Raising the Princess to Overcome Death Chapter 68

68: Engagement - Items

Two weeks later, Lena left the church.

"Ouch, it hurts..."

Although her broken bones had all healed, the parts that would heal on their own were left without the blessing of healing, causing half her body to ache.

As she limped back home, some of the tribesmen greeted her warmly and asked about her condition.

Most of the Ainar tribe members, while clicking their tongues and wondering why she and Leo acted so rashly, held their actions in high regard.

Feeling proud, Lena lifted her nose in the air with an "Ahem!"

Though she had been severely scolded by her father, the good outcome made it all worthwhile. It would have been perfect if she hadn’t been hit at the end.

She had let her guard down after reading the Noguhwa's movements, which had ruined what was nearly a done deal.

How worried everyone must have been. It seemed Leo had done well in the end...

‘But why didn’t he visit me in the hospital?’

She pouted as she limped home.

“Mom, I’m back.”

“Oh my! You’re home already? I thought you’d be back tomorrow. I was going to come and see you off.”

“I just left early. Where’s Dad?”

“He went out to meet his friends. Are you alright? Oh dear, you’re still so battered. Have you eaten? I’ve always told you…”

Sensing that her mother’s nagging would go on forever, Lena lied, saying, “I ate already,” and quickly ran off to the clearing. There, she saw Leo practicing with his two-handed sword using only his left hand.

“Leo! I’m back. Why didn’t you visit me even once?”

Lena approached and spoke.

She wanted to complain a little, talk about their fox hunt, apologize for her mistake...

But Leo, focused on his training, said nothing.

Feeling a bit awkward, Lena sat down on the ground, waiting for him to finish.

Lately, Leo had changed a lot. He had become more aloof, unlike the usually gentle boy who couldn’t refuse a request. He had even refused to drink beer with her, saying he was tired.

‘Is it related to his sudden improvement in swordsmanship?’

Does enlightenment change one's personality?

But Lena didn’t care much about Leo's changes. She liked him regardless. Her easygoing personality didn’t allow her to fuss over such trivial things...

“Hey? Where are you going?”

Leo, stopping his training, seemed about to go back into his house.

“Leo? Are you going in already? Leo?”

Lena called out from behind, but he didn’t respond, entering his house without a word.

“What’s up with him?”

Acting as if he hadn’t seen her. Lena wouldn’t just let it go. She followed Leo up the stairs, calling out to him again as he headed towards his room.

“Leo? Leo? Can’t you hear me? Leoooo! Hey! Leo, let’s play. Huh? Leo! Why won’t you talk to me?”

Ouch, it hurts.

Lena climbed the stairs on her aching leg. But,

- Thud.

Leo closed the door behind him as he entered his room.

She was dumbfounded.

‘What’s with him? Is he planning to surprise me with a gift or something?’

Thinking maybe he had a surprise, she waited for a moment before kicking the door open.

Ouch, it hurt.

Contrary to her expectations, Leo was just sitting on his bed.

Feeling a bit disappointed and annoyed, Lena put her hands on her hips and said,

“Leo! Why aren’t you talking? If you keep ignoring me, I’ll get angry.”

“......”

On the other hand, Leo felt like he was dying from agony.

He had planned to say something harsh as soon as he saw Lena.

To make her lose interest.

But when Lena called out, “Leo! I’m back,” his words got stuck in his throat. The situation was vastly different from what he had prepared for.

His heart was easily swayed by her voice.

‘This will only get worse in the future...’

He realized that he wouldn’t be able to move in front of Lena later.

Leo steeled himself.

He had to confirm if breaking the engagement was even possible.

If not, he would have to either aim for the throne in this scenario or rely on clearing other scenarios.

“Go away. I’m tired.”

Despite his resolve, all he could say was this.

It was hard to speak harshly.

Lena, who was getting better by the second, made it difficult. If he struggled now, it would be even harder to say anything later, so he had to distance himself quickly.

But part of him hoped Lena would just leave, wanting to delay the inevitable.

Of course, Lena wouldn’t comply. She dragged a chair and sat right in front of him, saying,

“What’s all this about being tired? Hunting the beast was really tough. I should have done better. That time...”

Lena, as if she had forgotten Leo’s previous coldness, began to chat. She pressed on, unaware of his inner turmoil.

Finally, Leo said, “Yeah. You almost caused a disaster.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know the blood would gush out like that.”

But Lena didn’t take his words seriously. She simply apologized, thinking she had caused trouble.

He couldn’t do it anymore.

It wasn’t easy to push away someone who was kind to him. Lena’s eyes, looking at him without a shred of suspicion, stabbed him like a knife, rendering him speechless.

Lena, sensing his inner struggle, asked,

“Leo? Why do you look like that?”

“...What?”

“You look so sad. Like you’re about to die.”

“It’s just... I’m tired.”

“Okay? Got it. Get some rest.”

Seeing Leo turn over on his bed, Lena left the room.

What’s going on with him?

‘Is he acting like that because he thinks it’s his fault I got hurt? I’m fine... It was my mistake too.’

Lena limped down the stairs.

Ouch, it hurts. I need to rest too.

As they lay in their respective beds, their thoughts about each other couldn’t have been more different.

Lena had to rest for another month.

The healing blessing was used sparingly, only enough to mend her bones, but it didn’t alleviate the shock that had shaken her entire body.

To make matters worse, she caught a cold and couldn’t move from her bed.

Meanwhile, Leo’s behavior was strange. He didn’t visit her even at home. At meals, he quickly finished eating and left the table.

Even Lena, who was usually oblivious, noticed something was wrong.

Leo is avoiding me.

‘Why? Why is he avoiding me?’

