He didn’t know exactly what had happened to make the black bird fly to him. However, if someone in this villa had done something to Saena, there was a chance they wouldn’t let him in. So he proceeded with the trespassing without hesitation.

There seemed to be several knights inside, but Constantine, having made up his mind, could slip inside without encountering any of them.

— There’s an Oathkeeper? Must be the horse cub’s master?

And his heightened senses caught a familiar energy. Definitely Lucas’s energy.

The problem was that Hips’ energy and Lucas’s energy were coming from the same place. And no matter how he looked at it, that place was…

‘A bedroom…?’

— Oh! Master! Looks like your wife’s having an affair! Well, what else could she do when you’re so unlucky! This is great! Break up now!

“……”

Caligo’s words, which he would normally have dismissed as nonsense, seemed to pierce his heart.

His eyes sank bottomlessly dark and his hands began to shake. When he clenched his fists, the healing cuts burst open and began bleeding again, but he couldn’t feel it.

Taking advantage of the gap, Caligo caused another commotion while eagerly lapping up the drops of blood, but Constantine had no energy to mind Caligo.

Because suddenly, he felt afraid to look inside the door.

‘……’

But then he remembered the black bird’s existence again.

‘No. The bird flying to me means something unfortunate happened.’

When that thought occurred to him, he regretted even the moment’s hesitation.

He drew his sword and crossed the threshold.

* * *

“…Constantine?”

Saena was startled.

She was surprised to see someone who shouldn’t be here, but also because of his complexion, which she had never seen in all their time together. Not only was his expression frozen like ice, but his complexion was like ice too.

‘…What in the world.’

Then she saw that he had drawn his sword. He had the air of someone who had come here for battle.

“Kramer? Why are you… No, and what’s this smell of blood?”

At the word ‘blood’, Saena looked over Constantine again in surprise. Now that she noticed, there were spots of blood splattered on the hem and front of his white uniform, and red stains on the ends of his sleeve and gloves.

“Are you hurt?”

When Saena approached him in concern, Constantine flinched and took a step back.

“Are you hurt?”

Saena asked again.

“…No.”

Constantine, finally answering, quickly sheathed his sword.

As he bent his arm to put the sword in its scabbard, Saena saw that the back of his sleeve was even more soaked than the front.

“No? Then why!”

Startled by the extensive bloodstains, she reflexively grabbed his forearm. She felt his body stiffen under the fabric.

He stepped back again. In the process, he naturally made her hand fall away.

Even in this situation, she could see him struggling not to touch her.

“……”

Now Saena’s face hardened.

“No. If you’re hurt, you need treatment right away! Wait a moment. I’ll quickly get medicine.”

Lucas, seeing that something was wrong, said he would get medicine and went outside. After Duke Aberdeen left, Constantine spoke in a slightly subdued voice.

“…The black bird came, so I came wondering if something had happened. Was there nothing?”

“The black bird?”

Did he come all this way in that condition because of the black bird?

In the confusion, she hadn’t even noticed the black bird was gone. Saena traced her last memory of the bird.

Her last memory was putting it between the clothes she would change into after the hot spring. Then it must have flown away from the changing room…

“It would have reacted to your scream or shock.”

“Ah… Then it must have been because of the scream.”

“Why did you scream? What happened?”

He asked sharply.

“Something startling happened because of Erenhorn.”

“Eren, horn?”

“Yes. He suddenly appeared…”

“Suddenly appeared, and then?”

He licked my neck… Should I tell him this?

He doesn’t look well, and what if he starts a fight with Duke Aberdeen?

“I was startled but everything was resolved well.”

Hoo. He let out a quiet sigh while rubbing his face.

“So nothing serious happened?”

“I’m more concerned about what happened to you… Why don’t you sit down?”

The bloodstains on his sleeve worried her more than Erenhorn. His pale complexion as well.

“No. I’m glad nothing happened to you. I should head back now.”

“…But.”

“Complete your schedule as planned and return afterward.”

“Constantine! At least get treatment before you go!”

“…It’s not my blood. Don’t worry.”

“……”

“I’m sorry for interrupting your trip.”

He ended the conversation unilaterally and turned around, wrapping his cloak widely.

Unlike the front, the cloak was large and dark-colored, making blood splatter less noticeable. Perhaps because of this, even if he was injured, it would be hard to tell from his back view.

