Please Answer Me - Chapter 101

“Sika, hold on just a bit longer.”

Rosetta’s voice trembled. She desperately gathered cloths, not only from her gown but also from around the room, in a frantic attempt to staunch the bleeding.

Allen stood there, staring blankly at the scene. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. This wasn’t how he had imagined it. He had thought Rosetta would run joyfully towards him when she saw him.

Allen quickly tried to make sense of the situation. Yes, the princess was naturally tender-hearted. Even if the boy had been her oppressor and the one watching over her, it would still hurt her to see him suffer—especially when such a young boy was so grievously wounded.

But this was no time to ponder. They needed to leave this place immediately.

“Lady Rosetta, we must leave here quickly.”

Despite Allen’s urgings, Rosetta was entirely focused on binding the cloths around the boy’s body. Frustrated, Allen grabbed her arm, only for Rosetta to shake him off.

“I will go!”

Her face, now wet with tears, looked up at him. Her voice, drenched in grief, pleaded, “I will go with you. But please, let me do this much so this child can hold on until the doctor arrives. Please.”

Allen froze. Please? Members of the Lysa royalty did not ask for things. They were akin to gods, issuing commands, not requests.

Though he had defied her orders just moments ago, he still couldn’t grasp the current situation. Was she truly shedding tears and lowering herself to him because of this mere boy? Why? Why for a barbarian child like this?

Allen’s instincts screamed at him to disobey once more. He should forcibly carry her out of here immediately.

But watching her, covered in blood and frantically trying to stop the bleeding, he found himself unable to refuse.

Allen eventually sat beside Rosetta.

“Let me do it. You need more strength to properly staunch the bleeding.”

He untied the cloth and rewrapped it, pulling it tight with all his might. Sika winced and let out a small groan, his body twitching. Allen worked quickly, speaking as he went.

“He’s quick, managed to avoid any vital spots. He’s lost a lot of blood, but if he gets treated in time, he’ll live.”

Allen blew a long note on the whistle hanging around his neck. It signaled that the princess had been found and it was time to retreat.

He grabbed Rosetta’s hand and quickly led her down the stairs. Even as they ran, his mind was in turmoil. He couldn’t imagine what expression she would be wearing now. Was she still crying like before? It felt as if he were some villain, kidnapping the princess. Why should he feel this way?

At the bottom of the stairs, Rosie was waiting with the horses. She waved them over urgently. “I was getting worried you were late. Hurry!”

“The gate?”

“It’s open. Head that way.”

Allen blew the whistle twice, short and sharp. Those emerging from the building would head straight for the gate upon hearing the signal.

He helped Rosetta onto her horse and swiftly mounted behind her. Spurring the horse forward, they galloped towards the gate.

Just as Rosie had said, the gate stood wide open in the distance. As they approached, more of their group began to converge. Once through the gate, their mission would be a success.

However, as they neared the gate, Allen sensed something was wrong. Not a single person was in sight. The guards who were supposed to join them after opening the gate were nowhere to be found.

Then, a shadowy figure on horseback appeared just beyond the wide-open gate. Moments later, accompanied by the sound of hooves, the shadow moved.

Allen immediately halted his horse and signaled for the others to stop as well. The shadow wasn’t alone. Behind it, a large group was following.

“…It can’t be,” Allen muttered to himself in disbelief. Nazar Quat should be in Traka by now. This plan was set in motion only after confirming his departure. There was no way that shadowy figure could be Nazar Quat and his entourage.

Yet, the man leading the group through the gate had striking blue eyes that shone unusually bright. Even in Lysa, where blue eyes were relatively common, such piercing intensity was rare.

“Nazar Quat….”

Allen gritted his teeth quietly. Seeing him clearly now, he finally understood how Nazar Quat had earned his nickname.

The man before him was a far cry from the one he had seen during the day. Back then, he had appeared relatively harmless. Now, he exuded a raw, untamed energy. In the darkness, his eyes glowed like a beast’s. Anyone who saw him would undoubtedly think of the blue-eyed wolf.

