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Chapter 4
A long time ago, while reading martial arts novels, I used to have this thought:
I wish I could leap a hundred meters in a single bound, just like those wuxia masters, and run across rooftops.
Of course, I knew that was impossible. Still, it was one of those small, ridiculous fantasies. I’d even dreamed of flying a few times.
And now… it had become reality.
I was soaring through the sky in the arms of the male lead I’d been rooting for.
Forgetting, for one blissful moment, that we were currently being chased by assassins, I grinned like an idiot.
It wasn’t exactly my dream coming true through my own abilities, but still…
Wow… the wind stings my cheeks a little, though.
Dayvin moved at a speed far beyond anything I could have imagined, sprinting across rooftops with me cradled effortlessly in his arms. I’d worried I might be too heavy, but the arm supporting me never so much as trembled.
He landed softly on one red-tiled roof, not breaking a single tile, then leapt gracefully to the next.
And then I realized something.
My eyes widened.
Wait…
The combined weight of two fully grown adults should definitely be over a hundred kilograms.
And yet Dayvin was dashing over fragile roof tiles without cracking even one.
Good grief…!
Before long, the endless line of tall buildings beneath us came to an end. Ahead stretched a broad avenue. The commoner district was over, and beyond this point began the noble residential area—filled with sprawling estates instead of towering rooftops.
Seeing there were no more high places to step on, Dayvin warned me.
“We’re going to jump down soon, so hold onto my neck tightly.”
“O-Okay!”
Wrapping my arms around his neck felt a little embarrassing, but I pretended not to notice and did as he said.
The moment I caught his scent, my cheeks heated slightly.
Fortunately, Dayvin seemed oblivious to my blush.
Then—
He launched us skyward.
“—!”
For an instant, it felt exactly like one of those amusement park rides that shoots you straight into the air.
As my body lifted, I could see everything—the Miller estate nearby, the noble mansions surrounding it, and even the imperial palace in the distance where the emperor himself resided.
Waaah!
My eyes went wide.
Then, after reaching that impossible height, we plummeted downward at terrifying speed.
It was exhilarating.
Like the ultimate thrill ride.
I couldn’t help but beam.
This is amazing! I love this!
Just before impact, I instinctively tensed—
Thud!
Dayvin landed perfectly.
The second we touched down safely, laughter burst out of me.
Dayvin blinked in confusion at my sudden fit of giggles before gently setting me down.
Even after my feet touched the ground, I kept laughing.
Seeing me so delighted, Dayvin smiled softly. Then, with careful fingers, he brushed back my disheveled hair.
Once I finally caught my breath, I thanked him.
“Thanks to you, we avoided a pointless fight. And thanks for bringing me all the way here. Are your legs okay?”
Considering the impact of that landing, his legs should’ve been crushed.
But Dayvin answered calmly.
“Yes, I’m fine. There’s no need to worry.”
Right.
Because apparently, in fantasy romance, male leads’ legs were sturdier than car suspension systems.
Still riding the adrenaline high, I grinned.
“That seriously relieved all my stress. It was so fun!”
At my words, Dayvin let out a quiet chuckle.
“You used to enjoy it before as well.”
“Oh? Really?”
Wait.
The original Anise had gotten to do this too?
Then maybe—
Maybe he’d do it again?
I looked up at him with sparkling eyes full of expectation, and as though reading my thoughts perfectly, Dayvin gazed back warmly.
“If the opportunity arises, I’ll do it again for you.”
“Deal!”
I answered brightly.
But then his expression suddenly hardened.
His eyes sharpened as he turned to look behind us.
Seeing that dangerous glint, I finally remembered why we’d been rooftop-jumping in the first place.
“…They followed us?”
“We’ve escaped their encirclement,” he said, “but it seems they realized faster than expected that we broke through. We should get inside the estate quickly.”
“Right.”
Dayvin held out his hand.
“The fruit bag looks heavy. Please give it to me.”
I handed it over, and together we entered the grounds of the Miller estate.
Though Anise’s home was only a two-story mansion, it was enormous—and the land surrounding it was even larger.
The first Count Miller, who had earned his title through extraordinary merit, had apparently been incredibly shrewd with money.
Back then, most nobles only bought modest townhouses in the capital and had little interest in massive estates.
Count Miller, however, had bought every piece of land he could.
He’d insisted that property this close to both the imperial palace and the city center would absolutely benefit his descendants one day.
And now that descendant is me!
I smiled proudly at the vast gardens before me—
Then suddenly—
Click!
…Something activated beneath my foot.
…Oh no. I stepped on something.
My blood ran cold.
I froze.
But before I could even react—
Dayvin casually snatched an incoming arrow out of the air.
“With his hand.”
“…Are you alright?”
For a moment, I could only stare.
Catching arrows barehanded was supposed to be something that only happened in novels or comics.
“Y-Yeah. Thanks to you.”
I forced a stiff smile.
If he hadn’t been here, I would’ve died just now.
Dayvin glanced at the hem of my dress brushing the ground.
“It seems your skirt triggered the trap. Please be careful.”
“…Right.”
Lifting my skirts carefully, I made my way toward the mansion.
This was exactly why I’d told Mr. Smith never to visit my home.
After enduring endless assassination attempts, I’d installed traps all over the estate.
Once we safely reached the front entrance, I finally let out a sigh of relief.
There were no traps from here onward.
As I dabbed the cold sweat from my forehead with a handkerchief, Dayvin spoke with a slightly troubled expression.
“I’m by your side, so you really don’t need to be this tense…”
“…I know that logically. But emotions don’t work that way.”
The moment we entered, the grand hall welcomed us.
The first floor centered around an enormous foyer. To the left was a formal reception room for guests, while to the right stretched a corridor leading toward the kitchen and dining room.
Directly ahead stood a grand staircase ascending to the second floor, splitting into two directions. At its center hung a massive painting depicting a god blessing humanity.
The god’s name was Havranis, the deity of the empire’s state religion.
Judging by the placement of such a painting in the very heart of the mansion, the first Count Miller must have been deeply devout.
No matter how often I saw it, this estate was absurdly large for Anise to live in alone.
Whoever built it probably never imagined only one descendant would remain here.
The mansion was silent.
No servants came to greet my return.
That was because almost all of them had quit.
Now, only Dayvin, Lana, and the chef Jean remained.
Hearing us enter, Lana emerged from the direction of the kitchen.
“Miss, you’re back?”
“Yep, I’m home.”
I smiled, and Lana beamed brightly.
As expected of the original heroine, she was stunning—radiant golden hair and sparkling blue eyes that made her beauty impossible to ignore.
Dayvin handed her the fruit bag.
“Lady Anise said she’d like fruit bingsu.”
“Ah, yes! Understood. Miss, I’ll make it extra delicious for you!”
Lana accepted the heavy fruit bag casually with one hand.
Watching her, I smiled to myself.
I could barely carry that thing with both hands.
But then again…
Our Lana was destined to become a genius swordmaster in the future.
Of course she was ridiculously strong.
