If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 143

A cracking sound came from Dominic’s hand. The wooden skewer left over after he finished the sausage snapped miserably in two.

 

“This jerk, first thing in the morning…”

 

Right then, Regen nonchalantly handed both poison and medicine at once. “Still, I believe Sir Dominic is the most suitable choice as a fallback route. If anything happens, please take care of Her Highness.”

 

“…”

 

The fighting spirit draining from Dominic was almost visible. If Regen shared Sasha’s intentions, then that remark implied that Sasha had not chosen Emilio. Of course, Dominic didn’t immediately let go of his suspicions.

 

“Who the hell are you to ask me to take care of Rosasia?”

 

“…”

 

“What? Why are you just staring at me with that annoying look instead of answering?”

 

“I thought you’d be offended if I explained what kind of exclusive status Her Highness has granted me. Since I’m the one asking a favor, I’m trying to restrain myself.”

 

Of course, phrasing it that way was even more irritating.

 

“Ha. Why does it feel like there are so many people crazier than me these days?” Letting out a hollow laugh, Dominic picked up a bowl of stew.

 

Regen’s expression immediately stiffened. “That one is mine.”

 

“Oh, is it? No wonder the smell—” Dominic stopped mocking him. Bringing the steaming bowl closer to his nose, he twitched his brow slightly. It was a scent he had become familiar with thanks to the mad emperor. He put down Regen’s bowl and picked up his own, sniffing it again. This one’s fine.

 

Dominic’s eyes darted around in a hurry. Sensing several pairs of eyes observing him, he pretended nothing was wrong and put a spoonful of his own stew into his mouth. He agonized over whether he should Regen or not, but eventually made up his mind. However, the moment he turned his head, he realized the dilemma had been pointless. “You already finished it…?”

 

“Yes. It was delicious.”

 

“…” Unable to hide his disbelief, Dominic asked quietly, “Didn’t you just eat poison? That stuff keeps you from using mana for quite a while.”

 

“Haa, Sir Dominic…”

 

The result of his goodwill was disastrous.

 

“So you really did poison me after all…”

 

“Are you insane?”

 

“Wasn’t it you?”

 

“Shut up.” Dominic’s voice had lost all its usual edge in his confusion. Even his threats sounded weaker than normal. “Do you not understand how serious this is? You won’t be able to use mana soon.”

 

“It’s fine. I’ve grown strong enough to endure this level of poison.”

 

Dominic’s face twisted. He felt like he could imagine exactly how the princess had strengthened her personal knight’s mana core and whether she had demanded loyalty or devotion in return. Regen’s next words cut off those thoughts.

 

“Though I was strong to begin with.”

 

“Arrogant jerk.”

 

“Sir Dominic is the only person who says that to me.”

 

“Ever think that maybe it’s because you act like that in front of me?”

 

“That’s true.”

 

A question Dominic had been ignoring until now surfaced in his mind. The martial prowess Regen had displayed against Bellinger during the martial tournament had been extraordinary. Even with Dominic’s sharp eyes, he hadn’t been able to gauge just how many minutes Regen would be able to hold out against him.

 

“What exactly were you?”

 

“A knight who fought in wars.”

 

Dominic searched his memory. He had never been good at remembering faces, especially men’s faces, so he found nothing useful. Still, one highly improbable possibility came to mind.

 

The Magnarod Empire had pursued a strategy of dragging the Kingdom of Lohengrin into a war of attrition. While the kingdom’s main army was worn down by the empire’s endless onslaught of numbers, Dominic had chipped away at their forces elsewhere to diminish their strength. This was because the mad emperor had explicitly commanded Dominic not to engage in direct combat with the third prince of Lohengrin, even if it meant sacrificing the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Thanks to that mad emperor who treasured him quite a bit or rather liked ‘to use him sparingly,’ Dominic never got the chance to cross swords with the knight said to be the strongest since the age of myth.

 

No way. It was such a foolish assumption that he instantly dismissed it from his mind.

