CHAPTER 1712: STARK CHANGE IN RELATIONSHIP

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...

During the time Princess Davina left the area and decided to trust Rex, she has been busy.

It was true that she trusted Rex to pass the Altar of Gods trial, but she didn’t trust Rex to be able to go back home safely. Even though she trusted Rex to be strong enough to pass the trial, he would not come out of it unscathed.

Because of that, she had been deploying some soldiers and allied forces across the way.

From where Rex was to Rontera, there would be people who were under strict instructions.

Her orders to these soldiers were clear.

Only help when it seemed like Rex couldn’t make it.

She knew how stubborn Rex could become and how his personality was; a man who doesn’t want—or is not used to the help of others. Stationing people to guide him back might annoy her, and Princess Davina was afraid that Rex might think that she didn’t trust her by sending people to check on him.

Due to that, she gave the soldiers strict instructions.

Focus on Rex’s vitals and aura and observe.

Only move when he was nearing death.

All Princess Davina wanted was for there to be someone who would be there to help him just in case.

But to soldiers and her surprise, Rex teleported away.

For almost a full hour, Princess Davina was contacting everyone to search for Rex, drowning in worry and fear that he might not make it back. She has lived for over two hundred years, and even governs her own territory, but she was never this restless.

Nobody could find Rex across the empire for a good hour.

Princess Davina thought he went to meet with Empress Morgana instantly, until a knock on her door.

Back then, she was out in the barracks to make direct contact with the soldiers she deployed directly.

She was in Rontera, waiting for Rex’s return.

And when she opened the door, a guard informed him that they had found Rex.

Princess Davina rushed beyond the city walls, past the shimmering edge of the Rontera Bubble, where she found Rex surrounded by a handful of patrolling soldiers. And the sight stopped her cold. Rex was barely standing, broken and bloodied, and his body in ruin.

Her heart clenched at the sight—he was in pieces.

Bloodied, missing chunks of his body, one eye hollowed, and his right arm severed entirely.

It was surprising that he could even stay alive in the condition he was in.

Princess Davina wanted to ask whether he was alive—or not, too shaken by the sight to check herself, but before a word could come out of her mouth, Rex reacted. He was weak and barely conscious, but he reacted when Princess Davina arrived.

Under her gaze, Rex’s head twitched as he sniffed the air.

Almost like he noticed a peculiar scent, one that belonged to someone he was searching for.

Rex raised his gaze and, through the crimson hue clouding his vision, saw Princess Davina.

His lips curled into a small smile.

"I... I kept my promise." He uttered softly, too soft for anyone to hear, but Princess Davina heard it.

"Y-You did," Princess Davina answered. "In that case, why don’t we go inside first? Let’s go home."

Her voice was restrained due to holding back sobs, but Rex heard it fine.

Even though he was now hearing everything in an echo, distant, he could still hear her voice.

"Home... It’s too far away," Rex’s head began to drop again as he was losing consciousness.

It was almost like his consciousness remained solely to say that to Princess Davina, and now, with the situation de-escalating to safety again, the fatigue was catching up to him. And before Rex realized, he was falling forward.

Princess Davina caught him in her embrace before he could fall.

She could hear his voice still.

He was mumbling.

"I was trying to surprise you, but I got lost... I don’t know where I am."

"Don’t worry, you found me. You’re not lost anymore. I’m here with you, and I’ll protect you."

"That... That sounds nice. I’m glad I found you."

...

Rex and Princess Davina sat in silence.

Both were looking the other way, and swallowing became hard as their throats became dry.

Inside with them was a surreal tension from the weight of what had happened during the hard mission.

At this moment, the room was quiet, still, choked by the air that felt too quiet.

Even though their shoulders nearly brushed, there was a distance between them that no closeness could bridge—a quiet tension born from the unspoken things that lingered in their minds. Rex’s hands rested loosely on the edge, fingers twitching every so often.

He meant to speak, but couldn’t bring himself to.

She’s not saying a word.

Rex glanced at her using the corner of his eyes, and then sighed lightly and carefully.

She must be angry that I chose to save April—that I risked my life trying to save her. Rex swallowed hard, finding the situation super stressful. More stressful than being in a battle. Is she waiting for me to say something about that? To tell her why I did it? In her eyes, it must’ve looked like I chose April over her.

But that’s not the case—if it were the other way around, I’d probably do the same.

As he contemplated the moment with a throbbing head, his gaze stayed fixed on the floor.

He was looking at the faint scratches on his feet as if it was the most interesting thing in the bedroom.

How am I supposed to explain something like that? I did it because I want to prove myself? Because I couldn’t simply let April die? Or should I say it was a spur-of-the-moment decision? Will she even buy that? No, she’s too sharp for an excuse like that. She’ll see right through it.

Rex would be completely fine with this when it was him before the mission.

But seeing Princess Davina being brave enough to show her vulnerable side, it was a lie if he said that he didn’t feel bad. Even though he didn’t know what sparked the change in Princess Davina, it doesn’t diminish what she showed.

