It didn't sting. There was no pain, no shock, nothing that hit Shayla.
The moment she raised the knife, the big man's body was blown to the side with a tremendous sound. ...... It was an impossible move, considering the common sense.
There it is. ....... It's really heartbreaking.
And in the space where the big man disappeared. And in the space where the big man had disappeared, there was a new person, who I could swear had not been there a moment ago, standing aloof, with an attitude that seemed natural.
The person glanced at the sleeping Shayla.
"Are you okay? Can you get up?
Oh, ...... yes.
Yes. It's not safe for you to lie down, so get up and stand if you can.
I'm not sure what to make of this. ...... I'm sure the boy (who looks no older than Shayla) could have helped by kicking the big man out of the way. His attitude and words are far from that of a passing hero who saves the day.
The big man was blown away and hasn't come back, but there are still five people left in this place, including the minion. The crisis may not be over, but Shayla knew instinctively that it was.
(Maybe this guy is not a hard man. ......)
The kidnappers who are just a bit strong-armed are different from those who exude a certain air. The kind of person who specializes in that kind of thing, the kind of person you don't have to deal with as long as you live in the peaceful world.
The daughter of a merchant and a member of the nobility, Shayla knew that there were people who specialized in such things. Of course, having lived an unremarkable life, this was the first time she had actually met one.
The kidnappers were screaming and yelling while Shayla stood up from her aching body, terrified of the person who was supposed to be helping her.
"What the hell are you ...... doing?
Get out of my way! That little girl is ours!
You little shit! That's bullshit!
Hey! I thought this place was supposed to be undetected!
I could tell by his demeanor that he wasn't listening to any of that noise.
When he was sure that Shayla was on her feet, he said in a very normal, unassuming voice.
I'm... I'm in a really bad mood right now. --I'll turn it off if you come at me.
I'm in a really bad mood right now.
Even Shayla, who had never been involved in any rough stuff, could feel it. Even Shayla, who had never been in a rough situation before, could feel it. The fear felt by the men who had some experience in the field was probably nothing compared to Shayla's. The men who were screaming were speechless with their mouths open.
"Oh, my God!
A few beats later, as if in unison, they all ran away.
--Seeing the men running, Shayla came to her senses. Without pausing to think, she shouted.
No! The man at the far end, the one with the brown jacket! Don't let that man get away!
He was unfazed by Shayla's unpredictable cry. Almost as soon as his hand moved, the man who had been trying to escape into the woods lost his balance and fell. In the event that you've got any questions concerning where by and how to use the internet, you can contact us at our own web site. The fire was still burning and the area around the abandoned shack should be bright, but Shayla couldn't see how the boy had moved or what he had done.
"This is the right guy, right?
"Oh, ...... yes. Thank you.
Shayla thanked him and reached into the left breast pocket of the man she was working with. The paper touched her fingertips, and this time she grabbed it firmly and pulled it out. As she approached the fire, she checked the contents.
"The King has called a special session of Parliament to discuss the execution of the Red Rose and the need to make his crimes known. The time is 10 a.m. tomorrow. At that time, I will inquire into the Red Rose's murder of his favorite princess. At the end of the night as planned, murder Sheila Callerd. But make sure everyone knows her death was orchestrated by the Red Rose. The specifics of the operation will be left to you.
Shayla's eyes widened to the extreme. As expected, the Marquis was involved in this paper, but it was not the instructions that left Shayla speechless.
"What ...... this. "Execution by Red Rose.
"What? Nothing. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. In fact, the Red Rose is currently in the dungeons of the royal palace.
The blood in my body boiled.
"Don't be silly! I'm sure you're not the only one. I can't forgive you for letting the Red Roses run amok, for letting Master Sophia run amok, for letting Dee suffer. Dee, who doesn't hesitate to take poison to protect everything, would never kill anyone! Such a kind, noble person--my best friend! You're going to kill her just because she's in the way of the conservatives?
That was sweet. Shayla gritted her teeth.
The conservatives were not planning to blame Deanna for the outburst of the Red Rose Faction and take the Red Rose chair away from her. What the conservatives were planning was not such a lukewarm plan.
It was more direct. Definitely. They were working to literally "eliminate" anyone who got in their way.
(Because I was so carelessly tricked and taken away by Belle...!
