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Chapter 7
The arrow set as a trap shot straight toward the emperor’s messenger. For a split second, he stood there with his mouth agape in shock—
Ping—
Something flashed around Zenol, and the arrow flying toward him was deflected. Startled, Zenol looked down at the arrow that had fallen to the ground, and I was just as shocked.
What was that? What just happened?
“Ah, were these traps set up because of the intruders?”
Zenol, who had nearly been struck, quickly regained his composure and asked. I blinked in surprise before nodding.
“Yes. Are you alright, Zenol?”
“You seem startled, but please don’t worry, Countess! I am protected by an imperial artifact!”
Zenol lifted his chin proudly.
An artifact?
“I have been granted an imperial artifact so that I cannot be killed by any weapon while delivering His Majesty’s message and receiving a reply!”
He puffed up with pride as he explained, and I looked down at the arrow on the ground. It was bent, as if it had struck an invisible wall.
Seeing the twisted arrow reminded me of the bizarre artifacts the emperor’s side used toward the end of the original story. They had caused the revolutionary army quite a bit of trouble. I nodded.
“I see…”
“So please don’t worry at all! I will escort the inspector to His Majesty and properly convey your situation, Countess!”
“…Ah, in that case, could you also pass along a message to His Majesty?”
“What would you like me to say?”
“Please tell him: ‘Your Majesty, given my current situation, if it would not be too much trouble, I would be grateful if you could visit me in person.’”
“I will make sure to deliver it!”
Answering energetically, Zenol loaded the pitiful Inspector Thomas into the carriage he had arrived in and departed.
The patrol officers who had come with Inspector Thomas looked at us in confusion, and Davin spoke to them coldly.
“What are you doing? His Majesty will be curious about their identities, so take them away and keep a close watch.”
“Ah, yes! Hey! Bring the transport carriage!”
As the officers scrambled to move the bound assassins, I made a suggestion to Davin.
“Let’s head inside now. Davin, want something cold to drink?”
“Yes, yes. Sir, I’ll make shaved ice for you!”
Lana, seemingly emboldened by my praise, said brightly, and Davin nodded.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Even Davin, who usually disliked sweets, didn’t refuse shaved ice. Considering he had just taken down that many people under the blazing sun, he must have been exhausted.
We headed to my study—the coolest place in the mansion. Lana brought the shaved ice, Davin sat by the window to cool off, and I lay down on the long sofa reading a book.
A gentle breeze drifted in through the window. I dozed off, and just as the book slipped from my hands, I startled awake.
Lana, who had been gathering the empty dishes onto a tray, smiled at me.
“My lady, would you like a blanket? Would you like to rest a bit?”
“No, I won’t sleep. I won’t be able to sleep tonight if I do.”
I forced myself up from the sofa.
“Then I’ll bring you some cold water.”
With a smile, Lana left the room, and I stretched.
Ah, I’m so sleepy.
I blinked drowsily at the empty air. Maybe it was because I had gone out earlier today?
Still, feeling this sleepy meant I was at ease. Right after I possessed this body, I had been too anxious to sleep properly. But now, with the growing trust that Davin would protect me like today, that anxiety had faded.
Davin, who seemed fully recovered, stood up.
“I should reload the trap mechanisms with arrows. We also need to relocate the exposed devices.”
“Want help?”
“It’s dangerous. I’ll handle it.”
Even so, I followed after him anyway.
Thud, thud.
Davin lifted one of the trap mechanisms. As the massive device emerged into the garden, I felt a bit overwhelmed. No matter how many times I saw it, it was enormous—something that would normally take several men to move, yet Davin carried it alone.
“Please stay back. You could get hurt.”
He pointed to a spot under a tree, and I went and sat there. Lana approached me with a glass of water containing a silver rod.
“My lady, here’s some cold water.”
“Thanks.”
As I sipped the cool water, I watched Davin move the massive traps around with his slender frame.
After repositioning them, he brought armfuls of arrow bundles from the storage. Lana went over to help him, and I tried lifting one nearby.
Ugh, it’s heavy.
As I staggered, both of them turned to me with serious expressions.
“Please stay under the tree.”
“Go sit over there, my lady. It’s dangerous.”
Tch.
Left with no choice, I returned to my spot and watched them.
In the vast flower field glowing under the evening sunset, the sight of a silver-haired young man and a golden-haired beauty working side by side looked like a painting. Though instead of tending flowers, they were filling traps with arrows.
As I quietly admired them, a pang of guilt suddenly hit me.
Davin was guarding me around the clock, and Lana was overworked with cooking, cleaning, and attending to me. There simply weren’t enough staff in the mansion.
But hiring new people wasn’t an option in our current situation. Until we could relocate to another country, we had to endure like this.
Even so, thanks to Davin and Lana staying by my side, I had managed to hold on.
Watching them, I made a silent vow.
I’ll make them happy… no matter what.
I won’t let things turn out like in the original story.
“Ah.”
As the red glow of the sunset faded and the sky turned a dusky violet, Lana suddenly laughed. Davin followed her gaze.
Anise had fallen asleep, leaning against the base of a tree.
Smiling, Lana suggested,
“Sir, shall we call it a day?”
“Let’s.”
Davin nodded. They set down the arrow bundles and approached her. As Lana was about to wake Anise, Davin stopped her.
“I’ll carry her to her room.”
A breeze passed, and Anise shivered in her sleep. Davin removed his uniform jacket and draped it over her shoulders before gently lifting her into his arms.
Even as he carried her, she didn’t wake, sleeping deeply. Lana chuckled.
“She’s completely out. I’ll go ahead and prepare her nightclothes. Take your time.”
“Alright.”
Lana hurried back into the mansion, and Davin followed slowly, holding Anise.
Though it was still hot during the day, the evening breeze had grown cooler as August passed its midpoint. Feeling the chill in her sleep, Anise burrowed closer into his arms.
When her cheek brushed against his chest, Davin unconsciously stopped walking.
He looked down at her sleeping face.
Soft, steady breaths.
She looked so peaceful.
His eyelids trembled slightly.
He remembered how she had laughed so brightly earlier that day when she fell from a five-story building in his arms.
How long had it been since I last saw her smile like that?
Without realizing it, Davin pulled her closer.
Feeling her warmth, he shivered faintly.
If this is a dream… I don’t want to wake up. I want this moment to last forever.
Then, a long-suppressed desire quietly surfaced.
Maybe… just maybe… she might choose me instead of the emperor now?
Anise, having lost her memories, no longer loved the emperor. She trusted Davin and stayed by his side at all times.
So perhaps… now she might choose him instead—
But then, her cold voice echoed in his mind.
“Was everything a lie? Have you been deceiving me all this time?”
It felt like cold water had been poured over his head. Davin blinked and came back to his senses.
Letting out a hollow laugh at his own foolish desire, he shook his head.
That’s right. Instead of hoping for her love, he should be begging for her forgiveness—just to remain by her side.
His current goal was simple: to protect Anise while her memories were gone, and to remain beside her even after they returned.
That was the furthest extent of the desire he could allow himself.
His expression darkened for a moment, but he quickly composed himself and regained control.
Without hesitation, Davin quickened his steps and headed into the mansion.
