Chapter 11
“You must already know that my mother was the only sister of Duke Blanche.”
Siegfried asked as he subtly moved the arms still bound by rope. Killian’s eyes wavered for a moment.
“…Is there anyone who doesn’t know?”
Even his voice trembled as it escaped his lips.
…No, wait a minute. Is this really happening?
Killian looked visibly conflicted. He kept gripping and releasing the hilt of his sword as he took a step back. Then, as if he realized something, he hurriedly spoke up.
“How do you intend to move ten million Erks? There’s no way you can avoid the Empire’s eyes.”
“How is that any different from a million Erks?”
Siegfried shrugged nonchalantly.
It is different. Very different! That’s ten times the amount…!
“A million Erks equals about ten top-grade diamonds. I’ve already secured three of them…”
“You do know that the mine those diamonds come from lies within the Duchy of Blanche, don’t you?”
Killian looked momentarily at a loss for words. Siegfried then offered him a proposal he couldn’t refuse.
“If I ascend the throne, that diamond mine naturally becomes mine as well. Don’t settle for just ten. I have the ability to put a hundred in your hands.”
“What are the terms of this deal?”
It seemed Killian had already been swayed. He even let go of his sword entirely.
“Bring me Aisha’s head. We’ll make the exchange simultaneously.”
“Ah, but…”
Killian opened and closed his eyes. In an instant, the atmosphere shifted. Before I could blink, Killian had drawn his sword and pressed it against Siegfried’s neck.
“Still, I’ve already received payment. And killing Your Highness here and now would be much simpler for me.”
“How foolish.”
Siegfried scolded him coldly. I quickly slipped a dagger into Siegfried’s hand and stepped back.
I found cover near a stack of flour sacks, far from both of them. That was when Siegfried, with one sudden motion, snapped the remaining half-cut ropes I had painstakingly worked on.
Wow, so this is what a male lead is made of. How strong is his grip, seriously? There’s no doubt that the conversation with Killian was just to buy time to recover his strength.
Siegfried no longer wavered on his feet, and Killian seemed to sense it too, tensing up.
Back in the clearing, he looked like he could barely lift a wooden sword. But now, Siegfried seemed like a completely different person. The pressure he exuded was so intense that even my cheeks tingled.
Honestly, I’d been pretending everything was fine, but I was ready to bolt with Siegfried at any moment.
If he could just stand, we could escape through the window I’d smashed earlier. That’s why I’d given him the dagger and sat near the window.
But seeing his current state, I wondered if my worries had been completely unnecessary.
“You’re not leaving here in one piece either.”
Siegfried flashed a radiant smile. He twirled his wrist, testing it, and nodded with satisfaction.
“Fully healed.”
“Thanks to me, right?”
“Yes, thank you. …But why are you still here?”
Siegfried, answering dutifully, suddenly looked at me in surprise. Why? Why?! You think I’m some coward who’d ditch the male lead and run?!
“I just thought I’d watch. I doubt Killian will kill me anyway.”
If he really meant to, he’d had several chances already. Not that I’d go down without a fight. In the worst case, I could smack Killian and give Siegfried a chance to escape first.
Thankfully, I was born into a renowned martial family in the South, so I was fairly used to physical combat.
Siegfried frowned. He looked somewhat fed up with how carefree I seemed on the outside. I’m telling you, I’m fine.
“I told you it’s dangerous, yet you still won’t—”
Siegfried couldn’t finish. Killian had lunged.
Killian’s sword grazed Siegfried’s cheek. A crimson line appeared on his sculpted face. Blood welled up and trickled down his pale skin.
The moment that drop of blood hit the ground, rage like fire flared up in my chest. That bastard. Of all places, he had to go for the face…!
“Was ten million Erks not enough?”
Siegfried wiped the blood from his cheek roughly. Killian launched into another attack, blade gleaming.
But Siegfried dodged easily, as if it were nothing. Killian’s blow, seemingly full of force, missed without resistance.
“I should’ve finished this when I had the chance. I’m starting to regret it.”
Killian kept swinging his sword relentlessly. His breath was growing increasingly labored. He must have gone for Siegfried’s throat dozens of times by now—all to no avail.
He was drenched in sweat. Meanwhile, Siegfried simply ran a hand through his messy hair, as if nothing had happened.
“Is that all? Can I go now?”
“Why bother asking my permission?”
“I figured I’d let you talk a bit before you die.”
CLANG!
Killian’s sword clashed with Siegfried’s dagger, letting out a chilling screech.
Killian was taller and bulkier than Siegfried, clearly an adult, yet he was the one being overpowered. I was watching with my own eyes, but I still couldn’t believe it. That tiny dagger was holding off a full-length longsword.
Now I understood why Siegfried got so prickly when I’d told him he was “awful” in the clearing.
With that kind of skill, no wonder he’d been offended by my comment.
And with swordsmanship like that, no wonder Aisha felt threatened. Even a quiet man like him would draw attention. Being able to pressure a seasoned assassin with ease—of course Aisha would be grinding her teeth wanting him dead.
“This definitely isn’t worth just a million Erks…”
Killian muttered as he stumbled back. But before he could even finish his sentence, Siegfried suddenly clenched his fist.
“Shut up. You’ve been annoying for a while now.”
Siegfried drove his fist hard into Killian’s solar plexus.
“Gah!”
Killian staggered backward, blood spilling from his mouth. He wiped it away with a long sigh.
“…Damn it.”
“Want to keep going?”
“What’s the point now…”
“Seems like the outcome’s already clear.”
Siegfried tilted his head slightly.
Killian gripped his sword’s hilt tightly, trying to regain his balance. But Siegfried didn’t give him the chance—he kicked Killian squarely in the stomach.
Killian, already winded from the previous blow, crumpled forward like his legs had given out.
“I figured as much. Honestly, I knew how this would end the moment you broke free of the ropes.”
“Then why did you attack? Just wasted your strength, didn’t you?”
“…”
Killian said nothing. His face was pale, smeared with blood and sweat, but he chuckled faintly. Siegfried casually stepped forward and kicked him in the shoulder.
“Ugh!”
Killian was forced onto his back. Siegfried spun his dagger in his hand and grabbed Killian by the collar, pulling him up. The tip of the dagger pressed into Killian’s throat. It looked like it would plunge in at any moment, and I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut.
Until now, I’d actually been enjoying the show more than expected, but watching someone die? Yeah, I wasn’t mentally prepared for that.
“…”
But no matter how long I waited with my eyes closed, Killian’s dying gasp never came. I cautiously opened one eye.
Siegfried had lowered his hand holding the dagger. Instead, he was gripping Killian’s jaw tightly, as if to crush it. After a long silence, Siegfried asked,
“Still haven’t decided?”
“…”
“Dying here by my hand, or bowing down and taking the ten million Erks. Which sounds better to you?”
“Haha…”
“You think I’m joking, huh?”
No. That laugh wasn’t because it was funny. He was laughing because the gap in strength was so overwhelming it was absurd.
“…Fine. Ten million Erks.”
“Now you’re speaking sense.”
Siegfried released his grip on Killian’s jaw. Killian coughed and spat up blood.
“S-So, is bringing the crown prince’s head the condition for the deal…?”
Killian asked, barely propping himself up on one arm.
Siegfried wiped the blood from his hand and answered,
“No. I’ve changed my mind.”
“Huh? That fast?”
