A Blend of Romance and Fantasy Chapter 11

Chapter 11

“You don’t need to know.”

I had been through all kinds of hardships while trying to change the original story.

But ever since dealing with Nox Glaston, I’d grown used to a peaceful life.

So ending up in a situation like this again?

The worst.

I licked my dry lips as he slowly stepped out of the shadows.

Under the dim light of the underground prison, Leonard looked far more terrifying than any villain I’d ever faced.

So he’d been hiding his true nature all along, that bastard…!

I wanted to curse him out—

but I only had one life.

And I was a fragile princess.

Besides, someone who used to act clueless suddenly flipping like this?

That was even scarier.

I immediately switched to a submissive tone.

“Y-Your Highness, please calm down. If you keep me tied up like this, it could cause a diplomatic incident. Couldn’t we resolve this through conversation?”

“Conversation…”

That man—Leonard Blake—slowly approached me.

Step. Step.

His footsteps echoed ominously.

He bent down, grabbed my chin, and forced my face upward.

“Princess. How did you decipher my code?”

“Ah… the code?”

“The information on that paper was encrypted. Yet you recited it perfectly. Does Singcester possess some relic capable of deciphering any cipher?”

“That’s not it!”

“Then explain how you knew.”

His grip tightened, pulling me closer.

Tears welled up in my eyes from the pressure—but he didn’t seem to care.

With cold eyes, he reached toward his waist.

A dagger.

“If you don’t speak… your neck.”

“O-Okay! I get it! I’ll talk!”

For the record, I value my life very much—and my mouth is extremely loose.

“Of course I knew the code!”

“How?”

“Well…”

I hesitated, then muttered softly,

“That’s not your code… it’s a script created by King Sejong.”

Hangul.

He froze.

I let out a long breath.

Maybe I should’ve pretended not to know…

But he already suspected I’d deciphered it.

And claiming it was a relic wouldn’t work—I couldn’t even use divine power, and even Sarah struggled to break the spell.

Being honest felt like the safest option.

More than anything—

I needed to know what he was.

“I answered you. Now it’s your turn. Leonard Blake—how do you know this language?”

“….”

For a long moment, he said nothing, his expression stiff in the dim light.

People who know Korean in a world like this are usually…

not normal.

I waited, tense.

“King Sejong? Never heard of him. My adjutant created that code.”

Excuse me?

The scholars of the Hall of Worthies would rise from their graves.

“That’s unacceptable.”

“Did your adjutant also serve in the Hall of Worthies? Perhaps he even slept under Your Highness’s cloak?”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“Every Korean knows this! It’s basic history!”

It had been nearly ten years since I transmigrated… had the curriculum changed?

Still, I carefully watched his reaction.

Nothing.

Wait… is he actually not Korean?

But in the original story, there was no Sixth Prince.

And now someone else knows Hangul?

Creating an entirely new script in such a short time would be impossible.

“Don’t lie! Even if you transmigrated, claiming someone else’s script as your own—King Sejong and his scholars would be crying tears of blood—mmph!”

“Enough. Be quiet.”

He covered my mouth again.

This time, less forcefully.

I tried to bite him.

Startled, he pulled his hand back.

“Are you a dog? Calm down.”

“If anyone could stay calm in this situation, they wouldn’t be human—they’d be a machine.”

“What exactly are you angry about? My adjutant ‘creating’ Hangul, or me covering your mouth?”

“Both.”

He let out a quiet sigh and stepped back.

“…Fine. You’re right. I’m a transmigrator too.”

“…!”

Finally.

But instead of relief, unease crept in.

Especially after what I’d read on that scroll.

And more importantly—

I was still tied up.

I shook my bound hands.

“…By the way, could you untie me? We’re both transmigrators.”

“There are three problems with that.”

Leonard raised three fingers.

“First, I kidnapped you.”

“Glad you’re aware.”

“Second, I genuinely need the Saintess Aurora.”

“…Could you maybe not?”

“Third, if I release you, there’s a chance you’ll attack and kill me.”

I nearly shouted.

“I’m not violent! I don’t even have any magic items right now—”

“…You killed Nox Glaston.”

“!!”

My breath caught.

How did he know?

I froze.

“As you know, Nox Glaston controlled much of the continent’s underworld. He died earlier than expected, so I investigated—and found out it was you.”

Each word sent chills down my spine.

That information was supposed to be classified.

Yet he spoke of it casually.

“So, those three reasons mean I can’t release you.”

“Th-Then what are you going to do? You’re not going to kill me, right?”

He crossed his arms.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“…You’re serious?”

A cold chill ran down my spine.

I immediately switched tactics.

“Think about it carefully! You said you want to become emperor!”

“….”

“If I die, my brother will find the culprit. To rule this continent, you need recognition from the Pope—my brother! If it’s revealed you killed me, you’ll never become emperor! It could even start a war between Singcester and Blake!”

He fell silent.

Good.

At least ambition worked.

What kind of transmigrator dreams of becoming emperor, anyway? Was he a politician in his past life?

“…Fine.”

He stepped behind me and grabbed the restraints.

With a sharp snap, the metal shattered.

I flinched—but quickly composed myself.

Then his voice came, low and cold:

“Don’t try to escape. This prison suppresses both magic and divine power.”

He lifted his dagger slightly.

“And if you try anything…”

His eyes hardened.

“I’ll kill you. I’ve done it before—and I won’t get caught.”