Warm blankets and an unfamiliar scent. A soft sensation touched her stirring body. Skin smoother than any luxury fabric was wrapped around Ashika’s body.
Thump, thump. The sound of a heart that wasn’t hers filled her with an immense sense of comfort. Yet this excessively peaceful sensation felt strange.
Ashika struggled to lift her heavy eyelids. Beyond the curtained window, lazy sunlight filled the room. The decorations in the room, though simple, were made with high-quality materials and felt unfamiliar.
‘Where am I?’
Ashika frowned as she noticed the arms firmly wrapped around her body. A part of someone else’s body. She rolled her eyes to check beside her.
The disheveled golden hair gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight as if it might shatter, and the sleeping face looked infinitely peaceful. The distinct facial features clearly belonged to someone she knew well.
“Gasp…”
Ashika covered her mouth to stop herself from screaming.
‘What is happening?’
A shock so great it made her dizzy struck her head.
‘This can’t be. Why am I….’
However, escaping this place took priority over assessing the situation. Ashika slowly and carefully slipped out of the bed. The sensation of the man’s skin sliding against her bare skin felt vivid.
Her heart pounded wildly. She couldn’t imagine what would happen if Drushia woke up at this moment. The very thought made her head spin. Fortunately, Drushia seemed to be in deep sleep, still sprawled across the bed after she slipped out.
Her hands trembled and her mind went blank. What on earth had happened last night? No, what had she done last night?
‘Oh my god! That wasn’t a dream?’
Ashika quickly searched for her clothes with shaking hands and put them on.
‘I need to leave first. I’ll think about this once I’m out.’
She had to leave before that man woke up. She felt she needed to escape, terrified of the suspicions and countless questions he would have.
The building was quiet as it was still early morning. When Ashika stepped out through the front door, two knights blocking her way stopped her.
“Where are you going?”
“Where is the person who was with me yesterday?”
Ashika asked, trying to maintain her composure. The two knights exchanged glances, then one stepped forward.
“This way, please.”
Following the knight’s guidance, there was a cabin-like building slightly separated from the main house. As she approached, she could hear people’s voices.
“…Shut up.”
“Is this some new form of torture? Why not just quietly bury me in the ground?”
“I might just bury that mouth of yours.”
“You shameless bastard. Take off that knight’s armband. Aren’t you embarrassed?”
“Don’t change the subject and just tell me. Who are you?”
“Aren’t you tired of saying the same thing all night? Why not bring a parrot instead?”
“Is your name gilded? Why are you so precious about it?”
“I’m saving it because if your shit-smelling mouth says it, my name might start smelling like shit too, that’s why.”
“This bastard, seriously!”
Aegonite finally lost his patience and jumped to his feet. His face was red with anger as he exhaled heavily through his nose.
Unlike the fuming knight, Nile, who was locked behind bars, seemed relaxed. Though haggard from staying up all night, he didn’t back down at all from the large knight before him.
“So why did you take the Lady separately? I’m telling you, if anything happens to her, I’ll turn this place upside down.”
“How would you do that? Do you know how many knights are here?”
“I’m not afraid even if ten guys like you come at me, you shameless bastard. Give the Lady back.”
“Why have you been going on about ‘the Lady’ all night? Is there honey on her? Or are you something to her?”
“That Lady is my responsibility. Unlike you shameless Talion knights, I’m a man who fulfills his responsibilities.”
“Ah, seriously, this guy’s mouth is the only thing that works!”
The two were so busy growling at each other that they didn’t notice someone approaching.
Ashika stopped, her mouth open in surprise.
‘What I picked up was quite something. I thought he was a young nobleman, but he’s not even that?’
His ability to hold his ground and needle his opponent without backing down was unlike any type she’d seen before. She’d heard he was the eldest son of a viscount’s family, but his rough speech was like that of a mercenary who had been living in the gutters for a decade.
The knight who accompanied her also seemed bewildered by their argument. Aegonite was a loyal knight of Talion. It was strange to see such a man causing unprecedented trouble and getting involved in verbal fights since arriving in the capital.
“Um…, Captain.”
“What!”
Aegonite turned around with a shout.
“Oh, my lady!”
Nile recognized Ashika and jumped to his feet.
“Are you alright? Did anything happen to you?”
Nile’s question about whether anything had happened struck Ashika’s heart.
‘Did anything happen? Yes, something did. Something that turned my world upside down.’
Ashika barely suppressed her thoughts and answered.
“I’m….fine. But why did you bring Nile here instead of the main house? What’s going on?”
“That’s what I’m saying, my lady. This guy has been tormenting me all night.”
