Ch#244
Chapter 244**I was so shocked I couldn't even breathe properly. I could only repeat with my eyes, 'How are you here?' Since returning to the past, I had never made such a stupid expression. That was how unreal the hands wrapped around my waist felt.
*Am I dreaming? Am I seeing illusions because I'm so terrified? Heavens, how can this be?*
Jack gave me a gentle smile as I sat there, lips parting soundlessly. It was as if he were trying to reassure me.
"I told you, didn't I? I’m really stubborn. It’s time to go back, Lady."
However, the strength had left my legs, and it was a struggle even to remain standing. It was a miracle my heart didn't jump right out of my mouth.
"Hurry, Jack."
Someone spoke. A middle-aged woman with an impressive long scar running across her face was urging the boy.
"I know, Fairy Granny."
Jack spoke grumblingly as he offered his small back to me. His voice saying "Get on" was incredibly dependable. Even when Rat and Bird told him it was too much for his small frame, he was headstrong.
"I can't entrust the Lady to just anyone."
"No matter how sturdy your body is, this is too much. Stop being so stubborn."
But Jack did not bend his will, even as the footsteps grew closer. In the end, Rat and Bird supported me, as I stood there helplessly, and placed me on the boy's back. Then, leading Jack, we escaped the secret passage. Though the boy's body was small, he was remarkably quick, as if carrying me was no trouble at all.
The exit of the secret passage we came out of was not connected to the outside. Unlike what Knight Aires had said, the door of the wall I had been leaning against seemed to lead further into the castle.
Perhaps he hadn't heard from the Border Count that there were multiple escape routes. Thus, we immediately entered a nearby room and crouched down. As soon as the door closed, the sound of footsteps echoed loudly. Fortunately, the enemies ran past this place and toward somewhere else.
"I’m glad we found you."
Bird said. His face was glistening with sweat no less than Jack's. The same was true for Rat and the others. The woman Jack called Fairy Granny met my eyes, shrugged, and tilted her head.
"She is from 'Fairy Granny,' which I mentioned before—the best information network in the Empire. Thanks to her, we were able to learn the secret passages of this castle. That’s how we found you."
Rat explained, pointing to the woman. Regarding the strange man standing next to him, he added that he was 'Lizard.' Indeed, his face was elongated, looking more like a lizard than a human.
"Now all that’s left is to escape. Ah, first, I must tell you this. The Capital is currently in a state of chaos as well."
"...Chaos?"
I managed to open my mouth, gasping as if out of breath. My mind, now that the tension had broken, was like a fog where nothing would come to mind—even though Lady Roshan had said the same things would happen in the Capital.
Rat explained slowly. The Empress had suddenly raised troops, citing rebellion, and tried to suppress the noble faction. Her reason was that she had captured evidence of the Crown Prince's immoral acts.
Pulkeor said she could not leave the noble houses that cooperated with the Crown Prince alone. Likely, if House Rosan and House Debonzel had not led their troops as if they had been waiting, the Capital would have already fallen into her hands.
"And according to the news that came in, Count Kieran is now... Shh, wait a moment."
Rat, who was continuing his explanation, suddenly put his index finger to his lips and lowered his voice. Then, he turned toward one wall and began to prick up his ears.
Rat wasn't the only one doing this. Everyone turned their gaze in that direction and pressed their lips tight, as if trying not to make even the sound of breathing.
It was around then that a faint sound reached my ears as I blinked blankly, not knowing the cause. As if possessed, I stood up and approached the wall—specifically the fireplace where the sound was coming from—and leaned in to listen. As I focused, the voice I heard felt incredibly familiar. It was the Grand Duke's.
—...Handing over Brother's body to the Eriñus... and poisoning him, you, the Crown Prince... unacceptable...
A moment later, someone replied cynically. This, too, was familiar. It was the Crown Prince's voice.
—...Preparing for rebellion was you, Uncle... I already knew... surrender now...
Was this a room connected to the basement? Or was the hall on the second floor? Regardless, the sounds were echoing faintly from above. Judging by the 'clang' of weapons clashing, it seemed they weren't just talking, but fighting as well.
"Lady?"
"Wait a moment."
Though my legs were trembling from the release of tension, I listened to the sounds, almost sticking my head into the fireplace. But as if that previous conversation were the end, nothing more was heard. Only groans filled with pain echoed occasionally.
Rat watched my actions silently, and when I stepped away from the fireplace a moment later, he continued his words.
"Anyway, what I want to say is that we cannot enter the Capital immediately until we hear from our informants. Even if it's difficult, we have to take a long detour. Please understand this point. Now, let's leave this place."
At that moment, a strange feeling arose. An intense premonition that I shouldn't leave like this pierced through my body. My heart throbbed violently, and a tingling sensation rang through me. Simultaneously, the voice of the enemy I had heard in the secret passage came back to my mind with startling clarity.
