Liv mobilized all of the personnel at the top of the Machangs to gather information and then submitted a report to Shan.
The report clearly outlined the bullying that had taken place at Aquis University, the children involved, the specific acts that had occurred, and the resulting material damage.
It was a detailed report as if it had been written by someone who had lived in Aquis University for several years. It even included the fact that Astin had fallen from his horse during the jousting competition and that it had been done by a group of bullies. Shan had a clear idea of which families the children were from. He was not going to let this go.
But along with the report, Liv brought Shan some other interesting news.
"It is said that a knight of Targayel participated in the Aquis Swordsmanship Tournament. His name is Vanes, and his skills are said to have been so outstanding that he overwhelmed the other participants."
Of course, there was no knight named Vanes in Targayel.
"However, he doesn't show any special behavior towards ordinary people, and it seems he only persistently teases the students of the swordsmanship club. Because of this, there are rumors that Targayel holds a grudge against the swordsmanship club of Aquis University."
It was clearly Erzenes' doing.
Shan was sure that she had done something because of Astin. She wouldn't have left it to Shan alone, so she would have made Elijah and Vanes look like knights. That's why she sent him out that day to go on a date with Astin.
Perhaps the Prince of Britain had heard of this. Shan decided to take advantage of what Erzenes had done. Shan calculated various situations and entered the royal palace of Britain.
But what a twist of fate. She ran into Count Parnon, the father of Cessian Parnon, who was the leader of the group that had been harassing Astin. And he was flirting with Erzenes.
Erzenes was waiting outside, and Shan was being guided inside the palace by his attendant. The lunch room was located quite far inside. It seemed to be to block out outside noise and sight for the Prince’s privacy.
As he walked in, he heard a faint voice from the entrance of the backyard. The voice was mixed with a man's voice. There were only maids left by Erzenes' side, so there was no reason for a man's voice to be heard.
“...”
The moment he heard that voice, Shan turned around without hesitation. Then he quickly walked back towards the entrance of the backyard. The attendant who had been walking ahead without knowing anything realized belatedly that Shan was not following him and hurriedly followed him.
Before the attendant could catch him, Shan finally saw a middle-aged man with a strange look harassing Erzenes.
The attendant who witnessed the scene with Shan was shocked and didn't know what to do, but Shan had already forgotten about him.
Suddenly, his head felt hot and dizzy. His heart pounded and his blood circulated rapidly throughout his body. Shan put everything else aside and approached Erzenes. And immediately, he pulled her towards her waist.
Even though she was surprised by the sudden skinship, Erzenes didn't even flinch. She hugged him as if it was natural and leaned in. She slightly raised her head and looked up at Shan.
“Shan?”
A soft voice called Shan's name briefly. That voice brought him back to his senses. Shan hugged Erzenes tightly in his arms. His heart, which had been throbbing like it was going to burst just a moment ago, calmed down a little. However, it did not completely die down.
Shan glared at the man who was flirting with Erzenes. A murderous voice escaped his lips.
“To my wife... Is there something you need?”
A chill began to flow. The maids and attendants around Shan shivered, unable to withstand the chill.
But surprisingly, the man withstood Shan's murderous intent. He had a distorted face, but he didn't tremble or show any signs of fear. No matter how much he suppressed it, it wasn't the kind of spirit that ordinary people could endure. At that time, Erzenes quietly held Shan's hand and whispered.
“He is Count Parnon of Britain.”
“...”
Count Parnon. The moment Shan heard that name, he knew why he had been able to endure living.
Parnon of Britain was a famous family known for their swordsmanship, and Cessian Parnon, son of Count Parnon, was also studying swordsmanship at the University of Aquis. So he was quite capable of enduring the fight to the death.
Besides, it wasn't a flaw for another man to flirt with another wife. In Baluar, it was considered a secret boast, and Britain probably wasn't much different.
As expected, Count Parnon showed no sign of reflection. He tried to laugh it off as if nothing had happened.
“Excuse me. Her Excellency is too beautiful to be bothered.”
Should I kill him?
Shan's eyes narrowed at the impulse to slap him. The mere fact that he had harassed Erzenes was reason enough to kill him.
That's why Shan sometimes missed the chaos and disorder of the battlefield because if it were a battlefield, there would be no need for self-restraint.
It was the moment when Shan's eyes became more harsh and murderous.
“Count Targayel. The Prince awaits you.”
A servant came out from inside the palace and said, “I heard that the guests had arrived, but they had no intention of coming, so it seemed that the Prince had sent them.”
“...”
Shan glared at Count Parnon without answering the attendant. Count Parnon raised his eyebrows. He felt Erzenes tugging at his hand. It was a gesture to stop him from going wild at any moment. Shan barely managed to control himself at her touch.
Shan glared at the Count coldly, then took Erzenes and stormed into the backyard. Count Parnon, who stayed behind, shrugged.
“I want, star...”
He grumbled to himself, being sensitive behind Shan’s back as he walked away. He was also able to taste Erzenes’ slender waistline. However, Count Parnon did not know how much of a boomerang his actions would return.
Count Parnon's advances were disgusting, but Shan's jealousy was amusing.
She didn't hate the way Shan growled at Count Parnon like a beast baring its teeth. Elze even wished he had been a little more jealous. However, she stopped him, fearing that if she left it alone any longer, he might end up in a foreign palace.
After that, Shan held Elze's hand tightly and went into the backyard with her. The maids could not stop Shan from doing something out of the ordinary or causing a commotion.
Elze and Shan entered the backyard where lunch was served. The Prince's backyard was beautiful. A sunshade was pitched over the lawn, and white tables and chairs were placed under it. The table was set in a way that was more than enough for three people to enjoy lunch.
“Come in!”
The Prince of Britain, who had been sitting and waiting, jumped up to welcome the arrival of Count and Countess Targayel. Shan and Elze responded to his enthusiastic welcome with polite and courteous greetings.
Judging from the fact that there was no particular comment on their coming in together, the Prince seemed to have already known about the previous commotion. As they sat down, he was the first to bring up the subject of Count Parnon.
“I’m sorry. It was a mistake made by a subordinate, so I hope you can forgive me.”
“No. Rather, I am sorry for causing unnecessary trouble to Your Highness.”
The Prince laughed at Shan's words and waved his hand lightly. Then the servants began to carry the plates diligently onto the table. Shan watched the scene silently for a moment, then added softly as if speaking in passing.
“...I think I reacted more sensitively because my personal history was involved.”
“Personal?”
Interest lingered in the Prince's eyes. He hoped Shan would continue the story. But Shan took a step back as if it was nothing.
“That was a slip of the tongue, Your Highness.”
That was a slip of the tongue... Elze, who was enjoying the maids’ fanning of her and listening to their conversation, had to try not to laugh.
Shan was never one to make a slip of the tongue. Unless he was pretending to make a sharp remark. When Elze saw it, Shan had cast a fishing line at Prince Britain. And the Prince took Shan's bait.
“Does the nobles of Britain have anything to do with you? Speak freely.”
