I Captured the Enemy Who Tried to Kill Me - Chapter 16
But he couldn’t continue his thoughts.
As soon as he tried to recall the hazy memories, a splitting headache overwhelmed him.
“This is ridiculous.”
He was in a more energetic state than ever before.
Yet he couldn’t properly remember what happened just last night.
The remaining memories were pathetically brief.
Someone else’s lips gently envelop his.
The breath that was sweet enough to cause hunger and the warmth of someone slipping from his hands.
His desperate feelings at that time.
That’s all he could remember.
Such pain wasn’t anything special to Kaisis, but it was definitely strange that his head was this empty.
It would be impossible without the influence of an external force.
There weren’t many candidates for a power that could do this.
Magic. Or divine power.
But there were few who could use the former, and the influence of the latter on the empire had become minimal.
Moreover, the other person’s behavior was boldly incomprehensible.
‘Toying with the emperor and then fleeing.’
This action that seemed to mock him.
He didn’t know there was another person in the empire as fearless as that Duke Ariel.
Even if the intention was to calm his power, it would be difficult to do so with a normal state of mind.
With an unpleasant feeling, suspicions ran wild.
If he had never tasted it, he might not know, but what was he supposed to do when someone appeared again and gave him that taste?
“Are we playing hide and seek?”
A vicious desire bared its teeth.
Looking down at his empty hands, he felt the hunger of a starving beast.
“If only I catch you.”
If only that happens…
***
‘Ugh!’
What’s this?
Why am I suddenly getting chills?
‘I must have had too much energy drained.’
Having experienced such terrible things until dawn today, my body and mind seemed tired.
At times like this, it would be so nice if I could just sleep all day with a warm electric blanket.
But my current reality is this place with no electric blankets or smartphones to read web novels when bored.
“……”
I saw the small creature in front of me nibbling and chewing. Then I asked in the arrogant duke’s voice.
“Why. Does it not taste good?”
“!”
The small child flinched at my words and quickly shook their head.
I smacked my lips.
Looking at those innocent and pitiful eyes, I apologized deeply in my heart.
I’m sorry for startling you, little one. But I’m a slave to the system. Even if I want to be kind, I can’t help it…
The child with the reddened nose was Luias.
Since I hadn’t properly taken care of him after the banquet, I invited him to have a meal together.
But at that time, the reaction of the magicians was…
The system flashed a warning saying [Identity at risk!]
What kind of person was Hillaria anyway?
Even though he’s the emperor’s brother, he’s just a child.
‘Had she never properly eaten a meal with him?’
At this point, it seemed certain that Hillaria had been neglecting her disciple.
I could somewhat understand why the emperor hated this body.
But now that body is mine, so it’s no laughing matter!
“Eat more.”
Out of pity, I pushed toward the child some seafood dishes that he had eaten a few times before.
Seeing him startled by even such a small gesture made me think that this quest business was really despicable.
‘I should order the magicians to take good care of him, without making them suspicious.’
Just then, I noticed the child blushing and fidgeting.
It was pitiful to see him quickly lower his head after making eye contact.
Tap.
I tapped the table to make eye contact, and haughtily tilted my chin as if asking, “What?”
The child’s face brightened.
Luias took out a notebook from his pocket and buried his nose in it, lowering his head.
‘His hair is pretty too.’
As I was looking at the round head bowed quietly, a paper with writing was suddenly thrust toward me.
─Are you going to the palace? Are you going to see my brother, His Majesty?
Ah, so that’s what it was.
Looking at those expectant eyes, I didn’t know what to say.
I knew how much courage it took for him to do that.
The small hand holding the notebook was trembling.
‘But.’
Even a passing dog would know that he’s practically detained here, essentially a hostage, and even that fat cat guide who ate ten cookies knows this fact.
Can I take him with me?
Won’t I be suspected?
The place is full of magicians who are already whispering that the tower master must be sick just because I ate a meal with him once?
“Meow.”
The fat cat wagged its tail while yawning as if telling me to do as I please.
Oh, that cat really.
─The cat… Is it the teacher’s cat?
But Luias seemed to find it fascinating and good, his fingers twitching with clear desire to touch the tail.
As his eyes followed the cat, I hastily said without thinking.
“No.”
That’s a cat.
It hurts when it scratches you.
“……”
But looking at the child’s pale expression, I felt guilty for making a big mistake.
I meant you shouldn’t touch the cat. You asked.
But the child seemed to understand it as “you cannot go to the emperor’s palace.”
His dejected head drooped as if about to fall to the ground.
Ugh, I felt a lump in my throat like someone who had accidentally inhaled water.
Oh, what should I do?
─I understand… I’m sorry.
My conscience cried out.
I squeezed my eyes shut and just went ahead and did it.
***
Where am I, who am I?
Why do I feel such intense déjà vu?
‘Hehehe.’
I looked at the little boy who was tightly holding onto my clothes, his face brightly lit up as I cheerfully looked around various places in the imperial palace.
‘Do you like it? Do you enjoy it?’
Yes, as long as you’re happy.
I’m going to be very unhappy in the future, though.
It’s already a living hell having to act in front of the emperor, who’s like my enemy every time, and now I have to rack my brain about how to explain this kid I suddenly brought along.
I don’t know how many times the palace servants we’ve encountered have looked at me once, then at Luias following me like goldfish poop while holding onto my clothes.
What should I say?
How can I make people think that Duke Ariel, who suddenly acts sympathetic toward her young disciple, isn’t crazy?
But I found out just 3 minutes later that such worries were a luxury.
Because figures suddenly appeared at the end of the corridor, looking me up and down.
“Last time you were so arrogant, saying you absolutely couldn’t show the prince belonging to the magic tower, but what change of heart made you bring His Highness the Prince to the imperial palace without permission?”
What are these now?
Of course, I could tell that the humans blocking me were all Indojas and Awakened Ones.
They must be the emperor’s knights and their matches.
Luias, perhaps startled by the sudden situation, stuck close behind me and gripped my clothes tightly.
But disciple, I’m the one who wants to cry!
I wanted to say they had the wrong person and just pass by, but keeping my mouth shut here wouldn’t be like Duke Ariel.
“What kind of rudeness is this?”
“Oh. I’m not sure if you’re aware, Your Grace, but lately magicians have become quite haughty and are picking fights.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“You’re their leader, so how is it not related to you!”
“I know nothing about it.”
Arrogant and unpleasant.
Of course, this retort backfired.
Bang! The ground rose up beside me.
There seemed to be an Awakened One who could use earth abilities.
Now my heart was beating hard enough to burst.
[Ding]
[Ding]
[Ding]
I couldn’t turn my eyes away as I was glaring at the humans in front of me, but even without looking, the system must be spamming warning windows about danger.
Cold sweat streamed down.
The fierce-looking Awakened Ones were leaking their power recklessly.
“I heard that you found the emperor’s match but are keeping quiet about it. The magicians are saying that. Is it true?”
Which crazy person spread such talk?
I was shocked, but that wasn’t the issue right now.
“Answer!”
The power became even sharper.
Now sparks were flying behind the knight with bulging veins.
I felt dizzy.
There’s a child here! I’m a magic eunuch who can’t even use a fireball!
And if I get beaten up here without being able to respond to them.
‘Everyone will know that Duke Ariel has changed.’
The quest will fail.
