Chapter 6.
Friedrich still wore a confused expression.
It made sense—after all, in this world, asking someone unbeatable in combat to protect you would be hard to swallow.
“Still don’t like the idea?”
But now was the perfect time. The whole reason I’d made him my husband was so he could protect me in situations like this.
To avoid raising any suspicions, I continued in as light a tone as possible.
“I’ve taken everything from you, after all. It might seem like an unreasonable request.”
“……If this is meant to force my submission.”
Friedrich’s lips moved slightly before he spoke.
“It’s a meaningless ploy. I’ve long ceased to be the Prince of Kill…… I was a prisoner all along.”
Friedrich said it calmly.
“I was destined to rot in prison for the rest of my life and die there anyway.”
“But when I asked for you, your face didn’t look too happy about it.”
“……That was.”
Friedrich bit his lip hard before opening his mouth again.
“Everyone knows why Your Highness demanded me, and so do I. I even thought perhaps you wouldn’t care about my curse…….”
“What? Just how much of a piece of trash are you trying to make me out to be?”
I cut him off in horror. Rene’s image was this wretched?
“I need to wash up first, anyway.”
I let out a short sigh and changed the subject.
“You, too. You reek of blood.”
“Ah…….”
At those words, Friedrich turned his head as if to sniff himself. His exposed nape gleamed pale white in the moonlight.
I was momentarily captivated by its flawless, jade-like smoothness, but his next words snapped me back.
“I can wash myself.”
“With those hands, it’ll be hard to do it properly.”
I narrowed my brows and replied.
“I hate the smell of blood, Friedrich. You’re not planning to make my sleeping quarters unpleasant, are you?”
“……But.”
“I’ll assign a maid to the prince.”
Elsa stepped in at just the right moment. But I shook my head.
“He’s going to be my husband. I can’t let him show his body to some outsider woman.”
I said, looking at Elsa.
“So you go back, too, Elsa.”
For a moment, Elsa wore a worried expression, but she soon nodded, realizing who I was.
Soon, we were left completely alone. I beckoned him closer.
“Lie down.”
Friedrich’s gaze wavered. He hesitated for a brief moment, then suddenly adopted a resolute expression and lay down on the ground.
“……What are you doing?”
“As Your Highness wishes.”
“No, you need to lie with your head toward the stream so I can wash it.”
I chided him in exasperation, and Friedrich’s eyes wavered again. Looking quite embarrassed, he quickly adjusted his position.
Friedrich’s long hair spilled over the stream’s edge like scattered flower petals. As I carefully touched the ends, blood seeped out.
‘……It really was dangerous.’
The traces of the fierce battle made my skin crawl. If Friedrich hadn’t been there, I might have departed this world today. I was grateful to him for protecting me.
“See? With those hands, washing alone would be impossible.”
As I said that, I glanced at Friedrich’s manacled hands.
Proving the intensity of the fight, the iron cuffs were quite scratched up.
“How many were there?”
“Five.”
“Five, all by yourself. And with your hands like that.”
Considering the harsh conditions Friedrich had been in until now, it was an astonishing feat. As expected from the future sword master.
“You’re impressive.”
“I’m used to it.”
What does that mean?
“It’s something I’ve always worn.”
“……You wore handcuffs in the Kingdom of Kill as well?”
“I told you. I wasn’t a prince, but a prisoner.”
Friedrich replied calmly.
“I understand. A curse that turns one into a child every night—I’ve never heard or seen anything like it.”
It must have seemed grotesque and frightening to you, he added.
I couldn’t grasp what I should say, so I kept my mouth shut.
Between us, only the sound of hair lapping against the current filled the space. Belatedly, I changed the subject.
“……Anyway, defeating five assassins is truly impressive. You could even join the Red Sword Knights.”
“I’m used to that as well.”
What does that mean now? When I looked at him with a perplexed expression, Friedrich moved his lips as if about to say something. But in the end, he didn’t speak.
‘……Does that mean he’s faced many assassins in the Kingdom of Kill?’
In the original story, Friedrich’s past wasn’t detailed concretely.
It only briefly mentioned that his parents, fearing the curse that turned him into a child, had imprisoned him and treated him harshly.
I hadn’t even heard until now that he lived his life in handcuffs.
The horrifying thought struck me that my guess might be correct.
“……Still, thoroughly washing this long hair would be difficult. No matter how accustomed you are.”
Suddenly, my throat tightened, so I quickly cleared it with a cough.
“Don’t you think about cutting your hair?”
“Do you find it displeasing to look at?”
“No way. Have you forgotten why I demanded you as a trophy?”
At the absurd suggestion, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“You’re beautiful, Friedrich. Your hair is no exception. I was just asking if it might be cumbersome to manage.”
Well, there’s no need to decide right now. Growing it out is hard, but cutting it is quick.
“It’s not bad as it is.”
Friedrich was silent for a moment before asking.
“What’s the real reason you need my protection?”
I’d sensed it before, but he had a rather sharp side. I let out a small laugh and replied.
“Don’t take it too seriously. I just wanted to experience what it’s like to be protected by someone.”
“By the prince of the country Your Highness conquered.”
“But you said it’s not particularly humiliating.”
I added playfully.
“I’ll answer that I want to feel protected by such a handsome knight. And if he’s my husband, it’d feel even better. Isn’t it romantic?”
“…….”
He didn’t respond, and as if I hadn’t expected him to, I pressed firmly into his scalp, massaging it.
Only then did Friedrich make a clinking sound from his hands, as if trying to stop me.
“It’s fine…….”
“This is my way of praising you for today’s work.”
I smirked and met his eyes.
“It felt good. Being protected by someone.”
Was this something the great and arrogant mage Rene Stade would say? I hesitated briefly.
But even the strongest person surely harbors a desire to be protected by someone.
“There, all done.”
I wrung out his long hair tightly to remove the water.
‘If only I could use magic, I could dry it in an instant!’
What if Friedrich asked for that? I was starting to feel a bit anxious when.
“I’m sorry.”
A sudden apology reached my ears.
“I couldn’t leave even one alive. I was just thinking I had to stop them first…….”
“Why is that something to apologize for? Isn’t it worthy of praise?”
“To investigate the mastermind…….”
“Ah, forget it. It’s no big deal.”
In the original story, it was described that Rene faced countless such assassination threats.
But each time, Rene treated them lightly and didn’t even bother investigating.
Saying they couldn’t kill her anyway. Instead, she mocked those who sent the assassins.
So, today’s incident was nothing more than a bit of amusement for Rene. In front of others, she should speak with an arrogant attitude.
‘And yet, in the end, she died from illness.’
It was an unknown illness acquired during the war. People speculated it was caused by a rampage of internal magic.
Since I have no magic now, I don’t have to worry about that. Whether that’s unfortunate or fortunate.
“……Please go back first.”
At that moment, Friedrich spoke in a voice like a whisper.
When I turned my head, he slightly avoided my gaze and concluded.
“I’ll take a bath and follow.”
“Ah.”
Right, he needs to wash his body too.
I was about to leave without much thought when, suddenly overcome by mischief, I grinned and asked.
“Shall I attend to you?”
“……No!”
