Chapter 6 – Part 23

As Ruby fell asleep, Eli quietly got up and left the mansion. Gardner, who had been waiting, followed. He gave the knights guarding the manor a quick salute and headed toward where the raiders had been taken.

“How are they?”

“They’re still alive.”

The two walked for a long time after leaving the manor. They had tied up the intruders in the middle of the woods in the dark of night, a long way from the mansion.

Tied to a thick tree, the four were unable to sit up.

“Lucky, they’re still alive.”

Eli said casually upon arrival.

The knights had tied them up as ordered and watched them from a distance until Eli arrived.

Just far enough away that the assassins would not notice the knights’ presence to feel their fear.

It would have been even more terrifying in the dark, where they could see nothing.

“Do you feel like talking now?”

When Eli gestured, a nearby knight temporarily loosened the gag on one of the attackers.

“Who ordered this?”

“Is it important who wants you dead?”

“The only thing you can answer is who ordered it.”

Before the attacker could answer, the knight swiftly kicked him in the stomach, causing him to groan and fall forward.

The sudden kick to the stomach muffled his groan into the gag.

“I am asking you again. Who ordered you?”

“What if… I won’t say it…?”

He smirked through the gag.

Eli nodded without answering, and the knight, who understood the cue, gagged him.

The silent interrogation was repeated several times.

“For the last time.”

The man, now seemingly on the brink of collapse, remained silent.

“I think that answers my question.”

Eli tried to turn his body without hesitation.

They didn’t have to be the ones who did this, there were ways to find out.

“Do you ……really…… think it was just the four of us?”

He said it with a sneer before gagging him.

The words stopped Eli in his tracks, and he glanced back at the man. The man sneered back at him.

“Sounds like there’s more.”

The man still sneered but didn’t say anything else.

Just then, a knight rushed up to Gardner and told him the news. Gardner’s expression darkened instantly.

“Marquis.”

“Tell me.”

Gardner stepped closer and reported quietly.

“We’ve spotted some suspicious activity, and we’re pretty sure it’s outsiders, but…… they’ve started a fire.”

Eli frowned at the report.

“Where?”

Eli’s face hardened instantly.

“Here. The fire is getting bigger, and we need to get out of here.”

“Secure the exit as best you can; I’ll go with Ruby from the mansion.”

“What about the intruders?”

“Tie them up with the others here.”

Eli spoke the last command in a deliberately loud voice.

“Rejoice; your friends you’ve been waiting for are here.”

The man’s face hardened.

“You will be with your companions until the end.”

Eli spoke with a grimness that didn’t match his superficially affectionate tone.

“Tie them up together and make them suffer for what they’ve done. We’ll have to move fast because of the flames.”

As Eli turned to leave, the man shouted urgently.

“I’ll talk! I’ll tell you who made me do it!”

When Eli shook his head as if he didn’t want to hear it, the knight gagged him.

“I no longer have the desire to hear it.”

Even with the gag in his mouth, the man shouted eagerly, but that was all Eli needed to hear.

“Are you sure you don’t want to hear it?”

“Yes. There are plenty of ways to know without hearing it. Do as you’re told.”

“Understood. Have you decided where to go?”

“The capital. I’m going to the temple.”

Eli’s words convinced Gardner at once.

The temple was a literal safe space, untouchable even by the imperial family.

It had been attacked a few times since it was built, and none of them had ended well.

Whether or not it was because of the temple’s entanglement, people were unsure, but it was enough to make it an inviolable space.

“Before we go, let’s take care of the rest of the mansion.”

“Understood.”

Gardner left to clean up the mess, and Eli headed for the mansion where Ruby was.

* * *

The news of the imperial marriage proposal to the Duke of Miles had spread through social circles in earnest.

“So it has come to this, after all.”

“Lady Miles is becoming the imperial concubine. I couldn’t have imagined her under anyone else’s command.”

“It will be interesting to see her with the Empress later.”

“She’ll have to sit below the empress.”

They laughed, imagining something that hadn’t happened yet.

“That would be quite a sight to behold.”

The scene they imagined was entertaining enough.

“Shall we make a bet on what expression she’ll have?”

“Sure. I bet on hiding her emotions.”

