Chapter 43

Chapter 40

 

“It’s an assassin!” A knight near Siegfried shouted.

 

The party drew out their swords at the same time. An arrow struck the waist of Siegfried’s horse. It was at that moment I discovered the source of my unknown anxiety that wrapped my skin.

 

– Swish!

 

Several arrows flew in succession. It looks like there were not only one or two assassins seeing the arrows shooting from all directions.

 

“Woah! Stop!”

 

Holding his sword in one hand, Siegfried pulled the horse’s reins in surprise. The suddenly injured horse didn’t know how to calm down.

 

“Protect His Highness at all costs!” Abbysion shouted at the same time he deflected an arrow.

 

Most of the arrows were flying towards Siegfried. No wonder it was so quiet these days, but the assassin showed up just as it was worth forgetting. Killian was shooting an arrow to the nearest from Siegfried.

 

“Aack!”

 

A knight was hit by an arrow and fell.

 

I hurriedly approached Siegfried. The number of arrows was increasing. Siegfried would usually have been able to prevent their attack, but the horse he was riding was acting recklessly.

 

It was almost impossible for him to shoot an arrow in that state. I struck the arrows flying nearby and stuck close to him.

 

“Your Highness, are you hurt?”

 

“No. Be careful.”

 

Siegfried was contemplating whether he would rather jump off his horse. Meanwhile, another arrow pierced the horse’s buttocks.

 

Hiing! The horse was distressed and prepared to run. I cut the arrow that flew to our direction again.

 

This will be endless at this rate. I put my sword back in, then leaned over, and took over a bow and a barrel of arrows. Seeing me, Abbysion and Milliard were ready to shoot arrows. The basic attack was already being blocked by the knights, so it was our turn to counterattack. I aimed at where the arrow came from just now.

 

– Swiick!

 

“Aack!”

 

Fortunately, it was a hit, and I could hear an assassin falling on the bushes. Soon, several arrows started shooting from our side as well. The number of arrows from the assassin’s side gradually decreased. I paused as I was drawing another arrow.

 

The coming arrows were all rushing towards Siegfried. No, Siegfried will inevitably hurt his shoulder if he gets hit by that. I was so sure at that moment – the scene that I had seen beforehand, of Siegfried getting shot by an arrow and falling from his horse.

 

– Swish!

 

I had no idea how I saw such a vivid scene. I hurriedly stretched out my hand and,

 

– Tak!

 

“Th-the arrow that was flying right now….” A knight nearby murmured.

 

My hand was tingling, but it was tolerable. I held an arrow in one hand and looked down at my slightly skinned palm.

 

“It hurts…”

 

I frowned at his impression. After a while, an arrow broken in half fell on the floor.

 

“Your Highness!”

 

Hiing! 

 

I never felt the pain on my palm. In the end, Siegfried’s horse rushed out; I followed him at once. Arrows continued to shoot in succession, but Abbysion and the knights blocked it for me.

 

I put my bow on my shoulder and kicked the horse hard on its waist. Siegfried’s horse was running with great speed. I succeeded in preventing him from getting an injury on his shoulder for now, but he would bruise his whole body if he ever fell down from his horse.

 

The muscles of my body were throbbing as I sprinted for a while, but Siegfried and his horse had gone too far that they became a tiny dot. At some point, I lost him.

 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

 

It was to the point where I thought Siegfried disappeared that I wouldn’t find him.

 

“Ariel, here.”

 

But I was finally relieved when I heard Siegfried’s voice behind me. It looks like he fell on the soft bushes as he removed the leaves sticking on him.

 

“Ah, what was that? I was surprised.”

 

I pressed down on my heart that felt like it was going to explode off my throat from running around like crazy. Fortunately, Siegfried looked alright with no injuries. I smiled in relief that he was safe.

 

“I was surprised too. It was so easy. It happens often in the Imperial Palace, so I was used to threats like this, but these days I’ve been very relaxed.”

 

Siegfried walked towards me.

 

I jumped off the horse and looked around. I don’t know how far we’ve gone; there were trees and trees around us, and except for that, Siegfried and I were the only ones around.

 

“Are you talking about yourself, Your Highness?”

