RETURN OF THE FEMALE KNIGHT

29. The Last Moment

"Even if the sky falls, I will protect you."

Jungkook could not find any words as he stood frozen as a statue and stared at her. The fierceness of his eyes, however, could not hide how unhappy he was with the situation. Lalisa didn't flinch at his gaze and faced him squarely. This was the ultimate reason for their marriage. To keep him close. To make him emperor.

Jungkook finally replied, speaking slowly.

"...What if I don't want you to be in danger?"

His tone was serious, with no hint of levity. However, Lalisa had no intention of retreating. Her intuition told her that if she stepped back now, she might not get the chance to protect him as a knight in the future.

She knew Jungkook had a stubborn disposition, so Lalisa had to carry her will by other means. She felt rather sorry for exploiting the one weakness she had discovered so far.

"You mean you're going to break our contract?"

"...Break?"

He repeated after her as if he didn't understand her, and Lalisa replied in a low voice again.

"Our contract marriage. If you want to violate the contract, then I have no choice but to accept it."

As Lalisa had expected, the light in Jungkook's eyes trembled in uncertainty. Although she hadn't figured out why he cared so much about her yet, Lalisa was certainly not alone in wanting the marriage to happen. She was betting on it. Unless she made this clear now, Jungkook would continue to hold Lalisa back in dangerous situations. She didn't intend to be sheltered like a plant in a greenhouse. She had been one of the top knights in the continent in her last life, and now she could do even more with foreknowledge of the future.

"Do you mean to cancel our marriage if I don't agree to your actions now?"

"Yes, that is correct."

Jungkook tensed at her curt yet determined reply, and his expression turned icy.

"......I never thought I'd feel so bad about you being so intelligent."

They stared each other down, fighting a silent war of will, neither side refusing to yield an inch. But when Lalisa heard his last words, she was confident she would be the winner of this fight. She did not seriously intend to break up the contract marriage with him, instead gambling on her intuition about Jungkook's personality. She was sure it would work. She didn't know what she would do if it didn't.

Fortunately, however, it was not necessary. Jungkook glared in silent disapproval for a moment before finally speaking.

"...This is the last time I'll hear such a threat."

She nodded slightly instead of answering. She did not intend to break the contract so easily, not with the situation as urgent as it was now. Jungkook didn't know it, but he might get hurt on the Flower Bridge or in the worst case, his life could be in danger.

"Don't forget what you just said. Don't stray far from my side."

"I won't."

Jungkook glanced at Lalisa's weapon with a complicated expression.

"As much as I allowed you this, it won't be so easy in the future. Be prepared."

"...Yes."

It was one of the things that bothered her since writing down the contract. Granting one thing he desired could be a complication in the future, but for now, it was important she go as Jungkook's guard. She would worry about what happened later.

Jungkook strode towards where the rest of his men were waiting, speaking to Lalisa not as a noble's daughter.

"Let's go."