Then, perhaps forgetting I was there for a moment, Siegfried looked at me in surprise.
“You really don’t listen, do you? Still just standing there watching.”
“Honestly, I thought Your Highness would win.”
That was a lie. The truth was, I knew Siegfried was the male lead and wouldn’t die here, so I had just been watching.
Even though Killian had been thoroughly beaten by Siegfried, in terms of pure skill, Killian was no pushover. It’s just that his opponent was ridiculously strong, leading to this one-sided result.
And really, who would have expected Siegfried to be this skilled? Even I, remembering how he was back in the courtyard, had thought, ‘Ugh, if things go wrong, I’ll just have to carry him and run away.’
“I-Is that so…”
Siegfried, stammering, tried to act indifferent. He seemed oddly smug.
“So, how have you changed your mind now?”
“I will be the one to take Aisha’s head. I already decided that a long time ago.”
“…Then what do you want from me?”
Killian, trying and failing to get up, ended up sitting against a sack. Siegfried picked up the sword that had fallen near Killian’s feet.
Thunk!
The sword was stabbed into the ground right next to Killian’s face.
Flour burst out from the torn sack, spilling down over Killian’s shoulder. Siegfried grinned as if enjoying a prank.
“I want you under me. If Aisha went as far as hiring you, you must be quite skilled.”
“So you never intended to pay me 10 million Erks in the first place, did you?”
“Of course not. Did you believe that?”
…But I did!
I clenched my fists. How could he bait people with money like that…!
Siegfried looked down at Killian with disdain. Then, as if struck by a good idea, he stroked his chin and spoke.
“Two weeks from now, I’m going to participate in a monster subjugation. You’re coming too.”
His tone made it clear this was non-negotiable. Killian laughed in disbelief.
“I’m an expensive asset.”
Siegfried snorted.
“And I’m swimming in money. Soon, I’ll have even more.”
…How could he say something so ridiculously romantic? What doesn’t Siegfried have? I was almost jealous of Killian for hearing a line like that. Though the 10 million Erks were off the table now…
“That’s just wonderful…”
“…What is?”
Siegfried sharply turned his head at my muttering. I waved my hand.
“Nothing at all.”
“Anyway, stay near the estate until then. I’ll make sure the search parties for you stand down.”
With that, Siegfried tossed a handful of gold coins onto Killian’s head. Being a prince, his cash scale was on another level. Even as a count’s daughter, I used gold coins sparingly with trembling hands.
Before I knew it, Siegfried was walking toward me. Sitting atop a flour sack, I accepted the dagger he held out.
“The blade’s well sharpened.”
“Of course. I maintain it whenever I’m bored.”
In the end, I hadn’t had a chance to step in at all. Like a true male lead, Siegfried solved everything by himself. I had been nervously waiting until the very last second in case Killian pulled a final counterattack.
But Killian, having been struck full force by Siegfried, couldn’t even lift a finger.
Guess all I did was watch from the sidelines.
Just as I lifted my skirt to put the dagger back in its thigh sheath, Siegfried suddenly cleared his throat.
“W-What are you doing? Why are you lifting your skirt?”
“I’m putting the dagger away.”
“You should’ve warned me before that…!”
“It’s dark anyway. You probably couldn’t see.”
“I saw e— no, never mind.”
Siegfried quickly shook his head and roughly scratched the back of his neck.
“It’s late. Let’s go.”
“Alright. Now that Killian’s caught, I guess I won’t need a bodyguard from tomorrow?”
“Bodyguard?”
Siegfried chuckled as if amused. Watching me jump down from the sack and stand beside him, he smiled.
“We’re going to the festival together tomorrow, aren’t we? Why would you need a bodyguard when you have me?”
How could he drop such a reassuring line?
Especially after witnessing Siegfried’s strength firsthand just now, it hit even harder.
I looked up at him wide-eyed, then quickly nodded.
* * *
On the way back to the mansion, walking side by side.
Just before reaching the front gate, Siegfried suddenly spoke.
“Keep today’s events a secret.”
“Huh? Why?”