Why wasn't I more vigilant at that time? I'm beyond angry at myself for being so stupid, I feel nauseous.
As Shayla clutched the paper so tightly that her blood stopped flowing, she heard a whoosh of air behind her.
It's a good idea to take a look at the website and see if you can find anything that might help you. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for and what you're going to get from it. ...... I wasn't aware of this, but it was his voice, not the minion's, that answered Shayla's question earlier.
...... What is it?
"No? I knew you would have noticed. "Who is 'Dee'?
With that one word, the mystery was solved. --Could he be...
"Do you work for Dee's ...... 'Red Rose'?
"I don't deny that I'm on Dee's side, but I don't work for him. I am by Dee's side by my own will. That's all I am.
"So, ......, you're the one who helped me.
He chuckled pompously.
"Too bad. And if you say, 'Then why don't you help Dee? I could have given up on you without question.
I can only imagine how difficult it would be for Dee to make any kind of move when she doesn't know whether I'm safe or not. If you were really on Dee's 'absolute side', you wouldn't be so caught up in the immediate danger that you would make her regret it to the end of her life. ...... For Dee's sake, you came to my rescue. Isn't that right?
The silent smile was the most eloquent affirmation of all. Shayla's shoulders relaxed.
Sheila's shoulders relaxed. "Can you wait a little longer to thank me?
I don't need to thank you for what you've done for Dee. --You're going back, aren't you?
I'm leaving. I'm going back. ...... I'm sure they're waiting for me, worried about me.
For the sake of the people I care about. We have to go back and destroy it. We have to go back and destroy the plans of the real bad guys, the ones who only care about gaining power.
Execute Deanna? I'm not gonna let that happen.
"...... is a lot different than what I've been told.
I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it'll be fine. It seems that the man who had captured him had also forgotten, and he shouted, "Oh.
I've been asked a lot of questions, haven't I? Let's bury the hatchet.
I'm not interested in your love triangle. I'm not interested in your love triangle to the death. Who would believe that a favored princess and an underworld hero are competing for the Red Rose?
...... Is that what you were talking about?
I don't think so. ......
I'm very reluctant. In the first place, Diana is not the kind of person you can fight with.
The man chuckles at Shayla's pouting lips.
"Don't be so glum, my lady. You've won.
"I didn't win ......, 'princess'?
Well, Shayla is the king's consort, so she's the queen.
She's the only one in this country who can officially be called a queen.
You're going to become one eventually, right? If that's the case, then it doesn't matter if she's called that now.
There are many things that need to be addressed, but for now, there are only problems, that's for sure. I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure I'm not the only one.
Sighing, she turned to her minion. --There was still something he wanted to ask.
I may not have won, but I'm going to survive. Can you tell me the name of the 'Marquis' you've been instructed by?
"......, man. I can't betray that thing no matter what I do.
You don't look like you respect him. Are you being held hostage?
The man laughed bitterly at the boy's words.
This is why I hate real businessmen. This is why I don't like it when real businessmen find out things I want to hide.
"No, they don't see through anything, they just do what they're told. --Like a sick sister?
It was her mother who was sick. The mother was sick, and we're stuck in that house for the rest of our lives because of the debts. I'm the Marquis' slave and my sister is the next Marquis' ...... toy.
"Oh, I see. If you betray me on the outside, my sister in the mansion will ...... be the pattern?
I'm sure you'll find a lot of stories like this lying around back there.
If you do business with the aristocracy, you'll find a lot of stories like that. It's not easy to find something as disgusting as this.
I wonder if it's ....... I'm sure it's an incredibly heavy story, but the tone of the boy's words is so light all the way through that it feels like no big deal.
Before Shayla could even think about it, the boy let the man go.
"You're lucky, kid. The one who sent me here is a softie who can't leave people like that alone.
"From what you just said at ......, it's the Red Rose?
I'm sure you're not the only one. If you leave the house tomorrow, you'll never come back. Why don't you take your sister and run away while the landlord's away?
But the proof is at .......
There is no way in this country that the cost of treating a parent's illness will exceed the lifetime salary of two children. It's a scam between a corrupt loan shark and the Marquis, a scam. Check the deeds and you'll see it's illegal. If you want, I can give the Cresta family a heads up.
"...... can you get away with this? Really?