*'Get in quickly. We have to attack from the rear. Move fast. We wasted too much time finding the secret passage! You vermin. What are you doing?!'*
Come to think of it, the enemy had run off somewhere in a hurry. To attack from the rear. The rear? Could it be the Crown Prince's rear?
"Lady?"
Jack approached and took my hand, asking why I was hesitating. Then, as if by fate, a painting caught my eye. In the frame hanging on the wall was a goddess holding someone's hand tightly.
Strangely, it looked similar to the drawing in the note Wagus had given me and what I had seen in my dreams.
Perhaps that was why. I opened my mouth and spoke without realizing it.
"I have to go."
As if someone were controlling me, only the thought that I had to go to the Crown Prince was rising. Jack would later say that at that time, I looked as if I were out of my mind. Not without reason; my state was incredibly strange even to myself.
"Lady?"
"I have to save the Crown Prince."
"Please, Lady. Why are you being like this again?"
"Otherwise, it will go back. I can't experience it again!"
*Tick-tock.* Suddenly, the sound of a clock's needles turning echoed in my ears like a hallucination. Weirdly, I thought of it as the sound of a clock turning backward. As if going against the flow of time. A strange conviction was binding me.
"Lady, we have to leave. Please. Why do you keep worrying about the Crown Prince's safety?"
"Jack, do you trust me?"
"What?"
I placed my hands on the boy's cheeks and spoke as if muttering.
"I asked if you trust me."
"Of course I do."
"Then take me to the Crown Prince."
"I can't do that."
"Then I'll go alone."
Strangely, my heart was in a hurry. Even a hallucination of someone whispering to me was occurring.
*'Otherwise, you shall return. You shall start again. You have finally reached the end of the wheel. The first opportunity for a twisted destiny to reach its normal orbit. Choose.'*
Perhaps the obsession with prophecies and dreams buried deep in my mind was driving me mad. Having seen a scene of slaughter and nearly dying myself, how could I be sane?
But at this moment, the impulse to go to him was very strong. To the point where I thought I would run out even if I had to shake off Jack's hand.
"Come to think of it, I once heard something interesting from one of our informants. A Witch who lived in the Capital made a strange prophecy to a certain guest by order of the Crown Prince. Since the informant was a child who worked at the Witch's house, they could clearly hear the two prophecies that wicked old woman spat out. It was very interesting content."
Suddenly, the woman—from Fairy Granny—who had been watching our scuffle, opened her mouth and spoke in a calm voice.
"One, thinking about it now, seems to have been about the Grand Duke and the Empress, and the other was about a certain woman of miracles. Exactly a few months later, rumors began to spread that the Witch had been revived as a young beauty. But as the prophecy said, the person who defied death was someone else. Ah, yes. They said it was the Lady of House Bischwaldz."
Her eyes turned toward me. It was a gaze that was chillingly calm and upright.
"Are you trying to go to the Crown Prince because of the prophecy?"
Feeling unpleasant at that look, I frowned and spoke in a cold voice.
"Do you dare to try and fathom my thoughts?"
"Oh, do not be angry. How could someone of my station dare? It’s just that my curiosity was piqued as an information broker. So please, show some mercy."
"If you want to know that much, try following me like this."
When I provoked her with a sarcastic tone, the woman smiled broadly.
"I’d like to, but I have no talent for fighting. I’m only useful for devising escape routes. However, I can grant the Lady's wish. All of these people owe me a debt."
"What are you plotting?"
"I told you just now. My curiosity was simply piqued. Oh my, they say as you get older, you only get more curious, and I’m exactly that way. So, how about it? Will you accept my proposal? Then they will take the Lady to the Crown Prince."
"We can't!"
Jack stepped forward in protest, but Bird grabbed his shoulder, preventing him from taking any action.
"A promise is absolute in our world. You know that too. So just think about how to protect the Lady."
At Rat's words, Jack sent me a pleading look, begging me not to do it. But I ignored the boy's gaze and spoke to the woman.
While I could press them with my rank, it was better to satisfy her lowly interest since it was clear Jack would protest and be stubborn. Surprisingly, a strong conviction that I would not die even if I went to the Crown Prince was rising in my heart.
"Fine. I'll do it."
"A wise choice."
The woman smiled softly and spoke to Jack, Bird, Rat, and Lizard.
"Now, take the Lady and head to the hall. Then I shall write off the debt you owe us. Now, hurry. Everyone is waiting. Oh, debt is truly a wonderful tool for swaying others. You can do everything as you wish, like magic."
Then Bird spoke to me on behalf of the group. His voice was very stiff, likely due to tension.
"Lady, I will escort you."
I reflexively looked at Jack. The boy's face was distorted beyond expression, turning a sallow yellow like a pumpkin. So I quietly averted my gaze.
