Save Me

50. The Distance That Feels incredibly Far Away.

 

“Do you want me to be scared?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Concentrate.”

It was still his usual cold speech and distant conversation.

But for a moment, Elizabeth felt as if Jillian Baloch was incredibly far away.

Is this because I have seen the other side of this man who always kept his distance from everyone equally?

He was right in front of her, but he seemed more distant than ever.

It was as if even the time they shared together while guarding the battlefield had turned to ashes.

Elizabeth, who had been quietly looking at Jillian, bowed her head slightly.

Since they weren’t close enough to say what they were worried about to each other, all that was left was an apology.

“Sorry.”

Her fists tightly curled.

 

***

 

‘Do not be complacent. The Duke has to face the monsters alone!’

At that time, I was angry and embarrassed, but thinking about it, Elizabeth’s words were right.

Hailey told Elizabeth that she was wrong, but Bianca thought otherwise.

They just had different perspectives.

Of course, she was hurt by the harsh and accusatory tone of speech she received.

But Elizabeth was a knight.

She must have been present at the scene where life and death were at stake, so the life of the Duke of Baloch that she had seen must have been much more dangerous and intense.

Therefore, it made sense that she reacted that way.

Seeing it that way made her sad and resentful heart feel a lot lighter.

But it soon felt heavy again.

While she thought she was doing what she could for him, didn’t she feel a little complacent?

Bianca slowly listed the things she could do.

Deep in thought, Bianca stood up from her seat.

Besides managing the Baloch main castle as a hostess, there was something else that only she could do.

“I have to go to the study.”

Something that only those who lived in Termina could do.

Bianca clearly remembered the feeling of discomfort she had occasionally felt while talking to Jillian.

What on earth was that ‘sin’?

The first time she started looking through the books was because she thought that if she asked someone these questions it could be seen as ‘Termina’s Spying’.

But now things were different.

Bianca knew that Julie, Rappin, and Hailey all truly cared for her and welcomed her, but she decided not to ask.

They were too overprotective of her.

If she asked about the prophecy, they would probably end up talking to Jillian.

Then……

Bianca sighed softly.

Jillian was no less overprotective than them.

Even if she only brought up something about the prophecy, there would be a big fuss.

Obviously, she wouldn’t be able to do anything then.

“I think you should rest a little more…”

Julie felt worried while touching Bianca’s attire.

“I’ve had plenty of rest. Mr. Benson has confirmed that it’s safe for me to move around now.”

Bianca knew what Julie was worried about.

The young maid fidgeted every time she went out, as if she were a snowman in a warm room.

It was natural, since she had already collapsed twice.

“I would love to see the documents…”

“No!”

Bianca, who couldn’t finish her words before Julie heartedly jumped in, smiled brightly.

“Why don’t you read some books, Madam?”

“Of course, that’s what I wanted to say. I’m going to the study today to read some books and relax.”

“Good idea.”

“I think I’ll read some fairy tales or books about old myths.”

“Then, should I prepare some cookies?”

“Good idea, Julie.”

Bianca now knew all too well how to handle her own people.

How to hide what she wanted to do.

Although she was such a timid person when she came to Baloch territory, Bianca was originally like this.

She hid everything without a trace, and quietly got what she wanted through patience.

If it weren’t for that, she wouldn’t have survived until now.

But why did I act so foolishly since coming to Baloch…?

Was it because I was still adapting…?

No.

Bianca resolutely dismissed these thoughts as excuses.

That was merely self-pity.

Her body was originally weak, what she was given was meager, and the situation was always bad.

Yet, she never once got sick or cried in the palace.

She always stood quietly in her place with a clean face. 

It was here that she could cry, suffer, and laugh…

‘This is your home.’

Only in Baloch.

“Come to think of it, eating only cookies isn’t good for your health, so if you’re hungry, should I prepare something light for you?”

“No. If I eat something in the afternoon, I don’t think I’ll be able to eat properly for dinner.”

As Bianca answered Julie’s question, it occurred to her that she had been invited to a ‘dinner’.

“Oh, by the way, I’ll be having dinner with the Duke.”

“Yes, I will prepare for it.”

Even though the said preparation was only a change of dress to what she was wearing, Bianca couldn’t hide her admiration at Julie’s words, which were quite like those of a maid.

“Okay, then let’s go.”

“Yes, Madam.”

The steps she took with a smile on her face were unbelievably wide.

The sight of Julie walking briskly with long strides made it clear that she still had a long way to go before she could truly refine her ‘maid’ demeanor.

But, this was just the beginning.

Bianca knew that Julie, who had been brewing and serving her tea, became adept at it in less than a month.

This child learns quickly and has a good basic posture.

She’ll be perfect before next spring.

Julie’s transformation will be complete before Baloch opens its door to the outside again.

“The sun is so nice. I can’t remember how long it’s been this sunny.”

 “It’s nice.”

“It’s a perfect day for reading, Madam.”

“Yes, yes.”

The familiar chatter and responses, now well-known to everyone, echoed peacefully through the corridors of the mansion.

And, that day, Bianca was able to read most of the northern fairy tales in the library before dinner.

