I’ve found a ton of money behind a painting in the Count’s room. But he’s found me…

“My bride!” the Count smiled.

“…Yes, Count?”

He’s backed me against the wall with a sneer on his face, and now he stands right in front of me.

“You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to see you, my bride! I won’t ask why you’re in this room. You saw what’s behind the painting, didn’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“If it was anyone but you who found it, I wouldn’t let them off easily… But you’re different. Because you are about to become my wife! Hah hah hah! As soon as we get married, that money will belong to you as well! You can use as much of it as you like! Now, doesn’t that make you happy?”

The Count smiles merrily.

“Hm? Why aren’t you happy? I have more money than you’d ever be able to spend!”

I stood there, silent.

“What’s wrong? Why won’t you speak?” he asked.

The smile disappears from the Count’s face. From behind my veil, I can see him looking upon me suspiciously.

“Are you really my bride?” the Count asked.

I didn’t answer back.

“Lift up your veil.”

Uh-oh…

The Count reaches out a hand in an effort to lift up my veil. I quickly turn to the side to slip away from his grip, but he grabs me with his other hand.

“Who are you!” he asked.

Someone help!

Just then……

CRAAAAAASH!!

“What the-!”

“Princess!” Lute exclaimed.

“L-Lute!!”

Lute’s broken through the window to come save me!

“Don’t lay a hand on her!” he stated.

The Count recoils at the intensity in Lute’s voice and lets me go. Lute takes the opportunity to pull me towards him as he draws his sword on the Count.

“W-What are you doing!?” asked the Count.

“I won’t let you lay one finger on her!” Lute glares at the Count and backs up towards the window, his sword still drawn.

“I’m stealing your bride!”

Suddenly I feel a gentle sweeping sensation as Lute scoops me up into his arms.

“What… Lute?!”

Because he’s holding me in his arms to protect me, his cheek is pressed tightly against mine.

Our faces are too close! …I should do as Lute says…

I wrap my arms around Lute’s neck and hold still. This makes Lute hold me even tighter in his arms.

“Hold on tight,” he said.

FWOOSH

Lute turns and kicks the window open with his foot. Then he jumps outside, still carrying me in his arms.

“Get them!”

Lute runs across the roof, away from the Count’s henchmen who are chasing us. My body sways with every step, and our bodies are pressed together tightly.

“Why did you do something so reckless?! Even after I specifically told you not to?!” Lute asked.

Lute is really angry…

I’ve never seen him act like this before. He’s always composed and never shows his feelings, but it seems like right now he can’t hold back.

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to find proof of his tax evasion so badly… And on top of not finding anything definitive, now this has happened…”

“I swear, you are…”

“I’m really sorry…”

Lute doesn’t say anything more.

It’s no wonder he’s angry… Not only did I put myself in danger, but I put him in danger as well.

I occasionally peek at Lute’s face. I can tell he’s desperately trying to suppress his feelings. But his eyes are troubled, filled with mixed emotions. Neither of us speak or make contact.

Lute and I leave the Count’s mansion, running away from his henchmen. Once we reach the marketplace, Lute puts me down.

“Thank you for saving me,” I said. “I’m sorry this happened…”

Lute didn’t say anything back.

“I completely understand why you’re angry…”

I look up, and Lute quietly shakes his head.

“You don’t have to apologize, milady,” Lute spoke. “I’m the one who needs to say I’m sorry.”

“But you didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one at fault here,” I implied. “There’s no reason for you to apologize.”

“No…”

Lute looks down painfully… then looks back up and gazes into my eyes.

“When I’m with you, sometimes I can’t control my emotions…”

“What…?”

“My feelings win out over reason… This has never happened to me before…”

“Lute…”

“Something that’s forbidden for the Princess’ guardian…”

Lute bites his lip, pondering something. He takes several deep breaths, as if trying to regain his composure.

“You are just… I can’t let you out of my sight for one minute, can I?”

“What?”

Lute whispers something under his breath.

“At any rate, I am glad you are safe, Princess.”

“It’s all because of you, Lute. Thank you.”

We gaze at each other and exchange a smile.

“There they are! It’s those two!” the henchman shouted.

“Over here!” the Count yelled.

The Count and his henchmen have found us. They surround us in an instant, and we have nowhere to run.        

“The bride is mine! Give her back!” commanded the Count.

“Never!” Lute replied.

Lute stands in front of me, blocking me from the men.

“Please stay back, Princess.”

“Okay…”

Lute draws his sword and thrusts it towards the men.

“Get ‘em!!” the henchman exclaimed.

CLANG, CLANG!

The sound of swords striking against each other rings out in the plaza. The Count’s men attack Lute from all sides. But Lute adeptly dodges their attacks and defeats them, one by one.

“Aaahhh!!”

CLANG! CHING!

“H-He got me!”

Lute skillfully flourishes his sword, anticipating every move of the enemy. His movements are fluid and purposeful.

Amazing…

Lute defeats every one of the henchmen, then squares off with the Count.

“Now it’s your turn,” Lute said.

