The SSS-rank Guide Doesn't Need Saving

Having already made up her mind to leave the house she’d been living in for a long time, Aisha didn’t feel much different. She had initially thought that this body would react once again, but it seemed that it held no sentimental feelings towards that house.

They passed the huge doors and the herald, who gawked at them leaving before anyone else could. Even the guards didn’t expect the Admiral to leave so soon right after the ceremony ended.

”Y—your Excellency, where are you going?” The herald was startled to see the Admiral leave so soon. Wasn’t he here for an audience with the emperor? Why did it look like he just came to watch the ceremony?

Zeke didn’t even turn around to glance at him or tell him anything. He followed after Aisha as if he had decided his next destination.

Aisha didn’t mind walking with her. But why was he following her?

She turned her head slightly to glance at him and asked, ”Are you going to follow me all the way to my house again?”

Without changing his expression, he met her gaze and said, ”Am I not allowed to?”

It wasn’t that he couldn’t, but shouldn’t he be worried about the rumors that would spread around if he was seen leaving with the prince’s ex-fiancé? There was also the matter of him escorting her down the aisle in front of everyone. Was he so bored of his spotless reputation that he was actively chasing a scandal now?

”I can go back by myself. There’s no need to follow me.”

”You could.” She heard him say. ”But I happen to be heading the same direction. Convenient.”

Aisha stared at him silently for a few seconds before facing in front of her, walking ahead of him.

”I’ll take that as acceptance.”

Her footsteps almost faltered when she heard him.

Seeing them leave without even turning, the herald was thrown into a dilemma. He turned his head to look at the emperor who sat on the throne in the distance. One look from him almost brought his knees to the ground.

He knew from just that look that the emperor’s patience and mood were not good.

At the same time, he received an order from his light brain.

”Escort Lady Aisha into the palace. I want to speak to her.”

The order had come from the emperor himself. Even though the herald didn’t know why the emperor wanted to speak to Lady Aisha, he didn’t question it and immediately strode towards her.

”Lady Aisha! Wait!”

The herald shouted at the top of his lungs.

”His Majesty wishes to speak to you.”

This should have been enough to make her stop. Anyone who heard that the emperor wanted to speak to them would feel delighted at the opportunity of meeting the ruler of their planet.

Yet she didn’t even stop, continuing to walk down the hall with the same unhurried pace.

”Please do not disobey His Majesty’s order, or you will be punished!”

Afraid that she wouldn’t listen, the herald called the imperial guards to stop her. They moved instantly the moment they were instructed to get her.

They were closing in quickly, and Aisha could sense Zeke moving quickly to stand beside her protectively.

Just as they surrounded them, a deafening boom slammed across the palace wall near them. The wall exploded into jagged debris while a shockwave of white dust swept across them.

It took a long time before the dust settled. Aisha had already raised her arms to block anything from coming toward her, but someone taller was already standing right in front of her, blocking most of the dust and pulverized stone with his own body.

”Are you alright?”

The dust was still settling when Zeke turned around to check on her. Aisha shook her head and told him she was fine. Aside from being startled by the explosion, she was completely unharmed.

Zeke turned to look at the state of the imperial guards next.

The guards and the herald, on the other hand, weren’t fine. They wheezed and coughed; some had already fallen to the ground from the stones that struck them.

A tingling sensation suddenly entered her body.

She turned her head to where the explosion had come from.

While the guards and Zeke were still assessing the situation, Aisha saw a silhouette form from the dust; a reddish glow cut through all the white.

The silhouette transformed into a man.

He approached Aisha with unhurried, confident steps and stood in front of her until he was close enough that she could feel the residual heat from the blast.

Brushing debris from her shoulder like it was nothing, a faint smirk appeared on his lips. ”Didn’t take you long to get into trouble.”