HDGD 5

Chapter: 5

“How many people… have you actually killed?”

Her body stiffened for a moment at the question that struck her right in the heart.

Blood was dripping relentlessly, soaking into the collar of his shirt.

The cut looked fairly deep, yet Gilliard didn’t seem to care at all.

Those clear golden eyes demanded an answer.

‘I messed up.’

She’d been too eager to land a blow.

Anyone would be suspicious if someone suddenly attacked with murderous intent overnight.

But even if she confessed she had returned from the future, it would only be dismissed as nonsense.

As Shia stubbornly remained silent, Gilliard slowly reached out his hand toward her.

Just as that blood-stained hand was about to touch her face—

“What on earth is going on here?!”

A loud, booming voice echoed throughout the training hall.

A middle-aged man strode in, and after taking in the bloody scene, his brows immediately furrowed.

“Instructor Rieglus, not only did you fail to stop the cadets from fighting—did you personally engage in a real sword duel with one of them? Have you lost your mind?”

“My apologies, Duke Everett.”

“We’ll discuss the details in my office. Cadet Ermodian! You will come as well!”

The head of the Military Academy, Duke Everett, barked furiously before turning on his heel.

Gilliard followed silently after him.

Shia let out a quiet sigh.
She had escaped a difficult situation in an unexpected way.

Riana rushed to her side and grabbed her hand tightly.

“What do we do, Shia? This is all because of me…”

“It’s fine. Worst case, I’ll just get suspended for a while. Whatever.”

She answered coolly, but Shia knew better than anyone…

She had cut a classmate’s head and slashed an instructor’s face. There was no way this would end quietly.

This time, she might really have to prepare for expulsion.

Scratching her head helplessly, the cadet followed after them.

The sight of one of the few female cadets wildly swinging a sword had completely overturned the academy that morning.

Shia stood stiffly in the center of the spacious office, at parade rest.

Instructors surrounded her in a circle, whispering among themselves and discussing the incident however they pleased.

Only after they pushed away the crowd of cadets swarming outside did the meeting finally begin.

“Cadet Ermodian. Explain the situation yourself. Why did you engage in a real sword duel with your fellow cadet?”

No matter what she said, that pig would wriggle his way out of it somehow.

Since it had come to this anyway, Shia decided to state the truth simply and directly.

“I suggested the duel first. Because Cadet Drake insulted a female student.”

“He insulted her? That can’t be…”

“He did. To be precise, he said, ‘Women should act like women and just go get married.’”

Her tone was flat, but the content was explosive.

Murmurs rippled through the room, and Duke Everett cleared his throat several times.

“Even if that is true, you could have reported it to the instructor. Due to your sudden, one-sided attack, Cadet Drake is currently in shock and bedridden. And on top of that, you scarred your superior officer’s face. How do you intend to take responsibility?”

See? If only they had opened an inquiry like this when she was the one being tormented.

Back then, they pretended not to see anything… and now this?

It was unfair, but imagining Creon groaning in pain almost made her hum happily.

Still, Shia swallowed it back and continued calmly.

“‘Become angry for the weak, and draw your sword for the weak.’ I drew my sword to protect that knightly spirit, and I have not a single regret. If what I did contradicts the knightly values this academy upholds, then expel me. I’ll gladly leave.”

“Cadet Ermodian! Even if you are affiliated with House Rieglus, that kind of statement—!”

“Pardon me for interrupting, Duke Everett. May I also speak?”

Gilliard, who had been standing silently beside her, suddenly spoke.

All eyes turned toward him.

Several layers of gauze were taped across his left cheek.

Blood had seeped through and was still spreading across the bandages.

With a stiff posture, he continued.

“This incident is entirely my negligence. Therefore, I ask that you do not punish Cadet Ermodian.”

Shia doubted her own ears.

This was not the scenario she expected.

As always, she believed Gilliard would be the very first to step up and punish her.

He had never once given her a chance to explain or defend herself before.

Duke Everett blinked in disbelief.

“Why do you think so?”

“I have long known there was conflict between those two cadets, but I assumed it was personal and did not intervene. Today, I realized the rift was far deeper than I thought. The incident three days ago as well… If I had paid more attention, it could have been prevented.”

“No matter how bad their relationship was, that does not justify drawing real swords.”

“Then punish Drake equally. I have secured testimony that he often sneaks into the armory and damages practice swords. Isn’t that also a clear violation of academy rules? Or… is there some reason he shouldn’t be punished?”

The more they talked, the more Shia’s head filled with question marks.

What on earth was happening?
Three days ago he was desperate to ruin her, and now he was doing this?

After struggling for a while, the headmaster finally turned back to Shia.

“Cadet Ermodian!”

“Yes.”

“In respect to Instructor Rieglus’s plea, your offense will be overlooked this time. However, injuring a superior cannot go unpunished… so you will clean the academy kitchen today. Reflect deeply on your actions.”

“Yes, sir.”

The disciplinary hearing she’d prepared to face expulsion from ended with kitchen duty.

This was an outcome Shia never could have imagined.

The instructors left the office, whispering among themselves.

Shia followed them with her eyes… and then met another gaze.

The black-haired man shot her a sideways glance, then left the room.

It was a relief things ended lightly, but she still felt dazed.

Shia stared blankly at the door her guardian had disappeared through.

He was long gone already, yet his retreating back lingered in her mind like an afterimage.

Late at night.

The silver-haired cadet stood alone in the dark hallway.

She had already been standing here for ten minutes.

She knew it was better to get something over with if it couldn’t be avoided…

Shia sighed deeply.

“You should go. Regardless of everything, he did help you avoid punishment.”

That was what Riana said when Shia returned to her room after finishing kitchen duty.

Shia tried to brush it off, but Riana didn’t let it go.

“At least go say thank you. I overheard in the infirmary earlier… apparently he refused treatment for the wound on his face.”

“What a ridiculous stubbornness…”

“Right? Weird, isn’t it? So go see for yourself. I’m against a scar ruining that handsome face. Try convincing him.”

In the end, Shia came here.

Riana pushing her helped—but honestly, it was because her own conscience wouldn’t settle.

Struggling between pride and peace of mind, Shia finally knocked on the door.

A moment later…

“…?”

It was eerily quiet.

Feeling a bit awkward, Shia hesitated before carefully opening the door.

It hadn’t been long in this life, but to her, this was her first time visiting in five years.

The room still reflected its owner’s calm, subdued taste—bookshelves, furniture, the atmosphere exactly as she remembered.

Without realizing, she let out a faint laugh.

Right. Ever since the Rieglus mansion, his reading preferences had always been strange.

Myths, legends, and all sorts of obscure texts.

Whenever Shia showed interest, he would snap the book shut and say,
“There’s nothing here you need to know.”

“I’m sure I warned you not to enter someone’s room without permission.”

A voice cut in sharply behind her.

Shia turned instinctively.

And then froze.

Standing there…
was Gilliard, bare-chested, wearing nothing but a towel slung around his waist.