Episode 14. Please Save Me
The pure white shirt was completely drenched in blood. And not just the shirt. Blood splattered across his hands... and even his face.
“Did you see me kill someone?”
"...No.'
The pure white shirt was completely drenched in blood. And not just the shirt. Blood splattered across his hands... and even his face.
Grand Duke Artaeum, without even wiping his bloody hands, gently ran a hand through his hair. The crimson blood clung to his hair, shining brightly. The Grand Duke... A person?
Rose, who was crawling backwards, unable to stand, saw the Grand Duke approach her. He silently extended his hand. A huge hand approached, as if it would swallow her whole. The Grand Duke's hand, which seemed poised to grab her throat at any moment, stopped mid-air. The thick, bloody scent of the Grand Duke's hand wafted from the tip of her nose. Rose was terrified. She thought she, too, would be brutally murdered, just like the man who had screamed in agony at the Grand Duke's hand.
“Oh, no. It’s not polite to show a lady your bloody hand.”
The Grand Duke of Artaeum withdrew his hand without taking his eyes off Rose. He then wiped his hands on his shirt and reached out again. Snap. Without waiting for Rose to take his hand, the Grand Duke lifted her up. Startled by his touch, Rose sat up without even a groan. What on earth was he trying to do? Rose, pale and bewildered, couldn't grasp his intentions and just gulped.
“It looks terrible. The dress is completely ruined.”
Her sky-blue dress was covered in dirt and a mess. Despite the Grand Duke's words, Rose didn't have the presence of mind to examine her own dress. She couldn't let her guard down in front of the Grand Duke. All her attention was focused on the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
'What are you going to do with me?'
There was no way he wouldn't know she was at the scene of a murder... The place where the man's scream was heard and where Rose was were only a few steps away.
“Oh, no. It’s not polite to show a lady your bloody hand.”
The Grand Duke of Artaeum withdrew his hand without taking his eyes off Rose. He then wiped his hands on his shirt and reached out again. Snap. Without waiting for Rose to take his hand, the Grand Duke lifted her up. Startled by his touch, Rose sat up without even a groan. What on earth was he trying to do? Rose, pale and bewildered, couldn't grasp his intentions and just gulped.
“It looks terrible. The dress is completely ruined.”
Her sky-blue dress was covered in dirt and a mess. Despite the Grand Duke's words, Rose didn't have the presence of mind to examine her own dress. She couldn't let her guard down in front of the Grand Duke. All her attention was focused on the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
'What are you going to do with me?'
There was no way he wouldn't know she was at the scene of a murder... The place where the man's scream was heard and where Rose was were only a few steps away.
‘...Is it because you can just kill me too, that you are so carefree?’
Rose wondered what she should say to save her life from the Grand Duke.
'Should I beg for my life? Should I plead that I didn't see anything?'
Who knows. If she begged desperately, she might at least be able to save her life. Rose, trembling, pondered for a moment what to say, then stared at the Grand Duke with wavering eyes. Then, she made a decision. She would take a gamble on the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t see it.”
Instead of cowardly begging for her life, Rose charged straight ahead. A strange, inexplicable smile appeared on the Grand Duke's face at Rose's words. He could clearly see she was trembling with fear, but he wondered why she was so brazenly approaching her.
“What do you mean?”
The Grand Duke wiped the blood from his cheek with the back of his hand and asked nonchalantly.
“I’m telling you, Your Highness, that I’ll pretend not to see you kill someone.”
She seemed to be trying to speak calmly, but the trembling in her voice was impossible to hide. The Grand Duke stared blankly at Rose, who spoke directly. How could she, in this situation, not even plead for her life, but instead display such an attitude?
“Kill someone...”
Grand Duke Artaeum's words trailed off, his eyes narrowing. He then bowed toward Rose and muttered in a low voice.
“Madam... do you think I killed someone?”
Rose flinched as she was hit hard.
“Well...”
Rose was at a loss for words at his seemingly obvious question. Seeing Rose's expression of bewilderment and her inability to continue, the Grand Duke spoke to her once more.
“Have you seen it?”
"...yes?"
Rose wondered what she should say to save her life from the Grand Duke.
'Should I beg for my life? Should I plead that I didn't see anything?'
