Chapter 4 – To The North (Part 5)

“Your Grace!”

As soon as Reubellina was out of the room, the knights who had identified the assassin who had pointed his sword at her drew their swords. Most of the knights were outside, so there were only a few guarding the corridor.

‘He was waiting in advance.’

Reubellina could surmise that the one aiming the sword in the assassin’s attire at her was someone who had been hiding as an innkeeper in advance.

Seeing the trembling tip of the sword, he seemed flustered. As the trembling sword tip left a cut on Reubellina’s white neck, the surrounding knights became even more tense.

“If you don’t release the people you captured downstairs, this woman will not live!”

“This woman?”

The title she was addressed with bothered her more than being held captive. The corners of Reubellina’s eyes twitched upward at the unfamiliar sound. The voice that escaped her throbbing lips was filled with anger. It was an anger that could not be ignored by those who knew her.

Though she was not someone who easily got angry, once she did, it was unstoppable. So Reubellina tried her best not to get angry if possible. However, being referred to as ‘this woman’, when she was the ‘Stella’ of society and the one and only heir to the Duchy of Asillious, was intolerable.

“This woman?”

As she muttered with gritted teeth, her private musing seemed to affect the assassin’s tense grip, and as the stinging sensation was felt, she couldn’t bear it any longer. Reubellina lifted her foot slightly and stamped the heel of her shoe on the man’s instep. Light as a feather and graceful as a stroke, it was a stab that even the knights watching were unable to stop.

As the assassin’s sword swung clumsily, Reubellina blocked it with the fan she was holding. Though it was uncommon, there were noblewomen who learned self-defense using a fan in the harsh society. It was one of those moments when Reubellina’s preparedness for dangerous situations due to her status as a noblewoman shone.

“Capture him!”

As Reubellina freed herself from the assassin’s grasp, the knights rushed in and grabbed the assassin disguised as an inn clerk.

Stepping back and observing the situation, Reubellina stepped forward once it was sorted out. At the end of the corridor, she saw Sandy running towards her. She was carrying a small tray with a warm towel for Reubellina, who was having trouble sleeping in this strange place.

“Miss!”

As Sandy checked her all over while asking if she was okay, she widened her eyes upon seeing the wound on her neck.

“How dare anyone lay a hand on my lady like this!”

Without hesitation, Sandy swung the tray towards the kneeling assassin, who was being held down. With a clear *clang*, the tray struck the assassin’s head, and that was just the beginning. The knights, unable to intervene, watched as Sandy relentlessly battered the assassin with the tray.

Reubellina was no different. Since she didn’t feel the need to intervene, she let Sandy do as she pleased. The sound of the tray hitting the head echoed several times, and each time, Sandy’s tray sparkled as it struck.

When Reubellina didn’t step in, the knights couldn’t intervene either. For now, with the Tartenon below, she was the highest command here.

After much time had passed, the speed of the tray swinging gradually decreased. Sensing Sandy getting tired and out of breath, Reubellina finally raised her hand.

“That’s enough.”

“Yes, my lady!”

As soon as Reubellina spoke, Sandy stopped swinging the tray so fiercely. Looking at Sandy, who was defiantly standing beside her, it was hard to tell if it was out of anger or exhaustion. The knights averted their eyes as Reubellina smirked at Sandy.

‘She’s definitely not an ordinary person.’

‘Of course not. The commander wouldn’t have chosen just anyone.’

‘Her temperament isn’t ordinary either.’

Laughing while watching the assassin being beaten was not something anyone could do. Reubellina’s graceful attitude even in the face of assassination threats was noble, but to the knights, it didn’t seem like nobility but rather like the indiscriminate force of Tartenon, their commander.

‘They say people who resemble each other end up together…’

This passing thought crossed the minds of all the knights present. They held their breath, waiting for Reubellina’s next words.

“It seems the imperial family is in a hurry.”

“Huk!”

“Kak!”

Sounds of surprised gasps could be heard from various places. Even the knights of the Tartenon had suspected that there was something sinister behind this. That someone powerful was behind this.

But they couldn’t bring themselves to say the name. It would be blasphemy against the imperial family to mention them without proof.

“Isn’t that right?”

The assassin, whose face was now heavily bruised, had lost the composed appearance he had earlier. But he desperately shook his head, trying to regain his composure.

“Oh, yeah?”

Reubellina said nonchalantly, even as the assassin moved his head from side to side. The assassin’s head moved more violently, but the knights pretended not to notice. Reubellina was the power here, and her word was law.

Reubellina gazed at the knights with innocent eyes. Realizing her intent, one of the knights cried out loudly.

“How could the imperial family, which is supposed to protect the nobility, be behind such an act!”

“This is unacceptable!”

“We must go protest immediately!”

“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that, but I must write a letter right away to Father.”

There was no one here who didn’t know who the father Reubellina was talking about. To tell him, the man who had a duty to protect his heir, was to formally complain to the imperial court about the incident. The knights of the North waited with bated breath for Reubellina’s next words.

Tartenon,  who had come up after dealing with the situation downstairs, was likewise in the same position. He had rushed in, leaving Phailus behind, upon seeing the sword pointed at Reubellina’s neck. A few other knights hurriedly chased after Phailus.

He was marveling at her astuteness in skillfully extricating herself from the danger. So was Heather.

“As expected! Isn’t our visionary remarkable?”

“When did you start calling her our visionary?”

“Well done!”

Bruelin’s bruising words fell on deaf ears. He shook his head in disbelief as Heather looked up to Reubellina with sparkling eyes. He turned to Tartenon, hoping for some sort of reassurance, but he was no better.

Tartenon, standing in place, didn’t move until Reubellina mentioned Duke Asillious.

“You’re writing to the Duke?”

“Yes.”

Reubellina casually responded to Tartenon’s question. It hadn’t even been a day since they left the capital for the North. The fact that they were attacked during this time indicated that whoever orchestrated this had moved quite cunningly.

“What about informing him after we arrive in the North?”

“That would be too late.”

Reubellina was firm. She couldn’t overlook anything related to safety, even if it seemed insignificant. But Tartenon, who had experienced such incidents more than once, tried to persuade Reubellina.

“The Duke will worry unnecessarily.”

“He won’t. This is about the safety of the heir, and my father must act.”

“The heir?”

“That’s right. My safety as the heir to the duchy.”