Chapter 26
Amelia headed straight to the drawing room. Behind her, both Isana and Eclite wore grim expressions—especially Eclite, whose face had darkened to an almost frightening degree. Amelia swallowed dryly, again and again.
She had thought this was just a case of wild animals causing trouble. But if someone had died because of it, then this was something else entirely.
When they entered the room, the village chief and a few tenant farmers were already waiting.
“My lady,” they greeted, bowing their heads in unison.
Amelia quickly waved her hand to dismiss the formalities.
“There’s no time for greetings. Just report what happened—clearly and accurately.”
The village chief looked a little relieved at her straightforwardness. Truthfully, on the way to the manor, he had worried the incident would be brushed off as something minor.
“I’m Anek, the chief of the western village. I can’t speak for other villages, but our area has suffered the worst of the damage recently.”
The fruit from Fiore was mostly grown in the western village before being distributed to markets. Likely, it supplied the surrounding territories as well. The region was ideal for fruit cultivation thanks to its rich soil and climate.
“Honestly, the fruit crops themselves haven’t taken much damage. But livestock kept in the orchards have started disappearing. At first, we assumed wild animals had wandered into the orchards and hunted them.”
“But what about the report that someone died?” Amelia asked.
“No, not died—at least not for certain,” Anek clarified. “More accurately… he went missing.”
“Missing?”
Isana, who had been quietly listening, stepped forward. One of the farmers turned toward him and explained.
“It’s a man named Shuran. He was a new worker we recently hired. We found signs of a struggle—blood, and tracks showing he’d been dragged away. After that, he vanished.”
Before he could finish speaking, others began murmuring and adding their voices.
“That beast definitely took him.”
“He must be dead.”
“Of course he is. If he were alive, why hasn’t he come back by now?”
“A beast that’s tasted human flesh will always return.”
“Everyone’s terrified. We need to hunt it down before there are more victims.”
Amelia listened to their growing panic with unease. It wasn’t unheard of for wild animals to move in groups through the forests, but they had never attacked human settlements before—especially not in the south. This wasn’t the north. It wasn’t like food was scarce here.
The village chief stepped forward again, this time with a desperate tone.
“If we’re to hunt it properly, we may need to enter the forests within the Fiore duchy’s territory. Please, my lady, grant us permission.”
Amelia paused, considering carefully. Then she gave a different answer.
“The duchy will assist you.”
“I—I beg your pardon? You’ll assist us…?”
“It’s possible this Shuran is still alive. And if not, then this may not be the work of a single beast. That’s why the sniper unit will accompany the hunt.”
The villagers looked stunned. All they had expected was permission. They never imagined the duchy itself would step in to help directly.
“We would be truly grateful if you did, but…”
“This is something the house of Fiore must handle personally,” Amelia said firmly. Then she turned toward Isana. “Sir Isana.”
At her command, Isana bowed his head respectfully.
“If that is the will of the head of house, I shall follow it gladly.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
“We’re truly grateful.”
After handing over a portrait of Shuran, the villagers expressed their gratitude and quietly left the drawing room. Amelia turned to Isana and spoke.
“I’d like to join the search myself, but I still don’t know the terrain of Fiore very well. I figured it would be best to send the snipers, who know the area far better than I do.”
“You made the right call. And even this much is already you stepping forward personally. Please don’t go beyond that. If you try to, I’ll have to stop you.”
“Are wild animals normally this aggressive in Fiore?”
“Not at all. In fact, wild beasts are rare in this territory. There aren’t many rugged mountains either. That’s why the western village’s orchards have thrived. I didn’t show it earlier, but this situation is… definitely strange.”
“I thought so too.”
“Still, don’t worry too much. I’ll form a proper search party and report back once we’ve found something.”
Amelia looked at the portrait of Shuran and said softly, “Please… I hope he’s still alive.”
“I’ll do everything I can,” Isana replied.
After Isana exited the drawing room, Amelia and Eclite were left alone. But even now, concern lingered heavily across her face.
“I hope they return safely. I hope this doesn’t turn into something bigger…”
Eclite remained silent.
His quietness struck Amelia as odd. She turned her head.
“Your Grace?”
He hesitated for a moment, then looked at her and replied in a calm voice.
“Don’t worry too much. Everything will be fine.”
“Yes… I hope it’s nothing serious.”
He had shifted the subject so awkwardly that Amelia instantly noticed something was off. His expression was… subtly dark.
What’s going on? Is he upset about this? What does this incident have to do with him?
“So, will you be taking lessons from Sir Isana?” Eclite asked suddenly.
“Huh?”
He changed the subject completely—yet asked sincerely.
“The sniper training.”
“Oh, we didn’t really finish that conversation. Sir Isana had a point, though.”
Just from that one reply, Eclite’s face changed in an instant. His eyes drooped, and his lips tightened into a slight pout. He clearly didn’t want to object outright, but he also wasn’t happy about it.
“But Your Grace made a valid point too,” Amelia added quickly.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s not right to take up the commander’s time for personal training. Especially now, with everything going on. It might be better to ask another Tier instead.”
“I see.”
