Leone was also surprised. He was waiting for a spark to rise, but suddenly ‘fire’ rose. Even if Leone didn’t know for sure because he had never actually seen a flame, he wouldn’t be unaware that it wasn’t a flame. It was peaceful all day. The Archduke also did not attend. Count Petrin was also a trustworthy person, and nothing suspicious came up in the background investigation. Or it may have been that the heat of the two-way love that had just begun had me stunned for a moment. Leone was careless.
“Fire is moving to the garden tree! It’s a short walk to the mansion. Get out quickly!”
“Aww! Mi, don’t push!”
Indeed. The garden of the Count’s residence, overlooking it at a glance, was quickly set on fire. It seemed like it would be a while before the fire burned the trees and reached the mansion. If even the gunpowder of the firecrackers set in the garden path is engulfed in fire, it will become a bigger fire. The mansion was still intact, but it was only a matter of time. The panic was short-lived, and the action was swift. As soon as he realized the situation, he turned around. There was only one thing he had to worry about right now.
‘Trixie…!’
However, when he turned around, the room he saw was already a mess.
“Lord Leone, hurry up and evacuate!”
Leone did not respond to Adler’s earnest voice. All he had to do was find Trixie. Earlier he turned his eyes to her location where he had made eye contact with her, but there were too many people and it was dark in the room that she could not be identified. He ran through the crowd, but what if it’s not Trixie? What if she’s in danger and Leone was delaying time now? He instinctively tried to find her scent, but he didn’t smell it. Leone’s heart thumped. There were too many humans. The smell of gunpowder, burnt wood, perfume, everything mixed together. But in this room, until a few minutes before, he had found her at once. There was no way… He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself down as much as possible. The smell of gunpowder, the smell of burning wood, the smell of soot. Among the fears and fierce screams that filled her room, it was clear that she was there at some point.
Hurry up before time runs out.
‘Please, please…’
Along with the beating heart, the senses that had become overly sensitive and could even read the air slowly subsided. And the scent that reached the tip of the nose, eagerly looking for. Leone moved.
“Get out first, knight!”
“Lord Leone?! The retreat is not that way!”
Surprised Adler moved after Leone, but was pushed by the crowded crowd and missed Leone.
“Trixie!”
Leone let go of his throat and called to her, saying that she would be buried anyway in her screams. He could smell her body not far from him. He got closer and closer. He begged her to be safe.
“Trick…”
Leone, who was about to call her one more time, stopped. Trixie was lying on the floor. As always, just as good as it looks. She was lying down as if she was asleep.
Leone hurriedly sat down and checked Trixie’s breathing. Fortunately, her breathing was steady. Her heartbeat was also calm. She didn’t even have any trauma, so she really just looked like a sleeping person.
“Ha…”
A sigh of relief flowed out. Leone picked her up, took her in his arms, and walked away. He could see the fire moving to the terrace of the mansion.
“Majesty! Evacuate this way!”
Count Petrin, the host of the banquet, remained to evacuate his guests. Even in the eyes mixed with fear and bewilderment, a strong sense of responsibility could be seen. Leone moved quickly in the direction he was guiding. A pop was heard from outside. It looked like a firework exploded. As soon as he came out, he faced a fire that had the momentum to turn the dark sky red. The servants of the count’s residence were busily moving to put out the fire, and the people who came out of the mansion stood in a circle around the pond a little away from the mansion. No matter how scary it was, it was at least a safe place to wait until it calmed down a little in case you got into a wagon and got out of there.
“Lord Leone!”
Adler rushed over. His eyes were drawn to the roaring voice. Leone hugged Trixie more deeply, hoping that her face would not be exposed to others.
“Have you come out!”
It was a tired face that seemed to have aged for several years. Adler grabbed Leone’s arm and pleaded earnestly.
“Never… Don’t do that again!”
“Ah, yes.”
“I think Lord Leone is wrong…”
His voice faltered. Adler was overdoing it a bit. The fire had just begun to spread to the mansion, and it stopped quickly after pouring water and soil to stop it. The garden was a problem. He didn’t know if he should leave it alone until it burned out. So it wasn’t too dangerous. But Leone, who was looking for Trixie, couldn’t calm down either, so Leone understood Adler’s feelings. Because he was unusually mean as usual. It was a concern with love.
“…sorry. Adler.”
So Leone obediently handed over the apology. As soon as Leone’s words finished, Adler’s eyes welled up with tears.
“Ah, no! Don’t apologize! They say there are too many people, but in the end, I was the one who couldn’t catch up. I’m sorry, Lord Leone!”
Leone shook his head slightly. A few nobles shed tears as they watched the moving conversation between the prince and the knight. There were also those who applauded. It was a very worrying situation because there were so many eyes to see. Leone led Adler away from their eyes. As he headed towards the back of the large garden tree, the gazes and murmurs of the people faded away. The important thing now was not to establish a relationship with Adler.
“Trixie is down, knight.”
“Yes? Hehe, look at that!”
It seemed that he was so surprised and worried that he didn’t even see what Leone was holding. Seeing Trixie in Leone’s arms, Adler held out his arms.
“I will hold her!”
“It’s okay.”
“But if anyone sees-”
“I don’t feel safe.”
