Chapter 43: All of a Sudden

Caelan’s tilted head suggested he didn’t understand the method Bliss had in mind.

“I’ll repay the money I’ve spent so far by helping you.”

“Are you saying you want to become an aide?”

“Of course I can’t be an aide. They’re much better at their jobs.”

Bliss could look at herself objectively. She knew she couldn’t replace them.

“But that’s the only way I have right now. Um… you might not like the sword, but I’ll find my own ways to help you. And though it’s shameless of me, from now on I’ll also fulfill my duties as the lady of the house.”

Bliss carefully conveyed her thoughts. This was the solution she had come up with after much consideration. But because it was so vague, she wasn’t sure if Caelan would readily accept it, so she chose today to tell him. She hoped he would accept it generously in this festive atmosphere.

‘He let me sleep and eat here, surely he won’t coldly reject me?’

She had made sure he could sleep well since morning and treated him kindly.

“I’ll think about it.”

“…You won’t answer right away?”

If she had known this would happen, she should have given him the key when he said okay. Since the sword was all she could give Caelan right now, Bliss had nothing left.

“The answer won’t take long.”

“But I wanted to hear it today…”

Bliss mumbled with a disappointed expression before looking up at him.

“Aren’t you in a good mood right now? You slept well, and though the food wasn’t great, you ate, so you’re feeling good enough to be generous, right?”

“So that’s why you were being nice.”

Caelan stared at Bliss with a smirk. At his pointed remark, Bliss flinched and avoided his gaze. After all, she hadn’t been nice to him without ulterior motives.

“Shall we walk?”

Bliss turned around, giving up on further persuasion.

‘At least he didn’t reject me.’

There was still a chance, at least. Though she would have to be even nicer until he agreed, that wasn’t impossible.

“Bliss.”

Bliss half-turned her head to look at Caelan. Still not lowering his arms that were around her vicinity, Caelan looked down at Bliss and began to speak.

“You asked how it was during every festival?”

“What you asked about earlier?”

Bliss had asked Caelan how he spent each festival, and he hadn’t answered. She thought he didn’t want to talk about it so she didn’t press, but now Caelan suddenly brought it up.

“I was always alone.”

“Ah…”

“I spent the festivals alone.”

Despite Caelan’s calm tone, Bliss couldn’t hide her dismay. Only now did she realize she had asked him an inappropriate question.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know…”

“No need to be so sorry. I just found it uncomfortable being with others.”

Caelan calmly examined the key, turning it this way and that.

“Do you want to see it? Should we go back right now?”

Bliss quickly changed the subject. She had felt uncomfortable about touching on his painful past, but this was fortunate.

“I don’t know much about swords, but considering how we mixed metals with the iron, what kind of effect it might have…”

“Ahhh! Someone, someone is dead!”

“Kyaa!”

A piercing scream that could split ears broke between Caelan and Bliss. They both turned their heads simultaneously toward the direction of the scream.

***

Judging by the crowd gathering, there was no need to search for where the scream had come from. As Caelan pushed through the people, they frowned at him.

However, upon recognizing him, they moved aside, intimidated by his imposing presence. With Caelan going ahead, Bliss just followed the path he created. The commotion grew louder, and Caelan’s steps slowed until he stopped in the middle.

“What’s wrong?”

When Caelan stopped, Bliss tried to look past him. But as he turned around, she suddenly found herself close to him, face to face.

“You’d better not look.”

“Why not?”

“There’s nothing good to see.”

Bliss understood what Caelan meant. It seemed like she might see something unforgettable. Though she wondered if she should step back as he said… Bliss grabbed Caelan’s clothes.

“Let’s go together.”

At least for today, she didn’t want to be separated from Caelan.

“You might see something frightening.”

“You mean the dead person?”

“Yes.”

She understood what Caelan was worried about. Though he might know what he was talking about, Bliss had never seen a dead person before. So while she might be shocked as he said, she couldn’t just ignore it.

