Don’t Concern Yourself With That Book

Amor’s voice broke out of the bracelet. Amor, who remained silent for a while in response, soon offered me his help too.

“It’ll be easier if I’m there too.”

“I won’t refuse.”

“You don’t want me to come forward anymore.”

I smiled a little.

“Are you disappointed? But I am happy that you offered your help. Less people will get hurt.”

“… I’ll help you even if you don’t flatter me.”

“Hm. I wasn’t though.”

I lifted my bracelet before whispering.

“You are the best templar I know, brother.”

I could hear Amor suck in a breath. After he was cured of the poison and became more powerful, the bracelet had become more effective as well. In other words, I could even hear the sounds of his breathing now. Even the sounds of him sharply sucking in a breath.

“Ha… You’re trying to drive me crazy.”

His voice sounded strained.

“Brother?”

Just then, the window opened with a creak. Through the opening, a vine slithered in before pulling on my hand. Before I realised it, I found myself on the balcony.

“I was just going to go.”

I widened my eyes. Why was he here?

“B-brother? Why didn’t you come in when you came all the way here?”

When I muttered in bewilderment, he smirked. I clearly saw him under the balcony.

“Won’t you regret it?”

“Hm?”

I just blinked back at him. In a flash of an eye, Amor’s face appeared right before mine.

“I asked. Won’t you regret it?”

“What–Umph!”

In an instant, he wrapped his hands around my waist before pressing himself into me and pecking my lips. As he placed his forehead on mine, he smiled.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to leave till morning if I do.”

His silvery sky-coloured hair spilled onto my forehead. I stared into the green eyes that approached me.

“Don’t worry. I was just joking. I’m not stupid enough to act rashly before such an important day.”

“… So, you were joking?”

“Right.”

Then, why wouldn’t he let me go? It wasn’t like I hated it though. I caressed his cheek.

“Is it alright for you to leave your palace like this?”

”I see that you’re still worried about my health.”

Amor took my hand before kissing into the crevices in my wrist.

“I’ve got to hurry back. We can’t be caught by the emperor and my brother just yet.”

He did say he was able to pretend he was still poisoned for a while. Which was why he had just planned on looking through my windows.

“… Why would you come just to look through my windows. I can go to you.”

“Because even when I close my eyes, I miss you.”

He blinked slowly. As his lips slowly lowered, I closed my eyes in suit. His tongue slowly slipped through my lips. After a short yet long kiss, he slowly parted from me.

“I should go now.”

“When you’re holding my hands like this?”

He furrowed his brows.

“… I can’t help myself.”

He stepped off the balcony easily. Being a templar, his movements were light. Come to think of it, Amor looked taller and his body stronger. He had matured beyond comprehension. Even his eyes looked melancholic. If he was thinking of staying over tonight…

‘No, this is not the time for such thoughts.’

I quickly grabbed onto the railing.

“It’ll be tomorrow morning.”

“I know. I’ll keep an eye on the situation and get back in touch with you.”

“I’ll look forward to it. I don’t want anyone to die anymore.”

Amor paused. He just raised his head to look at me.

“Whatever you want is what I want now. Rosé.”

The vines gently wrapped themselves around my wrist and then my arms as they climbed up his arms. In the blink of an eye, flowers bloomed while he slowly turned around and melted into the darkness.

I closed my eyes at the subtle scent. I felt like I was being embraced, at least it smelled like it.

***

Day finally dawned upon me.

If anyone was wondering if I slept well, the answer was that I did not. But my head was as clear as if I did.

Fleon’s execution was fast approaching. I left the palace in more splendid clothes than ever before. It was time for me to attend the execution of the rebels as the princess.

“How are the preparations?”

“The patrols are doing the final checks.”

Rebecca whispered so that only I could hear her.

The execution was drawing in huge crowds. Faces of curiosity, sadness and excitement. This was a country where murder was legalised and executions were as commonplace as entertainment like sports.