Shan opened his mouth slowly, pretending to hesitate a little. After carefully beginning his speech, he continued to speak smoothly.
At Aquis University, Astin was bullied mercilessly, and Count Parnon's son, Chessian, was the leader of the bullying group, and this time Count Parnon even flirted with Erzenes.
Elze just blinked next to Shan. He was so eloquent that it made her wonder if this man could really talk that well.
Of course, they were all wrong. But listening to Shan, she felt like they weren't just bad guys, they were the worst guys in the world. She felt like she had to beat them up right away. She thought this was what the devil's sweet talk was all about.
“That happened! What a disgrace to Britain. The University of Aquis is a symbol of Britain...”
And the Prince, swept away by Shan's words, was indignant as if it were his own. He spoke angrily, not even thinking of touching the delicious food before him.
“I will make sure that this matter is made clear!”
Shan glanced back at Elze in front of the agitated Prince. There was a faint smile in the eyes that met his eyes. It was a look of satisfaction that everything was going according to his plan.
Elze was about to give him a complimenting look when the Prince, who had been speaking in anger for a while, suddenly remembered something and spoke.
“Oh, then that’s it.”
And at the words that followed, Elze almost dropped the fork she was holding in her hand.
“Is that why you sent a knight from Targayel to this Aquis swordsmanship tournament?”
The Prince's question was purely out of curiosity, but the stone he threw without malice struck Elze fatally.
She had expected that rumors would reach Shan's ears. Elze planned to use Elijah and the others to cover it up if Shan asked her. She had calculated that Shan wouldn't question her too much because of her personality.
But she didn't expect the Prince of Britain to ask her so openly. Shan listened to the Prince's words slowly.
“Ah, so you are a knight of Targayel...”
Then he turned to Elze and said.
“Vanes, are you speaking?”
At the meaningful gaze, Elze quickly picked up the glass of water in front of her and gulped it down. If she didn’t at least pretend to drink the water, her embarrassment would be clearly visible on her face. Shan’s voice was heard speaking to the prince.
“He went out without permission, without even informing his superiors. After the competition, I called him in and gave him a stern reprimand.”
“Oh... I see.”
“I committed this act out of excessive loyalty, so I hope that Your Highness will look upon it with a broad mind.”
The Aquis Swordsmanship Tournament was an amateur competition. There, a knight from the unmanned house of Targayel took part and beat up only the children of the noble houses of Britain. It was enough to cause trouble.
However, the amazing skills that Vanes displayed captivated the audience. All the spectators present that day were enamored with Vanes and praised his swordsmanship.
Elze didn't know it, but Britain was now abuzz with talk of Vanes, a knight of Targayel. Everyone was curious about who he was and making guesses.
It was now an established theory that Targayel had an unknown grudge against the swordsmen and deliberately sent Vanes away.
In the midst of all this, the Prince heard all about the deeds committed by the students of the swordsmanship club. Shan came in, bowing slightly, and even apologized, so how could he pursue him? Naturally, the Vanes incident was passed off as an amusing incident.
The rest of the lunch was pleasant, except that the Prince was sweating profusely, wanting to meet Vanes once. Shan told him a series of interesting and entertaining stories that stole the Prince's heart.
Even Elze found the story of the battlefield unfolding at a level that was not too dangerous and too risky to cross the line amusing. How much more so for the Prince who grew up in the castle? He was already completely captivated by Shan’s words. The luncheon, with its delicious food and pleasant conversations, passed by in an instant, and it was soon time for dessert.
For dessert, mille-feuille was served. Elze, who was nibbling the thinly layered mille-feuille little by little, noticed that Shan's face was slightly frowning as he tasted the cake.
It was such a small change in expression that others didn't notice it because it was so brief. Knowing that he wasn't picky about food, Elze found it strange. However, Shan quickly emptied the plate cleanly. Elze just ignored it, thinking she must have seen something wrong.
The Prince could not hide his regret as lunch was coming to an end. He tried to grab Shan several times. When Shan politely declined, he urged him to visit Britain again.
Leaving the Prince's regretful face behind, Shan and Elze left the backyard. Just like when they came, the servant helped guide them along the way. When they returned to the carriage they had come in under the servant's guidance, the carriage was laden with gifts bestowed by the Prince.
The knights and the coachman who saw Elze and Shan greeted them politely. Elze responded appropriately to their greetings and got into the carriage, but then suddenly looked back.
“...?”
Except for the coachman, all the knights who escorted him had been replaced with different people.
But that wasn't the end of the strangeness. When she got into the carriage, she smelled a sweet scent. It was a scent she hadn't smelled before. When Elze looked back at the coachman in wonder, he hurriedly lowered his head and said.
“I sprayed a little perfume on the carriage because it smelled.”
It must have been because it was early summer. She didn’t like the perfume the coachman sprayed, but there was nothing she could do about it. Unlike Elze, who felt a slight discomfort, Shan didn’t say anything about the scent.
The door closed, and the coach started off with the coachman's loud shout.
“Hey!”
After some time had passed, Elze opened the curtain slightly and looked out the window. She saw the castle of Britain moving away. And she saw the knights of the guard exchanging small hand signals. When they saw Elze looking out, they straightened their posture as if nothing had happened.
“...”
Elze was starting to feel uneasy. Starting with the mille-feuille earlier, and now the knights’ behavior. Something was bothering her little by little. The little things that piled up strangely irritated Elze.
In the silence, only the clattering of the carriage wheels on the road could be heard. The carriage, having left the palace, was now running along a quiet forest road.
Elze glanced out the window and glanced at Shan. Shan was leaning against the carriage seat with his arms crossed. Shan’s expression had not been good since earlier. He was not the type to talk much, but he was not at the point where he would keep his mouth shut like this.
The sweet scent that had been lingering in the carriage suddenly brushed against her nose. A hidden sense of anxiety suddenly reared its head. Elze looked at Shan, who was sitting across from her. Shan’s breathing was noticeably unstable.
“Shan, are you okay?”
Shan frowned. It was the moment he was about to say something.
“...Ugh!!”
Dark red blood burst out. The red soaked Elze's dress. Shan's body fell over. Elze, who hugged Shan who had collapsed in her arms, froze for a moment, then screamed his name.
“Shan!!”
The carriage came to a sudden stop at Elze's scream. The knights guarding the carriage shouted something along with the neighing of horses. However, Elze heard nothing.
“Shan, what’s wrong, come to your senses!!”
Shan's face turned pale and his body stiffened. Elze hurriedly unbuttoned his shirt collar so that he could breathe comfortably and laid him down on the chair. Shan spoke with difficulty as if he was in pain.
"Poison..."
“!!”
At those words, Elze's hand, which had been moving urgently, suddenly stopped. At the same time, the sound of a sword being pulled out and a loud shout echoed throughout the area.
“Die, you enemy of Heglatan!!”
Heglatan...
Elze felt as if she had been hit by a cold shower. Heglatan, who had fought the Hundred Years War with Baluar and was ultimately defeated, regarded Shan Cirxus as his mortal enemy.
