Chapter 64

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 64

Chapter Title: His Kiss and Her Soul (8)

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The source of the rumors was the stubborn folks who had refused to leave their forest village. They were the ones lingering amid the charred ruins of the woods, holding out hope for the day their home would flourish once more.

On that day, when Roxiana unleashed the spirits' power, those who remained in the village sensed the unnatural disturbance.

The trembling earth, the damp wind shoving aside the brittle air...

Unable to resist their curiosity despite their fear, they ventured outside the village and witnessed the blackened, lifeless forest coming back to life—along with the woman standing at its center.

The tale of the Lily Palace Princess had only buzzed among the grand ducal palace and certain nobles; it meant nothing to common folk. So they had no idea who the platinum-haired woman swaying in the wind might be. But they could tell that the miracle unfolding in the forest had started with her.

Afterward, Floyd and the knight captains—too preoccupied with looking after Roxiana—returned to the grand ducal palace oblivious to the eyewitnesses. By the time they learned of them, the rumors had already spread far and wide.

People called the woman who had healed the forest while surrounded by wind the "Forest Goddess," the "Woodland Fairy," or the "Legendary Elf." Among the forest villagers, who had lost their livelihood only to return thanks to her, she was treated almost like a deity.

It was a headache. The priests despised any mention of a "god" besides Weden.

Arsen spoke up.

"It's impossible to seal everyone's lips completely. Sooner or later, this will reach the ears of the Empire and the Temple. We need to prepare for when they send holy knights and priests to investigate."

Arsen no longer insisted that Roxiana had to leave the grand ducal palace. And no one pointed it out.

Adrian leaned forward.

"My lord, I've been thinking. What if we don't kill the magical beasts emerging from the northwest rift? Instead, we corral them, and when the Temple sends people, we lure the beasts right into their path? Holy knights on an investigation won't be top-tier, and even if it's two or three, they can't handle a horde at once."

Hexston slammed down his beer mug and bellowed heartily.

"That's a brilliant idea! If we're lucky, the holy knights get wiped out. Worst case, they barely escape with their tails between their legs. Just imagining it is hilarious!"

Torkan's knights loathed the holy knights, who strutted around arrogantly and rudely just because they were the "knights of god."

Arsen said,

"Caging magical beasts carries risks, but with care, it's feasible. If we pull this off, the Temple won't dare send anyone to Torkan lightly."

Floyd said nothing in reply, but he was listening closely to his knight captains. Roxiana's power would eventually become known—whether soon or late.

Once the Temple learned of such strange abilities, they'd go mad trying to seize her. If their own forces fell short, they'd beg the Empire for aid without a doubt.

'Come and try it. I'll sweep you all away.'

Floyd had no intention of letting them take Roxiana. Even if it meant becoming enemies of the Grand Temple and the Empire, he would protect her.

'Damn bastards.'

Floyd muttered curses in his mind without realizing who exactly he was cursing. The Empire, the Temple, Lucas and the Gania Kingdom—rage boiled up at everything surrounding Roxiana.

Moreover, memories from long ago, when he had been entrusted to Kanta's Ider Royal Palace, stirred a nauseating pain in his chest each time.

The king's bastard. Trash of the Roba Palace. Cursed whelp.

Back then, he had been called by nicknames more often than his real name, but the Ider Royal Palace alone had been warm. Only those bearing the Franche crest called him by his proper name.

And now, that once-warm palace had fallen into Gania's hands, while the Franche crest-bearers had been slaughtered and dumped into wells.

'Lucas, what grudge do you hold against the princess to commit such atrocities?'

He couldn't comprehend it. He wanted to charge over, grab the bastard by the collar, and demand answers: Did he sleep well after butchering the family he had pledged to join? Wasn't he worried about the hellfire awaiting him after death?

Jaw clenched, he suppressed the surging fury.

The knight captains' discussion continued. Adrian, fork in hand and grinning, chimed in.

