“Keep your money. I have no use for such things.”
Lillian looked at the money Ichikawa had quietly hung on her guard’s sword hilt without anyone noticing.
Hearing the young lady’s words, the guard beside her hurriedly checked his sword. There was indeed a bag hanging there.
Lillian took the bag from the hilt and threw it directly at Ichikawa just as he was turning away.
Thud!
Ichikawa, who happened to be turning his head, was struck squarely by the flying bag. The weight of it sent him staggering.
“Aren’t you even going to dodge?! You idiot!”
Seeing that Ichikawa made no attempt to defend himself against the bag she threw, a look of bewilderment crossed Lillian’s face. Based on Ichikawa’s performance just moments ago, there was no way he shouldn’t have been able to block that.
“B-Because you didn’t have any malice.”
Ichikawa looked down and picked up the bag from the ground, walking toward Lillian once more.
“T-This is the payment. You must accept it.”
With that, he held out the bag of funding—which he hadn’t even opened to look at—toward Lillian.
“I don’t need it!”
“What is your name?” Lillian crossed her arms. Ichikawa remained in his posture, holding the bag out to her.
“I-Ichikawa.”
“Alright, I-Ichikawa, is it?”
“No! It’s just Ichikawa.”
Seeing the drenched man before her stuttering so awkwardly, Lillian couldn’t help but tease him. Hearing her joke, Ichikawa tried his best to make his voice stop trembling.
“Very well, Mr. Ichikawa. You now owe Lillian Enridel a favor.”
Hearing Lillian’s words, Ichikawa finally pulled the bag back.
“I-I understand, Lady Lillian Enridel.”
“Hmph. Not so nervous now, are you?”
Lillian stood before the downward-looking Ichikawa. When he looked up, his eyes met hers directly. Ichikawa’s face instantly flushed bright red. He scrambled back several steps and then handed a badge-like item to the young lady.
“I-If there’s nothing else, I-I’ll be going. T-This is a communication device Bishop Karl gave me. I... I owe you a favor.”
“Hmph~ I’ll be sure to treasure this favor of yours.”
Lillian removed her white glove and took the badge-like communication device from Ichikawa’s hand.
Suddenly, the thunderous sound of galloping hooves echoed from the distance.
“Move! Dammit, get out of my way!”
A man, soaked to the bone, came hurtling toward Ichikawa on a warhorse that looked utterly exhausted.
After days of traveling, Keith had finally returned to the capital in this wretched downpour. He thought back to the message he had received from the capital’s mages via magic transmission. They told him that when the old man died, his damnable brother had vanished along with him.
Keith couldn't suppress his excitement.
This meant that the so-called neutral nobles, those who opposed him, and everyone who stood in his way would all vanish. They could no longer use his useless brother as an excuse to defy him. Never again.
It was only him now. Only he could become the Emperor. He was the only one left! He had won!
As he rode, Keith’s eyes were bloodshot, his heart racing with uncontrollable exhilaration. He had even sacrificed his sleep just to return to the capital as quickly as possible; every extra day was another day for variables to change.
And the moment he returned to the capital, these two damn fools were blocking his path.
If it were the old Keith, he might have swerved to avoid them. But now, he was the sole heir to the crown. The only one!
With that thought, Keith lashed the horse beneath him. The horse let out a pained cry and charged straight toward Ichikawa.
“Forgive me!”
Seeing the horse closing in, Ichikawa didn’t have time to think. He pulled Lillian into his arms and rolled violently to the side.
Keith clicked his tongue as they dodged, then continued galloping away without a second glance.
It took a moment for Lillian to process what had just happened. She pushed herself up from the uneven support beneath her, her clothes now covered in mud.
“Curse him! What is wrong with that man?!”
The surrounding guards swallowed hard. In that situation, they had completely failed in their duty...
“C-Can you get up?”
Lillian shook her head. Hearing the small, trembling voice from beneath her, she looked down and realized she was currently straddling Ichikawa.
Ichikawa’s face was beet red, so hot that even the heavy rain couldn't cool his body temperature.
“I am so sorry!”
Lillian instantly scrambled off him, a flash of pink matching her hair color flickering by as she moved.
Ichikawa shot up from the ground like a spring.
“I-I’m so sorry!”
Without even stopping to gather himself, he turned and bolted toward the city gates.
“?”
Lillian was confused by his reaction. But when she looked down and imagined the perspective from where Ichikawa had been lying...
Her face turned a explosive shade of red. She screamed at the yellow silhouette disappearing into the distance.
“Forget it! Forget everything!”
“This incident cancels it out! It’s canceled! You still owe me a favor, Mr. Hero!”
With that, Lillian ran back into her carriage.
“My Lady...”
“Home! Now!”
Lillian, her face burning, decided she needed to leave this place immediately. The luxurious carriage departed from the mismatched slums.
Thump-thump, thump-thump.
Sitting in the carriage, Lillian felt her heart beating incredibly fast.
Meanwhile, Ichikawa suddenly skidded to a halt at the city gates.
“Eh? How did she know I was the Hero?”
Rate on N.U.
