Chapter 219 - 3−23
"...Miss... Ra... chel... Miss..."
A voice calling my name pulled me from the darkness. I forced my heavy eyelids open. My vision was blurry, but a silhouette slowly came into focus.
"Miss Rachel, are you awake?"
"Theodore-sama? ...Theodore-sama!"
I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my head. Theodore-sama rushed to my side.
"Miss Rachel... thank goodness you're okay."
He looked exhausted. His usually pristine robes were tattered and stained. As the fog in my brain cleared and the headache subsided, I began to process my surroundings.
Why is he here? And where are we?
I was lying on a simple bed in a dim room. The only light came from a small lamp. There was a tiny window high up on the wall and a heavy-looking door.
"Where is this..."
I stood up slowly and took the lamp. The room contained only the bed, a basic desk, and a chair. It was a cold, small room with an iron door.
"This is the Imperial Dungeon of the Tratia Imperial Castle."
"The Imperial Castle! Then, that dragon really brought me all this way?"
"Yes. It's been about three days since then."
"Three days... I've been asleep for three days?"
I remembered Lute-sama using magic from the dragon's back, and then Louis-sama reaching out for me. My heart raced with worry.
"Is Louis-sama... is he safe? Lute-sama attacked him!"
"Don't worry. Louis is fine."
"...I see. Thank goodness."
I breathed a sigh of relief, but panic soon took its place.
"I have to get back to him."
I rattled the door handle, but it was locked from the outside. The window was too small for a person to fit through, and it was barred anyway.
"It's a prison cell."
Theodore-sama nodded grimly and slumped against the wall.
"This is the dungeon. There are three heavy guards right outside that door."
So Lute-sama threw me in here to make sure I couldn't escape.
"Were you captured too, Theodore-sama?"
"No. What you're seeing right now isn't the real me."
"Not the real you?"
I stared at him. He looked perfectly real, standing there with his usual smirk. He laughed at my confusion and reached out to touch my shoulder.
His hand passed right through me. I gasped and tried to grab him, but my hands met only empty air.
"What's happening?"
"When you were taken, I attached my contracted spirit to you. What you see is an illusion created by a magic tool I gave that spirit. However, the tool is still in development—it only works over short distances."
"Wait, does that mean you're nearby?"
"Yes, I'm hiding near the dungeon. I managed to slip past the guards to get this close, but security is tight. Still, there's bound to be a gap. I'll get you out soon, just wait."
I looked around for his spirit, but saw nothing. It was likely invisible.
"It took three days on a dragon to get here. How did you get here so fast? You must have pushed yourself too hard."
Even for Theodore-sama, traveling a month's distance in three days seemed impossible.
"Haha. Well, I was in a hurry. I’d be lying if I said I didn't push it a little."
I noticed he was holding his side. He was leaning against the wall with one leg stretched out, looking weak despite his breezy smile. There was a slight furrow in his brow.
"Are you injured?"
I reached for his waist, where he seemed to be applying pressure, but I couldn't touch him.
"No, I'm just a bit drained from using too much magic."
"But!"
I felt a surge of frustration. "Why would you be so reckless!"
I wasn't trying to scold him; I was moved that he had rushed to my side. But he was precious to me, and I didn't want him sacrificing himself.
It's my fault for not escaping... for breaking the dragon's seal and hurting everyone.
"Oh? You're worried about me? I'm flattered."
"Stop joking!"
His light tone only made me more frustrated. "Please, value yourself more."
"I am, Miss Rachel. That's why I'm here."
"What?"
"This isn't just your problem. This is a battle for the very survival of Dutoit."
His smile vanished, replaced by a look of grim determination. He clenched his free hand into a fist.
"We knew the Tratian students were a risk, but I never imagined things would escalate this quickly. That's my failure. Louis, you, Miss Carroll, Cyril... we all feel the same. We want to protect the country where our loved ones live. Isn't that natural?"
His words hit me hard. I had been so lost in my own anxiety that I hadn't seen the bigger picture.
"We might not be able to do it alone, but if we all stand together, we can break through this."
"Not alone..."
I thought of Anna-san, Sarah, my parents, Samuel, Cyril... and Louis-sama. They were all likely fighting in their own way.
Theodore-sama’s expression softened. He held his hand over my head as if patting it.
"I'm the same."
"Theodore-sama..."
"I'm here to protect someone precious to me. My princess."
He looked at me with his crimson eyes, a gentle, almost wistful expression on his face.
"I came all this way. Surely you'll let me play the knight for once? Grant me the honor of protecting you until your prince arrives."
He looked so beautiful and fragile in that moment, surrounded by the faint, shimmering light of the illusion.
But why do I have such a terrible feeling in my gut?