Chapter 96
Hermia was running.
To be exact, she was chasing someone, but the distance wasn’t closing at all. Running after a young man in heels made her breath catch at her throat.
Perhaps she had gotten too used to a peaceful life and had let her guard down. Who would have thought that carrying her coin pouch carelessly would become a problem?
If it hadn’t been for the instinct that lingered out of habit, she wouldn’t have even realized she had been pickpocketed. It was only after she felt the sudden absence of weight while following Nora and Emily that she realized too late that something was wrong.
By the time she realized it, the pouch that had been hanging on her arm was already gone. It was fortunate, at least, that she had caught a glimpse of the culprit in that fleeting moment.
The pickpocket, wearing a dark brown cap pulled low, had instantly disappeared into the crowd. Hermia immediately began to pursue him.
“Stop right there, you bastard!”
When she finally made it to the street and clearly saw the man’s back, she shouted at the top of her lungs.
She had no time to regret such a foolish act, something she never would have done in the past.
The man, while running, had even turned around and hooked the stolen pouch’s strap on his finger, spinning it smugly. He was confident that a noble lady wouldn’t be able to catch him.
‘If I catch you, you’re done for.’
Veins bulged on her forehead.
She could have shouted “Thief!” and someone might have caught him, but she chose not to. Her plan was to beat him up herself once she caught him.
Breathing heavily, Hermia stepped into the narrow alley where the pickpocket had vanished.
“You came alone, without fear, didn’t you, lady?”
Cornered at a dead end, the pickpocket wasn’t even flustered. He leaned against the wall, chuckling. He seemed rather pleased that the noble lady had followed him here alone without calling for help.
“Oh. Now that I see you up close, you’ve got quite the pretty face.”
“If you give it back quietly, I’ll stop at a couple of punches.”
At Hermia’s warning, the man burst into open laughter.
“Is hitting people your thing, lady? Fine, I’ll let you smack me a few times on the ass!”
The scoundrel, spewing vulgar words, turned around and slightly lowered his pants, wiggling his hips from side to side. A couple of punches might not be enough.
Hermia glanced up at the top of the wall. It was about time someone showed up.
“Oh no. Are you looking for help? Too bad. No one can save you here. This is our turf.”
“Our?”
The pickpocket put two fingers in his mouth and blew a loud whistle. From the direction Hermia had come, the sound of multiple footsteps grew louder.
She flinched and turned around and then her eyes widened.
It wasn’t because of the thugs who were clearly part of the pickpocket’s gang. It was because of one man who stood out among them.
“Haha. I didn’t want to be caught like this.”
Even in the shadowy alley where no light reached, his fine blond hair stood out distinctly.
And more familiar than his toy-like glasses was his voice.
It was Gerald.
“Why are you here…?”
“Hello, Lady Hermia.”
Gerald greeted her calmly, replying to her stunned question. Could it be… the prince was the leader of this gang…?
“I followed you and got caught myself.”
Ah. That’s not it.
Gerald raised his hands, tied with rope, and gave her a troubled smile.
“What, you two know each other?”
The pickpocket leisurely circled them, looking back and forth between them with interest. Hermia didn’t care and kept her gaze fixed on Gerald.
“Don’t tell me you followed me all through the honeymoon?”
“I swear I didn’t. I arrived just last night.”
“Then why? Don’t tell me you followed Walter…”
“You know, I’ve wanted to clear this up for a while. Why do you always link me and that guy…”
“Hey! Do you think this is some kind of open-air café? Is this your first time in a situation like this, high and mighty folks? Don’t you know your place?”
The pickpocket seemed annoyed that the two were talking as if he didn’t exist. Finally, he snarled and pulled out something sharp.
Only then did Gerald hurriedly wave his hands.
“No, wait! Calm down. Your goal is money, right? I have money. Take it all and just let us go. I won’t report it.”
“We’ll let you go after we finish our business with the lady. Don’t worry too much.”
“…What?”
Behind his glasses, Gerald’s red eyes twisted sharply. The men, except the one holding Gerald, began slowly closing in on Hermia.
Her expression didn’t change. It was Gerald who grew visibly anxious. He spoke quickly.
“Wait. If you knew who this woman is, you’d regret ever laying a hand on her. Her husband is—”
“Wow. Up close, she’s a total beauty.”
“What a windfall. I call first!”
