Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 161: A Desperate Struggle
When Tauro returned to the inn after his business meeting with Mardai, the head of the Garfish Company, the adventurer assigned to watch House Van Dyne was waiting to report.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“There’s been a new development. The woman we were observing appears to have given birth.”
“What?”
Tauro stared at him.
“Her partner was so delighted that he began boasting to everyone around him. He said, ‘Now that the child has been born, I still have a chance to become a marquis!’”
Uwaakin could become Marquis of Van Dyne only by marrying Aeris after she came of age or by becoming the acknowledged father of her child. Aeris had rejected him completely, so neither path was possible by legitimate means.
That left only fraud.
The Marchioness of Van Dyne and Uwaakin might claim that the newborn was actually the child of Aeris and Uwaakin. Because the infant shared the Marchioness’s blood, a magical bloodline examination would still reveal a connection to House Van Dyne. With Marquis Van Dyne missing and unable to testify, they might believe they could manipulate the result.
There was one fatal flaw: Aeris herself could deny the claim.
To prevent that, they would have to abduct her and announce that she had died from complications after childbirth—or murder her and produce a false body.
Rumors that Aeris had found a guardian were already spreading, and the formal announcement was scheduled for the day after tomorrow. Uwaakin and the Marchioness therefore had almost no time left.
The failed kidnapping should have left them cornered, but Uwaakin’s boast showed that he hadn’t abandoned the scheme. Everyone in noble society who had recently met Aeris knew that she had never been pregnant, yet he still seemed to think the lie could be forced through before the royal announcement.
“Today or tomorrow,” Tauro murmured.
Those were the only days on which the enemy could still act.
He gathered Aeris and the Royal Guard knights protecting her, then explained the report and his conclusion.
“They still haven’t given up?” one knight asked in disbelief.
“I think they’ll gather everyone they can and make one final attempt to kill Aeris either tonight or tomorrow.”
“Then I’ll remain off duty tomorrow as well and continue guarding her.”
The escorts assigned to Aeris were serving during their own off-duty hours.
“Does the danger make your blood boil?” Tauro asked.
“What? Of course not. I know how dangerous this is, so I don’t want to push the responsibility onto someone else.”
Tauro had misjudged him. The knight was simply conscientious. He had also participated in the attempt to capture the assassin at Soraki Tower.
“I’m sorry that we keep placing you in danger.”
Tauro bowed, and Aeris bowed beside him.
“We’ve come this far. I’d feel worse if we failed to protect you when we already know an attack is coming.”
The knight laughed, and the others nodded.
Since they knew an attack was imminent, they could prepare the battlefield themselves. They immediately left the inn and moved to an unused house on the grounds of the Garfish Company’s textile workshop.
They couldn’t allow uninvolved guests or employees at the inn to be caught in the assault. The workshop property was quiet, open, and far from neighboring buildings, making it much easier to detect and repel attackers.
After arriving, the Royal Guard inspected the grounds and agreed that the position would be easier to defend.
Tauro had asked the innkeeper to inform Mardai that they were borrowing the house and to warn him to stay away for the night. There had been no time to wait for permission, but Mardai could hardly object once he learned why.
“I sent a request for reinforcements to Commander Connoen,” one knight reported. “Off-duty members of the Royal Guard should begin arriving this evening.”
Only three escorts had accompanied them, and one had already left to summon help, leaving two knights on the property.
“Aeris, please handle the barriers.”
“Finally, I can make myself useful.”
Aeris smiled wryly and established several overlapping barriers around the house. One would detect approaching people, another would react to hostile intent, and a third would interfere with incoming magic.
Not long afterward, one of the knights entered from outside.
“Tauro, we have uninvited guests.”
“I detected them too. They aren’t Royal Guard reinforcements.”
“They may have seen only one guard outside and decided this was their chance.”
Tauro stepped into the darkness, raised the Bow of Artemis, and fired the first arrow toward the approaching enemy.