Chapter 22

“…Because I knew you wouldn’t get hurt…”

“But it was still a dangerous thing to do. Coming here alone, too.”

How did he even know I was here? I’d left as soon as I received the letter, not wanting to cause Maynus any more trouble.

“I was worried.”

I let out a breath of relief, too. Maybe… maybe I’d been hoping someone would come for me. Hoping someone would save me.

Maynus gently stroked my back and carefully set me down. Then he pulled my arm through his and held it tightly as he walked right past the Count without even a glance. As he did, he declared to Count Artemio:

“Don’t even think about setting foot in my estate. The doors will never open to Artemio.”

A servant helped the staggering Count to his feet.

I’d arrived alone, but I was leaving with Maynus.

I wasn’t alone anymore.

***

I had come by carriage, but Maynus had ridden on horseback. Apparently, he’d heard almost everything the Count had said. He stopped the servants from alerting the Count when he arrived.

He said he had planned to let me handle it myself… until he realized it wasn’t going to end well. That’s why he barged in. He felt that the fundamental difference in strength between men and women would put me at a disadvantage. In truth, he was probably worried the Count might actually harm me.

‘Promise me you’ll never climb out a window again. That was really dangerous.’

I think I heard that line at least five times. He said it like someone scolding a child for climbing a tree. And because he looked so anxious, I promised him five times.

When we returned together by carriage, Jewel was already anxiously waiting for me at the front door. So she was the one who told him. That explained how Maynus arrived just in time.

I got out of the carriage and went back to my room with Jewel.

Ahh, I really made it back.

I’d said everything I needed to say. I even had a reliable ally by the end. So maybe that’s why I felt so relieved.

I thought that would be the end of today’s drama.

But then

“My lady.”

“Hm?”

“I must beg your forgiveness.”

Jewel suddenly dropped to her knees with a thud.

“Jewel!”

Startled, I crouched down and grabbed her hand.

“I revealed my mistress’s whereabouts. If you wish to punish me…”

“No, Jewel! Really, I’m grateful. If it weren’t for you, I…”

Might have ended up acting out The Shawshank Redemption. Thinking about it now, I doubt they would have let me go even if I’d jumped out the window. I could have been locked up in there.

There were so many excuses they could have used.

Veloce is unwell, we just wanted to take care of her for a while.
We’re thinking of formally accepting Veloce into the family.

Maynus and I weren’t in any sort of official relationship, so he wouldn’t have had much ground to stand on in that situation.

Ugh. Just thinking about it gave me chills.

“I probably wouldn’t have gotten out of there in one piece.”

“…What?”

Jewel’s face turned pale, her body trembling.

“You mean… you were injured…?”

“No! I mean if Maynus hadn’t come, I might have been. I’m totally fine now.”

“Thank goodness…”

Jewel let out a long breath and a single tear dropped from her eye.

“I was so worried, my lady. I thought something terrible might happen. The Countess Artemio who visited last time… she didn’t seem sane.”

Yeah, she was insane.

“So I acted on my own…”

“Thank you, Jewel. I mean it.”

Jewel nodded. I couldn’t believe someone cared about me this much. Not as Veloce, and not even in my previous life. My body and heart were both warmed by the thought.

I wasn’t alone here.

There were people who cared about me. People who waited for me. Someone who came to save me.

My heart swelled.

Oh no. I really do like Jeremias.

I thought it would just be a place to rest for a while… but now I was completely attached.

***

Maynus’s eyes were blazing.

He had heard every word of the Count Artemio’s venomous rant. And Veloce… she had tried to jump out of a window to escape.

Maynus clenched his fists.

The temperature around him dropped sharply. Kahir rubbed his arms as goosebumps rose. He’d known Maynus had gone out to fetch Veloce, but… what in the world had happened?

Kahir cautiously spoke up.

“Ahem. Your Grace?”

Should he have said anything? Maynus’s icy stare chilled him to the bone. Then, in a voice as cold as a cave in midwinter, Maynus spoke:

“From this moment forward, Artemio is an enemy.”

“Artemio?”

“Yes. Artemio is henceforth an enemy of Jeremias.”

“…Something serious must have happened.”

“They tried to kill Veloce.”

Kahir’s eyes widened.

Even if she was their daughter, it wasn’t hard to believe they’d go that far. This world was full of madness. Injustice had become routine. And this wasn’t just any noble family, it was Artemio, one of the empire’s long-standing powers. The weight of that made it impossible to dismiss lightly.

He’d heard about the Count’s downward spiral after Ellice’s death, but this?

Kahir ground his teeth.

Veloce… she was the one who had brought peace to Maynus, who spent most of his time with her. Even if he didn’t say it out loud, ever since Veloce and Delerone had arrived, Maynus had begun to act more human. He wasn’t as temperamental. He even smiled sometimes.

And now…

They tried to kill Lady Veloce? That vile scum. Trying to destroy the peace of Jeremias?

Unforgivable.

Kahir shook with fury. Even though he had never properly spoken with Veloce, even though he had no reason to feel this angry… he still did.

Because he knew:

“I understand, Your Grace. From this moment on, Artemio is our enemy!”

Kahir pumped his fist into the air.

“Veloce had mentioned something before about drawing Artemio’s merchant guildmaster over to Carman’s side.”

“Yes.”

“Prepare for that. Help Carman make contact with the guildmaster.”

“Will the Empress permit that?”

“She will. Veloce has that kind of influence and I’m here as well. We’ll see it through. Don’t worry. Just proceed.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

Maynus narrowed his gaze.

If Artemio threatened Veloce, then that family would have to be erased.

And if anyone else threatened her, they would disappear too.

He gritted his teeth.

He hadn’t even realized how furious he’d become.

Nor how deeply he now cared for Veloce.

***

“Damn it…”

Count Artemio clutched his head. The old injury in his leg throbbed with pain. He stared at it coldly while the Countess Artemio, watching him nervously, massaged his leg with care.

“Are you alright, dear? That impudent girl… did she defy you again? It seems the Duke Maynus has been completely taken in by her…”

“We threw away our most valuable card.”

He ground his teeth.

“Darling…”

The Countess trembled as she spoke.

“Find that fortune-teller. The one we met when we brought Ellice and Veloce home. We need to see her again.”

Count Artemio’s voice was laced with venom. The Countess swallowed hard and glanced around, even though they were alone in their bedroom. A nameless fear crept in.

She lowered her voice.

“We agreed never to speak of that…”

Count Artemio shot her a frosty look.

“She might have been wrong. But does that matter now? She said the blonde girl would bring glory to the family! That’s why we dragged out that dusty old prophecy and poured everything into Ellice… dumping Veloce in the process!”

He clenched his jaw.

The Countess bowed her head, afraid.

Ellice and Veloce… neither of them were the Countess’s biological daughters. The Countess couldn’t have children. To hide that fact, they faked a pregnancy and brought the twins in as their own.

To protect their hold on the family headship.

“I’m the one who brought this ruined family back to power. I won’t let it be taken away again!”

The Count growled.