Emilia fell to the ground, staring at Lucien, who was covered in blood, her face full of worry and self-reproach.
"Be careful," Lucien spat a mouthful of blood, his face pale as he struggled to sweep his leg toward Elsa, who blocked with her blade, forced to sidestep.
"Miss Ram, you take Liya and go first," he called out, holding Elsa at bay despite his grievous injuries.
Ram's gaze softened slightly as she saw Lucien fighting through the bloodbath, his chest and back shockingly wounded. If he hadn't blocked those attacks, something might have happened to Lady Emilia.
No, I can't leave him, Emilia thought, getting to her feet to repel the magical beasts. She refused to run.
"Idiot," Lucien muttered, anger flashing in his eyes as a flashbang appeared in his hand.
The explosion enveloped the area in a blinding white light, forcing everyone to instinctively close their eyes. When vision returned, Elsa and several of the demon beasts had disappeared, chasing after the distraction Lucien had created.
All of it was orchestrated by Lucien to win Emilia and Ram's favor. Nothing was more touching than someone risking life and limb to protect you. These magical beasts had actually been controlled by Meli, just unseen.
"Are you alright?" Ram called as she sprinted through the jungle, Lucien carrying Emilia in a princess carry.
Emilia, nearly in tears, saw the deep, bone-exposed wound on Lucien's chest, blood spattering onto her.
"Even if I'm hurt, I have to hold on," he coughed, blood spilling from his mouth. "Do you… have any enemies?"
"That woman just now was an assassin," Emilia said, hands glowing as she healed his chest.
"You are so kind… and yet someone tried to kill you?" Lucien expressed surprise.
"They were after the emblem on me."
"What emblem…? Oh no, they've caught up," he said, glancing around.
"Do you still have the weapon you used earlier?" Ram asked, checking behind them.
"No, just the one," Lucien replied. "But as long as we escape the encirclement, we can get away. Though I'm not very strong, I am skilled at escaping."
Under Emilia and Ram's bewildered eyes, a ghost mask Harley motorcycle descended from above, flames licking its sides. Lucien, holding Emilia, leapt onto it, the engine roaring like thunder.
"Miss Ram, please get on," he said. Ram jumped up and positioned herself behind him.
"The speed is a bit fast, hold on tight," he warned.
Boom! Dirt splattered, sparks flew, and the ghost mask Harley shot down the path like an arrow. Emilia and Ram were stunned.
"Don't worry, this isn't a real skeleton," Lucien explained, noting the bike's intimidating skeletal appearance.
Ram placed a hand on his shoulder, her maid outfit fluttering in the wind.
"Miss Ram, check if we've shaken them off."
"I don't see anyone anymore. Now I understand why you're so skilled at escaping," she said seriously. "Of course, when it comes to escaping, if I rank second, no one would dare claim first. To find my dear friend's clan, I've traveled far and wide. Without this ride and your skills, I might never have found Liya."
Lucien's smug expression returned, not ashamed but proud, taking the compliment in stride.
"Dear friend?" Ram coughed, noting the tone of his voice. She suspected he was showing off.
"Yes, like Liya, she's an elf," he said, the smugness giving way to a fleeting melancholy.
"Then… can you let me sit behind you and heal your injuries?" Emilia's soft voice broke through, trying to shift the mood.
"Ah… the wound's already healed?" Lucien looked surprised. Emilia, sitting in his arms with a slightly bold posture, avoided his gaze, eyes darting nervously.
"I'm so sorry. If it weren't for your saving me, you wouldn't have…" she trailed off, face full of self-reproach.
"You've saved me too—not just my life, but my memories, my very soul!" Lucien said fervently, earnest and serious. Their eyes met: amethyst eyes locking with purple diamond-patterned ones, the world around them silent.
"Sorry to interrupt, we took the wrong path," Ram called, her tone like a sudden cold snap, shifting the warm atmosphere to an icy, tense one.
"Miss Ram, why didn't you say so earlier?" Lucien asked, turning stiffly. Ram's hands held him in place, preventing his head from turning back into the danger zone.
"Turn left," she instructed, her expression unchanged, still cold and serious.
"No problem," Lucien replied, revving the engine. After fifteen minutes, they saw Roswaal's mansion emerge through the forest.
The ghost mask Harley's roar echoed loudly as it entered the mansion courtyard. Lucien placed Emilia gently on the ground, looking at the mansion with mild surprise; it was no less grand than a castle.
Lucien tensed, fearing the Jealous Witch might appear again. But considering her sealed state and the immense energy she must have expended last time, he judged her appearance unlikely. Her intervention then had probably been to give Natsuki Subaru a spark of hope.
"Lady Emilia, Sister!" Rem and Natsuki Subaru emerged to greet them.
Natsuki Subaru's initial joy vanished when he saw Lucien; his smile stiffened into fear. Lucien's hair and eyes had not changed, and recognition came after a few seconds of eye contact.
Emilia and Ram, sensing Subaru's agitation, grew tense.
"Emilia, Ram, get away from him!" Subaru demanded, pulling Emilia behind him.
Ram's expression remained cold, her disdain clear.
"This… is there some misunderstanding?" Lucien asked, confused.
"Subaru, He is not a threat, and he's injured," Emilia interjected. Though she had healed his chest wound, his back injury remained suppressed temporarily.
"Lady Emilia, Sister, were you attacked?" Rem asked, noting the blood covering Lucien, and Emilia and Ram's pale, shocked faces.
"Rem, get the first-aid kit. He needs his wounds bandaged immediately," Emilia instructed, stepping away from Subaru.
"Yes," Rem replied, heading into the mansion.
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