With that, Eclite’s sulky expression quickly relaxed. Amelia watched his rapidly shifting expressions in fascination.
Does he really dislike Isana that much? He looked so relieved when I said I wouldn’t train with him.
To be fair, she wasn’t exactly at ease around Isana either.
Eclite felt the heat of her gaze and tilted his head slightly.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s… interesting.”
“What is?”
“You, Your Grace.”
He blinked, clearly confused by her words.
“Did you spread those terrifying rumors about yourself on purpose? Just to hide… this?”
“I’m sorry? What are you talking about?”
“Your expressions. They’re so easy to read.”
Amelia spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Eclite’s eyes widened slightly.
“You can… read them?”
“Yes. You didn’t know? Your expressions change so quickly—it’s almost funny. Like when I mentioned training with Sir Isana, your face was all grim. But the moment I said I wouldn’t, it lightened right away.”
“…”
“And sometimes, you smile. You show when you’re awkward, or annoyed. It’s all there on your face.”
“…”
“So, maybe that’s why you hide it. Because deep down, you’re more sensitive than people think. And honest. And maybe you see that as a weakness, so you hide it—so no one else notices.”
Eclite’s lips curved into a slow, subtle smile.
“There. You’re doing it again. I was right, wasn’t I?”
“Then what do you think I’m feeling right now?” he asked, amused.
“You’re embarrassed. I caught you, and now you’re all flustered.”
“…You really don’t know anything, do you?”
“What?”
Amelia blinked, puzzled. Eclite murmured softly, almost like he was talking to himself.
“I suppose it’s a relief… that you don’t realize it.”
“What was that?” she asked.
“That I’m sensitive and honest? No one else knows that. Not even Kahilro. I only smile, or open up, or show my true thoughts—when I’m with you. Because…”
His voice, so familiar now, brushed gently against her ear.
“…I’m only weak when it comes to you.”
Amelia instinctively clamped her lips shut. If she didn’t, she feared her racing heartbeat might come spilling out.
It wasn’t pain this time—her heart was pounding too fast.
Suddenly, Mami’s words echoed in her mind.
“That’s definitely love. You don’t act that way unless you’re in love.”
No. Why is that coming to mind now?!
“So… do you like Sir Isana?” Eclite asked, trying to sound composed. But the edge in his voice was hard to miss.
“M-me? I… don’t know yet. But I guess I’ll have to get to know him. Since we’ll be working together.”
Eclite let out a quiet sigh.
“I hope he’s a decent man.”
“What? I thought you didn’t like him.”
“I don’t like it, but I dislike even more having a strange guy near my wife. If he’s going to be strange, he should do it quickly. And he should be definitively strange.”
“So that I can handle it myself.”
“Yes?”
“It’s nothing.”
Eclite smiled, hiding the fierce glint in his eyes. Isana Blanc—he would need to be observed more carefully. As the commander of the sniper unit, Isana was supposed to protect her. Not that Eclite intended to leave that duty to anyone else. He would guard her himself. Still, he couldn’t afford to have anyone even remotely dangerous hovering around her.
“Oh, and speaking of Sir Isana offering to teach me…”
Amelia hesitated, and Eclite gently asked,
“What is it?”
“You remember when I asked you to help me train a little more?”
“I’ll continue to help.”
“Really? I was worried I was bothering you. I just wanted to improve my stamina a bit.”
“It’s not a problem. As long as we’re doing it together.”
Eclite’s warm smile deepened, and Amelia couldn’t help but smile with him. He really was honest with his emotions—at least with her.
And knowing that… kind of makes me happy.
Once again, her heart thudded in a way that was soft and ticklish.
After leaving the drawing room, Isana quickly regrouped with Kallen.
“Assemble the search team immediately. We move today. I want to report back to the Lady by tomorrow morning.”
“Should I recall some of the Tiers stationed outside?”
Kallen asked, but Isana shook his head after a moment of consideration.
“No. It’s not necessary. Just gather the ones currently at the estate. We don’t need a large group. I’ll be joining them myself.”
“You will, Commander?”
“This is the Lady’s first direct order. I need to make sure we carry it out properly. Besides… something about this is bothering me.”
Kallen nodded in agreement.
“Yeah. Wild animals doing something like this… it’s strange. And this isn’t even the North.”
Southern beasts were generally less aggressive. In the harsh, rugged North, both humans and beasts were forced to fight tooth and nail for survival. This kind of behavior didn’t match what they knew of the region.
“So don’t take it lightly. We can’t assume the missing man is already dead. If he’s alive, then we absolutely have to find him today.”
At that moment, Isana suddenly stopped walking—and reached out instinctively.
A woman dropped into his arms.
A stranger, falling from the sky.
Even though she had quite literally fallen into him, Isana didn’t flinch. He tried to help her to the ground, but she forcefully shoved him away and widened the distance. Kallen, stunned, immediately raised his voice and stepped into a defensive stance.
“Who are you?!”
The woman didn’t answer. She simply stared at them both with cold intensity. Isana examined her closely with a look of curiosity.
She had a sharp, neat bob haircut, a face devoid of expression, and piercing, upturned eyes. Her bronzed skin and toned physique hinted at a life of constant motion. Her movement was so swift, so fluid, that she reminded him of a wild black panther. The air around her bristled with danger.
