The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 99

Eliza gazed down at the sleeping Judas.

Despite her stoic expression, her thoughts were tangled.

While her rationality tirelessly evaluated her current state, her emotions were simple and foolish.

She wanted to be held in those broad arms.

Like always.

She wanted to naturally nestle in, using his arm as a pillow.

Then, half-awake, Judas would realize she was there and silently embrace her.

That would be enough.

But Eliza didn’t do it.

She couldn’t.

She felt she shouldn’t.

What had once been natural no longer felt that way.

It could no longer be part of her daily life.

When something ceases to be ordinary, it becomes extraordinary.

Extraordinary.

Eliza quietly mouthed the word.

Extraordinary. Special.

Judas had become special to her. At some point.

How special?

Everything is a matter of degree.

Even a lethal poison can become medicine if its dosage is controlled.

How special was Judas?

What does ‘special’ even mean in the first place?

Something distinct from the ordinary.

The range of its meaning is too broad, too vague.

In a broader sense, even Barak and Narcissa are special.

Because they are targets of vengeance who must be killed.

Emotions that are sharply distinct from the mundane.

Hatred.

Then, how can the specialness directed at Judas be defined?

Looking back, he had belonged to ‘special’ for quite some time.

When they first met.

When he brought her a ridiculous birthday gift.

When he killed Sardis in her stead.

When he risked his life defying Barak and Narcissa.

When he shielded her from an assassin.

When he embraced her, startled.

And countless other times since then.

No, frequently.

He was the only one in this world who possessed color.

The boy who evoked the warmth and memories of her mother was inevitably special.

Eliza wanted to name this specialness.

But it wasn’t easy.

Her lexicon lacked the vocabulary to define this situation.

Without a fitting answer, she simply wandered.

Wandering and wandering, she realized:

She had grown weak.

She was being consumed by Judas.

Even though there was no need to define that specialness, she clung to the effort.

Whatever that specialness was, at least one thing was clear.

It wouldn’t aid her in what she had to do.

Her objective expectation of Judas was singular.

To become a sword.

One that would protect her.

And kill others in her stead.

That was enough.

‘I mustn’t grow weak…’

Special.

She would acknowledge it.

But it wasn’t deep.

No, it mustn’t be deep.

She had to pull away.

The specialness led to dependence.

Dependence was a symbol of weakness.

Weakness led to defeat.

And she could not afford defeat.

What she sought was only victory.

A perfect victory, devoid of even a shred of mercy.

Weakness was a disgusting luxury.

She recalled a maxim she had cherished for a long time.

“Use others but never be used. Let others depend on you, but never depend on them.”

Trust others, but trust no one.

She reaffirmed her goal.

Centered around Barak, the Bevel family.

The imperial family and the Moon God Church , who cooperated with them.

They must all be destroyed in one sweep.

And the assassin guild that killed my mother.

Even if it was merely a commission, I cannot let such a group live.

There were far too many enemies.

The Helios Empire and the Bevel Principality, dividing the continent.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say the entire world is an enemy.

Moreover, the Founding Festival is a critical turning point.

To effectively bring down the Empire, the anti-Empire faction must be gathered.

Those hiding ambition within their hearts.

There’s no room to get entangled in petty matters.

In this situation, showing weakness would mean being torn apart.

Her composed gaze settled colder than before.

Her crimson eyes quietly fixed on Judas.

‘Rather than allowing myself to grow weak…’

She shook her head.

He was, objectively, an outstanding ally.

She glanced at his hands.

Large and sturdy, unlike her own.

Calluses covered his palms and backs of his hands, evidence of relentless, rigorous training.

Proof of his devotion to her.

She clasped his fingertips.

The familiar chill seeped in.

Slowly, she let go.

That was enough.

All she did was receive one-sidedly.

Eliza returned to her room and lay down on the bed.

Normally, even just touching his fingertips would help her sleep well enough.

But not tonight.

***

On the day of the Founding Festival.

I was riding in a carriage with Eliza.

Eleven members of the royal guard followed in a carriage behind us.

Inside our carriage, Eliza and I sat side by side, with her personal maid, Lia, seated across from us.

Eliza explained to me,

“I finished repairing your armor and added some practical functions while enchanting it. You know your necklace, right?”

“Yes. I’m wearing it now.”

“Good. I linked it so it can exchange real-time coordinates with my ring. The effects are similar. You can summon your armor whenever you want.”

I wasn’t particularly versed in magic academically or theoretically.

Still, having spent time in this world, I had a decent understanding of magic.

Yet the more time I spent with Eliza, the more my knowledge felt insignificant.

“You can also send it back. I set the coordinates to the shelf in your bedroom. You know, the spot across from your bed where you always put the armor. I kept the arrangement the same as usual. Since you always place it haphazardly, I oriented it to face forward.”

“……”

“It doesn’t automatically equip itself. You’ll have to put it on yourself after summoning it.”

That’s more than enough.

