he had kept suppressed all this time—he seemed like a completely different man.
“Your Highness!”
Startled, Christan sprang up from the broom and, just like Erman, jumped onto the balcony.
“Ah!”
The sudden movement jolted the broom, but Amel clutched tightly, relieved it didn’t shake too much. Even in urgency, Christan had moved carefully to minimize the impact on her.
Landing inside, Christan quickly swung his sword and cut down a monster. It was the last one in the room.
Soon, only burned skeleton remains lay scattered across the floor. Erman brushed back his sweat-soaked hair and exhaled, flushed from the heat.
“Even without the Duke’s help, I would have been fine.”
“No matter how skilled Your Highness is in magic, you are still the heir of the Empire. Please take more care with your safety.”
“Mm, alright.”
Erman brushed off Christan’s scolding. Meanwhile, Amel landed and pulled something from her pouch.
“Before more appear, we should set a barrier.”
It was a holy stone. At that moment, a small purple owl popped out of her clothes with a poing.
『I told you not to wave around such dangerous objects!』
“Camarin! I told you to stay hidden!”
『Of course, a mere stone can’t suppress all my power… but I don’t like being near such things.』
Flapping his tiny wings, Camarin perched on her head. Then, noticing Erman’s curious stare, he spoke.
『Listen, human. Don’t even think about harming me. I’ve signed a familiar contract with this witch, so I can’t do anything bad even if I wanted to.』
“A monster?”
Erman’s eyes widened. Amel panicked and yanked Camarin down from her head.
“Th-this guy! Don’t mind him, please. He’s just like… a pet bird I keep at home.”
『Pet bird? Ridiculous. Anyone who knows you’re a witch knows about our contract—why must I hide?』
“Because some people might use it as an excuse to accuse me. Better to be careful.”
“Just let him out. Looks stifling otherwise.”
Erman spoke casually, but Camarin flapped joyfully.
『I’ll repay this kindness, human!』
“Cute. His name is Camarin?”
『Cu… cute…?』
Shocked by the word, Camarin froze. Amel quickly interrupted before he could say anything rude.
“N-no! Camarin is just a nickname. His real name is Camaritanes. Cute, right? A little owl with such pride—it’s funny, isn’t it? Ha ha…”
“Yeah. I’d like to have a pet like this too.”
Erman gently stroked Camarin’s feathers. Amel stared, uneasy.
‘First my broom, now Camarin… why does he keep eyeing my things?’
Meanwhile, Christan was finishing the barrier setup with holy stones. But the Rift’s power was too strong—until the subjugation was complete, monsters would still slip through. At best, the barrier would slow them.
Clang!
Christan even tried striking the Rift with aura-coated sword, but nothing happened.
“Seems there are still plenty of monsters downstairs,” he muttered.
“Then… should we wait?”
Just then, a skeleton peeked from the Rift. Camarin’s black eyes gleamed.
『Return!』
“Kaaak…”
The low-ranked monster couldn’t resist his command. The skeleton turned and shuffled back.
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
『This is nothing. I can easily control a hundred of these at once.』
Camarin boasted proudly. Erman chuckled.
“Then we should be comfortable for a while. Wonder when the knights below will arrive.”
“Yeah…”
Amel fidgeted, itching to do something. She strained her ears—the sounds of battle from below were faint.
“With so many monsters and the darkness, it must be hard to find the way. Should we guide them?”
“Shall I go?”
Christan frowned. No Crown Prince anywhere would volunteer to scout for knights. But he couldn’t ask Amel either—his chivalry wouldn’t allow it.
So, Christan went himself, both to fetch the knights and to fight monsters along the way. Each step he took down the stairs echoed with shrieks.
Once he was gone, Amel tidied the room, gathering bones into sacks to bury later.
“Phew, tiring.”
She spread a handkerchief on the floor, sat, and stared at the Rift. Its strange shape seemed to writhe unnaturally. She kept a potion ready in hand, just in case.
Then Erman spoke.
“You’re really noble-like, Lady Winterfall.”
“Huh?”
Amel turned, frowning at his odd comment. He looked at her handkerchief and the neatly packed sacks.
Surely, he knew the rumors—many said she had no right to be called noble.
“You don’t mean that as sarcasm, right?”
“Ah… I didn’t mean it as an insult. If it sounded that way, I apologize. I’d never insult someone who could become the future Crown Princess.”
“….”
“Forgive me, but I think I’m far too unworthy to be Your Highness’s bride. I will decline the marriage His Majesty is arranging.”
“Strange… I can’t imagine a better groom in the Empire than me.”
Amel fell silent.
And then, the tactless Camarin opened his beak:
『Normally I don’t gossip… but since you were kind to me, I’ll repay you. This witch is aiming for that big gray man she was with earlier!』
“Camarin!”
Amel leapt to her feet, furious, reaching to pluck out his feathers. Camarin flailed, slowed by the holy barrier.
『Ack!』
Caught by her, he looked desperately between Erman and Amel.
『I-it wasn’t even a secret! Why take it out on me? Help me, human!』
