I Start with a Bad Hand!

Sometime later, Icarus’s guards approached, their horse hooves clattering. One of them came up to Icarus and pointed towards me, asking for him to give orders for my care.

The guard tasked with Icarus’s command had a rugged charm with his unkempt beard and shabby appearance—an appearance you wouldn’t find among the fresh-faced youths at the academy. Some kind of rough, rugged… 

‘Appealing, really!’

After treating my injured leg, Icarus’s guard took the strap engraved with my name and tied it to the corpses of the black bear and the monster. He seemed unfazed by the sight of the monster’s corpse. How could he look at that and…

‘The prince’s guard is truly different.’

“How is your leg? Are you okay?”

He offered to help me up politely.

As we were heading towards the horse brought by Icarus’s guards,

“What’s that?”

Icarus, who had been talking with other guards, stopped mid-sentence and approached us.

“It seems difficult to leave you like this, I intend to assist you to the podium,” said the guard in a cave-deep voice. Icarus intercepted my hand from him and said as he led me,

“Ensure that the beasts and monsters Miss Degoph dealt with are taken to the podium.”

He then helped me onto the horse effortlessly. The problem was…

“Your Highness, I can’t ride a horse.”

With my leg in no condition to even think about riding, what was I to do if they just placed me on a horse! As I looked at him perplexedly, he effortlessly jumped onto the horse behind me.

“We move first. Make sure everything follows.”

“Yes!”

With one hand, he held my waist, and with the other, he took the reins, whispering lowly,

“Excuse me.”

Icarus spurred the horse, quickly moving it out of the forest. The air whisked past me, tickling my spirits lightly.

***

When the name ‘Beatrice Degoph’ was announced as the winner, Cedric instinctively knew who the ‘real’ winner of the hunting contest was. He lightly massaged his stiffening neck.

‘Beatrice Degoph, indeed.’

The casual use of his stepmother’s name. Even though they were far from the capital, did he really think no one would recognize that name? Cedric chuckled lowly.

The winner of the hunt did not appear on the platform due to an injury. Nevertheless, the second prince continued his short congratulatory speech as if someone below the stage was meant to hear it.

“It’s been 20 years since a lady won at the hunt after the Duchess of the Elexion Ducal House.”

Icarus’s gaze briefly fixed on something before drifting away. Cedric followed that gaze and moved forward. Behind him, Roxanne’s voice could be heard. Among the people wearing various hunting outfits, one person who was tightly wrapped in a robe caught the eye.

“Continue with that courage and vigor, to bring endless glory to the empire.”

Despite being wrapped in a robe, that person was holding their head stiffly high. Then, their face slightly showed. The corners of their mouth brimmed with an undeniable sense of victory, a straight nose, and sparkling deep bluish-gray eyes.

***

As soon as the award ceremony ended, I dragged my worn-out body to the cathedral. I hadn’t been able to meet the chief priest so far due to financial issues, but now that those were resolved, there was no reason to delay. Except for one thing…

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Inside the running carriage, the second prince sat across from me, arms crossed.

“I could have gone alone.”

“Well, I can’t just send back the person who saved my life. Luckily, we’re headed to the same destination.”

“As I mentioned earlier, the reason I’m going to the cathedral is not…”

“Yes, it’s not because of the injury, you have more pressing matters.”

The cathedral quietly welcomed the prince’s visit. Icarus requested a meeting with the chief priest.

‘Actually, I hoped to meet that young priest from before…’

Not knowing his name or affiliation, it seemed difficult to locate him. Nevertheless, Icarus quietly waited for the chief priest he had requested.

After a brief wait, someone approached from a distance. I expected an older person, but surprisingly, a thin, limping young priest appeared, fitting the scene well.

‘Huh?’

I involuntarily furrowed my brow, focusing my sight.

‘Could it be that person…’

“Don’t make donations.”

“Don’t donate to the cathedral thinking it will get you an audience with the chief priest. It won’t help.”

“I can’t assist you right now… but come back around winter.”

It seemed to be that priest.

In just a few months, his face appeared deeply marked by the toils of labor. The priest looked straight at me.

“…It’s been a while, my parishioner.”

He did not ask for any financial compensation for his help. He simply stated that, as a priest and at the prince’s request, he would assist me. He truly was a devout religious man.

Icarus was waiting outside the temple room with a look of boredom. As he watched me limping out, he gestured towards me and spoke to the priest.

“One more favor, please.”

“Anything, Your Highness.”

“The lady tried to help me and injured her leg. I would appreciate it if you could look at that wound.”

It wasn’t exactly an attempt to help, and it was almost self-inflicted, but Icarus kindly sugarcoated the situation. The priest knelt and gently pressed his lips to my leg.

“That’s not difficult at all.”

The priest began reciting a prayer towards my blood-stained leg. As everyone focused on my leg, I felt embarrassed and diverted my gaze elsewhere.

‘Huh?’

With a crack, my leg suddenly felt unusually light. I looked at the priest, half-believing, as he noticed my gaze and subtly pointed at my leg.

“There was also an old injury. I’ve healed that as well.”

The priest smiled proudly.

‘That means now…’

Tap, tap. I tested my foot on the ground. The leg that had been uncomfortable for so long now moved according to my will. It had been fixed so easily.

“……!”

‘So easily fixed, just by a word from the prince!’

It was such a trivial matter. For so long, Dietrich had… I must have appeared somewhat downcast without realizing it. The second prince bent down and scrutinized my expression.

“Is it still uncomfortable?”

“Oh, no. Thank you. It’s just… it’s strangely surprising to move so easily when it hasn’t been long since my leg was like this.”

I also thanked the priest. I bowed my head in gratitude.

‘I might even be able to tap dance now.’

As I entertained that thought, the priest kindly smiled and said,

“I’ll contact you again before the autumn festival ends. Until then, we will provide you with a room in the temple. Please stay there.”

I nodded. It seemed that at the end of a long effort, I was finally seeing a glimmer of liberation.