Please Answer Me - Chapter 105

After hearing strange noises in her sleep, Benny headed straight to Rigaina’s bedroom. On the way, she encountered Sika in the hallway. Sika grabbed her wrist and led her to a nearby room. He shoved her behind a large statue and said, “It’s my job to protect Rigaina. You’ll only get in the way, so stay here until it’s quiet. Got it?”

At that moment, Benny didn’t think anything major would happen to Sika. He had always returned unscathed from countless battles. Every time, he would nonchalantly ask Benny to bring him something tasty.

But when the intruders had left and she entered Rigaina’s room, the floor was soaked with blood. She couldn’t fathom how a person could lose so much blood. Sika was lying in that pool of blood.

Was he already dead?

Trembling with fear, Benny approached and found bandages wrapped around Sika. She realized he was still breathing, albeit weakly, and collapsed to her knees in relief.

Soon, a doctor arrived, and Benny was ushered out of the room. Seeing the Riga and Rigaina rush in, Benny knew the night’s chaos had been resolved.

But what if Sika died?

The thought made her feel as if she were going mad. She couldn’t imagine a life without Sika.

And she realized how deeply she cared for him. It didn’t matter who Sika liked; the important thing was that she loved him.

Benny had spent the long, dreadful night wide awake. When morning came and the doctor assured her that Sika would be alright, she burst into tears. Thelma and Rigaina comforted her repeatedly as she sobbed.

“How’s Sika doing?” a sudden voice asked, startling Benny into dropping Sika’s hand. She quickly shoved his dangling hand back under the blanket.

“He’s fine. He’s been sleeping the whole time.”

Rosetta approached the bed and examined Sika’s face. “He does look better. Benny, you don’t have to worry anymore.”

“W-worry? Why would I worry about him?” Fearing her true feelings might be exposed, Benny responded gruffly.

Rosetta looked at her thoughtfully and then spoke with a glint in her eye. “Benny, you know what?”

“What?”

“Good men are snatched up by women who can spot them from a mile away. If you don’t want to regret it later, you need to act while you have the chance.”

“W-what do you mean…?”

“Sika is a good man. Once he grows a bit more and gains some mature charm, he’ll be extremely popular.”

“What? No… Why are you saying this to me? It’s not like that…”

Seeing Benny flustered and babbling, Rosetta chuckled and left the room. Allen was waiting outside the door.

“Allen, did you have a good talk with Rashid….” Rosetta’s words trailed off as she noticed Allen’s swollen cheek and split lip, and she was visibly shocked.

“What happened to your face? Did someone hit you?”

“……”

“Don’t tell me it was Rashid?”

“……”

His silence was the clearest answer. Rosetta, more surprised than before, asked, “Did you hit Rashid?”

“No!” Allen ground his teeth. “That bastard, Nazar Quat, didn’t get hit once while I was beaten, thrown to the floor, and threatened with a dagger. So, don’t worry about him.”

“Oh, well, that’s a relief…”

Rosetta saw the look of disappointment on Allen’s face and quickly shut her mouth.

“Hmm, let’s get you treated first…”

“It’s fine. If I get treatment for something like this, people will just laugh at me. Let’s go,” Allen said, staggering forward. Rosetta quietly walked beside him, realizing his condition was worse than she initially thought.

Allen wasn’t usually the type to come back beaten up, so it was surprising to see him in such a state. It seemed Rashid was much stronger than she had anticipated. Perhaps she should have told Rashid not to hit him, rather than telling Allen not to fight.

Looking at him more closely, it was evident that the mental shock was greater than the physical pain. Allen seemed half out of his mind. This made Rosetta all the more curious about what had transpired between them.

“Why did you fight?”

“I attacked first. I couldn’t help it when I saw his face. I’m sorry for disobeying your order again, Your Highness. I promise I won’t do it again.”

“I’ll apologize on Rashid’s behalf for hitting you. He’s not usually one to resort to violence…”

“It’s alright. I attacked first. Honestly, the words hurt more than the punches.”

