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Chapter 19 Short, dark chestnut hair and green eyes. Enoch recognized the man immediately. Diego Sebastian Biltherheim. Commander of the Imperial Guard, bearing the title "Blade of the Langrid Empire." When Kaiden had appeared, my attention was elsewhere, so I ‌‌hadn't given it much thought, but the situation was unfolding in a peculiar manner. The crown prince of the Empire, the Young Lady of the Floné Duchy, the Imperial Guard commander, and the Archmage—all were influential figures within the Langrid Empire. "Please wait a moment, Your Highness. How on ‌‌earth did this come to pass?" Diego stared at Enoch with a bewildered expression. "That's precisely what I should be asking you, Commander Biltherheim." Commander Biltherheim. The moment the formal title was invoked, Diego's body responded instinctively. He knelt on one knee with his fist pressed ‌‌‌to his chest, bowing his head. Enoch slowly surveyed Diego's ‌‌appearance. He was dressed in the uniform of the Langrid Empire's Imperial Guard. I had awakened on the Island in my crown prince's regalia, having been on duty, but Diego seemed equally encumbered by his formal attire. "How did you come to be on this Island, Commander?" "I am equally bewildered, ‌‌Your Highness. I lost consciousness during training, and when I came to, I found myself collapsed on the riverbank." Diego's answer came with an earnest expression that betrayed no hint ‌‌of deception. "And how did you come to be here, Your Highness?" "The same as you, Commander. I was ‌‌attending to matters at the Imperial Palace ‌‌‌when I opened my eyes ‌‌to find myself here." Enoch irritably swept his hair back and ‌‌‌regarded Diego. "Have you discovered anything? Any means of calling for rescue?" ‌At Enoch's quiet question, Diego shook his head. He released a succession of frustrated sighs. "I cannot fathom how we arrived here. There are two companions with me, and they are equally bewildered." Diego found himself in the same predicament as Enoch. Yet I could not be certain how much of his account to trust. I trusted Diego as he was in the Langrid Empire, but I could not trust him as he was on this Island. The identity of whoever had brought them all here remained unknown. "Wait—you have companions?" "Ah yes, Your Highness knows them as well. It appears that Asdal and Archbishop Rujeep also awakened on ‌‌this Island." At Diego's response, Enoch's eyes widened in disbelief. "Archbishop Rujeep?" "Yes, that is correct. Archbishop Rujeep of the Papal See." At Diego's matter-of-fact answer, Enoch let out a hollow laugh. Even the clergy could not escape this calamity. Truly, there is no God. I found myself laughing bitterly without intention. Enoch gazed down at Diego, who remained steadfastly kneeling on one knee before him. Since I could trust no one at present, I could not afford to extend goodwill to Diego prematurely. And least of all to Asdal and Archbishop Rujeep.... Among them, I harbored particular disdain for Asdal. His nature was exceedingly arrogant. Moreover, our enmity stretched back to childhood. "The crown prince and a foreign prince, an archbishop, and the Imperial Guard commander.... For mere coincidence, it seems we have gathered only the most prominent figures of the Langrid Empire and the Hestia Kingdom." Among my companions were the Archmage Kaiden and Margaret, the precious jewel of the Floné Duchy. At first, I had wondered if this might be a scheme orchestrated by Rodban's faction targeting me, but observing those assembled, that seemed unlikely. ‌‌Whose doing ‌‌could this possibly be? ‌‌"Did you sense anything suspicious about your companions?" "No, Your ‌‌‌‌Highness. There is nothing suspicious among our group." Enoch felt a flicker of doubt at Diego's unwavering conviction. How could he be so certain? Enoch observed Diego quietly, then his gaze fixed on the dress in the ‌‌man's hands—Margaret's ‌‌dress. So Diego was the thief after all. At Enoch's reproachful stare, Diego began stammering ‌‌excuses. "Had I known Your ‌‌‌Highness was here, I would never have taken it. I was ‌‌‌shocked to discover there were others on this Island, but the situation was urgent." Diego was not a man of many words by nature. As his excuses lengthened, Enoch's brow furrowed deeper. Moreover, his answers were evasive. "You intended it, but didn't intend it?" "Someone in my party needed clothing like this." "Did the woman in the water not seem to need that dress?" At Enoch's question, Diego bit his lower lip hard and lowered his head. Enoch could not fathom this behavior from Diego. It was utterly unimaginable from the man he knew. Then, "People tend to change when faced with extreme circumstances." Margaret's words echoed in his mind once more. It seemed the extreme environment had transformed even Diego, who was bound by steadfast integrity and chivalric spirit. "May I inquire who the woman accompanying Your Highness was?" Enoch tilted his head slightly, still gripping the harpoon, and regarded Diego with displeasure. "That is none of your concern." ‌‌‌Though not to the extent of his former ‌‌‌‌self, Diego had despised Margaret terribly. Enoch knew well how much the principled Diego had scorned Margaret for her constant ‌‌‌provocations and tyranny toward him. He also knew that Margaret feared Diego for his aggressive ‌‌demeanor toward her. The Enoch of the past had paid no mind to this. He had deemed it Margaret's just deserts. But the Margaret of now was not who she had been. Therefore, Enoch