"Then, we sneak into Gania. If you entrust it to me, my lord, I can slip in and slit that bastard Lucas's throat. Killing people and tossing them in wells? Just a quick slice to the neck is too merciful."

"He doesn't deserve to live."

Arsen, who should have opposed most vehemently in this situation, agreed with Adrian. The other knight captains jumped in, eagerly debating the most agonizing ways to torture Lucas to death.

Suddenly, the rowdy training grounds fell silent. Knights who had been boisterously drinking turned to stare in one direction. The knight captains halted their colorful torture ideas and followed their men's gazes.

Roxiana was approaching.

She wore no excessive adornments. The light green dress prepared by Head Maid Elledrun was plain, save for the lace at the hem—meant for everyday wear, not parties.

That simplicity only accentuated her beauty.

Wearing no jewelry, her hair neatly combed down, she walked slowly along the central path of the training grounds with perfect posture. Her steady gait made her seem like the Forest Goddess, Woodland Fairy, or Legendary Elf from the rumors swirling in Torkan's capital, Selsar.

Even under everyone's gaze, her eyes remained fixed straight ahead, unwavering.

The knights, who rarely saw noblewomen outside of parties, felt awe at her elegant, refined poise.

Floyd and the knight captains were no different. Floyd stared at her, entranced, until he snapped to his senses and hurried over.

"You've arrived."

"Of course. Thank you for inviting me."

"No need for thanks."

When Floyd offered his hand, she naturally placed hers atop it.

Floyd thought her hand felt so small and delicate it might shatter, so he held it gently.

As Floyd led her to the knight captains' spot, Kirshan, who had been sitting beside him, vacated the seat. Roxiana gave Kirshan a nod of greeting, sat down, and surveyed the knight captains and the knights beyond them.

'They're holding the banquet in the training grounds.'

This was Roxiana's first such feast.

A gathering in a bare training ground, knights and all sitting together to eat and drink. Absurdly boisterous.

Magic stones provided light, but didn't banish the shadows entirely, so she couldn't make out the expressions of the knights watching her.

'Still, since I saved the forest, they won't look at me with the same disapproval as before.'

As Roxiana took slow, deep breaths to hide her tension, Adrian summoned a servant and ordered fine wine brought out.

Even then, the knights remained frozen, staring at Roxiana. Floyd bellowed,

"What are you lot doing? Night's short! Drink up!"

"Yes, sir!"

At their lord's command, the knights roared back and finally looked away from Roxiana.

When the servant brought wine in an elegant bottle, Adrian took it. Roxiana glanced at the strikingly handsome man who had come to pour it beside her himself.

Dull silver hair, green eyes, sleepy half-lidded gaze, and red-rimmed eyes. She had heard he was Kain's twin, but they shared no resemblance. Without others telling her, she never would have guessed they were brothers.

Adrian met her eyes and smiled brightly.

"Princess, you accomplished something incredible. Do you know what they're calling you outside?"

Adrian's husky voice soothed the listener's ears. Realizing the sharp hostility was gone from it, Roxiana felt inner relief as she asked,

"What are they calling me?"

"Forest Goddess, Woodland Fairy, Legendary Elf. Bards are already composing songs about you."

"......How did word of what I did spread?"

Adrian plopped back into his seat and replied,

"There were witnesses. People from the nearby forest village who stayed behind to protect their homes—stubborn types. They saw you."

Roxiana was taken aback.

She never dreamed anyone would remain in that utterly scorched, lifeless forest. If rumors had spread enough to buzz in the capital, the Temple and Empire would soon learn of this miracle too.

Roxiana wasn't sure if Floyd could fight the Temple for her sake.

'It's still not enough. Saving one forest isn't reason enough to ask these people to protect me.'

To mask her unease, she lifted her wine glass to her lips. The rich, sweet aroma wafting to her nose was intoxicating. Startled by the intense fragrance unlike any she'd smelled in Kanta, she peered into the glass as Adrian spoke.