If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 34

Regen showed no sign of disturbance, even as his collar was grabbed in an act of insubordination.

 

Kilieon had always been hot-tempered and unable to tolerate injustice. From the perspective of a loyal subject, a prince barely surviving under the captivity of the empire’s imperial family was more than enough to feel like an injustice.

 

In truth, the person who most wanted to grab Regen by the collar was Regen himself.

 

Seeing Regen’s calm face, as if ready to accept all the anger directed at him, only made Kilieon grit his teeth harder. “Regenhart, you shouldn’t be here like this.”

 

“…”

 

“You should’ve run for your life! Do you think my brother died in your place so you could disgracefully warm the princess’s bed?!”

 

“What…?”

 

It wasn’t the insult but something else that made Regen react. He grabbed the hand that had been clutching his collar. Kilieon flinched at the strength of Regen’s grip, his face twisting in discomfort. Even as he tried to let go and step back, Regen didn’t allow it this time.

 

“What did Elrich do?”

 

“You’re seriously asking that?”

 

“Answer me, Kilieon, now!”

 

Kilieon’s face contorted in anguish under the relentless pressure of Regen’s demand. “He died pretending to be you.”

 

“…”

 

“He smuggled you out and took your place on the execution stage. By then, almost everyone who knew your face—both friend and foe—was already dead!”

 

“…”

 

Only then did a fragment of memory, buried deep in Regen’s mind, resurface. His friend, with his hair dyed black, pulled a prisoner’s hood over his head in his place. The last words he left behind as he looked back at Regen—

 

“This should be a nice blow to that traitorous b*stard. Stay alive, Regen.”

 

Disgust welled up within Regen for having turned away from that memory.

 

“He went to such lengths to save you, and this is what you’re doing? You should be out there rebuilding the Lohengrin royal family or assassinating the mad emperor. I pinned my hopes on you. You are the only hope! But instead, you kneel before the mad emperor’s daughter and grovel? Do you enjoy this? Does it suit you?”

 

“…”

 

The insults didn’t even register in Regen’s ears anymore. The grip on Kilieon loosened, and Regen’s arms fell limply, like a puppet with its strings cut.

 

“T-The reason I was able to survive…”

 

Kilieon’s expression crumbled as he looked at the dazed Regen. His anger had been nothing but a thin veil. He had been growling because he couldn’t cry.

 

At that moment, the sound of approaching footsteps reached them. A group of knights was heading their way. It wouldn’t bode well for two knights, both former prisoners of war, to be caught meeting in private.

 

Before leaving, Kilieon spat out one last bitter remark. “Pay the price for my brother’s life, Regenhart.”

 

“…”

 

Left alone, Regen stood motionless in the dark shadows. He felt like digging a hole in the dirt and lying down in it. Even as the passing imperial knights glanced at him strangely and whispered among themselves, Regen barely registered their words.

 

It was only after a long while that Regen’s feet began to move, as if guided by some instinct. He had no memory of how he managed to return to his quarters near the Silver Bird room. He simply existed in a daze, unaware of the passage of time.

 

A question he had nearly forgotten while staying by Sasha’s side resurfaced in his mind. Is there any value in being alive?

 

Whether it was for a cause, revenge, or something else, he needed to prove the worth of his wretched life. But right now, he felt utterly powerless. Had he used the princess’s offer of a chance as an excuse to settle into his current state?

 

Lost in self-loathing, he occasionally snapped back to reality, only to find the view outside the window had changed. The sunset turned crimson, the sky dimmed, and darkness fell deeply. Before he knew it, it was the middle of the night. Just as he realized he had skipped his mana core treatment, a knock came at the door.

 

“Her Highness has sent this.”

 

“…”

 

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

 

What Hamel left behind was alcohol. The moment he uncorked it, a sharp, intoxicating scent hit him, as if it would churn his insides.

 

How much does the princess know? Does she know about his conversation with Kilieon? Has his identity been exposed?

 

Regen didn’t know. He didn’t want to think about it.

