Chapter 7

7. What came to mind at that moment

It was terribly unreal.

There was no thought of danger or of needing to escape.

Adelaide stared blankly at the silver object flying toward her heart.

There would be no second chance.

The thought occurred to her just before the blade touched her collar.

Adelaide instinctively closed her eyes. Behind her closed eyelids, she remembered the gloves she had bought at the general store.

‘……I’m glad I didn’t give it to you.’

If she was going to die, she didn’t want to leave Callion with any sense of indebtedness.

‘May my death not leave even a speck of blemish on him.’

‘May it not burden him again in the future.’

“Adele!”

Just when she thought she had stepped on death’s threshold, someone yanked her back.

A blade sliced through the air, narrowly missing her heart. The rough touch knocked Adelaide off balance, and she fell.

A large shadow blocked her path. Before she had time to panic at the familiar figure behind her, a sharp blade pierced the chef’s throat.

“Kaaaak!”

Red liquid splashed everywhere with a new scream. Thud. The heavy body crashed to the ground once more. The spreading blood painted her dress hem rapidly.

“Are you okay?”

“…….”

Adelaide blinked dazedly at the worried voice. A familiar face appeared in her out-of-focus vision. The fluttering pupils stopped.

The man in front of her was covered in blood. Just like the one she’d seen that day.

“Adele?”

An uncomfortable ringing filled her ears. Even though her eyes were open, her vision darkened completely.

Blood-soaked hands, a pale face, and a voice that was tender to the end despite seeming to fade away.

The entire situation evoked a dreadful sense of déjà vu.

Adelaide clutched at her chest.

‘I’ve endangered this person again… Because of me…’

“Hmph…….”

“Adele!”

“Kuck!”

Recognizing the panic, Callion patted her on the back. It was a common symptom among soldiers new to the battlefield.

“Adele, breathe, breathe! Come on, breathe!”

“Cough, hmm… … .”

She barely breathed as he slapped her back repeatedly. Adelaide spat out a ragged breath.

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

Callion soothed her, whispering that it was okay. Adelaide looked up, barely able to hold on to her senses.

“…..Your Grace”

“Are you feeling better?”

“Yes…….”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No, your the one whose hurt.”

“I’m fine.”

After answering that, Callion rubbed his bloody face. The face behind the crushed blood was clean, without a single scratch.

She was relieved when she realized that the blood that soaked the hem of his clothes was the chef’s.

It was ridiculous to think for a moment that he might have been hurt. There was no way such a trivial person could cause even a scratch on him.

As she regained her senses, she saw the crowd surrounding the carriage. Adelaide frowned at the considerable number of market vendors that seemed to have gathered.

Deciding they needed to get out of here quickly, Adelaide tugged on Callion’s collar.

“Your Grace, I think we should head back.”

“Of course.”

Callion gestured to the knight who accompanied him.

“Julian, I’ll go back with the duchess first, so handle the scene and ensure no rumors spread.”

“Yes.”

With that order, Julian drew his longsword from its sheath at his waist and led the gathering away.

She smirked bitterly at the simplistic solution, but Callion pulled her into a hug.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

“Your Grace!”

Panicked, Adelaide struggled, but Callion was having none of it.

“Put me down; I can walk.”

“Stay still; if you move, I might drop you.”

“I’m covered in blood.”

“I’m covered in blood too; why does it matter?”

With an urgent squeeze at the hem of her red-soaked dress, Adelaide gave up her resistance. She did as she was told, but her legs were shaking so badly that she doubted she could walk.

Callion arrived at the place where he had tied up his horse, carrying Adelaide, who had calmed down. He placed Adelaide on the saddle and climbed behind her.

“It won’t take long, so bear with it if you dislike it.”

Callion kicked the horse’s rump in agreement, and the two of them sped out of the marketplace. As they picked up speed, their bodies swayed wildly.

As she braced herself for his touch, he whispered quietly to her.

“Don’t be uncomfortable and lean on me.”

“I’m not uncomfortable.”

“You may feel fine now, but tomorrow you’ll be sore all over the place. Think of me as a…… tree.”

‘…… I shouldn’t.’

But it didn’t take long for her to relax.

As the speed increased and the bumpy road added, Adelaide could not hold on any longer and lost strength. Her body temperature touching her back was as hot as fire.

Callion unconsciously tightened his grip on the reins, the smell of boon mixed with the thick odor of blood pounding in his chest.

‘I’m glad we don’t meet face-to-face’. With that thought in mind, Carllion spoke

“What brings you out to the marketplace?”

