Chapter 35

“Why do you think Lady Angelica came?”  

Dawson asked as he pinned the completed training schedule to the board. He had been doing the same thing repeatedly for the past few days. If it helped ease the tension even a little, he didn’t mind.  

But Kalik remained silent, as if he had resolved not to respond to anything unrelated to work.  

“Perhaps it was Lady Viola who summoned her.”  

Dawson looked up. Surprisingly, Kalik’s response came after a long pause, delivered in a detached tone.  

“Surely not.”  

“I can guess what you’re thinking, but she’s not the type to resort to such petty schemes.”  

Dawson’s assumption was that Viola had invited an old girlfriend to drive a wedge between Kalik and Marie. However, upon reflection, Angelica Hinsward had never been Kalik Escael’s girlfriend, nor would she ever be.  

There were many reasons for this. They had long stopped seeing each other as romantic interests, viewing each other as comrades instead. Additionally, the Hinsward family was uniquely positioned to mediate between Escael and Odillia. Werner Hinsward, Angelica’s father, was Albrecht’s cousin and had been Peter Escael’s friendly rival during their academy days.  

Most importantly, there was a crucial reason Angelica couldn’t be Kalik’s romantic partner. It was a fact known only to a select few close to her and was the sole explanation for why she had remained single and rejected all marriage proposals.  

Incidentally, Kalik had learned this secret during his adolescence when Angelica drunkenly confessed it after stealing her father Werner Hinsward’s prized wine.  

In short, if Angelica had come to Escael, it was either for personal business or something involving both Escael and Odillia.  

“Did you explain this to Lady Marie?”  

“Explain?”  

“That there’s nothing between you and her.”  

“Do I really need to do something so pointless?”  

Kalik sighed and rolled his neck. While he trusted Marie’s character, he placed even greater trust in the power of circumstances and causality.  

If something were to happen between him and Angelica, it would have happened long ago. Moreover, they had only shared one proper meal since her arrival, during which they had behaved strictly as host and guest.  

“Still, words carry weight and can build trust.”  

“Maybe I should bring flowers.”  

“Shall I arrange something Lady Marie likes?”  

“That sounds good.”  

From then on, the two focused their conversation on why Angelica had come and, if she had indeed come to mediate reconciliation, how they could assist her. They didn’t consider any other reasons.  

Nor did they pay attention to other distractions.  

“Captain.”  

While their conversation was in full swing, someone came looking for them. It was a squire who usually handled miscellaneous tasks. He called out politely through the closed door.  

“A guest has arrived.”  

Kalik and Dawson exchanged glances. At this hour, in this place, the only people likely to visit were those in the same line of work, but such people wouldn’t bother with formal announcements. They would simply barge in.  

“Could it be Lady Marie or Lady Angelica?”  

“If it were Angelica, she would’ve just opened the door.”  

“Then it must be Lady Marie.”  

At the mention of Marie’s name, a smile spread across Kalik’s face. He stopped what he was doing and prepared to greet her.  

Dawson shook his head and opened the door. Usually, unannounced visitors either had urgent business or were here for trivial matters.  

Unexpectedly, the person standing outside was someone who fell in between.  

Someone with urgent trivialities.  

“Why didn’t you open the door right away?”  

It was none other than Albrecht Odillia.  

Dawson was on his way to fetch tea for the guest. He could have asked a servant or maid to do it, but he couldn’t bear the suffocating tension of the standoff between the two men. Besides, it was a chance to catch his breath, and he could handle such trivial matters himself.  

What concerned him more was whether it was wise to leave the two alone. Well, they were in the middle of the knight order’s training grounds, surrounded by knights, so nothing major should happen.  

“Still, I wish he could hold back a little.”  

Of course, he was referring to Albrecht.  

Kalik had no reason to hold back. Even if there were something to restrain, Kalik, who loved Marie deeply, would never act out against her father.  

The real person to watch out for was Albrecht Odillia. Known as a self-proclaimed “man’s man” and Kalik’s so-called nemesis.  

“Maybe they should just settle this with a physical duel to see who’s more righteous—oh!”  

At that moment, a black stick came flying at him!  

Dawson, who had been chuckling to himself in the quiet hallway, instinctively ducked. As a result, he dropped the tray he was carrying, sending the tea set flying in all directions.  

Clang, clatter, roll.  

The sound of the tea set landing back on the tray was thanks to none other than the attacker who had skillfully caught it.  

“Wait, Natalie…?”  

“Shut up.”  

He didn’t get to finish his sentence before another attack came flying his way. This time, it wasn’t a kick but a punch.  

“Ugh!”  

Dawson barely managed to lean back and dodge the attack, stumbling backward in the process.  

“Na-Natalie, why… what’s going on…?”  

“Why? You don’t know why?!”  

Natalie’s movements were as sharp and agile as a hawk drenched in ink. Quick and light, she was capable of cornering any man relying solely on brute strength. Moreover, wasn’t she the sole bodyguard Marie had brought with her when she married into the family?  