As Rashid raised his hand, the soldiers following him quickly formed a circle, trapping Allen and his group. Realizing their escape route was cut off, Allen gripped his reins tightly. What now? With only twenty men, they couldn’t possibly fight off hundreds of soldiers. Even if they managed to break through with their sacred sword, two people sharing one horse would inevitably be caught.

With no other options, they had to conceal their identities and wait for another chance. From the boy’s earlier words, it seemed their pursuers hadn’t yet recognized the princess.

Allen dismounted slowly, then carefully helped Rosetta down as well.

Rashid, too, dismounted, drawing his sword with a menacing air as he strode towards them.

“Lady Rosetta, hide behind me!”

Allen sensed the danger in Rashid’s eyes. Under the full moon, those blue eyes burned fiercely, much like the night he had lost her. They were the eyes of a predator ready to tear everything apart. Fearing Rashid might harm the princess, Allen began to draw his own sword.

But before he could, Rosetta suddenly dashed forward.

“Your Hi…”

Allen tried to grab her, but it was too late. Rosetta ran straight towards Nazar Quat. Clad only in a tunic, she sprinted towards him, and the man’s previously ferocious expression softened instantly. The bloodthirsty look vanished, replaced by a tender gaze as he opened his arms wide. His sword clattered to the ground as Rosetta leapt into his embrace.

“Rashid!”

Rosetta wrapped her arms around his neck. Rashid gently stroked her back before burying his face in her nape. He inhaled her scent deeply several times before finally lifting his head.

“What’s with all this blood on your clothes? Are you hurt?”

Rosetta shook her head at his worried expression. “It’s not my blood. I’m fine.”

Rashid sighed in relief. “As long as you’re not hurt. That’s all that matters.”

“But Sika is badly wounded. He needs to see a doctor immediately. We did some first aid, but he’s lost a lot of blood…”

Rosetta began to sob. Rashid wiped the tears from her face and issued orders to a nearby soldier in Ardenese. Only after seeing the soldier run off with a doctor did Rosetta’s sobs subside.

Rashid wrapped his black cloak around Rosetta and lifted her into his arms, supporting her with one arm. Allen, who had been watching the entire scene, was frozen in shock.

Rashid’s gaze finally turned to Allen. Seeing the hostility in his eyes, Rosetta clung to Rashid’s neck and whispered softly enough for only him to hear.

“This is Allen, the knight I mentioned before. My personal guard. Please don’t harm them. I beg you…”

Rosetta was terrified that the same nightmare would happen again. Watching Sika collapse, bleeding profusely, had driven her to the brink of madness. She fervently hoped that no one else would get hurt.

However, she was acutely aware that the crime of infiltrating the castle and causing such havoc was not a trivial matter. If these men were truly Basque tribe members, Rashid would likely impose the most severe punishment as an example. Even if they weren’t from the Basque tribe, she couldn’t be certain Rashid would show any mercy.

Rashid pulled the trembling Rosetta close, gently stroking her long hair as he said, “Since he is someone precious to you, I won’t harm him. As long as they lay down their weapons and cease any resistance.”

He looked over Rosetta’s shoulder at the man, who now wore an expression of utter disbelief, unable to comprehend the scene before him.

Despite Rashid’s seemingly generous words, only moments ago he had been determined to behead the intruder and hang his severed head at the gate. All the way to this place, that singular thought consumed him. He would not let anyone who dared to invade and take her away live.

But the moment Rosetta saw him, she ran into his arms. That single act had melted away all his fury like snow under the warm sun. Yes, this was enough. What more could he ask for?

Whether Rosetta had intended it or not, her action had effectively saved the man’s life.

“Drop your weapons. If you do, I promise no harm will come to you.”

One by one, they began to drop their weapons to the ground. Even Allen, who had been glaring at Rashid with murderous rage, had no choice but to let his sword fall from his hand.