Believe it or not, it's your call. I can't be a part of your decision.
Covering his face with his palms, the man began to tremble. This is not crying. ......
It's not crying. It's laughing.
He's laughing. The man who was supposed to be the kidnapper is shaking and laughing.
"Kid ....... You don't really care about me, do you?
"Needless to say, I don't care. It's not my business if you're manipulated to death by the Marquis, or if you give up your sinking ship and run away with your sister, or if you abandon her and betray the Marquis.
That's the truth. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.
...... If I abandoned you here, she would certainly be very upset.
If I were on my own, I'd do whatever I could, but Shayla's here now," he continued, looking ...... like he was in a lot of trouble.
I don't have a lot of time, so I want you to decide quickly. If you want to be loyal to the Marquis, I'll kill you right here.
"Who would die for that disgusting bald man? I'll take my sister and run. --That mansion is full of servants just like us. If you have any contacts, I'd like to ask you for a letter of credit.
All right. I will.
You really don't seem to care. ...... Oh, yeah.
The man who looked like a different person than the one who had confronted her in the cabin turned to Shayla. He rummaged through his pockets and pulled out a small white cloth package.
"Here, my lady. Here's a parting gift for you, brave one. If you use it well, it could be even more conclusive evidence than that piece of paper ......?
"Yeah, .......
"Evidence," I reflexively accept. The man laughed.
"You know what it is and how to use it, kid. You'll have to tell me when we get back to King's Landing.
"Well, I can imagine. Just three times?
......, you're a real piece of work, aren't you?
If you're gonna snoop, I'll turn it off. I'm in a bad mood.
I told you. I'm not interested. I'm just checking.
The man shook his head and looked up at the sky.
"The meeting starts at ten, right? That's pretty late if you want to bring the princess back.
Someone had the decency to run all the way back here.
It's not my fault. It was the Marquis who told me to use this place. It's a hole in the ground and you'll never find it.
"...... Hmm?
With a thin smile, the boy shrugs his shoulders.
"If you're going to run, why don't you just run? If you're going to run, why don't you just run away? You don't want anyone to see you with us.
I'm not sure what to do. ...... Oh well. I'll take your word for it and disappear. I'll leave the rest to you.
He bowed silently to Shayla, and this time the man disappeared into the forest. I saw him off and muttered to myself.
I wonder if you and your sister will be able to escape safely. ......
I'm sure they'll be fine. I'm sure he's not stupid.
He replied that he really didn't seem to be interested. He was not trying to hide his embarrassment, but he didn't care whether the man lived or died.
He looks at the paper in his hand and the mysterious white package. He folds the paper and puts it away in his pocket so he doesn't lose it. ...... When I first put on the sleeves, I wondered how such a simple nightgown could have such a storage function, but I guess it was for just such an occasion. I was able to bring the hairpin with me thanks to this embankment.
Thinking about it, I remembered.
"Yes, the hairpin!
"Hairpin?
It was a present I gave to Dee, but I picked it up when it fell and brought it here. I just found it around there. ......
I picked it up and brought it here." As I explained, I ran to the area where the hairpin would have been blown. The light was hard to reach at the edge of the hall, but there was no way he could leave it there.
As you look around frantically for it, you see a boy some distance away bend down and pick something up.
"This?
"Yeah, ...... and that's it!
No doubt. It's a Snow Moon hairpin with a swinging ornament on the end of a long, thin stick.
He picks it up and looks at it gloomily.
I don't know much about women's ornaments, but is this a hairpin? Isn't it kind of thin?
"Isn't it an unusual shape? In countries far to the east, hairpins are said to be shaped like this.
"Oh, I see. It certainly looks good on Dee.
It looked good on her. It's a pity I couldn't take a closer look at ...... and say so.
Why don't you go home and give it to him and say so? It's a little rusty around here and there, but I'm sure it can be fixed up and cleaned up.
He handed it to me and I looked at it, and sure enough, there were some rusty spots on the bar. It was not so noticeable, so I didn't notice it until he told me.
Shayla's heart sank at the thought of her gift to Dee.
"Is it because I used it to fight back against the guys? ......
"Oh, what? What? You didn't fight them with that?
Not really a fight. I just poked the guy in the throat with it to get him out of the cabin.
