It was a blur after that. As per protocol, a small guard accompanied him back, including me, while the rest of the squadron would continue with the day's task. I could not look at him on the way, because I couldn't look in his direction without seeing the long, deep, wide gash across his back. Dark blood kept pouring out despite the priests' best efforts. The beast's claw had crumpled through his armour and protective spells like paper. Bile rose in my throat. I couldn't hear anything except the pounding thumps of my heartbeat.
"Mikhail."
Blood kept soaking through the bandages, and they had to keep reapplying them. His skin was so pale. Lying facedown on a small bed in the infirmary, his eyes shut peacefully, he looked like a fallen angel. They forced me away to dress my minor wounds, and by the time they were done with me the priests from his side had dissipated and I was allowed to sit next to his bed.
"He's strong," Priest Fernandez told me grimly. "He'll make it."
Delilah handed me a handkerchief. I had not noticed when my friends had entered, nor that I was sobbing. I glanced around quickly. Even in my frenzied state of mind, I remembered that no one must see me cry. Delilah embraced me gently.
"It's okay," she whispered. "No one's watching."
I nodded, and tears flowed freely down my cheeks. I wanted to reach out and touch him, but I was scared, and it would be improper. Now that there was no imminent threat, my mind was left to its own devices. Was this my punishment? Was this fate jeering at me? I clenched the handkerchief. For perhaps the first time in my life, I was genuinely afraid, and for the first and hopefully last time, I sincerely prayed.
When Father returned at night, I ran into his arms. He held me tightly.
"I heard what happened. Thank god Mikhail will survive, he's a good boy," he squeezed me. "This may happen again, my angel. No matter what we do, people will die; it is unavoidable in a conflict. Be ready to compose yourself. What matters most, always, is that you're safe."
"Yes, Father. Please take care of yourself as well."
More people were going to die because I was not the real saint. Their lives were going to be sacrificed to make me a real saint. Ironic, wasn't it? Yet I was accustomed to sacrifice, even some of my own pawns throughout my years of strengthening my position had to be strategically disposed for the greater good. The other wounded soldiers weighed little on my conscience, like all the other collateral of my countless crimes, having successfully convinced myself long ago they were an unfortunate necessity.
Not my Mikhail.
Not my Mikhail, who had almost become an extension of myself over the years, who had always stood by me from the very beginning, one of the only things in the world that was truly, unconditionally mine.
The next days went on as normal, as if nothing was wrong, with a different, much less handsome knight taking Mikhail's usual place by my side. I cut through the demons numbly, everything hazy, making steady progress as according to our revised plan. Finally, on the eve of the last day, I received news.
"Mikhail."
"I'm sorry, my lady."
He was lying on his side, surrounded by several priests. When I approached, he tried to sit up, and I immediately made him get back down.
"You should be."
I glanced at the priests. Priest Fernandez nodded to them and all except him scattered, and my mentor also stepped back a bit to give us some privacy.
"Whatever am I supposed to do, should you have died?"
His light blue eyes swelled with tears, and a faint flush crept onto his cheeks.
"I'm immensely sorry for distressing my lady. I thank God and my good fortune that I can live to continue serving my lady, if my lady will forgive me for my offense."
I extended a hand, and he kissed it tenderly. The content smile he wore could melt the coldest heart of the cruelest villainess.
"You are forgiven. Do not let it happen again."
Was it unwise to grow so fond of a mere knight? Now that I considered it, I was attached to Zoe and Tia as well, but to a lesser extent. Well, no matter. Soon, when it was all over, I would have everything that I ever wanted, and they would rise to glory with me. Yes, I just had to wait a little longer, and nothing would ever be able to threaten me and my party anymore.
Colonel Hart and I had our last meeting of the subjugation, reflecting and planning for the future.
"I will ask His Majesty to send double the amount of soldiers and resources you requested."
"Thank you, Your Holiness. At the current rate, I will be able to hold out comfortably for another year with that."
In a year… I would be completely done with Catherine, and I would be able to focus on eradicating the demons for good, the current largest threat to my legitimacy as the saint. All those troops will have to act as cannon fodder until then. I briefly wondered how many more lives had been and will be lost because of me, as compared to if Catherine was here and awakened as the real saint. Perhaps I could erect a monument for them after I was queen.
Thankfully, Mikhail was well enough to leave the dreadful mountain with us. Some of the injured would remain a while longer to recover. Overall, with the exception of my squadron, I had arranged the kingdom's troops to be at the front line, while ours remained in safer positions, so casualties from House Avington were minimal. It actually worked out well in my favour, to weaken the royal army so it would be more difficult for them to turn against us, and so they had to rely on us more.
"Lady Valentina! How is the demon situation?"
"Why was your subjugation extended?"
"Your Holiness! Look this way, please!"
Before I knew it, I was back to dealing with swarms of journalists instead of monsters. I much preferred this; they stank far less. After all, this was a romance fantasy novel, not an action one, and I was rather relieved to be back under the familiar spotlight.
"Mount Basileus is under control. We sincerely thank the support of Orilon's brave soldiers, the Holy Temple, the Royal Institute for Magic Research, and the Houses Avington, Finley, Tennesley…"
A long list of sponsors, to show our sincere appreciation.
"However, the permanent forces stationed there are in need of reinforcements in both personnel and supplies. We humbly ask His Majesty to dispatch…"
A public request that made it hard for the king to refuse, and to show that the situation was in fact serious.
"Lastly, House Avington is always looking for brave souls to join our side in defending our kingdom together!"
A call to arms, to further increase our forces.
After the press conference for the general public was a tea party for high society, and finally an exclusive interview for me to fully share the juicy details of my heroic tales. Rinse and repeat for the entire week after our triumphant return, during the latter part of which, a new topic slowly arose to remind everyone of a very important upcoming event.
"How are the preparations for Catherine Bryant's approaching trial, Lady Valentina?"
With a brilliant smile, I clasped my hands together. "I am working regularly with the crown's attorney. We are confident that justice will be served."
"Wonderful! The entire kingdom will be vindicated when that wicked woman is finally put away. Why, if she had succeeded, and Your Holiness was not able to subjugate the demons, I do not even dare to imagine the state of the kingdom."
I agreed emphatically and expressed my appreciation for God's protection over me.
Soon the horrors of the demons faded to the back of my mind like a passing bad dream as I prepared for the last chapter of the story I'd rewritten for Catherine. Mikhail healed quickly due to his durable physique, and because we were flooded with gifts, many medicinal, from nobles, merchants, and of course the lovely, sympathetic public. His reassuring presence was shortly by my side again, accompanying me as I did the finishing touches of my masterpiece.
While the demons had been awfully frightening in the moment, I still believed humans were worse. Just look what I had done and was going to do to poor little Catherine!