Judging by Alex’s reaction, it seemed he knew who those people were.

Could they be the ones who injured Alex? Or perhaps his subordinates?

“If your description is accurate, then it seems I know them. And it looks like they are indeed searching for me.”

“But your reaction isn’t very positive. Could it be dangerous to stay here?”

If those searching for Alex were the ones who attacked him, hiding here wasn’t a good idea.

I heard that Alex was skilled in swordsmanship.

But Alex was still not fully recovered. If a fight broke out, it would be difficult to face five people.

Moreover, one of the five was a very large man.

A man whose build seemed twice that of Alex’s.

From my perspective as an ordinary person, it was hard to imagine Alex defeating such a man.

Unless that bear-like man knocked Alex down.

Alex also seemed to be contemplating my words, looking at the warehouse door.

“Maybe.”

I followed his gaze to the door. All I could see was the dark brown wooden door.

At that moment, there was a sound beyond the door.

Before I could shout in surprise, Alex wrapped his left arm around my waist and pulled me close.

My body tilted sharply.

When I came to my senses, I was in Alex’s arms. And in his right hand, he held a sharp sword.

“Shh.”

Alex made a hissing sound, signaling me to be quiet.

I pressed my lips together and alternated my gaze between Alex’s side profile and the door.

Although it had only been a few days, Alex usually smiled when talking to me. Now, he was staring at the door with a stern expression I had never seen before.

However, the sound beyond the door did not enter the room easily.

Alex released his grip on my waist and gestured for me to step back.

I covered my mouth with both hands and walked to where the boxes were stacked, hiding behind them.

A strange tension settled in the warehouse. The sound of the rain seemed louder than ever.

“Claire, don’t come out or try to look until I say it’s okay.”

Alex spoke to me in a low voice.

I nodded quietly and held my breath.

At that moment, the door burst open with a loud noise. A sharp scream followed.

It seemed Alex was fighting the intruders in the warehouse, but I couldn’t bring myself to look.

The only relief was that the screams sounded unfamiliar.

My hands, which were covering my mouth, started trembling.

There was a sword fight happening in the space I was in.

And the person I had just been with was at the center of it.

The smell of blood mixed with the earthy scent of the rain.

As I smelled it, I realized a bit more about the kind of person Alex, or rather Alexander Berzel, was.

In the novel, such fights were described in a few lines, but for Duke Berzel, this was reality.

The life-and-death struggle, the sound of clashing metal, the sharp screams, and the nauseating smell of blood.

The reality of what I had taken lightly was right beyond the boxes.

Even if Alex hadn’t warned me, I wouldn’t have been able to step outside the boxes.

Ah, so this is the kind of person I’ve been with all this time.

Someone who wouldn’t hesitate to kill if necessary.

When I realized this about Alex, I felt a bit relieved.

At least my interference had prevented Miss from being in this place.

If Miss had been here as in the original story, I would have been the one killed by Alex’s sword eventually.

But at least in this moment, Alex hadn’t fallen for our Miss, so my life was spared for now.

Really, it was such a relief.

That Miss wasn’t here.

Though I didn’t know how long this would keep me alive.

***

“Claire.”

A voice pulled me back from my daze.

It was Alex’s voice.

I needed to respond…

But my lips wouldn’t move. The cold air wrapping around my body made me curl up tighter.

“…Claire?”

Suddenly, Alex appeared between the boxes. He frowned.

“The situation isn’t good. You should head back now.”

That’s what I wanted to say. I wanted to leave this place immediately. Ignoring the metallic smell of blood, I bowed my head.

But to leave here, I would inevitably see the bodies lying beyond the boxes.

“Come here. You can close your eyes if you’re scared.”

His low voice made my tense muscles relax a bit. But I couldn’t let my guard down.

Could I trust Alex and close my eyes?

As I looked at Alex with distrustful eyes, he reached out his hand to me.

“It’s okay. Claire, just like you helped me, I’m helping you.”

His hand was large and rough.