 

Lohengrin’s third prince was dead. His body had been torn apart and hung from the city walls as food for crows. The black-haired traitor, currently gulping food down his throat in the tent, had personally claimed his head with an axe. Besides, Dominic remembered the kingdom’s citizens who had climbed the walls in a desperate attempt to recover their beloved prince’s remains. Having witnessed that sight, he had no reason to doubt the identity of the corpse. Besides, he was too busy doubting other things right now.

 

So the traitor made a move. But why would that jerk poison this guy? Weren’t they on the same side? Wait, I can’t jump to conclusions. Maybe he has the antidote and is trying to make me lower my guard.

 

This involved Rosasia. Dominic had to assume the worst-case scenario, remain wary of everything, and respond with meticulous care.

 

By the time the meal was over, an escort knight from the Lohengrin delegation approached Regen. “Uh, Sir Regen.” The knight fidgeted awkwardly, unable even to meet Regen’s eyes properly. “There’s been a problem with Her Highness’s carriage.”

 

“What sort of problem?”

 

A demonic beast’s corpse was found inside. It looks like it was mauled by wild animals during the night and somehow got it. There were no casualties beyond the carriage being contaminated, but we’re worried that a pack of demonic beasts may have come down in the area.”

 

“Yes. I was thinking the same thing.”

 

“That’s why I came to ask if Sir Regen could ride ahead of the route and deal with any dangers you encounter. The canyon is often covered in fog, making it dangerous in many ways.”

 

Dominic suppressed a laugh. Assigning a dangerous task to the one person who had just been poisoned. It was obviously a trap. Yet Regen accepted the contrived situation calmly, as though he were simply following a script.

 

“Understood. I’ll do that.” He even turned toward the dumbfounded Dominic and left a request behind. “As the one serving as the escape route, I should clear the path ahead. Please take care of Her Highness for a while.”

 

“…”

 

As the situation sank deeper and deeper into a maze of confusion, Dominic gave up trying to think it through. In the end, only one thing mattered to him. He decided to focus solely on not letting anyone take the princess away.

 

✦

The camp was packed up, and preparations for departure were complete. Dressed in lighter clothing than usual, Sasha looked around. “Where is Sir Regen?”

 

At that moment, a horse circled her once before stopping. When she looked up, she saw a blond knight in a blue uniform skillfully handling the reins.

 

“Sir Dominic.”

 

Dominic dismounted, gave a polite bow, and reported. “Sir Regen has gone out scouting.”

 

Sasha looked at him as though she were exhausted by his viciousness. “So the moment I looked away, you finally managed to get rid of him.”

 

“You misunderstand. He volunteered. More importantly, please ride my horse.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Your Highness’s carriage is unusable. You can’t exactly sit on a seat soaked in a demonic beast’s blood, can you?”

 

Sasha narrowed her eyes. “Was that your doing?”

 

“Why would you wrong me like this? I swear on my pure and innocent heart that neither Sir Regen nor the carriage has anything to do with me.” Dominic’s tone was light and joking, but inwardly he was serious. He wanted to establish his innocence before anything else happened.

 

Fortunately, a knight’s oath carried some weight with Sasha. The suspicion in her eyes shifted into reluctant uncertainty. Satisfied with even that much, Dominic returned to his usual easygoing manner.

 

“Would you like to sit in front or behind? For reference, if you sit behind me, I might ride a little recklessly.” That way, she would have to hold him tightly from behind. To confess such hidden motives in advance, Dominic truly believed his chivalry was unmatched.

 

Just as Sasha’s gaze was turning icy cold, a carriage pulled up beside her.

 

“Please ride in my carriage, Your Highness.” The voice belonged to Emilio. As always, he was displaying the detestable façade of a gentle scholar.

 

“It has been a long time since I’ve faced such a difficult decision.” Sasha indirectly conveyed that she could not tell which option was worse.

 

The two men pretended not to understand and waited for her choice. In any case, this was not a matter to be decided based on feelings. Out of necessity, Sasha chose quickly.

 

“I shall impose upon Lord Emilio’s hospitality.”

 

“The honor is mine.”

 

Normally, Emilio could barely meet Dominic’s eyes under the pressure of his intimidating presence. But now, he cast him a sidelong glance with a triumphant smile.