It was a Political Marriage, But I’m Being Loved - Chapter 57

Although the automaton had a human-like appearance, its body didn’t function like a real human’s. When one of its arms was blown off, it used the remaining arm and both legs to trap Lewein.

It was squeezing him with terrifying force.

Lewein, realized the automaton’s intention too late and tried to shake it off—but that moment of hesitation gave the others an opening. The blades of the remaining three automatons avoided their captured comrade and struck Lewein, directly.

“Aaagh!!”

“Sir Lewein!”

They weren’t supposed to call each other by real names during missions, but there was no time to follow protocol. Seeing the knights charge forward with deadly force, Charlize hugged the stag, Lulu, tightly and cast her magic.

This time, it wasn’t fire. If she had used flames, she would have been caught in them as well.

Please, let this work!

A huge gust of wind swept in front of her, sending the knights flying. Their armored bodies shot through the air like toys knocked aside by a giant hand. One of the enemy mages tried to cast a spell in response, but he was already caught in the wind’s path.

“Your Highness!! Get out of here!”

Blinded by rage, Lewein grabbed the automaton by the neck, ripped it off, and tore the body in two. Even with swords stuck in his body and blood pouring out, he kept coming. Just seeing him approach was enough to take her breath away.

“Ah!”

The stag suddenly dashed in and lifted her onto its back. Lulu was a large stag, but Charlize had never ridden him before. She froze in shock.

She had no idea when or how she got on his back. Just like when Lulu had broken through the wall, this too seemed to be some kind of magic.

Oh no… this is bad.

The spell she had lost control of was growing into a massive whirlwind. It was getting stronger by the second. At least the castle staff had been ordered inside and the gates closed—so for now, they were safe.

Lewein had already destroyed a third automaton and was cutting down the last one. Thanks to the mage’s warning, he hadn’t touched its core.

Meanwhile, the stag ran in the opposite direction, not slowing down. Charlize clung to its neck, sitting sideways on its back, trying not to fall.

“You think I’ll just let you run?!”

With only the lower half of an automaton left, Lewein kicked it aside and took off after them. Even with such severe wounds, his speed was unbelievable. She could see him running along the edge of the castle wall, while Lulu sprinted like mad.

“Eek!”

His sword strikes grazed Lulu’s antlers. He was supposed to capture Charlize alive—but in his rage, he seemed to have forgotten that.

If he catches me now, I’ll die!

Driven by the will to survive, she drew on her magic—not to cast something new, but to move the spell she had already unleashed. It would activate, yes, but controlling it was another matter entirely.

As Lewein chased her, leaving a trail of blood, he suddenly noticed something strange: his blood droplets weren’t falling—they were being pulled sideways. He turned his head.

The wind had grown from a whirlwind into a full-blown storm, and it was chasing him. The center of the vortex followed close behind, as if it was hunting him down.

“You damn girl!! Even if I die, I’ll take you with me—!! Aaargh!”

He lost his grip on his sword and tried to grab the castle wall’s ledge, but the stones crumbled under his hand. His body was lifted into the air. In the blink of an eye, the storm swallowed him whole.

It worked! …But I’m still in danger!

Even though Lulu was running with all his might, the storm was catching up. Charlize did everything she could to stop it—but it wouldn’t obey her.

Just as they began to lift off the ground, caught in the wind—

“This really isn’t the time to ask why you didn’t listen to me, is it?”

The wind stopped instantly, and her falling body was gently caught in someone’s strong arms. Lulu, who had been tumbling next to her, was also carefully lowered near the ruined castle wall.

Charlize blinked, stunned, looking up at the graceful, noble face staring down at her…

She looked up at his face. Achilles was still floating in the air, holding Charlize gently in his arms.

“Your Highness, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”

Not only had the four automatons assigned for her protection been reduced to scrap, but even those meant for simple tasks were completely destroyed. It was clear they’d been deployed due to a lack of actual fighters.

Achilles took in the sight of the scattered bodies, the wounded groaning in pain—and beyond them, the castle staff, cautiously emerging through a side gate.