She didn’t get anything new.

However, six volumes of folk tales and old mythes still remained.

Bianca took one thick volume of folk tales with her.

Before she knew it, the sun had set and the area outside the window had turned bright red.

 

***

 

“Welcome. Thank you for your hard work.”

Since late afternoon, the Baloch main castle had been noisy.

The captains of each Castle had arrived.

Unlike how they usually come separately, this time three of them came together, so there was a lot of commotion to welcome all of them at once.

Thud.

As he put down the heavy axe, the stone floor rang like a bell.

“I want to wash up first.”

“Of course, Commander Killian of the 5th Citadel, I will guide you there.”

“Who are you?”

“I am Alec, the butler of the Baloch family.”

“Huh? Hetroysen?”

“Yes, my grandfather served the previous Duke as his butler.”

Even though it was noisy and chaotic, Alec guided the captains of the castle skillfully.

Starting with the rough and unpretentious Killian, and extending to the prickly leader of the Third Fortress, Raymond, as well as Blatt from the Seventh Fortress, who treated the castle as his own home.

Alec greeted the different captains without much hustle.

Hailey, who was waiting nearby in case he needed help, was impressed by the sight.

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

Alec, delighted by Hailey’s genuine admiration, took out his pocket watch and worried about the captains of the 2nd and 4th castles who had not yet arrived.

“The other two should come quickly as well. There are still two hours left until dinner, but I’m still worried.”

“They all came.”

“What?”

This wasn’t his first dinner since becoming a butler.

Alec had been guarding the door all day.

But, he was surprised to know that they had all come without him knowing.

Hailey smiled at Alec.

“I think you may not know this since it is military information.”

“…They infiltrated…”

“Yes.”

“Pardon?”

Alec’s surprised expression was quite giving.

Hailey admitted that she had been being mean without realizing it and explained it to him kindly.

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you again. I am Captain Hailey Armour of 4th Citadel. I am currently working as the Chief Handmaiden by the Duke’s orders.”

“Uh, but the wave… ”

“I missed it. By the way, the Captain of the 2nd castle is Creta Barhan.”

“Sir.”

Alec couldn’t hide his bewildered expression.

Hailey added refreshingly to Alec.

“The commander of the First Citadel is his highness, the Duke. Did you know that this place, Baloch’s main castle, is also called the First Citadel?”

“No, I didn’t know, not yet…I thought I was well-educated, but it seems I still have a lot to learn.”

But the surprise was short-lived; he soon regained his composure and smiled at Hailey.

If it weren’t for his blushing ears, she might not have noticed his embarrassment.

“Is there anything else I should know?”

“No.”

“Still, that’s fortunate. It’s not that I don’t trust the Duke, but I was worried about the safety of the Duchess due to the incident that happened in the territory, so it’s reassuring to know that there are two captains in the main castle.”

“Of course, his highness wouldn’t be so careless about the main stronghold.”

Hailey smiled at Alec, opening her mouth wide to reveal her white teeth.

She also didn’t forget to subtly let out some energy.

“That’s fortunate.”

Alec smiled so brightly that his eyes were almost invisible, just like Hailey’s.

He looked genuinely happy.

Even while facing danger.

That was when Hailey’s smile disappeared.

‘Suspicious.’

Today, Hailey’s demeanor was clearly intentional. 

It was a strategic move to subtly convey the stronghold’s overall situation to the new butler, Alec. 

She vividly recalled Creta’s serious expression while warning her about the “suspicious butler.”

Despite his sickly appearance and capable yet seemingly frivolous demeanor, Creta Barhan was unpredictable and enigmatic.

A young man who seemed flawless but was full of vulnerabilities and made frequent small mistakes, was more than capable of making people let their guard down.

In that form, Creta reigned as the best informant of the Baloch tribe.

There could not be a power that Creta did not know in this Baloch.

It was foolish to blindly trust a stranger just because of the name ‘Hetroysen’.

After observing for a few days, neither Creta nor Hailey could find anything wrong with the new butler.

That was the most annoying thing.

In this world, there was no such thing as a perfect human being except for Baloch

But how can someone from a family that only served as a butler be this perfect? Rather than observing secretly and catching him red-handed, she concluded that it would be better to reveal her cards and issue a warning.

That was why the identities of Hailey and Creta, who had been hiding their identities the whole time, were revealed.

“I wish those who blindly aim for the main castle would understand this.”

Hailey wore a bright smile, even as her body radiated a thrilling aura.

“Surely there is no idiot, who is trying to blatantly break in.”

“Whether it is overt or not, the main castle of the Baloch has never been pierced.”

“That’s amazing.”

“It’s basic.”

There was a subtle strength in the exchange.

“I ask that you continue to work hard in the future.”

“Of course.”

The young butler turned his back on Hailey, seeming strangely cheerful.

The young butler’s silent gait as he walked away became familiar.

It was the knight’s gait, long and straight.

Creta is a male, it was bluntly revealed in this chapter. I don’t think I can efficiently edit all the previous chapters that contain Creta’s name, so please be lenient with me. I think it would be much worse if some chapters are edited and some others are not🥲.