I Reject the villain’s ending.

Episode 43.

“So you’re not going to use your divine power on my little wound. Do you understand, Iros Elijah?”

Iros turned his head stubbornly away from the reprimand.

“But I don’t want you to be sick.”

“I don’t want you to be sick, either, and I can heal things like this, so save your body. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

The corner of Iros’s mouth lifted, ever so slightly, at the warmth of the words, which were unmistakably laced with concern.

His smile, shy and pleased, like a yellow forsythia blooming on a spring day, softened the atmosphere around him.

Seeing it, my eyes lit up, and I muttered harshly.

“Don’t smile. I’m still angry.”

“Yes.”

“What, you’re laughing? I said don’t laugh?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t laugh. Calm down.”

“Aren’t we already in a relationship?”

“Hmm. We’re not that close.”

“We’ve been through a lot, but we might not live to tell the tale…….”

“…….”

“…….”

There was an awkward silence between us for a moment. Many nights (?) passed in a blur in my head.

I realized that it must have been a lot of work, that we were always together, like one body, and that in the eyes of others, it was almost like a relationship.

My expression became strange.

Was it because I’d never thought about how other people saw us before?

“Hmmm. Anyway, if you don’t spare me your body one more time, I’m not going to leave you alone.”

“Foot. I look forward to it.”

“You mean it?”

“Yes, yes. Thank you for your concern.”

Iros smirked as if he already knew your sincerity.

What is it with you and your smirk lately, Heffer? It’s alluring, alluring, alluring.

“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, Saint, so don’t bite your nails until they bleed.”

“The Emperor wants me to come, but how can I not go? How can I deal with the consequences if I don’t go?”

“I’ll stop you.”

“You? How?”

“I’ll kill the emperor if I have to.”

“Uhhh…….”

What did I just hear?

I stared at Iros, speechless.

Sometimes Iros would go to extremes like this, with no middle ground, but the problem was that he wasn’t just talking.

I finally sighed.

“Arthur, maybe I should just go to the palace and behave myself.”

“I can protect you from everything?”

“That’s why I’m going if it saves my life.”

My head is spinning from thinking about other people’s lives when I can barely keep my own, but what can I do?

“Ehhh. Okay. Let’s go.”

* * *

I finished dressing and climbed into the carriage. It was just me and Iros, traveling alone.

Iros glanced around for a moment, as if sensing something was missing, and after a long pause, he spoke up.

“It seems a little quiet.”

“That’s because Mei’s not here.”

“Oh.”

I narrowed my eyes at his bewildered reaction.

“Did you just find out?”

“I didn’t know if she was there because I didn’t pay much attention.”

“It’s not so much a matter of interest as it is that you just don’t care that Mei exists.”

It’s not like Mei has a presence that can be easily forgotten, but to not know about her since she was getting dressed in the morning is insensitive.

“So what happened to that maid who seemed to be chasing after you for the rest of her life, or rather, your newfound wisdom?”

“Hmph. I put her to work.”

“Work?”

Iros gave me a puzzled look.

He looks at me as if I’m some kind of rogue prefect who’s been taking advantage of him since day one, but sadly, it’s true.

“Oh, yes. You’ve just become a Guardian, so there’s a lot you don’t know and want to know, and your powers are almost as great as the High Priestess’s.”

“So you’re using that as an excuse to get me to investigate something, exactly?”

I rolled my eyes and smirked at Iros’s ability to get straight to the point without having to say it.

“Bingo. That’s exactly it. She’s just become a Guardian, so if she’s investigating and poking around, she’s doing it out of curiosity. I was curious. I didn’t know. Excuses abound.”

“Sometimes I don’t know if you’re a fool or a genius pretending to be a fool.”

“That’s a compliment, isn’t it?”

“Haha.”

Iros laughed hollowly, looking like he’d been hit over the head with my ruse.

“It’s only allowed at this time of year, that’s why we need Mei.”

“You’ve been planning this since you had Mei prepare for the Wisdom Trials?”

“High Priest Diego and a priest are suspicious, but they’re too high-profile for you or me to investigate, so I needed someone to do it for me. Anyone can think of something like this, right?”

“Most people wouldn’t even qualify as ‘anyone’.”

Iros smirked at me as I shrugged my shoulders and smiled smugly.

“If only you could handle yourself this well in the imperial palace.”

“It’s not fair to talk about the palace. Ew, I don’t want to go.”

At the mention of the imperial palace, she sagged like a blanched cabbage again.

While Iros watches in amusement, we pass through the teleportation portal and arrive at the palace.

“I think we’re almost there.”

“What, already?”

“The imperial court provided the portal.”

“Chet. Whoever created the teleportation magic should go bald!”