Under the word Heglatan, everything that had been bothersome until now was combined into one.
Shan, who was not picky about food, frowned at the mille-feuille. The royal family of Britain never employed its own people as cooks. There might have been Heglatans among the cooks.
And the unusually sweet scent flowed inside the carriage. She remembered what Ivanna had said when she said she would put poison on her sword while preparing for the swordsmanship competition.
"There is something like that. When you use one, it is nothing, but when you combine two, it becomes extremely toxic."
What if the King's chef mixed something into the food, and the incense the coachman sprinkled reacted with it and became poisonous?
Elze finally remembered that all five of the escort knights had been replaced. A curse came out of Elze's mouth.
"Shit..!"
Elze quickly grasped the situation. They were completely surrounded on a forest path with few people. The enemy was Heglatan's elite, and Shan was incapacitated but still conscious.
And under the carriage seat lay a rapier and a bag containing mangosh.
“...”
Elze bit her lower lip hard. The moment Elze took out her rapier and mangosh, Shan would know that Erzenes was Elze. But if she stayed still, it would be a death sentence.
Her body trembled with tension. Perhaps there was a third way. But there was no time to find an alternative, and Elze had to make a choice right now.
Die as Erzenes, or live as Elze.
Elze clutched the hem of her dress as if it would tear. The choice was, of course, to survive as Elze.
After making a decision, she didn’t hesitate. Elze reached under the chair. She grabbed a long bag. Without a moment’s hesitation, she unfastened the bag’s latch. With a clanking sound, the bag opened, and there were two swords, a rapier, and a mangosh neatly placed in it.
“...!!”
Shan opened his eyes wide at the sight of Rapier and Mangosh. He gasped for breath and tried to say something. However, he grabbed his throat as if no sound was coming out.
The carriage door opened with a crashing sound, but neither Elze nor Shan paid it any attention.
The pretty violet eyes looked at Elze. Those jewel-like eyes contained countless words. Elze looked at him for a moment, then got down from the carriage.
The knights paused as the Countess appeared, swords in both hands. They slowly surrounded Elze in a semicircle. Elze turned her back to Shan and quietly called his name.
“Shan.”
With a slurping sound, the scabbard fell to the floor. The blue blade of the mangosh was revealed and tore the hem of the dress. With a squeaking sound, the dress was torn apart in an instant.
Her smooth legs were revealed in white. The knights’ eyes quickly sparkled as they saw her slender legs. Their greedy gazes licked Elze's skin.
But Elze moved on regardless. She tore off the cumbersome crinoline and tore off the long sleeves. Wearing a dress that was torn to shreds, Elze slowly surveyed her opponents. Five knights of Heglatan, and a coachman.
“From now on.”
The knights' goal was no longer just to kill Shan. With sinister eyes, they were thinking of humiliating Elze.
But no matter what you think, you won't get what you want. Elze lightly swung the swords in both hands.
“I’ll show you the answer you’ve been looking for.”
The silver blade shone brightly as it cut through the air. Elze slowly took her stance and spoke softly.
"Therefore..."
The large blue eyes shone bright blue.
“Pay your third life debt and then die, Shan Cirxus .”
It was the third time. It was the one that saved his life.
What kind of expression would Shan have? Elze was curious about Shan's face as he watched her from behind. But she couldn't look back. Now was the time to deal with the enemy in front of her.
“What, what is this bitch...!”
The knights looked bewildered at the sight of Elze raising her sword. Heglatan knew Shan Cirxus's incompetence. They could not have sent ordinary knights. They probably sent the best elite they could afford.
So, if she has that level of skill, she should know that this is not the level of a petty Countess's tantrum.
But Elze had no time to wait for their impressions. When he was poisoned, it was a race against time. Shan had to get treatment quickly.
She will definitely finish it off in the shortest possible time. Elze took a deep breath. Then she kicked the ground and ran.
“...!!”
The moment the swords flashed in the moonlight, a loud clanging sound was heard. Starting with that, the swords rained down on Elze. Five swords rushed at Elze at once, aiming for one. Elze gritted her teeth and parried the swords.
The rapier and the mangosh moved so fast that it was difficult to follow them with the eyes. They showed no signs of being pushed back even when facing the five thin swords. They didn't stop at defense, but blocked everything and even countered.
However, the opponents were not easy. Their heavy attacks were threatening. They formed a large formation and repeated attacks and defenses, so it was absolutely impossible to win without killing them.
Must be killed.
She hesitated for a moment at that fact. Elze was not the type to enjoy killing. When she lived as Elze of the Elijah mercenary group, she had no choice but to do so, so she got blood on her hands.
However, since leaving the battlefield, she had never killed a single person. The weight of killing that she had encountered after a long time weighed heavily on Elze. Her hands hesitated for a moment.
“...Ugh!”
The price of hesitation was harsh. Elze narrowly avoided the sword aimed at her thigh. A thin, long sword wound was drawn on her thigh. If she had been careful, half of her thigh would have been cut off.
As soon as she barely managed to dodge, a series of attacks followed, aimed at her chest. Elze leaned back and blocked the series of attacks coming in with her mangosh. When the attack, which she thought would definitely succeed, was blocked, the opponent wavered for a moment.
Elze didn't miss it. She immediately swung her rapier and pierced the enemy's neck. A stream of crimson blood burst out along the rapier's trajectory. A knight was instantly killed. Everything happened in a split second.
“...”
The dead were silent. A moment of silence came as the corpse fell with a heavy thud.
In the still silence of the battle, the knights who sensed their opponent's skills hesitated. However, they quickly gathered their ranks and charged again.
Elze took a deep breath. Her heart pounded as if it was going to burst. Her aroused body was sensitive to the surroundings. She caught every little movement, sound, and trembling look in the other person’s eyes.
During numerous attacks, the rapier did not miss a single opening. It dug in through the smallest gap. Following the straight white arm, the rapier moved as if it were a single body, following Elze's will. The thin sword elegantly stabbed the opponent.
“Ugh!!”
One knight was struck in the vital spot by the rapier. He had not expected such a small vulnerability to be exploited. A second corpse rolled across the floor. There were now three knights left.
Fear began to spread across the knights' faces. This was a situation no one had expected. Even if it was Shan Cirxus, they thought they could kill him if he was poisoned. They were glad that today was the day to kill Heglatan's enemy and take revenge for his blood.
But there was an unexpected ambush. None of them had ever heard that the Countess of Targayel was so skilled with a sword.
No, it wasn't just that she was good at handling a sword. She looked like Elijah's Elze, the monster that ran rampant in the Hundred Years' War. The ghostly aura flowing over her bright blue eyes was so amazing that it made their stomach churn.
It was only after two lives were lost that they realized that she was not worth their weight in gold.
“Gasp, gasp... Euaaaah!!”
Driven to the edge of fear, one of the knights rushed forward, desperately swinging his sword. The knight who had lost his composure was a mess, and Elze's sword showed no mercy. He was immediately beheaded by Mangosh.
