ITDHC 09

Chapter 9

After saying that, Elissa climbed onto the horse beside her.

The only time she had ever ridden a horse was during a riding experience on a school field trip, but if she wanted to find Richard, running on foot would be too slow.

Fortunately, it seemed that Elissa’s body remembered how to ride. She skillfully mounted the horse and took hold of the reins.

“Let’s go.”

Elissa kicked the horse’s side.

The horse immediately galloped forward as she commanded.

“Young Madam!”

She heard the knights call out in surprise, still frozen by Elissa’s sudden actions, but she did not look back.

They’ll follow me anyway, if only to protect me.

After all, she was a valuable asset to Albert.

Elissa decided that the knights would not let her get hurt.

As soon as Elissa rode into the forest, the knights followed her, just as she had expected.

In the original story, Richard survived just fine and eventually had Hanes…

But something might have changed in the meantime. The very fact that she had possessed Elissa might already have become a variable in this original novel.

No one knew how much of the original story would change, or where those changes would begin.

Elissa and the knights had been wandering through the forest for quite some time in search of Richard when—

Wind?

A strong gust blowing from deeper within the forest tangled Elissa’s hair.

This is… Richard’s wind.

Elissa kicked the horse’s side again and pulled on the reins.

“This way!”

Elissa and the knights followed the wind deeper into the forest.

The farther they went, the stronger the wind became. Eventually, it became so powerful that even Elissa, sitting on horseback, was nearly thrown off balance.

Something must have happened to Richard.

Elissa grew anxious. She urged the horse to go even faster.

As she drew closer to the center of the wind, the violent gusts whipped her hair across her face and blocked her vision.

She pushed her hair to one side.

And then Elissa stopped dead.

At the center of the forest, a massive vortex was raging.

The vortex had lifted not only the surrounding grass and trees into the air, but also the men wearing the same clothes as the suspicious men Elissa had seen earlier.

And at the center of that vortex…

Richard…!

Richard was there.

His blood-red eyes were filled with a killing intent Elissa had never seen before.

The assassins nearby who had not been caught in the wind fired crossbows at Richard, but every bolt was knocked off course by the overwhelming wind he had created.

When all their attacks missed, the assassins hesitated and began backing away.

Then Richard opened his mouth.

The sound of the wind was too loud for Elissa to hear his voice, but she understood what he said from the movement of his lips.

Die.

At the same moment, Richard’s wind stopped.

The assassins who had been suspended in the air by the vortex came crashing down and slammed into the ground.

Horrible screams soon rang out.

“Argh!”

The lucky ones broke their arms or legs.

The unlucky ones had their necks broken.

It was a gruesome end.

Seeing the terrible fate that had befallen their comrades, the remaining assassins turned and fled in terror.

The Rubellin knights, who had been standing there in shock, immediately chased after them.

“Stop right there!”

Once the assassins disappeared, Richard’s wind completely died down as well.

Only then did Elissa notice the wounds on Richard’s side and shoulder.

Her eyes widened.

He’s injured…

The wounds looked quite deep. A considerable amount of blood had already pooled on the ground where Richard was standing.

Yet Richard’s expression remained calm, as though he could not feel even the slightest pain from the wounds on his side and shoulder.

“What a monster…”

Christian, who had been watching from nearby, muttered in fear as he slowly backed away.

Behind Christian stood the other nobles who had come hunting.

Among them were the Emperor and Albert.

“H-How did this happen?”

“Assassins managed to enter the Imperial Hunting Grounds?”

Like Christian, the nobles looked at Richard with a mixture of shock and awe as they whispered among themselves.

The Emperor also stared at Richard in surprise before his expression hardened.

Richard stood unsteadily among the fallen assassins, looking toward the nobles and the Emperor.

Then, unable to withstand his injuries any longer, he collapsed.

“Richard!”

“Lord Richard!”

Elissa and the Rubellin knights rushed forward instinctively and caught him.

Elissa quickly examined Richard’s condition.

He’s in worse shape than I thought.

Her eyes trembled as she examined his wounds.

