While taking deep breaths to expel the stale air from my body, I suddenly sneezed from the cold that stung my nose.
“Achoo!”
I had forgotten I didn’t have an overcoat. Now that the tension had eased, I could feel the winter wind that seemed to cut through my flesh. As I huddled and shivered, the man who had followed me out took off his cloak.
“You might catch a cold……”
When I fiercely pushed away his hand that was trying to place the cloak on my shoulders, the man hesitated. After blinking in surprise, he soon frowned.
“I understand you haven’t been a noble for long, but was this dignified pride born in you?”
“It has nothing to do with status. I simply don’t want to wear the coat of someone I don’t know.”
After I retorted to his seemingly mocking words, the man laughed lightly. His expression was so gentle that it was impossible to imagine he could silently cut someone’s body.
“It hurts my feelings when you say you don’t know me. Haven’t you seen me twice already?”
“Then tell me your name. If you really want us to be acquainted.”
He wouldn’t tell me his real name, of course, but thinking it might provide some clue, I looked at him directly. After gazing at me with calm eyes, he finally spoke, raising one corner of his mouth,
“Quido, is my name. Next time, I would like to have tea with you……”
Suddenly, Quido’s eyes changed, and he hastily stepped back. Standing there in a daze, I let out a small scream as a shadow blocked my view, suddenly pulling my shoulder.
The fresh yet dry scent of grass poured over me like an ambush. Held in strong arms, I felt my heart racing as if about to leap out. Even without seeing his face, I knew who it was.
“La…… Lord Damian!”
“Are you hurt.”
My whole body felt like it was melting at his low voice, so I quickly grabbed his clothes. The tension I had been trying to suppress in front of Quido disappeared like melting snow. Somehow, I felt like I might burst into tears.
As I shook my head, Lars’s arm around my back tightened. I heard Quido running away. I knew Lars’s eyes were following Quido over my shoulder.
“Who was that? Yanken!”
“Don’t chase him!”
I pulled him back as he turned around, seemingly calling to his companions. Finally, he lowered his head and our eyes met. Beautiful green gems sparkled through the darkness above his black mask. I swallowed hard, feeling breathless before those eyes that held a sharp coldness.
“Don’t chase him?”
“I think it’s better if you remain hidden, Lord Lars. In any way.”
“What does that mean?”
As Lars frowned, I rolled my eyes.
“Well, I just have a feeling……”
“Wait.”
Lars spoke sternly and grabbed my arm. He rolled up my sleeve, his gaze sweeping over my wrists where blood had dried.
“You’re hurt.”
The end of his voice grew heavy with force, making my heart shrink as if I was being scolded.
“I-it’s nothing. I just scratched myself trying to untie the ropes.”
“The culprit.”
“Ah, Troy is in the warehouse. He said he was alive, but I’m not sure if he really is.”
“Troy?”
“Troy Langberton. The lover of the woman who died, Laurel. The one who caused her to go into debt.”
“Why would he……”
Lars stopped mid-question, seeming to have figured it out. He too would know the rumors. With narrowed brows and eyes full of questions, he looked at me before clicking his tongue briefly.
“Let’s go back and talk. You’re a complete mess. Get up.”
As he stood close to support me and tried to wrap his arm around my waist, something suddenly flashed through my mind. I hurriedly pushed him away and stepped back, causing his sharp eyes to narrow.
“Lucienne.”
“No, it’s just…”
I felt my pride hurt having to speak honestly, but I didn’t think vague excuses would work with those knife-like eyes. Feeling heat rise to my face, I stammered,
“Don’t I… smell too bad? Achoo!”
Unable to meet his eyes, I let my gaze wander aimlessly when another sneeze burst out. As I sniffled, I heard a long sigh. Looking up, I saw Lars watching me with a disgruntled expression.
“Of course you do. You were loaded onto a cart that carried dead livestock. I see you’re well enough to worry about such things.”
How could I not care? Especially with you so close. When you should be surrounded by nothing but flower scents, not this terrible stench!
As I silently pouted, Lars exhaled faintly and took off his outer coat. In the blink of an eye, he stepped right up to me and wrapped me in his widely spread coat. Since it was so large, it wrapped around me almost twice, instantly providing cozy warmth.
“I’m running out of cloaks.”
At his grumbling words, I brightened my eyes and retorted,
“I washed that one. I’ll return it.”
I wriggled trying to free my arms, but Lars frowned and firmly secured the ends as if to say it was useless. Shaking his head, he spoke in a blunt tone,
“Can you walk?”
“My legs are fine. Actually, I’m completely fine. I’m not hurt at all.”
I smiled brightly, but his brow only furrowed more. Finally, Lars raised his hand and flicked his finger against my forehead with a snap, making me hunch my shoulders.
“You find this funny? After being kidnapped and locked up by some guy? Do you have any idea how many people have been searching for you, you troublemaker!”
“Still.”
Unable to free my hands, I blinked to endure the sting and smiled again.
“You came first.”
Though his lower face was covered with a black mask, I could tell exactly what incredulous expression he was making. This time, it was the man standing behind him who sighed. Only then did I shift my gaze.
I thought that even if I had to steal honey from in front of a bear, having someone like him nearby would be reassuring. Although right now, he looked like he might throw me to that bear.
As I lowered my gaze with an embarrassed face, I heard Lars’s voice,
“Go and spread the news that Lucienne has been found. Tell them I’m coming and to send people in shifts. Send a carriage too.”
“Understood.”
The man gave me a sidelong glance with eyes like a long-starved predator, then began running into the darkness. Only after seeing him get far enough away did I open my mouth in discontent,
“This is my first time seeing him, but it doesn’t seem to be his first time seeing me?”
“If you have energy to chat, explain what happened.”
Cutting off my question, Lars spoke in a low voice,
“Who was that man who ran away?”
I needed to gather my thoughts. I chewed on my lip and quickly turned my mind.
The fact that he knew about Nina meant he had been watching me very carefully. What I didn’t understand was why it was me and not Kirhin who was being watched.
If Lars found out about this, he might really put me in some unnamed convent. But I absolutely couldn’t let that happen. So what I needed to do was…
……use this in reverse to become more deeply connected with him.
“Lucienne.”
His languid but insistent voice grabbed the thread of my thoughts and urged me on. As I slowly walked alongside him, I opened my mouth,
“He said his name was Quido. I first saw him on the day of my brother’s succession ceremony. And I suspect…”
After taking a moment to catch my breath, I looked up at Lars and said,
“He might be one of Count Balshwin’s people.”
* * *
Kirhin was pacing anxiously in front of the mansion with his neck stretched out. His head felt like it might explode.
He had sent people to search the city thoroughly, questioning everyone about Lucienne’s whereabouts. Tom the butcher gave the same answer no matter how many times he was asked. He didn’t seem to be lying, but Kirhin couldn’t just let him go.
Unable to make sense of it all and not knowing where to look, he had wandered until dawn when Yanken brought him news that made his legs give way.
He was glad Lucienne was safe, but he couldn’t understand how Lars had found her. One thing was certain, Lars seemed to care about Lucienne more than he had thought.
The Lars that Kirhin knew was a man with clear purposes. He didn’t know the details of what Lars was trying to do, but he knew what he ultimately aimed for.
Lars was helping Prince Pelowic.
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Breezy
Lucienne is too calculated, i like the fact that she doesn’t just want to wait for life to happen to her but seriously you can tell that sometimes she is very short sighted.