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Chapter 8
“What’s in that luggage?”
For a moment, Emilia’s heart nearly stopped.
“Aren’t you just checking for passengers without tickets?”
Emilia quickly put on an annoyed expression.
But the man didn’t care.
“We received a report that someone boarded the train carrying a large number of weapons.”
It was a lie without even the slightest hesitation.
They’re the ones carrying the weapons.
“Open it immediately.”
Even though he called it a request, his tone was forceful.
What should I do?
If she refused outright, he would only become more suspicious.
Is there any way to stop him from opening it voluntarily?
Ah.
A good idea suddenly came to her.
“I’m sorry, but that’s difficult.”
Emilia let out a long sigh as if this was extremely troublesome.
“I’m a maid of the Illake Count family. This suitcase contains a very precious item that my lady asked me to deliver.”
She decided to use Reyna’s family name.
“The Illake Count family?”
The man’s eyebrow twitched.
Emilia noticed the change in his expression.
Just as I thought.
Even though the Illake family wasn’t as powerful as before, they were still one of the well-known noble families in the capital.
And most importantly, they had no connection to the Empress.
If he acted suspiciously toward a maid from such a family and something went wrong, it could become a serious problem.
“If you insist, then… I’ll open it.”
Emilia deliberately left the rest of her sentence unfinished.
“But I’ll have no choice except to tell my lady what happened. And my lady absolutely hates it when other people even look at her belongings.”
In truth, Reyna’s older half-sister, Rozia, was extremely possessive of her things.
Once, Reyna had unknowingly touched her necklace, and it had caused a huge incident.
Emilia slowly shook her head as if the whole matter was giving her a headache.
“She might even try to track you down. I thought you should know that.”
“……”
The man seemed to think for a moment.
He was carrying out a secret mission.
If he left any trace behind or exposed himself, it would only cause trouble for him.
Still, he stayed silent.
He’s almost convinced… but I need one more push.
While thinking, she caught sight of her own reflection in the window.
This is it.
Emilia brushed her hair behind her ear.
Then she showed him her face.
“I actually got this because of my lady.”
Her swollen, red cheek was clearly visible.
When the man looked at it, Emilia lowered her eyes as if she felt humiliated.
“I was trying to be considerate toward you, but do whatever you want.”
Of course, if he really tried to search the suitcase, she was fully prepared to grab him by the hair.
She swallowed nervously.
Then the man finally spoke.
“…Forget it.”
He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Apparently, he decided it was better to search somewhere else than waste time arguing.
He turned and walked toward the next compartment.
Slide.
Click.
“Phew…”
Only after his footsteps completely disappeared did Emilia finally let out the breath she had been holding.
“[Did he leave?]”
Ivan’s tiny voice came from inside the suitcase.
Emilia immediately opened it slightly so fresh air could get in.
“[Are you okay?]”
She was asking if he had been able to breathe.
Ivan gave a small nod.
“[Did the bad man leave?]”
He whispered quietly.
“[Yes, he left.] But…”
Judging from Ivan’s reaction, the male lead’s injuries were probably very serious.
But taking Ivan outside with her was far too dangerous.
After thinking for a moment, Emilia spoke.
“[Wait here. I’ll go help the injured person.]”
Fortunately, Ivan understood and nodded.
Instead of closing the suitcase completely, Emilia left it slightly open and covered it with her coat.
It should be okay.
She checked the pouch inside her clothes.
It contained several bottles of medicine.
Alex, her friend and Mrs. Anderson’s son, worked in the Imperial Palace’s pharmacy.
Because of him, these medicines were extremely valuable and rarely used by ordinary people.
I wondered if I’d ever need these.
I didn’t expect to use them this soon.
After one last glance at the suitcase, Emilia quietly left the compartment.
Since the man had already searched this area once, he probably wouldn’t return again.
Using Ivan’s clues, she carefully walked toward the back of the train.
Soon she reached the staff-only section where passengers weren’t allowed.
Without hesitation, she continued forward.
This must be the cargo compartment.
Then she noticed drops of blood on the floor.
That’s…
Emilia immediately followed the trail and opened the door.
It’s Kaiden.
The male lead of the novel.
He was leaning against the wall with his head lowered.
Only his smooth black hair and sharp jawline were visible beneath his bowed head.
But even that alone gave off an extraordinary presence.
Emilia looked away from him and stepped back outside.
What is this, Hansel and Gretel?
She rubbed the bloodstains on the floor with her shoe, wiping away the obvious trail Kaiden had left behind.
…Then again.
He seemed to have lost consciousness.
He probably hadn’t been in any condition to worry about things like that.
But how did nobody find him in the original story?
Ah… could it be…?
She suddenly remembered Ivan getting off the train to ask people for help.
Maybe…
Maybe Ivan had been caught before anyone could find Kaiden.
Emilia went back inside and knelt in front of him.
A dagger covered in blood lay beside him.
Did he pull it out himself?
She clicked her tongue at his incredible endurance and poured the wound medicine onto his injury.
I don’t have any cloth…
She hesitated for a moment.
Then she glanced at Kaiden before lifting the edge of her skirt.
She grabbed the hem of her underskirt and pulled as hard as she could.
But instead of tearing, the fabric didn’t even stretch.
It always tears so easily in movies!
Finally giving up, Emilia looked around.
She spotted a sharp piece of wood that had broken off from one of the cargo crates.
Using it, she ripped her skirt.
Riiip—
She carefully placed the torn cloth over the wound and slowly wrapped it around him.
Then—
Grab.
A warm hand suddenly caught her wrist.
The first thing Kaiden heard after regaining consciousness was the soft rustling of clothes.
Then…
Something gently brushed against the back of his neck.
…Breathing?
Instinctively, he grabbed the wrist of the person touching him.
Why is this wrist so thin?
That thought crossed his mind for an instant.
Then the owner of the wrist spoke.
“Ah… you’re awake?”
The woman’s clear voice, almost like a whisper, sounded strangely out of place in the middle of such a dangerous situation.