 

He accepted a gift from Sasha. The alcohol burned its way down his throat, settling in his stomach, and twisted his brain with its poison. Only then did the thoughts tormenting him begin to numb.

 

✦

Sunlight seeped through the cracks of his eyes. The clear chirping of birds whispered morning into his ears. But what actually woke Regen was another kind of bird.

 

“Sir Regen.”

 

“…”

 

“Wake up, Sir Regen.”

 

A soft voice echoed in his ears. Regen half-opened his eyes and looked ahead. It seemed he had fallen asleep on the floor, leaning against the wall. To meet his gaze, the other person had willingly lowered themselves to his level. Thanks to that, even while sitting on the floor, Regen could see the beautiful face directly in front of him.

 

“Sasha.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Come to think of it, he had fallen asleep drunk and had a dream. The princess had comforted him with a worried look, just like now.

 

Convinced that this must be an extension of that dream, Regen reached out his right hand toward her. He cupped her porcelain-like cheek with his palm. Her plump lips parted slightly, drawing his gaze. As always, they were tempting. Regen felt the urge to touch them. To press gently on her lower lip, just enough to reveal her neat, white teeth…

 

Just as his thumb was about to graze her lips, a warm palm suddenly covered both his eyes.

 

“I’m here for your core treatment, not this.”

 

“…”

 

“You need to sober up first. Drink this.”

Sasha pressed a potion bottle to his lips, so he drank it. It didn’t take long before her hazy mind started to clear up. His golden eyes widened.

 

“Sasha?”

 

“Are you feeling better?”

 

“…Was it not a dream?”

 

“Would you like another potion?”

 

“No.”

 

Regen quickly circulated mana through his body, instantly dispelling the effects of the alcohol. He rubbed his face with his hands and stood up, glancing at the mirror. Thankfully, his appearance wasn’t too disheveled despite having been out of it.

 

Sasha, on the other hand, wasn’t looking at Regen. She was facing another direction, saying nothing more. It was considerate of her, but he couldn’t help but think it would’ve been even better if she had sent a maid to wake him up instead of coming into his room herself.

 

“There’s somewhere we need to go together.”

 

“I’ll change my clothes and be right back.”

 

“Not into your uniform. Wear this.”

 

It was casual attire, the kind a young master from a wealthy merchant family might wear. Now that he noticed, Sasha was dressed in riding clothes, giving off a completely different vibe.

 

Sasha spoke. “We’re going outside the imperial palace, together.”

 

✦

When leaving the imperial palace, they used a carriage, but once they reached the streets of the capital, they switched to horses. They were careful not to forget to stay vigilant, watching closely to see if they were being followed. Regen was genuinely surprised by Sasha’s horseback riding skills. It was at an expert level.

 

“I secretly learned it outside, just in case I ever needed to escape. Whether you can ride a horse or not makes a big difference in mobility.” As always, she spoke about serious matters in a calm manner.

 

They had reached the outskirts of the capital. Riding across the fields at full gallop felt like it was clearing the suffocating weight in their chests. However, this outing wasn’t for Regen’s leisure or to lift his spirits. Sasha clearly had a destination in mind.

 

“We’re here.”

 

The place they arrived at was a shabby convent located on the outskirts. In the courtyard, nuns were busy with their daily tasks, such as cleaning and doing laundry. Among them, the eldest woman immediately recognized Sasha’s face and approached her.

 

“It’s been a long time, Your Highness.”

 

“Please refrain from using that title, Abbess.”

 

“Yes, Milady.” The woman, referred to as the abbess, clasped her hands together respectfully and bowed her head. “With the gold coins you sent last time, we were able to bring in a few more stoves and purchase seeds and seedlings. Thanks to you, we no longer have to worry about hunger or freezing in the cold.”

 

“That’s also thanks to the discretion of Abbess who runs the convent. You’ve managed to take care of so many people here.”

 

“You flatter me.” The abbess’s gaze briefly flickered toward Regen. “That must be the knight.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“It truly is fate.”

 

“…”

 

Sasha pressed her lips together while the abbess closed her eyes and offered a brief blessing prayer.