Chapter 55 – Rescue (highlight)
「d.a.m.n it, will we make it…!?」1
I’m currently running through the Royal Capital in the morning.
The ones following me are Len-doushi and group of around 10 knights.
Furthermore, two platoons have been planned to follow later.
As we ran through the main street, the citizens hurriedly made way.
The origin of this event started when a single knight came rushing in.
「Your Highness Prince Sedrim! There’s an urgent matter!」
Having just finished breakfast, an Imperial Guard came rushing to my side.
「What happened? What’s urgent?」
Not my father or my older brother, but urgent an urgent matter for me?
Also, this knight’s fl.u.s.tered appearance is…?
「Ha! A knight rushed into our guardroom…… uh, he said that His Highness’ fiancée-dono was kidnapped.」
My fiancée he says? I don’t have that sort of person but…
「What do you mean? Tell me in detail.」
At any rate, I’ll try listening to his story.
「Ha! According to the knight, this morning, he saw Your Highness’ fiancée-dono pushed into a carriage on a road connecting to the main street.」
Fiancée, I don’t understand what that means, but it seems it’ll be faster to directly ask that knight.
「I’ll meet that knight. Where is he?」
Being guided by that Imperial Guard, we headed towards that knight’s location.
According to that knight’s story, since today was his day off, when he drank until morning and was heading home, he witnessed that scene by chance.
The time was around 3-1 koku, he entered a side street from the main street to do his business, and on the other side, it seemed he saw my ‘fiancée’ being brought into a carriage by a large amount of men.
It seems the first thing that knight did when he saw that, was hide himself and pursued after that carriage.
Although he lost sight midway, he searched for a short while, and as a result, he discovered the carriage at an isolated house in a corner of the Royal Capital, it appears he rushed to the Royal Castle for the sake of letting me know.
I understood up until there, but I don’t know who’s pretending to be my fiancée.
When I enquired about it, he said it was a young girl with a child-like appearance, and long black hair.
It’s about Sakura!?
The moment I realized that, I got that knight up to his feet, confirmed the location on a map and immediately pulled out a horse in order to depart.
I immediately caught the knights that were working within the area, Len-doushi was looking for me by chance so I also had him come along, then rode horses to that isolated house.
What do they plan on kidnapping Sakura for?
I couldn’t understand. Certainly, part of her relationship with me were talked about in rumors but…
Is it simply a kidnapping?
Even when I tried thinking about it, I couldn’t come up with an answer.
Although Sakura seems indifferent to her own appearance, if you judge it from a third person’s perspective, she has an appearance of what you’d call a bishoujo. As well as her frequently changing expressions. Especially that limp smile that gives off an charming feeling that can’t be described2.
It would be good if she wasn’t kidnapped a bad group that has an indecent objective but…
Just as we arrived at the isolated
house, a ‘DOON!” sound resounded from within.
I hurried anyway and went towards the room that made that sound.
A voice was calling me from behind, but there was no way I could’ve heard it.3
I opened that door, what was before my eyes was…… wind raging inside the room.
When I look inside, four men were collapsed in the corner of the room.
Although they weren’t moving, they seem to be alive.
Leaving that side…… at the centre of the raging winds was Sakura.
The moment I saw Sakura, my heart was awfully disordered.
Sakura’s had an appearance with shackles attached to her hands and feet and her clothes teared, her eyes flowing with tears was empty as if it reflected nothing.4
Her lips were slightly moving, it seems she’s muttering something, but the wind was interfering so it couldn’t be heard.
Guessing from the movements of her lips, it looks like she’s repeating the word 「no」.
「SAKURA! ARE YOU OKAY?」
My voice involuntarily came out.
There’s no way she’s okay. Although I knew that, I couldn’t find any other words to say.
As if Sakura didn’t notice me, she doesn’t change where she’s looking at.
「SAKURA!」
Those empty eyes turned in my direction after calling out a second time.
I unintentionally reached out my hand towards those eyes, but I was blocked by the wind and couldn’t move.
「Don’t do that, Your Highness! It’s dangerous!」
Len-doushi, who caught up to me, restrained me from advancing.
「But Sakura is…!」
At this rate…… Sakura will break!
Quickly, if I don’t go to her side!
「Her sorcery is running wild! It’s dangerous to approach!」
Sorcery is running wild he says? Impossible! Sakura shouldn’t be able to use sorcery.
The moment I tried to somehow approach Sakura, Sakura’s body suddenly collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
Together with that, the wind that was violently blowing in the room rapidly stopped.
「SAKURA!」
With the wind that was blocking me disappearing, I hurriedly rushed over to Sakura.
I confirmed the collapsed Sakura’s breathing, the moment I discovered she had only lost consciousness, my whole body seemed to have lost its strength.
Immediately recalling the figure of Sakura, I wrapped up Sakura with something that looked like a mantle from another person then gently embraced her.
After that, I ordered the knights that rushed into the room to capture the collapsed men, placed Sakura in a carriage then proceeded to the Royal Castle.
I carried Sakura to a guest room and decided to entrust Chiffon to take care her.
It seems the carriage that the knight who rushed in saw had already disappeared.
I’ll have no choice but to squeeze it out from the captured men regarding this.
Having injured Sakura, I’ll have you regret it…!
Two days after that, Sakura woke up and I got in touch with her.