From then on, it goes without saying that Elze had the upper hand. There was no way that two people could stop Elze. They collapsed under Elze's raging attacks and lost their lives in vain. It was when Elze took the life of the last knight.
“Stop!!”
Elze stopped dead in her tracks at the sound of shouting. Then she slowly turned around. The one who had shouted was the coachman.
“Stop, stop! If you don’t stop...”
While focusing on the knights, he neglected the non-combatant coachman. While Elze subdued the knights, the forgotten coachman slowly approached Shan.
“Kill, kill, I’m going to kill him!!”
And now, the coachman was aiming the dagger at Shan's neck with trembling hands.
The world's greatest Shan Cirxus was captured by the coachman and used as a hostage. Elze was experiencing something she would never experience again in her life.
Looking at Shan's condition, it seemed that the poisoning had progressed considerably. If Shan, who was immune to most poisons, had been poisoned like that, it must not have been an ordinary poison. It was not pleasant to see him lying there, unable to move.
“Put the knife down, put the knife down!!”
The coachman stammered and shouted. He saw the dagger pressed against Shan’s neck. A long stream of blood flowed down the rapier and mangosh in Elze's hands. Elze sighed at the sound of blood dripping down her cheeks.
“Phew...”
And then she obediently dropped the swords she was holding in both hands. The rapier and the mangosh fell to the floor one by one.
The coachman's eyes flashed with joy as he saw Elze empty-handed. He felt a sense of conquest at the fact that the woman, who even the knights could not stand up to, was obediently listening to his words. It was a foolish joy, but he gained confidence and nodded his head to give orders.
“Come this way... come slowly.”
Elze walked slowly towards him. The torn hem of her dress made a rustling sound as it brushed her skin. The coachman’s eyes widened at the sight of her exposed legs.
Her softly shining, pure white skin and her sadly disheveled ivory hair were captivating. Elze blinked slowly. Her large, round eyes stared blankly at the coachman.
The coachman's breathing quickened. He was now manipulating a noblewoman whom he could not even dare to look at face to face with just one word. The thrilling sense of control paralyzed his reason. He showed his excitement and flicked his dirty tongue.
“Take off your clothes in front of me.”
At those words, Shan, who had been motionless until now, began to move. The coachman, who was surprised by Shan’s movement, brought the dagger he was holding in his hand closer. Shan’s neck was slightly cut, and blood began to form.
But there was no strength in the struggle. Shan couldn't even make a sound properly. The more he moved, the more the poison spread.
“...!!”
Shan's eyes shook. If he could have screamed, he would have screamed with a blood-curdling voice. Elze spoke softly, watching Shan struggle with anger and self-loathing.
“Stay still.”
Elze stood in front of the coachman. The coachman looked at Elze with his eyes wide open as if he were possessed. Elze obediently took off her clothes as he told her.
The dress, which was already almost torn, fell down in an instant with just a light tug. Her round shoulders were revealed, and the upper part of her chest was exposed.
The coachman's eyes widened at the sight of her flesh. He panted and exhaled hot breath. His trembling hands reached out to Elze. The only thing left in his mind was the desire to take Elze. It was the moment when the coachman's fingertips were about to touch Elze.
"Hyah!!"
Elze's fist landed swiftly on his lower jaw. The coachman fell to the ground. Perhaps one or two teeth were broken.
The report clearly outlined the bullying that had taken place at Aquis University, the children involved, the specific acts that had occurred, and the resulting material damage.
It was a detailed report as if it had been written by someone who had lived in Aquis University for several years. It even included the fact that Astin had fallen from his horse during the jousting competition and that it had been done by a group of bullies. Shan had a clear idea of which families the children were from. He was not going to let this go.
But along with the report, Liv brought Shan some other interesting news.
"It is said that a knight of Targayel participated in the Aquis Swordsmanship Tournament. His name is Vanes, and his skills are said to have been so outstanding that he overwhelmed the other participants."
Of course, there was no knight named Vanes in Targayel.
"However, he doesn't show any special behavior towards ordinary people, and it seems he only persistently teases the students of the swordsmanship club. Because of this, there are rumors that Targayel holds a grudge against the swordsmanship club of Aquis University."
It was clearly Erzenes' doing.
Shan was sure that she had done something because of Astin. She wouldn't have left it to Shan alone, so she would have made Elijah and Vanes look like knights. That's why she sent him out that day to go on a date with Astin.
Perhaps the Prince of Britain had heard of this. Shan decided to take advantage of what Erzenes had done. Shan calculated various situations and entered the royal palace of Britain.
But what a twist of fate. She ran into Count Parnon, the father of Cessian Parnon, who was the leader of the group that had been harassing Astin. And he was flirting with Erzenes.
Erzenes was waiting outside, and Shan was being guided inside the palace by his attendant. The lunch room was located quite far inside. It seemed to be to block out outside noise and sight for the Prince’s privacy.
As he walked in, he heard a faint voice from the entrance of the backyard. The voice was mixed with a man's voice. There were only maids left by Erzenes' side, so there was no reason for a man's voice to be heard.
“...”
The moment he heard that voice, Shan turned around without hesitation. Then he quickly walked back towards the entrance of the backyard. The attendant who had been walking ahead without knowing anything realized belatedly that Shan was not following him and hurriedly followed him.
Before the attendant could catch him, Shan finally saw a middle-aged man with a strange look harassing Erzenes.
The attendant who witnessed the scene with Shan was shocked and didn't know what to do, but Shan had already forgotten about him.
Suddenly, his head felt hot and dizzy. His heart pounded and his blood circulated rapidly throughout his body. Shan put everything else aside and approached Erzenes. And immediately, he pulled her towards her waist.
Even though she was surprised by the sudden skinship, Erzenes didn't even flinch. She hugged him as if it was natural and leaned in. She slightly raised her head and looked up at Shan.
“Shan?”
A soft voice called Shan's name briefly. That voice brought him back to his senses. Shan hugged Erzenes tightly in his arms. His heart, which had been throbbing like it was going to burst just a moment ago, calmed down a little. However, it did not completely die down.
Shan glared at the man who was flirting with Erzenes. A murderous voice escaped his lips.
“To my wife... Is there something you need?”
A chill began to flow. The maids and attendants around Shan shivered, unable to withstand the chill.
But surprisingly, the man withstood Shan's murderous intent. He had a distorted face, but he didn't tremble or show any signs of fear. No matter how much he suppressed it, it wasn't the kind of spirit that ordinary people could endure. At that time, Erzenes quietly held Shan's hand and whispered.
“He is Count Parnon of Britain.”
“...”
Count Parnon. The moment Shan heard that name, he knew why he had been able to endure living.
Parnon of Britain was a famous family known for their swordsmanship, and Cessian Parnon, son of Count Parnon, was also studying swordsmanship at the University of Aquis. So he was quite capable of enduring the fight to the death.
