Translator and Editor: Lea and Aki

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Chapter 22

“Can you say it so easily?”“Is that what you’re worried about?”

Sitting still on the edge of his bed, he stared at April, forgetting to put on his jacket. His gaze wandered aimlessly on her anxious frame. He bit on his lips, trying to keep his thought about how she looked like.

“But if they found out that I’m under Marquis, the Marquis will obviously be in—”“Do you really think they can put a scratch on me?”

He was arrogant, but his words were full of energy derived from confidence. His fingers wiped away her tears.

“You can take a leave for a few days. You don’t have to worry about me falling sick.”“Thank you, but I don’t think I can roam out for long. Funny enough, this is the safest place for me right now. They can’t even imagine I’m here.”

She murmured, dropping her gaze. Ian nodded in response. Of course, she wouldn’t run into those aristocrats from Carleva if she stayed in a separate building, but it was obvious that being in the same space would make her feel burdensome.

“Actually, I’ve talked with the Duke, just in case…..”“Pardon?”“About your appointment with Miss Lianna to help in her research. If you’re planning to go there, you don’t have to return today.”“But, how can I do that? If any more abnormal symptoms–!”“I can endure them. I’ve done it countless times.”

To him, it was more dangerous to let April stay here. And if anything happened, the time she’d spend struggling with pain could be a lifetime instead of a single day. Of course, this was an ostensible reason.

“I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Because April was stubborn, Ian had to put it in the end. It was what he wanted most.

However, he didn’t forget to add the formal words for April, who might feel uncomfortable.

“It’s my duty to protect my employees from possible dangers.”

She nervously scratched her wrist. It was hard to see what had formed around her eyes. Ian gently raised his hand and used his thumb to gently wipe away the drops that were threatening to fall. She flinched under his touch, but her features were out of his view as she was lowering her head.

“……I’ll take my leave now, then.”

Ian quickly draped the jacket around his shoulders and left the house. His eyes wanted to catch her frame again, but he was afraid they’d stop him in his tracks. Instead, Ian called Klaus as soon as he returned to his office.

“Klaus. Send a word for Yuri’s presence.”“Yes, Master.”

Yuri Gray was the man under the command of an army unit on the eastern Reykis estate, the longest-serving deputy on the battlefield beside Ian. Originally, he had to come up for a meeting around next week, but he had moved on and arrived in the capital last night.

“Did you ask for me?”“I’ve checked the report. His Royal Highness has granted you the gun, so supply it to the North-eastern perimeter.”“I will.”“And another thing.”

Ian put down a thick bundle of papers and beckoned Yuri to come closer. When Yuri leaned over the desk, Ian spoke quietly.

“Since you’re in the capital, can you do one more job?”“What’s the matter? Any suspicious—”“No, it’s just that you have to follow someone.”“What?”

Puzzled, Yuri asked.

“Your specialty is assassination. I’d request you to secretly keep an eye on my doctor as much as you can.”“If she does anything suspicious……?”“No, the opposite. If a suspicious person approaches her, report it immediately, and if the situation is dire, you can take care of it yourself. Just don’t kill that person.”“Yes, I’ll do as you say.”

Yuri snorted as he accepted Ian’s orders. This was because the Marquis he knew had never made any unprovoked orders or unreasonable demands.

***

April stayed at the mansion of the Duke of Debussy for the day before coming out the next day when the sun was preparing for its sleep. She covered her face as much she could and refused the escort just in case she got caught.

‘It feels weird.’

She was fine when she was at the mansion, but as soon as she stepped outside, she started feeling anxious. Perhaps, that was the reason she kept glancing behind her.

The estates of the Duke and the Marquis were close enough to travel to by walking, but today, the distance seemed exceptionally long. She wanted to reach the place that was waiting for her with bright lights and kind people.

‘I think I heard something.’

The rustling sound could hardly be distinguished as the rolling of the leaves around the street or as someone’s presence.

‘It’s all right. Everything’s fine. I’m sure Count Liszt has already left.’