“I won’t hurt you.”

Don’t speak so kindly when you’re the ultimate villain. It makes me believe you…

“Hurry.”

His urging tone oddly calmed my heart.

In the end, with trembling hands, I took Alex’s hand.

Alex held my hand firmly but gently. Feeling his solid grip, I stared blankly at his face like a fool.

“Close your eyes.”

With those words, Alex pulled me close.

At the same time, my body lifted off the ground.

It wasn’t magic. He had pulled me close and lifted me up.

I was now helplessly in Alex’s arms, unable to open my eyes or push him away.

As I quietly stayed in his arms, Alex started walking with long strides.

The warehouse wasn’t that big, so it only took a few steps to exit.

I could tell we were outside because of the rain.

Once outside, the rain fell on my face.

Only then did I hesitantly open my eyes.

My darkened vision slowly began to clear.

And the first thing I saw was Alex’s expressionless face.

Noticing that I had opened my eyes, Alex looked at me.

I flinched and avoided his gaze.

“……”

Fortunately, Alex didn’t say anything.

The heavy rain covered the awkward silence.

I was grateful for the rain.

It gave me an excuse to look away.

Once I calmed down, I realized whose arms I was in.

No matter what, it didn’t seem right to be in Alex’s arms.

“Um…”

After hesitating several times, I finally spoke.

Alex still didn’t respond.

“You can put me down.”

We were already out of the warehouse, so I thought I could walk on my own.

Alex paused for a moment but then continued walking without putting me down.

“…Alex?”

“Just stay like this.”

“…Okay.”

Given what had happened in the warehouse, I couldn’t defy Alex’s words.

I quietly observed Alex.

Fortunately, he showed no change in demeanor.

When I was about to feel relieved, a bright light appeared through the dark rain.

“Huh?”

A stranger’s voice mixed with the sound of rain.

“Your Grace?”

“Your Grace, Duke?”

“Master?”

I looked in the direction of the voices.

There were the people I had seen before going to the warehouse.

So they weren’t the ones who attacked the warehouse?

It was hard to grasp the situation, so I just blinked as the five people approached us.

But Alex didn’t stop walking.

“We’ve been looking for you, Master!”

The bear-like man shouted with a twisted face, almost as if he were crying. He might have been crying for real.

I couldn’t tell if the liquid on his cheeks was rain or tears.

“Where have you been all this time?”

“Are you okay?”

“We’ve already captured that bastard Caleb.”

Despite Alex’s indifference, they kept talking to him.

When Alex didn’t respond, they exchanged glances and fell silent.

They seemed to communicate with their eyes.

After that, they followed behind Alex.

I hadn’t realized they were Alex’s subordinates.

No wonder they were searching in such weather.

I thought they were the ones who stabbed Alex.

But the gazes of the people gathering behind us were piercing.

I understood.

It must have been strange to see their superior suddenly appear holding an unfamiliar woman.

But I had no special relationship with Alex.

Just a simple… life-savior relationship?

I awkwardly greeted the people following Alex.

Still, their gazes didn’t waver.

“She is my savior. Show her respect.”

Alex spoke, noticing my discomfort.

“What? Savior?”

“This person?”

The bear-like man and the mid-teen boy asked in surprise.

Alex didn’t answer them either.

Eventually, the bear-like man, the boy, the plain-looking man, the handsome man, and the slightly prickly man stopped looking at me strangely, but their curiosity seemed to grow.

Finally, we reached near the Maynard estate.

Alex put me down.

As soon as my feet touched the ground, my legs almost gave out. But Alex quickly supported me, preventing a fall.

“Thank you.”

I thanked Alex for supporting me.

Alex smiled faintly and released his hold. There was no need for him to hide his identity as a duke anymore, but he still treated me kindly.

“Don’t go to that warehouse anymore.”

“Yes…”

I hesitated, bowed to Alex, and started walking toward the estate with unsteady steps.

The bustling conversation of Alex’s followers faded away.