“I’ll go with a look of disdain. You know, that characteristic expression. Like, ‘You’re all beneath me anyway.'”

Then the lady mimicked Arlen’s expression.

“Oh my, it’s exactly the same. I’ll go with that too.”

“Me too.”

They chuckled and began to chime in with their own opinions here and there.

“Still, since she’s His Majesty’s favorite, what if he throws her an even more lavish wedding than the Empress?”

“Then, of course, the Marquis of Tules would object, wouldn’t he?”

“The Marquis of Tules has been coming in and out of the Imperial Palace a lot lately; isn’t that why?”

A noblewoman leaned forward and spoke in a quiet voice.

“Of course it is; the Marquis of Tules has his pride.”

“Besides, if the Empress is overshadowed by the Emperor’s favorite concubine from the start, it’s the same as announcing that the concubine will be more favored than the Empress from the beginning.”

Everyone nodded in understanding.

After all, they knew that even if the Empress was her counterpart, Arlen Miles was not someone who would humbly obey anyone.

“Is the Empress okay with this?”

“How could she be okay? She must have been quite shocked. I heard she’s been crying for days.”

Everyone sighed heavily, as if it were their business.

“While palace life is unavoidable, once she starts her social activities, we can help the Empress.”

“Right.”

Their last words ended in such agreement.

* * *

“They say there’s a sudden fire.”

Ruby was up, fully dressed, and ready to go, thanks to the knights who had woken her up on cue.

“That’s right, the same guys who attacked us at the mansion earlier set this place on fire, and we need to leave right now.”

“But… is it okay? We’re in the middle of the forest.”

“Right. That’s why the fire will keep growing. Knights, cover your noses and mouths if you have handkerchiefs. Fill the buckets with water.”

As Eli explained, he soaked a handkerchief in water and placed it over Ruby’s nose and mouth.

“You’ll need one too.”

Then, he covered his own mouth and nose with a wet handkerchief.

Ruby stared at Eli. Or, more accurately, she was staring at her and his handkerchief.

“Isn’t this… no. We need to hurry out, right?”

“Is this your coat?”

Eli grabbed Ruby’s coat and his own, soaking them both in water, and then, unable to delay any longer, he and the other knights left the manor.

The invisible flames seemed to be spreading quite quickly, and smoke was visible at first glance.

The knight, who had been briefed on the retreat route, led the way, with Eli and Ruby following. However, as they descended, the heat became more intense.

By the time they reached the entrance, it seemed to be engulfed in flames.

“Ruby, it’ll be faster if I carry you.”

Considering his pace and stride, he thought it would be better to minimize their time here.

Eli soaked himself with water from the bucket on his head and shoulders. He also wetted Ruby with water and lifted her. Her weight was nothing to Eli.

“Close your eyes, keep your head down, and count to fifty.”

Ruby hugged Eli’s neck tightly and squeezed her eyes shut.

“One, two, three……..”

She did as she was told and started counting.

It was hard to see with her eyes closed, but after a few moments, she could feel him start to move.

Eli hurried, trying to speed up his steps.

Since the knights had poured water here and there, the fire wasn’t directly touching them. However, due to the wind, the flames were swaying, making it impossible to avoid feeling the heat.

Eli, who had thought he was safe in the depths of the forest, vowed to build his next mansion more securely, taking this lesson to heart. In his mind, the yet-to-be-built mansion became safer.

Just then, the precarious tree behind him tilted.

“Marquis!”

Eli dodged, reflexively wrapping Ruby in a more protective embrace.

“Eli!”

The tree didn’t fall close, but the heat from the fire was close enough. He felt his arms and legs burn, but he didn’t care.

“I’m okay.”

Eli assured Ruby, who had stopped counting in surprise, and started walking again.

“Twenty……oh…… twenty-six……”

Ruby continued counting in a shaky voice.

“Forty…… forty-one……”

Suddenly, the heat felt like it was gone, and cold water drenched Ruby and Eli.

Ruby cautiously opened her eyes to find Eli staring back at her.

“The number isn’t over, right? ”

Even though they were soaked with water after passing through a hot area, steam rose from his body, showing the heat.

Ruby nodded, relieved that they had escaped safely. She hugged Eli, feeling his body, which was several times hotter than hers.

* * *

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories