Chapter 236: A Scratch and a Secret
[Imperial Forest—Ambush—Lavinia’s POV]
The forest seemed to exhale around us, leaves whispering like conspirators. Every shadow felt alive, every rustle a warning. My hand gripped the hilt of my sword, cold steel steady against my palm, while Marshi’s low growl rumbled through the carriage, sensing danger long before we did.
Rey, Sir Haldor, and Ravick fanned out behind me, eyes sharp, hands hovering over weapons. Steel glinted under their cloaks, muscles coiled like springs ready to strike.
The assassins’ horses stamped impatiently, hooves shaking the earth, faces hidden behind dark masks. Their leader leaned slightly forward, a faint sneer tilting his head, mocking the audacity of a Crown Princess daring to stand before them.
I inhaled sharply, adrenaline sharpening every sense. This wasn’t just a fight—it was a declaration. Every slash, every parry would prove that the blood of emperors ran through my veins—and that any viper daring to bite me would regret it.
I let a smirk curl on my lips. "Marshi," I whispered. Marshi growled in affirmation. "Let’s remind them why they should never cross us."
ROAAARRRRR!!!
Marshi’s roar shook the forest, flames igniting around his muzzle, curling like living gold.
"Alright, let’s move!" I shouted. "We’re not just defending ourselves—we’re showing them exactly who they’ve dared to challenge!"
The first shadow lunged. I pivoted, letting my skirt flare as I swung my sword in a wide arc. Steel clanged against steel as two masked assassins met my blade. Sparks flew. I twisted, sending one sprawling into the dirt.
"Too slow!" I hissed, circling another attacker. Marshi shifted beside me, muscles coiled, ready to strike.
"ROAAARRRRR!!!"
Marshi unleashed a jet of scorching energy, engulfing the nearest assassin’s legs in golden fire.
"AAAGHHH!" the man screamed, dropping his dagger, scrambling backward as the heat licked the earth beneath him.
"Marshi!" I shouted, heart racing.
The fire beast’s eyes glimmered with feral delight.
"Fight with me!" I yelled, leaping forward. My sword cut another assassin across the arm, sending him staggering. Their fear flickered behind the masks, hesitation taking root.
"Look at them!" Rey’s dry, sharp voice rang out. "They’re already regretting this!"
I ducked under a swinging blade, slicing cleanly across another’s shoulder. "Good. Let them regret it."
Sir Haldor’s war-axe came down with a crash, knocking two attackers off their feet. Ravick darted between trees, striking with precise, lethal efficiency. The forest erupted in chaos—steel flashing, fire roaring, smoke thickening the air.
An assassin tried to flank me. I felt Marshi’s heat brush my arm and spun just in time. A jet of fire scorched the air where the man had been seconds before.
"Wrong move," I muttered, finishing him with a swift strike.
The rest faltered. Even with numbers on their side, they were beginning to hesitate.
"Keep pushing forward!" I shouted. "Show them what it means to bite the wrong hand!"
Marshi’s roar echoed, fire dancing like molten gold. Together, we became an unstoppable force.
And just like that... it was over. The assassins either fled, lay disarmed, or smoldered in Marshi’s flames. Easy. Peasy. Lemon squeezy.
Papa stood there, proud as a lion, hands folded, that faint smirk curled across his lips as though he had expected it all. Sera shimmered beside him, sunlight catching her robes like she had stepped out of a painting. For a second, I thought she was admiring me—but then I noticed her eyes flicking to Rey.
I nudged him. "Hey."
He blinked. "What?"
"Is... something happening between you and Sera?" I squinted. "Why is she sparkling like she swallowed a handful of stars?"
Rey stiffened. A faint cough escaped. "She... she always sparkles. Nothing new here," he said, eyes darting nervously.
I raised a brow. "Uh-huh. Always sparkly, right? Sure."
Papa’s voice cut through, deep and commanding, but laced with amusement. "You did a good job today, Lavinia."
I lifted my chin, standing proudly, chest out, shoulders back—nose practically grazing the clouds. "Thank you, Papa," I said, voice steady, proud.
"But..." His hand flicked forward, landing gently but sharply on my forehead.
"Huh?" I blinked, momentarily stunned.