Besides, it wasn't a flaw for another man to flirt with another wife. In Baluar, it was considered a secret boast, and Britain probably wasn't much different.
As expected, Count Parnon showed no sign of reflection. He tried to laugh it off as if nothing had happened.
“Excuse me. Her Excellency is too beautiful to be bothered.”
Should I kill him?
Shan's eyes narrowed at the impulse to slap him. The mere fact that he had harassed Erzenes was reason enough to kill him.
That's why Shan sometimes missed the chaos and disorder of the battlefield because if it were a battlefield, there would be no need for self-restraint.
It was the moment when Shan's eyes became more harsh and murderous.
“Count Targayel. The Prince awaits you.”
A servant came out from inside the palace and said, “I heard that the guests had arrived, but they had no intention of coming, so it seemed that the Prince had sent them.”
“...”
Shan glared at Count Parnon without answering the attendant. Count Parnon raised his eyebrows. He felt Erzenes tugging at his hand. It was a gesture to stop him from going wild at any moment. Shan barely managed to control himself at her touch.
Shan glared at the Count coldly, then took Erzenes and stormed into the backyard. Count Parnon, who stayed behind, shrugged.
“I want, star...”
He grumbled to himself, being sensitive behind Shan’s back as he walked away. He was also able to taste Erzenes’ slender waistline. However, Count Parnon did not know how much of a boomerang his actions would return.
***
Count Parnon's advances were disgusting, but Shan's jealousy was amusing.
She didn't hate the way Shan growled at Count Parnon like a beast baring its teeth. Elze even wished he had been a little more jealous. However, she stopped him, fearing that if she left it alone any longer, he might end up in a foreign palace.
After that, Shan held Elze's hand tightly and went into the backyard with her. The maids could not stop Shan from doing something out of the ordinary or causing a commotion.
Elze and Shan entered the backyard where lunch was served. The Prince's backyard was beautiful. A sunshade was pitched over the lawn, and white tables and chairs were placed under it. The table was set in a way that was more than enough for three people to enjoy lunch.
“Come in!”
The Prince of Britain, who had been sitting and waiting, jumped up to welcome the arrival of Count and Countess Targayel. Shan and Elze responded to his enthusiastic welcome with polite and courteous greetings.
Judging from the fact that there was no particular comment on their coming in together, the Prince seemed to have already known about the previous commotion. As they sat down, he was the first to bring up the subject of Count Parnon.
“I’m sorry. It was a mistake made by a subordinate, so I hope you can forgive me.”
“No. Rather, I am sorry for causing unnecessary trouble to Your Highness.”
The Prince laughed at Shan's words and waved his hand lightly. Then the servants began to carry the plates diligently onto the table. Shan watched the scene silently for a moment, then added softly as if speaking in passing.
“...I think I reacted more sensitively because my personal history was involved.”
“Personal?”
Interest lingered in the Prince's eyes. He hoped Shan would continue the story. But Shan took a step back as if it was nothing.
“That was a slip of the tongue, Your Highness.”
That was a slip of the tongue... Elze, who was enjoying the maids’ fanning of her and listening to their conversation, had to try not to laugh.
Shan was never one to make a slip of the tongue. Unless he was pretending to make a sharp remark. When Elze saw it, Shan had cast a fishing line at Prince Britain. And the Prince took Shan's bait.
“Does the nobles of Britain have anything to do with you? Speak freely.”
Shan opened his mouth slowly, pretending to hesitate a little. After carefully beginning his speech, he continued to speak smoothly.
At Aquis University, Astin was bullied mercilessly, and Count Parnon's son, Chessian, was the leader of the bullying group, and this time Count Parnon even flirted with Erzenes.
Elze just blinked next to Shan. He was so eloquent that it made her wonder if this man could really talk that well.
Of course, they were all wrong. But listening to Shan, she felt like they weren't just bad guys, they were the worst guys in the world. She felt like she had to beat them up right away. She thought this was what the devil's sweet talk was all about.
“That happened! What a disgrace to Britain. The University of Aquis is a symbol of Britain...”
And the Prince, swept away by Shan's words, was indignant as if it were his own. He spoke angrily, not even thinking of touching the delicious food before him.
“I will make sure that this matter is made clear!”
Shan glanced back at Elze in front of the agitated Prince. There was a faint smile in the eyes that met his eyes. It was a look of satisfaction that everything was going according to his plan.
Elze was about to give him a complimenting look when the Prince, who had been speaking in anger for a while, suddenly remembered something and spoke.
“Oh, then that’s it.”
And at the words that followed, Elze almost dropped the fork she was holding in her hand.
“Is that why you sent a knight from Targayel to this Aquis swordsmanship tournament?”
***
The Prince's question was purely out of curiosity, but the stone he threw without malice struck Elze fatally.
She had expected that rumors would reach Shan's ears. Elze planned to use Elijah and the others to cover it up if Shan asked her. She had calculated that Shan wouldn't question her too much because of her personality.
But she didn't expect the Prince of Britain to ask her so openly. Shan listened to the Prince's words slowly.
“Ah, so you are a knight of Targayel...”
Then he turned to Elze and said.
“Vanes, are you speaking?”
At the meaningful gaze, Elze quickly picked up the glass of water in front of her and gulped it down. If she didn’t at least pretend to drink the water, her embarrassment would be clearly visible on her face. Shan’s voice was heard speaking to the prince.
“He went out without permission, without even informing his superiors. After the competition, I called him in and gave him a stern reprimand.”
“Oh... I see.”
“I committed this act out of excessive loyalty, so I hope that Your Highness will look upon it with a broad mind.”
The Aquis Swordsmanship Tournament was an amateur competition. There, a knight from the unmanned house of Targayel took part and beat up only the children of the noble houses of Britain. It was enough to cause trouble.
However, the amazing skills that Vanes displayed captivated the audience. All the spectators present that day were enamored with Vanes and praised his swordsmanship.
Elze didn't know it, but Britain was now abuzz with talk of Vanes, a knight of Targayel. Everyone was curious about who he was and making guesses.
It was now an established theory that Targayel had an unknown grudge against the swordsmen and deliberately sent Vanes away.
In the midst of all this, the Prince heard all about the deeds committed by the students of the swordsmanship club. Shan came in, bowing slightly, and even apologized, so how could he pursue him? Naturally, the Vanes incident was passed off as an amusing incident.
The rest of the lunch was pleasant, except that the Prince was sweating profusely, wanting to meet Vanes once. Shan told him a series of interesting and entertaining stories that stole the Prince's heart.
Even Elze found the story of the battlefield unfolding at a level that was not too dangerous and too risky to cross the line amusing. How much more so for the Prince who grew up in the castle? He was already completely captivated by Shan’s words. The luncheon, with its delicious food and pleasant conversations, passed by in an instant, and it was soon time for dessert.
For dessert, mille-feuille was served. Elze, who was nibbling the thinly layered mille-feuille little by little, noticed that Shan's face was slightly frowning as he tasted the cake.