Nile raised his voice, pointing at Aegonite. Clinging to the bars with his eyes narrowed sharply, he looked like a child tattling.
Ashika covered her mouth to hide her emerging smile.
“It’s not funny. Look at my face. I haven’t slept all night. Do you see this dirt? I can’t sleep in a place like this.”
“What kind of guy is this.”
Aegonite glared at Nile with disbelief.
Ashika was equally dumbfounded. For a moment, she forgot about her current worries.
“Did Duke Talion order my companion to be imprisoned?”
“He didn’t say to treat him as a guest.”
Aegonite bluntly replied, avoiding Ashika’s gaze.
Ashika couldn’t be treated carelessly due to her status, but Nile was different. His identity was unclear—whether he was a nobleman or a commoner. Following the Duke was reason enough to detain him.
“I haven’t demanded your punishment yet. I’m still considering what to do.”
If Ashika were to bring up yesterday’s incident, even Drushia would find it difficult to protect Aegonite. Attempted assassination of a high noble. Whether done knowingly or not, this was clearly a serious crime.
Aegonite, with a reddened face, couldn’t retort. It wasn’t intentional on his part either. He had lashed out in anger. If his opponent had been another knight, it might have ended with just a fistfight.
However, his opponent was the heir to one of only four ducal houses in the empire, and a delicate lady at that. It was an inexcusably shameful act even by his own standards. Still, he wouldn’t apologize. Fourteen years of resentment was too great.
But Ashika had no time to dwell on Aegonite’s wrongdoing either. Her priority now was to leave before facing Drushia.
“We’ll postpone that discussion. I don’t want to be indebted to Talion any further. Have my companion and horses brought out.”
Aegonite looked at Ashika before turning his gaze away.
“Bring the horses from the stable.”
“Yes, Captain.”
The knight bowed respectfully and withdrew. Aegonite glared at Nile, grinding his teeth, and reluctantly opened the door.
“My sword.”
“It’s right there.”
The sword confiscated from Nile was lying on the floor in front of the iron bars.
“I guess trash only sees trash. A knight who throws someone else’s sword just anywhere.”
“This bastard, still running his mouth?”
“Why should I stop? I’d need something to be afraid of first.”
“You bastard, want to get beaten until dust flies even on a rainy day?”
“A knight should fight with a sword, not think about clubs first. Is that all you’re capable of?”
“Hey!”
Aegonite’s eyes rolled back as Nile continued to provoke him. The knights had to restrain him as he charged forward in a rage.
“Please, Captain. Please control yourself.”
“His Grace will be displeased if he finds out.”
Nile didn’t avoid the rampaging Aegonite. His hand rested on his scabbard, ready to draw his sword at any moment. Unlike his verbal sparring earlier, Nile’s expression was cold.
Only then did a chill run down Ashika’s spine.
‘He’s angry.’
She had thought that was just his personality since he engaged in endless verbal disputes. She had half taken it as a joke. The previously underestimated presence of Nile now felt different.
“Um… Nile.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The sharp gaze directed at Aegonite softened as it shifted to Ashika.
“Let’s put our plans on hold and return for now.”
“Can you ride a horse?”
As if they had never fought, Nile quickly forgot about Aegonite. Everyone internally clicked their tongues at this rapid change. Only Aegonite was still unable to calm his anger.
“I’m fine, so lead the way. Nothing good will come from staying here.”
Nile nodded and mounted the horse brought by the knight.
Just before mounting her horse, Ashika turned to Aegonite and coldly said:
“Today, for the first time, I felt sorry for Duke Talion. A servant who cannot control his emotions and causes trouble for his master is nothing but a liability.”
Ashika’s words were both advice and warning. After hearing harsh words from Nile and now Ashika, Aegonite struck a wooden pillar with his bare fist. With a thud, the wood visibly splintered.
Ashika mounted her horse with a sneer. However, the moment she raised her leg, her expression unconsciously hardened.
‘Ugh.’
As soon as she sat on the horse, a sharp pain shot through her lower body. Even the slightest movement caused a stinging pain that made it difficult to sit.
‘My god, what did he do to me.’
The thought of having to ride a horse to the villa in this condition made her dizzy.
“My lady?”
Nile approached as he saw Ashika’s face turn pale.
“Should we move with one horse if you’re struggling?”
“No, no. I can manage.”
Even if she couldn’t, she had to. Ashika urged her horse forward without hesitation. Too much time had been wasted already. The fear of encountering Drushia if he woke up made her forget her pain.
Nile followed behind Ashika silently, his face filled with concern.
