Chapter 144.2

Raul had jumped over the rooftop of the building and was watching from a blind spot. And yet, the girl looked straight up at him.

Her lips were soft and cherry-red, and her nose was smooth. Her eyelashes were so long that you could see them even through a monocle, and her eyes were round and large.

Her strong-willed eyes felt like they shot through Raul.

She was a girl with beautiful eyes that took Raul's breath away.

The moment she entered the alley, he knew he was being lured. But then, he reflexively followed her.

Her sword work was so delicate and vivid. And yet, the next time he saw her, she introduced herself as the 'Fiancée of the Crown Prince of Garkhain'.

I never thought that the young lady was real and that she could turn Harriet splendidly.

Raul heaved a sigh.

That young lady shouldn't be bothering with others. She is the bride of Garkhain and a hostage in a political marriage. She'll never be happy.

"If you don't want to marry that Crown Prince, I'll kidnap you."

He said it in feigned jest, but in fact he sincerely proposed. A political marriage would never make the bride happy.

Harriet, as well as the Princess he couldn't protect in the past, all became unhappy that way.

To top it all off, the girl named Rishe would be marrying in Garkhain, the same place as that Princess. However, Rishe replied frankly.

"Whatever misfortune may befall me in my marriage to him, I don't think I will be unhappy because of it."

She uttered these words without hesitation at all.

"I will be his bride. ―― I've already chosen how I'm going to live my life."

Instincts told Raul that this girl was dangerous.

It was as if she could see through all of Raul's fears and innermost desires. It was as if she had been with him for years, even though they had only met a few days ago.

If someone knew that his displayed emotions were false, and that she was aware of the true feelings inside his heart, Raul would surely not be able to stand it.

It's too late for that now. It's unnecessary to be afraid, isn't it?

Raul slowly raised his eyelids.

The doors of the chapel opened, and the Fabranian knights entered.

The number of people outside has increased to fourteen. There are now fifteen of us here...29, they're all here.

And those female knights were giving Raul a prying look.

You suck. You can't even hide your murderous intent at all.

That being the case, the correct answer might be that they had no intention of hiding it from the beginning. Raul turned his neck and looked down at Harriet, who was tied up in front of him.

"Thank you for your help, Harriet."

At his whisper, Harriet's shoulders jerked.

"You've always tried so hard to read the world around you, and you've always been scared because of it. You noticed that...I wanted to do something, and you were trying to fit in, right?"

"Ra-Raul, you, what..."

Raul turned his back on Harriet.

"However, as a hunter, I am quite hurt. You and that Miss Rishe are in no position to be seen through so easily."

"...What are you whispering about?"

One of the female knights stepped in front of Raul.

"It's nothing. I just thought I'd say goodbye for now."

"Raul!! N-No..."

"You're right...After all, you're both going to die here."

Raul looked taken aback by the cheesy line and cowered.

"That's a terrible thing to say. I was looking forward to getting hired in Fabrania, but I never thought I'd be tricked and killed."

"Bullshit. You came here from the beginning to rescue Harriet, didn't you?"

"Yeah. And you were planning to kill both me and Harriet from the very start."

What a stupid farce. That's enough for now, Raul thought as he stretched wide.

"...You're quite composed, huh? You think you can protect that woman and defeat nearly thirty knights by yourself?"

"You are crucially mistaken. We don't care about 'fighting', unlike you knights."

The women looked like they didn't understand what he was saying. But that didn't bother him.

"Besides, it's not like we're going to survive together."

"Oh, I see. You're going to leave her and run away on your own."

"One last thing..."

Raul laughed and quickly pointed straight up.

"It's nothing, really. I'm not alone."

The next moment, the female knights all became alarmed at the same time.

But it was too late.

In the moment they blinked, five subordinates descended from the ceiling around Raul.

"Nonsense!! When did you bring company?!!"

"From the beginning. Too bad you couldn't read the signs."

"Chief! We've got Her Highness Harriet!"

Behind Raul, who did not look back, he felt Harriet being held. Harriet screamed out in distress, as if she was resisting being tied up.

"Wait, please let go!! Raul...!!"

"Then, I'm counting on you, boys. Stick to the plan."

"Chief. Are you really..."

"Go."

Raul made a shooing gesture to get rid of them, and no further objections flew.

Harriet's mouth seemed to have been sealed shut, and only muffled protests could be heard. The hunters were planning to use the rope hanging from the ceiling to escape upwards.

We have no intentions of fighting...Our only goal is to set Harriet free.

Raul licked his lips, tilted his head and smiled slightly. That look must have been detestable to the knights.

"They're escaping upstairs. Don't let them get away! Grab them from below and pull them down!"