It was such a small change in expression that others didn't notice it because it was so brief. Knowing that he wasn't picky about food, Elze found it strange. However, Shan quickly emptied the plate cleanly. Elze just ignored it, thinking she must have seen something wrong.
The Prince could not hide his regret as lunch was coming to an end. He tried to grab Shan several times. When Shan politely declined, he urged him to visit Britain again.
Leaving the Prince's regretful face behind, Shan and Elze left the backyard. Just like when they came, the servant helped guide them along the way. When they returned to the carriage they had come in under the servant's guidance, the carriage was laden with gifts bestowed by the Prince.
The knights and the coachman who saw Elze and Shan greeted them politely. Elze responded appropriately to their greetings and got into the carriage, but then suddenly looked back.
“...?”
Except for the coachman, all the knights who escorted him had been replaced with different people.
But that wasn't the end of the strangeness. When she got into the carriage, she smelled a sweet scent. It was a scent she hadn't smelled before. When Elze looked back at the coachman in wonder, he hurriedly lowered his head and said.
“I sprayed a little perfume on the carriage because it smelled.”
It must have been because it was early summer. She didn’t like the perfume the coachman sprayed, but there was nothing she could do about it. Unlike Elze, who felt a slight discomfort, Shan didn’t say anything about the scent.
The door closed, and the coach started off with the coachman's loud shout.
“Hey!”
After some time had passed, Elze opened the curtain slightly and looked out the window. She saw the castle of Britain moving away. And she saw the knights of the guard exchanging small hand signals. When they saw Elze looking out, they straightened their posture as if nothing had happened.
“...”
Elze was starting to feel uneasy. Starting with the mille-feuille earlier, and now the knights’ behavior. Something was bothering her little by little. The little things that piled up strangely irritated Elze.
In the silence, only the clattering of the carriage wheels on the road could be heard. The carriage, having left the palace, was now running along a quiet forest road.
Elze glanced out the window and glanced at Shan. Shan was leaning against the carriage seat with his arms crossed. Shan’s expression had not been good since earlier. He was not the type to talk much, but he was not at the point where he would keep his mouth shut like this.
The sweet scent that had been lingering in the carriage suddenly brushed against her nose. A hidden sense of anxiety suddenly reared its head. Elze looked at Shan, who was sitting across from her. Shan’s breathing was noticeably unstable.
“Shan, are you okay?”
Shan frowned. It was the moment he was about to say something.
“...Ugh!!”
Dark red blood burst out. The red soaked Elze's dress. Shan's body fell over. Elze, who hugged Shan who had collapsed in her arms, froze for a moment, then screamed his name.
“Shan!!”
The carriage came to a sudden stop at Elze's scream. The knights guarding the carriage shouted something along with the neighing of horses. However, Elze heard nothing.
“Shan, what’s wrong, come to your senses!!”
Shan's face turned pale and his body stiffened. Elze hurriedly unbuttoned his shirt collar so that he could breathe comfortably and laid him down on the chair. Shan spoke with difficulty as if he was in pain.
"Poison..."
“!!”
At those words, Elze's hand, which had been moving urgently, suddenly stopped. At the same time, the sound of a sword being pulled out and a loud shout echoed throughout the area.
“Die, you enemy of Heglatan!!”
Heglatan...
Elze felt as if she had been hit by a cold shower. Heglatan, who had fought the Hundred Years War with Baluar and was ultimately defeated, regarded Shan Cirxus as his mortal enemy.
Under the word Heglatan, everything that had been bothersome until now was combined into one.
Shan, who was not picky about food, frowned at the mille-feuille. The royal family of Britain never employed its own people as cooks. There might have been Heglatans among the cooks.
And the unusually sweet scent flowed inside the carriage. She remembered what Ivanna had said when she said she would put poison on her sword while preparing for the swordsmanship competition.
"There is something like that. When you use one, it is nothing, but when you combine two, it becomes extremely toxic."
What if the King's chef mixed something into the food, and the incense the coachman sprinkled reacted with it and became poisonous?
Elze finally remembered that all five of the escort knights had been replaced. A curse came out of Elze's mouth.
"Shit..!"
Elze quickly grasped the situation. They were completely surrounded on a forest path with few people. The enemy was Heglatan's elite, and Shan was incapacitated but still conscious.
And under the carriage seat lay a rapier and a bag containing mangosh.
“...”
Elze bit her lower lip hard. The moment Elze took out her rapier and mangosh, Shan would know that Erzenes was Elze. But if she stayed still, it would be a death sentence.
Her body trembled with tension. Perhaps there was a third way. But there was no time to find an alternative, and Elze had to make a choice right now.
Die as Erzenes, or live as Elze.
Elze clutched the hem of her dress as if it would tear. The choice was, of course, to survive as Elze.
After making a decision, she didn’t hesitate. Elze reached under the chair. She grabbed a long bag. Without a moment’s hesitation, she unfastened the bag’s latch. With a clanking sound, the bag opened, and there were two swords, a rapier, and a mangosh neatly placed in it.
“...!!”
Shan opened his eyes wide at the sight of Rapier and Mangosh. He gasped for breath and tried to say something. However, he grabbed his throat as if no sound was coming out.
The carriage door opened with a crashing sound, but neither Elze nor Shan paid it any attention.
The pretty violet eyes looked at Elze. Those jewel-like eyes contained countless words. Elze looked at him for a moment, then got down from the carriage.
The knights paused as the Countess appeared, swords in both hands. They slowly surrounded Elze in a semicircle. Elze turned her back to Shan and quietly called his name.
“Shan.”
With a slurping sound, the scabbard fell to the floor. The blue blade of the mangosh was revealed and tore the hem of the dress. With a squeaking sound, the dress was torn apart in an instant.
Her smooth legs were revealed in white. The knights’ eyes quickly sparkled as they saw her slender legs. Their greedy gazes licked Elze's skin.
But Elze moved on regardless. She tore off the cumbersome crinoline and tore off the long sleeves. Wearing a dress that was torn to shreds, Elze slowly surveyed her opponents. Five knights of Heglatan, and a coachman.
“From now on.”
The knights' goal was no longer just to kill Shan. With sinister eyes, they were thinking of humiliating Elze.
But no matter what you think, you won't get what you want. Elze lightly swung the swords in both hands.
“I’ll show you the answer you’ve been looking for.”
The silver blade shone brightly as it cut through the air. Elze slowly took her stance and spoke softly.
"Therefore..."
The large blue eyes shone bright blue.
“Pay your third life debt and then die, Shan Cirxus .”
***
It was the third time. It was the one that saved his life.
What kind of expression would Shan have? Elze was curious about Shan's face as he watched her from behind. But she couldn't look back. Now was the time to deal with the enemy in front of her.
“What, what is this bitch...!”
The knights looked bewildered at the sight of Elze raising her sword. Heglatan knew Shan Cirxus's incompetence. They could not have sent ordinary knights. They probably sent the best elite they could afford.
So, if she has that level of skill, she should know that this is not the level of a petty Countess's tantrum.
