23. Using Self-Defense in a Place Like This

The man looked at Roselia with a bewildered expression.

“What the… Let go of me!”

Before he could react, Roselia slipped into his grasp, hooked his arm over her shoulder, and pulled with all her might while bending down.

The man’s feet lifted off the ground, and with a scream, he was flung over and landed on his back with a resounding thud.

Thud-!!!

Before anyone could say anything, the man lay on the ground, unconscious from the sudden impact.

Roselia stood up, looking down at the man.

“Let go, I said.”

Who would have thought she’d use the self-defense techniques she’d learned in a situation like this…

Feeling briefly proud that her training hadn’t gone to waste, her satisfaction was short-lived as the other men turned their fierce gazes on her. Roselia gulped.

As she hesitated, the men began advancing towards her, swearing loudly.

Seeing their menacing demeanor, Roselia realized she was in trouble. It was impossible to fend off multiple burly men.

If only some supernatural power could appear to save her at this critical moment, like in a novel…

But such a thing was unlikely.

“Grab that feisty woman first!”

At one man’s shout, the men lunged at Roselia. She closed her eyes, bracing for the end.

Just then, a familiar voice rang out.

“Your Grace!!!”

This voice… Alejandro…?

As she opened her eyes in surprise, an incredible scene unfolded before her.

A long, sturdy leg flew out of nowhere, hitting the head of the man closest to her and sending him flying.

Thud-!!!

The man, struck with incredible force, was knocked to the ground and slid away, utterly defeated.

The sudden turn of events shocked the other men just as much.

Everyone’s eyes turned in one direction.

There, standing calmly and composed, was Duke Valtazar, staring indifferently at the men.

Finally realizing what had happened, Roselia called out to him.

“Your Grace…?”

Klaus, standing between Roselia and the men, slowly turned his head to look at her.

His gaze wasn’t one of concern or relief, but so cold that it made Roselia shrink back.

“You always manage to surprise me in unexpected situations.”

While Klaus was distracted by Roselia, another man saw an opportunity and charged at him.

“Who do you think you are, you damn noble!”

The man, thinking he was dealing with a mere lower-class noble and not expecting a duke to appear in such an alley, fearlessly charged at Klaus.

Despite not having wielded a sword in quite some time, Klaus, who had excelled not only in academics but also in fencing and physical training at the academy, moved without any unnecessary actions.

Effortlessly avoiding the man’s attack like water flowing, he struck the man’s back with his leg, causing the man to flail in the air.

Thud-!!!

“Ugh-!!”

At that moment, another man, who had cautiously approached Roselia and Nadia, extended his hand to take Roselia hostage.

However, Klaus, moving faster, grabbed the man’s neck before he could reach Roselia.

With a voice growling like a beast, Klaus spoke without even looking at Roselia while gripping the man’s neck.

“Is this pitiful place what you chose after rejecting my proposal?”

Spitting out his words, Klaus kicked the man he was holding in the abdomen. The man, crashing into the wall, coughed harshly and groaned in pain.

Despite glaring at the man as if he would tear him apart, Klaus’s words were once again directed at Roselia.

“Neither you nor Antonio ever seem to listen to me.”

As he turned slowly, exuding a menacing aura, Roselia unconsciously swallowed hard.

His cold and fierce gaze made Roselia feel a sense of unjustified grievance.

Who asked for help? He rushed in and handled everything without even giving a chance to say anything, so why was he glaring at her like that?

A dark aura seemed to emanate from Klaus’s back as he glared coldly.

Since it was true that she had received help from Klaus, Roselia cautiously expressed her gratitude.

“Th… Thank you.”

At that moment, Alejandro, who had been running from a distance, finally reached Klaus, panting heavily.

“Oh my, Your Grace! Do you know how startled I was when you suddenly got out of the carriage?”

Unlike the composed Klaus, Alejandro was gasping for breath as if he was about to collapse, causing Klaus to look at him with disdain.

Alejandro, brushing off Klaus’s gaze, looked around in astonishment.

“But… who are these men? No, more importantly! This isn’t the issue right now!”

Suddenly recalling something, Alejandro shouted.

“If this continues, we’ll be late for the meeting regarding the construction of Algrishia School! It’s the first meeting with the construction owner, the merchant guild leader, and the local governor!”

