I Will Protect You This Time

Episode 28

(Pathetic)

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After a while, Ella finished combing my hair. 

"Princess, should I do a braid?"

"No. Just let it be like this."

"As you wish."

After that Ella brought a shawl made out of white fur and wrapped it around my shoulder. The shawl was really soft and silky. 

"Shall we go now, Princess?"

No! I don't want to!

"Y-yes."

I then got up from the stool and slowly started getting out of the tent. Ella and the other maid were following me from behind.

As soon as I got out of the tent, a cold breeze tickled my nose. It was snowing lightly. I looked in front of me.

There were small bonfires here and there in the area of the camp and a huge one in the middle. There was a long table under a shade, filled with different kinds of food and fruits I have never seen before.

Some knights were sitting surrounding the big bonfire and were chatting with each other. Some of them were having their meal. Some of them were standing in front of the table with worried faces as they couldn't choose what to eat. Some were drinking liquor from a wooden mug. Three maids were sitting in a corner basking the heat from a small bonfire and chatting among themselves while eating. 

The whole atmosphere was full of laughter and chattering. My heart felt warm just by seeing that. I had a smile on my face without knowing.

"Greetings, Princess."

"Oh, it's the Crown Princess!"

"Her Highness is here."

"Greetings!"

"How are you feeling, Crown Princess?"

"I am fine. Thank you."

Everyone stood up and greeted me while bowing. They then started asking different questions. Their words were full of worries and care. 

I lowered my head. Do I really deserve this? Someone like me? They are so kind.

"Are you looking for His Highness, Princess?"

"Ah-"

"His Highness and Sir Blaine went somewhere. Don't worry, Princess. They will be back any minute now."

"I see."

I wonder what happened.

"Anyways Princess, thanks to you we can rest a bit."

"Yes! We are really grateful!" (T-T)

A knight said while wiping his tears.

"Huh?"

"You don't know how much he tortures us, Princess."

Another knight said with a horrified expression.

"T-torture?"

"Yes. When we were travelling to the Loire he didn't let us rest, even for a bit." (T-T)

"Yes. He even made us run for hours in this cold weather."

"Oh? Is that so? I guess I have been easy on you guys these days."

Leonus said from behind.

"Ca-Captain!"

"Eek~"

"When did he come?"

"We are doomed!"

"You should have thought about that before opening that mouth of yours."

"Sir Blaine!"

A knight said Blaine's name eagerly as if waiting for him to say anything.

"D-Don't drag me into this."

Blaine said nervously while looking the other way.

"Princess! You've gotta help us!"

A knight said tearfully.

"I-I…"

"Princess, come here."

Uhh! I can't! I still haven't forgotten what happened a while ago! I am still standing nervously.

Suddenly Leonus grabbed my hand and dragged me near the carriage in a hurry.

"Princess. Get in."

"But-"

"Princess. Do as I say."

"Ah. Okay."

He is angry… His eyes are red.

I hurriedly got into the carriage.

After that Leonus closed the carriage door.

Thud!

I wonder what happened. Does he not want me to stay there? But I promised Ella that I was going to join the feast. 

Sigh~

Isabella sighed and leaned on the carriage seat.

Hahaha!

Suddenly she burst into laughter. But a moment later she stopped.

"…"

'I am pathetic!'

Isabella thought with a sorrowful face.

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After half an hour, Ella came in with different kinds of foods.

"I don't feel like eating right now, Ella."

"But My Lady-"

"Please. Take them back."

"At least have some of these."

Ella said while forwarding some fruits.

"Ella-"

"Please, My Lady."

Sigh~

"Okay. Keep the fruits and take back the rest."

"Yes."

After that, I slowly finished the fruits. 

I feel like vomiting. But I have to keep them in my stomach… 

[

"No matter where you go, you can never be at peace! A monster like you!"

"Do you think that monster Crown Prince loves you? He is just using you! No one can love a monster like you! No one!"

"Wherever you go! Everyone will use you! You will be hated everywhere!"

]

The words of that day stabbed my mind like thorns. 

My heart feels so heavy. It feels like there is a lump in my throat. I clenched my chest with one hand.