“I was looking for a grocery store.”

“What were you doing wandering around unescorted? If I hadn’t gotten there in time, you could have been in trouble.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect something like this to happen.”

There was a faint tremor in her calm reply, and Callion sighed, his gaze resting on the nape of her thin neck.

“……I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“It is my fault, for it was my servant who did this. My carelessness almost caused you to be seriously injured.”

Despite being advised not to trust even his own people too much, he felt too relieved. Callion reproached himself for not expecting that someone driven away by his mistake would harbor resentment.

“No, it happened because I wasn’t careful.”

Adelaide looked down at the back of his hand, holding the reins, and shook her head. She felt a sudden urge to wipe the blood off the back of his hand.

She should thank him for saving her, but for some reason, the words caught in her throat.

Instead of expressing gratitude, Adelaide spoke the fewest words she could manage.

“More than that, since there were many eyes watching what happened today, it won’t be covered up quietly. If the truth were to be known, there might be rumors that you failed to properly supervise your subordinates, so someone who witnessed the scenes might spread rumors…”

Callion suddenly pulled the reins, stopping the horse.

“Am I that inadequate?”

“What?”

“I’m asking if I seem so inadequate that someone who nearly died moments ago should worry about covering up my shortcomings.”

“I’m just saying……I’ll apologize if I’ve overstepped.”

“I’m not asking for an apology; I’m just asking if you…”

“…….”

“I just want you to trust me.”

Adelaide bowed her head at Callion’s words.

“I’m sorry.”

The man, who ultimately didn’t hear the words confirming her trust, bitterly patted the horse’s flank.

“Let’s go.”

There was no further conversation until they reached the castle.

When they reached their destination, Callion jumped off his horse first, then picked Adelaide up. Her legs were wobbly from being on the horse for so long.

“I’ll walk you to your room.”

“I can go alone.”

Adelaide pushed Callion away and took a couple steps backward. At her stubborn refusal, he withdrew his hand with a shrug.

“I’ll call for a doctor, so rest.”

“No need. I’m not injured.”

“But just in case.”

“I’m more uncomfortable with people coming and going.”

Her face, emanating fatigue, indeed seemed to need a bed more than a doctor.

“Well then, rest well, and if there’s any pain, don’t hesitate to let me know.”

“Alright.”

With that short answer, Adelaide headed for the mansion. Callion stared after her for a long moment before slowly turning away.

.⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“Your Grace, it’s Julian.”

“Come in.”

It was the middle of the night when Julian returned to the castle after cleaning up the mess.

Callion met him in his office, not even bothering to change out of his bloodstained clothes.

“Report.”

“The bodies of the coachman and the chef were burned with the carriage, and those present were thoroughly searched.”

“Have you found out why the scoundrel targeted the Duchess?”

“It is believed to have been done out of spite for being driven from the castle.”

“Who’s behind this?”

“We searched their residence thoroughly but found no suspicious evidence.”

After a moment of silence at the report that the chef had acted alone, Callion spoke up.

“Let’s assume there is someone behind it.”

“What?”

“Dig up all his connections. Whether they’re distant relatives of the chef or neighbors from thirty years ago, it doesn’t matter. Connect everything you can find and create a plausible story.”

Julian’s eyes widened as the idea of fabricating a story came out of the high-minded Callion’s mouth.

“Am I to understand that you want me to establish a link to the imperial court?”

“I’m not asking you to specifically identify the mastermind. Just let it be known that there’s someone aiming for me and the Duchess of Tiflis.”

Callion’s calculation was that if the existence of someone targeting the Duke and Duchess of Tiflis was known, that would be enough. Identifying a specific target would only invite more enemies.

“Find an excuse to recruit more knights.”

“Are you planning to increase the size of the knighthood?”

“Isn’t that what you wanted?”

Julian’s face brightened at the determination of his rarely ambitious lord.

What happens in Tiflis will reach Elkius’ ears sooner or later.

Elkius wouldn’t be pleased with Callion expanding the knighthood. Knowing this but still deciding to increase the knighthood meant that Callion had made a serious decision to take action.

“I’ll start recruiting tomorrow.”

“Proceed with that.”

Calion replied curtly, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully. His gaze towards his confidant was different from usual.

“Is that the end of the report?”

“Yes. If you have any further instructions, please let me know.”

“Then let me ask you a question.”

Callion asked, straightening his posture.

“Why did you just stand by and watch when that scoundrel ran towards the Duchess?”