“He’s probably already in his grave, so he’s bald.”

“Sometimes I think you’re more cruel than I am.”

As I stepped into the Imperial Palace, I was greeted by a soaring, eerie palace that would break my neck if I looked up.

There were flowers everywhere, manicured gardens, and five-story fountains with magnificent statues.

“How much money do they have to throw around to build such a glittering structure?”

“Please, could you watch your language outside?”

“Do you think I have the presence of mind to use lofty words when I have several times the gold and silver treasures of Viscount Ellis on one wall of this building?”

“By the way…….”

Iros stared at the wall, unable to find words to retort.

Gorgeous and very ornate.

Gold covered like vines, and all sorts of gems were embedded in harmony like berries.

It was clear that the architect had labored body and soul to achieve a noble result that was as glamorous as possible without being vulgar.

“How else could such a work of art come to be, Cancer, of course.”

“For once, I can’t disagree with you.”

“How much money do you spend to bankrupt the palace and ruin the country?”

“Now you’re trying to bankrupt the country? Is that even possible? I don’t think so.”

“Hmm. But places like this do go broke.”

I’m going to bankrupt this country. It’s pretty amazing.

“How do you know that?”

I glance at Iros, who shakes his head, and I look away.

“I know because I’m the one who bankrupted the empire and reduced it to a shithole in The Mad Saint.

Even a seemingly eternal country like this can be ruined the moment one evil woman awakens, grabs hold of it, and shakes it up.

“Hmmm. So where do we go from here, anyone wants to ask?”

I tilted my head, looking around, and heard a soft voice behind me.

“The imperial palace is not for the faint-hearted, riding around on ice like you.”

“Off!”

I screamed, flailing my arms frantically in anger.

“Saint!”

Startled by my scream, Iros immediately drew his sword and pulled me into his arms.

Puck! My nose smashed into his hard chest pecs, but I was too startled and my heart was racing to feel any pain.

I rubbed my goosebumpy ears, grabbed Iros by the collar, and burrowed deeper into his arms, clinging to him like a cicada to a tree.

Meanwhile, the beast that had surprised me laughed, a mirthful laugh, grabbing me by the stomach.

“Aha, ha ha ha ha, ‘Off you go!’ I never thought I’d hear such a scream from a lady. The saint is a funny one.”

“Identify yourself.”

Iros’s voice was cold.

Iros, who had guessed from the other man’s attire that he was not a commoner, twisted to hide himself.

“You’re pointing a sword at me now? I find that curious.”

The beast smirked at the sight of the cold blade pointed at my heart and swept a hand through his half-tied red hair.

Beneath it, a cool smile shone, golden eyes curving to reveal fine teeth.

The man, an intense ray of sunshine, spoke with a crisp chuckle.

“You are the first to point a sword at me so boldly in the imperial palace.”

“What……?”

“You dare not be afraid.”

“……!”

With a sound that cut through the wind, dozens of swords were pointed at Iros’s throat.

“……!!”

“Surprised?”

The black-uniformed knights that suddenly appeared around him surrounded him and held their swords to his throat.

However, the knights were not only on the ground but also in the air.

“A magic circle?”

The black knights had formed a circle of magic in the air, like a floor, blocking all escape routes upwards.

“No escape.

A chill ran down my spine.

Iros wasn’t sure whether to reveal his aura fully or wait and see what happened, but the red-haired man spoke up.

“Haven’t you heard about this? The crown prince of the Cyanin Empire is in league with the Black Knights.”

“……!”

“The order is made up of men skilled in sword and magic. They must be quite famous in the Empire.”

“You can’t be!”

Iros’s wide-eyed exclamation caused me to jerk my head out of my shell and stare at the beast, or rather, the crown prince, with round eyes.

“What. Why is he so handsome?

Earlier, I was too stunned to look at him properly, but now that I took a closer look, I was stunned and chewed my tongue.

I’ve never seen anything like him before. Even compared to Airos, he’s not even close.

“Is he the crown prince?

He’s earned his title with his beauty. She’s so radiant, I’m blinded.

“Bitter.”

I’m drooling.

Looking at us with rabbit eyes, the crown prince puts the back of his hand to his mouth and cackles.

His laughter softened the tense atmosphere.

“I apologize for the scare. I didn’t expect you to let out a grotesque scream and fall into the arms of a strange man, I swear.”

Startled out of my reverie by the playful tone of his voice, I rolled my eyes and started to seize up.

“You dog-”

“Saint!”

I was about to lunge at him like a mad dog, but Iros became thoughtful and quickly clamped his hand over my mouth and hugged me from behind.

I struggled against him, my forehead bruised.

He’s the crown prince, he’s a nabal, let’s hit him once!

Iros, let go. What? Let him go?