“Tch… If you value your life, you’ll let me have the girl!” the Count stated.

“I’ll repeat those same words to you.”

“I won’t allow this!”

The Count raises his sword in the air.

CLANG, CHING!

“You bastard! You’ll regret this!” he shouted.

They glare at each other and exchange blows, neither of them yielding to the other. But the next moment, Lute seizes an opportunity and pushes the Count back with his sword. The Count flinches for a spilt second, and Lute snatches the Count’s sword away with his own. Without a moment’s delay, he aims the tip of the sword at the Count’s throat.

“Ugh……”

“Don’t take one step closer to her,” Lute said.

“S-She’s my bride!” the Count exclaimed.

Lute presses the sword against him even harder, and the Count freezes up with fear.

“I’m going to say this one more time. Don’t you dare take one step towards Milady Sophie!!”

“Aaguhh!”

The Count is defeated by Lute’s strength. His knees tremble and buckle, and he collapses onto the ground. Just then……

“Lute! Sophie!” someone shouted.

“Haku! Everyone!”

The knights run up to us in the plaza.

“What were you thinking, you idiot?!” Kenny asked.

“I can’t decide whether you have great initiative or if you’re just plain nosy!” Shion said.

“…I’m sorry.”

“We heard about the Count’s crimes from Lute,” Haku said, “so we searched the mansion.”

“Ohh…”

Gaia glances at me and then stands in front of the Count. “There’s nowhere to run, Count,” Gaia stated. “We’ve found the evidence of your tax evasion.”

“Now your title’s gonna be revoked. Ya old goat,” Kenny implied.

“Wha…” the Count said.

“You owe millions in back taxes,” Haku stated. “You’ll have to sell the mansion.”

“You’ve lost your assets, your bride…” Shion added. “Quite the fall from grace.”

“Take him away,” Gaia commanded.

Lute withdraws his sword from Count’s neck. Kenny ties the Count’s hands behind his back.

“Hooray!”

“The Count’s been overthrown!!”

“Now he’ll never harass me or my business again!”

“He charged me ridiculous taxes, too! No more!”

The villagers in the plaza call out loudly. They encircle Lute and me, and everyone is ecstatic!

“The bride’s lover came to save her from the Count! Not even a Count can stand in the way of true love!”

“U-Um…”

Lute and I exchange glances, which just makes the crowd go even crazier with catcalls and applause.

“Mommy, that man is like the legend of the knight I read about in my book!” a child said. “Those legends are real after all!!”

“Sir Knight! Princess!” a villager shouted. “Now our town is at peace!”

“What legend are they talking about?” I asked.

“I don’t know…” Lute replied.

Lute and I stand bewildered in front of cheering villagers, unsure of what to do.

We visit the mayor’s house and find that both mayor and the real bride have returned. It’s the same girl we saved earlier when the men were chasing her in the village.

“I’m so sorry you go involved in this,” the bride apologized. “But thank you so much. I can’t express how grateful I am to you both.”

“I just couldn’t stand the thought of you being forced to marry the Count.”

“Since the Count has been overthrown, my lover can finally return to the village!” she stated.

“I’m so glad!”

“Now our village shall be at peace once again,” the mayor announced. “It’s all because of you. You must really be one of the legendary knights.”

“Legendary knights…”

Lute and I automatically look at each other.

“That’s what the child at the plaza said, too,” I mentioned. “Like the legendary knights in a book. What’s the legend?”

“Have you seen the statue of the white princess and her knight in the town square?” the mayor asked.

“Yes.”

“We saw it,” Lute replied.

“It’s a legend about that statue,” the mayor smiled. “It’s said there was a knight who defeated a monster to rescue the white princess and save this village.”

“Really…”

“After they brought peace to our village, the knight and the princess overcame their difference in social status and happily married,” he smiled happily.

“And they continued to protect the village,” the bride added. “Sounds like you two, doesn’t it?”

Lute and I didn’t reply back.

“You two are the perfect match for each other,” the mayor commented. “A princess and her knight.”

Lute and I are a perfect match?

“O-Oh, please…”

“Are you embarrassed, milady?” the mayor asked.

“Wha…”

I’m not sure how to react. I press my hands against my hot cheeks and look down, then glance at Lute.

He’s bright red!

We briefly make eye contact and gasp.

“I, I…”

“Both of you are blushing, looking at each other at the exact same time…” the mayor pointed out. “See? You’re perfect for each other.”

Hearing this, Lute and I both look away from each other at the same time, causing the mayor and the bride to laugh.

CREEAAAK

The mayor opens the village gates so we can continue on to the castle.

“Now we can get back to the palace!” Haku said.

“Plus, we helped the villagers!” Kenny added.

“That ate up a lot of time…” Shion implied.

“Thank you for everything, Mayor,” Gaia said.

“I am the one who should thank you, Sir,” the mayor implied. “Princess, Sir Knights. Thank you so much for saving our village.”

“Please take care,” Lute said.

“Farewell!” I said.

The villagers see us off, and we continue our journey to the castle.