“I don’t want to worry your family needlessly. I won’t be staying long anyway.”
“But don’t we need to tell them that Killian doesn’t need to be searched for anymore?”
“I mean, let’s keep what happened in the warehouse a secret.”
He seemed intent on hiding the part where Killian had kidnapped him and tried to kill him. Makes sense—if Abyssion found out, all hell would break loose.
“Alright. Then it’s a secret just between us.”
I nodded cheerfully. A secret with the male lead!
“Yeah… something like that.”
Siegfried trailed off. Glancing at me, he bit his lip slightly.
“I owe you a debt.”
“What debt? If it’s the 10 million Erks, Killian—”
“Not that. You came to rescue me, didn’t you?”
“Oh, right.”
I had forgotten. As soon as Siegfried was captured, I’d snuck into the warehouse to get him out.
“To forget something that important…”
“Hehe.”
“Not funny. I’ll definitely repay this debt.”
“How?”
He paused as we reached the front entrance. Staring at my lips as if waiting for an answer, he clearly wasn’t going to go inside until I responded.
“Hmm…”
I pondered. Was it even a debt? Siegfried had basically turned Killian into a pulp on his own.
“I can’t think of anything right now. Can I tell you later?”
“That’s fine.”
“But about what you said earlier…”
I recalled what Siegfried had told Killian. Pausing for a second, I saw Siegfried tilt his head slightly.
“You’re going to join the monster subjugation?”
“Yes. That’s why I came down to Elifritz in the first place.”
Ah. So that’s why, out of all the estates, he chose Elifritz. Because of the subjugation.
Now that I thought about it, in the novel, Siegfried had earned great merit not just in war, but also through monster subjugations.
“Do you have experience in subjugations?”
“No, this will be my first.”
“I see. Please be careful. Sirens are the biggest nuisance in the South.”
Their cries are deafening, and every year dozens of trade ships crash on reefs because sailors are lured by their songs.
“I’m not participating for the subjugation itself. Many Southern nobles will be there. I want to leave a strong impression on them.”
Given his current skills, that seemed more than possible.
Fighting! I raised my fist in encouragement.
“Your Highnesssssss!”
Just as Siegfried was about to speak again, the mansion door burst open. Miliard ran out, wailing.
He immediately knelt before Siegfried and bowed deeply.
“I’m so sorry! I lost Your Highness while I got distracted for just a moment. I searched everywhere but couldn’t find you…”
Turns out he had just come back home.
According to Miliard’s explanation:
He had wandered the festival searching for Siegfried and eventually ran into my bodyguards. They too had panicked since I hadn’t returned after saying I was going to the restroom. Chaos ensued.
Miliard, along with the knights, had searched all night but finally gave up and returned to the mansion, thinking it better to organize a larger search party.
Just as they were about to get permission from Abyssion to mobilize everyone, they saw us walking back from outside.
“Am I some misplaced item, to be lost like that…”
Siegfried irritably pushed away the tearful Miliard clinging to his pants leg.
Miliard whimpered, “Your Highness!” and tried to cling again.
Sighing, Siegfried ruffled his own hair in frustration.
“I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”
“Good night!”
I pulled the collapsed Miliard toward me as I spoke. Siegfried gave me a small nod.
“Milo, you should sleep too.”
“Sniff… I need to tell my brother first that you and Lady are safe… Sniff…”
“I’ll handle that.”
Dragging Miliard by the back of his neck, I closed the door.
After tonight’s chaos, my head was already spinning, and now with Miliard crying a river, it was worse.
I dumped Miliard onto a nearby butler and started up the stairs toward Abyssion’s room.
Hearing my footsteps, Siegfried, already ahead, paused on the stairs.
Turning suddenly, he looked down at me.
I gazed up curiously.
Siegfried brought a finger to his lips and gave a small smile.
Ah, right. The secret.
I smiled brightly and mimicked him, placing a finger on my lips.
Looking satisfied, Siegfried resumed climbing the stairs.
Just days ago, he had been all prickly with drunken tantrums and such…
But now, seeing that expression on him, I felt like I had gotten just a little bit closer to him.
