The hand that was strangling Cecilia was so strong that it should have been enough to suffocate her in a few minutes. Sir Robert did not stay idle when someone was endangering his master. He immediately took out his sword. His movements were fast and powerful as he tried to knock Cecilia's attacker down so that he could release his stranglehold.
BAM!
"Cough cough!"
Even though the man was strangling Cecilia, his movements were still agile as he used his feet to kick Sir Robert back. Sir Robert tried to get up again. But before he could do that, his opponent had already kicked the table to immobilize Sir Robert's movement.
BAM!
The table shifted quickly, but Sir Robert was better prepared this time. He slashed the table with his sword. Even though his attacker hit him at a vital point, Sir Robert did not shake at all as he advanced to attack the man again.
SWOOSH!
His sword swing only hit air, and the man was ready to kick Sir Robert back one more time. But halfway through, his expression changed. His foot, which he had originally intended to use to kick him back, landed while his body reflexively took a few steps back.
His gaze then fell on Cecilia, who managed to escape when the man was off guard. Cecilia smiled slightly. In her hand, there was a dagger that she had been holding for who knows how long.
"You—cough—still as rude as ever when someone tries to mention your past."
Cecilia's voice sounded so hoarse because of the effects of the strangulation that had blocked her airway. Cecilia coughed again. On her white neck, there was now no trace of the terrible bruise that had made Sir Robert's anger rise again.
"Your Highness, we have to kill him now."
"And let the people out there kill us afterward? Calm down, Robert. I'm fine."
Sir Robert tightened his grip on his sword when Cecilia replied to him as if their situation was no big deal. Cecilia took a deep breath. When she looked at the man in front of her, she knew that the man was weighing up what he should do to them.
If the man wanted, they could kill Cecilia and Sir Robert before they could do anything. But he didn't. He must have felt confused because someone like Cecilia came and found out his real identity.
"Roy Sylvester. Like I said, I came to ask for your help."
The man's gaze—Roy's—looked cold when Cecilia repeated the purpose of her coming to that place. Cecilia knew the usual way would not work, so she chose to switch to the second plan.
"Remember the flower that grows on the edge of the cliff."
Roy froze after he heard Cecilia's words.
"...what do you mean?" he asked. His voice was no longer laced with threats. Instead, Roy looked confused as to why someone could know so much about him.
"You told me that. Remember the flower that grew on the edge of the cliff. You said you would listen to me if I told you that to the current you. Is that a lie?"
Roy stared into her eyes. In the hanging silence, he searched and found no lies from Cecilia.
The knife was slowly lowered. Since Roy didn't look like someone who would attack again, the atmosphere in the room slowly returned to normal.
Roy sat down on his chair quietly. He glanced at Sir Robert, then looked back at Cecilia, who looked calm as she faced him.
"...Who are you?" Roy muttered.
"I'm Princess Cecilia's twin brother. But I don't think you're asking about something you already know, right?"
Roy fell silent. It was the first time someone had managed to read him like an open book.
"I've known you for a while, Roy. I know your favorite foods, what your habits are, and who you are. You told me that yourself. Although you probably don't remember that."
Cecilia talked about her previous life. But Roy didn't know, so he thought hard about where he had met Cecilia. Roy knew himself better than anyone. The information Cecilia told him would not be known by anyone unless he revealed it himself.
Roy let out a long sigh. It seemed there were still some things he didn't know.
"What do you want?"
Cecilia smiled. She knew Roy would not refuse her offer whenever she said her 'magic word' to him.
"Protect me until winter. But you need to do it secretly. After that, I will introduce you as Prince Roy Sylvester of the destroyed Sylvester royal family. We will protect you, then help you regain the kingdom you long for."
Roy glanced at Sir Robert. Cecilia, who realized what he meant, immediately added her words.
"Don't worry, he is my knight. He will not say anything, I promise."
Roy snorted. Promises were not something he could trust.
"Tell you what. If even one word gets out about your true identity, you can look for me to kill me on his behalf."
"Your Highness!"
Sir Robert seemed worried about Cecilia's decision. Meanwhile, Cecilia looked calm as if she believed that Sir Robert would not say anything about Roy's identity.
"How is it? Do you still not trust me?"
It took a while before Roy finally seemed to calm down. Cecilia knew that when Roy calmed down in front of others, it was a sign that he had made his decision.
"Since you know so much about me, you should know that my specialty is killing, not protecting."
"That's precisely why I want you to guard me specifically. The people who will be after me are not ordinary people. Until winter comes, I need your power to keep me alive."
"And after that?"
"I will make sure you get your kingdom back. We can even make a blood contract if you don't trust me."
A blood contract was a type of contract where if one of them broke it, the violating party would be liable to be pursued by the other owner of the contract down to their descendants. It was a sacred contract for assassins, and Cecilia knew that kind of thing.
"No need."
This time, it was Cecilia's turn to be surprised when Roy refused her offer to make a blood contract. Cecilia was sure it was not because Roy was afraid of breaking the contract but rather because he trusted Cecilia.
Cecilia smiled. She was relieved that Roy's true nature had not changed, unlike what happened to Damian and Cedric.
"Then, I put my life in your hands, Roy."
Cecilia held out her hand, and this time Roy took it.
"Only until winter," he said again.