Meanwhile, the ground floor of the same building.
A narrow room was behind the ruins, where the stench of filth accumulated, causing people to cover their noses.
Physician Henderson was being held there.
‘I thought I would be imprisoned in the temple instead, why confine me in a place like this?’
He had been tortured and starved. Asta had promised him that he would be released if he acted as a witness. But it was a lie.
‘How can she be a Saint! She’s more suitable to be a witch than the young Princess!’
He looked at the priests on duty. They were always on guard, but today, for some reason, all but one had disappeared since morning.
‘Is someone important coming?’
Thankfully, the young priest was the only one keeping an eye on him now. As Henderson was injured, they thought one guard would be sufficient.
‘Don’t be presumptuous! I used to be strong when I was younger.’
Henderson found a protruding part of a wall. He cautiously kept rubbing the rope his wrists were tied to on it.
Pop!
The cord that bound his hands snapped. Henderson immediately lunged at the priest.
“Ah..Ugh..!”
Unexpectedly, the priest was pinned down by Henderson. Henderson knocked him out.
“He’s only unconscious. I have to escape before he wakes up.”
But as Henderson staggered to his feet, he locked eyes with a man standing by the door. The cloaked man appeared to be another of the Saint’s henchmen.
“Damn it! When did he get in here?”
The man strode towards him. He had a tall and strong stature, unlike the young priest. There was no possibility of him winning.
Henderson’s felt despair, thinking of his impending misfortune.
“Get away from me!” he shouted, “leave me alone!”
“…….”
“Asta is a witch, and you are her minions!”
At those words, the man stopped and glared at Henderson.
Henderson spoke without restraint, “Kill me now, you wr*tch! I should have died then instead of succumbing to your torture! It’s my fault for reporting an innocent! If I could go back, I wouldn’t have done such a stupid thing!”
“I hope your opinion.. never changes.”
An unexpected voice came from the masked man. It was low and serious, but at the same time, it was a pleasant voice, as clear as a moonlit lake.
“H-His Highness Prince Hart?”
Henderson gaped and muttered something like a groan.
He realized just now.
Those cold eyes belonged to Prince Hart von Reinhardt, the father of the young Princess he had framed.
“Follow me if you don’t want to die here. I need you to protect my daughter.”
While the Emperor met with Asta, to divert her attention, Hart came for Henderson.
“T-To save an ungrateful person like me… I-I apologise Your H-Highness!”
“Don’t make a fuss. I’m not going to listen to your excuses or apologies now or ever.”
Hart’s cold words shut Henderson up. As he turned to lead him out, Hart stopped and glared at him, remembering something.
“No matter how much I convince myself, there is one thing I must do before we escape.”
“And what is that?”
Instead of answering, Hart threw a punch at Henderson. It was a shot of rage against the man who had framed his daughter.
***
I glanced at the note I pulled from the drawer.
‘Brantley’s pass.’
A gift from Brantley. It was a paper, complete with an oath circle on the back. I continued to stare at it.
Dad was busy every day these days. I went to his office every day and never saw him. It reminded me of the initial days when I came to the mansion.
‘Last night, I missed him so much that I even went to the bedroom… but he wasn’t there!’
Was dad out of town?!
‘It seems like he’s been running around without sleeping, trying to find a way to protect me.’
I can’t believe I’m being a burden to him. I felt sorry and missed him. But I couldn’t meet Maxim let alone dad.
In other words, I was stuck at home, and all I could see were these useless friends.
[ Miss Butterfly : Can you please get lost? ] [ Uncle Rabbit : I would be more grateful if you leave ]
Oof
‘I didn’t know what was the current situations. And my curiosity was killing me.’
So I pulled out my Brantley’s paper, which I had decided to keep hidden. I thought I’d ask him for help. It’s even engraved with the magic circle, so if I give him a signal, he’ll know right away.
“I can’t”.
I didn’t want to use this pass.
I looked sadly up at the translucent windows who were still chattering away.
‘I thought these guys would be helpful.. but they are arguing among themselves.’
Uncle Rabbit noticed me sulking and said,
[ Uncle Rabbit : “What are you talking about? Am I not protecting you from that nasty butterfly woman?” ] [ Miss Butterfly : Do you want to know who’s coming? ]
Who?
