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Chapter 14
“Lady Iva?”
While peeking through her fingers at the knights, a low voice came from behind.
Is this what a woodcutter feels like when caught peeping at a fairy’s bath?
No! I didn’t see anything!
In a hurry to explain herself, she jumped and spun around—only for her nose to crash hard into something.
“Ow!”
She instinctively clutched her nose from the sharp pain.
“Are… are you all right?”
Did I just hit a rock? Why is it so solid?
Her eyes watered so much that her vision blurred. She blinked quickly to focus, and the figure in front of her slowly became clear.
She saw black hair and sun-browned skin. But… why was there so much bare skin?
Gasp!
The moment she got a clear look at the person, the tears vanished. Like the knights she’d been watching, this man wasn’t wearing a shirt.
His muscles—larger and more sharply defined than any of the knights’—were fully on display.
Her nose must have hit that chest. With muscles like that, calling it “rock-hard” seemed reasonable.
“Lady, does it hurt much?”
“N-no, I’m fine… wait, huh?”
At the worried voice, she finally registered the face—and instinctively stepped back.
It was Rai.
Of all people, why Rai? She quickly turned her head to avoid him, eager to get away.
“I’m fine. Please excuse me.”
She tried to slip past him, but he moved faster and blocked her path.
“I don’t think you’re fine.”
“No, really, I’m fine.”
To prove it was nothing, she even lowered the hand covering her nose.
Even if she wandered around the imperial palace all night, she didn’t want to ask Rai for directions. Holding her head high, she tried to pass again.
But once more, Rai blocked her way—bare chest and all.
“Are you sure you’re fine?”
“I told you, I’m fine! Now please move—”
“You’re bleeding.”
“…What?”
Her mind froze for a moment before she raised a hand to swipe at her philtrum.
A bright streak of red came away on her fingers.
Great. My dignity is ruined.
“Where’s the west gate?”
“…Pardon?”
“My carriage is there. But I got lost.”
Now that she had a nosebleed, getting back to the mansion was the priority.
“If you go back to the mansion before treating it, it’ll be too late. Let’s treat it here.”
Rai pointed toward the infirmary, his face serious.
She shook her head, wanting to show it wasn’t that bad.
“No, it’ll stop soon. Just tell me the way—ugh.”
“Lady!”
The shake of her head made the blood drip to the ground.
They both stared wide-eyed at the drops staining the dirt.
“You’re bleeding a lot. We should treat it here.”
Feeling responsible—as if her injury were his fault—Rai couldn’t just let her go.
“I’m fine. Just give me directions.”
But she only wanted to get away from him.
Neither would back down, each insisting on their own way.
Finally, Rai frowned slightly and stepped closer.
“I can’t let you leave like this. Excuse me.”
“What? Excuse you—hey! What are you doing?!”
In an instant, he scooped her up—one arm under her knees, the other supporting her back.
With her feet suddenly off the ground, she instinctively grabbed his shoulder, forgetting to cover her nose.
Her hand pressed against bare skin, and she quickly pulled it back, awkwardly folding her arms.
“Duke, put me down!”
“You need treatment. I’ll take you to the infirmary.”
“No! Put me down, I want to go back to the mansion!”
She kicked and struggled, but Rai didn’t budge—it was like striking a rock with an egg.
Holding his fists slightly clenched so as not to touch her more than necessary, he carried her toward the infirmary.
“I’m sorry. The doctor’s stepped out for a moment.”
Only after arriving did Rai gently set her in a chair.
Then he pulled a black T-shirt from the coat rack, put it on, and fetched a metal tray, tweezers, and a small stool before sitting in front of her.
“W-wait. You’re going to treat me yourself?”
“I can handle simple treatment.”
“I can do it myself.”
“But you don’t know what medicines are here.”
“…Fair point.”
Rather than argue, she decided it was faster to let him treat her so she could leave.
With a resigned look, she waited quietly.
Rai opened the metal tray and busied his hands before looking up.
Focused only on treating her, he hadn’t realized how close they were—close enough for their knees to touch.
Seeing her so near made him catch his breath.
“Ahem… could you close your eyes?”
“My eyes?”
“I need to treat inside your nose.”
“Oh. Right.”
Not wanting to watch him poking around in her nose, she obediently closed her eyes.
“It won’t hurt, will it?”
“I’ll disinfect it and insert some cotton. It may feel a little cold and stuffy.”
He started by wiping away the blood under her nose to disinfect the area.
But her face, calm and waiting with eyes shut, made it hard for him to focus.