Who knows. If she begged desperately, she might at least be able to save her life. Rose, trembling, pondered for a moment what to say, then stared at the Grand Duke with wavering eyes. Then, she made a decision. She would take a gamble on the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t see it.”
Instead of cowardly begging for her life, Rose charged straight ahead. A strange, inexplicable smile appeared on the Grand Duke's face at Rose's words. He could clearly see she was trembling with fear, but he wondered why she was so brazenly approaching her.
“What do you mean?”
The Grand Duke wiped the blood from his cheek with the back of his hand and asked nonchalantly.
“I’m telling you, Your Highness, that I’ll pretend not to see you kill someone.”
She seemed to be trying to speak calmly, but the trembling in her voice was impossible to hide. The Grand Duke stared blankly at Rose, who spoke directly. How could she, in this situation, not even plead for her life, but instead display such an attitude?
“Kill someone...”
Grand Duke Artaeum's words trailed off, his eyes narrowing. He then bowed toward Rose and muttered in a low voice.
“Madam... do you think I killed someone?”
Rose flinched as she was hit hard.
“Well...”
Rose was at a loss for words at his seemingly obvious question. Seeing Rose's expression of bewilderment and her inability to continue, the Grand Duke spoke to her once more.
“Have you seen it?”
"...yes?"
“Did you see me kill someone?”
"...No.'
She couldn't see it, but she heard a person screaming... and then the Grand Duke appeared, covered in blood. And... there was even a bloody knife at his waist. 'Considering the circumstances,' the Grand Duke must have killed someone.
"You think I killed someone when you didn't see anything? What do you think of me?"
"You're a heartless, madman, the Grand Duke," she thought, but couldn't bring herself to utter those words. Rose remained silent, as if she'd eaten honey, and the Grand Duke shrugged, as if he'd been used to it.
“Well, I guess my current outfit might be causing some confusion.”
"You think I killed someone when you didn't see anything? What do you think of me?"
"You're a heartless, madman, the Grand Duke," she thought, but couldn't bring herself to utter those words. Rose remained silent, as if she'd eaten honey, and the Grand Duke shrugged, as if he'd been used to it.
“Well, I guess my current outfit might be causing some confusion.”
"Yes...?"
So... are you saying that I am seriously mistaken?
“Follow me.”
He gestured to the dazed Rose and calmly walked away. Rose, who had been standing there blankly, hurried after the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke's strides weren't long, so Rose was able to catch up easily. No, it almost felt like he was walking very slowly. She walked alongside him. After only a few steps, he turned a corner and smelled a stronger, more bloody scent than before. It made her frown. Rose covered her nose with one hand and looked around. There was nothing in the grass, not even people.
'I definitely heard a human voice.'
There was no way she'd misheard. It was such a clear, painful sound. But it seems Rose wasn't the only one who found it strange.
“It’s gone...”
Because Rose heard the Grand Duke's voice muttering as he looked around the empty surroundings.
“...What happened, Your Highness?”
“I just saved Marquis Blade because he was being attacked by a monster.”
“Then that blood...”
At Rose's words, the Grand Duke looked down at his own body and spoke softly.
“You must have asked that question when you were trying to check if the fallen Marquis was still breathing. And that’s when you heard your footsteps.”
The Grand Duke said he came because he was worried there might be other victims.
'So you're saying this was really all a misunderstanding?'
Although there were still some questionable parts, Rose nodded and said.
“...I see.”
That's when she heard people running towards her.
“It’s over there!”
“Arrest the Grand Duke immediately!”
Armed knights charged at a rapid pace toward the Grand Duke and Rose. They quickly surrounded the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
“As expected, you are the culprit, Grand Duke Artaeum.”
A bitter voice echoed from behind the knights. The man, with an air of arrogance, entered the knights, taunting them.
“What is this?”
The Grand Duke, unfazed by the knights surrounding him, stared straight at the man before him.
"Grand Duke Artaeum. You still don't seem to understand the situation."
The middle-aged man, unable to hide his bitter smile, was Duke Flice. He was the current emperor's closest confidant and the central figure in the forces plotting to execute the Archduke of Artaeum.
“The Marquis of Blade is dead.”
'If it's the Marquis of Blade...he's the one the Grand Duke helped?'
