喵绅HCMOIC士网页版

Chapter 95

Chapter 95

The people who came from the Lasker Kingdom to the Empire experienced a hell where a single moment felt like an eternity.

Even though she was practically exiled as a student, she was still a princess. A precious bloodline of the royal family.

She was more important than hundreds of them combined. If anything were to happen to her, they were certain they would be severely punished upon returning to their homeland.

But then, the carriage carrying the princess showed strange movements, and with a loud noise, the wheel broke, the door opened, and the princess was thrown out.

The moment they saw that sight, the same thought came to their minds.

‘Ah, I’m dead.’

For the record, the Imperial officials who were escorting the esteemed guest were in a similar situation.

Even though it was called studying abroad, it was no different from exile. Nevertheless, she was a member of a foreign royal family.

And not just any member, but a direct descendant. She deserved to be treated with respect wherever she went.

And such a person gets into an accident in the Empire, of all places? Whether the Empire was responsible or not, it was certain that they wouldn’t be able to escape blame.

‘Ah, we’re doomed.’

Please, don’t let her be seriously injured. Please. Goddess, why are you giving us such a trial?

Damn those kingdom bastards. Did they plan this? Are they trying to incite resentment towards the Empire by using the princess?!

Various thoughts and misunderstandings swirled together. Negative emotions began to smolder.

So, to cut to the chase, the worst was avoided. No one died, and no one was doomed.

Of course, it wouldn’t be like nothing happened. They almost caused a major incident. They would probably be scolded and reprimanded by their superiors.

But even that was a stroke of luck for these people. At least they didn’t have to worry about their future or their lives anymore.

“Ugh.”

“Huh?”

A young man rushed to the side of the carriage at a speed that even those around him couldn’t notice.

And as if on cue, he caught the Fifth Princess, Lefia, who was thrown from the carriage. More accurately, he saved the lives of the kingdom’s entourage and the Empire’s officials.

“No way. What in the…”

The person who caused yet another absurd incident had a look of disbelief on his face.

* * *

Damn this body. Hey, you damn thing! Why did you jump out on your own?! Huh?!

I saw there were escorts. And there were Imperial guards around them! So why did you clench your teeth and run out there?! I’m going crazy!

I grabbed my head and lamented, but what was done was done, like spilled water. Damn it. Damn it.

“Th-thank you! Lord Karl Adelheit!”

I reflexively put the woman I caught on the ground as people gathered around. Seeing the moisture in their eyes, I immediately realized that the woman I caught was no ordinary person.

No way, I thought. I escaped as soon as I heard the story from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. I thought, no way I’ll run into her like this.

Oh, come on. This is too much of a coincidence, even for me. Why would a princess’s carriage suddenly break a wheel?

No way, really? No, the woman I caught can’t be the Fifth Princess of Lasker… right?

“It’s fortunate! The Fifth Princess of Lasker is unharmed!”

“…”

Fortunate? Ah, yes. I see. That’s fortunate. That’s good. But I’m not fortunate.

As soon as I confirmed that I was involved in another strange incident, I tried to run away. I had a feeling that if I stayed here, I would get caught up in something very troublesome.

But our Empire’s people, as well as the kingdom’s officials escorting the carriage, wouldn’t let me go. ‘Where are you going?! We can’t just let our benefactor go like this!’ They dragged me back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

No, you guys! I just came from there! How can I go back right after leaving?!

I tried to say I had urgent business, but these people wouldn’t listen. Instead, they were muttering that there was a reason why the recipient of the Medal of Honor, a war hero, and the benefactor of the Church was blessed by the Goddess.

I was already sighing at that, but I felt a strange gaze from somewhere and turned my head slightly. There stood the Fifth Princess of Lasker, whom I had caught. As soon as our eyes met, she turned her head away so quickly that I almost heard a whooshing sound.

“…”

Hmm. I’m starting to worry about how to explain this to Selena again.

As I returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minister burst into laughter, looking dumbfounded.

“…It hasn’t even been 30 minutes since you said you were leaving.”

“Indeed.”

The Minister, who kept laughing, looked at the Fifth Princess, who was cautiously walking nearby, and continued.

“I heard the story. You prevented a situation that could have been very awkward for both the Empire and the Kingdom, Karl. That’s impressive, really.”

“My body just reacted instinctively. It’s a curse to have good reflexes in times like these.”

“A curse, you say? What kind of talk is that? As I said before, you’ve just bridged the gap between two nations that could have become uncomfortable.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs continued.