But Elze had no time to wait for their impressions. When he was poisoned, it was a race against time. Shan had to get treatment quickly.
She will definitely finish it off in the shortest possible time. Elze took a deep breath. Then she kicked the ground and ran.
“...!!”
The moment the swords flashed in the moonlight, a loud clanging sound was heard. Starting with that, the swords rained down on Elze. Five swords rushed at Elze at once, aiming for one. Elze gritted her teeth and parried the swords.
The rapier and the mangosh moved so fast that it was difficult to follow them with the eyes. They showed no signs of being pushed back even when facing the five thin swords. They didn't stop at defense, but blocked everything and even countered.
However, the opponents were not easy. Their heavy attacks were threatening. They formed a large formation and repeated attacks and defenses, so it was absolutely impossible to win without killing them.
Must be killed.
She hesitated for a moment at that fact. Elze was not the type to enjoy killing. When she lived as Elze of the Elijah mercenary group, she had no choice but to do so, so she got blood on her hands.
However, since leaving the battlefield, she had never killed a single person. The weight of killing that she had encountered after a long time weighed heavily on Elze. Her hands hesitated for a moment.
“...Ugh!”
The price of hesitation was harsh. Elze narrowly avoided the sword aimed at her thigh. A thin, long sword wound was drawn on her thigh. If she had been careful, half of her thigh would have been cut off.
As soon as she barely managed to dodge, a series of attacks followed, aimed at her chest. Elze leaned back and blocked the series of attacks coming in with her mangosh. When the attack, which she thought would definitely succeed, was blocked, the opponent wavered for a moment.
Elze didn't miss it. She immediately swung her rapier and pierced the enemy's neck. A stream of crimson blood burst out along the rapier's trajectory. A knight was instantly killed. Everything happened in a split second.
“...”
The dead were silent. A moment of silence came as the corpse fell with a heavy thud.
In the still silence of the battle, the knights who sensed their opponent's skills hesitated. However, they quickly gathered their ranks and charged again.
Elze took a deep breath. Her heart pounded as if it was going to burst. Her aroused body was sensitive to the surroundings. She caught every little movement, sound, and trembling look in the other person’s eyes.
During numerous attacks, the rapier did not miss a single opening. It dug in through the smallest gap. Following the straight white arm, the rapier moved as if it were a single body, following Elze's will. The thin sword elegantly stabbed the opponent.
“Ugh!!”
One knight was struck in the vital spot by the rapier. He had not expected such a small vulnerability to be exploited. A second corpse rolled across the floor. There were now three knights left.
Fear began to spread across the knights' faces. This was a situation no one had expected. Even if it was Shan Cirxus, they thought they could kill him if he was poisoned. They were glad that today was the day to kill Heglatan's enemy and take revenge for his blood.
But there was an unexpected ambush. None of them had ever heard that the Countess of Targayel was so skilled with a sword.
No, it wasn't just that she was good at handling a sword. She looked like Elijah's Elze, the monster that ran rampant in the Hundred Years' War. The ghostly aura flowing over her bright blue eyes was so amazing that it made their stomach churn.
It was only after two lives were lost that they realized that she was not worth their weight in gold.
“Gasp, gasp... Euaaaah!!”
Driven to the edge of fear, one of the knights rushed forward, desperately swinging his sword. The knight who had lost his composure was a mess, and Elze's sword showed no mercy. He was immediately beheaded by Mangosh.
From then on, it goes without saying that Elze had the upper hand. There was no way that two people could stop Elze. They collapsed under Elze's raging attacks and lost their lives in vain. It was when Elze took the life of the last knight.
“Stop!!”
Elze stopped dead in her tracks at the sound of shouting. Then she slowly turned around. The one who had shouted was the coachman.
“Stop, stop! If you don’t stop...”
While focusing on the knights, he neglected the non-combatant coachman. While Elze subdued the knights, the forgotten coachman slowly approached Shan.
“Kill, kill, I’m going to kill him!!”
And now, the coachman was aiming the dagger at Shan's neck with trembling hands.
The world's greatest Shan Cirxus was captured by the coachman and used as a hostage. Elze was experiencing something she would never experience again in her life.
Looking at Shan's condition, it seemed that the poisoning had progressed considerably. If Shan, who was immune to most poisons, had been poisoned like that, it must not have been an ordinary poison. It was not pleasant to see him lying there, unable to move.
“Put the knife down, put the knife down!!”
The coachman stammered and shouted. He saw the dagger pressed against Shan’s neck. A long stream of blood flowed down the rapier and mangosh in Elze's hands. Elze sighed at the sound of blood dripping down her cheeks.
“Phew...”
And then she obediently dropped the swords she was holding in both hands. The rapier and the mangosh fell to the floor one by one.
The coachman's eyes flashed with joy as he saw Elze empty-handed. He felt a sense of conquest at the fact that the woman, who even the knights could not stand up to, was obediently listening to his words. It was a foolish joy, but he gained confidence and nodded his head to give orders.
“Come this way... come slowly.”
Elze walked slowly towards him. The torn hem of her dress made a rustling sound as it brushed her skin. The coachman’s eyes widened at the sight of her exposed legs.
Her softly shining, pure white skin and her sadly disheveled ivory hair were captivating. Elze blinked slowly. Her large, round eyes stared blankly at the coachman.
The coachman's breathing quickened. He was now manipulating a noblewoman whom he could not even dare to look at face to face with just one word. The thrilling sense of control paralyzed his reason. He showed his excitement and flicked his dirty tongue.
“Take off your clothes in front of me.”
At those words, Shan, who had been motionless until now, began to move. The coachman, who was surprised by Shan’s movement, brought the dagger he was holding in his hand closer. Shan’s neck was slightly cut, and blood began to form.
But there was no strength in the struggle. Shan couldn't even make a sound properly. The more he moved, the more the poison spread.
“...!!”
Shan's eyes shook. If he could have screamed, he would have screamed with a blood-curdling voice. Elze spoke softly, watching Shan struggle with anger and self-loathing.
“Stay still.”
Elze stood in front of the coachman. The coachman looked at Elze with his eyes wide open as if he were possessed. Elze obediently took off her clothes as he told her.
The dress, which was already almost torn, fell down in an instant with just a light tug. Her round shoulders were revealed, and the upper part of her chest was exposed.
The coachman's eyes widened at the sight of her flesh. He panted and exhaled hot breath. His trembling hands reached out to Elze. The only thing left in his mind was the desire to take Elze. It was the moment when the coachman's fingertips were about to touch Elze.
"Hyah!!"
Elze's fist landed swiftly on his lower jaw. The coachman fell to the ground. Perhaps one or two teeth were broken.
Elze immediately kicked his wrist with her foot. The dagger in her hand fell with a scream.
Elze picked up the fallen dagger. Then she grabbed the hair of the coachman who was writhing on the floor. The coachman felt the cool dagger against his neck and trembled in belated fear. But it was already too late.
“I’m sorry...”
Elze whispered softly with cold eyes.