It was the first time she had ever seen someone close to her lose so much blood right before her eyes.

The fear that the person who had been speaking with her only moments ago might die was far greater than she had ever imagined.

“We need to treat him quickly…”

Elissa looked up at Albert, who had approached them at some point, her eyes filled with urgency.

But he merely looked down at Richard with a hardened expression and showed little reaction.

Instead, the Rubellin knights quickly did what they could to stop Richard’s bleeding.

“Your Majesty! Crown Prince! Are you unharmed?”

At that moment, the commander of the Imperial Knights, who had been the last to arrive at the scene, hurried over to check on the Emperor and Christian.

The Emperor frowned deeply.

“An outsider has infiltrated the Imperial Hunting Grounds. How did this happen?”

“I-I apologize, Your Majesty. The knights were definitely guarding the area around the hunting grounds…”

“I asked how so many of those men managed to get inside.”

“…I will investigate the circumstances as quickly as possible and report back to Your Majesty.”

The commander, who had been making excuses, immediately lowered his head after sensing his sovereign’s displeasure.

Just as the knights were about to take the young nobles who had been nearby at the time away for questioning, Albert, who had remained silent until then, stepped forward before the Emperor.

“I have a request to make, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor looked at Albert in surprise.

“I humbly ask that you allow me to investigate who is behind this incident.”

“I regret that I cannot grant that request. This happened in the Imperial Hunting Grounds. I will personally uncover what madman dared to plot something like this within the imperial grounds.”

“That child is the only family I have left. He nearly died here. Is there anyone who could conduct a more desperate and sincere investigation for my grandson than I could?”

One of the Emperor’s eyebrows rose.

Albert’s words carried an unspoken message: the Emperor was not someone who could be trusted to care about Richard’s safety.

They also implied that Albert suspected the Emperor himself of being behind the incident.

“Please allow me to uncover whoever is behind this and make sure they pay the price.”

The Emperor looked coldly at Albert as he bowed his head and pleaded.

Then he raised his gaze.

There were too many eyes watching them.

If he continued to refuse, people might begin to suspect that the Imperial Family itself was behind the assassins.

In the end, the Emperor spoke in a heavy voice.

“I grant your request.”

The hunt was canceled.

The members of the Rubellin ducal family returned to the ducal residence with Richard.

“The bleeding has been stopped, and the wounds are not particularly deep, so you do not need to worry too much. Still, he should avoid strenuous activity for the time being.”

Richard’s personal physician gave them that advice before leaving the room.

“Then please call me if you need anything, Young Madam.”

Once the servants had left as well, only Elissa and the sleeping Richard remained in the room.

Elissa sat beside the bed and quietly watched Richard.

Could the Imperial Family really be behind this…?

But targeting Richard so openly, and in the Imperial Hunting Grounds of all places, would have been foolish.

Anyone who knew about the relationship between Rubellin and the Imperial Family would naturally suspect the Imperial Family first.

Does the Duke have some idea who might be behind this?

Albert had only briefly checked Richard’s condition at the hunting grounds.

After returning to the ducal residence, he immediately began giving orders to the Rubellin knights to uncover the person behind the attack.

He had not even checked on Richard once while the boy was being examined.

Is he really Richard’s grandfather? He must be, considering the way Richard uses the power of Rubellin… But how can he be so indifferent?

Just as Elissa was pouting at Albert’s attitude, there was a knock on the door.

Elissa opened it with a puzzled expression.

“Anne?”

Anne was standing outside.

She seemed to have run all the way there, as she was breathing heavily. For some reason, her face was filled with fear.

“What happened?”

“I-I have something to tell you.”

Anne looked anxiously toward the inside of the room.

Elissa was puzzled, but she let Anne in.

The moment Anne entered, she locked the door behind her.

Something was clearly wrong.

“What is it?”

“M-My lady. I… I just heard something.”

“Heard what?”

“The person who did this to the Young Duke.”

Elissa’s eyes changed instantly.

Anne caught her breath for a moment before continuing.

“The person who did this to the Young Duke is…”