"You shouldn’t have left even one alive," he chided, the slightest glint of mischief in his eyes. "To interrogate. To find out... who dared."
"Ow!" I rubbed my forehead dramatically. "I... I had... too much... determination! Couldn’t bear it!"
Papa exhaled slowly, shaking his head, then smirked and patted my head. "It’s okay... we know already. It’s one of the nobles, of course. A viper disguised in silk, trying to bite the wrong hand."
I let out a small, exaggerated sigh, rubbing my temples. "Vipers... so many vipers. Can’t they ever just leave me in peace?"
Papa chuckled softly, the sound low and approving. "No, my girl. Not while you’re destined to sit on the throne. But you... you handled it perfectly. And that... that makes me proud."
I couldn’t help the small smirk that tugged at my lips. "Then I guess... Papa, I’m officially terrifying now?"
He chuckled and tilted his head, studying me like a connoisseur inspecting a rare jewel. "Oh, much more than terrifying... You’re formidable, my daughter. And today... you’ve shown it. Every last one of them."
Papa’s gaze shifted sharply to Ravick and Sir Haldor. "Inspect them. Find out which group of assassins dared approach my daughter today."
Ravick bowed slightly, voice steady. "Yes, Your Majesty. We will leave no stone unturned."
Then Sera gasped sharply, her eyes widening. "Oh... my Princess... you’re bleeding!"
Huh?
I glanced down at my shoulder and froze for a heartbeat—sure enough, a thin line of blood had formed, trickling from a scratch. "Oh... right. I... I am bleeding. But it’s—"
"SOMEONE! GET THE EMERGENCY MEDICINE KIT RIGHT NOW!"Papa bellowed, his voice slicing through the forest like steel.
Sera fumbled, almost tripping over herself as she darted toward the carriage. "Right... right now, Your Majesty!"
"HOW DARE THEY!" Papa’s hands clenched into fists, the veins in his neck taut. His eyes glimmered with cold fire. "Ravick, find out who did this! I shall personally—personally separate their heads from their bodies!"
"Yes, your majesty," Ravick bowed.
"Your Majesty..." Rey’s voice was calm and low, cutting through the storm of my father’s fury.
Papa’s eyes snapped to him, sharp as a drawn sword and Rey continued, "It was a mere scratch! It can be covered!"
"SHUT UP, REY!" Papa roared, stepping closer. "My daughter is bleeding, and yet you dare call it a mere scratch?!"
I opened my mouth, ready to calm him, but before I could speak, Rey stepped forward, voice steady, almost casual. "I will heal her."
Huh? What? Heal?
Before I could even blink, Rey’s hand hovered over my shoulder, palm glowing faintly as he murmured something in a language soft yet commanding. A warmth spread through the scratch, a gentle, humming energy, and when he pulled back, the wound was gone. Not a mark. Not a drop. Nothing.
He looked up at Papa, expression calm, almost nonchalant. "See? Nothing to worry about. She’s healed."
I blinked, my mind spinning.
Rey... he could heal? I’d known he had the magic stones, the illusions... the identity-shifting, yes. But this? Real, raw healing?
Why do I feel like....The Rey I read in the novel is different from the Rey I am seeing?
My heart skipped.
It feels like, There was... power here I hadn’t realized. Depths I couldn’t touch.
I narrowed my eyes at him, the curiosity clawing through my nerves. "WHO ARE YOU, REY?"
For the first time, I saw a flicker of something in his eyes—surprise, realization, maybe even a hint of fear. His normally composed face stiffened, pupils widening as though the question had unlocked something deep within.
And according to my knowledge. Only three kinds of beings were said to possess true magic power.
First... Grandfather Thalein, the Elves, whose centuries of life had honed their abilities to perfection. Second... the Priests and Saintesses, whose sacred rites could bend fate itself. Third... the Mages, rare and dangerous, whose knowledge of spells and energy rivaled even the greatest rulers.
And Rey... Rey didn’t fit into any of those categories. Not the Elves, not the Priests, not the Mages I’d heard of. And yet, here he was—healing with a simple touch, bending life itself for a fleeting moment.
Who was he... really?
The question lingered, heavy, unanswered, yet impossible to ignore. One thing was certain: Rey was far more than he appeared.