The Grand Duchess of the North Was Secretly a Villainess

"Ah....."

I quickly restrained Caien when he unconsciously tried to touch the wound.

'Was it a wound from the sword?'

For the knights, such a wound was nothing. I didn't really make a fuss, but seeing the scars on his delicate skin made me feel bad.

'Still, it's not as bad as this.'

It was a relief that it wasn't a deep wound. I don't know whose sword he was hurt by, but if the cut was a little deeper, it might have left a scar.

Of course, there are men who look good with facial scars....

'For example, the former duke.'

But Caien face was too pretty to leave scars. When he becomes an adult, he will become a handsome man with a unique cool atmosphere, but his platinum blonde hair and scars don't seem to suit him very much.

"Your Highness, I didn't do it......."

Johaim looked awkward as if he were making excuses. He seemed worried because it was a scar on the Crown Prince's face.

"I have no intention of blaming you. You can get this kind of wound while training."

"No, I didn't do it in the first place....."

"It's okay."

I gently cut Johaim's words and stood up. Caien followed my movements and slightly raised his head.

"Does it hurt a lot?"

"I'm fine."

"You need to apply the medicine before going to the forest. Would you like to go in first? I have something to talk with Johaim."

Caien pouted his lips as if he didn't want to leave.

"Is it something I shouldn't hear?"

"It's not that...."

"Then I'll just listen quietly."

I was troubled for a moment, but there was no reason to refuse, so I nodded. Johaim had something on his face that he didn't like.

'Why is that reaction?'

"Did anything happen today?"

"The monsters have been quiet for several days."

The monsters that had been running rampant began to calm down little by little from the time Caien came.

'Strangely, I don't think it's because of Caien. If the monster's movements were related to Caien, it would have been mentioned in the original story.'

Aside from the original, my intuition was shouting that there was another reason. I thought I had to set up a patrol or find out for myself.

'If it wasn't for Caien, I would have moved myself. That's how it is.'

It was not easy to move because the Crown Prince had entered my territory.

"I wanted to avoid setting up a patrol....."

"I'll be ready as soon as the order is given."

I was troubled for a moment. No matter how you think about it, that was dangerous. I couldn't put my knights in danger.

"No, I'll check it out first. I was about to go out to the forest today."

"Are you going to the forest?"

"Because it's been a while since I've looked around in person."

Johaim hesitated a little and looked at me.

"You mean just the two of you?"

"What's wrong with me?

"That's not it....."

He blurted out the end of his words again.

"Eloise, are you done?"

Just as I was about to ask why, Caien started talking to me. When I looked at Caien, I naturally noticed the scratch on his cheek first. The first thing to do was to treat that wound.

"It's all over. I think I'll just go inside for a while and apply the medicine and leave."

"Yes."

Caien smiled broadly and nodded his head.

"Oh, Johaim."

"Yes, Your Highness."

I gave Johaim various instructions. Johaim, who nodded silently, whispered in a cautious tone as if whispering a secret before turning his back.

"Your Highness, if anything happens, be sure to call me."

Are you worried about the monsters?

"Don't worry about useless things, Johaim."

I sighed and laughed arrogantly.

"What's going to happen when I'm here?"
 

*****

Caien frowned slightly as I applied the medicine to his injured cheek.

"Does it hurt?"

"No, it's okay."

"You'd better get used to it."

"Are you used to Eloise?"

At the unexpected question, I stopped applying the medicine. I didn't get seriously hurt after possessed Eloise body, so I didn't know if this body was used to pain.

'I'll get used to it though.'

I'm sure ordinary people won't be used to it, but it's Eloise.

"Does it hurt? Well, I'm used to it to some extent."

"I see."

I was about to remove my hand that was applying the medicine, but Caien leaned his face against my hand.

"I don't want Eloise to be used to pain."

It sounded pretty sweet, but instead of being moved, I quickly got a definite answer.

"You can do that for me, Caien."

"Me?"

“After you become emperor, you will be able to do anything.”

I secretly chanted, looking forward to the future. The future to wipe out the northern monsters.

'I also needed the strength of the Saintess, Roseanne.... But I don't think I'll ever run into her directly. I'm going to avoid it as much as possible.'

Well, if she become Caien lover, he will tell her well. Besides, Roseanne is a kind person and will gladly do me a favor.