“Wait here, I’ll go alone.”

“Don’t do that, let’s go together.”

Bliss quickly added, not wanting Caelan to go alone.

“I’ll peek slightly from behind you. I absolutely won’t look at everything.”

Instead of insisting she would be fine, she compromised at a reasonable level. When she expressed what she thought was best, Caelan stopped pushing her away. Instead, he held out his hand to her. Understanding what Caelan meant, Bliss took his hand.

Preparing herself for what she was about to see, Bliss followed behind Caelan, feeling extremely tense.

Her vision was completely blocked by Caelan, showing only his broad back. While looking at his back, which might have felt reassuring if he had been completely on her side, she noticed he had stopped. Even without him saying anything, Bliss sensed something was ahead and stepped slightly to the side.

“Uh.”

Bliss let out a short cry when she saw the person lying there. The woman, fallen face down with her head turned to the side, was dead with her eyes wide open. Only the dark red blood flowing from her mouth was gradually expanding the pool of blood. Though it was a frightening sight as Caelan had worried, perhaps because she was hiding behind him, the shock wasn’t as great as expected.

“What happened?”

At Caelan’s deep voice, the man who turned around was startled but quickly approached.

“Greetings, Captain. I am Hans, the head of the guard. This woman was dining at this restaurant when she suddenly became distressed and collapsed. It appears she was poisoned.”

Hans reported all the information he had gathered without omission. While listening to his explanation, Bliss looked at the dead woman behind Caelan. Perhaps because of the blood, her unusually white skin stood out, and her blonde hair was tangled with blood. Whether she had pulled the tablecloth when she fell, her blue dress, which she had clearly worn with care today, was stained with food.

Despite Caelan’s warning about being careful not to be shocked, Bliss couldn’t take her eyes off the woman. After examining the woman from head to toe, Bliss looked at her own skirt. It bothered her that the dead woman had the same hair color as her and was wearing a dress of a similar color. But soon Bliss shook her head, dismissing it as needless speculation.

‘That’s ridiculous.’

Blonde wasn’t a common hair color in this world. Moreover, wearing a dress similar in color to hers wasn’t anything special. Though she tried to think that way and look away, she felt uneasy.

“Caelan, let’s…”

Bliss was about to suggest they leave, but then she looked down as she felt something strange. It was because of his hand that she had been holding since they entered. Why hadn’t she noticed until now? She seemed to have been too distracted by seeing the dead person. His trembling hand clearly revealed that something was wrong with him right now.

‘Why is he like this?’

Was it because he saw a dead person? But that seemed strange for many reasons. Surely he must have seen dead people more than once or twice before. As the trembling grew stronger, others were starting to glance at him strangely. When she saw people starting to whisper to each other, Bliss covered his hand with her other hand.

“Caelan.”

At Bliss’s whisper, Caelan stiffened and slowly turned his head. His face, looking down at Bliss, seemed no different than usual at first glance. However, the cold sweat on his forehead and his pale lips were unfamiliar sights she had never seen before. His unfocused eyes were the same. Bliss squeezed Caelan’s hand that she was holding.

“Come here.”

Bliss pulled his hand. She couldn’t wait for Caelan to handle that situation right now. Not letting go of his hand, Bliss stepped backward, and Caelan followed little by little.

“Be careful not to fall.”

Worried that he might fall since he wasn’t in his right mind, Bliss had to walk with extra care. Though she wanted to get away quickly, this was the best she could do since she couldn’t support Caelan herself.

Still, as they walked step by step, creating distance, they were finally able to get out. Though she checked to see if he was okay, his eyes were still shaking, suggesting he hadn’t recovered from the shock.

Bliss looked around the open area and, spotting a chair, pulled Caelan toward it. While earlier in the cramped space she could only hold his hand, now that there was more room, she supported him by holding his arm.

‘Why is Caelan acting like this?’

Though he had clearly anticipated what kind of situation it would be, the shock he received seemed greater than expected. What had affected him this much?