As Jean’s expression was starting to turn strange, Hughes erupted in anger.
“What do you mean stupid?! If you get that big of a lead, it’s obvious to verify the source first. And, isn’t Your Highness acting weirdly as of late? Every time he sees the Princess, he keeps dropping shocking statements, that’s why I wanted to discuss it with Sir Troy… A-Ah, it’s not like I had any suspicions about you, Your Highness the Princess.
So they did doubt me.
Kathia understood what Hughes must’ve gone through while looking at him rambling. Yes, suddenly mentioning another prince’s vulnerability, it was reasonable to be suspicious of that.
Come to think of it, it was surprising Deon accepted that fact without a doubt. It was enough for him to think that I was a spy or up to no good…
Jean revealed while observing silently.
“To tell you what we have concluded, we have indeed confirmed that the Second Consort and the Second Prince met up with the Master of the Cigno Arcane Tower, but we have no idea what went on in that room since the Master of the Arcane Tower put up two or three layers of protective magic barriers. But Your Highness… mentioned that they were practicing black magic.”
Kathia shut her eyes tightly then opened them. It finally came.
“So you wish to know how I knew what was going on inside that room, even though there were protective magic barriers?”
“Not only that but for now, yes.”
Jean glared at Kathia, almost piercing through her. He must’ve wanted to judge her.
Who she is. What her intentions were. If her existence is to help or harm Deon.
If for some reason, Kathia were a pest, he had the look of being able to crush her ruthlessly without hesitation.
He had almost no interest in the fact that he himself was affiliated with the Adolphe Knighthood as the Commander and Kathia was among the imperial family he had sworn to protect.
In fact, he accepted Deon as his master, not the current emperor.
If Hughes Glodis were Deon’s right hand, then Jean Troy was his left.
His one and only teacher and savior, he allowed Deon’s swordsmanship abilities to flourish and nurtured him with all his heart, telling Deon that he resembles him when he was Deon’s age.
Also Deon’s substantial support as well as acting the role of a parent, he…
He would face his death during the Second Prince’s revolt that was about to happen in a few days.
Kathia fidgeted around with her fingers and thought about the end of his life. So, the Second Prince and magicians raided the Imperial Palace and aimlessly shot magic, but unintentionally, a spell headed towards Deon and…
‘The already-injured Jean threw himself in front of Deon to block it and faced death.’
Traditionally, the episode of ‘the precious comrade’s sacrifice’ was about to unfold as it was a necessity for the main character of a fantasy novel to face.
But, the original novel had already started to flow differently.
I can stop it. I can save them.
If, and only if, they trust my words.
“The Second Prince was force-fed magic. By sacrificing slaves purchased off the black market, adding to his natural-born potential of great magical power, right about now, he could’ve already become more powerful than the Master of the Arcane Tower.
The attention of the three men flocked towards the clear voice. Among them, Kathia gazed directly at those black eyes.
“You helped the King of Forune ascend the throne, correct?”
She exhaled a large sigh and continued.
“To help with your own revolt later.”
Clang!
A cold blade was pointed at Kathia’s throat. Unsheathing his sword in a blink of an eye, Jean growled and asked.
“What is your true identity?”
“…I will not tell you.”
Kathia calmly replied. There was nothing to be startled about. It was a situation that was well expected from the time when she passed along the information to Deon.
Jean slightly tilted the angle of the sword. Poke, as the pain was felt, a drop of blood trickled down her neck.
Strangely enough, the one who flinched was Deon, not Kathia.
Kathia didn’t even blink an eye. Her mother was about to be executed, so having a sword to her throat was nothing.
Bearing a toxic smile, she slowly reached her hand out to Deon. As Jean’s sword dug deeper, warning her not to do anything she would regret, her pale hand didn’t stop.
The moment her fingertip touched him, her blood falling around the edge of her neck, Deon used his hand to lower Jean’s sword.
At this time, a thin trail of blood started to flow from his hand as well.
‘Is this like a vow shared in blood?’
Well, something close to that, I suppose. The smirking Kathia pulled his hand and put it on her heart. It was a light touch, with absolutely no sexual implications.
She just wanted him to hear the sound of her heartbeat. With her heart, she wanted to make an oath.
“I will tell you everything that I know, except for the fact of how I know them.”
“…”
“I ask of you. Trust me. I’m on your side.”
Trust me. I can’t be completely honest with you, but I won’t lie. Please believe me.
It won’t be worthwhile to mention anything about transmigration, or that the world is in a book.
It’s so unbelievable, that my sense of trustworthiness would go down. I’ll be lucky if they don’t think I’m crazy.
So, I didn’t want to create any lies to play games with them. It may be tough to build up trust but it only takes an instant to break it.
Even if it sounds stupid, this is how much I can tell you. I ask of you. To trust me. Kathia poured out her heart, word by word.
“I told you, right? That I would help you. Use me. That I will be useful… I swear. I swear on my mother’s name. For you, I must. If I’m unable to…”
Kathia tightened her grip around Deon’s hand. As if to imprint a heart-shaped stamp on the palm of his hand.
“Then I will die in your own hands.”