I was startled and looked towards the door. Sure enough, the door was creaking open.
“Is it Sherry? It’s got to be Sherry! Or Dad? Or Maxim? Or maybe…’
I was nervous seeing children appear before me completely covered in robes.
“?”
Are these children spies? I was confused, but soon realised who they were.
“Hanelope!”
It was the Spigent twins.
“H-How did you get here…?”
Katherine and Fritzka hugged me at the same time.
“We missed you!”
“I’m glad that you’re safe, we were worried!”
The twins were always blunt in their words. They didn’t sugarcoat or twist their words. They were worried as they didn’t get to meet me.
‘They’re so adorable.’
I was touched that they were thinking of me.
As I hugged them, I turned to the boy standing behind.
“Brantley…”
He removed his robe and approached slowly, with a calm composure.
“Why did you come?”
“I told you that I would protect you. I came to keep my promise.”
When I asked in confusion, Brantley smiled deliberately. His awkward elder like smile always felt strange.
‘But, in a way, he looked cool to me.’
After finally separating from the clinging Spigent twins, I could hear the whole story.
“I was so worried when you didn’t come to the academy, but father said we can’t visit you. His Highness has banned people from entering!”
“When I insisted on going, I ended up getting scolded. Then Brantley offered to go together. But why is your house so heavily guarded? I thought I was going to die trying to get in!”
It means they came secretly.
With the children’s magical abilities, it wouldn’t be difficult to outwit ordinary employees or guards, but it was still surprising.
Especially since Brantley was the mastermind.
“Brantley, you…!”
I thought he was an upright future Duke…!
While I was in dismay, Brantley remained calm. His silvery eyes seemed to contain a subtle madness.
‘I don’t think I could convince him.’
As I stood still thinking about it, Fritzka said gloomily, “I’m glad to see you’re safe. I was really worried, because outside, everyone thought you were…”
“Shh! Fritzka, shut up!”
Katherine hastily covered Fritzka’s mouth.
“If you tell her that people want to kill her, she’ll freak out. She doesn’t even know she’s being accused of being a witch yet!”
“I-I’m sorry.. I won’t tell her.”
Brantley glared at the Spigent twins with a disgusted look on his face.
He looked like he regretted coming with them.
‘I already knew that.’
I smiled, pretending not to hear, “That’s fine. I was bored staying at home anyway. Dad is busy and doesn’t play with me. Let’s play a lot today!”
Brantley said strictly, “I’m not leaving.”
“What?”
“I’m going to stay here with you and keep you safe.”
“…….”
I looked at the Spigent twins, hoping they would stop him, but they just nodded smugly.
“Marquis Spigent will catch you.”
I tried to scare them.
“If we stay here, he might come here to chide…”
“So wouldn’t it be better if you guys go back?”
“Then I hope father comes here soon!”
“If he comes, Father will have no choice but to protect Hanelope!”
It backfired. The twins got even more excited.
“It would be great if Marquis Spigent came…”
“Brantley, you too…!”
“I think so! Father didn’t go to the Saint’s prayer ceremony today, so he’s free to come get us!”
Saint’s prayer ceremony?
My ears perked up at Fritzka’s words.
“What is the ceremony about?”
“It’s being held today at His Majesty’s villa. All the nobles of the capital are there.”
“I thought the Emperor had a fallout with the Saint, but I guess that wasn’t it.” The twins replied.
The new information puzzled me.
“Grandfather, I mean the Emperor, what is he praying for?”
“We don’t know. The Emperor had invited him, but father made excuses and didn’t go. He hates the temple anyways!”
Unlike the cheerful twins, Brantley muttered with reluctance.
“This sudden prayer is suspicious.”
“Did you hear anything from the Duke of Eisen?”
“He was fuming today, saying he didn’t know what the Saint was up to again. When I heard that, I got worried and came to see you.”
I wonder if that prayer ceremony is why dad was missing?
“Just what was happening?”
Maybe the situation was worse than I had anticipated.
The two translucent windows that had disappeared as the children entered suddenly reappeared.
The texts started to form in a hurry.
[ Miss Butterfly : “They’re coming!”] [ Uncle Rabbit : They are a lot in number! ]
My heart began to pound as I watched the words flash by.
Just then-
The same words flashed across both translucent windows at the same time.