The injured area was her nose—but his gaze kept drifting lower, to her lips.
Red as her hair and full of life, they drew his attention more than any nosebleed should.
Why did she make his blood run so hot? He fought fiercely to calm himself—
“Aren’t you going to start?”
“Uh—yes?”
“I asked if you were going to disinfect it.”
“I was just about to.”
Afraid she’d see through him, he quickly set to work.
She flinched at the sudden coldness inside her nose.
“Just bear with it a little.”
His gentle voice soothed her as he worked faster.
The smell of alcohol spread inside her nose; she frowned, and he promptly blocked it with cotton.
“All done. Did it hurt?”
“No, it’s fine.”
“If it keeps bleeding after you remove the cotton, keep it in for the rest of the day.”
“Got it…”
Opening her eyes now that treatment was over, she found herself face-to-face with Rai—so close that her red hair was reflected in his brown eyes.
“Ahem. I’ll… handle the rest at the mansion.”
She quickly leaned back, breaking eye contact. Still, it startled her—this was the closest she’d ever been to his face in three lifetimes.
“Please be sure to finish the treatment properly at the mansion.”
Rai, too, had to step back quickly, feeling his self-control slipping.
The sound of two pounding hearts filled the infirmary. After a long silence, he spoke first.
“By the way… why were you at the training grounds?”
“Oh, I came to see Sir Chase—His Highness Claude’s aide. But I got lost and wandered here.”
She didn’t mention being put in charge of the delegation’s party.
“…Close enough to visit him separately, I see.”
“Well, yes. But I really did just get lost.”
She denied it more firmly, worried he’d think she came to ogle half-naked knights.
But all he could think about was that she’d come all the way to the palace to see Chase.
“Would it be all right if I escorted you to the west gate?”
“…What?”
“Since you got lost, I’d like to guide you. If that’s uncomfortable, I can call one of my men.”
He wanted to escort her all the way to the Blanche mansion, but remembering her earlier rejection, this was the most he could offer.
He silently hoped she’d allow him to stay by her side, even for a short while.
“Call another knight.”
Her answer was sharp, leaving no room for compromise.
“…As you wish.”
His chest ached at the second rejection, but he kept his expression calm.
“I’ll fetch one right away, so please wait—”
The moment he opened the door, a crash came from outside.
“C-captain!”
“We… we weren’t eavesdropping!”
Four knights lay tangled on the floor. They’d been leaning against the door to listen, only to topple forward when it opened.
“Was training too light today?”
“…Sir?”
“And who said training was over? Who allowed you to leave the grounds?”
“W-well…”
At his voice—low enough to sink into the ground—the knights quickly scrambled to attention.
“Forty laps around the grounds. Last one back runs twenty more.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Run.”
At his order, they bolted, running for survival rather than punishment.
“My apologies. I’ll call another knight.”
“No, just escort me yourself.”
If she asked someone else, rumors would spread.
“M-me?”
“Yes, Duke Castro.”
When he repeated it in disbelief, she nodded.
The scowl he’d worn moments before melted away instantly. Unable to hide his joy, he said—
“I’ll guide you right away.”
They walked along the back of the training grounds, where knights rarely passed.
“It’s about a fifteen-minute walk to the west gate.”
“I see.”
It was late at night now, the moon casting a gentle glow. They walked neither too close nor too far apart.
Only their footsteps broke the silence, until Rai cleared his throat.
“Have you… been well?”
“…Yes. I’ve been fine.”
“…I see. I’ve been well, too.”
After the belated exchange, silence returned.
By the time the oppressive awkwardness became unbearable, the west gate came into view.
“We’re here. I can manage from here.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you for escorting me. Please take care.”
She offered her thanks quickly, trying to part ways.
“Lady Iva.”
Rai called her back.
“Would it be all right if we at least greeted each other as friends?”
His voice trembled slightly, clinging to this last straw.
“Whether in the palace or outside… could we at least say hello?”
It was a plea for the smallest connection.
Without a moment’s thought, she answered—
“No. When I reject a confession, I never see that person again.”
“…I see.”
“We won’t be meeting again, so there’s no reason to greet each other. Thank you for escorting me today.”
To seal it, she bowed deeply before walking toward the Blanche carriage with steady, unshaken steps.
The carriage left immediately, and she turned to the window to see the moon she’d barely noticed earlier.
Rai was still standing there.
“Let’s not meet again. I can’t get tangled up with you anymore.”
After all, come the day of the party, Rai would surely fall for Julian. She pulled the curtain closed.