Dawson’s face stiffened. He retreated toward the wall, overwhelmed by Natalie’s imposing presence. Yet, she continued to press him, keeping one hand inside her apron.  

“W-what on earth… is going on?!”  

“What’s your scheme?”  

“E-excuse me?!”  

Dawson couldn’t understand Natalie’s sudden attack and interrogation. If she had started explaining and then got upset, he might have understood. But attacking out of nowhere?  

If this went on, he would have no choice but to draw his weapon. After all, he needed to survive in order to talk or beg for forgiveness. But it wasn’t as simple as it sounded.  

In situations like this, knightly codes and honor didn’t matter. When one’s life was on the line, one had to grab whatever weapon was at hand and fight back. But the opponent in question was Natalie.  

He couldn’t possibly go all out against Marie’s maid. The thought of gauging her skill and worrying about losing even if he tried his best left him paralyzed.  

While Lily was intimidating due to her brute strength, Natalie’s ability to render men powerless was truly mysterious.  

“Kneel.”  

“Yes, Ma’am.”  

Instinct overrode reason. Though his mind was racing with various thoughts, his body acted honestly. Dawson found himself kneeling before her, marveling at how obedient his body was.  

Faced with overwhelming force, even the most prideful person becomes humble.  

“I’ll warn you.”  

Dawson listened to her words with his head bowed. The pressure and intimidation emanating from Natalie were on par with Kalik. No, in this moment, she surpassed even Kalik and Peter. What she exuded wasn’t just authority but pure murderous intent.  

“If Lady Marie ends up divorced…”  

“Wait, what? Divorce…?”  

“Shut up and listen.”  

“Yes, Ma’am.”  

Dawson straightened his posture obediently.  

“If she gets divorced, she won’t leave empty-handed.”  

“Excuse me?”  

He looked up in shock, only to meet Natalie’s cold, furious gaze. Considering she hadn’t even changed into proper attire and was still in her maid uniform, there had to be something that had angered her.  

“At least two people will suffer.”  

The mention of “two people” sent chills down his spine, crawling from his back to the top of his head. 

If she was going after Kalik, who else could she mean?  

“Wh-who… are you planning to harm…?”  

Dawson didn’t even realize he had started speaking respectfully.  

Natalie deliberately revealed her sleek thigh, where several daggers were strapped. Among them, the smallest and sharpest one gleamed ominously, its reddish hue resembling blood.  

“You, and him.”  

“You” clearly referred to Dawson, and “him” must have meant Kalik.  

Natalie’s voice echoed through the hallway, unrestrained and resolute.  

“As compensation, I’ll take at least a limb or two.”  

“Wait, but there’s no talk of divorce. Why suddenly…?”  

“Then make sure it doesn’t come to that.”  

“I-I’m doing my best.”  

“Sure you are.”  

It had been a while since Kalik last brought up divorce. Even before his memory returned, it wasn’t something he mentioned often. If anything, it was the Odillia side that kept bringing it up.  

Even if Marie didn’t speak of it, everyone knew. Just seeing Albrecht’s aggressive demeanor whenever he visited the annex made it clear that he was pressuring his daughter to divorce.  

So why was Natalie, of all people, bringing up divorce now?  

“At least tell me what’s going on before you attack me.”  

“You really don’t know?”  

I really don’t.  

Dawson answered with his eyes. He watched Natalie carefully, hoping she would regain her composure.  

After a moment, Natalie smoothed her skirt back down, having calmed herself somewhat. Relieved, Dawson attempted to speak again.  

“Now that you’ve calmed down a bit—never mind.”  

“Calmed down? Are you saying this is a time to calm down?”  

“Did something happen to Lady Marie?”  

Natalie allowed Dawson to stand, though he kept his posture low, rubbing his aching thighs. He hoped that Natalie, now somewhat appeased, would explain what had happened.  

Sure enough, she began to recount the events that had occurred at the annex a few hours earlier, all while glaring at Kalik’s office door.  

Angelica.  

The tea party.  

Viola.  

The fainting.  

Only then did Dawson learn that Marie had collapsed due to extreme stress and nausea while entertaining guests at the mansion. Natalie, believing Kalik to be the root cause of it all, had rushed over to confront him.  

In a way, this was a relief. At least she hadn’t gone running to Albrecht. Handling it internally was preferable.  

But Dawson was in the same predicament. He couldn’t immediately inform Kalik of what had happened. There was no way to deliver the news without avoiding Albrecht. If he were to inform them both at the same time…  

Kalik might be fine, but Albrecht Odillia would never take the proper course of action.  

And if he learned that the root cause was Angelica Hinsward, it might even lead to war.  

“Miss Natalie.”  

As Natalie turned to leave, Dawson called out to her.  

“I’ll handle it, so let’s keep this between us.”  

Natalie neither accepted nor rejected the proposal, silently leaving the scene.