If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 66

The subordinates of Marquis Osbond moved busily.

 

Sasha ran her fingers over the 436 chips piled high in front of her, almost caressing them. Her deliberate display of this gesture was unmistakable as she spoke. “Provide potions for Sir Regen as well.”

 

“Understood.”

 

“Ah, right. I almost forgot about Sister Vivi and Nana. It would be ungrateful not to thank them for pretending not to notice, even when the person next to them changed. Give Sir Bellinger a sword and potion, and a potion to Sir Kilieon.”

 

“Yes, I’ll take care of it.”

 

“Sa-Sasha… Thank you…”

 

“Don’t mention it, Sister Vivi.”

 

“Hmph, if you were going to make me an accomplice now, you should’ve just asked me from the start…”

 

“Nana, your thank-you is so quiet I can barely hear it.”

 

“Thank you, Sister Sasha!”

 

Even as Sasha distributed favors generously, there were still many chips left in front of her. Her gentle fingers continued to stroke the chips, as if urging others to cater to her whims.

 

When Sasha grabbed a chip and tapped it sharply on the desk, all attention immediately turned to her. Among the many gazes, Sasha locked onto Gwendellin’s and glared. “This is your last chance. Tell me what poison you fed Sir Regen.”

 

“…” Gwendellin turned her head away, avoiding her gaze.

 

“So you’re going to keep playing it this way until the end.” Her muttered words were as cold as the frost settled at the bottom of the abyss. “Marquis Osbond.”

 

“Yes, Princess Silver Bird.”

 

“I will make a sponsor. Weave the venom of Red Desert Viper into the crest of the New Moon and send it to Sir Heinz.”

 

“N-No…!”

 

A sharp scream tore through the air as a chair clattered noisily to the ground. As if all her previous evasiveness had been a lie, Gwendellin hurried toward Sasha.

 

“Don’t do it! Please, just not that!”

 

“…”

 

“Sasha! Rosasia, please!”

 

A sworn knight gives their loyalty to their master. If the crest was sent along, no matter what the contents were, the ever loyal Heinz would accept it without question, believing it to be the will of Princess New Moon. Even if it were deadly poison.

 

None of the princesses could bring themselves to criticize Sasha for her cruelty. What about themselves? It wasn’t that they wouldn’t do it, but that they couldn’t; if they could, anyone would act like Sasha. If anything, it could be said that Sasha had held back a lot. No, even now, she was still holding back.

 

“…”

 

Ignoring Gwendellin’s desperate pleas, her gaze fixed on the empty space ahead. Her unblinking eyes looked as if her reason and patience could snap at any moment.

 

Finally, Gwendellin realized there was only one thing she could say to change Sasha’s mind. “I-I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you.”

 

When Sasha glanced at Marquis Osbond, his servants stopped in their tracks.

 

“Speak.”

 

“…”

 

“Before my patience runs out.”

 

“…”

 

“Hurry!”

 

Gwendellin flinched and confessed. “T-The Black Swamp Thorn poison…”

 

“The antidote!” Sasha immediately shouted and took a deep breath. Her voice, completing the command, barely regained its composure. “Deliver the antidote to Sir Regen. And this ring as well.” She removed the rose signet ring from her left thumb and handed it to the servant.

 

Seeing everyone move in perfect coordination was reassuring. I saved him. Even though Sasha was already seated, she felt her strength give way, making her slump further into the chair. The sensation of all the tension draining away felt as though her very soul was escaping her body. Only then did she notice Gwendellin, collapsed on the floor, tears streaming down her face.

 

“…I’ll sponsor a potion for Sir Heinz instead of poison.”

 

“That will not be possible, Princess Silver Bird.”

 

“What?”

 

The sudden refusal chilled the air in the pavilion. Marquis Osbond had a reason for his defiance. Feigning pity, his gaze was directed at Gwendellin, who was staring blankly as even her tears stopped.

 

“Sir Heinz has passed away.”

 

✦

“May you rest in peace.”

 

Regen closed Heinz’s eyes and stood up, turning away. He recalled what had just happened.