Despite suffering from a severe cold and body aches, her thoughts were entirely consumed by Leo.

I’ll ask him once I feel better.

One day, as the snow started to melt, urgent news arrived at Avril Castle.

War had broken out.

The Ainar chieftain called a meeting with the three great warriors and the tribe’s representatives.

The elderly chieftain sat with difficulty in the seat of honor, and his son, the next chieftain, spoke on his behalf.

In summary, the Kingdom of Astin had declared war on the Kingdom of Bellita, and some tribe members had to be conscripted as soldiers.

The tribe’s representatives murmured in concern.

“How can our Avril Castle, close to the Jerome Sacred Kingdom, be subject to conscription?”

The chieftain’s son explained that the Sacred Kingdom had declared it would not participate in the war.

“So, we need to gather the numbers and select warriors. Choosing one from each household would be too many. We should take volunteers first, and if there are not enough, then we will select from the warriors... How should we proceed?”

“How about drawing lots?”

“We should see how many volunteers we get first and then decide.”

The chieftain’s son concluded after gathering the representatives' opinions.

“Then let’s do that. And, of course, the great warriors shouldn’t participate in this war, right? The lord asked earnestly, but...”

The tribe’s representatives strongly objected.

“Of course! How could we send our tribal symbols to someone else’s war!”

“Indeed. Fortunately, the great warriors’ children are all warriors, so they can go instead.”

At that moment, Dehor, who had been silent, spoke up.

“I will go. Lena is ill.”

“What?”

His words drew everyone’s attention and caused a commotion.

“No! How can a great warrior go to someone else’s war! That’s unheard of.”

“Indeed. And what about the hunting team, Great Warrior?”

“There is still time until the deployment. By then, your daughter should be recovered.”

Despite the outpouring of objections, Dehor remained firm.

“Lena is too young and has been a warrior for only a short time. Her injuries are severe, and she needs a long time to recuperate. But I have no intention of shirking my duty, so I will go.”

“That is disgraceful. How can a parent go to war while their warrior child stays behind?”

“I have said my piece.”

Dehor folded his arms and closed his eyes, indicating he would listen no further.

The tribe’s representatives murmured in dismay, and the elderly chieftain sighed deeply, rubbing his palms together.

After the meeting, Dehor returned home and informed his family and the two Dexter men of the news.

It was the first time Leo heard that Dehor himself would go to war. Until now, Lena had been sent to war as if there was no other choice...

Lena erupted.

“Why are you going to war, Dad? I should go.”

“...You are not fully healed yet.”

“I’m almost healed! Dad, you can’t do this.”

“It’s already decided.”

“Dad!”

Dehor abruptly entered his room. Lena followed, arguing with him, but to no avail.

Lena raged, calling it disgraceful, while Dehor retorted that sending his young, injured daughter to war was even more disgraceful. Lena countered that mentioning a warrior’s age was shameful.

Speechless, Dehor finally shouted, “It’s already decided!” and drove her out of the room.

Furious, Lena stormed into Leo’s room to vent her frustration.

But Leo, mumbling and answering half-heartedly, only angered her more.

“Why are you acting like this!” she yelled, stomping her foot.

Leo’s resolve weakened. Avoiding Lena was one thing, but facing her and conversing was unbearable.

He sweat profusely, awkwardly making excuses.

The arguments between Dehor and Lena grew more intense daily, but the outcome was entirely different.

A few days later, at a tribal meeting to gather volunteer warriors and fill the numbers, a better proposal was made.

The elderly chieftain stated that having a great warrior participate in another’s war was unthinkable and suggested recognizing Lena’s achievement in hunting the beast.

The meeting ended before Dehor could protest.

The tribe’s representatives thought one less Lena was no big deal. For them, sending a great warrior to war was a much bigger problem.

It would be a dishonor to the Ainar tribe... it would imply they had no one else to send if even the great warriors had to go.

Dehor resisted, stating it would be abandoning duty, but other great warriors dissuaded him.

“Recognize what needs to be recognized. Your daughter did a great thing. Young warriors catching a beast is an extraordinary feat.”

“...Anyone could catch it with a trap.”

“Many can’t. And it wasn’t even that great a trap, as I’ve heard. Don’t be so rigid. No one thinks you or your daughter are shirking duty.”

“......”

Dehor, though uneasy, accepted the outcome.

He didn’t mind losing some honor as long as his daughter didn’t go to war. It was laughable for a warrior to think this way, but he didn’t want to see his daughter hurt.

He still saw Lena’s blood-soaked image in his mind.

The day of departure approached.

The conscripted warriors and soldiers left the castle gates, receiving farewells from their families.

Feeling undeserving of the privilege, Lena lingered near the castle gate, unable to leave.

Leo also stayed at the gate for a while, but his emotions were entirely different from Lena’s.

Once, Lena had left alone, twice they left together. One time they returned, another time they didn’t.

This time, neither of them left.

Leo felt a small sense of relief, but it didn’t last long.

He left Lena and returned home alone. Despite the new path that had opened, he couldn’t feel at ease.

He wasn’t the only one who came home early.

Dehor, feeling ashamed, hurried back without watching the entire departure ceremony.

“Drinking again? Honey, take it easy.”

“...Just a little.”

With a gloomy expression, he grabbed some alcohol and headed to Noel’s room, where the two fathers spent the entire day talking.

When Dehor emerged in the evening, his expression was noticeably more relaxed.

A few days later, Noel Dexter called Lena and Leo to his study.

“I have something to tell you both. But first, Leo, take this.”

He handed his son a sword.

When Leo took it, a message appeared.

[ Achievement: Bound Item, 0/3 ]

[ Sword - Indestructible. ]

For the first time, an item appeared.