Rose stared at the Grand Duke with wide eyes. Only then did the Grand Duke seem to sense the situation unfolding. He was caught in a trap from which he could not escape. Grand Duke Artaeum clenched his fists as he looked at the Duke who had cornered him.
“I can tell what the situation is without you having to say anything.”
The Marquis of Blade and the monster's corpse suddenly disappeared. It seemed these guys had conspired to frame the Grand Duke as a murderer. People began to join in, one by one, as they stood behind Duke Flice.
“How shameless to kill someone.”
“How long do you think His Majesty the Emperor will turn a blind eye to what you do!”
Without even facing the Grand Duke, they hid behind the knights' backs and shouted words at him one by one.
“I didn’t kill Marquis Blade.”
"Funny. Your very appearance is proof. Proof that you killed Marquis Blade!"
Duke Flice spoke, pointing his sword at the Grand Duke, who stood covered in blood. His momentum was immense. Rosie, still unaware of the Duke's identity, could sense with her whole being that he was no ordinary man. However, Grand Duke Artaeum was no pushover either.
So... are you saying that I am seriously mistaken?
“Follow me.”
He gestured to the dazed Rose and calmly walked away. Rose, who had been standing there blankly, hurried after the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke's strides weren't long, so Rose was able to catch up easily. No, it almost felt like he was walking very slowly. She walked alongside him. After only a few steps, he turned a corner and smelled a stronger, more bloody scent than before. It made her frown. Rose covered her nose with one hand and looked around. There was nothing in the grass, not even people.
'I definitely heard a human voice.'
There was no way she'd misheard. It was such a clear, painful sound. But it seems Rose wasn't the only one who found it strange.
“It’s gone...”
Because Rose heard the Grand Duke's voice muttering as he looked around the empty surroundings.
“...What happened, Your Highness?”
“I just saved Marquis Blade because he was being attacked by a monster.”
“Then that blood...”
At Rose's words, the Grand Duke looked down at his own body and spoke softly.
“You must have asked that question when you were trying to check if the fallen Marquis was still breathing. And that’s when you heard your footsteps.”
The Grand Duke said he came because he was worried there might be other victims.
'So you're saying this was really all a misunderstanding?'
Although there were still some questionable parts, Rose nodded and said.
“...I see.”
That's when she heard people running towards her.
“It’s over there!”
“Arrest the Grand Duke immediately!”
Armed knights charged at a rapid pace toward the Grand Duke and Rose. They quickly surrounded the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
“As expected, you are the culprit, Grand Duke Artaeum.”
A bitter voice echoed from behind the knights. The man, with an air of arrogance, entered the knights, taunting them.
“What is this?”
The Grand Duke, unfazed by the knights surrounding him, stared straight at the man before him.
"Grand Duke Artaeum. You still don't seem to understand the situation."
The middle-aged man, unable to hide his bitter smile, was Duke Flice. He was the current emperor's closest confidant and the central figure in the forces plotting to execute the Archduke of Artaeum.
“The Marquis of Blade is dead.”
'If it's the Marquis of Blade...he's the one the Grand Duke helped?'
Rose stared at the Grand Duke with wide eyes. Only then did the Grand Duke seem to sense the situation unfolding. He was caught in a trap from which he could not escape. Grand Duke Artaeum clenched his fists as he looked at the Duke who had cornered him.
“I can tell what the situation is without you having to say anything.”
The Marquis of Blade and the monster's corpse suddenly disappeared. It seemed these guys had conspired to frame the Grand Duke as a murderer. People began to join in, one by one, as they stood behind Duke Flice.
“How shameless to kill someone.”
“How long do you think His Majesty the Emperor will turn a blind eye to what you do!”
Without even facing the Grand Duke, they hid behind the knights' backs and shouted words at him one by one.
“I didn’t kill Marquis Blade.”
"Funny. Your very appearance is proof. Proof that you killed Marquis Blade!"
Duke Flice spoke, pointing his sword at the Grand Duke, who stood covered in blood. His momentum was immense. Rosie, still unaware of the Duke's identity, could sense with her whole being that he was no ordinary man. However, Grand Duke Artaeum was no pushover either.
Undaunted by Duke Flice's momentum, he advanced toward him. The knights drew their swords, as if refusing to yield even a single inch to the Grand Duke as he approached their master. Their blades simultaneously aimed for Grand Duke Artaeum's neck.
