Chapter 25: In the Garden Where Crimson and Azure Part【紅と蒼を裂く庭で】

Ray (Selesta)’s Perspective

“—!”

By pure instinct, I threw myself in front of Her Majesty and shoved her forward.

A blade—its sharp edge driving straight toward my stomach—I managed to knock aside at the very last instant.

The tip of steel flashed past, vanishing toward the far side of the hedge.

An assailant I could not even see.

…Our conversation gave away where we were!

It was entirely my fault.

I turned at once to make sure Her Majesty was unhurt.

There were crimson flecks scattered across her face.

—My blood.

The guilt that surged through me was bad enough, and yet it only made my chest tighten further that, even in a moment like this, I found her beautiful.

But, as expected of Her Majesty, she was already moving into a stance to fight.

I turned my guard toward the far side of the hedge as well.

“…Damn it…”

The muttered voice reached me only faintly.

And yet something about it was wrong.

Damn it…? Wait… then was I not the target after all?

—Their aim had been Her Majesty from the beginning.

“Ray! Over here!”

The moment I came back to myself, Her Majesty caught me by the waist and pulled me close.

“This may hurt a little. Endure it.”

“Wh-what are you—?”

Before I could even finish, crimson wings bloomed from her back—

softly, brilliantly—

like the firebird of myth.

The next instant, we were airborne, soaring over the hedge.

She carried us into the main garden beyond, a place so carefully kept that it was far more exposed than the hidden space within the flowers.

“I did not wish to burn the hedge,” Her Majesty murmured as she set me back down.

…Does that mean she treasures the place where we meet?

—No. Focus, Selesta!

When I turned, the attackers had already followed us perfectly.

I rose at once, placing myself between Her Majesty and them.

The pain in my side no longer mattered.

Five.

If it had been one against one, there would have been no problem.

But protecting Her Majesty changed everything.

“Why are you trying to fight alone?”

“Y-Your Majesty? Please, get back!”

“What are you saying? If we fight together, it will end all the sooner. They wounded my pillow—I ought to make them answer for that.”

“…”

I could say nothing.

Come to think of it, I had never truly seen it—

…Her Majesty’s real power.

“Try not to fall in love with me.”

“—…!”

…I already have…

Loyalty was only an excuse.

I knew perfectly well that I was no longer moving for her sake as a knight alone, nor as a servant.

I simply refused to admit it.

The hidden figures melted into the shadows of the greenery.

The signs of attack were already there.

—I lunged.

Fixing on one of them, I drove my fist into his abdomen.

With a dry crack, fissures shot across the stone pavement beneath us.

The man flew all the way to the far wall of the garden.

…Damn it! If she sees this—!

I could not let Her Majesty learn the truth of this strength.

I flicked a glance to the side.

—It was fine.

Her Majesty was already incinerating the attackers rushing her with crimson fire.

…All right. I think I’m safe. Probably.

Three remained.

I had to support her quickly.

I seized a nearby tree.

With only a little effort, I tore it from the earth root and all.

Then I swung it like a giant wooden blade.

But—

the first sweep was evaded by an enemy who slipped into the shadows.

“G-get the Queen—!”

“I won’t allow it…!”

At that shout, I hurled the tree with all my strength.

The wound in my side still throbbed, but I had no room to care.

The tree and the man it struck sailed past the other two who had been closing in behind Her Majesty, crashing near the outer wall.

The remaining attackers froze, stunned.

Then, in the very next instant, my vision was washed in red.

A sea of flame.

I had no time to dodge, and I was swallowed by it too.

“—! …?”

There was no sensation of burning.

If anything, it felt strangely pleasant.

—As expected of Her Majesty.

She could control even a hellfire like this with such precision.

One of the attackers had managed to evade it, but in that instant of distraction—

Her Majesty’s whip of flame coiled around him.

“…Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“…Hm. You are quite capable even without a sword. But it is over now.”

…So she saw right through me after all.

Alerted by the commotion, the knights came rushing into the garden.

One assailant was taken alive.

Her Majesty spoke in a calm voice.

“Interrogate him.”

And then she turned back to me.

“Ray. Go to the infirmary. After that, remain at your estate and rest for a while.”

As she said it, she stroked my head gently.

The same palm that had burned with such heat moments ago was now impossibly tender.

“Y-yes…”

That kindness hurt.

To know that this hand still held secrets.

To know that my heart ached with things I could not say.