His departing figure was so composed that Saena couldn’t even think of stopping him again, and could only stand there lost in thought.

“Huh? Where did he go? Did he leave already?”

Duke Aberdeen had returned with a servant, carrying what appeared to be first aid supplies on a tray.

“Yes. He thought something had happened to me. Once he knew that wasn’t the case, he left.”

“…What happened? He must have planted something on you?”

“Pardon?”

“That guy’s also quite severe.”

Aberdeen muttered while sending the servant away.

“Kyu?”

Yolly, who had been observing the situation blankly until now, got down from the bed and trudged to where Constantine had been standing.

He put his nose to the floor and sniffed, then wagged his tail. He turned back with what seemed like an unpleasant expression.

“Yolly? Why…”

Looking closely, she could see several drops of blood where Yolly had been sniffing.

Red blood drops…

If it was enough to drip rather than just staining his clothes… could it really not be demonic beast blood?

“…Is demonic beast blood red too?”

Saena asked Duke Aberdeen just in case.

“Hmm. Similar but different. More bright red or dark red. Some are green or blue too.”

“……”

“Besides the color, demonic beast blood smells different. Usually quite foul.”

No matter how she looked at it, she could only conclude that Constantine was injured.

Saena fell into thought again, recalling his departing figure in her slightly dazed state.

“…I think.”

She couldn’t stop worrying.

“I need to go back.”

“Madam?”

“I’m sorry, but could you take me back?”

She had to ask since Duke Aberdeen’s help was essential to use the warp gate.

“…Alright.”

Her short trip ended like that.

Saena had to apologize to a very disappointed Floria and promise to come back again, saying she would stay much longer next time.

The carriage ride, which hadn’t felt long on the way there due to her good mood, felt extremely long on the return journey.

* * *

After completing two warps, they arrived at Kramer territory when the sun had already set considerably.

When she arrived at Castle Cream with Sir Rupert, it was midnight. The sudden arrival of their lady in the middle of the night without notice caused an emergency among the employees.

“Madam.”

Nadia came to find Saena after hearing the news.

“Where is His Grace?”

But Saena asked about his whereabouts first before anything else.

“I believe he’s in his bedroom.”

“Already?”

It was a bit early for Constantine to retire according to his usual pattern.

“Yes. He said he would retire early today and ordered not to let anyone in.”

‘Anyone.’ She wondered if that ‘anyone’ included her as well.

She hesitated for a moment.

“Madam, have you eaten? Should I have dinner prepared?”

“No, I’m fine, but my knight here will need it. Please prepare lodging and meals for him. He’ll be my permanent guard from now on.”

She pointed to Rupert while speaking.

“Greetings. I am Rupert Vishelma, the knight who has been in charge of escort duty since House Debov.”

“Sir Vishelma. Welcome.”

Nadia had a servant guide him. Like her, Rupert would need time to adjust to Castle Cream. She hoped he would adapt well without any discord with the other knights.

“Still, wouldn’t it be better to have at least a light meal? It’s our duty to look after the lady’s meals.”

“Then please send some simple stew to the bedroom.”

“Understood. I’ll have them prepare something soft, please try to eat at least a little.”

“Alright.”

Saena went up to the Duchess’s room carrying the basket with Yolly.

Since Yolly was asleep again, she carefully took him out and laid him on the bed.

“…Where did the pillow that was here go?”

While making space for Yolly, she noticed one of her usual pillows was missing.

Could it be in the laundry room? But don’t they usually wash all bedding together?

Something felt strange, but since the pillow wasn’t important, she quickly dismissed it from her mind.

Rather, after finishing unpacking upon arrival, she felt oddly at home, which was peculiar. Even after living at the Hollander house for nearly ten years, she had never felt this way.

“…What should I do.”

After that, she became conflicted. Saena muttered while looking at the connecting door.

Not letting anyone in… probably means he doesn’t want anyone to know. That must be related to his aversion to showing his bare body to others…

‘Does that mean he’s definitely injured?’

What if it’s a wound he can’t treat alone?

Though she knew he hated her touch, would it be okay to just ignore it?

While the answer didn’t come easily, she still thought,

‘I need to check.’

It would be better to decide after seeing for herself, or after hearing his words.

If her help wasn’t needed, that would be fortunate, but if he needed her help and she turned away, she would surely regret it.

Saena took a short deep breath and stood before the connecting door. She unlocked it and turned the handle.