Chapter 2014 - 543: Humans Are Truly Frightening

The guest room on the east side of Colin Manor is illuminated by the glow of the Magic Crystal Lamp, replacing the fireplace's flames, and leaving a warm orange light on the wallpapered walls.

The air here is dry and warm, with a faint lavender fragrance pervading it.

Having just taken a bath, Erin sits at the bedside, towel-drying her wet silver hair while humming a light and melodious tune.

It's a tune she heard at a banquet in Glanton Castle, giving her the sensation of strolling through a sea of flowers—it's the perfect description for her current mood.

Compared to her days in Twilight City, life in Thunder City is indeed very blissful.

Especially upon returning this time, she discovered that the people here had managed to concoct a "liquid soap" from palm oil and olive oil, leaving her hair fragrant with flowers after washing.

And the most crucial aspect is...

This is Prince Colin's home.

Thinking of this, Erin's cheeks grew even hotter; she couldn't help but bury her nose into the towel in her hands, as if it were someone's chest...

"Your Highness."

Interrupting Erin's thoughts was Theresa's voice.

Before Erin could hide the towel behind her blushing face, she saw Theresa, having removed her armor, kneeling on one knee on the thick wool carpet.

"I've committed a crime; please punish me."

"Theresa? What are you doing..." Erin looked at her loyal guard in surprise, her emerald green eyes filled with confusion, as she gently placed the towel held in her hands onto her knee.

With her head lowered, Theresa continued speaking.

"Earlier at the entrance of the manor, the Royal Family's carriage wasn't damaged naturally—it was me... I deliberately sabotaged it to create an opportunity for you."

Finally voicing the difficult-to-utter confession, Theresa kept her head down, her gaze fixed on the intricate patterns on the carpet, as if trying to bore a hole through it.

Luckily, she didn't raise her head; otherwise, Erin would have certainly sought a crack in the floor to disappear into before her. Her fair face suddenly blushed bright red, like a ripe apple.

An opportunity!?

What kind of opportunity...

Time flowed by second by second, with the pendulum's swing being the only sound resonating in the room.

About five minutes passed when Theresa finally heard a sound of exhalation reaching its limit from in front of her.

Before she could recover, Erin stood up from the bed, stepped forward, and helped her up.

"Theresa, you are my loyal subordinate; I know you did this for my sake... but next time, don't do it."

"Yes, Your Highness..."

Reflecting seriously on her rash action for three seconds, Theresa slowly lifted her head in shame, only to see that those emerald green eyes held not blame, but rather a hint of faint joy.

Theresa couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

So...

Should she continue doing this next time?

Suddenly, she felt a bit undecided.

Clearly, the tacit understanding between Erin and Theresa was still incomparable to that between the Demon King and his cat.

And Erin didn't explain further; after helping Theresa up, she placed her hands behind her back and walked to the window on the soft wool carpet.

Facing away from the still-stunned Theresa, she lightly brushed the stray hair by her ear with her right hand, speaking with a light yet determined voice.

"Moreover, I trust Prince Colin's character. Even if living under the same roof as Miss Yaya, Prince Colin would never cross the line, because..."

The latter part she didn't dare to vocalize.

Last night, if he really wanted to take advantage of her, in her state at the time, she might not have been able to refuse at all.

There's no doubt—he's truly a gentleman!

Watching her highness' face of "primary consort"-like composure, Theresa couldn't help but sigh inwardly, recalling the novels she had read before.

Since ancient times, childhood friends have never bested the sudden loves, mainly due to their blind confidence.

Trust is a knight's virtue, but blind trust is risky.

"Your Highness."

Theresa's voice sank a few notches, wielding the kind of authority reserved for battlefield enemy analysis.

"Your trust is admirable, but as your subordinate, I must report the intelligence I've gathered on the way into the city."

Erin looked at her, blinking blankly.

"Intelligence?"

"Yes, about Miss Yaya Mitiya."

Theresa stepped forward, lowering her voice, as though dealing with some unspeakable military secret.

"Although it's just fragments, I've heard some rumors from manor's old servants and guards in the city. It's said that when Miss Yaya first arrived in Thunder City, there was a brief circulating rumor about her having midnight excursions with Prince Colin. Some even... privately called her the 'mistress'."

"Mis... tress?"

Erin's smile froze on her face.

The composure lingering there a moment ago was like a bubble pierced in the summer's evening breeze—disappearing instantly.

Seeing Erin's expression, a trace of reluctance crossed Theresa's mind.

In truth, the "midnight excursions" were a plot she'd encountered in a novel, and the "mistress" was merely her musings late at night.

But in order to make Princess Erin take things seriously, in service to the glory of the Campbell family, she was willing to go all in as a knight!

May Saint Sis forgive her well-meaning fib—she's doing it out of necessity.

"... Although these rumors quickly vanished, as if erased by an unseen hand, making them impossible to verify, you should know, Your Highness, in this world, complete 'disappearance' often suggests a powerful force deliberately concealing something."