Yes. That's right. How can I forget! 

I am a monster.

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That day I was alone in the carriage. I couldn't sleep at all. 

And the next morning the Knights woke up early and started to set off the tents. After finishing that, they hurriedly had their breakfast and continued the journey.

It's been two weeks since then. In all that time, Leonus never came to visit me. 

As we continued the journey, the amount of snowfall seemed to decrease magnificently. I can see the sky clearly today.

What a strange place this is! One side of this place is a deep forest and the other a valley of the desert.

It's the middle of the night. I can't sleep. Is it because I slept in the carriage for almost half of the journey? 

It was already evening when the Knights stopped and set up their camp here. We will stay here for the night.

Sigh~

I feel a bit lonely. I have been staying alone in the Carriage for two weeks now. The first two days Ella did accompany me in the carriage. But after that, she only came to give me food and help me to bathe or dress up.

I looked outside the window. I opened the carriage window as there wasn't much snowfall here. 

Whoosh~

A fresh cold breeze touched my skin creating a tingling sensation. I looked at the sky. It's a red full moon… 

The light of the moon reached the inside of the carriage. 

I rested my head on the side of the carriage window and closed my eyes. The cold breeze somehow felt relaxing. 

My heavy heart feels a little better now.

Howl~

I opened my eyes in surprise. 

The cry of a wolf?!..

Not only that I can also hear many other monsters howl and cry. What is going on? Should I go out?

Aghh!

Suddenly I remembered Ella's words. At the time of dinner-

[

"Greetings, My Lady."

Ella bowed and said. 

"Here's your dinner."

"Umm. Yes."

"..."

"Ella…"

"Yes, My Lady?"

"When will we reach the Capital?"

"Tomorrow, My Lady"

"I see."

"And My Lady..."

"Huh? What is it?"

"His Highness the Crown Prince ordered you to not get out of the carriage today no matter what."

"What?"

"Please don't get outside of the carriage no matter what happens, My Lady."

Ella bowed and begged eagerly.

Huh? Why is she behaving like that? 

"Okay. I won't."

"Promise me."

Huh? Isn't that a bit excessive? I don't go outside the carriage anyways. But whatever if it reassures her-

"Okay. I promise I won't go out."

"Thank you so much."

Ella replied with a sigh of relief.

"And My Lady, keep the windows closed."

"Huh? What's going on?"

"Uhh… It's nothing. I just don't want My Lady to catch a cold."

Ella replied nervously.

"Is that so?"

"Of course."

"Sigh~ I will."

]

I totally forgot about that! 

I hurriedly closed the carriage window.

What should I do? Is everyone okay? Now that I think about it I can't see anyone around here. 

Neigh~

I can hear Speranza's desperate neighing in the distance. 

Aghh! What's going on?

Sigh~ Why did I promise Ella? If I didn't promise her, I would've gone outside-

But to do what? What can someone like me do? 

I remembered something. As Leonus wasn't coming I went to him 5 days ago. I was worried that something might have happened to him.

<

It was night. Leonus was in his tent. He was standing in front of a table filled with different papers. He seems worried about something.

But anyways he looks healthy! I sighed in relief and was going to enter the tent slowly.

"Princess!"

Leonus looked in the direction I was coming and said. How does he know I am here? I slowly entered the tent.

"Why are you here, Princess?"

Leonus looked a bit surprised at first but soon came back to his usual self and said while looking away from me. 

"Uhh. I was worried about you and-"

"Princess, you don't have to."

Leonus said loudly while covering his face with his hand. 

Flinch!

I can see his red eyes between the gaps of his fingers. Is he angry? But why? I didn't do anything!

"Princess! Don't come to find me from now on!"

Thump! My chest hurts! Are you angry just by seeing my face?

"I-I apologize."

I feel like crying. I was just here to see you. I was just worried that something had happened to you! Am I not allowed to do even that? 

"Sigh~ You are not helping! Please return to your carriage. And don't come outside unless you are told to."

"I-"

"Hurry up and go back, Princess."

"Okay."

>

That's right. I can't do anything! Nothing!