Chapter 14
Bang!
It was the last shot. The bullet hit the center of the apple perfectly, shaking it loudly before it fell to the ground.
Applause broke out. Fernandez’s eyes sparkled as he watched Ren stroke Kiss’s neck with admiration. Tina and Pani jumped and cheered as if they had succeeded too.
Ren, now calmer, turned Kiss’s reins. She came down from Kiss’s back in front of the three of them.
As her feet touched the ground, the long dress slid off Kiss’s back. Fernandez rushed to help, preventing the expensive dress from touching the dirt.
“Saint, that was amazing!”
Fernandez said, excited. Ren ruffled his soft hair.
Tina came forward and held out her hands. Ren carefully hooked the safety on the gun and handed it to her.
This wasn’t a magical bullet gun, so it needed careful handling. Tina felt the gun’s weight and thought silently:
‘The Saint can use such a heavy gun easily… she’s amazing.’
At that moment, claps came from behind. The four of them turned to see Rix smiling. Mabel and Scarlet also clapped.
“Truly a Saint. It took me two years of riding practice to do this.”
“Thank you.”
Ren replied, not very grateful.
Riding was hard, but her athletic skill from being on the national team helped. She thought she had done well, even in this restrictive dress.
Rix had suggested this training, but he hadn’t expected such quick progress. He was clearly impressed.
Ren waited for him to speak. He had appeared unexpectedly, so his praise probably had another reason.
“Shall we go upstairs to talk?”
“Here?”
“It’s a little difficult here.”
As expected. He looked relaxed, despite the ‘difficulty.’
Ren extended Kiss’s reins. Mabel quickly held them.
“You three go to the carriage first.”
They nodded and left.
On the way to his office, Ren glanced at Rix. He usually never watched her training or called her personally. Why now?
Inside, books filled the room like a library. Despite his fancy appearance, the books were perfectly organized, not scattered. The room felt simpler than expected.
Rix stayed quiet as Ren sat on the sofa. Instead of sitting opposite her, he went to his desk, signed something, and paused.
What is he doing after calling me here?
Ren stayed silent and looked around. There were no pictures or decorations, and she couldn’t read the titles, so she soon lost interest.
When Ren yawned secretly, Rix put down his pen. Their eyes met. He came and sat opposite her.
“Next month is the Empire’s anniversary. It’s also the day blessed by Goddess Fiora. That day, the temple will send one priestess to give blessings to the princes.”
Ren listened quietly. Rix leaned on the sofa arm, smiling with golden eyes.
“That day, monsters will appear and cause chaos.”
“?!”
“You, the Saint, will take your gun and hunt them.”
“What…?”
“That day will be your debut as the Saint.”
Rix’s smile was cold.
Ren felt a strange chill in his eyes. Her hands trembled and clasped together. She imagined the first monster she saw in the temple.
Dark, shadow-like, screaming.
She remembered the man bitten by the monster. He begged for help but died. Before turning into a monster, Rix shot him through the heart while he was still human.
The red blood was vivid in her mind.
Her shivering grew worse. Facing Rix like this felt strange.
He was truly like that.
Ren hugged her arms around herself. Rix frowned slightly at her reaction.
“Cold?”
“N-no… just…”
She couldn’t finish. She closed her eyes, breathing slowly to calm down.
Rix straightened, then leaned slowly toward her. A small table separated them.
“Does it hurt?”
“No.”
Ren shook her head firmly. Rix tilted his head slightly. Something felt off, but she didn’t know what. The task had to be done. She needed to promise him.
“You just need to hunt the monsters.”
“…What if others get hurt?”
Rix shrugged, as if it was nothing.
“I’ll kill them.”
“Even if they’re human?”
Ren’s voice rose. Rix looked her over from head to toe. She looked like a trembling rabbit before a predator.
He realized where her fear came from. Leaning closer, his coat brushed the sofa, making a sound. Ren flinched. Rix stopped moving. His face hardened.
After a few seconds, he whispered softly:
“If you want, I won’t kill them.”
Ren looked at him. He smiled beautifully, resting his chin on his arms.
“But if they become monsters, you’ll have to kill them.”
Ren took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She knew he was right. A human bitten by a monster would become one. It was just a matter of who kills them and when.
Her trembling stopped. Rix waited patiently. Ren nodded.
“Okay.”
Rix grinned:
“Easier than I thought.”
“Easier than what?”
“Flirting with you.”
Ren looked at him, annoyed.
“I thought it’d be harder.”
He had planned everything, yet he said that. Rix leaned back on the sofa.
“If you want something, tell me. I have a conscience.”
“Good thing there is.”
“You sometimes forget I’m a prince.”
“You sometimes forget I’m a Saint.”
“You’re not perfect yet, right?”
Ren was speechless. Rix shrugged and smiled. She laughed awkwardly.
“Something I want…?”
She thought slowly.
Something she wanted?
Even without a phone or laptop, she had a perfect body now. Soft skin, beautiful silver hair, mysterious blue eyes, strong legs, hands to hold a gun. That was enough.
She also had Fernandez, Pani, and Tina beside her.
Fernandez talked constantly, but it was still fun. These friends had stayed with her since she arrived in this strange place.
Kiss gave her freedom she had never felt before.
She also had Viola, Sophia, and Countess Mapla. Viola learned only dancing, but it was fun. Sophia liked to share and teach her things for their debut practice. The Countess was elegant and taught her carefully, like a mother.
Count Mapla laughed and taught her a sport like golf. She learned quickly.
Victor was fun to watch sometimes, too. Seeing him made her feel like part of the original story.
And handsome men made her eyes widen.
Ren smiled unconsciously.
Yes. He was very handsome.
Rix’s eyes twitched.
“What are you thinking so long about?”
“Huh? Oh, nothing.”
“Really? What?”
“Nothing… I’m already satisfied as it is.”
Ren said gruffly, though she wanted more. The prince had many things she could wish for.
“How about learning something?”
“Dancing?”
“I heard it’s very…”
“Very what?”
“Viola’s feet never survive.”
Rix smirked. Ren blushed.
She remembered stepping on Viola’s feet many times while practicing, even getting ice packs for her. She buried her face in her hands, embarrassed.
Rix teased:
“Too bad. No holes to hide in here, even if you wanted to.”
Ren felt strange and lifted her hands. Her eyes narrowed.
“Do you have that here too?”
“What?”
“The feeling of wanting to hide somewhere out of embarrassment.”