It’s already incredibly useful.

“Anything you don’t understand?”

“I understand perfectly.”

“Hmm.”

Eliza looked up at me closely from beside me.

Her gaze was checking if I truly understood.

‘I’m not that clueless…’

Finally, Eliza nodded.

“Seems like you get it.”

“……”

“Test it later. I’m going to sleep until we arrive.”

She rubbed her eyes, looking tired.

She had seemed especially busy lately.

Hadn’t come by at night for several days.

‘…Not that I was waiting, but considering her usual pattern, she should’ve shown up by now. Not that it matters.’

Eliza let out a shallow sigh and leaned against my shoulder.

As if she intended to sleep just like that.

Very naturally.

…For me, it wasn’t natural at all.

Even after years of this, I couldn’t get used to it.

In so many ways.

It’s ridiculous to feel uneasy because she hasn’t come by, yet act awkward when she leans on me.

‘Anyway, summoning the armor… I really want to try it.’

My body itched with anticipation.

‘I want to know how it’s different from the usual signals I send to Eliza.’

‘Like a helmet or gloves… maybe I can try summoning something small just once? I can send it back right away…’

I tentatively used my magic, intending to test it out.

The moment I did, Eliza suddenly snapped her head up.

She glared at me through narrowed eyes.

“You were told to do it alone later.”

“……”

“The signal came to me.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“If you do it again, I’ll scold you. I’m going to sleep, so stay still.”

With her warning, she leaned back against my shoulder.

As if to ensure I wouldn’t move, she wrapped her arm around mine, pulling it close.

I stayed still, as she had ordered.

I had no choice.

With her body pressed so closely against mine, there was no way I could move.

The carriage continued to roll forward at a steady pace.

The only sound was the wheels turning—a heavy silence.

At this rate, the only ones still fully awake were Lia and me.

“……”

The atmosphere was unbearably awkward.

I had known Lia almost as long as I’d been with Eliza.

But I had never spoken with her privately.

Even for official matters, I could barely recall a proper conversation.

In short, the silence was stifling.

It would’ve been better if Lia had been distracted or gazing out the window.

But instead, she was staring at me.

Intently, scrutinizing and probing with her gaze.

‘Does she want to say something?’

I wanted to ask, but the mood made it oddly difficult.

Lia was a cold and sharp maid.

To everyone except Eliza.

Eliza’s breathing gradually slowed.

Soft and steady.

This is how she looked when she was in a deep sleep.

Sleeping beside her all this time, I’d come to learn these things.

She sleeps so peacefully.

“You.”

Lia spoke suddenly.

Her voice was small and low.

It seemed she was careful not to wake Eliza.

“Could you die for the lady?”

For our first real conversation, the subject was unexpectedly grim.

Her tone wasn’t light, either.

“Why even ask something so obvious…”

I stopped mid-sentence.

I was Eliza’s escort knight.

If a situation arose where I needed to die for her, I should be ready.

I knew that.

It was a mindset I carried every day.

I didn’t want to shirk my duty.

And yet, I sometimes wondered if Eliza might end up killing me.

Maybe I had managed to avoid the first tragedy.

But the second one still lingered.

If I couldn’t avoid it this time, I might have to flee from her to survive.

And yet, I could still die for Eliza.

If the two conflicted, what would I do?

If I had to die for Eliza —because of Eliza.

Could I offer her my life?

I glanced down at Eliza, still asleep.

Wrapped in the red blanket I gave her, clutching the cat doll she’d carried with her every day for the past five years.

‘You are… no, I am… to you… what exactly…’

Lia’s quiet sigh broke through my thoughts.

It wasn’t a sigh of frustration but one of relief.

“That’s enough.”

“…Pardon?”

“You don’t think of it as just a professional obligation. You think of her as a person.”

She hit the nail on the head.

“So, for me, that’s enough.”

There was a glint of tears in Lia’s eyes.

Her black irises stayed fixed on Eliza, fast asleep.

Her gaze was warm, but it carried a trace of sorrow.

Was it my imagination, or did she look older than usual today?

“May I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“How long have you known the lady?”

In the future I knew, there was no maid named Lia.

Five years ago, Lia seemed to have served Eliza for a long time.

What exactly is she?

I was simply curious.

Lia seemed to ponder for a moment, then shook her head.

“It’s a secret.”

“Pardon…?”

“You were free to ask as you pleased, but I never said I would answer.”

“…….”

As frustrating as it is, she’s right.

But still, it’s infuriating…!

We hadn’t even exchanged many words, yet she unexpectedly had a playful side.

She faintly smiled, as if finding it amusing to tease me with wordplay.

That face subtly resembled Eliza’s…

“Umm….”

Eliza shifted in her sleep.

Mumbling, she clung closer to me.

I must have been too loud.

I quickly shut my mouth, but Lia was gazing at Eliza with a fond expression.

That gentle smile turned cold as soon as her eyes met mine.

‘Why are you like this to me….’