The surrounded Grand Duke of Artaeum showed no fear, even with the blade pointed at his throat. Rather, it was the knights who were intimidated by their momentum.
"You dare point a knife at my throat. You must be so desperate to die."
Anyone who inflicts harm on the royal family is subject to execution, regardless of the reason. No matter how grave the crime, the royal family's crimes are punished according to imperial law. As soon as Grand Duke Artaeum took a step, the knights flinched and retreated en masse. They trusted their master, Duke Flice, and drew their swords, but they could never injure the Grand Duke.
“Put away your sword.”
A human being would naturally crumble when a sword is held to his throat. Duke Flice, who had been trying to drag the bewildered man away and throw him in prison, took a step back when things didn't go as planned. Grand Duke Artaeum slowly walked toward Duke Flice.
"I was out for a quick walk when I saw Marquis Blade being attacked by a monster. I was just helping him. This blood came from checking to see if he was still breathing."
“A monster? That’s not even funny.”
Duke Flice just let out a hollow laugh, as if he was taken aback by the words of the Grand Duke who had come before him.
“Marquis Blade was just being attacked by a monster?”
“He was so drunk that he couldn’t even control his body.”
"Just because he's drunk, does he deserve to be attacked by a monster? He was a member of the Imperial Knights!"
"It wasn't an ordinary monster. It was something I'd never seen before."
The Grand Duke recalled the gigantic monster that had invaded his mansion. It had sharp claws and teeth that could decapitate a human in an instant, and strange wings on its back.
‘It looked like a wolf... and it had wyvern wings on its back.’
The creature was not only monstrous in appearance but also incredibly strong. Even he, a skilled swordsman, couldn't avoid the claws, and the back of his hand was scratched. The Grand Duke gazed at the scars clearly visible on the back of his hand, recalling the monster's disappearance.
“That’s funny. Then where is this ‘monster’ you speak of?”
Duke Flice, who had been listening to the Grand Duke, took a step forward and asked in a stern voice.
“When I came back, it was gone.”
At the Grand Duke's words, laughter could be heard here and there.
“I guess our Grand Duke has also gone as far as he can go.”
Duke Flice placed his hand on the Grand Duke's shoulder and continued speaking.
"You have to touch the right person. Why did you touch Marquis Blade? He's my close friend, and His Majesty the Emperor's favorite."
Was it Rose's imagination that the man who told her his friend had died seemed strangely excited? He smiled bitterly and grabbed the Grand Duke's shoulder.
"Didn't His Majesty say that last time? If you cause trouble one more time, I'll tell you there's no more mercy for you, Grand Duke."
The Grand Duke shut his mouth as he watched the Duke tighten his grip on him.
'They deliberately set a trap.'
You said you would come north and live like a dead rat.
'This time, you will never escape, Your Highness.'
Duke Flice glared at the Grand Duke with a maddening gaze. He was the winner in this fight. He had left the Grand Duke no room to escape. Cornered, Grand Duke Artaeum racked his brain tirelessly, searching for a way out. However, other than that last resort, "that," no other solution came to mind.
'Do I have to reveal everything here?'
It's impossible to show all the patterns... It was at that moment that the Grand Duke of Artaeum was pondering when an unexpected person intervened.
“I saw it all.”
Everyone turned their heads to Rose at the sudden, refreshing voice. At the end of their gaze, they saw Rose standing there, her expression solemn and determined. They had been so focused on the Grand Duke that they hadn't even noticed her presence. They seemed quite surprised by Rose's presence. Until then, Rose's presence had been nothing more than a speck of dust floating in the air.
“What did you see? And how long did it last?”
Duke Flice gave a disapproving look to Rose, who had suddenly intervened.
“I’ve been here from the beginning.”
Rose felt everyone's gaze on her for a moment, and she took a deep breath in nervousness. Then she continued speaking in a calm voice.
“I watched the Grand Duke rescue Marquis Blade and fight the monsters.”
At Rose's words, the man's expression, which had been smiling until just a moment ago, twisted terribly. He thought he'd won...! The Grand Duke stared at Rose, who stood in the center of everyone's gaze, with a strange gaze. He hadn't even considered that she, who had mistaken him for a murderer just moments before, would help him.
