If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 98

“He said he would become another princess’s personal knight.”

 

This was shocking.

 

“Is it possible to think like that even after being imprinted?”

 

“I wouldn’t know, but it seems possible when you’re cornered.”

 

“I see.”

 

“From Sir Bellinger’s perspective… he must be desperate.”

 

“Desperate, huh.” I let out a small scoff.

 

Regen probably didn’t realize it, but that word struck a sensitive chord with me. Without meaning to, a bit of my true feelings slipped out.

 

“That’s a foolish attitude. The more desperately you wish for something, the more the whole world will get in your way. The things you want the most are the ones you shouldn’t be desperate or urgent about.”

 

“…”

 

For some reason, there was no response, and the table fell silent. When I raised my gaze in curiosity, Regen was staring at me intently.

 

“Regen? What’s wrong?”

 

“…”

 

His golden eyes narrowed slightly. Before I knew it, I was being scrutinized by him.

 

“Before…”

 

“…”

 

“I feel like I’ve heard something similar.”

 

Does he mean about not being desperate or urgent? At that moment, a fragment of a long-buried memory surfaced in my mind.

 

“Are you living with the resolve to die, or are you deliberately trying to die?”

 

“You misunderstand. I fear death. I’ve simply chosen not to become desperate for life.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“The more desperately you long for something, the more the world conspires against you. So, I decided not to long for life.”

 

It was a conversation I once shared as a prisoner trapped behind iron bars with a nameless knight. I quickly hid my startled thoughts and tried to recover. “It’s a common saying. Something like an imperial proverb.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“I see.” Regen accepted it without resistance. It was he who brought the topic back on track after the brief detour. “Sir Bellinger is someone who spares no means to achieve his goals. I’m concerned that his desperation, combined with arrogance, might lead to presumptuous actions.”

 

“Presumptuous actions?”

 

“For example…” Looking straight at me, he spoke. “He might try to seduce Sasha.”

 

“…”

 

Seduce? I never expected such a word to come out of Regen’s mouth. And with such a serious expression, no less.

 

As I blinked, Regen continued speaking in a tone full of earnest persuasion. “I’m not joking. Sasha, you’ve won first place in the competition twice. Not only that, you are a member of the imperial family who has unlocked dominion authority up to the fifth level. Sasha is the kind of lord any knight would dream of serving. All the more so for an opportunist like Bellinger. There’s no way he wouldn’t be tempted.”

 

Regen was expressing his concerns to the fullest, but I couldn’t help feeling like I was being flattered with sweet compliments.

 

“Do you think so too, Regen?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Do you desire me too?”

 

“… We’re talking about Sir Bellinger right now, aren’t we?” Regen sighed and ran a hand down his face. There was a hint of lament in his voice, or so it seemed.

 

“I’m not really interested in Sir Bellinger. He’s not my type.”

 

“What if he pretends to be your type and approaches you?” Regen seemed unusually worried about unnecessary things today.

 

“I’m not the type to fall for seduction easily.” I mean, haven’t I been playing the role of a composed princess for over half a year, even with my first love and unrequited crush right beside me? I take pride in my self-control. But it seemed Regen had a different opinion.

 

“You, Sasha?”

 

“…Is it just me, or does that sound like you don’t believe me?”

 

“My apologies.”

 

“…”

 

An apology here was practically the same as an affirmation.

 

I became extremely serious. The person I liked thought of me as a frivolous woman? There was no disgrace comparable to that.

 

“Why do you think that?”

 

“…”

 

“I won’t get mad. Just tell me.” If there was something wrong with my behavior, I was more than willing to reflect on it.

 

“Previously, in the Amethyst Room, you seemed very curious.”

 

“…Ah.” I remembered. I had stared a bit too intently at the men attending Sister Orlette’s bedroom. “I was just flustered at that time.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I wasn’t looking at them in a weird way.”

 

“I see.”

 

“…You don’t seem to believe me. Should I swear? That I won’t even glance at another man from now on?” I said it a bit heatedly, but Regen’s reaction was unexpected.

 

He stopped me in a hurry, as if I had said something incredibly troubling. “There’s no need to go that far.”

 

“Regen?”

 

“I overstepped. I trust Sasha completely, so please don’t make such oaths lightly.”

 

“…”

 

“Please have a madeleine.”

 

What is this about? Was he overly worried that my dominion authority might be diminished? I couldn’t tell what Regen was thinking.

 

I quietly nibbled on the madeleine that Regen had offered me. As the sweetness spread in my mouth, a sweet, low voice wrapped around my ears.

 

“I heard that the imperial memorial rite is approaching. It seems quite different from the events held at the imperial palace so far. Could you tell me what it’s about?”

 

“Of course.” I cleared my throat, took a sip of tea, and explained. “It’s more of a memorial ceremony than an event. There’s no set order of proceedings. You just visit the memorials of the imperial family and offer flowers, and that’s it.”

 

“Where are the memorials located?”

 

“They’re temporarily set up in two places: the main palace and the annex. The main palace houses the memorials of past emperors, while the annex… holds the memorials of my deceased siblings. The annex is a bit eerie. Maybe it’s because of the grudges of those who didn’t die naturally, but there are many accounts of people claiming to have seen ghosts there.”

 

The last part was half a joke. Of course, scaring him with such words was pointless. He was the hero of Lohengrin, after all.

 

“I’ll stay by your side and protect you. You don’t need to be afraid.”

 

“I’ve never been afraid. Who even believes in ghosts?” I retorted, but regretted it a little. I should’ve played along with his joke and pretended to be scared. Then he would have protected me with the utmost tenderness.

 

As I swallowed a sigh at my own slyness, Regen suddenly straightened his expression, becoming serious. “Is there anything I should prepare for that day?”

 

“You? Not really…”

 

“If there’s something Sasha wants, I’ll do it.”

 

“…”

 

His words carried a sense of genuine duty. It took me three blinks to finally understand what Regen was implying. This is bad.

 

The memorial rite was a day to remember and mourn the dead. Long ago, I had lied to him, claiming I had an older brother named ‘Regen’. That meant that on the day of the rite, I was supposed to spend the day grieving, offering flowers to my fictional brother. The color drained from my face. There’s even a name written under the portrait on the altar. If I attended the memorial rite with Regen, my lie would undoubtedly be exposed.

 

“That day…” After drawing in a deep breath, I spoke as though expelling it. “I’m planning to go alone.”

 

“Alone, you say.” Regen stared at me intently. “Wasn’t the reason you took me in as your knight so I could be by your side on days like this?”

 

“No, it’s not that. Now that I think about it, it feels a bit disrespectful to you as well…”

 

“I’m fine with it.”

 

Suddenly, Regen stood up and approached me. With one hand on the table, he leaned down, bringing his face close to mine. For a moment, I almost closed my eyes, thinking he was about to kiss me. I was confused as to whether such proximity was really necessary for a conversation.

 

“Regen, you’re too close…”

 

“You went out of your way to take in a knight who resembles your brother, didn’t you? I don’t mind being a stand-in. I just want to comfort Sasha.”

 

“…”

 

Even though I understood rationally that it was nothing more than a mix of contractual obligation and human kindness, his voice sounded like an intimate temptation. And now, with the hero of Lohengrin making a statement that seemed like he was setting aside his pride in front of me, I felt like I might just delude myself into thinking he considered me special.