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It would normally be a situation where children would be scared and cling to you, begging not to be left alone.
But Ludian, unlike a child, quickly grasped the situation.
That I was jumping into danger to protect him, and how dangerous that plan was.
I wiped away Ludian's tears and comforted him.
"Don't be sorry. It's only natural for the strong to protect the weak, and for adults to protect children."
In the law of the jungle, the weak are discarded and only the strong survive.
But humans, we have survived by protecting the weak.
Not because it's a grand cause or advantageous for survival...
But because I can't bear to abandon the weak and live as if nothing happened.
Maybe that feeling is what differentiates humans from animals.
I was scared and afraid of this situation, but I didn't feel wronged.
It just felt so natural. Like my turn had come.
"So, when Your Highness becomes a strong adult, please protect the children, the people."
"..."
"And... I will definitely return to Your Highness safely, so you don't have to be sorry."
I smiled at Ludian.
He needed hope to help him endure alone, the terrified child.
Ludian seemed a little relieved then, and nodded.
At that moment, I heard the sound of a twig breaking underfoot in the distance.
There was no time left.
"Then, let's meet again later."
"Yeah... Be careful."
I covered the dugout where Ludian was hiding with as many branches as possible, then hugged the blanket-covered branches and started running again.
This time, without suppressing any noise, stepping on as many branches as possible.
"Over there! It's over there!"
I could feel the pursuers who had found me following behind.
I quickly racked my brain, heading as far into the dense forest with undergrowth and trees as possible.
'I need to buy as much time as possible.'
If they catch me, they'll know I hid Ludian in the forest, and then they'll start looking for Ludian before someone else can come to rescue him.
Then my plan will be meaningless.
'And I have to survive too.'
They're probably after Ludian.
They may not care about my life, but if they find out I lured and mocked them, there would be no reason to keep me alive.
'But they're probably just being paid to do this.'
The higher-ups might be acting out of great loyalty, but the grunts are likely just doing this job to make a living.
'Then, if I offer them more money, could they be bought?'
However, negotiating with someone who has murderous intent is only a last resort.
I ran away as much as possible, aiming to not get caught at all.
...And the result of that is the current situation.
I smirked coldly at the bewildered pursuers.
"How about it? Do you still think you'll be safe?"
"What... What did you do to the Crown Prince?"
"Who knows? While you were stupidly chasing after me, maybe the Imperial Knights already found him and took him away?"
Men, angered by my provocation, reached out to grab my hair, but I spoke faster.
"Think carefully. As it is, the plan your backers wanted will fail."
"..."
"And the first ones to be silenced will be."
I looked around at the men surrounding me, then added after a beat.
"Probably grunts like you."
When things go wrong, the first thing you need to do to plan for the future is cut off the tail.
"And the simplest and most perfect way to silence someone is..."
As I trailed off, I could see the men's Adam's apples moving as they swallowed.
I smiled triumphantly and added.
"To kill them."
The men's expressions hardened, but they couldn't refute my words.
Those involved in this job know the ecosystem of this world even better than I do.
"But you're not doing this out of malice, just trying to make a living, doesn't that feel a little unfair?"
Pretending to understand them was, of course, a lie to appease them.
Saying they were doing it to survive or because their families were at stake is just cowardly rationalization.
"So, let me make you a proposal."
In the silence, I could feel the men looking at me, conflicted.
I didn't miss the gap and dug in.
"Let me go and reveal the person behind this."
"..."
"If you accept my proposal, I promise you a house and money for your families to live on for the rest of their lives. As you know, I have a lot of money."
Then the men's faces, which had seemed all black, gradually brightened and began to regain their original appearance.
Just when I was convinced that the men were almost swayed by my persuasion.
"I'm sorry, but that won't work."
Suddenly, a familiar voice interjected.
Before I could even remember who the owner of that voice was, the person himself appeared before my eyes.
"...Feidan?"
With crossbow-wielding assassins behind him.
"My target isn't the Crown Prince, but Leticia Cloel. You."
I knew Feidan Farnese's patheticness from both my past and present lives.
But what surprised me more than the fact that he had orchestrated this was...
'His face... It's stained black.'
It was murderous intent directed at me.
The moment I saw that naked, ugly bottom, I reflexively let out a hollow laugh.
He was the guy who ignored my miserable death in my past life, but I thought he was at least someone who couldn't kill me directly.
That he wasn't that cruel of a pathetic guy, maybe I even believed in his last bit of humanity.
But that belief was now completely betrayed.
'I underestimated that bastard.'
Feidan, unaware that I could see his inner thoughts, strode up to me and sat down to meet my eyes.
"I told you earlier. I'm trying to save you."
"So... You did this crazy thing just to catch me?"
"Yes. Because I love you that much!"
Seeing him talk about love with a face stained with ugliness made me want to throw up.
I suppressed the surging anger and asked.
"...What do you want from me?"
"There's only one thing I want from the woman I love. For you to love me again like you used to."
"..."
"Now, drop that playful relationship with Duke Dellua and come back to me. The game's over, right?"
It was nonsense, but there was only one thing I could choose in this situation.
"...Okay."
Feidan's eyes wavered at my docile answer.
"If you're serious, I'll do that."
Then the black effect that had been cast on Feidan's face gradually faded, and soon a brightly smiling face was revealed.
Just like when I believed he loved me.
I slowly approached him.
And.
"Thank you."
Smiling, I embraced Feidan's neck.
"For believing in me."
With a dagger pointed at his neck.
"Le, Leticia? What are you doing...!"
Not only Feidan, but even the assassins who were aiming their crossbows at me were taken aback.
I pressed the dagger deeper under Feidan's neck.
"If you move even one step closer, I'll slit this guy's throat."
"Le, Leticia. Calm down. You can't kill me anyway—"
Feidan, who was struggling and trying to calm me down, fell silent.
Because my dagger, which had dug in deeper, had scratched his neck.
"If you, if you kill me, you'll be a murderer!"
"I'd rather go to jail than go back to your house."
When I kicked Feidan's knees to make him stand up, he trembled but awkwardly stood up.
"You! Don't move from there! Huh? Get rid of the, the crossbows!"
I dragged Feidan and moved one step at a time.
'But the situation isn't hopeful.'
This is the middle of the forest, I don't know how far I have to go in this state.
If I'm careless even for a moment, Feidan will catch me instead.
In a touch-and-go situation where a dozen men were surrounding me, I took a slow step forward, when suddenly.
'...A butterfly?'
Suddenly, a butterfly appeared and landed on my forehead.
Not a real butterfly, but like...
'Like the illusion I saw right before the regression...'
The butterfly, which seemed to sit on my forehead for a moment, flew up again and flew towards one side of the forest.
And in the spot where the butterfly's illusion disappeared.
"Sorry I'm late."
Idris was there.
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