Extra in a Romance Fantasy

30 – End of the Festival (7)

Why.

Why on earth.

How.

Staring at the back protecting her, Estelle felt an endless stream of questions.

She, who had awakened from the dream, soon regained her memories upon returning to reality.

She found herself facing the reality she had wanted to avoid even while running away.

The forgotten despair stained her heart with darkness.

There was no longer any will to live within her.

But…

But why?

“Why…are you trying to protect me?”

A man appeared suddenly in front of her, as if out of nowhere.

Wade Herblon.

He was trying to protect her.

Fighting for her.

Getting wounded. Shedding blood.

Yet, she had no desire to live.

Why?

She couldn’t hold back her questions.

How did he end up here?

What was his power?

Those questions were nothing but distractions.

Why, to such an extent, was he protecting himself?

Estelle simply couldn’t understand.

“You didn’t fear me.”

While she had approached him with curiosity, restrained by authority, she knew that Wade Herblon avoided her, shunned her.

But why, when it came to that particular subject?

“Why…are you going this far?”

Schick!

At that moment, a hitman entered a gap and charged towards Estelle.

His speed was incredibly fast, and Estelle had no strength to counter.

In the end, it seemed like the hitman mercilessly pierced through Estelle’s body with his black sword.

Puk!

Indeed, he sprayed black blood.

However, contrary to expectations, that blood did not belong to Estelle.

“……”

Wade, who had slipped between them without a moment’s notice, took the blow of the sword in his place.

Although the wound would undoubtedly cause immense pain, Wade swung his sword without flinching towards the assassins.

Swoosh!

Another assassin fell to the ground like that.

Immediately after, Wade started the battle again, without even a moment to catch his breath.

‘Why…’

Estelle couldn’t help but ask him directly.

Why not run away?

Why risk his own life?

Why?

‘Why do you keep giving me hope…’

Because of Rene’s betrayal.

Because of the betrayal of the one person she had believed in and trusted, Estelle had lost all hope in life.

She painfully realized that no one understood her, and that no one truly cared about her.

She engraved into her soul the fact that she was alone, that she would have to live in solitude for the rest of her life.

She no longer trusted anyone, and she believed that she couldn’t love anyone anymore.

However, that thought was wavering.

Because of the man right in front of her.

‘…He never gets tired.’

Estelle laughed at her own foolishness and weakness.

Even after being betrayed like this, she laughed at her own foolishness for wanting to trust humans again.

Yes. It couldn’t be true.

Wade Heblon, this man, must have a motive for doing this.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t risk his own life to protect her.

So.

So, she couldn’t waver.

She couldn’t have expectations… she couldn’t.

Estelle repeated to herself over and over again.

To avoid repeating foolish mistakes.

She was afraid.

Afraid of having expectations again.

And afraid of being betrayed again.

So, all she could do was hope.

Hope that he wouldn’t give up.

Hope that she could just abandon herself and run away.

And hope that he wouldn’t give her false hope anymore.

With that in mind, she looked at the man’s back.

“What the hell are you…!”

At that moment, the man who seemed to be the leader of the assassins spoke up.

His face was contorted with anger.

“Why are you risking your life to protect her with such skill?!”

With a tone of disbelief, the man continued to speak.

“Did the princess promise you great wealth and glory? If that’s the case, then join our side instead! Forget about your mistakes and we will give you greater wealth and glory than the princess promised!”

The man had been hard to trust based on his actions so far, but at least his current appearance seemed genuine.

If Wade were to accept, it seemed like he would give him everything he desired.

Estelle believed that what the man said was not a lie.

It wasn’t because she saw through him or anything like that.

It was just a simple calculation.

Considering Wade’s current abilities, even if he exchanged all his subordinates for the man’s offer, he would still come out ahead.

At that age, with that skill.

Wade was a talent that couldn’t be measured.

Perhaps, his existence would cause all the powerful figures to turn their attention.

Until now, the man had made unilateral decisions, but if Emperor Yi Hwangja were here, he would probably nod his head without hesitation. Wade had that much value.

And from Wade’s perspective, accepting was the right choice.

He was determined, but the situation was still difficult.

He couldn’t be sure he would win.

So, accepting was the right thing to do.

Even if it turned out to be untrue, at least it would be an excuse to leave this place.

At least, it was a reasonable suggestion to give it some thought.

However.

“I’m not interested in that kind of thing.”

Wade shook his head without a hint of hesitation.

Truly, as if he had no interest whatsoever in the proposal, he rejected it outright.

“…If it’s not wealth, then what is it? Did you offend the princess? Then just say so. Certainly, the princess is a bit cold, but there are plenty of other women besides her. There’s nothing worth risking your life for.”

The man asked again.

“It’s not for that reason either.”

Wade shook his head again.

“Then what is the reason…!”

The man was now almost as if he had reached a point of frustration, veins popping in his neck as he continued to question.

Truly, Wade seemed incomprehensible.

The question the man threw was something Estelle had pondered over many times in her mind.

Why, why.

For what reason, exactly, was Wade Heblon willing to risk his life to save himself?

No matter how much Estelle thought about it, she couldn’t find the answer.

It wasn’t greed for wealth.

Not only did he not seem like that type of person, but such individuals usually prioritize their own safety.