Just then, the shouts of the guards rang out nearby.
“There she is! We finally found her! That damn thief—wa-wait, Commander?!”
The guards froze as soon as they saw Isana.
“Oh? A thief broke into the duke’s estate, and it took ten of you to catch one woman?” Isana asked with a sharp smile that chilled the air.
“N-no, sir! We were just about to apprehend her—we’ll take her out immediately—”
The guards tried to surround her, but the woman instantly slipped through their grasp. In the blink of an eye, she was back in front of Isana, staring him down.
“Commander!”
Kallen stepped forward to protect him, but Isana stopped him with a gesture. He now stood face-to-face with the bold woman.
“What’s this? The thief walked right up to me? Run out of places to hide?”
“You’re the one in charge of these fools?”
The woman finally spoke, her tone walking a thin line between sarcastic and respectful.
“And if I am?”
“Then tell those brainless dogs of yours to back off. I’m not a thief. I’m here as a guest.”
Her voice was sharp, biting, and laced with irritation. Isana blinked at her.
“A guest?”
“I’m the Grand Duke’s guest. I came from the North. There’s just no one here to verify my identity.”
One of the guards stepped forward and added,
“She claims to be from the North, but has no identification!”
Isana’s eyebrows rose even higher.
“A guest of the Grand Duke?”
The woman nodded without hesitation.
“That’s right.”
“Identification?”
“I forgot. Things got urgent. Besides, I don’t usually carry that kind of thing. But once I meet the Grand Duke, everything will be cleared up.”
She had no proof. And yet she stood there, unbothered, utterly confident. There was something strangely convincing about her boldness.
“Still… we do have procedures, and without proper ID, this puts us in an awkward position.”
When Isana suddenly changed his demeanor and smiled faintly, the woman let out a cold sigh without hesitation.
“Honestly, how annoyingly uptight—southerners.”
“…….”
“Very well. If I’m lying…”
She drew a dagger from within her cloak. The moment she did, the atmosphere around them grew tense—everyone stiffened, except for her and Isana. Calmly, she handed the dagger to him, hilt first.
“Then use this. Kill me.”
“Me?”
“Aren’t you the captain? If I’m to die, it should be by your hand. I refuse to die by the hands of some feeble underling. They’re already gasping for breath just from a short chase. Scared of a little dagger, too—how laughable.”
One of the guards couldn’t hold back his anger.
“‘Just a short chase’? We’ve been at it for over an hour!”
“Hey!”
Another guard quickly covered his mouth, but it was too late. Isana had already heard everything—and was dumbfounded. Did that mean they had been chasing this woman for over an hour? Yet she looked completely unbothered?
Just who is she? Is she really a guest of His Grace, the Duke? But we’ve received no report…
Then again, Duke Clio wasn’t exactly the type to send notice in advance.
“If you really were a thief, how could I kill you? Would you come back here on your own?”
The woman replied with her usual flat expression.
“If I were a thief, then shouldn’t you do whatever it takes to capture and kill me? Aren’t you the captain guarding the Duke’s household? What’s wrong? Can’t handle even that much? Are you really that weak?”
Now she was outright provoking him—and Isana found it amusing. No, lately, the entire Ducal House had been full of surprises.
“You’re not wrong. But I don’t think I’ll have to use this dagger. So I’ll return it to you.”
He handed the dagger back to her and turned to address the guards.
“I vouch for her identity. Everyone, return to your posts.”
“But, Captain—!”
“We still need to verify—”
“Didn’t you hear me say I’m vouching for her? If she’s a guest of His Grace, she’s a guest of our House. The fact that our security was breached is bad enough, but being discourteous? That’s even more unacceptable.”
Though Isana was smiling, his voice was sharp as a blade. After all, it had been their failure.
“If any issues arise, I’ll take full responsibility—under my name. Now go.”
His commanding presence left the woman momentarily dazed. The guards said nothing more and began to retreat. Watching them go, Kallen shook his head.
Those poor guys… they’re going to be drilled into the ground during training later.
Once the situation was under control, Isana turned to her with a polite tone.
“You don’t have to worry anymore. It seems you’ve lost your way—shall I escort you?”
“No need. As long as I know the direction, I can manage. His Grace is expecting me.”
“It’s that way. Then please, take care.”
Just as he turned to leave, she caught his arm.
“Are you really sure you don’t need this dagger? What exactly made you decide to take responsibility for me in your own name?”
“Just… a feeling.”
“A feeling?”
“My first impression. You didn’t seem like you were lying. And you don’t seem like a bad person either.”
As Isana replied with a gentle smile, her cheeks flushed slightly as she whispered,
“So… are you saying you fell for me at first sight?”
Caught off guard by her unexpected remark, Isana wavered for the first time.
“…Excuse me?”
Elsewhere, Eclite was reading a letter that had just arrived for him.
“So, Kamari has already arrived?”
Then why is it still so quiet? He muttered with a troubled expression.
“Please… I just hope no one was too kind to Kamari.”
Especially not a man. Things could go terribly wrong if there were any misunderstandings again.
