Chapter 40: Chapter 39. The Wallet

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The Knight of the Dark Host silently opened and closed his mouth. Perhaps it was only now that he noticed that they were not alone in the room. In the darkness, Jacob could vaguely make out the figure of a woman who was lying in bed.

He blinked uncomprehendingly.

— Your Highness, is this...?

— She's the daughter of the owner of this house.

The man's eyes widened slightly. His gaze swept over the figure of a woman hiding in the darkness, which was an ordinary young lady. After he completed this brief analysis in his head, a thought flashed through the knight's mind, causing the corner of his mouth to lift into a wry smile.

"I knew it. Her Highness didn't waste any time!"

Apparently, the Crown Princess was going to use this noble lady as her hostage. Threatening the life of this woman, the princess wanted to shut the mouths of the other inhabitants of this house. And then, when it's no longer necessary to hide your existence, just kill them all. Jacob was amazed at how well his mistress was able to navigate such an emergency situation.

— Your Highness, you can leave this place right now! Our people are waiting outside and ready to accompany you. There's no need for you to let this woman live anymore...

But the knight couldn't finish his sentence as he faced that gaze.

— What did you just say?

The princess suddenly found herself standing right in front of him, and it seemed to him as if the devil himself had cornered him.

— me... I mean, you don't need this woman anymore, so why not... — he stammered.

The commander of the third division of the Dark Host swallowed convulsively. Despite the fact that the princess, unlike him, was unarmed now, she posed a greater threat than if a man stood in front of him, armed from head to toe.

It was as if the knight felt the tip of the sword at his throat, even though it wasn't there.

— I forbid anyone to touch this woman.

This order, given in a cold tone, completely stunned the knight.

— But...

The knight turned his gaze to Camilla, puzzled, as he could not understand his mistress' intentions at all.

"Judging by her appearance, she definitely doesn't have any swordsmanship, so I don't think Her Highness is going to make her her companion..."

Otherwise, the knight simply couldn't find a reason why the princess would want to let this ordinary lady live. For a man who could unhesitatingly get rid of the most powerful man in the empire, some daughter of a duke shouldn't be of interest.

— Your Highness, may I ask why you are... — Jacob couldn't finish his sentence again and fell silent, feeling himself pinned to the ground by this deadly aura.

The terrifying shadow of his mistress still loomed over him.

— You don't need to know about this, — Kaena said, — just keep in mind that any insult to this woman will be equivalent to insulting me.

— Oh... an insult to you? — The knight hiccupped.

— Exactly.

— ...

Jacob opened and closed his mouth like a fish. He couldn't believe that in just over ten days his mistress could have changed in such an incomprehensible way-it was as if some kind of magic spell had been cast on her or something like that. It was completely out of character for a princess to leave someone alive.

Even if it was a child or an old woman who hadn't really done anything wrong to her, but happened to be under her feet. Like a tornado, the girl destroyed everything that came in her way. But now... She suddenly says that this noble's life has the same meaning as her own.

"Who the hell is this woman...?"

While Jacob was getting more and more confused, Kaena frowned slightly when her subordinate was still here.

— If that's all, then you can go.

— Excuse me...? — he asked.

— I'll come back on my own when the time comes.

The Dark Knight stared at her blankly.

— Your Highness, but how... — the knight stammered, — how long can you stay here? Aren't you going to interfere with the coronation ceremony?

Even though her younger sister was about to take her rightful place, the current Crown Princess didn't look the least bit worried. Or rather, burning with rage and eager to turn the palace into a bloody battlefield. Instead, Kaena de Ronan made a remark that completely stunned her subordinate:

— Even if that happens, what's it to me? Or do you think that the crown on her head will somehow protect her from the fact that I'm going to take it off?

— ...

— Now go. I have more important things to do.

Anyone who saw the smile that flashed across Kaena's face at that moment could tell that warmth radiated from her.

"Her Highness... Is he smiling?"

The knight, who thought he was imagining it, stared at her, but it wasn't his imagination.

***

As they say, the best way to get rid of negative emotions is to clear your head in the fresh air. I thought that I had been staying at home too long lately, and because of this, my mood dropped a little.

Especially since there was no need to hide in the manor anymore.

So, as soon as the right opportunity presented itself, I decided to take a walk around the city. At the same time, take a commoner with you. After all, fresh air is good for the sick.

We walked around the imperial capital, where I had already visited several times to look around. The wind was cool, the sun was warm, it was an ideal day for a walk.