The surrounded Grand Duke of Artaeum showed no fear, even with the blade pointed at his throat. Rather, it was the knights who were intimidated by their momentum.
"You dare point a knife at my throat. You must be so desperate to die."
Anyone who inflicts harm on the royal family is subject to execution, regardless of the reason. No matter how grave the crime, the royal family's crimes are punished according to imperial law. As soon as Grand Duke Artaeum took a step, the knights flinched and retreated en masse. They trusted their master, Duke Flice, and drew their swords, but they could never injure the Grand Duke.
“Put away your sword.”
A human being would naturally crumble when a sword is held to his throat. Duke Flice, who had been trying to drag the bewildered man away and throw him in prison, took a step back when things didn't go as planned. Grand Duke Artaeum slowly walked toward Duke Flice.
"I was out for a quick walk when I saw Marquis Blade being attacked by a monster. I was just helping him. This blood came from checking to see if he was still breathing."
“A monster? That’s not even funny.”
Duke Flice just let out a hollow laugh, as if he was taken aback by the words of the Grand Duke who had come before him.
“Marquis Blade was just being attacked by a monster?”
“He was so drunk that he couldn’t even control his body.”
"Just because he's drunk, does he deserve to be attacked by a monster? He was a member of the Imperial Knights!"
"It wasn't an ordinary monster. It was something I'd never seen before."
The Grand Duke recalled the gigantic monster that had invaded his mansion. It had sharp claws and teeth that could decapitate a human in an instant, and strange wings on its back.
‘It looked like a wolf... and it had wyvern wings on its back.’
The creature was not only monstrous in appearance but also incredibly strong. Even he, a skilled swordsman, couldn't avoid the claws, and the back of his hand was scratched. The Grand Duke gazed at the scars clearly visible on the back of his hand, recalling the monster's disappearance.
“That’s funny. Then where is this ‘monster’ you speak of?”
Duke Flice, who had been listening to the Grand Duke, took a step forward and asked in a stern voice.
“When I came back, it was gone.”
At the Grand Duke's words, laughter could be heard here and there.
“I guess our Grand Duke has also gone as far as he can go.”
Duke Flice placed his hand on the Grand Duke's shoulder and continued speaking.
"You have to touch the right person. Why did you touch Marquis Blade? He's my close friend, and His Majesty the Emperor's favorite."
Was it Rose's imagination that the man who told her his friend had died seemed strangely excited? He smiled bitterly and grabbed the Grand Duke's shoulder.
"Didn't His Majesty say that last time? If you cause trouble one more time, I'll tell you there's no more mercy for you, Grand Duke."
The Grand Duke shut his mouth as he watched the Duke tighten his grip on him.
'They deliberately set a trap.'
You said you would come north and live like a dead rat.
'This time, you will never escape, Your Highness.'
Duke Flice glared at the Grand Duke with a maddening gaze. He was the winner in this fight. He had left the Grand Duke no room to escape. Cornered, Grand Duke Artaeum racked his brain tirelessly, searching for a way out. However, other than that last resort, "that," no other solution came to mind.
'Do I have to reveal everything here?'
It's impossible to show all the patterns... It was at that moment that the Grand Duke of Artaeum was pondering when an unexpected person intervened.
“I saw it all.”
Everyone turned their heads to Rose at the sudden, refreshing voice. At the end of their gaze, they saw Rose standing there, her expression solemn and determined. They had been so focused on the Grand Duke that they hadn't even noticed her presence. They seemed quite surprised by Rose's presence. Until then, Rose's presence had been nothing more than a speck of dust floating in the air.
“What did you see? And how long did it last?”
Duke Flice gave a disapproving look to Rose, who had suddenly intervened.
“I’ve been here from the beginning.”
Rose felt everyone's gaze on her for a moment, and she took a deep breath in nervousness. Then she continued speaking in a calm voice.
“I watched the Grand Duke rescue Marquis Blade and fight the monsters.”
At Rose's words, the man's expression, which had been smiling until just a moment ago, twisted terribly. He thought he'd won...! The Grand Duke stared at Rose, who stood in the center of everyone's gaze, with a strange gaze. He hadn't even considered that she, who had mistaken him for a murderer just moments before, would help him.
Comments
Post a Comment