From the moment Edith heard Walter’s unique, sarcastic voice, she felt a mix of emotions.
She was grateful that Walter had come to her aid in what had seemed like a hopeless situation. However, she now realized that he was in an even more dangerous situation than she was.
In her mind, a scene unfolded in which Walter, exposed to Elizabeth and her accomplices, found himself in an unsafe situation, causing her complexion to grow even paler.
He was the person who had rescued her from Sophia’s scheme in the beginning, the one who had found her precious necklace, remembered her birthday, and offered her brief moments of freedom and peace.
If he were to be exposed and killed while trying to find her, she felt that she would regret it for the rest of her life.
She wanted to question him as he looked at her with an emotionless face.
Did you come here without knowing which bloodline you belong to? Why did you come here again when you don’t even know who is behind those targeting you?
However, the words she spoke with a trembling voice sounded pitiful.
“Why are… why are you here, Walter?”
“…”
“How did you get in? I sent you away.”
Walter sneered as he stared at Edith’s unwelcoming face.
Her expression, which seemed on the verge of collapsing, wasn’t amusing to him.
Every time he swung his sword at the Militia training ground, he had vague fantasies about this moment.
He imagined that when she saw him again, she would stretch out her arms and hug him, whispering that she was sorry, that it was a mistake, that she had said something that was not in her heart due to unavoidable circumstances.
When she spoke with such a tender voice in his fantasies, Walter felt like he could forgive anything, even if it was a lie she told for her own survival.
He knew it was a stupid thing to do, but if she asked him to pretend not to know, he would pretend not to know, and if she wanted him to erase it from his memory and pretend it never happened, he would do that.
But the real Edith just asked him why he was here.
Walter was at a loss as to why he had indulged in such delusions.
Despite his confusion, his stern expression just wouldn’t loosen up.
It was funny because he mistakenly thought he could do anything after being kicked out.
Yet, amid all this, Walter noticed that Edith was slightly thinner than the last time he saw her.
His heart, which had been beating like crazy from the moment he discovered her, twisted and ached as if in pain, and without realizing it, his voice came out rough.
“You’ve been hiding in a place like this for over half a day, and you’re worrying about other people, Edith.”
“How did you know how long I’ve been here?”
Instead of answering her question, Walter gestured toward the direction he had walked from.
“We have to go to the library.”
“…”
Edith followed him as he led the way. At least Walter knew that Edith was not someone who would harm him.
As they walked side by side, Walter recalled how he had ended up in this secret passage by chance.
Directing the gathered people who wanted to curse Sophia and Whitman, was the Militia’s long-running plan to seize control of Fortrion Manor.
After being locked up for seven years, Walter felt a strange sense of joy returning to the manor he had escaped from so easily.
This time, he hadn’t come to be locked up but to seek revenge against Nicholas Fortrion.
The busy servants froze when they saw the approaching militiamen and local residents.
As they surrounded the mansion and were about to find out where Edith was, Cassius, who had been leading the way through the manor, approached.
⋙“Walter.”⋘
Next to him was Vivian, who looked clearly worried.
She began by saying that Cassius had saved her from being interrogated by Elizabeth.
⋙“Walter, Lady Edith has disappeared. I think she noticed that Lady Elizabeth was looking for her and hid… It’s already been more than half a day.”⋘
Vivian stamped her feet, saying that Edith was wearing thin clothes and that she had not even been able to eat properly these days.
Fortunately, Vivian remembered that Edith had gone to the library the other day, having received a letter from the former Headmaid, and returned covered in dust.
⋙“I think there’s some sort of secret passage in the manor that starts from the library. Lady Edith knows that thanks to the former Headmaid.”⋘
After instructing a member of the militia to protect Vivian, Walter ran straight to the library.
Once he knew there was a secret passage, it didn’t take him long to find the entrance.
If he had known that Edith, who was hiding inside, would greet him so coldly, he should not have hastened his steps.
“Don’t be startled by the number of people. Just cover your face with your cloak.”
After saying that, Walter went out first and held out his hand to her.
Edith took his hand. Her heart ached as she remembered the night they spent together, recalling how he didn’t want to let go of her hand.
After hiding the entrance again and leaving the library, a huge number of people gathered.
The residence was occupied by angry people who didn’t seem to listen to anyone.
At that moment, when they thought there was no way they could break through this crowd, Walter spoke in a low voice.
“Move.”
Even though he only said one word, he exuded a sense of intimidation that ordinary people could not even imitate.
Others gradually cleared the way as if they could feel it too.
In the short time they had spent with Walter, the militiamen were left in disbelief.
“Who’s the one with Walter? Who is it?”
“Is it a maid? Or maybe…”
Curious glances followed the woman, whom the rough and fierce guy had even offered his hand to and covered her face with a cloak as he led her away.
But soon, they averted their gazes when faced with Walter’s menacing eyes, as if he were about to threaten anyone who coveted what was his.
Edith walked after him, giving Walter one of her hands.
Edith might have found it impossible to navigate alone through a crowd that seemed impassable. But, with Walter by her side, it was ridiculously easy.
After leaving the building, Walter led Edith through a secluded path to the wall at the end of the manor.
“Walter, let’s both get out of here. I will do my best to help you escape.”
She vividly remembered walking along this wall with him and laughing as if it were yesterday.
『 I didn’t use the imprisonment and release spell, so technically, Walter shouldn’t have been able to cross the barrier.』
However, as if it were a lie, he was able to cross the barrier and even entered the secret passage where she was hiding.
As she looked at him with a questioning expression, Walter moved to a place where people’s gazes couldn’t reach and conjured magic in his palm.
When Edith saw the flickering flames taking shape, she was speechless.
『 Magic? How…』
Come to think of it, when Geoffrey had kidnapped her, she had felt a similar heat when Walter hit the carriage.
Edith didn’t know much about magic, but Walter’s magical power didn’t seem insignificant, even at a glance.
“If you want to leave here, don’t avoid it.”
Walter gently stroked her cheek with the hand where magic flickered and brushed her hair.
Originally, just being in contact with a few seconds of his magic could have allowed her to cross the barrier and leave the manor, but when he saw Edith, who showed no signs of joy, his willingness to let her go quietly disappeared completely.
Then, Walter suddenly withdrew the magical power from his hands and firmly held Edith’s face with his hands.
Edith couldn’t tell whether the heat on her face was due to his magic or his touch.
But before she could open her mouth properly, he devoured her lips. Their breaths mingled roughly, as if he had no intention of giving her any time to savor the warmth of his lips.
“Walter, wait a minute—.”
He didn’t stop despite her request and kissed her even more deeply.
Edith could barely breathe. Her entire body trembled, and her legs grew weak.
Just as she was about to collapse, something hard touched her back.
Edith looked around and was startled.
Supporting her back was the tree beyond the barrier that she had always looked at.
『 I crossed… the barrier.』
It was hard to believe that she could cross the barrier without the imprisonment and release spell or without the help of an expensive mage.
At the same time, she realized what a mistake she had made.
⋙“Walter, don’t be reckless, please… You can’t save me.”⋘
Walter gazed at her under the pouring blue moonlight.
Looking into his deep, obsessive eyes, she could tell that he, too, was recalling the same moment.
“It seems wrong to say I can’t save you. But it’s also a lie that there’s someone else who can help you.”
“…”
❀.°• ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ •°.❀