“Lord Leone…”
“If you can’t find it… life…”
Leone couldn’t bear what he said after that. Adler deeply sympathized with Leone’s pain. In any case, Trixie was Leone’s benefactor and disciplinarian like a family member. Most people let their disciplinarian go first at some point in their lives. How upset he was when he lost his nanny. Adler knew too. So he didn’t ask Adler more or he asked to hold Trixie himself.
“Knight, we need to investigate.”
“I have already ordered an investigation into the origin of the fire. I’ll go to Count Petrin and ask for cooperation in the investigation, and I’ll find out if there are any people present today that I didn’t invite, or if there are any newly hired servants.”
Adler whispered secretly. It was a neat job, so Leone nodded his head without saying anything.
“We are moving right away.”
“Yes?”
“Waiting for things to be resolved here is a long time. There is nothing that will change or improve, and if I, as a member of the royal family, get hurt, Count Petrin will suffer. It’s better to move to the imperial castle at a time like this. Let’s go without delay. Go, ask for someone to put out the fire, and send someone to investigate.”
Leone left out the most important reason why he was worried about Trixie, and said it while pretending to be cold-headed. It wasn’t because he promised to have a secret relationship. Leone knew where he was. What if, in this situation, he got emotional because of Trixie? He would be seen as an immature prince who got upset because of the one he loved, and Trixie’s existence would also be exposed. So, it made sense to be cool. So he buried the burning emotions under the floor. If they were to find the biggest fire in the count’s house right now, it would be the fire in Leone’s heart. Trixie’s limp body was charring his heart.
“But, Lord Leone. If you are leaving the mansion and the wagon catches fire-”
“Then get on the horse. You can move fast.”
“Ha. Wagon… I’ll bring it. Lord Leone is said to be outstanding, but it’s difficult to ride a horse while holding a fallen person.”
Did he read Leone’s relaxed face? Or was he persuaded by the least rational reason attached to the end? At last Adler bowed his head. Adler went out from behind a tree and gave the order, and one of the escorts came for the carriage. And the group set off right away. He used the back door of the Count’s residence in the opposite direction from the fire scene. No matter how far you go to the back door, the embers fly on the wind. It was dangerous. But Leone didn’t care. It was easier and safer to keep Trixie in the middle of the fire than in a space full of untrustworthy humans.
* * *
The prince, who arrived after a long run, was silent. Leone took Trixie in his arms and headed to his room. He couldn’t afford to go to her room where the servants were staying.
A calm shock spread as the prince entered his room with the therapist in his arms, but no one opened his mouth.
“Nothing… Nothing wrong. She was just asleep. There is no trauma to her head or body either.”
Late at night, the imperial family doctor, who had been called in because of a commoner woman who was neither the prince nor the emperor, spoke in a puzzled voice about the results of the examination.
Leone nodded his head. The whole time he took her in his arms, he fully felt that she was sleeping soundly. He probably didn’t make the wrong diagnosis.
“We are looking to see if any sleeping or anesthetic drugs have been used, but drug use usually leaves traces, which are clean. It doesn’t even smell like a drug in that class.”
‘Then why?’
Why did she fall in such a dire situation? There was no chronic disease, no injuries, and no drug use, so there was no answer other than psychological shock. Trixie was the kind of person who didn’t collapse when she faced her ex again in Stud. What a scumbag his ex-husband was, he also found out from his thanks to Adler. She became a woman who held up well in front of someone who had been so abusive. Did she collapse with no external force and only a mental shock? If that’s right, what a strong shock it must have been. He didn’t know who it was, but if he found it, he would make sure there was no trace left of him from head to toe.
Leone gritted his molars. Oops, there was a sound.
“When do you think it will happen?”
“It’s almost as if she is asleep… It is normal to wake up within a day.”
“A day.”
If it didn’t happen after a day. Leone was uncontrollably nervous. He changed hard, tried hard, but it turned out like this again.
“Okay. Come out and see.”
After leaving the scented candles the doctor had lit for vitality, he bowed deeply and left the room. Leone stared at Trixie’s face, who was soundly asleep. It’s Leone’s fault for not being able to protect Trixie again, but he has no time to blame himself.
“Knight!”
Leone jumped up and opened the door. Adler, who was waiting outside, lowered his head.
“As for the support of the Marquis?”
“The Marquis of the West said he would send a unit, and the Northern side is still discussing it because there is some hostility toward the Imperial family. In fact, the army of the northern frontier would be of significant help…”
Adler let out a sigh of regret. If the first impression left on them was that the prince, whose succession to the throne has not been confirmed, orders the dispatch of troops, it would not be a good thing for Leone either. In the long run, the relationship between the ruler of the empire and the guardian of the frontier had to be close and delicate. It was said that there were cases where strange losers looked down on the frontier, but in the imperial family, the Marquis was an important and appreciated talent. So he deliberately had a long discussion and was discussing compensation. The problem was that the story was getting longer and it seemed like it wouldn’t be able to get support. Receiving such a report from Adler, Leone’s head sank coldly. Because he was so angry, everything that touched his vision became clearer.
“My mind has changed. Tell the Marquis of the North. It’s treason if they don’t send support.”
“Yes?!”
“I can’t wait forever to negotiate. The situation has become urgent.”
If nothing else, one thing was for sure.
“This is a wartime situation, like a ticking time bomb that may explode, Adler.”
The Archduke was not a mad alcoholic who lived in seclusion. It was also a treason with a plan.
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Translator Note:
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
If you like my work please support me with Ko-fi or Patreon. Next post will be released on Septembre, 13.
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