Chapter 332 (1/2)

An ordinary woman would have cried or reacted hysterically, but as a trained knight she looked at me with a worried expression, then drew her sword. Just like a woman resembling the sword, she was very cold and determined.

Glancing at her silver hair shining like a sword, I pointed my sword at the masked men who appeared one by one. Given that I could not move my shoulder, I felt its condition was serious, but I was determined to protect her even if I would lose my arm forever.

Don’t worry, Tia. I will protect you as much as I can. Even if I will never wield a sword again, even if I lose my life, I’m going to protect you by all means. I’ve already vowed for a long time that I would never lose you again, and make you always bright and happy.

Faced with the masked swordsmen, I had to calm down to fight them. I wielded my sword naturally thanks to my countless hours of practicing. I vigorously wielded the sword, diverting their attention to me while stopping them from attacking her until the royal knights appeared to save us.

I was so happy to have saved her life, but the moment I saw her white uniform stained with blood, I was consumed by an unknowable anxiety. And I got more worried because of what I heard when I went back to her house with her. I expected that she might have a secret bodyguard, but little did I think that the emperor, who seemed to have no interest in her since the National Founding Day festival, dispatched bodyguards to her.

What should I make of this situation?

I felt a bit relieved to see her expressing gratitude but showing uneasiness, but I was on edge because of an ominous feeling that kept rising deep down. Despite everything, it was fortunate that her father seemed to like me.

I didn’t feel good, though. My instinct, which helped them call me a genius swordsman, kept giving me a warning signal that I was in jeopardy.

I felt I had to prepare some measures. Even if I couldn’t approach her for realistic reasons, I had to find some way not to repeat Allendis’s failure.

Allendis failed to win her heart because he burdened her by crossing the borderline of “friendship” with her. On the other hand, by making use of his status as her fiance fully, the crown prince was growing closer to her. Then, what could I do because I was not as close to her as Allendis,nor could I officially date her like the crown prince?’

While pondering over the right way to approach her, I flinched suddenly because I found myself wrestling with the question of making her my woman. What the heck am I doing now?

‘It’s enough for now.’ I thought it was enough that I was with her now, so I vowed again that I would focus on helping her, keeping my promise to her.

***

“Sein, I’ve watched you for a while, but I think I have to draw a line. Is it true that you love Lady Monique?”

Looking at my father’s hardened face for a moment, I shut my mouth without responding. I guess why he asked me that, but I could not figure out what motivated him to ask such a question.

As if he noticed what I was thinking about, he said with a sigh, “I am not saying this to blame you, so just give me your honest answer. Do you really love her?”

“…”

“Sein.”

“… Yes, I do, Daddy.”

“Then you must know why I’m asking it now.”

“Yes,” I replied, moistening my dry lips. Although I didn’t want to admit it, I thought my guesswork was right. It was evident that he called me because of the big meeting tomorrow.

Lady Monique was very busy after a mysterious girl called the child of God’s prophecy appeared. When I heard that the big meeting was convened to determine which of the two was the child of God’s prophecy, I was so nervous. I didn’t want to imagine what would happen to Lady Monique at the meeting that I wasn’t even eligible to attend. Because of that, I felt like I was walking on a tightrope everyday.

“Whew…why do you love her among other women? You know how difficult it is to win her heart.”