“You wish! I brought her, so I get first pick!”
“Come on, let’s be fair. Like we always do.”
The thugs ignored him completely and focused on rock-paper-scissors.
Now, Gerald finally realized the seriousness of the situation and ground his teeth.
If only he’d brought a gun, this wouldn’t have happened. Choosing to go in disguise instead of with guards, like usual, had been a mistake.
It was the moment when regret rushed over him like a tide—regret that he hadn’t even learned self-defense, something Walter always nagged him about.
Gerald tensed his shoulders, ready to charge with his body if it came to that.
He was well-built, so taking down one or two might be possible. But facing five grown men with weapons alone was definitely too much. He braced himself, ready to get hurt.
Just as the man who had cursed was about to lunge, one of the thugs who had reached toward Hermia suddenly fell backward.
“Argh!”
The man collapsed, grabbing his shoulder and screaming. A dagger had flown from somewhere and was now lodged firmly in his shoulder.
As the remaining thugs looked up in confusion, a dark shadow like a thundercloud flew swiftly over their heads.
Someone appeared out of nowhere, slamming one man to the ground with a knee as they landed.
“Knew you’d show up!”
Hermia snapped her fingers, grinning at Eagle, who had once again appeared, his gray robe billowing.
His face wasn’t visible, with his hood pulled low and a mask covering him. But those raven-black eyes, shining like a crow’s, she remembered clearly.
He was Walter’s subordinate. The one who had suddenly appeared at the hot spring and taken down those thugs.
Once again, he had followed her like a shadow and protected her perfectly.
Because she had someone like him, she had been able to follow them alone into this alley. As the sounds of dull thuds and screams continued, her face lit up with pride.
In contrast, the man holding Gerald was growing visibly pale.
The stranger who had appeared so suddenly had taken down the rest of the gang in an instant. Now, with no way out, the thug had only one option left.
“Stay back!”
The sharp point of a pocketknife pressed against the Prince’s neck. His terrified hand was trembling violently.
“Come any closer, and this man dies!”
“Seriously.”
“……”
Eagle, having just knocked out the last man, slowly turned around.
He saw a familiar face in the direction of the voice. The hostage was someone he knew well.
‘The blonde guy who always hovered around my lord.’
Should I save him? His orders were only to protect the silver-haired woman.
He tilted his head, deep in thought.
“Sorry. I’ve only been a burden.”
The man being held captive gave a faint laugh as he spoke.
“I’ll be fine. Just take care of your master.”
Conveniently, the hostage told him to leave. Eagle nodded lightly, feeling no burden.
He walked toward his charge without hesitation, but when their eyes met, she shook her head firmly.
“No. You have to save him.”
‘What a hassle.’
Eagle frowned, thinking the exact words he would have said out loud if he could.
Women who meddle in everything are the worst. As he thought this, the woman continued.
“We have to save him so we can get a reward for it.”
“……”
Got it.
Understanding at once, he turned and threw his dagger. The movement was powerful, fast, and precise—too quick for anyone to follow.
In the blink of an eye, Gerald was free.
Something shot past him like a bullet. The man behind him collapsed without resistance.
Gerald didn’t want to look at how the man lay on the ground. Judging by how he had gone quiet without even a death cry, he figured the man had gone without pain.
He took out a handkerchief, wiped the cold sweat from his face, and rubbed his stinging neck. The man’s shaking hands must have scratched his skin.
Eagle retrieved his two daggers and wiped them roughly on his robe.
As he slipped them back into the belt at his waist, the woman thanked him.
“Thanks for helping. I’ll share the reward from the Prince with you. So, your name is…”
Eagle was about to write his name on a slip of paper when the woman suddenly spoke.
“Crow… right? I think it was a bird name.”
Crow?
“Your eyes. They’re black like gems, just like a crow’s. Aren’t you Crow? If not, never mind.”
‘Crow… That’s cool.’
Eagle felt his heart beat a little faster. He stood there, listening to his own pulse as it quickened. As he stood motionless, the woman walked past him and approached the fallen pickpocket.
“Flashing your nasty butt like that? Disgusting.”
Hermia kicked the man’s backside hard with her boot, then crouched down and rolled up her sleeves.
Both Eagle and Gerald turned their eyes toward her at once. She was digging through the pickpocket’s pockets.
“What are you just standing there for? Hurry up and help.”
