108. His House (1)

Caught off guard by the sudden situation, I couldn’t even scream and collapsed where I stood.

The abrupt stop caused the horse to thrash wildly. The horse was tethered to a lavish carriage.

In my rush to cross the road, I hadn’t noticed the approaching carriage.

I gasped for breath. My ankle throbbed, probably twisted when I fell.

“What were you thinking, jumping in front of a moving carriage?”

The coachman, holding the reins, yelled angrily. He and the horse both stared wide-eyed, clearly startled by my sudden appearance.

The carriage wheels spun in the air for a moment before crashing back down.

As the wheels settled, a cloud of dust rose, tiny grains of sand prickling around my eyes, making my vision blur.

Soon, the carriage door opened and a man jumped out.

“Are you alright?”

A dark shadow fell over me as the man, with his back to the sun, knelt to meet my gaze. He took out a handkerchief and held my arm.

His touch was warm, despite the white gloves he wore.

“Did you get hurt when you fell? Can you stand?”

Instead of scolding me for abruptly blocking the carriage, he spoke in a kind, soothing tone.

“Yes, I’m fine…”

I was about to say I was fine when I noticed the attention the carriage was drawing.

As my panic subsided, I started to notice my surroundings again. The noise of the street returned as if my eardrums had just cleared.

Street vendors, children, and even the soldiers guarding the city walls had stopped and were pointing, whispering about the commotion.

I had caused too much of a scene. The weight of their stares made me feel suffocated.

Realizing I was surrounded by a curious crowd, I panicked. I looked around frantically. If I stayed here, it was only a matter of time before I was recognized.

The sound of a whistle being blown, carriages passing by, and the gushing of a nearby fountain filled the air. The chaotic and murky noises from all around seemed to echo everywhere.

I didn’t have time to waste. Instead of taking the offered handkerchief, I grabbed his arm firmly.

“May I get in?”

“What?”

He looked up, startled, as if he hadn’t heard me correctly, his eyes widening.

“Excuse me.”

Before he could respond, I pushed past him and moved my legs, still shaky from my fall.

The carriage door was open. I quickly climbed into the large carriage, almost at chest height. My twisted ankle throbbed again. The man hurriedly grabbed the carriage door behind me.

“I asked if you were hurt…”

He blinked, his golden hair gleaming in the sunlight.

“I’m fine, I mean, I think I might be a little hurt.”

“What?”

He seemed confused as he tried to comprehend the situation.

His clear eyes reflected a complex mix of emotions: confusion, bewilderment, and curiosity.

It was no wonder he looked so puzzled. A stranger had suddenly jumped in front of his carriage, fallen down, and then climbed inside without explanation.

Unable to simply drag the unexpected intruder out, he seemed at a loss. Or perhaps he was too surprised by the suddenness of the situation to react properly.

“Then let’s get you to the nearest medical—”

“No! Please, just start moving.”

I desperately clutched his coat as he turned away. His white shirt crumpled under my grip.

I knew it was rude, but I had no other choice. Holding onto his shirt was my only lifeline. I clung to him, my hands trembling.

He looked down at my trembling hands and remained silent.

With a soft sigh, he climbed into the carriage. I quickly made room for him.

“You just want to leave, right?”

I nodded. Responding to my desperate plea, he signaled the coachman to start moving. Only then did I breathe a sigh of relief.

I glanced out the window behind the carriage. Thankfully, the imperial soldiers were nowhere in sight.

* * *

Once the carriage door closed, the world fell silent.

I tried to calm my racing heart. The inside of the carriage was steeped in silence.

He didn’t say a word, simply staring at me. I could feel his steady gaze, but I avoided looking at him. I couldn’t think of any reasonable excuse to explain why I had to jump in front of his carriage.

Soon, the carriage entered a wide avenue lined with trees. The fences were covered with rose vines, displaying their beautiful forms.

I leaned slightly against the window. At the end of the carriage’s path, I saw a mansion of a scale I had never seen before while traveling through the capital.

He must be heading home.

The grand mansion was hidden behind tall trees, making it look like a large forest from the outside.

The carriage traveled down the tree-lined street for quite a while before finally stopping. The ivy-covered mansion walls indicated its long history.

