A Fake Marriage? Sure! …Wait, Is It Actually Fake? Something’s Not Right Here! - Chapter 27

“I see…”

Sena was the princess’s personal maid. If she had called for her, it was indeed possible she was in this building.

“I’ll let her know to return immediately if I see her,” Lidoria said, and the knights smiled in relief.

“We’ll search this building a bit more.”

“Where are you headed, Lady Lidoria?”

“I’m taking this document to the Crown Prince’s office.”

When she showed them the folded paper, the knights nodded understandingly before one of them went “Ah!” with a laugh.

“The vice-captain happens to be at the guard post right now.”

“Why don’t you stop by and talk with him?”

They seemed to be referring to Alex.

Lidoria fell silent for a moment, deep in thought.

Truthfully, there was something she wanted to consult him about. Tonight’s dinner.

Since Lidoria’s cooking skills hadn’t fully returned yet, she wanted to ask him to buy that hearty soup from the usual shop again today.

“Well then, I suppose I’ll stop by since there’s something I’d like to ask my husband.”

“Please do.”

“We’ll let the vice-captain know you’re coming. Excuse us then.”

After bidding farewell to the knights, Lidoria moved from the second floor to the first floor.

She pushed open the building’s door and stepped outside.

So bright.

The sunlight was still intensely clear. Just how long had it been since it last rained?

After shielding her eyes and glancing at the sky, Lidoria was about to proceed along the corridor toward the northern part of the palace when—

Suddenly, her left arm was grabbed and she was yanked backward.

Her feet slid out from under her, sending up puffs of dry earth like smoke.

Even as she tried to regain her balance, she was dragged with tremendous force into a heather bush.

She desperately managed to avoid falling completely.

The planted area fortunately provided some footing.

Her heels dug into the soil. Sinking the tips of her heels into the grass, Lidoria dropped into a low stance.

The swelling from her previous bruise had already subsided. There was no pain.

The hand gripping her left arm.

Without hesitation, Lidoria brought her right hand down in a knife-hand strike aimed precisely at the attacker’s wrist joint.

“Gyah!” the attacker cried out.

But that sound was immediately replaced by a choked “Guh!” as Lidoria, keeping her body low, tackled him from the left shoulder.

The attacker was easily thrown onto his back.

Moreover, because Lidoria landed squarely on his abdomen with all her weight, he couldn’t breathe.

After a quick glance at the attacker writhing on the grass while coughing violently, Lidoria swiftly rose and assumed a fighting stance.

Two more men stood before her.

Judging by their clothing, they weren’t knights. But they wore swords at their hips like knights.

Ronin, or perhaps thugs who’d bought swords to look tough.

They seemed unable to believe that Lidoria had taken down one of their companions in an instant.

Since they were standing there dumbfounded, not even gripping their sword hilts, Lidoria targeted the nearest man in that opening.

Kicking her skirt hem aside, she took one large step forward and forcefully stomped on the man’s toes with her heel.

The moment she felt the impact, the man let out an incredible scream and began thrashing on the ground.

She must have broken his big toe or index toe.

Immediately, Lidoria readjusted her stance.

Because the other man was charging at her to throw a punch.

She dodged the man’s right fist and slapped away his left hand as it reached out to grab her collar.

Bringing her left knee straight up toward his solar plexus as if hugging it, she then snapped it forward into a kick.

The direct kick sent the man flying backward.

As he desperately tried to keep his feet under him to avoid falling, Lidoria delivered a palm-heel strike.

It connected perfectly with the man’s chin.

“Stop! Don’t move!”

Right after the man was sent flying, a voice called out from another direction.

Lidoria kept her stance and turned her head.

Emerging from the bushes was another man of unfamiliar appearance.

This man was holding another bound man, pressing a knife against his throat.

The bound man, gagged and blindfolded, could only flail in panic.

“…Huh? Sir Evan?”

Lidoria muttered in disbelief.

The man being held captive with a knife at his throat—wasn’t that Evan?

That hair color, that profile. And most importantly, he was wearing the Winged Lion Knights’ uniform.

“Don’t you care what happens to this man?”

Though threatened, Lidoria could only feel confused.

If anything, she didn’t really care.

They weren’t particularly close, and to be honest, she didn’t have a favorable impression of him.

“You… don’t care what happens to him?!”

The man grew flustered at Lidoria’s reaction.

It seemed unexpected. It was unexpected for Lidoria too.

“Um… well…”

“W-wait! You know him, don’t you?!”

“…W-well, I suppose you could say we’re acquainted.”

“You’re fine with this?!”

“W-well… I wonder what I should do.”

As she hesitated, Evan shouted something through his gag. She couldn’t understand what he was saying, but she could tell he was begging for her help.

“If you don’t want him harmed, stay quiet!”

Reluctantly, Lidoria raised both hands.

“Put your hands behind your head!”

Treated like a prisoner, she had her hands bound by another man who emerged from the bushes.

Simultaneously, the man holding Evan picked up a spear from the ground and forcefully struck Lidoria’s shin with its shaft.

“Guh…!”

Not even a scream escaped. Tears spurted from her eyes as she instantly collapsed.

“Her hands are tied, and she won’t be using any leg techniques for a while now.”

And so, because of some knight she couldn’t care less about, Lidoria found herself captured by these inexplicable men.