An Unexpected Proposal-Chapter 67

"I won’t argue with you about parenthood now. I know I don’t have the right. Just... let me protect him."

Cabelenus finally managed to force out the words.

"Who do you think will protect who?"

"There are those who want to harm the child."

At first, Alicia thought she was the target. But if the child from eight years ago was still alive, the story changed. Jerpeneus and Hermann weren’t after Alicia—they were after Mikael, who shared his blood.

"My child will not be touched by anyone."

"I understand that you want to protect him. But think realistically."

"Realistically?"

"The people after the child aren’t easy opponents. You can’t protect him with your strength."

Cabelenus’s gaze fell to Alicia’s thin wrists. She looked so fragile, it was hard to imagine how she had endured so far. He couldn’t let her carry any more weight on those small shoulders. If it came to it, he would rather bear several times the burden himself.

"No. I can protect him. I’ve done it until now, and I will keep doing it."

"Alicia—"

Cabelenus instinctively tried to rise but collapsed back down as his vision blurred.

"It looks like the medicine’s starting to take effect."

"Medicine?"

"I put a sleeping pill in your food."

Alicia murmured softly as she glanced at Cabelenus’s empty bowl. To escape from him, she needed the time to keep him subdued.

"...You planned this from the start."

No matter how hard he tried, Cabelenus couldn’t keep his eyelids from drooping. He gave a dry chuckle and subtly grabbed the fork on the table to hide it.

"I’m sorry, but this is the best I could do."

"The best? What do you mean by that?"

"Just... everything."

Alicia forced a smile, trying not to let her expression slip. She knew it wasn’t the right moment, but she didn’t want Cabelenus to remember her with any less than a sharp, determined image.

"We never should have met in the first place."

Though her feelings conflicted, there were limits to the words she could speak. Alicia quietly watched Cabelenus, waiting until she was sure he had fallen asleep, before slumping down. She murmured quietly, her head bowed in defeat.

"I’m sorry for saying such harsh things."

"......"

"The truth is, I’ve always wanted to see you."

"......"

"I’ve resented you, but at the same time, I missed you. A lot. In fact, that’s what I wanted to say."

She finally whispered the words that had always lingered in her mouth, words she could never say before, using the last moment as an excuse.

***

Alicia, carrying Mikael in her arms, quickly made her way through the forest behind the cabin. There, James, who had prepared to leave earlier, was waiting with a horse.

"Did you finish talking?"

"I had a feeling, but Mikael’s pendant was with him."

"That means..."

"He knows who Mikael is."

"We need to leave right away. I’ll carry Mikael, and we’ll depart immediately."

James quickly picked Mikael up and mounted the horse, and Alicia hurriedly mounted the other horse.

"I deliberately let the horse loose. Without it, even if they recover, they won’t be able to catch up right away."

"Thanks, I appreciate it."

"I’ll accept your thanks after we’ve escaped. To completely lose the chase, we’ll need to travel by boat within half a day."

"Got it..."

Alicia’s words trailed off, and she frowned.

"What’s wrong?"

"I think I saw a light over there."

"That’s impossible. What light would there be at this time? Did you see it wrong?"

"Maybe?"

"We don’t have time. We need to leave now."

Alicia nodded but froze.

"...It’s not a mistake. Something is coming."

"Alicia."

"It’s not just one."

"Alicia!"

James pulled on the reins, blocking Alicia’s way. Alicia reflexively frowned.

"What are you doing?"

"What are you doing, in this urgent situation?"

"It could be them."

"Them?"

"I told you there are people after Mikael. It’s possible they’ve found us."

Alicia’s gaze shifted to the sleeping Mikael. He no longer had any special powers left, but they wouldn’t let that fact go easily.

"If that’s the case, we need to run even faster."

"And him?"

"His Highness is strong enough. He can handle it."

"But he’s asleep. He’s defenseless. If this is an attack, we can’t leave him like this."

Alicia grabbed the reins again, but before she could go further, James stopped her.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

"What are you going to do after that?"

"After that?"

"Don’t throw away the chance to start anew with your own hands."

"......"

"You can’t use the same trick twice. And after being caught once, their vigilance will be even tighter. They might force you all the way back to Schwarhan."

James’s voice dropped, sounding like a warning.

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Prioritize Mikael. You said you would do anything for him."

"But this isn’t right."

Alicia interrupted sharply. She couldn’t leave Cabelenus behind when she didn’t know what the enemies might do.

"Alicia, we don’t have time."

"That’s why we need to move faster—"

Hiiing-! In an instant, the horse Alicia was riding reared up wildly. She tightened her grip on the reins, trying to calm the animal, but her face twisted when she noticed a wound piercing the horse’s neck.

"Alicia!"

James reached out to grab the rearing horse. Alicia barely managed to regain her balance atop the horse, but in the next moment, she threw herself to the ground. The impact sent a sharp pain through her body, but she had landed in the grass and wasn’t seriously injured.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I’m fine."

Alicia quickly surveyed the area, squinting her eyes in concentration. Despite the distance, the attack had precisely pierced the horse's neck. Only a highly skilled opponent could have done that.

"James, I need a favor."

"But, if I—"

"No time to hesitate."

Alicia reached out her hand toward James, but he hesitated, unable to take it. At that moment, a clear voice echoed from above.

"Hello."

"......"