She continuously reassured herself, but it soon turned into a useless hope.

As April opened the handle of the backdoor of the Marquis’ mansion with a sigh of relief, someone suddenly came upon her as if they’d been waiting somewhere behind her.

A firm grasp tightened around her forearms and a black-gloved hand closed her mouth.

“Mmph!”

The leather-gloved hands felt cold. The man who caught her now was muscular. She wouldn’t be able to escape him unless she made fire from her palm, she thought.

“Be quiet or I’ll end you right this instant.”

The man’s voice was as low as Ian’s, but his tone was extremely different. His voice was hoarse and his words were very rude.

“Why couldn’t you just live quietly enjoying the rest of your life?”

A voice, which was very unknown to her, snarled at her. Suddenly, she felt a fog covering her view, while her ears felt numb.

She forcefully blinked a few times, her eyes trying to adjust to the darkness.

She felt a splitting headache, but she couldn’t reach her forehead and massage it. Her hands were tied up.

“Haa.”

She breathed out, struggling to take in her surroundings. It felt like she was trapped in a nightmare. However, the more she moved, the more the laces around her wrist and ankle dug into her flesh.

‘Where am I?’

A small bed and a small desk in a small, dark room filled her view. The door was fast shut.

There was only one window, but it was covered by dark curtains. The stifling air in the room felt similar to that of the inn on the outskirts of Carleva where she was once kept hidden for several days. Her quivering self wished she wasn’t somewhere outside the capital.

“I guess you couldn’t afford to get an escort. That’s why you didn’t even know you were being followed.”

The door opened, revealing her abductor. Her eyes flew towards the source of the voice, trying to focus under the dim light. Fear began gripping its claws on her heart.

“You!”

Blue eyes, short blonde hair, a scar running vertically. The same man she saw at the market. Approaching and kneeling down on one knee, he looked up at her while she narrowed her brows at him.

“I wanted you to recognize me at once, but you must be greedy. You’re the same, but I’ve changed a lot.”

He carefully took off one of his leather gloves and put his hand on her back. When they touched her bare skin, an electric spark was felt from his fingertips. Chills ran through her spine and her whole body trembled. His touch was more intense than Ian’s, but much darker and dreary.

“Carl…..”

He smirked as she murmured the name that remained vague in her memory. The shameless boy from ten years ago was nowhere to be found.

“If Count Liszt is here from Carleva, then it’s…..”“Yes, it’s me. I followed you since the day I ran into you at the market. I’m impressed you found a place under the Marquis. I thought you were living on the bottom of a ladder.”“So, you pretended to not know about it?”“Well, you were not a regular bet.”

He said, waving his gloved hand before pulling on the leather on the other.

She clenched her teeth. If he was here, he was bound to have an escort, but there was no sign of anyone around him.

“You were hiding for a long time. I can’t imagine how you ended up being an aristocrat.”

She wondered what his words meant. Perhaps, he regarded her to be a simple maid running errands for others just because she went in and out of a house of the noble family. In other words, he did not know the secret relationship between the house of Witzer and the house of Debussy.

“Is this a trick of Gridler’s?”“He’s not here. I came out alone because I wanted to talk to you. Besides, he doesn’t want to see you in person after that fire burned his arm.”

Carl said, giving a devilish smile. His solo act seemed to have begun since he met her in the market.

“By the way, how’d you get to him? It’s so surprising that a man like Ian could let you step into his manor so easily without knowing your past.”“Don’t talk rubbish. It isn’t like that.”

His eyes narrowed into slits as he dangerously drew his face close to hers. His hands clasped the armrests of the chair she was bound to.

“I knew you wouldn’t tell me the truth. I was worried, you know.”

Carl said, a dismal look looming on his face. April tried to force herself back on the chair, but she couldn’t.

“If the Marquis knows who you are, do you think he’ll stay beside you?”

At his words, she swallowed her breath. Her eyes, which were afraid of getting caught, shook violently as soon as they heard it.

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