QTMWSFC Chapter 49.2

Ever since Grady learned that Freya would eventually awaken holy power, he started visiting her with concern. In reality, he was just checking to see how ill she had become. No matter how sick she got, at least she could not die before awakening.

Apart from her magical abilities growing stronger, Freya showed no signs of awakening. She was a little anxious, but there was nothing she could do. Awakening required a catalyst, and perhaps that catalyst had not yet arrived.

The grand parade arrived amid widespread anticipation. Karina arranged in advance for the hired men to blend into the crowd, lying in ambush along the parade route.

When the time came, her acting skills would surely catch Grady’s eye.

On the day of the parade, the king and queen of Alterg led the procession, followed by Grady and Freya. Although Freya was only a concubine, she was a princess and an important figure in stabilizing the situation, so she was permitted to ride alongside Grady.

As her personal guard knight, Lant rode a horse to the side.

Freya couldn’t help but glance at Lant next to her, only to find him staring straight ahead with unwavering eyes. For some reason, she felt a little annoyed.

Hmph! He had been this calm since morning, showing no sign of jealousy at all! When she got back tonight, she would definitely interrogate him thoroughly!

As for the little cousin Risa, she was much farther back. Seeing Freya and her cousin riding together in front made her blood boil. Little did she know that her number one love rival was already on her way!

The parade was lively the entire way. Lant, being exceptionally handsome, unexpectedly received bouquets thrown by bold young women confessing their admiration.

Freya smiled and waved on the surface, but inwardly she was grinding her teeth. At nearly seventeen years old, she experienced jealousy for the first time in her life. It was both exhilarating and unbearable.

Just as the parade was about to end, a sudden commotion broke out in front of the procession.

A woman came stumbling from the side of Grady and Freya’s parade carriage.

Her outer robe was torn, her eyes glistened with tears, her long hair was slightly disheveled, and her expression was panicked. She looked like a pitiful and wronged victim.

“Help! Save me! Someone’s trying to assault me!”

As she ran, she kept glancing back. She stumbled ‘accidentally’ and collided with Grady and Freya’s carriage.

The horses were startled and began to run around, causing the carriage to shake violently.

“Who goes there!” Grady’s alarm bells rang. He feared there was an assassin.

The carriage jolted violently. Freya, who had been standing, lost her footing due to her ‘weak body’ and was thrown from the carriage. She ‘fainted’ on the spot.

Lant leaped from his horse, dashed through the air, and caught Freya mid-fall.

The surrounding guards rushed forward. Some rushed to capture Karina, while others chased after the fleeing men.

But Karina had already made detailed preparations. The men she had hired blended into the crowd and escaped without a trace. But Karina herself was arrested for crashing the parade and brought before Grady.

“Who dares to disrupt the parade!” Grady’s expression was grim. His voice was severe and stern.

“I… I am Karina, Your Highness. I’m so sorry. I was so scared. Those men… those men tried to assault me! I had no choice but to run here for help.” Karina lifted her tear-streaked, pitiful face towards Grady.

Grady saw her face clearly and was shocked to his core.

Wasn’t this his woman?!

Of course he had to show concern immediately!

“Never mind. I don’t blame you. For someone to dare commit such an act on a day like this, I will definitely send men to arrest those lawless people and interrogate them thoroughly!”

He immediately made preparations to send men after them.

How could that be allowed? If they were caught, wouldn’t the whole scheme be exposed?

Karina quickly spoke up, tears shining in her eyes, putting on a display of kindness and magnanimity: “Your Highness, thanks to your rescue today, this little woman is unharmed. I beg Your Highness to let them go. I am deeply grateful for Your Highness’s life-saving grace. If Your Highness ever has need of me, I will serve you however I can.”

How could Grady possibly let such a golden opportunity slip? He immediately said, “As it happens, my palace is short of maids. Are you willing to become my personal attendant?”

An elderly attendant nearby changed expression. He glanced at Freya, who was still unconscious in Lant’s arms, and reminded Grady, “Your Highness, this may not be appropriate… It might be… against the rules.”

Grady looked toward his father, who remained noncommittal.

The king of Alterg believed his son was clever and extraordinary. Taking in a small palace maid and not marrying a new wife was harmless. It would also earn him a reputation as a hero saving a damsel in distress. There was no problem.

Grady was immediately reassured and waved aside the objection. “There’s nothing inappropriate about it. Father has no objection, so it’s settled.”

The elderly attendant moved his lips for a moment, but he said no more. He simply shook his head.

Lant, holding the unconscious Freya, performed a knight’s salute to Grady and said, “Your Highness, the princess has been frightened and remains unconscious. Allow me to take her back to the palace for treatment.”

Grady found his constantly fainting concubine utterly annoying, but he could not let her die, not before the holy power within her had awakened! So he tossed an identification token to Lant. “Be sure to summon the best physicians and spare no effort in her treatment.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Lant replied flatly, then hurried back to the palace with Freya, whipping his horse to full speed.

They raced all the way to the palace, the crowd thinning around them. Everyone had been drawn to watch the parade.

“Alright, no one’s around. You can open your eyes now,” Lant said to the figure in his arms when the surroundings were clear.

Freya cautiously opened one eye first, and only when she was certain no one was there did she open both.

Lant was amused by her cautious and cute manner. The corners of his mouth lifted faintly.

Freya was sitting sideways on the horse, lying in his arms. She happened to look up and saw his smile. “Lant! I never noticed before. You have fangs when you smile! How cute!”

Lant immediately wiped the smile off his face and pulled back his expression.

He was a man. What use did he have for cute?

Freya was displeased. She reached up and pinched his cheek. “You should smile more. You look so handsome when you smile!”

“No,” Lant refused firmly. “I don’t want to be cute.”

“But you are cute~ Wawa~”

The horse suddenly sped up, and Freya instinctively tightened her grip on Lant. “You scared me! You’ve turned bad, Lant! Fine, I’ll just assume you’re shy or jealous!”

Lant’s ears turned slightly red. He changed the subject. “Princess, you should go back to playing sick. We’re almost at the palace.”

Freya glanced around and resumed playing dead.