Wow, that's amazing.
You look like a young lady who couldn't kill a bug," the boy laughed and shook his head.
'That rust has nothing to do with Miss Shayla's attack. If you poked her in the throat, you used the tip, right? The rust is only on the stick, and the tip is shiny.
But then why would it be rusty? ......
When did the hairpin fall off?
It was when ...... Dee knocked over the table to save me.
As she said this, Shayla remembered. --"That's when Dee knocked over the table to save me." As she spoke, Shayla remembered one of the reasons why silverware was so valuable to the nobility.
She looked at the boy as if she hadn't thought of it, and he smiled meaningfully.
I'm not sure why a brand new silver hairpin would have such an unnatural rusty appearance. I'm sure that's the reason why .......
Then again, ......
The horror of the feast is back. It's not just the horror of Shayla's own life being threatened.
Dee is ...... safe?
I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.
I'm not sure what to make of it, but I think it's a good idea.
"If we're talking about safe or not safe, she's in the dungeon awaiting execution, so she's not safe. If you're talking about alive or dead, the poison has worn off and I'm fine.
So you're saying that the poison wasn't very strong. ......?
No. It's just that Dee's a substandard young lady. If Shayla had eaten it, she would have been out.
I'm not sure what to make of this. I'm not sure what to say about Deanna, who usually survives dying of poisoning, but if she's still alive, she's good for now.
The boy smiles quietly, as if he knows that Shayla is satisfied. The boy smiles quietly.
By the way, if you have no more business here, I think we should hurry back to the palace, don't you?
"Of course. I have to go back and stop this nonsense about executing Dee.
Well, let's get the fire going and get going. Miss Shayla, do you have a light to shine under your feet?
No, I'm from ........ The men had one in the hut.
Well, I'll borrow it. I'll put out the fire. Can you get it for me?
Of course, Shayla had no objections. Shayla put her precious hairpin in the embers and ran into the hut. The lamp seemed to have enough oil, and it was dutifully lighting up the empty hut.
(Quickly, ......, I have to get home.)
(Quickly, , I have to go home.) Resenting myself for my stupidity and bemoaning myself for my helplessness will come after everything is over.
(Quick, ......, I have to go home.) I'd rather blame myself now and not be able to get up.
If you can't see that it's impossible for Dee to hurt me. If you can't even see that it's impossible for Dee to hurt me, then I'll never forgive you this time!
Knowing full well that she was taking it out on him, Shayla . I'll never forgive you again!
† † † † † † †
'By the way, if you have no more business here, I think we should hurry back to the palace, don't you?
'Of course. We have to go back and stop this nonsense about executing Dee.
(Why, ...... why, why, why, why!
She was trembling with emotion as she watched the scene that should never have happened.
I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do it.
Even more so, that she would get the important piece that would save the Red Rose and return to the royal palace.
It was all an impossible future.
It's a good idea to take a look at the website to see if there's anything you can do to help. ...... It was that future that she saw. --I'm not sure what to do.
I'm not sure what to make of it. It is a muddy stream of destruction that will eventually bring ruin to this country.
What's wrong with wanting to avoid destruction and have a prosperous country?
Fools who do not understand such things are not worth living.
She and the others took a long time to slowly, carefully, and unnoticed, sink their hands into the heart of the kingdom.
They weakened the innovators who were on a roll. To weaken the innovators who had been on a roll, and to increase the power of the conservatives. --King Jurgen was enthroned.
Finally, finally, we've come this far .......
(You ...... "Red Rose"! Deanna Clester!
She... I'm sure you'll be able to understand why I'm not a fan of your work.
At the head of the descendants of the fools gathered in the rear court. She stood tall against the conservatives and strengthened her presence. The Landlord's daughter was not good enough to compete with Deanna Crester, and before he knew it, the court was dominated by innovators.
Foolishly, the king held a garden party to show the court that Deanna was in charge, even if it was only for the family members of her entourage.
(Deanna Crester is our obstacle. (Deanna Crester is our obstacle. ...... She is a hindrance that must be eliminated.
At that party, Diana's fate was as good as decided .......
In the palace, on the road.
No matter how many times you try to kill her directly, she will not die. As a prerequisite, Deanna, who is constantly guarded by skilled workers, has few opportunities to kill. In order to make sure that she doesn't miss one of her few opportunities, she desperately reads the time, and even if she tries when she's really alone, she'll be interrupted like she planned.
