"Why did you do that? Do you have any idea how great a royal reward is? If you were lucky, you could have received a peerage or a royal sword!"
"I don't need it."
"There are already a lot of people who don't like you because of the assault case. If you become the Princess's savior, all of that can be solved in…"
"I don't need it."
Demian was unenthusiastic.
No matter how Lara persuaded him, it was no use.
Princess Sonnet eventually decided to give some prize money and a small gift to Demian and Lara. Lara refused adamantly, but after the ladies-in-waiting said that there were a lot of people watching and that it would not be good for the Princess if she did not at least give some reward, Lara finally agreed with difficulty.
"Laviore Ria Bailey, Lara."
The Princess said Lara's name many times to remember it.
The moment Lara let go of her hand, the Princess blushed and felt shy. She knew the Princess would not die, but she still felt glad. She felt glad that the Princess was not hurt and that her emotions would not get hurt with the death of her knights.
In her past life, when Prince Sidhar, who was blinded to the throne, banished the Princess outside the border infested with magical beasts, Lara suffered from so much guilt that she could not sleep at night. It was the Prince who banished the Princess, but the thought that she could not stop him was really painful.
A bystander was no better than an accomplice.
Lara actively helped the Prince when he overthrew her, so that made her the perpetrator too.
She was glad she could help the Princess this time.
Although she failed to make Demian a hero, this was already satisfactory to her.
Leaning against the soft seat in the swaying carriage, Lara opened her mouth.
"Demian."
"Yeah."
"Why did you push me to the Princess?"
"Because it was you who wanted to save the Princess, not me."
"What did you talk about with the black sorcerer on the boat?"
Demian stared at her with a look asking about how she knew about that.
Lara said again.
"When you grabbed the black sorcerer's throat before he killed himself, you said something to him."
"…I asked him about his motive."
"Then, what did he say?"
"Chaos."
Lara nodded with a look as if saying she had already expected that.
She felt very tired.
She did not say anything, but not only did she meet her father and the Prince at the banquet, but she also ran into the black sorcerer and saved the Princess, so it was only natural that her tension subsided at once.
Her eyes closed by themselves.
Lara murmured in a sleeping voice while laying down on the carriage chair.
"Even though you didn't get a peerage… I will make sure you will get an excellent sword. Please wait a little bit."
"Suit yourself."
"Good job for today. Go back…and take a good rest."
"Yeah."
"Thank you."
She mumbled her last word so it could not be heard properly.
But Demian still understood everything Lara wanted to say.
"Good night."
He covered Lara with his coat. Then he shut his mouth so that she could sleep in peace.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
It was already midnight when they got home.
Arriving in front of the most beautiful house among the luxury houses along the riverside, Demian carefully stepped out of the carriage, holding Lara—who did not wake up—in his arms.
Isadora, Sebastian, and Konny came out to the front of the manor and waited for him.
"Milady."
Konny shouted softly.
They have only heard fragments about what had happened at the banquet. When they saw Lara coming out of the carriage in Demian's arms, their faces hardened, thinking that she was hurt.
"She's just sleeping."
Demian had to let them know that Lara had returned unharmed even before he greeted Isadora.
"First of all, her room."
Isadora made her move first.
She opened the door herself, walked into the manor, and led Demian to Lara's room, which was located on the second floor of the main building. Then, after checking that he had laid Lara down beautifully on the bed, leaving only Konny in the room, they all came out.
"So, you're Demian."
Isadora said.
"I have something to say. Follow me."
Then, she took the lead.
Demian moved to a drawing-room, far from Lara's room, led by Isadora and Sebastian.
"Whew…"
Isadora offered a seat to Demian and sat across from him. Then, she let out a heavy sigh.
She thought she was going to get a heart attack.
She was working in the hotel as usual. She got the invitation to the banquet but chose not to attend. She was afraid that she would run and hit her husband with money as soon as she saw him.
She was worried about sending Lara alone.
But she thought that everything would be fine. It was just a banquet, and she doubted there would be any danger there.
However, when she heard that a vicious black sorcerer had appeared and that Lara was involved in the incident, she felt like her world had collapsed.
"Everyone says you're incredible."
Isadora said.
Demian did not answer her and just slightly bowed his head. It was his token of appreciation for the compliment.
"You're from Tarragon Empire?"
"I am a war slave."
"I have heard that you aren't a slave anymore."
Isadora had already finished investigating Demian's identity long before their current meeting. Ever since she heard that Lara bought a man for two gold in the arena, Isadora called Demian '2 gold' and got someone to report about Demian's every move.
But he was really mysterious.
Why in the world would such a powerful man be treated like a prostitute next to Lara without any purpose?
"May I ask what your purpose is in coming to Hautean?"
Isadora asked.
Since he saved Lara, she will listen to whatever he wants. But, if he were to stay with Lara in the future, she had to know what his purpose was.
Demian agonized.
When the Crown Prince of Tarragon sent him to Hautean, he said that he wanted this mission to proceed in the utmost secrecy. He at least did not want people to find out that the Crown Prince and the Empire had anything to do with the mission.
However, he did not say not to make allies in trying to uncover the identity of the black sorcerers.
"I'm tracking down the black sorcerers' forces."
"What?"
"I'm investigating about the black sorcerers who are hiding in the Hautean Kingdom, and about what they're trying to do here."
"Are you from the temple?"
"No."
"Who ordered you to do this work?"
"I can't tell you."
Isadora's eyes narrowed.
She looked at Demian as if she was inquiring about him. And suddenly, she began to talk.
"It is nothing to me to investigate how you lived in the Empire, who you were close to, what you did to free yourself from slavery."
"I know."
"I can't put Lara in danger. If you're a man of such danger, I will give you enough reward and you have to leave this place."
"I understand."
"Oh my God… It was only a few days ago that I was called by the watchmen, now I'm threatening a man to get away from my daughter."
"Madam Isadora."
As Isadora lamented with her lips twitching, Sebastian cleared his throat and stopped her.
Black magic, huh?
Isadora looked over Demian's face very meticulously.
"Demian."
"Yes."
"I could spend my whole life making the Emperor a beggar if it's for Lara."
"…I know."
It was the Thousand Gold Isadora speaking.
Demian knew her words were by no means exaggerated.
Therefore, he could swear.
"If Lara is in danger, I will absolutely protect her, regardless of my mission."
"Absolutely?"
"Yes."
"Even when you need to betray your client?"
"Lara comes first now."
"Good."
Isadora tapped the handle of the chair with her finger.
She kept her mouth shut and pondered for a long time. Then, as if she had made up her mind, she got up from her seat and said.
"I need to hire you."