My voice, muttering lowly, was cold even to my own ears.

“W-What?”

“What do you mean?”

Grace and Levian, seemingly feeling guilty, widened their eyes.

I replied nonchalantly.

“Exactly what I said. Since the academy days, you’ve been busy chasing gossip and spreading it without caring whether it’s true or not.”

“…!”

“When did we ever…!”

“Can you say it’s not true?”

When I asked coldly, glaring at them, Grace and Levian flinched and shut their mouths tightly.

Their faces, already pale, turned red as if they were getting more heated by their own reactions.

At that moment.

“Lady Grace, what’s the matter?”

“Lady Levian, let me handle this.”

The two men who had entered together stepped forward and spoke.

“Sob… Young Lord Ducan…”

“Lord Rued, I’m so scared…”

Levian and Grace stepped back, wiping fake tears.

“Why is such a beautiful lady using such harsh words?”

“We’ll continue the rest of the conversation.”

I quietly stared at the two large men approaching me.

They seemed to hope that I would be appropriately intimidated, but.

‘I’m quite used to threatening men, you know.’

When Father was away or collapsed in sleep, I was the one who dealt with the debt collectors.

This level of threat is almost laughable.

‘Besides…’

I glanced at the shop owner who was hiding and just observing the situation.

Even if he doesn’t have the courage to intervene, he should be able to testify to the city guard at least.

If these men lay a hand on me, I can immediately turn them over to the city guard. That might be even cleaner.

There was no reason for me to be intimidated from any perspective.

Rather, it seemed to provoke the men, as their expressions, which had been trying to imitate gentleness, gradually turned vicious.

“Do you know what kind of family we come from, to look at us like that…”

The moment the man called Ducan threatened menacingly and put his hand on my shoulder.

“Aaaagh!!”

Suddenly, the man screamed and collapsed on the spot.

I blankly stared at the back of the figure twisting the man’s fingers backward and pressing down on his shoulder.

I blankly stared at the back of the figure twisting the man’s fingers backward and pressing down on his shoulder.

Black hair tied into a round bun using a hairnet, a noticeable blue glass hairpin, an exceptionally large build, and a maid’s uniform.

“…Chelsea?”

I hadn’t even noticed her rushing out.

By the time I came to my senses, Chelsea had already subdued the man.

“W-What’s going on!”

Ducan screamed while kneeling.

Then the man called Rued, who was with them, approached with a hardened expression.

He put his hand on the scabbard at his waist and muttered in a stern voice.

“How insolent. A mere maid daring to lay hands on a noble’s body!”

Then Levian added with a sneer.

“Apologize now, Livia. Lord Rued is even knighted!”

As if to prove Levian’s words, Rued drew his sword from his waist.

Shing.

The sound of cold metal scraping sent chills down my spine.

‘Are they insane?’

I stared at the man holding the sword with shocked eyes.

It was taboo for a knight to draw their sword unless in a justified duel.

And he’s pointing it at a helpless maid, not even another knight?

“If you beg for forgiveness now, I’ll forgive you!”

He shouted, but Chelsea didn’t even seem to hear him.

Of course, I had no intention of apologizing either.

Instead, I tried to block his path.

No matter how out of his mind he might be, it was unthinkable to point a sword at a fellow noble, especially a woman.

However…

“Tutor, please stay still. It’s dangerous.”

Chelsea, who had already thrown Ducan aside and come over, blocked my way.

I called out urgently.

“W-Wait, Chelsea! It’s dangerous!”

Even a three-year-old knows blades are dangerous.

Let alone someone who’s been knighted.

No matter how strong Chelsea is, it’s dangerous with bare hands.

But Chelsea didn’t listen to me at all.

Instead, she blocked my way even more firmly. As if to prevent even a single strand of my hair from being touched.

I looked at Chelsea’s back with confused eyes, then suddenly turned to the shop owner.

When our eyes met, the owner flinched and trembled.

He seemed very startled by the sudden situation.

I understand, but.

‘Don’t just stand there watching, call the city guard at least!’

That’s when it happened.

“Remember, you were the one who acted insolent first! Hyah!”

Before I could react, the man called Rued raised his sword and charged.

