After watching the whole debacle from the shadow of the curtain, Meddié squeezed the window frame so tight it creaked. “This isn’t good—not good at all! But if I ran in there now and caused a racket, then I’m sure master could get away!”
“That’s enough of that, young lady,” Carome said. “Then the whole point of having Watt go alone would be moot.”
Meddié glared at Carome, who’d made her way back inside. “You were friends, weren’t you?! How could you just hand him over like that?!”
“That’s not it,” Anna replied. “You have to calm down, Meddié! I’m sure father stepped out to help us...”
Meddié turned around in surprise. Seeing Anna slowly shake her head, Meddié regained her composure bit by bit.
“This is the home of Lady Carome, a royal knight. They’d have no reason to come here other than to capture father. That’s why he went on his own before they could find us... No, before they could find me. That’s what it was, right?”
Carome nodded, just as expected. “He can’t help but get himself in trouble, that one. Just because he’s strong, he goes leaping off into danger just like that to keep others safe.”
“But you’re not worried about him, Lady Carome?”
“I gave up worrying about him back when I was younger,” she answered. “It doesn’t matter how much you fret about him—he’ll just show back up the next day with everything all taken care of, looking like nothing ever happened. Worrying about Watt’s just a waste of energy.”
“Master might be strong, but he’s right smack-dab in the middle of that army!”
“You’d think that’d be an issue, wouldn’t you?” Carome replied. “But it’s quite the opposite. That army is proof that Duke Turk is terrified of him. Watt’s title as former Top Knight of the Kingdom isn’t just for show. After all, trying to contain him through force alone is impossible. That’s why they had no choice but to make a pretense by putting him on that wanted list.”
Carome’s bittersweet smile spoke volumes of the tremendous trust Watt had built up with her in the past. And that was exactly why Anna decided to trust him as well. Watt had gotten to the heart of the enemy’s forces by fighting his way. If that were the case, then there was simply no way that Anna could be the only one just sitting around quietly.
She lifted her head resolutely, staring at Carome head-on. “Please, Lady Carome, you must show us. Show us how we can fight!”
Carome only barely managed to contain the sigh that threatened to steal past her lips. That firm resolve in her eyes, her unbending trust toward Watt... She’s the spitting image of Cullina. Like mother, like daughter, I suppose.
She couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of déjà vu at Anna’s unfaltering gaze. It was the same gaze as Cullina’s—the very woman who had been both her greatest friend...and her greatest foe in the battle of love. And given the glimpses of stubbornness Carome saw in Anna, there was no mistaking the influence Watt had had on her as well. There was no doubting it: She was indeed their daughter.
Come to think of it...I had those same eyes staring at me back then too.
It was when she’d seen Watt off as he was leaving the capital after having fallen into Lezamer’s trap. At the time, Carome had been on the verge of leaving the Royal Knights behind herself. It was what Watt had told her, however, that had stopped her:
“I’m really sorry ’bout this, but I’m asking you as a friend. Keep Cullina safe. She’s everything in the world to me.”
Watt had thrown away everything to keep what mattered most to him safe, entrusting Carome with his final regrets before he left.
I’d never had my arm twisted like that in all my life.
That day, Carome had resolved to stay in the Royal Knights so long as she lived. And that was exactly why...
I’ll keep Cullina and Anna safe. So do your thing, Watt, and go on one hell of a rampage!
After all, the promise they’d made that day was still in effect. Her mind made up, Carome found herself straightening her posture, before looking at Anna and opening her mouth.
“How to fight? That’s easy enough,” she said. “You’ve held the key to our situation right from the very start, Anna.”
“The key...?”
“Have you forgotten?” Carome asked. “This entire chain of events is all tied to Legalisbelm. Even though you are lower down the line, you still have claim to the throne. You’re the stepdaughter of the current first prince—I hardly know what to call you besides the key.”
“Am I truly that valuable?” Anna asked.
Seeing Carome’s hearty nod, Anna made up her mind. Beside her, Meddié had her arms crossed, still looking displeased.
“Sure, Anna might be amazing, but master wound up getting captured!” she objected. “You’re not planning on going to save him?”
“The Royal Knights’ purpose has always been to protect His Majesty,” Carome replied. “We never handle anything outside of that, nor are we permitted to offer our backing to any other force.”
“So you’re telling me you’re just gonna abandon master because you’re a royal knight?! He left the rest to you, though!”
“You can put your mind at ease,” Carome answered. “There’s no way I could just abandon him.”
Dodging past Meddié, who was wordlessly moving her mouth out of sheer excitement, Carome rose to her feet.
“It’s a different story entirely when it comes to Legalisbelm. Actions taken to determine the next ruler are deeply connected to both His Majesty and this kingdom. And with that in mind... In light of Princess Anna’s accusations, I, Carome Aestolle, member of the Royal Knights, have deemed it necessary to intervene in the present iteration of Legalisbelm! As meager as it might be, I shall render my assistance unto you, Princess.”
“Huh?! That doesn’t sound fair! I mean, aren’t you bringing your own feelings into this?”
“That’s what we call a difference in interpretation.” Chuckling, Carome turned around and opened the door before extending her hand to Anna. “Very well, then, let’s be on our way, Princess. Rest assured, my Royal Knights will make short work of any lowly tricks they might have up their sleeves.”
✦ ✦ ✦
To Anna, Carome’s smile in that moment looked just like her father’s.