I was awestruck by the imposing sight. I had seen many fine houses, but this one was particularly grand.

“Will you get down?”

He offered his hand. I still didn’t know his name, yet his status was clear.

I took his hand and stepped out of the carriage. The gardeners and maids tending the garden bowed to the carriage.

“I will tell the maids to prepare a meal. Afterward, you should have the physician examine you.”

“That’s not necessary. Thank you for the ride. I should be going…”

He shook his head firmly, dismissing my words.

“I can’t just let someone who got hurt because of my carriage leave like that. You should also change your clothes.”

I looked down at my dress. The hem was caked with mud.

Running frantically through the streets, I must have stepped into puddles. My shoes were soaked. Only now did I feel the dampness seeping into my toes.

* * *

I changed into clean clothes in a room, guided by a maid. Without a word, they took my dirty clothes away. One of the maids then led me to a drawing room at the end of the hallway.

The staff’s manners were impeccable. Despite the curiosity they must have felt seeing their master bring in a strange woman, they showed no signs of it.

Walking through the long hallway, I saw that the mansion was even more grandiose. The candlesticks were of high quality, and the ceiling was adorned with intricate carvings and murals.

‘Someone who owns such a mansion must be…’

As the door to the drawing room opened, I saw him waiting. He had been there before me. What I had thought was golden hair now appeared as a bright brown inside the mansion.

“The clothes suit you well.”

He offered a simple compliment on my appearance.

“Thank you.”

I quickly lowered my head and glanced over him. The jeweled brooch on his chest caught my eye.

He was a man of power. His attire and the mansion itself showcased his wealth and influence.

The brooch on his chest also indicated his status. Indeed, various imperial insignias were scattered throughout the mansion.

This man worked for the Empire, and very closely too.

I had avoided the imperial soldiers only to end up in the heart of their territory. The place I had run into for refuge was a den of those who might be hunting me.

I needed to finish this meal quickly and leave. I had to play the part of an ignorant commoner.

Forcing a composed expression, I sat where he indicated.

“If we had more time, I would have shown you around the mansion. But for now, let’s have a meal and talk slowly.”

No sooner had he spoken than the table was filled with delicious dishes: roast turkey, steak, and a salad mixed with fruits.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Please, call me Rian. I work for the Empire, currently in the Secretary’s Office. Recently, I was appointed as a Royal Secretary.”

He introduced himself, adding more information unprompted. A royal secretary—just as I suspected, a person in a significant position. Despite encountering a strange woman who had jumped into his carriage, he was openly sharing his status. It didn’t occur to him that I might be a scam artist pretending to be injured to extort money.

Having introduced himself, he leisurely leaned back. By revealing his identity, he seemed to be inviting me to reveal mine.

His tactics were transparent. But I intended to act like an oblivious simpleton, just a commoner newly arrived in the capital.

“You don’t seem surprised.”

He narrowed his eyes when I showed no reaction.

“Is that a high position? I’m not familiar with royal titles.”

“Is that so?”

He chuckled.

“That’s understandable.”

He finished his introduction with a soft smile.

“Now that I’ve introduced myself, I’d like to hear your story as well.”

As expected. Since I dodged the topic, he asked directly about me.

“There’s not much to tell. I’m just an ordinary commoner.”

“No one is truly ordinary. I’d still like to hear your story.”

Though I didn’t want to, I knew it was best to give some plausible details. I picked up the knife and fork in front of me.

Stay calm and speak slowly. I gripped the fork tightly to steady my trembling hand.

It hadn’t been long since I dyed my hair. I had dyed it to the roots, so it would be a few days before any red showed. My hair grew quickly, which made me a bit nervous.

Every time he looked at me, I worried he might notice my natural hair color.

But it was unlikely anyone would easily recognize me as someone acquainted with the Empire’s elite, especially with my dyed hair and a composed story. As long as I didn’t slip up.

“So, why did you run in front of the carriage? Were you being chased? Or were you trying to escape?”

He asked nonchalantly, but I knew he was probing. He wanted to see if my story added up.

I had dealt with people like him too many times before. In the past, I might have been easily deceived.

“I didn’t do it on purpose. It was an accident. It’s my first time wandering the capital, and I got distracted and didn’t notice the carriage road. I’m sorry.”