 

When Regen arrived at the center of the Bridge of Oath, what he saw was Heinz leaning against the stone railing. The area around him was already soaked with blood, forming a pool, leaving Heinz with little time left. Regen immediately recognized the cause of the wounds.

 

“Sir, you’ve harmed yourself.”

 

“…Is that you, Sir Regen?”

 

The man, who could have taken his last breath at any moment, gathered the remnants of his life force to speak willingly.

 

“Surviving would only be disgraceful, wouldn’t it?”

 

“…”

 

“I’m glad I got to see you one last time. I learned only later that my master had intervened. Though it’s late, I’m sorry.”

 

“There’s no need for you to apologize.”

 

“Thank you… for saying that…”

 

That was the end of their brief conversation. A faint smile lingered on Heinz’s face, a serene tranquility enveloping him. His final moments felt as though he were gazing at a distant, unreachable landscape.

 

The time for mourning ended with the memory. Regen returned to the competition. Just as he completely stepped off the Bridge of Oath, his body wavered slightly, losing balance. The signs of another poison-induced seizure were beginning to surface. The pain caused by the poison tended to intensify with each occurrence. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed onto a tree trunk, but then he sensed someone approaching.

 

“Sir Regen, this is a sponsorship from the princess.”

 

A servant draped in a sash appeared, handed over two items, and disappeared. One was an unfamiliar medicine, and the other was a familiar ornament. Recognizing the vintage ring, Regen immediately understood. Sasha found the antidote.

 

He opened the ring’s secret mechanism, revealing a hidden compartment. Inside was a small pill, resembling a piece of candy. Sasha had told him that the poison she had temporarily administered to him would take precedence over all other poisons and medicines. He needed to neutralize Sasha’s poison first.

 

Despite its candy-like appearance, the pill was bitter beyond belief. He slowly let it dissolve in his mouth before swallowing, waiting for its effects to kick in.

 

The poison-induced seizure that had just begun to stir subsided, and the nature of the pain began to change. As soon as the suppressed poison from Gwendellin started to writhe, he took the other medicine. At last, the two poisons coiled within his body were completely eradicated.

 

“Haah…” A long exhale escaped him.

 

Relishing the newfound lightness in his body, Regen quickened his pace.

 

✦

“Why…? Why on earth…?”

 

Gwendellin collapsed to the floor, as if the floor was her rightful place, showing no intention of getting up.

 

Marquis Osbond kindly provided more information. “According to those who examined the scene, the cause of the death was excessive blood loss from repeated self-inflicted wounds.”

 

“…He took his own life?”

 

The additional information only increased her confusion rather than resolving it. Unable to bear the confusion, Gwendellin began doing what she did best.

 

“That can’t be true!”

 

Denial, of course.

 

“There must be some mistake! He said I could take it easily, Sir Heinz would never do such a thing! Someone must have harmed him! Someone…! Right, Sasha, it must be you, right? This is all your scheme…!”

 

“Enough, Gwendellin!”

 

The scolding voice startled not only Gwendellin but also me and the other princesses. It was because the voice’s owner was not Sister Orlette, but someone else.

 

“Si-Sister Vivi…? Even you won’t take my side…?”

 

“Stop spouting nonsense. You’re the one who drove Sir Heinz to his death.”

 

“W-What did you just say?”

 

Gwendellin blinked as if she’d just heard something utterly absurd. When Vivian clamped her mouth shut, seemingly unwilling to say anything harsher, Gwendellin’s gaze turned to the other princesses, seeking an explanation. The one who responded was Nanaen.

 

“Because Sister poisoned Sir Regen.”

 

“That was all for Sir Heinz…”

 

“Sister, you must have done it for yourself.”

 

“…”

 

“A noble knight like Sir Heinz lives for his honor. But you trampled that honor, which is no different from strangling him. Do you think someone like you deserves Sir Heinz’s loyalty?”

 

“Ah…”

 

No knight would want to serve a lady who tramples on their honor. Even if the only escape is death.

 

“Ah, aah…”

 

Realizing she was judged unworthy as a ‘lady,’ Gwendellin despaired.