Chapter 76

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 76

Chapter Title: The Five Knights and Roxiana Franche (10)

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Adrian, who had been robbed of the first move by Arsen, grumbled the whole time before leaving the dining hall and said to Roxiana,

"Adrian Tellis and the Red Spiders will cover the path you walk with flowers, Your Highness. Oh, and this guy comes as a bonus."

With that, he grabbed Kain's ear from beside him and dragged him over. Kain scowled and smacked Adrian's hand away.

"Why are you making my oath for me?"

"Her Highness is busy, so I'm helping manage her time."

Kain glared at his twin brother with a growl, then stood before Roxiana, who was smiling awkwardly, and thumped his left chest twice with his fist.

"Kain Tellis and the Black Bears will always stand before Your Highness as sturdy shields and hammers that shatter obstacles."

Then, as if embarrassed, he scratched his head and added,

"If there's anything you need, just let me know casually."

Roxiana stood frozen in front of the dining hall, watching the knight captains walk down the corridor. From the moment she heard Arsen's oath until now, an unexpected wave of emotion filled her chest.

In truth, she had expected the knight captains to oppose their decision to live under the name 'Roxiana Franche.' She had even prepared arguments to persuade them if they did. She never dreamed they wouldn't just refrain from opposing but would swear to protect her.

Caught off guard by this unforeseen turn, she hadn't even been able to thank them. 'Thank you' felt far too meager to express the overwhelming feelings in her heart.

Kirshan, who had lingered until the end, whispered,

"I will be poison that kills at Your Highness's command or medicine that saves lives. If there's anything that needs to be handled discreetly, just order me."

Only after Kirshan joined the other knight captains did Roxiana realize she couldn't just stand there like an idiot.

"Everyone..."

Her throat tightened, forcing out a faint voice, but the knight captains' sharp hearing caught it. They stopped and turned back.

Roxiana gazed at the five knights standing at attention.

Arsen Chetek. Adrian Tellis. Kain Tellis. Hexston Leonard. Kirshan Lepe.

They hadn't shared many conversations with her, yet they believed her words completely. They could have dismissed everything she said as lies, but they didn't.

They empathized with her sorrow, sided with her anger, and showed trust in her choices.

So even if her chest felt full to bursting, even if her heart seemed ready to explode, she had to express this properly. She had to convey it.

Roxiana clasped her hands together, bowed deeply at the waist, and said,

"Roxiana Franche will walk tall on the path you have made for me."

Even after the knight captains vanished from sight, Roxiana remained standing blankly in front of the dining hall door.

What had just happened felt like a dream.

"Ahem."

Only after hearing the cough from behind did Roxiana become aware of Floyd's presence. Thinking of how he had watched his knight captains swear their oaths to her made her feel embarrassed and sorry.

Roxiana turned to him and said,

"I'm sorry."

"I don't know what you're apologizing for. For forgetting I existed until now? For leaving me out?"

"No, the knight captains..."

"Arsen. Adrian. Kain. Hexston. Kirshan."

"Pardon?"

"Call them by name from now on. They've sworn oaths, so Your Highness can't keep that distance. Calling them casually by name will be an honor for them."

Come to think of it, her escort knight Robert had said something similar.

-"There's no greater honor than being treated casually by the one I serve. Doesn't it mean I'm doing my job well?"

Roxiana nodded, a bittersweet pang of longing washing over her.

"Yes, I suppose I should."

Even though his knights had sworn before him to protect her, he didn't seem upset. He looked pleased, if anything.

"Are you tired?"

"No."

"Then how about making me a glass of juice in the Lily Palace? I heard from Hexston earlier that Your Highness's drinks are incredible."

"Ah... Yes, sure."

It was quite late, but her heart was still pounding, so sleep seemed far off. Roxiana headed to the Lily Palace with Floyd.

Floyd watched with delighted eyes as Roxiana entered the empty kitchen, lit the fire familiarly, and prepared the juicer. She took out fresh apples, washed them clean, peeled them, cut them into appropriate sizes, and put them into the juicer.

