My name is Valeria, and I serve the Aurest Royal Family as a Royal Guard.
I have been granted the profound honor of being the Princess’s personal protector and, though it feels bold to say, I believe I have earned her deep trust.
Yet, the Aurest Royal Family is beset by enemies. This is true whether they are foreign powers or domestic rivals, and it is equally true within the shadows of the struggle for the throne. To inherit the glorious gold and the long history of Aurest, one must be strong.
Recently, a village was attacked by an enemy nation. As a gesture of support, the Royal Family decided to take direct action. Supposedly, it was a task pushed upon us under the pretext that the royal family’s presence would demonstrate dignity and bring peace of mind to the people.
Naturally, I was on high alert, suspecting a trap as I led our unit toward the village. Even men who had evacuated from the village participated as soldiers. With the Princess herself accompanying the relief effort, morale was undeniably high.
The village had originally belonged to our kingdom. When we arrived with our forces to reclaim it, the enemy fled without offering any resistance. The soldiers native to the village ran to confirm the safety of their homes, sighing in relief to find their houses mostly intact.
However, the wells had been filled with dead rats and tainted with poison to render them unusable. It was a petty, troublesome move; I estimated that restoration would take quite some time.
Since the sun was already setting, we decided to use the village as a base and stay for the night. If possible, we intended to begin the restoration work immediately. We needed labor, and the soldiers provided the perfect manpower.
That decision was our mistake.
Several soldiers had run out of water and, foolishly thinking it would be safe if boiled, they drank from the poisoned wells and fell ill. If it had ended with nothing more than stomach aches, it would have remained a mere laughing matter, but...
In the dead of night, the miasma spread.
Those people had meddled with forbidden technology. A demon weapon.
That civilization was supposed to have been thoroughly eradicated by the Usurper King, but the enemy must have unearthed some ancient ruins. According to legends passed down in many lands, as long as humans are human, the residue of malice will never cease, and the demon will eventually undergo a revival.
Before long, no one could move.
Those with low Vitality were paralyzed before dawn, looking as if they had been exposed to a blizzard and frozen solid. They were still breathing, but death was only a matter of time. The Princess, perhaps due to her royal blood or some inherent resistance to the miasma, was able to move slightly, but she could not endure it as well as a trained knight.
I managed to send a messenger to run for help, but the horses had been wiped out. I had no idea how far someone could get on foot in that state. At the very least, before I lost all strength, I managed to lay the Princess on a bed... and then I, too, became unable to move.
And then, I heard her.
I heard the Princess murmuring in a delirium.
"No... as a member of the royal family... I cannot... give everything..."
Some entity was proposing a deal to her. The Princess was refusing. She fought it.
However...
"...I understand. If that is what it takes to save everyone."
The moment she gave her consent, I saw 'something' leave her body.
The Princess screamed, though no sound came out. She was crying out in a silent agony. I couldn't move a muscle; I was completely drained by the miasma. After that, I lost consciousness.
I should have remained paralyzed, left with nothing to do but wait for a rescue that would never come. Yet, before I knew it, the miasma had cleared. My forehead was still pressed against the bed and I couldn't lift my head, but I could feel that the air had returned to normal.
Had help arrived?
Though I still couldn't move, I felt my Vitality gradually returning.
"Hey, I’m coming in. Pardon the intrusion~."
A stranger entered the house without the slightest hesitation. Unable to even turn my head, I remained motionless, breathing shallowly. If this was an enemy, we were dead. I prayed it was an ally.
"Huh, it's just a princess and a knight lady? You could've said something... Oh right, Miti-chan used to be a rampaging villain monster, didn't she? I love her, she's just so cute—"
Was he talking to someone? From the sound of the creaking floorboards, I only sensed one presence. If only I could face the voice...
"A-Ah... God...? Lord Angel...?"
The stranger seemed to do something for the Princess. Perhaps he gave her medicine? Judging from the tone, he seemed to be an ally. At the very least, he didn't seem to be a foe.
Did he accept a request? Did the messenger actually reach the town? No, it was far too fast for that. Could they really have found a priest capable of purifying miasma by sheer chance?
Then, the Princess gave me the other antidote she had received.
Slowly, the strength returned. I could move.
"U-Um? Lord Angel?"
"Hm? Oh, no, I was just thinking that if I could get an additional reward, I might work a little more. Like, going to crush the enemy, or something."
"Wait... that..."
I finally managed to lift my head.
The Princess was trembling. I saw it then. The deal from last night—that was the cause. In that exchange, something vital, something precious, had been taken from her.
No, I suppose it was a fair trade. We were meant to die; our lives were spared when they shouldn't have been. But who was this person who accepted a request in exchange for such a 'thing'?
Fulfilling wishes in exchange for souls or lifespans... That is the hallmark of a demon.
I forced my stiff neck to turn. There stood a cat-beastkin child who looked perfectly ordinary. However, one thing set him apart: a halo of light floating above his head.
"Hm? An additional reward... looks like that’s a no-go. Then I'll stop here."
"T-Take it from me instead!" I blurted out.
If he was a demon, I would make a contract—I would do anything. I needed to seek retribution against the enemies who had done this to the Princess!
But... my life was only just saved, and I would hate to waste it. Would half my lifespan suffice...?! Could that possibly be enough!?