Episode 36

“You insolent wench!”

An enraged thug raised his hand. At that moment, someone shouted.

“Don’t damage the merchandise!”

“What if it leaves a bruise?”

“Even if you’re going to teach her a lesson, do it with words! We need to sell her!”

The few who still had some sense held the thug back. He glared at me with darkened eyes.

I spoke up again.

“I just told the trash who don’t know the fear of the world that they don’t know the world.”

“You crazy…!”

“But what should I do?”

“What do you mean, what should you do? Even if you beg now…”

“I’m no different in not knowing the fear of the world.”

To be precise, I belong to the side that has nothing to fear anymore.

Rather than letting these bastards have their way, I’d rather die again and wake up after getting slapped. After all, didn’t I already decide to die a few days ago?

‘I’m doing now what I couldn’t do then.’

I precisely aimed for the knife the thug was holding and threw myself at it. I had already calculated in my head where it would be a fatal wound.

After dying so many times, I’ve roughly figured that out.

‘Let’s remember what happened this time.’

So that the same mistake won’t happen again. Or at least, so I can find a way to deal with it beforehand.

‘I’ll just do better next time.’

I controlled the surging emotions. It’s okay. Doing it again isn’t difficult.

But I couldn’t completely rid myself of the agonizing feelings.

‘It’s hard.’

It’s not okay, it’s hard.

Even as I thought that, I threw myself at the thug’s knife.

“What the—!”

“This crazy—!”

The thug, rather surprised, shouted out. Regardless, I tightly shut my eyes.

Will it hurt?

‘It probably will.’

It always did.

Just as I braced myself for death.

Thud.

My body was supported by something firm. Something warm wrapped around me.

“Ahhh!”

“Aargh!”

Then, screams not belonging to me echoed in succession.

The surroundings became noisy. Soon, a familiar smell hit my nose. The scent of blood.

My heart pounded. As I pressed down on my chest with my hand, I cautiously opened my eyes.

“…Your Grace, the Grand Duke?”

My gaze met the unreadable eyes of the man looking down at me.

And my breath caught.

‘Why…?’

It was because of the way Chris was looking down at me.

His usually unreadable eyes were now clouded as he stared intensely at me. Even though his expression was as unreadable as ever, a powerful, suppressed aura emanated from his face.

It seemed like he was either sad or angry.

His gaze made my body feel as if it had frozen in place.

‘…Chris?’

I wanted to open my mouth and call his name, but it felt as if even my lips were frozen shut. The world around me felt muffled.

It felt like my entire being was trapped within the flames of his eyes.

“……”

‘Why?’

Why was he looking at me like that? Why with such intensity?

Could it be…?

Is it possible that you detest me that much? Maybe you’ve fallen in love with Aria and now hate me, her enemy, as well.

‘If that’s the case, then why don’t you just abandon me right away…?’

Why, instead, are you holding onto me so tightly, refusing to let go?

Chris’s strong, warm arms were wrapped around my body. In this embrace, I felt as if no torture, no agony could ever reach me.

“Aaah! Aargh!”

Suddenly, someone’s scream snapped me out of my thoughts.

I quickly turned my gaze toward the source of the scream to grasp the situation.

And I froze in place.

“……”

The floor was stained with blood. The thug who had just threatened me was now writhing in agony, flailing around and splattering blood everywhere. The wound was severe.

‘He managed to inflict that kind of injury in just a brief moment…?’

As I closely observed the thug’s wound, my vision was suddenly blocked. It was Chris’s hand that obstructed my view.

“Your Grace?”

“This sight is not suitable for My Lady.”

“……”

“…If possible, I wish for you not to see such filth.”

I almost sighed without realizing it. This man who had just glared at me as if he wanted to kill me was now shielding my eyes for my sake.

‘Though it wouldn’t matter even if I saw it…’

I’m sick of seeing blood, whether it’s mine or someone else’s.

Still, I didn’t remove Chris’s hand. For a brief moment, the sensation of his large hand covering my eyes, that sense of security, felt unbearably comforting.

So comforting that it made me dislike myself for feeling that way.

“Damn it!”

The thug crawling on the floor couldn’t bear the pain and screamed out.

Soon, the men around us drew their weapons and began to surround Chris.

“Who the hell is this guy?”

Their voices trembled with fear.

After a brief hesitation, I gently slipped out from under Chris’s hand.