My mouth turned dry in the strangely hot air. With the appearance of Fleon, a death row prisoner, a roar broke out of the spectators.

“The death row prisoner is here!”

“Rebel! Kill him!”

“Kill him!”

Less than half of the VIP stand was filled. I was the only Imperial member to appear. Perhaps it was only natural. The 2nd and 5th Prince had been detained in the northern tower and the 4th Prince was confined to his own palace. The 6th Prince was now a death row prisoner and the 7th Prince was currently missing. That left Castor and the emperor.

After a while, Castor appeared. And right behind him was Hernan.

“It’s been a long time, Ashley!”

I lowered my head at Castor’s greeting.

“I greet the noble 1st Branch of the Empire. Have you… been well?”

“Yes.”

Castor looked at me and smiled lukewarmly.

“I don’t think you’ve been.”

I thought he was just going to stare back at me wordlessly but he soon approached me. Soricks, who accompanied me as an escort, grabbed my wrist quietly. I quickly stretched my hand out towards him to tell him to stand back.

“I’ve kept my promise.”

Castor whispered once he reached me. My emotions surged from within. No, I shouldn’t get too agitated here. But I wouldn’t be able to handle any more than this. I held his hand before smiling broadly.

“Did I want you to? So, what now? You did well. Am I supposed to praise you?”

Despite my blatant mockery, Castor smirked before narrowing the distance between us further.

“Just try it. I wonder what kind of praise you’d give me.”

Even the sounds of our breaths were silenced as I looked into his eyes while he got closer.

“It’ll be a sweet memory for sure.”

Madness blazed within madness.

“Even more so if you choose to be mine.”

I didn’t shy away from him.

“Don’t make me laugh. I’ll never be yours.”

I pulled up the corners of my lips before smiling.

“You can continue grabbing the emptiness of my hands.”

“… How fun.”

After staring at me like that for a while, he slowly let me go. And turned around as if nothing happened. Like a lie.

From his back, it was almost as if he wanted to say it was not time yet. Goosebumps dotted my skin. A storm always followed behind him.

But the mood soon disappeared. Because a certain someone took the seat next to me before whispering.

“Hm, you’re the first one I’ve seen who dared to talk back against that jerk. Child.”

Turning around, I was met with eyes as red as blood.

It was Marissa. She had sat next to me before turning her body around with a smile. Her red hair cascaded down gently.

“Marissa… Why are you here…”

“Interesting question. I am the Saintess. Don’t you know that means I’m like an honorary Imperial?”

Ah. I was finally reminded of her position. An unprecedented existence as the Saintess.

“They don’t want to acknowledge me as a female templar so they used this crude ploy. The 2nd Prince’s coup should have been successful.”

“Those are some dangerous words to speak of. Why didn’t you take part?”

“Because of the restrictions.”

She slowly lifted her hand. The hand clad in gloves, the one she was clenching, was clearly missing two fingers.

“A long time ago, I had challenged the emperor and had failed miserably. In exchange for my life which I had pleaded for, I lost my life as a templar.”

“What templar were you?”

“I was a Templar of the Sword. My sword was stronger than anyone else’s. My strength was used to protect and guard. My sword shattered the moment the person I was protecting died.”

“The person you had protected must have been happy.”

“I’m not sure about that.”

Marissa stared off into the distance before murmuring.

“No matter how happy or noble a person can be, how can I know what a dead person’s thinking? It’s too boorish of a tale. The templar who loved her sword disappeared and left a woman who pretends to obsess over luxury and jewellery.”

After saying so, Marissa looked away. At some point on, her eyes became clear again.

“They will be throwing stones at the death row prisoner. I guess it’s about to start.”

I turned my head around at the sound of that.

“Hurry and beat him to death!”

The execution will only begin once the emperor appears. But usually, the prisoner would be brought out before he does so that the public can mock, insult and throw stones at them.