If you can't kill her, you'll have to leave. If you can't kill her, you'll have to leave the stage.
I'm not sure what to make of that.
I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one.
The Cresta family is a strong opponent. But even they have their weaknesses.
If Deanna's life is in danger, they will put her first. --If Diana's life is in danger, they will make her their priority, even if there is a "favored princess" who is more likely to die than her.
When a family member abandons their beloved friend's favorite princess to save themselves. Deanna's heart would be torn to pieces, and she would not continue to stand as the Red Rose, no matter how much the royal court begged her to do so.
Kill the Favored Princess and eliminate the Red Rose. That was their true goal. It seems that the conservatives in the palace are serious about executing the Red Rose, but they are really stupid if they think they can kill Clester, who has been framed for a crime he didn't commit through this multi-layered trap.
Conservatives' delusions of grandeur notwithstanding, things were going as they were supposed to.
In the Star-Gazing Banquet, Deanna is trying to save Shayla, and in the end, she gets poisoned and can't move.
And while Deanna was stuck, she took Shayla out of the palace.
And to have House Crestor turn its sights on the conservatives in the palace by blaming Deanna for the crime.
Everything, everything-- everything went according to plan.
This time, the plan cannot fail. It's rare for the girls who usually don't come out in the open, but they were actively involved during the execution.
When Crestor and the others found out about the pawns' involvement sooner than expected, they provided them with the tools to carry out their plan without meeting face to face.
I also carefully prepared for the poisoning and kidnapping by setting up a ward to prevent any interference.
So much for caution. We worked hard to make it work.
(But why ......? !)
The key to our plan, the killing of the Favored Princess, will be foiled!
(No. ....... I know what I'm doing.
Even the Cresta's tried to kill Diana when she got separated from the others at the Descent service.
(No, really, I know.) When she tried to kill Diana, the lone straggler at the descent service, with her mind and actions, when even the Cresta family couldn't touch her.
--The fact that he rushed to her in this moment of crisis.
(You always tear down the most important part...)
Who are you?
"Who are you?
My body shuddered. A man who was a sinker for the Red Rose, a man who was capable but seemed to be nothing more than that.
--He was called Kai, he was still a boy, he was still a boy.
I finally got him. ...... It's you, isn't it? You're the one who kept me from protecting Dee, you annoying bastard.
Never visible, never noticed, transcending distance and obstacles.
"Sneaking around, being a pain in the ass.
With his outstretched arm, he grasped the core of her.
(Stupid ......!!!)
I stood up from the chair I was sitting in. He was still in front of the abandoned hut where he had been keeping his favorite princess, while she was far away at the end of the peninsula. Beyond that distance, the voice is so direct that it creates the illusion of being right next to him. ...... No.
(In the first place, ...... "nobody" grabbed the "core" ......!
"Hmmm? You still think you're so naive?
I shudder. Something crawled up my spine. If he's got the core, he can't know your thought process. She knew that, but she had never experienced anything like it before.
You don't think you're the only ones who are out of the ordinary, do you? It is true that this country does not operate in such a way as to understand this kind of power. I'm sure you're not the only one who's out of the norm. ...... Just because you can interfere with time, you think you're above other people, so you miss things that you could have figured out if you'd just used your head.
I heard an auditory hallucination. It's a good thing that you're not the only one who has a problem with this.
(Oh ...... aaaaah!)
Hot, cold, hot, cold. The hallucinations of pain hit her all at once. Unable to even speak, she flailed about.
(That's a lie ......, this, this!
I am. I hate cowardly little people like you who look down on others who are different from them, who think they are standing on a higher plane, and who treat people as pawns without trying to get involved.
(Aaaaaaaaah!
It's coming. I know it by instinct.
--It's time to end it.
"Next time, if you're going to be tinkering around behind the scenes, do your research on what's in the enemy camp first. You have to be prepared to be chewed up by the fangs of a lion before you come here.
Oh, but I can't do that anymore.
...... The voice that came out of her mouth was even gentler at this point.
The last thing she heard was...
You're not going to get another one, are you?
The voice of the lioness, without any mercy.
--And the dry sound of her own core being shattered.