After the noisy grinding, she placed the pulp in a linen cloth and squeezed tightly, and it was done.

"If you like it sweet, I can add a bit of honey."

"No need."

Floyd lifted the bottle filled with juice.

"The weather's nice, so let's drink it in the garden."

It really was nice weather. The Torkan night sky after the rainy season glittered with countless stars densely embedded. The two sat on a bench by the pond, gazing up at the sky for a moment.

"Kanta is still cool at this time of year, but Torkan is already warm. Even at night, it's not chilly."

"This is just the beginning. It'll get hotter in June, and from July, that's real summer."

She couldn't even imagine what Torkan's summer would be like in a place that wasn't even that cold in midwinter.

Roxiana found it strange that she was even noticing the weather like this.

'I guess my heart has some room to spare now.'

If so, that was a relief. Having the leisure to look around was what freed her thoughts. Free thoughts would pave the way for better solutions.

"You've even received oaths from my knights. Now let's talk openly."

Floyd got to the point.

"What do you really want to do, Your Highness?"

Now Roxiana decided to be honest too. Since even his knights had sworn loyalty without showing displeasure, she would reveal what lay within her heart.

'I have to show trust first to earn it in return.'

Even without that reason, she trusted him.

While he was away from Torkan, Roxiana had thought of him often—no, quite frequently. Every time she nearly died, every time she tried to use her power, every time death was mentioned, she recalled Floyd getting angry and raising his voice.

Reflecting on his actions like that, she naturally realized.

Ah, that wasn't anger—it was worry. Not wrath, but anxiety. He was raising his voice and getting upset because he was worried and anxious that I might die, get hurt, not wake up, or fall ill.

Just like her family had long ago. Like when her father got angry after catching her trying to sneak to the circus with Lanian.

That natural understanding turned into trust toward him. And so, Roxiana now decided to make him understand her.

"The first thing I want is to get my family back. And after that."

Roxiana turned her head to look at him. He slowly turned his head too, meeting her eyes.

"I'll make those responsible for my family's deaths pay for their crimes."

"You're putting it so formally. In short, you want revenge, right?"

"Yes, I will. I have to take revenge on them."

He averted his gaze from Roxiana, turned his head forward, and let out a deep sigh.

"Your Highness. Revenge brings nothing."

"No. Revenge does bring something."

"Is that so? What does it bring?"

"Peace of mind."

"......"

"I need to see them pay for their sins to sleep with my legs stretched out straight."

Floyd sighed again. He rubbed his face with both hands and said,

"Your Highness. I've dreamed of revenge just like you. So I know exactly how you're feeling right now, what resolve you've made. No one knows better than I do. But that thing—it's far more exhausting on life than you think."

"Yes, I suppose forgetting it all and living comfortably, enjoyably, happily could be revenge too."

"Exactly. Look at me. This successful magical beast subjugation must be burning Lucas up inside. That bastard's probably locked in the crown prince's palace, gnashing his teeth over my news. He can't even sleep with his legs stretched out. I'm just living my life, and he's losing sleep over me. What could be more satisfying?"

"Of course. Seeing them despair, suffer, and fear every day until they finally kneel before me and beg forgiveness. That would be even more satisfying."

"What about Your Highness's life getting ruined in the process? The more you obsess over them, the more pain you'll feel. Just as they drown in you, you'll drown in them too."

"No, not me."

Roxiana shot to her feet and stood before him.

"Because I have Your Highness."

His head snapped up. His gray eyes, fixed solely on Roxiana, wavered deeply. Looking down into those eyes that held only her, Roxiana said,

"As long as Your Highness is by my side, they won't consume me."

He had pulled her from a narrow box, rescued her from darkness, and paved a path through the muddy mire where there was nothing.

"So please, Your Highness, keep sharing that radiant light before me as you always have. Shine dazzlingly. Then I won't drown in them, won't be devoured by dark emotions, and will walk unwaveringly on the path the knight captains made to reach them."