The Demon King's Paladin

Chapter 37. Heart To Heart

John Ericsson's Point of View

I woke up in the evening after bringing Sarah and Cynthia back. Seems I used up all my mana with that last healing spell and collapsed. I picked myself off the bed. I still feel lethargic. A voice speaks in the darkness.

" Master!"

I felt a figure wrap their arms around me. I felt bumps on the arms that held me, that and the word she used made it obvious who it was.

" A... Anna?"

" Yes... *Hick..."

My chest was getting wet. Doesn't take a genius to figure out she's crying. I pat her head and rub her back until she calms down. Seems I really scared her, I better apologize. Seems the shock of her crying shook the Lethargy out of me.

" Anna.. I'm sorry I worried you so much, I did a few risky things. Cynthia probably already explained about that risky fight with that Vendal guy that could've killed me. But I'm fine I promise."

" What fight!"

Anna released me and looked at me with angry eyes tears were filling in them. Oh no! I think I just told on myself. Anna had tears rolling down her face. I could see she was genuinely angry and worried about me. I sighed and started to tell her about everything. After I finished explaining about Vendal, Anna couldn't help but speak.

" Do you have any idea how reckless you were! You could've been killed! One of those men beat Sarah in one move! Why John!"

" I understand it was reckless Anna. But we were pressed for time, and I had 2 back up plans in case the barrier idea didn't work."

I try to plead my case, Anna just started getting more ramped up. Even the eyes on her arms were staring at me. She began to speak again.

" And did these back up plans have anyway for you to escape injury?"

" N... No, it would hinge on the enemy approaching me while thinking I was a sitting duck after dodging his slowed swing from the barrier."

I answered honestly, knowing it wouldn't help my case. Anna is staring a hole through me. She begins to speak again, after calming herself a little so she could speak without crying between the words.

" So, from a sense of urgency, you bet your life on a barrier spell not breaking against what was most likely an experienced mercenary. If that didn't work, you hinged on your own ability to dodge a swing of a sword that could break your barrier. And you assumed that the sword swing would slow down enough to dodge from colliding with your barrier."

" Y... Yes."

Anna started to shake; her tears weren't stopping. I scratched my head and started to speak some of my emotions.

" Anna, I understand that it was reckless and stupid. But point blank, I'm in a dangerous position right now. Even without being engaged to Sarah, I still am currently in a country with citizens that hate humans to a great degree. Most of the staff still does not like me. You have to cook my food in order to make sure I'm not poisoned. Add onto that, I am set to be married to the 1st Princess of Diablos, so that hate has magnified to some degree on me. "

"Master!"

Her tears continue to spill out. I continue to speak.

" I understand not everyone has those same feelings but, there is enough that certain precautions have been taken. Now I'm not completely sure on this but I can't help but think that this attempt on kidnapping Sarah, may be a response to her engagement to me. Someone wanted Sarah dead before I came here. But instead of killing Sarah when the opportunity presented itself, these mercenaries kidnapped her. I think that a powerful noble hired them to force her into a pure demon marriage or something similar."