If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 115

None of the princesses would willingly replace their personal knights, so this was clearly a scheme meant to force the change. Just imagining the mad emperor’s face, delighting in toying with the bond between the princess and her knight, was enough to make me sick. I barely managed to cool my head.

 

“Still, all ten spots probably won’t be filled. The position of a princess’s personal knight isn’t such an irresistible lure.”

 

“Your Highness, about that…”

 

“Don’t tell me I’m wrong?”

 

“The competition is fierce. They are currently even holding preliminary rounds.”

 

“…”

 

That was surprising. Were there truly that many knights, even while imprinted, who harbored the will to escape the mad emperor? In any case, having to face full ten opponents wasn’t good news.

 

“Si-Sir Regen…” Demia finally turned toward Regen, her voice trembling on the verge of tears.

 

The only way for a personal knight to survive was to win all ten battles. If defeated midway, they would be dismissed from the position of personal knight, and that would immediately lead to disposal. Because they were former prisoners of war.

 

The mad emperor’s imperial guard knights were strong. What were the chances of surviving after fighting ten of them? Yet Regen himself appeared not merely relaxed but almost indifferent.

 

“It’s only ten people, isn’t it?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“They may come at me all at once if they wish.”

 

“…”

 

I knew he was the dependable hero of Lohengrin, but considering Dominic might appear as one of the duel opponents, I wasn’t sure such confidence was warranted.

 

Just as I resolved internally to work harder on treating his core, the lips of the perfectly sculpted, handsome man I had been staring at moved.

 

“There is also something good about this competition’s rules.”

 

“Something good?”

 

“This time, the personal knights won’t fight each other. It’s an individual battle format. The princesses themselves won’t need to compete.”

 

“Ah.”

 

That meant the sisters would not need to sharpen their nerves against one another. And one more thing: since only the persona knights would change, the number of princesses would not decrease even after the competition. In other words, it was an extra match, different in nature from the previous competitions.

 

So am I happy now? Relieved? Not really. Rather, the fact that I wasn’t even granted the qualification to share the risk filled my chest with guilt.

 

Hamel’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “The competition seems to have been decided very suddenly. Why would that be?”

 

“Isn’t it obvious? Think about who is currently visiting the imperial palace.”

 

“You mean it’s to provide entertainment for the envoys of the Eastern Alliance?”

 

“Exactly.”

 

The maids seemed already disgusted by the mad emperor’s inhumanity for that reason alone, but in truth, an even deeper abyss lay beneath it. He intends to toy with Emilio, Dominic, and me. The mad emperor would likely award me to Dominic as a prize through this competition and then watch Emilio’s reaction. It’s disgusting and humiliating.

 

“Your Highness.” Regen’s voice soothed my nerves like a sedative. “As long as I am here, you are safe.”

 

“…”

 

The deep resonance in his voice shook me. My heart reacted without resistance. This shouldn’t be happening. What joy was there in being safe alone while pushing him into mortal danger? I had no right to feel comfort.

 

His gentle eyes were trying to reassure me, and my own eyes were unable to hide the distress I had been feeling for a long time. Then I realized—

 

“Cough!”

 

“Demia…!”

 

“Ah, I-I apologize! I didn’t mean to interrupt…!”

 

Only then did I remember the maids were watching.

 

I forced myself to appear calm. “Demia, it seems someone has come outside.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“There was a knocking sound.”

 

“Really? I didn’t hear…”

 

“Go check.”

 

“…”

 

“Go.”

 

Like the daughter of a tyrant, I bullied an innocent maid to hide my embarrassment. Shione tactfully withdrew, saying she had work to do, and Hamel silently refilled my teacup as if she were barely present at all. But what Demia said upon returning was unexpected.

 

“Your Highness! A servant from Marquis Hwibrik just came by. As expected of Your Highness’s foresight, truly amazing!”

 

“…”

 

I hadn’t anticipated such a coincidence.

 

“Um, I see. It seems Marquis Hwibrik has also received the news of the competition. What did the servant say?”

 

“He requests to meet in an hour at the imperial opera house. Sir Regen is invited as well.”

 

The last words dampened my mood.

 

“Understood. Everyone leaves except Sir Regen.”

 

Once we were alone, the parlor became unusually quiet. The rustle of my dress as I rose from the chair and the sound of my footsteps crossing the carpet to stand before him echoed loudly. The fall wind lightly rattled the window set in the frame. Listening to that unstable sound, I met his golden eyes.

 

“Command.”

 

“…”

 

“I will do it.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Just like last time, I used my authority to forcibly calm Regen before Emilio Hwibrik. There would be no immediate visible change. My command interfered with his mind only while the traitor was before him.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Was this really something to be grateful for? Even with mutual consent, manipulating emotions was an act that damaged one’s humanity. I turned away without responding to the gratitude I did not deserve.

 

“I should get ready.” It didn’t seem necessary to change outfits, so I didn’t call the maids. I sat before the vanity, intending only to put on a few accessories.

 

“You are already beautiful as you are. There’s no need.” A faint dissatisfaction colored Regen’s voice beside me. Because it was unlike him, it stood out sharply.

 

“Come to think of it.” A thought suddenly occurred to me. My eyes sparkled as I looked at him. “He said your tastes were the same.”

 

“…”

 

“Choose a necklace for me. The one you like the most, Regen.”

 

Pretending not to notice his slight flinch, I opened drawers and jewel boxes one after another, then sat upright facing the mirror and waited. Emilio Hwibrik was merely an excuse. I just wanted to know Regen’s preferences.

 

His gaze swept across each necklace I owned. Yet even after examining them all, he chose nothing until his eyes finally settled on my bare neck reflected in the mirror.

 

“Are they all bad?”

 

“No.”

 

At last, he made a selection. It was a necklace layered with several strands of pearls, studded with more than a dozen thick emeralds. When held against my neck, it was large and splendid enough to cover my collarbones. I flinched slightly at the sensation of his fingertips brushing the back of my neck. After fastening the necklace himself, he gently held my shoulders.

 

I straightened my posture and faced forward. “What do you think?” I had been staring only at Regen in the mirror before finally looking at myself.

 

“It’s pretty.”

 

Of course it was. He had chosen it.

 

So I asked as well. “What do you think, Regen?”

 

“…”

 

“Am I pretty?”

 

“…”

 

The question wasn’t about the necklace, but me. I hoped I looked pretty to him and pleased him.

 

In the mirror, he leaned closer. His face came near enough to whisper beside my ear. “Yes. Excessively so.” His low voice sounded deeper than usual as it wrapped around my ear.

 

If this continued, I felt like I might beg him to kiss me. Since ruining my makeup would be troublesome, I hurriedly rose from the stool.

 

“Are you leaving right away?” His tone clearly meant: Are we going to see Emilio Hwibrik already?

 

I shook my head. “We’ll take a walk first.”

 

✦

Regen deceived Sasha. He had not chosen what he liked most. Sasha’s jewel box contained many precious pieces. Every necklace was worthy of resting upon her fair neck. But as he looked at her reflected in the mirror, he thought no ornament was necessary at all. The sharply defined collarbones standing out against her translucent skin were the finest adornment.

 

So instead, Regen chose jewelry that covered them as much as possible. Because he absolutely couldn’t allow Emilio Hwibrik, upon seeing the beautiful princess, to entertain the irreverent thought of tracing those elegant lines with his thumb or pressing his lips against her most prominent curve.