'Let's wait five more years because it's something I can't do right now. In the meantime, I'm going to get as close as I can to Caien.'

Caien, who was staring at me, made a strange expression and soon nodded.

"Okay. In return, Eloise will also grant my wish."

Wouldn't it be enough just to put you on the throne? But I couldn't say that to Caien, so I readily agreed.

"All right."

"You promise, right?"

"I promise."

At any rate, it would be a small wish, such as being the witness when he marries the female.
 

*****

We went a little further into the forest, leaving the horse alone. The forest was silent. The fierce winds were also calm today.

"I remember this place."

Caien stopped and murmured.

"You remember?"

"I think I'm reminded of the time after I came into the boundary. The memory just before I came in is hazy, but... we met around here. I think this is the one I broke."

When I looked around, I saw a boundary stone. I knelt down and scanned the stones with my hands. The stones that ate Eloine's blood glowed purple.

"This is it. The boundary stone you broke."

“I remember there was a scratch....”

“My brother fixed it.”

At my words, Caien asked as if something came to his mind.

"When will Eloine come?"

He was a bit sullen, and he didn't want Eloine to come sooner.

"He'll be back in a few days."

“Did he find the person you were looking for in the capital?”

"Yes."

"......I see."

Caien slightly frowned as if he was not happy. It was a strange reaction, but I didn't have time to pay attention to details.

Although I used scouting as an excuse, I had a different purpose for bringing Caien here.

"You must have come in through the border, how did you get in?"

The first was to find out the route Caien entered. No matter how much there was a male lead buff, if he came into the north through the border at the age of 15, it meant that anyone else could come in as well.

'That mean the North can be penetrated. I have to be careful in advance.'

"I don't remember exactly...Mhm"

Caien remained silent for a moment, as if searching for his memory.

"I think it was decided that it was dangerous to enter the castle gate, because there might be spies."

I locked the gate, but I wonder how he found it, and it seems Caien is using his brains.

"And I wandered around the border...... There were fewer monsters than I thought."

"Really?"

"Yes. If there were a lot of monsters, I might have died. I've been riding for days."

I remembered the day I first discovered Caien. That day was the day I started subjugating monsters from morning to evening. It seemed that Caien had entered the place where the knights had swept away.

'Is it because he is the male lead? He was lucky.'

Caien continued his words.

"I thought I had to pass through the boundary stone and enter the forest. That way I'll be safe."

"I think I know roughly why you were lying here."

Caien actions were drawn in my eyes. From the capital to the forest, it would have been possible to enter the forest through the border because he was them Crown Prince.

'If he was an ordinary person, he wouldn't have thought of that route.'

I lowered my stance and gently touched the boundary stone. Only people with Wayana's blood could control the boundary stone. It wasn't long before I heard a crunching sound behind my back.

"Eloise!"

Caien shouted my name. I didn't look back. Because that was the second reason I brought Caien here. I kept my guard away, but I knew at least that a monster had appeared from behind.

'Well, actually, I made it appear.'

I was the one who touched the boundary stone and attracted the monster, so there was no way I wouldn't know. Even if I hadn't dragged them in, Eloise's intuition would have immediately noticed that the monster had come.

'Let's get started.'

Instead of moving to kill the monster right away, I hesitated a bit. Of course, I was in a position where I could reach behind my back and grab the hidden dagger at any time.

"Dangerous!"

Caien eyes widened in surprise. But instead of moving my body, I just watched his actions.

The reason for doing this was simple. It was to see Caien proper ability.

'I'm not asking him to save my life.'

There was no guarantee that Cain would kill the monster for me. I didn't even know his sword skills properly.

'That's why I brought a dagger on purpose.'

If Caien didn't move, I had to move. I have excellent dynamic vision, so I won't die if I react a few seconds late.

'Of course, if I do something wrong, I'll get hurt.'

Anyway, I planned to kill the monster if Caien didn't use the sword himself.

'Is it too late?'

I was about to turn around taking out the dagger and attack the monster. But before I could turn my back, Caien moved first.

".......!"

It was a clean move without a hitch. Caien moved towards my side and pulled out his sword at the same time. The resonating sound of the sword echoed through the silent forest.

The moment I leaned reflexively, his sword cut through the air.

"Keuk, kuk!"

As soon as I looked back, the monster made a loud sound and fell down. Caien wiped his face with his hand that was holding the sword. Red blood was splattered on it.