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Chapter 7
Nina suddenly thought of “number 3.”
If the Duchess was planning to poison Adrian, wasn’t this the perfect moment? Of course, she followed him.
‘I even imagined a cool scene where I’d block the poisoned food and shout, “This is poison!”’
But without realizing it, she ended up drinking it. Well, she probably wouldn’t have been able to leave there without drinking it anyway.
“Nina, Nina, are you alive? Huh? Don’t leave me.”
At the faint voice, Nina tried hard to respond. It was a voice unlike his usual self.
A desperate voice that had lost all composure.
Adrian was afraid of Nina’s limp, cold body. Afraid that if she died like this… if she left him behind…
He was tall and well-built, but still a sixteen-year-old boy.
He pushed through the snow as he kept walking. He left the exhausted horse where it collapsed.
For the first time in his life, he wished for night to come quickly.
There was nothing but snow everywhere—no shadows, no darkness.
The sun reflected off the snowfield, turning the entire world into a blinding white plain.
As the sun began to set and shadows finally stretched out, he barely managed to run into the darkness.
It was the first time he had ever willingly stepped into darkness, but he had no other choice.
“O darkness that has no path or light, guide me to a place of safety.”
As he ran through the dark, he thought of the knight order. If there was anyone on his side in this world, it was them.
When Adrian burst out of the darkness, Jin, who was tending a campfire, widened his eyes.
“Commander?”
“Kiril! Where’s Kiril?!”
The healer Kiril stood up.
“What—oh my.”
Adrian shoved Nina toward her, almost collapsing her into Kiril’s arms.
“Nina, Nina drank poison. Nina…!”
Kiril laid Nina down on the ground.
“Poison? Let me take a look first.”
Her calm attitude made Adrian think she didn’t understand how serious the situation was.
“She’s coughing blood, not breathing, and she’s freezing cold!”
Vice Commander Rui grabbed Adrian’s shoulder.
It was the first time they had ever seen the always calm and composed Adrian speak so frantically.
“She’ll be fine. But you caught up on the road all night?”
Adrian nodded. Kiril checked Nina’s limp body and chuckled.
“What is this?”
Rui asked.
Kiril replied,
“I’m over forty, but this is a first. Should I call it impressive… or shocking?”
“Hurry up and explain.”
At Adrian’s urging, Kiril shrugged. The woman in her mid-forties had her white, wavy hair tied tightly back.
If you asked who had watched the Black Knight Order the longest, everyone would point to Kiril.
“She lowered her body temperature to slow the spread of the poison. Even her heartbeat is slow. Like a hibernating animal. I didn’t know a human could do that. I don’t know what the poison is, but I’ll start with IV fluids.”
Kiril looked around.
“Before treatment, we should move somewhere safe. Once we start treatment and her body begins functioning normally again, it’ll become very painful.”
The group quickly packed their things again.
They moved to a nearby village to begin detox treatment.
As Kiril started the antidote process, the spirits around them withdrew.
At the same time, the poison began to spread again.
Nina twisted her body, coughed up blood, and scratched the ground with her nails.
It was a terrible night for Nina.
And for the group as well.
And even more so for Adrian.
After stabilizing her condition, they moved to the Purple Forest, where the knight order’s base was located.
Her mouth, throat, and stomach were badly damaged, and jaundice remained, but Nina survived.
Two months later, she was fully recovered.
Even Kiril was impressed.
That night, when everyone raised a toast for Nina’s recovery, Adrian came to her room.
“Young master?”
Nina mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
The room was dark, and Adrian stood silently by the doorway.
“Why did you do it?”
His voice was cold.
Nina flinched and sat up straight.
It was too dark to see his face clearly. But her eyesight had definitely worsened because of the poison.
‘Not quite night blindness, but still…’
Her vision had weakened. Now she understood why Adrian had such a short life span. That poison was truly vicious.
“What are you talking about?”
“The tea.”
His answer was short.
“Are you angry?”
“Angry?”
His tone sounded genuinely absurd.
“Angry? Me? Angry?”
The last words were flat, emotionless—like reading from a book.
Adrian slowly walked closer. Or maybe it just felt faster.
He stopped in front of Nina. His face, lit faintly, looked like a cold statue.
“Why would I be angry? My loyal subordinate drank poison in my place. I should be praising you. It’s a day worth celebrating for me as well.”
“You are angry.”
“Don’t say it like that.”
Adrian grabbed her shoulders.
“Like it’s nothing. Like everything means nothing to you.”
“Adrian.”
Nina called him. He didn’t answer. His grip stayed strong.
She said,
“You knew there was poison in the tea. You couldn’t not know. It smelled bitter.”
“But still—!”
“You were going to drink it anyway.”
Adrian froze like he had been struck.
His grip loosened. Nina stood up suddenly.
“You knew from the start, didn’t you? That’s why you stopped me from tasting it.”
Adrian stepped back.
Nina stood with her arms crossed.
“Don’t treat me like an idiot, Adrian.”
“I never did.”
He looked at her pale face.
How could I ever think that of you, Nina… how could I…
“I don’t know why you were going to drink it, but you’d better be prepared. If you ever plan to drink poison again, I’ll take it. If you plan to take a blade, I’ll take it instead.”
“Nina!”
Adrian shouted, cornered. Nina tilted her head like “what?”
He ran a hand through his hair.
He swallowed hard, choosing his words. Or rather, he couldn’t.
As if exposing himself, he spoke.
“Nina, if I ever drink poison or get stabbed… it would be because I calculated it.”
His eyes looked at her.
He looked like speaking was hard for him.
Nina spoke instead.
“I know. You probably thought drinking the poison was the best way to escape that situation. And you do have some resistance to poison.”
“And also to ease the Duchess’s suspicion.”
Adrian’s eyes widened.
Nina smiled.
“What? I like Adrian, but I’m not blind. I know you’re not some innocent lamb.”
So you didn’t think I was a fool?
She narrowed her eyes. He quickly waved his hands.
“No, that’s not what I—”
It was unexpected.
Even though he knew what kind of person she was, Nina hadn’t changed at all.
He had thought her affection might just be pity for a poor young master… and realized how shallow he was.
Nina cut him off.
“Still, don’t ruin your body. What if you die early?”
“And you?”
Adrian suddenly asked.
“And you, Nina.”
And what about me, if you’re not there?
He swallowed the rest of the words.
He looked at her.
Nina raised both hands politely.
“I’ll be careful too.”
Adrian still looked doubtful, but Nina continued.
“Really. Well, just think of it as the best answer a Black Knight can give in a forest full of Belak.”
She extended her hand.
Adrian placed his hand over hers.
“It’s a promise.”
Nina smiled.
He sighed softly.
“…Fine. Please.”