could not stand idly by while she was treated that way. It was best to keep Diego's party ‌‌and Margaret apart until the situation became clear. That way, he could protect her even if something unexpected occurred. No matter how he deliberated, no better option presented itself. After all, Diego was not the only one in that group who despised Margaret. As I had promised Margaret, I would keep her with me and protect her until we escaped the Island. Since she relied on me so heavily, it was only proper that I do so. Purely as a matter of honor, of course. "Someone in your party needs women's clothing? That's curious. It doesn't seem to be for Asdal or Rujeep." At Enoch's words, Diego blinked slowly and looked at him. "Answer the question." When Enoch raised the harpoon slightly higher, Diego answered with a startled expression. "Your Highness, I am a knight of the Langrid Empire. Not ‌‌‌an enemy." Diego appealed ‌to his harmlessness with a bewildered face, ‌‌‌but it had no effect on Enoch. "Not an enemy? You should have made such excuses before stealing my party's clothing." Then Diego fell silent, having nothing to say. After a ‌‌long moment, he opened his mouth with an embarrassed expression. "...Yuanna ‌‌‌Lucia is also in my party. ‌‌The Saint, Your Highness." ‌Yuanna Lucia. She too ‌was a renowned figure across the continent. A saint who possessed unique divine power that ‌‌‌had not appeared ‌‌‌‌in a hundred years. Diego watched Enoch's expression anxiously. ‌Why had Diego not mentioned the Saint when speaking of his party? That point puzzled Enoch. But seeing Diego's demeanor now, he could make an educated guess. Right now, he was taking ‌on an attitude of anxiety and wariness, as though fearing Enoch might express a desire to meet the Saint. As if she were someone precious that must be protected at all costs. 'He must have fallen for the Saint.' Enoch asked Diego this question. "Does that woman have no clothes?" "I beg your pardon?!" Whatever misunderstanding Diego had arrived at, he was visibly shocked by Enoch's words. Enoch clicked his tongue in irritation. "That dress is the only garment my party possesses. If ‌‌‌‌she's ‌bold enough to steal it, then the Saint would need to be standing naked for that to serve as even a remotely adequate excuse, wouldn't she?" "That is... well..." Diego stammered. Enoch found himself laughing despite his exasperation. How dare the Saint steal Margaret's dress and wear it. Enoch felt his aversion toward the Saint rising sharply, and he swallowed his anger. "The fact that you can't speak tells me the Saint is indeed clothed. Meanwhile, my party is shivering in the water without a dress." Now that he thought about it, considerable time had passed. They needed to retrieve the dress and return promptly. "Why are you dawdling? Bring it at once." At Enoch's ominous tone, Diego flinched. He finally handed over the dress he'd been holding, meekly offering it to ‌‌‌Enoch. "Once you find a way to escape the Island, contact me. I wish to exchange information regularly. Of course, without your party's knowledge." It was an unexpected statement, and Diego's face registered surprise as he asked in return. "You won't be leaving with ‌‌us?" "I told you to answer only the questions asked, Diego." ‌At Enoch's forceful tone, Diego looked at him with ‌‌‌much left unsaid, but ultimately lowered ‌‌his head. "I accept your command." "We'll ‌‌meet here once every ten days. If ‌‌‌you move to a distant location, give me advance notice." Enoch continued to issue his demands with an impassive expression. "And don't let my party notice you. If you prove troublesome, I won't show mercy." Though Diego was uneasy about these incomprehensible orders, he ultimately nodded his assent. "Understood." * * * I waited for Enoch while watching the sunset paint the sky, my foot tapping anxiously. Beyond the encroaching darkness, I was beginning to freeze to death. My body trembled uncontrollably. How far had ‌‌‌Enoch gone? And who was the perverted bastard who stole the dress? He seemed to be one of ‌‌‌the male leads from "More Important Than Survival." Kaiden should be collapsed in our dwelling, the Cave, so it wasn't him. It had to be one of male leads two, three, or four. But was there really a man among them brazen enough to steal a dress? I tilted my head in confusion, then abandoned the line of thought. I was cold. So ‌‌‌‌‌cold. Having put on a chemise while soaked, it remained thoroughly drenched and showed no signs of drying. As the sun set, ‌‌‌‌‌the temperature began to drop gradually, and exposing my wet body to the elements like this made me certain I'd catch ‌‌‌a cold. Fatigue crashed over me suddenly. My hands and feet were numb with cold and unbearable, ‌‌‌‌‌and my body felt inexplicably heavy. I leaned my body against the rock. This is too much. "Margaret! Are you ‌‌‌alright? I apologize for being late." After a considerable time had passed, Enoch ‌‌‌returned. I lifted my head slightly while still leaning against the rock, catching sight of the dress in his hands. I tried to rise with joy, but dizziness suddenly struck me, and I ‌‌‌‌stumbled. What's happening? My head is spinning. I feel like I'm about to collapse... I watched Enoch rushing toward me in desperation before consciousness ‌‌slipped away entirely. I ‌‌‌never imagined my stamina would be this pathetically fragile.

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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org

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