While Klaus and Alejandro were talking, Roselia discreetly helped Nadia and slipped away.

She couldn’t risk Alejandro seeing her face as Roselia.

Unlike the oblivious Klaus, Esteban had noticed immediately, so the meticulous Alejandro would surely notice as well.

As she quietly led Nadia away, Alejandro’s lengthy speech continued.

“Why on earth did you knock out these innocent citizens? Huh?”

Klaus, frowning, quietly refuted.

“Innocent citizens? Where?”

“Good grief! One should not judge people by their appearance! Why did you suddenly jump out of the carriage and start beating people?”

Feeling wronged by Alejandro’s accusations, Klaus, frowning, turned to look at the spot where Roselia and Nadia had been. He started to speak but stopped.

“I just found that woman bothersome…”

“Excuse me? A woman?”

Alejandro, scanning the surroundings where only the beaten men lay, looked at Klaus suspiciously.

“Where is there a woman here?”

“There was Roselia and another woman…”

“Roselia? That name sounds familiar… No! This isn’t important right now!”

Regaining his focus, Alejandro eventually grabbed Klaus’s arm and dragged him to the carriage.

Watching the scene from behind a corner, Roselia sighed in relief.

Nadia, who had been watching the situation with a puzzled expression, asked.

“But why are we hiding?”

Roselia hesitated for a moment under Nadia’s curious gaze and then awkwardly smiled.

“Well… They seemed like important people… I thought things might get complicated.”

“Wasn’t that nobleman someone you knew?”

“Uh… He was my former employer! Haha! Anyway, let’s move from here before those men come after us.”

Nodding at Roselia’s attempt to change the subject, Nadia turned and started walking.

“Follow me. Since we’ve met like this, I’ll take you to my humble home.”

* * *

Following Nadia, they arrived at a dilapidated wooden house that seemed on the verge of collapse.

One side of the roof had caved in, indicating it wouldn’t even provide proper shelter from the rain.

The interior of the house was in a similar state.

The furniture was old and broken, and there were scattered pieces of trash, making it hard to believe anyone could live there.

However, among the clutter were several canvas stands, displaying various background paintings.

In the brightest spot of the dreary house, where the sunlight streamed in the most, stood an old easel with an incomplete painting.

The painting, an abstract piece blending dazzling rays of light and rainbow-like hues, stood in stark contrast to the damp and dark surroundings.

Just looking at it made Roselia feel mesmerized, as if she were being drawn into the painting.

As Roselia stared at the painting, lost in thought, Nadia approached her cautiously with a bittersweet smile.

“It’s my last painting.”

Startled by Nadia’s sudden confession, Roselia looked at her with a puzzled expression.

In the original story, Nadia succumbs to an illness, but Roselia didn’t know when that would happen…

Observing Nadia’s sorrowful face as she gazed at the painting, Roselia hesitantly spoke.

“Why is it your last painting?”

Nervously asking, Roselia watched as Nadia smiled as if it were no big deal.

“Because I’m out of paint. I don’t even have the money left to buy more.”

It was then that Roselia noticed the old wooden palette next to the easel, its paint nearly depleted.

Nadia must have scrimped on food to buy those paints and create her artwork.

But then why didn’t she sell her paintings when Roselia, as Antonio, had come to buy them?

Unable to ask at that time, Roselia had to hold back her question.

Seeing Roselia’s complex gaze, Nadia chuckled softly and continued.

“You don’t need to look at me with such pity. I was going to give up painting anyway.”

Roselia struggled to find her voice before asking.

“Have you ever thought about selling your paintings…?”

Nadia leaned against the wall, smiling wryly at Roselia’s serious question.

“Painting was my only escape. When I painted, I could forget about this filthy reality and feel free.”

Nadia’s bitter smile was tinged with a certain sadness.

“Even if I sold my laughter and my body… I didn’t want to sell my freedom.”

Though Nadia was smiling, it felt as if she were crying, and Roselia’s heart ached.

Even without listening or looking, just seeing Nadia’s physical state and eyes revealed everything.

Nadia must have started working at the tavern from a young age, maybe even before she had grown up, doing whatever she could to avoid starvation.

She sold her laughter, sold her body, and sacrificed her entire life to survive.

In the process, she lost love, health, and hope.

For someone like her, painting was a hope she didn’t want to sell or lose.