“Words? Did Rashid say something harsh to you?”

“He beat me up with his tongue. He can kill a person with words alone.”

Rosetta tilted her head slightly. She wanted to say that Rashid wasn’t the type to throw around harsh words carelessly, but she feared that might make Allen cry again.

“…Is it alright for me to be wandering around like this?” Allen looked around nervously. He had the look of someone who had just attacked the castle and wielded a sword, now unsure if he should be moving freely as if nothing had happened.

“Rashid has explained things to the people here. They trust and follow his words, so there shouldn’t be any major issues. But people will still look at you with suspicion. You and Rosie are exceptions, but the others must remain in prison. There are many eyes watching, so avoid any suspicious behavior. That goes for Rosie too.”

They headed to the room where Rosie was staying. Rosie, sitting alone inside, stood up as soon as Rosetta and Allen entered.

“Rosie, it’s been a while.”

“Your Highness…”

Rosetta smiled at her. “Sit down. I’ve asked for tea to be brought, so let’s catch up while we drink.”

Teacups were placed on the table where the three sat. Taking a sip without much expectation, Allen widened his eyes. The tea tasted no different from what he drank in Lysa.

“I’m glad you’re safe, Your Highness. And I’m truly sorry for everything that happened because of me…,” Rosie said with difficulty. There was a significant difference in dealing with a merchant’s daughter versus a princess. Especially a princess who could, if she wished, annihilate her tribe.

Above all, it was time for Rosie to confess all her and her father’s wrongdoings and beg for forgiveness. If Rosetta were magnanimous, things would be fine, but if not, they had to prepare for the worst.

Rosie explained honestly why Allen couldn’t immediately follow Rosetta after she was kidnapped. Listening to the story, Rosetta frowned.

“The Basque chieftain has gone too far. I acted as a bride substitute partly to repay a debt, but also because I couldn’t ignore their difficult situation. And to think they interfered with Allen despite knowing I’m the princess of Lysa!”

Considering the close relationship between Lysa and the Basque tribe, it was a deep betrayal. And all this just to evade responsibility.

Rosie hung her head. The princess seemed genuinely angry, and rightfully so. She had shown kindness only to be repaid with betrayal.

“The biggest fault lies with me. If not for me, Allen would have followed you immediately. I took the nanny hostage…”

After confessing everything she had done, Rosie clutched her skirt tightly. Should she kneel and beg for forgiveness right now? Would that ease the princess’s anger even a little?

“Your Highness, Rosie has helped us tremendously since then,” Allen said urgently.

“She was the one who sent the letter to Lord Iselle and came to save us when we were about to become wolf food. If it weren’t for Rosie, the nanny, the others, and I wouldn’t be alive right now.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, and when we were entering the castle, I almost got caught by the guards, but Rosie’s help ensured our safety. She did everything she could to save you, Your Highness.”

Rosie pressed her foot on Allen’s under the table, trying to silence his overly enthusiastic defense.

Allen immediately shut his mouth, glancing around nervously. Rosetta noticed the subtle tension between Allen and Rosie.

‘Could it be… these two?’

A sly smile appeared on Rosetta’s lips.

“Even so, this won’t do. The more I think about it, the more infuriating it becomes. When I return to Lysa, I must tell my father everything.”

Both of their faces darkened simultaneously, with Allen’s face turning almost ashen. Seeing the identical expressions on their faces, Rosetta suddenly burst into laughter.

“Sorry, I was just teasing. I have no intention of telling my father about what happened. You can relax.”

Light returned to Allen’s face instantly. “Are you serious?”

“I understand why Rosie made those choices. I, too, don’t want to see the people I care about get hurt.”

Watching Sika teeter on the brink of death, she regretted over and over not stopping their fight sooner. Those who clashed with a sacred sword, once its power was unleashed, were almost always doomed to die. Any weapon that met a sacred sword would shatter, leaving its wielder defenseless.

Fighting against someone wielding a sacred sword meant certain death. And it would never end with just one or two casualties.