I Wish I Could Predict Love, Not Fall Into It - Chapter 14

A scream burst from my mouth before I could stop it.
“Ahhh!”

The masked attackers each held a long sword in one hand, and a dagger or throwing star in the other.

As I stared at the sharp blades, a wave of frustration surged up inside me.
“Why are you after me? What did I ever do to you?”

No matter how I thought about it, there was no reason I should be attacked. I just woke up inside the witch’s body and pretended to be a prophet to find the real witch.

I hadn’t committed any crime. So why was this happening to me?

Just then, the attackers charged toward me all at once. I ran around the room in a panic, screaming as loudly as I could.
“Royal knights! Please help me!”

The attackers looked startled by the sudden, ear-piercing shout. Taking that chance, I dashed toward the door.
“Guards! Help me, please!”

Even as I ran, I wrapped my right arm protectively around my stomach, afraid I might get stabbed. My left hand finally grabbed the brass doorknob.

But in that moment—
Thunk—

A dagger hit the wooden door, landing just three centimeters from my face.
“Eek!”

I almost fainted from fear, but somehow managed to open the door with superhuman strength. If I stayed in that room, I’d definitely die.

I sprinted out into the hallway and shouted again as loudly as I could.
“Sir Clark! Help! Sir Clark!”

This time, I called out a specific name—the large and strong captain of the knights.

The attackers were chasing me close from behind.
“I don’t want to die! …Ack!”

My legs were too slow for how fast my heart wanted to run. I tripped and fell to the ground. One of the attackers raised his sword high, and I reflexively shielded my stomach.

Clang—

But the sword coming at me was deflected by another long blade.

Wide-eyed, I looked up at the person holding the sword.
“Y-Your Majesty?”

It was the emperor.

He stood before the attackers, sword in hand. Under the moonlight shining through the window, his figure looked strong and dignified.

“You’re too noisy. I couldn’t sleep.”

He scolded me softly. I snapped back to my senses, quickly got up, and replied,
“Isn’t your bedroom really far from here?”

Also, he wasn’t wearing sleepwear. He was dressed in uniform with shoulder epaulets. No one sleeps in clothes like that.

Then, the emperor swung his long arm around my waist and moved his sword.

Clang—

He deflected a throwing star flying toward me, then released his grip and muttered,
“Is that really what matters right now?”

With those words, he pushed me behind him. I was so moved by the feeling of being protected that I almost cried as I held onto his broad back.

But at the same time, I was worried.
“You came alone? Where are the other knights?”

I asked urgently, but the emperor was too busy fighting the attackers to answer.

Swish—

He dodged the attacker’s strike and swung his sword swiftly. His movements were so fast it was hard to follow with my eyes.

He was clearly more skilled than the attackers. But there were three of them, so he couldn’t let his guard down.

Clang! Clang!

As the sharp sound of clashing swords echoed, I could do nothing but watch from behind.

My heart burned with worry. I was pacing in place when I finally saw knights running toward us from the end of the hallway.
“Knights! Over here! Hurry!”

I screamed with all my strength.

Just then, one of the attackers, panicking at the knights’ arrival, aimed a dagger at the emperor’s side.

“No!”

Without thinking, I threw myself at him.

Stab—

The sharp blade plunged into my stomach. It felt just as horrible as it had in my dream.

But then, the attacker who stabbed me collapsed to the floor as if he were the one who’d been stabbed. The emperor hadn’t even touched him.

“Cough—”

Meanwhile, I coughed up bright red blood.

I thought I could avoid being stabbed because I had already seen this moment in a dream. But I hadn’t accounted for the emperor.

He, of all people, appeared with a sword to protect me. Even though he’s cursed and could die any day, he still stepped in to save me.

He wasn’t good at apologizing, but he was very good at protecting people. Just like when he shielded me in front of the Empress Dowager.

I didn’t want someone like that to get hurt. I didn’t want to bring more bad luck into the life of a man already full of misfortune.

For once, I wanted him to avoid injury. Thanks to me, not because of me.

I wanted to be his one piece of good luck.

“Anier!”

Thud—

I collapsed into the emperor’s arms and lost consciousness.

❖ ❖ ❖

Louisville heard glass shatter during his night patrol. Then came Anier’s scream.

Usually, attackers crashing through windows only happened to him. Not to a delicate woman who was barely half his size.

Louisville rushed to Anier’s room and encountered both the attackers and Anier on the way.

When he saw her trembling in fear, he wondered why was this happening to her, too?

She was just a royal prophetess.

In the end, he felt it was all his fault and did everything he could to protect her.

Swish—

Louisville had seen the dagger aimed at his side. But he noticed it too late. It could’ve struck him.

Then—

“No!”

Anier threw herself in front of him. Louisville froze as he caught her falling body.

Again. But this time, it wasn’t like when she caught him after he fell off his horse. This shock was on a whole different level.

In that moment, knights arrived and surrounded Louisville.

The attackers began fleeing from the ten or so knights. The knights left only the elite few to guard the emperor and chased after the rest.

“Are you all right, Your Majesty?”

Louisville didn’t move as he held Anier. He couldn’t believe what had just happened.

She threw herself in front of him. Took a blade meant for him.

Why?

People had always tried to kill him. Assassination attempts were normal. Poisoning wasn’t rare either.

He had always endured those threats alone, with no one’s help.

So when Anier caught him during the fall and again now throwing herself in front of him without a second thought, she became the first person ever to protect him with nothing but her own body.

As he looked at Anier’s pale face, he suddenly remembered she was a prophetess.

Did she see this coming too?

If so, it made even less sense. If she knew in advance, she should have avoided it.

Someone as cursed as him should’ve just taken the hit. She should have left the palace as soon as possible.

“…Call the royal physicians.”

Louisville gave the order with a heavy heart.

Anier was then moved to the room next to the emperor’s bedroom.

The imperial physicians, the best in the empire, focused entirely on treating her, while Louisville waited in his office for the knights who had gone after the attackers.

After a long while, the knights returned with Captain Clark. Louisville asked sharply,
“The assassins?”

“They killed themselves when we caught them during the chase.”

Bang!

Louisville slammed his fist on the desk. Clark bowed his head, ashamed.
“I’ll increase the number of night guards.”

Louisville clenched his teeth.

The attackers had tried to stab him in the end, but their first target had been Anier.

If they really meant to kill her—why?

…Because she, as a prophetess, might be helping him? Because she saved his life?

Louisville’s fist trembled as he tightened it on the desk.

❖ ❖ ❖

The hallway to the emperor’s bedroom was sealed off by imperial order. No one was allowed through not even the emperor’s cousin.

“I’m very sorry, but His Majesty can’t receive visitors today.”

Secretary Hilton spoke awkwardly. Julia, with satin gloves on both hands, placed them firmly on her waist. Her deep blue eyes sparkled with pride.

“What did you say?”

She frowned, then glanced behind her. A few steps away, Elizabeth stood with her hands politely folded.

Julia gave her a slight smile, then glared at Hilton.
“Hey. Do you know who I am?”

“Yes, of course, Your Highness.”

Hilton felt sweat gathering at his temples. Julia’s stare grew sharper.
“And you still won’t let me in?”

“I’m sorry, but not today.”

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