The root of the problem lies with the Lasker Kingdom’s escorts and the carriage they prepared in their homeland.

What kind of idiots wouldn’t even properly check the carriage that a direct descendant of the royal family would be riding in? If they return home now, they’ll face severe punishment, and possibly even execution.

But the Empire isn’t free from responsibility either. For example, the road conditions.

Even if it wasn’t that, an important figure from another country was injured within the ‘Imperial territory,’ so there’s no way to avoid criticism.

“Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Ministry of Land and Infrastructure, could have been caught in the crossfire. Of course, we can’t pretend like nothing happened, but it’s a hundred, a thousand times better than if something had happened, Karl.”

So, you’re saying I saved the livelihoods of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Land and Infrastructure officials?

That’s not bad. Protecting others is always a good feeling for me. It’s like it’s engraved in my soul, the negative emotions that come when I fail to protect someone are so overwhelming that it’s almost serious.

“Have you spoken to her?”

“The Fifth Princess?”

“Yes. You saved her, didn’t you?”

“That’s true, but she’s still a foreign dignitary. I didn’t think it would be particularly beneficial for me to have a conversation with her.”

Above all, she’s from the Lasker Kingdom. The kingdom of knights, the one my father completely destroyed.

Even though time has passed, it would still be uncomfortable for both of us. It’s better to keep our distance and be cautious.

I glanced at the woman who was the Fifth Princess. Priests from the Church, who seemed to have been summoned from somewhere, were checking her for injuries. The princess was waving her hand, saying she wasn’t hurt.

The escorts were apologizing profusely for their grave mistake, but the princess told them not to worry, saying she wasn’t bothered at all.

‘It’s unclear whether this is studying abroad or exile.’

I feel sorry for her. I even feel a bit of pity. It’s miserable to be exiled, but to be cast out to a foreign land, not even your homeland… I know too well how painful it is to struggle in a place that isn’t home.

But that’s it. She’s a foreign dignitary, so it’s not my business to get involved any further. She’ll have to figure it out on her own.

I hope the academy will be a turning point for her, like it was for me in the military.

“Ah, Karl. That reminds me. I’m thinking of recommending you for another Highest Order of Merit.”

“Excuse me?”

“What do you mean ‘excuse me’? I just said it all. Thanks to you, neither the Empire nor the Kingdom has to lose face. It may not be as significant as recovering the sacred relic of the Church, but it’s enough to warrant a medal.”

I immediately shook my head at the minister’s words. One is enough. I’d like to decline duplicate drops.

* * *

“Let me check one more time. Are you sure you’re not hurt anywhere? It’s okay even if there’s no pain. Just tell me if you feel any discomfort.”

“I’m really fine, Priest. Thank you.”

“I’ve committed a grave sin, Your Highness! Please, please punish me!”

“Stop it. It was unavoidable. And nothing happened, so I’m really fine.”

After reassuring the priests, who seemed ready to examine my body thoroughly, and calming down my people, who seemed ready to bang their heads on the ground, I was finally able to take a breath.

“…”

Unconsciously, I recalled the warmth I felt a moment ago, the reliable embrace.

A stranger, the first man I’ve ever been held by. I felt embarrassed, but why did my heart keep pounding, filling me with confusion?

I once heard that everyone in the world carries a wish in their heart. Whether it’s big or small, absurd or realistic, it doesn’t matter. It’s just a longing that people have because they are human.

I also had such a wish. It might be a bit foolish, but what I wanted was…

‘I wish the person who claims half of my life would be someone I truly love. Someone I’m connected to through my heart, not through political factors or anything else.’

I know. I know how foolish this wish is. As a princess, it’s almost impossible.

Marrying someone chosen for me and serving the kingdom and the royal family has been the fate of all princesses so far. No one has ever escaped this fate.

Even the queens recorded in the kingdom’s history were no exception. They all found their partners based on political considerations.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t easily give up this wish. Like all wishes, it was too fervent. And the fact that my current situation wasn’t so great also played a role.

No matter how you look at it, I’m in a situation where I can never get close to the throne. I have mediocre talent, and I even think my personality is too weak.

All I have left is my status as a princess and my body. I was destined to be a woman sold off. That’s why it was an impossible wish. I thought it was something I wanted but couldn’t have.

‘And yet…’

That expression was still vivid in my mind. The expression of the man who caught me in his arms.

His relieved face. The undisguised relief that I wasn’t hurt.

Of course, it disappeared in a matter of seconds. But that moment felt like an eternity to me.