"We’ve met before, haven’t we?"

Alicia swallowed reflexively, her dry throat tight. The face, full of scars, and the short hair that exposed her neck—nothing about her resembled what Alicia remembered. But in an instant, Alicia recognized her, no, she could never forget. Even after eight years, the memory of that day was still so vivid.

"...Princess Veloa."

"That name feels like it’s been ages."

Veloa’s lips curled in a twisted smile.

"I thought you were dead."

"I couldn’t die, could I?"

Because of you. Veloa unfurled the cloak that hid her body, flaunting the exposed flesh beneath. Instead of a dress adorned with lace, she wore armor that left her limbs bare, her body riddled with scars. She looked less like a living person and more like a patchwork of pieces stitched together.

"What’s going on—"

"What’s going on? You think those words should come from your mouth?"

Veloa snarled before grabbing Alicia’s neck tightly. Even though her own neck ached, it was the pale, innocent face that troubled her more. Her life had fallen into ruin, yet the slave girl, the one responsible, appeared untouched, making Veloa want to snap. If she could, she would tear Alicia apart, making her look as miserable as Veloa felt.

"I should’ve killed you, slave girl, when I had the chance."

"......"

"Well, I’m a busy person, so I won’t waste time talking. Just hand over that child."

If it weren’t for Jerpeneus’s orders, Veloa would have killed Alicia without a second thought. Grinding her teeth, she fought to suppress her fury. If she disobeyed the orders, the pain would be unbearable—she had no choice but to act like a loyal dog, even though her instincts screamed otherwise.

"You can’t touch my child, not even a finger."

"Always so weak, just talking big."

Veloa smirked and swung her staff. With the motion, skeletal figures began to rise from the ground, their bones rattling as they emerged. Alicia clenched her teeth and reached out her hand toward James again.

"James, quickly."

James grimaced but reached out to take Alicia’s hand—or at least, he tried to. But as the skeletons charged, Alicia was knocked backwards.

"Don’t worry. You’re on my collection list, too. You don’t have to do anything; I’ll take care of you."

Veloa rested her chin on her hand, chuckling.

"Alicia, are you okay?!"

"I’m fine, but more importantly, Mikael..."

Alicia needed to touch him. With gritted teeth, she shoved the skeletons off of her. The ancient bones didn’t have much strength, but their haphazard movements made it hard to advance.

"It’s a shame I can’t kill you, but seeing your desperate face is making me feel better."

"Shut up."

"I like that angry look of yours, too."

Veloa casually ran her fingers over her lips, her eyes narrowing in thought. She had just come up with a nasty idea.

"Oh, that’s right. Slave girl. Want to hear something interesting? Like the real reason I’m after not just the child, but you too?"

"Does there need to be a reason for that?"

"That man is vile. He’s perfectly specialized in doing evil things. As soon as he realized your child has power, he started thinking about using you to get even more children."

"……You’re insane."

"Yeah. He’s insane. And because of him, I went mad, too."

Veloa swung her staff again, and the skeletons blocking Alicia’s path turned and charged toward James.

"Isn’t it frustrating? Even a slave like you is alive and well. While I, a princess and a once-promising mage, end up a dead soul, used as an experiment."

"What are you doing!"

"What else? I’m just having a little fun while following these disgusting orders."

Veloa grinned wickedly and swung her staff more fiercely. The skeletons grew more aggressive, charging forward. James struggled to hold the reins with one hand while trying to keep Mikael with the other, but it was nearly impossible to calm the horse and fend off the skeletons at the same time.

"James! Mikael!"

Unable to withstand the chaos, James was thrown from the horse with Mikael still in his arms.

"Uncle!"

Mikael, who had awakened, struggled out of James’s grip and called for him urgently. Whether it was from the shock of hitting a tree or the force of the fall, James was still unconscious. Mikael, eyes brimming with tears, ground his teeth in distress.

"Mikael!"

Alicia, desperate and biting her lip, looked at Mikael, her mind set on one thing—she would protect her child, no matter what. She shoved the skeletons aside, reaching out her arm. The broken bone fragments scraped across her skin, causing cuts, but she didn’t care. All she saw was Mikael’s pale, frightened face. Nothing else mattered. She stretched farther, feeling like she could almost touch him. Her fingers trembled as she struggled.

"Mom!"

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At last, Mikael, spotting her, reached out with a shaky hand.

"Ah."

Their fingers barely brushed. Alicia didn’t miss the moment, grabbing his small hand tightly, her eyes burning with determination as she looked him in the eye.

"Mikael. Look at me. Make a wish, right now."

"Mom..."

"Quickly, tell me, ask me to protect you! Hurry!"

"Mom, p... p... protect..."

Mikael, with a terrified expression, stammered the words. Just then, a strong wind blew, and the force pulling her back weakened. Alicia instinctively turned her head. In the darkness, golden eyes gleamed.

"Who do you think you’re touching?"

The voice, low and growling, sounded almost like an animal’s roar. Alicia stared at the man stepping out from the shadows, her face twisting in realization. With a hungry look in his eyes, he drew his sword. He was no different from a starving beast. The very sight of him dried her mouth and made her legs shake. But what caught her attention was not that.

"Why...?"

Alicia couldn’t finish her sentence and bit her lip hard. Red stains were clearly visible on Cabelenus’s thigh.