It felt oddly regretful to leave his embrace, but I had no choice. I didn’t want to become a hindrance while he fought.

As I pulled away, I lightly brushed his arm with my hand, and I felt Chris flinch.

“What are you doing, you useless idiots? Attack already!”

“Damn it, damn it!”

As soon as the thug shouted, curses filled the air. The hesitant men finally charged toward Chris.

“Aargh!”

“Die!”

As expected, they came at him all at once. Chris stepped in front of me, blocking my view with his broad back.

“Step back. It’s dangerous.”

I obediently retreated further, not wanting to be a burden. After a quick glance to make sure I was safe, Chris charged forward.

“Ugh!”

“Gah!”

Every movement was precise and efficient.

He dodged the incoming weapons by a hair’s breadth, then smoothly countered, slicing through his opponent’s torso with fluid precision.

“Damn it!”

“Die!”

Despite his large build, his movements were astonishingly swift. A few more men were quickly dispatched.

“Aaaah!”

Chris grabbed the neck of the man he had just been fighting and used him as a shield against another attacker.

“Aaahhhh!”

“Damn it!”

Now, only one remained.

“Die, die!”

Overcome with fear and rage, the last man threw down his sword and charged at Chris with his bare hands. Chris easily knocked him out with a single powerful punch to the face.

It was a clean, efficient display befitting the ruler of the North.

“Ugh!”

“Aaagh…”

“Argh…”

The screams quickly faded. The area was soon cleared. Only the smell of blood from the men, whether dead or alive, lingered in the air.

Chris immediately turned and wiped his sword with a cloth hanging from his waist before sheathing it. His actions were flawless, even in the end.

I quickly approached the pickpocket who had been cut down by Chris’s sword, picking up the wallet and documents scattered on the floor. Though they were stained with a few drops of blood, it was better than leaving them behind for someone else to find.

Chris, having finished everything, approached me.

“Your Grace.”

He silently stared at my hand.

Feeling a bit guilty, I fidgeted and extended my hand. Chris firmly enclosed my hand in his and began to walk.

I followed him without a word, then cautiously spoke.

“How did you…?”

“It’s dangerous to walk around a place like this alone.”

“……”

“My Lady, you and I are in the same boat.”

“Your Grace.”

“I cannot allow someone who shares this boat with me to wander so recklessly in danger.”

His voice was somehow suppressed.

Strangely, hearing those words suddenly made me feel relieved.

Even if this person hates me, he hasn’t forgotten his purpose of protecting the Duke’s family. So he came to save me, his informant and ally.

‘…I was worried that you might change, like the Crown Prince, once you started liking Aria.’

I was genuinely afraid that you might abandon our alliance because of Aria.

‘I’m glad that you can separate your personal and professional feelings.’

I sighed in relief and organized my thoughts.

“…I had some business with the Oracle. I didn’t expect Your Grace to come as well.”

“……”

“I thought I might find some information that could be useful to you.”

Chris continued to walk silently. Wanting to ease the tension, I began to speak again, saying anything to keep the conversation going.

“Oh, I borrowed Marie’s clothes… but you still managed to recognize me. How did you know?”

“I just knew.”

A calm response came back.

‘Even though I hid all the characteristics of a noble lady.’

Not only did he find me, but he also recognized me.

‘As expected, someone like the ruler of the North has exceptional observation skills.’

Though I was inwardly impressed, I didn’t forget to convey what I needed to say.

“Fortunately, there was some progress today. At the Oracle…”

“Why did you do that earlier?”

Chris suddenly stopped.

I too came to an abrupt halt, almost stumbling, but I didn’t fall thanks to his firm grip.

“……”

For some reason, I felt like I often heard questions like this from him.

Why do you go that far? Why did you do that? Why did you take such actions?

‘What does he mean by “such actions”?’

Was it about going to the Oracle alone?

About running into him and then purposely avoiding him? Or was it about following the pickpocket and confronting the thugs on my own?

Or was it…

“I saw you throw yourself onto the thug’s knife.”

I swallowed hard. Chris’s voice had dropped to a lower tone.

“Your Grace.”

“I asked why you did such a thing.”

Chris’s eyes, as he looked back at me, seemed to sink endlessly.

“I…”

What could I possibly say?

That I would revive even if I died. That’s why I was going to do it again this time.

Such an excuse wouldn’t be accepted, that much was clear.

“And I…”

His voice continued, slightly strained.

“……”

“How much longer must I keep asking you this question?”