If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 156

“…”

 

Kilieon’s clueless gaze didn’t matter. The problem was Noah, who was quick to catch on.

 

“Sir Regen… So that’s how it was…”

 

“…”

 

“To think such a thing happened with Princess Silver Bird…”

 

“…”

 

Noah’s green eyes, brimming with empathy, were burdensome and awkward.

 

“It was nothing. I’ll go back to training.”

 

“Ah, me too!”

 

“Me too.”

 

“I’ll be going as well.”

 

With Regen’s words, the atmosphere turned into one of dispersal. Everyone scattered to various places around the training grounds. Regen also took up a position and drew his sword, intending to properly work up a sweat. However, his resolve was quickly broken.

 

“Sir Regen!”

 

“Lady Demia?”

 

Demia looked as though she had run all the way there in a hurry and was barely able to catch her breath. Seeing her like that stirred an ominous feeling in Regen.

 

“It’s an emergency! Her Highness—!”

 

Hearing only that much, Regen immediately bolted out of the training grounds.

 

“Huh? Uuh? S-Sir Regen?! Sir Regen!”

 

Regen had no time to turn back toward the bewildered Demia. He covered the distance to the detached palace in a single run.

 

✦

The snow-white dress emphasized a slender waist before billowing generously from the hips all the way down to the tips of the toes. Every edge of the dress had a thin black bias trim sewn onto it, reminiscent of a line-drawn rose as a whole. My hair was loosely gathered low and tied half-up. I liked the pitch-black ribbon, dark enough to have no shading at all, contrasting with my pale platinum-blonde hair.

 

I closed my eyes while leaving my face in Hamel’s hands. As the brush tickled my eyelids, Sione suggested, “Your shoulders and arms look cold. How about wearing a bolero?”

 

“Mm, that sounds good.”

 

It hadn’t been long since Demia left, so there should still be plenty of time. But my prediction was wrong.

 

“Your Highness!”

 

Suddenly, the bedroom door flew open without even a knock. I was startled, even more surprised when I saw the face of the person who had barged in.

 

“Regen?”

 

The sight of the handsome man, whose normally neat uniform and hair were thoroughly disheveled, was unfamiliar.

 

The moment Regen discovered me, he froze in place, still gripping the door he had thrown open. “Your… Highness?”

 

Apparently, this wasn’t the time to worry about appearances. I stopped halfway through having my lips made up, rose from the stool, and approached him. He still didn’t move, but his gaze followed me as I came closer. His eyes, staring at me without even remembering to blink, were dazed.

 

“What’s wrong? You look like someone who’s been terribly startled.”

 

“…”

 

“Did Demia play a prank on you? Did she tell you something terrible had happened?”

 

“…”

 

Only then did Regen show some movement. His ribcage swelled greatly, as though he had finally recovered the breath he had lost. “I thought something had happened. So…” There was a faint tremor in his voice. His expression also seemed less calm than flustered.

 

I lightly patted his shoulder and spoke. “Looks like Demia really did play a prank. She said she was going to tell Regen that I’d completely recovered.”

 

“…”

 

“Don’t be upset. I’ll scold Demia properly later.”

 

“…”

 

“As you can see, I’m perfectly fine, so don’t worry. Okay?”

 

“…”

 

“Regen?”

 

The moment I called his name, I let out a small gasp. Because Regen pulled me into a tight embrace.

 

“You’re awake. That’s all that matters.”

 

I had no desire to stop him as he buried his face in my hair and inhaled. Regen seemed to desperately need the reassurance that I was safe and sound right now. Rather than savoring the tenderness of the moment, I felt a heavy sense of responsibility. The reason Lohengrin’s hero, a man with such a strong mental fortitude, was showing such an unstable side of himself had to be because of the domination.

 

I glanced behind me. Hamel and Sione quietly withdrew.

 

“Regen, come here.” Taking one of his hands, I led him to the couch. Then, I had him sit down and gave him some warm tea. “Are you calm now?”

 

“I apologize.”

 

“Don’t be.” I was the one who should feel more sorry.

 

Once the trembling disappeared from his golden eyes and a clear light returned to them, I felt relieved. I sat snugly beside Regen and tidied his disheveled hair and uniform. Regen, who had obediently accepted my touch, finally looked me over.

 

“Are you going somewhere?”

 

“What?”

 

“Because you’re dressed up.”

 

“Ah.”

 

I suppose I’d gone a little too far with the dressing up. I should have gone for something that looked like I’d dressed up without seeming like I’d dressed up. It was embarrassing to say it outright, but I took comfort in the fact that there were only the two of us in the room and boldly opened my mouth.

 

“I wasn’t going anywhere. There was someone I wanted to meet.”

 

“Who is coming?”

 

“He came. Right in front of me.”

 

“…”

 

It seemed the message that I had dressed up to look pretty for him was conveyed loud and clear. His eyes, which had widened in surprise, soon returned to their usual size. His attractively curved lips formed a faint smile. That alone drew my gaze. But more than anything, I was glad that he seemed to have completely regained his composure.

 

“I’m happy to hear that, Sasha.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Regen took off his outer garment and draped it over my bare shoulders. “You’ll catch a cold.”

 

“…”

 

It seemed today’s dress wasn’t to his taste. I supposed it was because there was no ribbon.

 

“Sasha.”

 

At that moment, Regen cupped one of my cheeks in his hand. His exquisitely handsome face gradually drew closer, so I thought he might kiss me. But what touched me wasn’t his lips, but my forehead. Our bangs became entangled, and our foreheads gently rubbed against each other. In that position, he met my eyes and said, “I was very worried because you kept being ill.”

 

“I’m sorry for making you worry.”

 

“It’s only natural for me to worry. Although I was a little disappointed when you sent me away to the training grounds.”

 

Since Regen had looked as though the world was ending in front of someone who merely had the flu, I had thought the best thing was to make him focus on something else.

 

I had a lot I wanted to say, but I swallowed the words. A person can avoid many conflicts simply by not immediately turning the first thought that comes to mind into words.

 

“I understand. From now on, I’ll try not to disappoint you, Regen.”

 

“Is that something that requires effort?”

 

“Because I have to not get sick?”

 

“…So you mean you’ll send me away again if you get sick.”

 

Perhaps I should have filtered even the second thought that came to my mind.

 

Regen narrowed his eyes and pulled his forehead away. Not knowing what I should say to placate him, I merely rolled my eyes around. He then laughed like a sigh and backed away.

 

“It’s alright. I’m just happy that you’ve recovered.”

 

I liked how gentle he was with me. I then moved a little closer to him. “I missed you.”

 

“So did I.”

 

My head leaned against Regen’s shoulder. Then I felt his head lightly touch the crown of mine. It was nothing more than a trivial contact, but excitement welled up in my chest. The way we were nestled together like this right now, it looked incredibly much like a couple, right? I wanted to see us reflected in a mirror, so I showed it to Regen and watched his reaction. But sadly, the sweet dream didn’t last long.

 

“Sasha, there is something I need to tell you.”

 

Regen straightened the head that had been tilted toward me, his expression serious. It was his professional demeanor when delivering an important report, so I straightened my posture as well.

 

“What is it?”

 

“The mad emperor’s dominion is weakening.”

 

“…”

 

It took me a little while to react.

 

“Is that true?”

 

“Yes. It is presumed that an incident occurred in which the domination over Sir Bellinger was released on its own. The mad emperor is unaware of it. Moreover, the weakening didn’t begin recently. It seems to have been progressing for quite some time.”

 

“Since when?”

 

“Since the princesses’ competition began. The source of this information is Dominic.”

 

“…”