In such a desperate fight, one wouldn’t jump in risking their life.

Even if he made a misjudgment and jumped in, he would have hesitated after the man’s previous proposal.

Infatuation?

Estelle knew that was not the case.

She, born with exceptional beauty, was well aware of the many who avoided her due to her position. Yet, her looks were so outstanding that even those who couldn’t resist showing their admiration existed.

Therefore, Estelle was well aware of how men with infatuation displayed their gaze, reactions, and breath.

Based on that experience, she was convinced that Wade harbored no infatuation for her.

In every reaction, gaze, and breath, there was no trace of infatuation.

But then, if it’s not for wealth or infatuation, then why.

Why go to such lengths to save oneself?

Wade, who bore the combined gaze of skepticism from the man and Estelle, finally spoke.

“There’s no special reason.”

“…What?”

The man’s expression twisted.

Simultaneously, Estelle’s eyes widened.

***

The reason I want to help Estelle.

There’s no special reason for it.

It’s not because I covet her background or harbor romantic feelings for her.

Not at all.

I just help because I want to help.

That’s it.

“…What did you say?”

The man’s face contorted in disbelief.

“So you’re risking your life without any particular reason?”

Beyond astonishment, a sense of disappointment emanated from his face.

“Do you even know who the princess you’re trying to help is?”

More of a reprimand than persuasion, his words continued.

“Do you know how much blood has been shed because of that girl? How many people have died because of her?”

It seemed utterly incomprehensible.

“Even if that girl survives and somehow becomes an empress, countless others will perish.”

The man looked at me with burning intensity.

“Knowing that, are you still willing to help?”

“…”

I’m well aware of her bad reputation.

And the fact that people have died because of her is probably not a lie.

But.

“She doesn’t seem like such a bad person.”

At least, not based on the Estelle I’ve seen.

Estelle von Reineberg, the human.

I don’t think she’s a bad person.

She may not be the epitome of virtue, but I’m sure she’s not a villain.

Rumors depict her as a monster devoid of pity or tears, but in my eyes, she’s just an ordinary person.

She gets excited at festivals, feels better after eating delicious food, shows interest in jewelry—just an ordinary person like that.

I simply don’t want to see Estelle, an ordinary person, fall into the pit of despair and live in agony.

“…It’s absurd. You’re really out of your mind. Are you seriously planning to save that insane woman based on your meager insight?”

As if expressing frustration, the man struck his chest.

“We’re trying to kill her, not just to make Prince Ihwang the emperor. But it’s not just for that reason. It’s to prevent accidents in the future. It’s about saving those who will inevitably die…!”

As if unable to contain his sorrow, the man’s words had turned into a shout.

As if truly unjustly treated.

Perhaps there is a sense of justice or a desire to help someone in their actions.

There might be some sense of justice, honestly, not that I have much faith in it.

If there really is, I don’t deny their sense of justice.

From their perspective, Estelle could be a villain.

A tyrant capable of causing a catastrophe must be eliminated.

If that’s what they believe, well, I understand.

I don’t deny their cause, and I don’t delude myself into thinking it’s not a just cause.

However, I’ll do what I want.

Even if the other side extends a sense of justice.

“If you save that woman for such trivial reasons, it could result in countless others dying in her place. Still, do you plan to save her?”

The man asks.

He questions whether I am willing to bear that weight, that responsibility.

To this, I replied.

“That won’t happen.”

Without hesitation.

“I’ll stop it.”

She won’t become a villain.

Because I will stop her.

“I will prevent such a thing from happening.”

If there are signs of it.

If she starts to go astray.

I will stop her.

To keep her from going astray.

I will correct and mend it.

From the beginning, I jumped in with that intention.

The weight of the act of saving Estelle?

I know it well enough.

I didn’t come here without any thoughts to begin with.

I’ve tried to avoid interfering with the original flow as much as possible.

Because I thought that was the right direction.

I thought it was best to let it flow as it originally did.

Yet, here I am, trying to save Estelle.

Even knowing that saving her will greatly change the course of the original flow.

And even knowing that unexpected futures can come as a result.

So, I’m not here with half-hearted resolve.

I stand here with the determination to take responsibility for everything.

I don’t just intend to save and be done with it.

I will stop her. So she doesn’t go down the wrong path.

I will help her. So she can live a proper life.

“…He’s almost like a madman.”

The man looked at me with eyes that seemed to show even his annoyance, then quickly regained his composure.

It seemed like he had decided that further conversation was meaningless.

The man’s skills are at a considerable level.

If he joins in with his already powerful forces, the fight will become even more challenging.

My body is not in the best shape right now either.

Certainly, it will be a tough fight.

But.

I have no intention of losing.

Even amidst such a fierce battle, the fight raged on for quite some time.

During the course of it, Wade’s body accumulated wounds one by one, his condition steadily worsening.

Yet, even in such a dire state, Wade didn’t halt.

He swung his sword and brought down his adversaries.

As wounds marred Wade’s body, the numbers of his opponents dwindled.

For a while, such a brutal fight continued.

Just as the orange hue that had stolen away the verdant light completely surrendered its place to the deep blue shade once again.

Swoosh—

Finally, the battle came to an end.

With Wade’s sword poised at the neck of the kneeling enemy leader.