And not to mention, even through all that, she still decided to stay and help him.

On the other hand, Davina sat completely still beside him.

Her spine was upright, and her hands were folded neatly on her lap, but her knuckles were pale with tension.

It was clear that she was troubled by something in her mind.

Princess Davina’s eyes flicked to him once, then away, as though looking too long might unravel the fragile calm she’d built around herself. And inside, she was the complete opposite of what Rex thought she was thinking.

’I was determined to take care of him to health, but why does being near him make me nervous?’

Earlier, her mind was too occupied with the medicine and treatment Rex needed to take.

Now that she has done that, she was reminded of everything that happened.

’What am I supposed to do...? I asked him to be my fiancé to make a temporary deal with him, and I’ve been treating it as such ever since.’ Princess Davina wanted to rub her forehead; she badly wanted to do it, but that would make her stress obvious to Rex. ’Who would’ve thought he’s the one the Divine Saintess was talking about?’

Rex noticed her hand twitching and immediately turned away.

Is she going to hit me? I’m a pretend fiancé, but I’m still her fiancé. I probably deserved it.

Considering how fiercely Princess Davina guarded her reputation, what Rex had done must be on her list of unforgivable actions. Everyone likely knew he had risked his life to save April, someone he shouldn’t have been anywhere close to, as he was Princess Davina’s fiancé.

And in doing so, he had dragged Princess Davina’s name through the mud.

Surely right now, Princess Davina was holding back from hitting him.

Itching to burst into a full-blown anger at him.

On the other hand, Princess Davina saw him looking at her direction with an unreadable gaze.

’Did... Did he notice?’ She turned her reddening face away, embarrassed at the thought of Rex realizing what she wanted. ’What do I do? What do I do? Should I tell him outright about the prophecy? But he’s not from this realm... what if he thought of me as overeager? It was me who suggested this arrangement, and now I’m taking it back?’

Surely, Rex could already feel the changes around her and was wondering what it was all about.

But she couldn’t find it in her to say it aloud.

Rex came from a different realm, and he might not believe in something like a prophecy.

Or he might not even believe in the Divine Saintess’ power at all.

’No, wait...’ Princess Davina’s body turned stiff as she realized something. ’He’s not from this realm, and he came here to rescue that friend of his, and also get things from Empress Morgana. Doesn’t that mean...’

Almost instantly, her face turned resolute.

It’s no time for her to hesitate.

"Rex..."

"Davina..."

Both of them turned to look at each other and spoke at the same time.

It caught them both off guard.

And once they realized their eyes met, the two of them quickly averted their gazes.

"W—Ekhm..." Princess Davina cleared her throat, returning to her normal calmness—again. "What do you have in mind?"

"Ah, I only wanted to thank you for arranging the treatments. I heard from the servants that you used your name to ask for favors from all across the empire," Rex smiled, and then clenched his hand a couple of times, feeling the strength coming back to him faster than anticipated. "I want to say thank you for this. I’m already feeling better."

"You saved my life," Princess Davina scoffed lightly.

"Did I? I’m quite sure you broke free from the Immortal Slugs yourse—"

"And you’re also my fiancé."

Rex blinked when Princess Davina cut his sentence short, which was unlike her.

But more than that, after saying that, she looked at him with a different kind of look.

One that seemed more tender and loving than before.

Huh...? Isn’t she angry at me? Or is this a way she assumed to make me lower my guard?

Dancing around words like this is not Rex’s style.

So, he decided that he was going to tell it straight to her lest she become angrier at him.

"Also, about April..." He started.

But Princess Davina quickly moved and stood up, "If you’re wondering about her, then I can say that thanks to you, she’s going to survive. Your Voidal Monster pet helped her survive—the ordeal greatly. I’m sure she’s going to be better soon."

Hearing this, Rex paused for a second as it seemed Princess Davina misunderstood him.

"No, that’s not it." He caught her hand—keeping her from leaving. "I never doubted she’d survive. I’m sure you made arrangements to keep her safe, too. That’s why I wasn’t worried. What I wanted to say is... I’m sorry. Acting like that in public was inappropriate of me."

Princess Davina’s eyes widened for a second.

Above everything else that crossed her mind, she’d never expected that Rex was going to apologize.

Her lips curled into a small smile as she allowed herself to feel good from this.

Rex couldn’t see her face as she was facing away, but he felt that she was less tense than earlier.

Just then, under his gaze, Princess Davina straightened her back and fixed her posture.

"A man who becomes my fiancé doesn’t apologize, no matter what." She suddenly said, still facing away. "Despite what I think, you have your reason for doing what you did. So—don’t apologize. I’m stronger—than you think. Demand more from me, and I am positive that I can match your expectations."

Rex shook his head lightly, not expecting her to say something like that.

She openly admitted what she wanted from him.

"Come on," Princess Davina pulled on his hand. "It’s still early, and we have somewhere to be."