*Tick.*
The sound of the clock ringing in my ears remained the same.
***
As if to prove her claim of being an expert at escaping, the woman from Fairy Granny knew most of the castle's interior. Thanks to that, we reached the upper floor where the hall was located faster than expected.
Unlike the quiet floor below, the upper floor was hell itself. The closer we got to the room, the thicker the scent of blood became. Corpses were scattered in the corridor.
I moved forward, suppressing the urge to vomit at the bodies I tripped over. Beyond the nearly smashed door, the sound of weapons clashing echoed loudly. If we just went inside, we would be able to meet the Crown Prince and Knight Aires.
But suddenly, I felt like this wasn't it. My head was ringing as if someone were telling me that entering the hall was the wrong choice.
"Lady?"
"No."
"Pardon?"
I turned my gaze. And I ran blindly toward the long corridor on the left. As if someone were guiding me. And I opened the door located there.
There were stairs. Stone stairs leading to the second floor of the hall. As if possessed by something, I immediately ran up. Without even breathing.
At the end of the stairs was a large terrace overlooking the floor below. Yes, a terrace. The source of my terror.
The moment I saw it, I stopped in my tracks. My head throbbed and my legs trembled violently. Unable to go any further, I sat down on the spot, clutching my chest. Someone in a white dress appeared before my eyes. If Jack hadn't shaken my body, I might have fainted right there.
"Lady, get a hold of yourself!"
"Huff, Jack."
"Let's go down. Let's just go. Why are you like this? Please, Lady."
Rat, Bird, and Lizard approached me to support me. But I pushed them away heartlessly. Only Jack wrapped his arms around me.
My head was spinning and it felt like tears would pour out. But my ears were sharply alive, taking in the screams echoing from below without filter.
*Traitor. Parricide.*
The two words were appearing alternately.
"Someone look down. See if there's anything suspicious. Quickly!"
I barely managed to open my mouth while gasping. Then Bird and Rat stepped forward and began to look down. Since they blocked my view, I felt like I could breathe a little better.
A moment later, sounds of confusion escaped their mouths.
"Uh, that's a bit strange over there."
"Right? Why do they keep approaching the Crown Prince's side?"
"Aren't they soldiers trying to protect him? Look closely."
At my question, Rat tilted his head.
"It's a bit subtle. Hey, Lizard. Come here and look at this. You know better than us, don't you?"
Lizard approached the terrace at Rat's gesture. And a moment later, a voice of conviction flowed from his lips.
"It’s definitely strange. They’re moving as if to encircle him. They’re moving so precisely that you wouldn't know unless you were looking down from above like this."
Hearing his words, I whispered to Jack in a faint voice.
"Jack, please. Can you support me?"
"Lady..."
"I know you won't understand. How could you not? I think I’m being strange right now too. But I feel like I just have to do this. Like destiny. So please help me. My Jack, please."
"...Yes. Because I am your Jack."
Jack lifted my body with force. I repeatedly swallowed the bile rising in my throat and ground my teeth.
"It’s nothing."
"Lady?"
"It’s better than going back. I can endure it. It only takes a moment."
Sise in a white dress flickered before my eyes. She was staring at me with a face turned pale. Perhaps because of that, my feet kept stopping. After walking barely three steps, unable to bear it, I turned my head and vomited bile onto the floor.
"Lady!!"
"Drag me. Quickly, Jack!"
"B-But."
When I commanded firmly, Jack ground his teeth and walked forward. Though it must have been difficult with my body leaning entirely on his shoulder, the boy stubbornly took me to the front of the terrace. Thanks to that, I reached the feet of Sise in the white dress.
"Lady, are you alright? Can you see me?"
I heard Rat's voice in my ear. I struggled to nod, then vomited bile onto the floor again.
*Ugh.*
My stomach was turning and it felt like I would collapse. But as I tried to snap out of it by digging my nails into my palms, I could somehow see below.
Indeed, as Lizard had said, there was a group of soldiers lingering around the Crown Prince. I instinctively thought they were the ones who had entered the secret passage earlier.
Though I saw Knight Aires and Knight Halverd standing by the Crown Prince's side, it was true that I was worried since no one can withstand a surprise attack. So I leaned my head further forward to watch more closely.
Then, my body tilted forward with a *whoosh*. For someone who feared the terrace, acting like this meant I was truly out of my mind. Especially since my hand, which had let go of Jack, wasn't properly supporting me on the railing.
Furthermore, my legs, which had lost their function, were as weak as reeds and shook at the mere presence of the person next to me. Was that why? Suddenly my vision blurred and the strength left my body. Then, my weight shifted toward my lowered upper body, and I slipped forward. In an instant, my body was falling helplessly toward the hall below.
"Lady!"
Behind me, Jack's voice flew out like a scream. I reflexively closed my eyes.
---END OF CHAPTER 244---