As if some last bit of reason remained, the back of the blade was facing down.

Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s safe!

‘This madman!’

I hastily stepped back.

It was to make room for Chelsea to dodge.

But Chelsea didn’t move.

Instead, she took a step towards the charging Rued.

I widened my eyes at Chelsea’s actions.

Even Rued seemed taken aback, his posture slightly faltering.

At that moment…

“Huh!!”

Chelsea dove straight into Rued’s now unbalanced stance.

The startled Rued tried to hastily swing his sword, but Chelsea was a step ahead, striking down on Rued’s wrist with her elbow.

“Ugh!”

Clang-!

In that instant strike, as Rued dropped his sword, Chelsea grabbed him by the collar.

“Wa… Wait…!”

Before Rued could say anything, Chelsea slammed him to the ground.

Thud!

A sound like that of an animal being struck echoed through the small boutique.

“Kugh…”

Rued’s body, after roughly expelling a breath, went limp.

He seemed to be foaming at the mouth.

‘Is… is he dead?’

“He’s merely unconscious.”

As if reading my thoughts, Chelsea spoke quietly.

Unlike Rued, who was foaming and convulsing, she was calm and composed as if nothing had happened.

After Chelsea’s words, no sound could be heard in the boutique.

Under the chilling silence, I stared blankly at Chelsea.

What on earth had just happened?

Levian was the one who broke the silence.

“Ru…”

“…”

“Lord Rued…!!”

Belatedly coming to her senses, Levian screamed and ran towards the sprawled Rued.

Only then did Grace snap out of it and hurriedly run to Ducan.

“Y-Young Lord Ducan! Are you alright?”

“Lady Grace… ugh…”

“Oh my God, his fingers…!!”

Grace let out a shrill scream.

I glanced over at Ducan.

‘Wow…’

They were properly twisted.

Just looking at it seemed to transmit the pain.

I approached Chelsea and asked with a worried face.

“Chelsea, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

Chelsea slowly nodded and replied in a monotone voice.

“They were too weak to hurt me.”

Ducan, who was still somewhat conscious, reacted to those words.

He pointed at Chelsea and me with his twisted fingers and shouted.

“Y-You!! And you!! Do you know who our families are? We won’t let this slide!”

I coldly stared at the man and spoke.

“You were the ones who first took a threatening attitude and drew a sword.”

Ducan flinched at my words.

It wasn’t untrue, after all.

‘Well, we’re not entirely innocent either.’

After all, we were the ones who inflicted harm first.

But I faced the man with brazen confidence.

“If you want to argue about who’s right or wrong, let’s call the city guard right now. Of course, this sword…”

I continued, looking at the sword lying on the floor.

“Will be evidence.”

“Kugh…”

Ducan bit his lip hard.

I thought he would back down at this point.

There was nothing to gain by escalating the situation.

As expected, Ducan, who had flinched, started to roll his eyes around.

‘Good, let’s wrap this up…’

But the situation didn’t flow so smoothly.

“What are you saying, Young Lord Ducan! The pride of the Ducan and Grace families has been tarnished, we can’t end it like this!”

Grace burst out shouting.

“We will definitely hold you responsible for this! The Grace family will also appoint a lawyer and thoroughly investigate this matter! Livia, and you, maid! Prepare yourselves!”

Grace glared at me with eyes full of anger and shouted.

That’s when it happened.

Ding-a-ling.

In contrast to the hostile atmosphere, a delicate bell sound rang out.

And then…

“Interesting. Our lawyers are quite competent too. Shall we see who’s more capable?”

A low voice resonating calmly.

I widened my eyes when I saw the owner of the voice.

Silver hair, amethyst eyes, a cold gaze.

‘…Cardien?’

It was undoubtedly Cardien.

How are you here…?

I looked at Cardien with confused eyes.

Levian and Grace, who had been bursting with anger, were now staring at him in a daze.

Cardien sauntered over, stepping over the sprawled men as if he had no interest in the chaotic interior, and approached me.

Cardien soon stood in front of me.

I stared blankly up at him and finally managed to speak.

“Your Grace, how did you come to be here…”

That’s when it happened.