 

“I don’t know. I hope someone will find him and treat his wounds.”

 

Siegfried clicked his tongue. It was unlikely that we will meet the assassin again as we’ve gone too far, but I was at a loss on how to find our party.

 

“Are you hurt anywhere else?”

 

“You are the one who got hurt. It was the first time I saw a person holding an arrow with his hand.”

 

“But I think Your Highness can also do it.”

 

“I don’t know because I haven’t done it. How did you do it?”

 

“It was my first time too. Ah, but somehow… I think I knew where the arrow was going.”

 

I scratched my cheek. Perhaps this is because I’ve read the novel before, though I don’t remember a scene like this.

 

“I’m alright. Anyway, what should we do now? I don’t know the way to go back.”

 

“It would be better to wait here in such cases. This is better than going out alone and meeting the assassins again.”

 

“Are you worried about the assassins?”

 

“I don’t think so.”

 

I was joking, but I actually meant it. If I shot arrows while riding on the horse behind Siegfried, I thought the assassin would be rather nervous.

 

“Then let’s take a break, while waiting for Abbysion to quickly find us.”

 

I tied the horse to a tree. The leaves were so dense that I couldn’t even see the sky, so I couldn’t even tell the time.

 

“Show me your hand,” Siegfried said.

 

The wounds are a little deeper because I was holding the reins too tightly. Siegfried looked down on my hand and frowned.

 

“Do you have some ointment left?”

 

“Yes, fortunately.”

 

We sat down next to the tree where the horses were tied. Siegfried stretched out his arms at me, getting up to bring the ointment.

 

“Wait. I’ll bring it.”

 

Siegfried took a bottle of ointment and water from his luggage bag. I sat down again and looked up at his beautiful face without any humiliation.

 

How can his nose be so pointed? Even his jawline was perfect as if it was carved out of a marble.

 

Siegfried didn’t say anything as if he was used to me appreciating his beauty now. He sat next to me and opened the lid of the water bottle.

 

“You can’t use it all. Because you never know when Abbysion will come. That is the only water we have.”

 

“I know.”

 

How can someone pour water like that? He grabbed my palm and poured the water making  a splashing sound, and I jumped up.

 

“Save it! I told you, save water!”

 

“I left enough for you to drink.”

 

“Then what about Your Highness?”

 

“I can stand it. If it doesn’t work out, then I can drink water from the leaves.”

 

“I’m sorry for saying this, but….”

 

“Say it. You’re really good at saying sorry.”

 

I didn’t even know that Siegfried knew of my special talent when I had no idea about it. But by the way, who’s saying that to whom? When Siegfried had a fearful mouth.

 

“Don’t get stomach ache after drinking rotten water. Nothing is clean here.”

 

“Huuu….”

 

“That’s why I am apologizing.”

 

“I don’t care, because washing your wounds is more important than having an upset stomach.”

 

“You’re coming in from a strange place.”

 

Siegfried silently applied the ointment to my hand as if he didn’t understand what I was saying. It was painful, but I thought he would say sorry to me if I pretended to be sick, so I decided not to show it.

 

His thick, rough hands carefully held my hand and looked over it. As he said before, my hand was obviously small compared to his.

 

Siegfried checked my arms after applying ointment. He pulled out a clean, folded handkerchief.

 

“Don’t tell me, you’ll use that to cover my hand, right? When you had your stomach ache later, that’s the perfect size to….”

 

“… In a way, you are amazing.”

 

“Hehe.”

 

“It’s not a compliment.”

 

“I know it’s a compliment.”

 

Regardless of what I was saying, Siegfried didn’t care and wrapped my palm in his handkerchief. When he finished treating my wound, there was nothing left for us to do. I lay down on my back.\n 

“You’ll get dirt on your hair.”

 

“I can wash it.”

 

“When do you think Abbysion will come?”

 

Siegfried grunted and placed his hand on the back of my head. His warm palms were surprisingly thick, so they did a great job as a simple pillow.

 

“Would Your Highness also lie down? I can’t see the sky at all, so I feel a little trapped.”

 

“What do you like about that?” Siegfried asked absurdly.

 

I smiled softly and closed my eyes.