[ Run! ]
Meanwhile, the ground floor of the same building.
A narrow room was behind the ruins, where the stench of filth accumulated, causing people to cover their noses.
Physician Henderson was being held there.
‘I thought I would be imprisoned in the temple instead, why confine me in a place like this?’
He had been tortured and starved. Asta had promised him that he would be released if he acted as a witness. But it was a lie.
‘How can she be a Saint! She’s more suitable to be a witch than the young Princess!’
He looked at the priests on duty. They were always on guard, but today, for some reason, all but one had disappeared since morning.
‘Is someone important coming?’
Thankfully, the young priest was the only one keeping an eye on him now. As Henderson was injured, they thought one guard would be sufficient.
‘Don’t be presumptuous! I used to be strong when I was younger.’
Henderson found a protruding part of a wall. He cautiously kept rubbing the rope his wrists were tied to on it.
Pop!
The cord that bound his hands snapped. Henderson immediately lunged at the priest.
“Ah..Ugh..!”
Unexpectedly, the priest was pinned down by Henderson. Henderson knocked him out.
“He’s only unconscious. I have to escape before he wakes up.”
But as Henderson staggered to his feet, he locked eyes with a man standing by the door. The cloaked man appeared to be another of the Saint’s henchmen.
“Damn it! When did he get in here?”
The man strode towards him. He had a tall and strong stature, unlike the young priest. There was no possibility of him winning.
Henderson’s felt despair, thinking of his impending misfortune.
“Get away from me!” he shouted, “leave me alone!”
“…….”
“Asta is a witch, and you are her minions!”
At those words, the man stopped and glared at Henderson.
Henderson spoke without restraint, “Kill me now, you wr*tch! I should have died then instead of succumbing to your torture! It’s my fault for reporting an innocent! If I could go back, I wouldn’t have done such a stupid thing!”
“I hope your opinion.. never changes.”
An unexpected voice came from the masked man. It was low and serious, but at the same time, it was a pleasant voice, as clear as a moonlit lake.
“H-His Highness Prince Hart?”
Henderson gaped and muttered something like a groan.
He realized just now.
Those cold eyes belonged to Prince Hart von Reinhardt, the father of the young Princess he had framed.
“Follow me if you don’t want to die here. I need you to protect my daughter.”
While the Emperor met with Asta, to divert her attention, Hart came for Henderson.
“T-To save an ungrateful person like me… I-I apologise Your H-Highness!”
“Don’t make a fuss. I’m not going to listen to your excuses or apologies now or ever.”
Hart’s cold words shut Henderson up. As he turned to lead him out, Hart stopped and glared at him, remembering something.
“No matter how much I convince myself, there is one thing I must do before we escape.”
“And what is that?”
Instead of answering, Hart threw a punch at Henderson. It was a shot of rage against the man who had framed his daughter.
***
I glanced at the note I pulled from the drawer.
‘Brantley’s pass.’
A gift from Brantley. It was a paper, complete with an oath circle on the back. I continued to stare at it.
Dad was busy every day these days. I went to his office every day and never saw him. It reminded me of the initial days when I came to the mansion.
‘Last night, I missed him so much that I even went to the bedroom… but he wasn’t there!’
Was dad out of town?!
‘It seems like he’s been running around without sleeping, trying to find a way to protect me.’
I can’t believe I’m being a burden to him. I felt sorry and missed him. But I couldn’t meet Maxim let alone dad.
In other words, I was stuck at home, and all I could see were these useless friends.
[ Miss Butterfly : Can you please get lost? ] [ Uncle Rabbit : I would be more grateful if you leave ]
Oof
‘I didn’t know what was the current situations. And my curiosity was killing me.’
So I pulled out my Brantley’s paper, which I had decided to keep hidden. I thought I’d ask him for help. It’s even engraved with the magic circle, so if I give him a signal, he’ll know right away.
“I can’t”.
I didn’t want to use this pass.
I looked sadly up at the translucent windows who were still chattering away.
‘I thought these guys would be helpful.. but they are arguing among themselves.’
Uncle Rabbit noticed me sulking and said,
[ Uncle Rabbit : “What are you talking about? Am I not protecting you from that nasty butterfly woman?” ] [ Miss Butterfly : Do you want to know who’s coming? ]
Who?