“I’m also good at throwing punches.”
The dagger in her white hand cut right through the center of his neck. That was the end. With the blood pouring out, the coachman died instantly without even a single sound.
“...”
After dealing with the coachman, Elze checked the surroundings. All of the knights of Heglatan who had disguised themselves as knights of Britain had met their deaths at Elze's hands.
While Elze was fighting, Shan's condition deteriorated significantly. He was in a state of considerable stiffness, and he had coughed up blood several times, so his clothes were soaked with blood.
Elze chose the strongest horse among those tied to the carriage, stuffed her rapier and mangosh into her bag, and galloped madly with Shan on board.
She was riding dangerously. It was a close gallop where even the slightest mistake could lead to her falling off the horse. However, Elze could not slow down. Instead, she pushed herself to the limit.
Quickly, a little faster... In her head, which was filled with only thoughts of having to go quickly, a question suddenly popped into her head.
What if Shan dies?
Never once did it occur to her that Shan Cirxus would die. Even on the battlefield where nothing could be seen, she had a strange belief that he would not die.
But now she couldn't be sure. The cold, almost dead body, and the weight of the unconscious man leaning heavily on Elze made her feel uneasy.
Her eyes were hot. Strangely, tears were about to fall. But she couldn't cry. The moment she shed tears, her vision would blur.
Elze held back her tears and focused on one thing only: keeping her horse. She would never let him die. She would grab the grim reaper by the collar and shake him to save him.
As soon as she got back to her room, she just threw the horse away. Then she picked Shan up and carried him up to the bedroom.
Liv and the knights came running after Elze, startled by her messy appearance, but there was no time to explain everything to them. Elze opened the bedroom door and shouted.
“Ivanna!!”
Ivanna, who was rolling around in the bedroom after dinner, was startled to see Elze.
Elze was not normal in anyone's eyes. Her dress was torn and blood-stained, exposing her legs, and there was a long cut on her thigh, along with dried blood. Her hair, which had been neatly tied up, was a mess.
But Elze didn't have the presence of mind to care about her own appearance. She laid Shan down on the bed first.
“Poison... Poison...”
In front of Elze, who was out of breath and unable to speak properly, Ivanna acted calmly. She checked Shan's condition with quick and precise hands and spoke to Elze.
“Tell me anything you remember.”
“Food and perfume come together...”
As soon as she heard Elze's words, Ivanna moved without hesitation. She shouted something loudly to the people gathered around her and gave them some instructions.
Elze, who was watching the scene, slowly sat down on the floor. As the sharp nerves calmed down, her body became limp.
“...”
It was like a water-soaked quilt. Her limbs felt heavy as if they were chained. As she sat there blankly, someone put a large blanket over Elze's shoulders and whispered softly.
"... Captain."
It was Rapine. Elze looked at him helplessly. Rapine checked Elze's appearance and made a miserable face. He looked at the wound on her thigh where the scab had dried and spoke carefully.
“The wound needs to be treated.”
Elze nodded at Rapine's words and looked at Shan. Shan's eyes were tightly shut.
Under Ivanna's command, several people were moving around frantically. In everyone's deep thoughts, the stiff face of the knight commander, Liv, was visible. It was the first time he, who was always so playful, had such an expression on his face.
The sound of people shouting something passed by her ears and disappeared. Suddenly, fatigue came over her. Elze leaned against Rapine and closed her eyes.
At some point, everything went black.
Elze picked up the fallen dagger. Then she grabbed the hair of the coachman who was writhing on the floor. The coachman felt the cool dagger against his neck and trembled in belated fear. But it was already too late.
“I’m sorry...”
Elze whispered softly with cold eyes.
“I’m also good at throwing punches.”
The dagger in her white hand cut right through the center of his neck. That was the end. With the blood pouring out, the coachman died instantly without even a single sound.
“...”
After dealing with the coachman, Elze checked the surroundings. All of the knights of Heglatan who had disguised themselves as knights of Britain had met their deaths at Elze's hands.
While Elze was fighting, Shan's condition deteriorated significantly. He was in a state of considerable stiffness, and he had coughed up blood several times, so his clothes were soaked with blood.
Elze chose the strongest horse among those tied to the carriage, stuffed her rapier and mangosh into her bag, and galloped madly with Shan on board.
She was riding dangerously. It was a close gallop where even the slightest mistake could lead to her falling off the horse. However, Elze could not slow down. Instead, she pushed herself to the limit.
Quickly, a little faster... In her head, which was filled with only thoughts of having to go quickly, a question suddenly popped into her head.
What if Shan dies?
Never once did it occur to her that Shan Cirxus would die. Even on the battlefield where nothing could be seen, she had a strange belief that he would not die.
But now she couldn't be sure. The cold, almost dead body, and the weight of the unconscious man leaning heavily on Elze made her feel uneasy.
Her eyes were hot. Strangely, tears were about to fall. But she couldn't cry. The moment she shed tears, her vision would blur.
Elze held back her tears and focused on one thing only: keeping her horse. She would never let him die. She would grab the grim reaper by the collar and shake him to save him.
As soon as she got back to her room, she just threw the horse away. Then she picked Shan up and carried him up to the bedroom.
Liv and the knights came running after Elze, startled by her messy appearance, but there was no time to explain everything to them. Elze opened the bedroom door and shouted.
“Ivanna!!”
Ivanna, who was rolling around in the bedroom after dinner, was startled to see Elze.
Elze was not normal in anyone's eyes. Her dress was torn and blood-stained, exposing her legs, and there was a long cut on her thigh, along with dried blood. Her hair, which had been neatly tied up, was a mess.
But Elze didn't have the presence of mind to care about her own appearance. She laid Shan down on the bed first.
“Poison... Poison...”
In front of Elze, who was out of breath and unable to speak properly, Ivanna acted calmly. She checked Shan's condition with quick and precise hands and spoke to Elze.
“Tell me anything you remember.”
“Food and perfume come together...”
As soon as she heard Elze's words, Ivanna moved without hesitation. She shouted something loudly to the people gathered around her and gave them some instructions.
Elze, who was watching the scene, slowly sat down on the floor. As the sharp nerves calmed down, her body became limp.
“...”
It was like a water-soaked quilt. Her limbs felt heavy as if they were chained. As she sat there blankly, someone put a large blanket over Elze's shoulders and whispered softly.
"... Captain."
It was Rapine. Elze looked at him helplessly. Rapine checked Elze's appearance and made a miserable face. He looked at the wound on her thigh where the scab had dried and spoke carefully.
“The wound needs to be treated.”
Elze nodded at Rapine's words and looked at Shan. Shan's eyes were tightly shut.
Under Ivanna's command, several people were moving around frantically. In everyone's deep thoughts, the stiff face of the knight commander, Liv, was visible. It was the first time he, who was always so playful, had such an expression on his face.
The sound of people shouting something passed by her ears and disappeared. Suddenly, fatigue came over her. Elze leaned against Rapine and closed her eyes.
At some point, everything went black.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment