Chapter 151

The Prince's Distress

"Aaaaahhhhhh!!!"

"Hiiiiiiii, ahhhhhh!!!"

"Nooooooo!!!"

On the way to the Practical Skills for the Hunters class, the Stuart brothers and Joshua heard unladylike screams coming from the young ladies.

When they turned their heads, they saw many young ladies running in their direction with ghastly faces from the path which led down to the Embroidery class, where they separated from Emma.

"W-What on earth?!"

The young ladies, who usually walked in a slow, graceful manner, were now running at full speed. There were even some whose knees were bleeding.

"They came from the road Emma-sama went to! Emma-sama is in danger!!!"

No matter how intimidating the young ladies looked as they ran towards them, Joshua didn't hesitate at all.

He immediately started running to where Emma was.

"T-This... isn't caused by Emma nee-sama... or anything, right?!"

"We can only hope that it's not!"

William and George chased after Joshua as they ran in the opposite direction of the fleeing young ladies.

♠♠♠

"Your Highness."

The Prince, who had come to the Hunters class, was also about to head out to check if Emma was safe, but he was stopped by Arthur.

"You mustn't go, Your Highness. If there was actually something dangerous which happened there, Your Highness must be the first to evacuate."

In the academy grounds, Arthur also acted as the Prince's bodyguard.

He couldn't let the Prince be near any danger.

"But Arthur, Emma is...!"

"Your Highness, please remember your position."

The Prince was stopped in place as his arm was grabbed firmly by Arthur.

Prince Edward's POV

Even though the girl I like might be in danger, I couldn't go save her.

I felt so frustrated towards myself, who could only be protected because of my royal status. I envied Joshua, who started running off to save Emma before he could even think.

To think that a Prince would envy a merchant's child... How pathetic...

"Your Highness, as a prince, you have something you can do."

Even Arthur's voice of warning sounded extremely unpleasant to my ears right now.

I know, I know, I know.

But, I wanted to protect Emma with my own hands, with Edward Torse Royal's hands.

I wanted to do so not because I wanted people to thank me, nor because I wished Emma would come to like me as a result. All of that didn't matter. I just... wanted to protect her. It was as simple as that.

The image of her suffering from the pain from the wounds she had gotten from the slime was still vivid in my mind.

I couldn't bear to see her, to see Emma, in pain.

I wanted her to keep smiling.

I wanted to be able to protect that smile.

Swallowing all those heavy thoughts, I ordered Arthur as a prince of this country.

"...Dispatch the knights from the royal castle. I will take responsibility. Investigate the cause, protect the young ladies, and treat the injured."

Even if this commotion turned out to be started because of an insignificant matter, no one would raise any complaints about the dispatch of the knights after hearing that they moved under the Prince's orders.

The initial response was crucial in any matter.

That was the lesson I had learnt from the local barrier hazard in Valerie.

End of Prince Edward's POV

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Releasing his hold on the Prince's hand, Arthur dispatched a messenger to the royal castle.

"Your Highness, let's evacuate while the place is still safe. I will lead the way."

Pretending not to see the Prince's hand which was bleeding from clenching his fist too hard, Arthur, too, hid his frustration for not being able to do anything but prioritize his duty as the Prince's guard in this situation.

Arthur could only pray for the safety of Emma and the young ladies who headed to their Embroidery class.