They were hiding… while the princess fought?

It angered him deeply. Not only had they failed to help, but it seemed they’d pushed Charlize to the front lines simply because she could use magic. Yes, they weren’t trained for combat—but neither was she.

This is my fault. I never should’ve let myself get distracted by those monsters in the village.

Judging from Eliza’s reaction, the monster attack had clearly been a diversion meant to draw him away. Achilles clenched his jaw, suppressing his fury, and glanced at Charlize. She looked stunned, her wide eyes fixed on him.

“Achilles…”

“Yes.”

Still holding her close, he descended slowly into the castle’s rear courtyard. Lulu, the stag, happily trotted along the outer wall and made his way down the steps.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

Charlize felt tears sting her eyes. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“You’re not late at all!”

Then, quickly pulling back, she asked anxiously,

“What about the village? Is it safe?”

Some of the castle staff, especially those with family in the village, seemed to hold their breath as they waited for his answer. Achilles responded with quiet reassurance.

“There shouldn’t be any major damage. But… what happened here?”

His eyes darkened with anger as he looked toward the knights collapsed on the ground in pain. Charlize took a breath, then began to explain everything—slowly and carefully.

Only 29 knights had survived. Five had died before Achilles could even begin healing them. He revived the shattered automatons with magic, then turned Lewein and all of his men into stone.

He could’ve healed them—but he had no reason to. If anyone wanted them alive for questioning, they could heal them themselves.

She might fear me if she sees me killing people.

Charlize had only just begun to open her heart to him. He didn’t want to shatter that trust by appearing cruel in front of her.

He immediately contacted the Mage Tower, requesting six mages skilled enough to protect her, and seven more to help transport the petrified prisoners. They weren’t as strong as he was, and the journey to the northern castle would take time—but they were needed urgently.

Achilles… he’s even more incredible than I realized. I always knew he was the Tower Master, but I’ve grown so used to having him nearby… I forgot how powerful he really is.

Charlize was still in awe. The wind magic she’d lost control of had turned into a massive storm, and she’d been terrified. But Achilles had arrived, and with one spell, he calmed it—shrinking it and stopping it entirely.

Thanks to him, Lewein, his knights, and even the enemy mages survived the typhoon. Though they were now turned to stone, at least they were alive.

Now, he was restoring the parts of the castle she had accidentally destroyed. Walls were rising, scorch marks vanishing. The onlookers could hardly believe their eyes.

“Oh! The stones… they’re moving on their own!”

“This is… unbelievable…”

Though no one dared get close, their amazed whispers carried all the way to Charlize. Since arriving, Achilles hadn’t once set her down.

“Um… Achilles?”

“No.”

“I didn’t even say anything yet!”

She leaned her head against his chest and looked up at him. As much as she loved being held by him, too many eyes were on them.

“You can hold me like this later… in our room.”

If she mentioned people watching, Achilles would probably cast a spell to keep them from looking. So instead, she spoke gently, hoping to ease him into it.

“I’ve just finished repairing the castle,” he said, “so we can go to our room now.”

Wait, already?

When she looked around, the mansion actually looked even better than before. He had fixed not only the exterior but the interior too. As they entered together, Charlize’s eyes widened in wonder.

“Guests from the Mage Tower will be arriving soon. Get things ready,” Achilles called to the butler standing nearby.

“Yes, sir. …How many guests should we expect?”

“Fewer than twenty. Leave the stone statues to them—they’ll take care of it.”

“Understood, Tower Master.”

Achilles gave a brief nod and carried Charlize up the stairs. He looked calm—but inside, he was seething.

He wanted to hunt down Valter Bianchi and tear him apart with his bare hands.

But there still wasn’t enough evidence. Even if there was only a slim chance that Valter had been framed or manipulated, he had to be cautious.

They hadn’t caught him in the act. Still, everything pointed to Valter.

I should’ve killed him that day.

With soft eyes, Achilles looked down at Charlize, who was still resting peacefully in his arms, completely unaware of the storm in his heart.

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