I was startled and looked towards the door. Sure enough, the door was creaking open.
“Is it Sherry? It’s got to be Sherry! Or Dad? Or Maxim? Or maybe…’
I was nervous seeing children appear before me completely covered in robes.
“?”
Are these children spies? I was confused, but soon realised who they were.
“Hanelope!”
It was the Spigent twins.
“H-How did you get here…?”
Katherine and Fritzka hugged me at the same time.
“We missed you!”
“I’m glad that you’re safe, we were worried!”
The twins were always blunt in their words. They didn’t sugarcoat or twist their words. They were worried as they didn’t get to meet me.
‘They’re so adorable.’
I was touched that they were thinking of me.
As I hugged them, I turned to the boy standing behind.
“Brantley…”
He removed his robe and approached slowly, with a calm composure.
“Why did you come?”
“I told you that I would protect you. I came to keep my promise.”
When I asked in confusion, Brantley smiled deliberately. His awkward elder like smile always felt strange.
‘But, in a way, he looked cool to me.’
After finally separating from the clinging Spigent twins, I could hear the whole story.
“I was so worried when you didn’t come to the academy, but father said we can’t visit you. His Highness has banned people from entering!”
“When I insisted on going, I ended up getting scolded. Then Brantley offered to go together. But why is your house so heavily guarded? I thought I was going to die trying to get in!”
It means they came secretly.
With the children’s magical abilities, it wouldn’t be difficult to outwit ordinary employees or guards, but it was still surprising.
Especially since Brantley was the mastermind.
“Brantley, you…!”
I thought he was an upright future Duke…!
While I was in dismay, Brantley remained calm. His silvery eyes seemed to contain a subtle madness.
‘I don’t think I could convince him.’
As I stood still thinking about it, Fritzka said gloomily, “I’m glad to see you’re safe. I was really worried, because outside, everyone thought you were…”
“Shh! Fritzka, shut up!”
Katherine hastily covered Fritzka’s mouth.
“If you tell her that people want to kill her, she’ll freak out. She doesn’t even know she’s being accused of being a witch yet!”
“I-I’m sorry.. I won’t tell her.”
Brantley glared at the Spigent twins with a disgusted look on his face.
He looked like he regretted coming with them.
‘I already knew that.’
I smiled, pretending not to hear, “That’s fine. I was bored staying at home anyway. Dad is busy and doesn’t play with me. Let’s play a lot today!”
Brantley said strictly, “I’m not leaving.”
“What?”
“I’m going to stay here with you and keep you safe.”
“…….”
I looked at the Spigent twins, hoping they would stop him, but they just nodded smugly.
“Marquis Spigent will catch you.”
I tried to scare them.
“If we stay here, he might come here to chide…”
“So wouldn’t it be better if you guys go back?”
“Then I hope father comes here soon!”
“If he comes, Father will have no choice but to protect Hanelope!”
It backfired. The twins got even more excited.
“It would be great if Marquis Spigent came…”
“Brantley, you too…!”
“I think so! Father didn’t go to the Saint’s prayer ceremony today, so he’s free to come get us!”
Saint’s prayer ceremony?
My ears perked up at Fritzka’s words.
“What is the ceremony about?”
“It’s being held today at His Majesty’s villa. All the nobles of the capital are there.”
“I thought the Emperor had a fallout with the Saint, but I guess that wasn’t it.” The twins replied.
The new information puzzled me.
“Grandfather, I mean the Emperor, what is he praying for?”
“We don’t know. The Emperor had invited him, but father made excuses and didn’t go. He hates the temple anyways!”
Unlike the cheerful twins, Brantley muttered with reluctance.
“This sudden prayer is suspicious.”
“Did you hear anything from the Duke of Eisen?”
“He was fuming today, saying he didn’t know what the Saint was up to again. When I heard that, I got worried and came to see you.”
I wonder if that prayer ceremony is why dad was missing?
“Just what was happening?”
Maybe the situation was worse than I had anticipated.
The two translucent windows that had disappeared as the children entered suddenly reappeared.
The texts started to form in a hurry.
[ Miss Butterfly : “They’re coming!”] [ Uncle Rabbit : They are a lot in number! ]
My heart began to pound as I watched the words flash by.
Just then-
The same words flashed across both translucent windows at the same time.
[ Run! ]