We came to a huge shopping district, where many fashionable shops and stalls lined the street. I didn't take my eyes off the colorful display cases and shelves. Shopping seemed to be the only thing in the world that always gave me pleasure. The sight of a pile of expensive and sometimes useless trinkets delighted me.

After all, I couldn't afford it in my previous life.

As a result, I walked around almost the entire shopping district with the commoner.

"I bought cosmetics, paints and new shoes. What else... Oh, it looks cute!"

Even though I had already bought a lot of things, I decided to go shopping a little more, since I had already arrived here anyway. All this time, the commoner was silently following me and carrying all my purchases. Although I thought that shopping with me might be a bit burdensome, there wasn't the slightest sign of displeasure on her face.

I was deeply touched by her patience, and therefore I have repeatedly asked again:

— Are you sure you don't need anything?

Because she was a commoner, she had to live in constant hardship all her life. I wanted to give her some kind of gift. For example, new clothes or an accessory that she couldn't afford before. But, to my great surprise, the girl shook her head at all my questions.

— I don't need anything, — she said once again.

— Are you sure? — I cocked my head in concern.

It really wouldn't be difficult for me to give her a gift. But out of her pride, or perhaps a sense of duty, she refused. Later, she may regret the missed opportunity.

— If I need something, I can buy it myself, — the commoner said.

I took a deep breath.

"Maybe that's true, but then you'll have to work hard and save money for many years..."

However, despite all my persuasions, she never agreed to my proposal. In the end, I just gave up.

— All right... — I made a displeased face, to which the commoner next to me chuckled discreetly.

"It seems that this woman is one of those who prefers self-sufficiency financially..." a thought flashed through her mind. Even though the duke's daughter should have known that Kaena could purchase the entire mall, she still wanted to give her a gift. It was both cute and silly. However, she wasn't going to let Camille pay for herself anyway.

When I got behind the commoner with my offer, I decided to go to the last store before finally going home. Something in the jewelry store window caught my attention.

"Wow, it looks quite beautiful and exquisite."

Earrings with emerald gems in a gold frame. I imagined them on a commoner. There's no doubt that they would look amazing on her.

"Although she refused my gift out of a sense of duty, she won't be able to do anything when I just present them to her."

Thus, having come up with an ingenious plan on how to give my gift to a commoner, I was going to go to the store to check their price. But at this moment... As if by instinct, a chill ran down my spine.

I heard voices nearby. And as soon as I turned around...

"Oh my God...! What are these bandits doing here?!"

The soldiers clad in black armor undoubtedly belonged to the army of the Dark Host. Those same bastards under the command of the already deceased villainess of the novel.

I couldn't believe that I actually met them in the city center.

Didn't the Empire recognize them as a criminal organization? Then why are they still roaming the streets so freely? As it turned out, the answer came to me almost immediately.

The royal guards patrolling the same street simply shied away from them... Don't tell me they're afraid of them!

I couldn't believe that our country was being protected by such cowards! And yet...

While I was still completely confused by this encounter, one of these thugs suddenly moved towards us. My legs gave way from fear.

"Big one."

It's really big. Is he really human? ... or not?

The two-meter tall knight in black armor looked more like a bear.

It would take one finger for such a man to break my neck. And this bully was coming towards us.

Oh, damn it! Is he really coming here?! But why? What did I do wrong? I just came to do some shopping!

I paled as I was instantly overcome by panic. There was no time to think until we were killed.

— Don't stand there! Hurry up and run!

«...»

The commoner stared at me in disbelief when I didn't even give her a chance to ask anything.

I grabbed her arm and pushed her in one direction, and I rushed in the other. It would be better if we split up. At least it'll make it harder for the bandits to catch us.

I ran as fast as I could, while that giant also kept chasing after me...

God... What does he want from me?

Finally, when I was physically unable to run any further and was out of breath, I had to stop. We found ourselves in an alley where there were few people. And even if there were, would anyone be able to help me?

I took a deep breath, preparing to give up my life right now.

Although no, how can you prepare for this?!

I stopped, and the man stopped too. I was shaking so hard that I couldn't say a word. A huge knight with a long scar across his face also fixed his heavy gaze on me.

A few seconds passed when he suddenly reached into his bosom. His sword was lying there...

I squeezed my eyes shut and recoiled, expecting the worst.

Suddenly...

— L-lady, I'm sorry...!

I slowly opened one eye.

— Eh?

— You dropped your wallet!

"What?"

Startled, I opened my eyes completely and stared at what appeared in front of me. My jaw dropped.

The knight doubled over in front of me and bowed his head. All I could see was the back of his head in a black helmet. And in his huge, scarred and callused palms lay my little pink purse.

— ...

The knight was handing it to me.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read