Just Hold My Hand

nidor’s treatment would take.

But Sonidor was puzzled.
Would it be possible to switch the Crown Prince with an ordinary person who only looked like him, in front of all his maids and attendants? It was an unrealistic method that could only come out of a fairy tale.
There must have been many other ways besides that. 

“I’m just asking out of curiosity, but couldn’t you make it seem as if His Highness went away for recuperation in a countryside estate with a nice air?,” she said as she tossed a cookie into her mouth.

“We have to avoid anything that might cause suspicion.” 

Christian’s expression was blank, but his eyes were quite sharp. 

“It’s a temporary substitute.
It would be better to use an attendant who knows how His Highness usually acts, ” Christian continued. 

“But this is His Majesty’s order.
What he wants is to move most efficiently with the least number of people in the know.
Besides, there is no time to find an attendant who was born with guts and acting skills, and there is no need to increase the number of people to be monitored at a time when His Highness the Crown Prince could wake up.” 

“…..”

“…..”

…Sonidor asked, poking Terry’s side with her elbow. 

“Hey, are you good at acting?” 

If it were Sonidor, she was confident in her own acting.
It could be said to be a kind of occupational perk, but it was also a necessary skill to have as a dream artisan.
Only then could she draw out the desired reaction by skilfully acting in the dreams of her clients.
She had learned how to act from her mother for a while, when she was little.

Terry answered her question in an offhanded manner. 

“I’ve never done it before.” 

“Then do it now.
Act like a sickly handsome boy.” 

“Ah, Lady Sonidor.
If that leaf outside the window falls, I will die!” 

He stretched out his hand into the air and said with a faint look.
It was a very dramatic scene.
The tone of his voice was like that of an actor performing passionately in a theatre.
Sonidor stared at Terry silently and pitifully, then turned to Christian and said. 

“You see? If he acts as the Crown Prince, he’ll be exposed in a minute.” 

“Wasn’t my facial expression pretty good? I just need to refine my tone.” 

When Sonidor threw him a completely unconvinced glance, Christian sighed and said to Terry: 

“Just keep your mouth shut.” 

“Then is there any meaning in having an actor?” 

“It is only until the acting artisan arrives at the Imperial palace.
It will be about three days at the most, so hold on until then.
People just need to see His Highness awake.” 

It seemed that the Emperor only saw them as chess pieces that were used once and then discarded.
Terry, realizing they had only brought him as a temporary solution, made an annoyed face, but in the end he couldn’t say anything and just grumbled a little.
He had followed Sonidor on his own without having to force himself.
She was like family to him, and he would’ve been very anxious without her. 

The contract for the request could be voided at any time if the emperor wanted to.
He had the contract written up and even signed it, but he could just as easily tear it up and discard it.
Moreover, if he does end up not keeping his promise, he would just kill them soon as they succeeded. 

Christian’s words reminded Sonidor of that fact. 

“His Majesty doesn’t trust anyone.
He told me to deal with it on the spot if you guys do anything nonsensical, too.” 

“Well, if you say that in front of me…”

Sonidor’s words trailed off and her eyebrows quivered. 

“Besides me, several Raizel Guards will each watch over you.
Please act wisely.” 

“So, have we come to an agreement?” 

It’s not an agreement, it’s a threat.
She narrowed her eyes and stared at Christian.
She thought she had become quite friendly with him.
She also mistakenly thought that the knight was actually a shy and cute person, and she wanted to hit herself for ever having thoughts like that.
There would be no blood or tears from him – no sympathy at all.
The Raizel Guards were not called the Emperor’s dogs for nothing.
If the Emperor asked him to commit suicide on the spot, he would immediately pierce his own heart with a knife. 

Sonidor turned to Terry with a guilty look, and he waved his hand in annoyance. 

“It’s okay.
We had no choice in the first place.
So, don’t hesitate.” 

“Even if you say that…”

She grumbled, stretching Terry’s cheeks so that it hurt.
He was right.
Initially, there was no choice.
She couldn’t even run away.
If the Crown Prince didn’t wake up, her entire tribe would be in danger.
She never thought she would become a sacrificial pawn for the sake of her tribesmen.
She didn’t know that she herself would have such a strong sense of justice, but she did.
Rather than a sense of justice, it was closer to quite a small conscience, that lived at the back of her mind like a speck of dust. 

“Come to think of it, aren’t we rather cool?” 

Aren’t they secretly risking their lives for their compatriots in a place no one knows? In that way, they seemed no different from Giorgio’s Revolutionary Army.
If Gio found out, he would be angry as well.
Sonidor nodded her head in agreement to her own statement.
Terry, of course, shook his head and made no reply. 

The wagon had slowed down and stopped at some point.
It was in a dark, dense forest a little distance away from the well-polished hunting grounds.
Sonidor pulled back the curtains and looked out her window.
They had been riding the carriage since morning, but the sun was already setting.
It was a strange evening, and the whole world seemed as if it was dyed red. 

Christian was the first to open the carriage door and come out.
He disposed of the enchanted wooden puppet that had been used in place of a coachman.
He did this by cutting it into pieces.
Sonidor watched the scene unfold with her mouth hanging open. 

‘He destroyed that expensive puppet!’ 

It was said that the wooden enchanted puppets were the cheapest.
However, they were not cheap enough to be discarded after only one use.
Christian’s flippant and casual destruction of the puppet made the two grab their hearts.