Antagonist Protection Service-Chapter 73: Cold (8)

Keeping my gaze pinned outside the window, I responded.

"You're asking again?"

A few moments after the words left my mouth, I heard a faint sigh.

"You are very much aware how this concerns me. Don't tell me you plan to do it on the day of the ceremony? Such a scheme is far too risky, and furthermore--"

"Lucretia."

"What is it?"

Taking a breath, I roused the emphasis put into my voice and put on a sort of impression, bringing my hand up before me, gesticulating to no one.

"'The Young Lady Archduchess' personal attendant betrayed her and murdered--' Rather, 'and committed murder'. How much damage would that cause to your reputation?"

Subsequently, silence dawned on us again. It was only temporary, however, as her low tone was swift to shatter it.

"...Enki."

"Not too much, right? If that were the case, you wouldn't have asked me to kill her back then."

"Just because I--"

"Just because you asked me to, that's not the reason I'm doing it. Do you remember? I told you back then, too, multiple times, in fact. The reason."

This Antagonist's memory was exceptional. I know she wouldn't have forgotten something so simple.

Well, it had already been stated enough, so I didn't feel the need to say it again.

"You know, she asked me to accompany her to the ball as her partner the other day."

"...So? Do you want me to enquire as to your response?"

Her voice sounded subdued, and though my back was turned, I could vividly picture the expression that likely painted her face at this moment.

I guess, even still, I had to do all that I could to soothe the Antagonist's sore heart.

"What do you think? Even if it's a celebration for your birthday and engagement, that doesn't change the fact that I'm your bodyguard for as long as I'm still here."

"..."

"She's dead in six days."

That was all that Lucretia needed to know. The Protagonist would not survive that night.

I still didn't know what her hidden power was.

Regardless, I would make sure of it.

"Alright? When I'm gone, dump all of the blame and responsibility on my name. I came here with that intention in the first place, so it's fine to just accept it as it is. I'll be gone by the time anyone finds out, so don't do something stupid like hesitate just because we're on the same side. You know as well as I do that that doesn't fit the kind of person you aim to become."

Leniency bordering on foolishness was what it was, but regardless, it shouldn't be tolerated.

The woman who wishes to rule as Drakon-Rasa's esteemed empress should be ruthless.

After all, someone like that should be capable of governing a nation and conquering the world, right? Even if it means labelling her most trusted confidant as a traitor and criminal, if it's something that must be done, then she should do it.

It's not like I'm going to face the consequences of it, anyway, so what's the big deal?

"That's why, just leave everything to me. All you should do is what you need to do. I'll handle the rest. Yeah?"

Finally turning around, I caught her simply averting her gaze from me, already under the covers of her too-vast bed and directing her head towards her lap in silence. She always looked so solemn when she did that with that inscrutable expression of hers.

I hoped she wasn't feeling too down, but either way, she would have to force herself to hide it. The days ahead likely wouldn't be kind to her, so she needed all the strength she could get.

"Well... It's getting late, and you have preparations early tomorrow, so I'll let you rest."

Saying that, I made my way to the door of her room. It was only when I grabbed the handle that she responded.

"...Don't wake up late. The schedule is already tight as it is."

Straining my ears slightly in order to hear her small voice properly, I turned halfway to face her. Meeting her gaze, I flashed a smile.

"I'm not the one getting engaged, am I? I'm chilling, no concerns at all. Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow, yeah? Goodnight~"

Leaving it at that, I exited the room before she could say anything else, softly closing the door behind me.

Immediately after, I sighed.

'Not long now...'

Returning to my room, I only ruminated on the near future for a short while before falling asleep.

Thereafter, my final week in this world passed as peacefully as ever, and before I knew it...

The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.

Finally, the long-awaited day of the engagement arrived.

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"―You're not nervous, are you?"

"Would I be?"

"You can be honest, you know. At least, you should know fooling me is impossible by now. There must be a lot on your mind."

"Surely you jest? Today was the busiest day of my life, and the most important part has yet even to commence."

"Is it because the prince refused to arrive as your partner?"

"..."

"Don't worry. Today's the last day I've got, so I don't plan on leaving until I teach him a lesson too. Whatever happens."

"...What if he doesn't even show up? For someone so inanely incompetent, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't make an appearance at all..."

"He will. Even if he doesn't, I'll find him."

'Maybe I should even ask Mary to poison his drink. She's part of the group serving today, right? Well, it might be a bit late for that...'

At that moment, an announcer's muffled voice could be heard from beyond the door in front of us.

"Without further ado, I will now present tonight's star...!"

"Oh. That's our cue. You ready?"

Glancing at Lucretia beside me, who held tightly onto my left arm, I found a light sigh escaping her. Perhaps more anxious than I thought, she seemed to be steadying her breathing in that manner.

The voice echoed again.

"Beloved daughter of the benevolent Winter Mother who watches over our vast and prideful north――Please welcome, the one and only Young Lady Archduchess of our Empire, the Winter Flower, our Northern Princess, Lady Lucretia de Christina-Rasa...!"

Taking a step forward, I pushed against the extravagant door, letting the plentiful light of the awaiting grand hall spill over us. At the same time, a resounding round of applause erupted.

Being the sole archduchess of the Drakon-Rasa Empire, many dozens of nobles were present for Lucretia's coming-of-age ceremony, and not one had failed to gather here in this hall of the opulent Imperial Palace.

I was sure that even more had caught wind of the surprise engagement and came to give their blessings... or, more precisely, to curry favour with the next imperial leaders.

From young noble children that could barely walk, to fellow classmates of the Royal Academy, to retired old nobles of generations past―it almost seemed as if every title-bearing child, woman and man in the empire had assembled for tonight.

Particularly, in one corner, I noticed a man with jet black hair, bloody crimson eyes, and an especially sharp gaze targeted towards none other than myself.

'That's... the archduke...?'

Someone I had heard about from the very beginning, Lucretia's father and the ruler of Christina-Rasa... was observing me from one isolated spot as if I had committed a grave sin to his parents.

'Uwah... He looks like a middle-aged man variant of Lucretia... and a million times more terrifying.'

Father of the Antagonist was indeed a scary title to bear, and I was only now realising that.

Logically speaking, he was probably only evaluating me as the person Lucretia chose to be her personal attendant, but that didn't help to make me feel any better. His hawk-like gaze really was so agonisingly sharp that I could feel it physically digging into me like a nail... or a sword.

I had heard many stories from Lucretia about his accomplishments, and they were certainly impressive, but at the same time, I couldn't help but feel that meeting him in person was the last thing I ever wanted to do.

'Just don't approach me... don't come over to me, don't talk to me, leave me alone, please...'

Thinking it best not to provoke him in any way, I focused wholly on escorting Lucretia to the other end of the hall, where she let go of my arm and picked up a drink from the tray of a passing servant, immediately taking a sip.

It seems she really wasn't in the mood for socialising.

'And you, please don't get drunk, okay?'

Incidentally, wearing a stunning black and red dress that matched her hair and eyes, with plenty of complimenting accessories and just the right amount of makeup, today was the most I had ever seen her dress up for any social event before. Well, it made sense why.

On the other hand, it was also the most stressed out I had ever seen her.

Both points were understandable considering the situation, but I genuinely wished she could have just one day to relax.

Unfortunately, at the end of the day and even beyond, things would, inevitably, only grow even more hectic for her.

Most of it would probably be my fault.