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Chapter 10
“Ahem! H-Hey! Let’s go, now!”
“Yes, yes. Understood.”
As soon as the men met Emilia’s eyes, they looked embarrassed and quickly walked past the door.
Emilia kept pretending to complain to her “lover” until the sound of their footsteps completely disappeared.
Only then did she stop acting.
She squeezed her eyes shut and thought,
I want to die from embarrassment…
Still, she pretended everything was fine and whispered,
“I… I think they’re gone now.”
But Kaiden didn’t answer.
What?
Confused, Emilia was about to call him again when his body suddenly fell toward her.
“Ah!”
Unable to support his weight, Emilia fell backward with him.
“E-Excuse me?”
She called out to him in surprise.
But Kaiden didn’t move at all.
With great effort, Emilia slipped out from underneath him.
He should be okay… right?
Since he didn’t respond and lay there as still as if he were dead, it seemed he had fainted again.
Emilia wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and straightened her clothes.
Actually… it’s probably better that he fainted.
How am I supposed to face him after that?
She stayed by Kaiden’s side for a while.
Then she heard the screeching sound of the train wheels.
The train was about to stop.
It would remain at the station for about fifteen minutes.
I have to hurry.
Emilia quietly stood up.
Although they had escaped the immediate danger, they still weren’t safe.
She first looked through the small window in the door to check the hallway.
Only after making sure there wasn’t a single person nearby did she slowly open the door.
He said his aide has green hair.
Emilia turned toward the train window.
The platform came into view.
Green hair… green hair…
Then she spotted a group of people gathered around a man with green hair.
That’s him!
The moment the train stopped, she rushed outside and ran straight toward him.
Several knights were standing behind the man.
They were probably Kaiden’s knights.
“Excuse me!”
“…Who are you?”
Emilia called out while catching her breath.
Meanwhile, Kaiden’s aide, Herald, looked at her with caution.
Normally, he would have been delighted that such a cute young woman had approached him and would have greeted her warmly.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t the time for that.
Then…
The woman said something completely unexpected.
“You’re Aide Herald, aren’t you?”
“How do you know me?”
Although slightly surprised, he remained on guard.
Emilia quickly held out Kaiden’s pocket watch.
“The person you’re traveling with is badly injured and can’t move. I’ll take you to him!”
Her urgent words made Herald’s eyes widen.
After checking the pocket watch, Herald’s expression immediately changed.
He first sent several knights to the place where Emilia said Kaiden and Ivan were hiding.
Then he ordered the remaining knights to capture the men disguised as train staff.
Fortunately, thanks to Emilia’s detailed description of their appearances, they found them quickly.
Just before the train departed for the next station…
They managed to rescue the unconscious Kaiden and Ivan, who was drenched in sweat inside the suitcase.
Now…
Emilia was standing outside the station with them for a short while.
“You have done us a great kindness. On behalf of His Grace, I sincerely thank you.”
After thanking her several times, Herald briefly explained the situation.
For example…
The man she had rescued was Duke Valen of the Empire.
And Ivan was a child from his extended family whose life had been threatened by cruel relatives.
“How could something like that happen…?”
Emilia appreciated the explanation.
But honestly…
It put her in an awkward position.
She already knew Kaiden’s identity.
So she had to pretend to be surprised.
Fortunately, Herald seemed to think her awkward expression came from hearing the story.
“By the way… did you receive that injury while saving His Grace?”
Herald carefully asked after noticing her face.
“Huh?”
Emilia looked confused.
An injury?
Thinking Kaiden’s blood might have gotten on her face, she touched it.
Instead, her fingers brushed against her split lip.
Ah… He’s talking about the injury Cedric gave me.
I completely forgot after using it earlier.
Emilia waved her hand as if it was nothing.
“This was already there.”
“It was already there?”
Herald’s expression became even more serious.
…Now that I think about it, that sounded strange.
Feeling that she had said something wrong, Emilia gave an awkward smile.
“No, anyway… it has nothing to do with what happened today, so you don’t need to worry about it.”
She quickly tried to change the subject.
Just then…
She felt someone tugging on her clothes.
“Hm?”
Ivan had somehow slipped away from the knights and was looking up at her.
“[Name! Name!]”
“Ah, you want to know my name?”
“Mhm!”
Ivan quickly nodded.
Come to think of it…
She had only asked for his name.
She had never told him hers.
There wasn’t time.
Emilia knelt down and slowly spoke.
“My name is Emilia.”
“Emilia…”
Ivan softly repeated her name, as if trying to remember it.
Then he suddenly looked up and tightly hugged her around the neck.
“[Thank you!] Emilia!”
Emilia’s eyes widened at the child’s sudden hug.
Then she gently hugged him back.
After a moment, she let him go and brushed the sweat-soaked hair away from his forehead.
Normally, the sweat would have felt sticky and unpleasant.
But…
To Emilia, it was proof that this child had survived instead of meeting the fate written in the original story.
That alone made her happy.
“[No.] I’m the one who should say [thank you.]”
Ivan’s golden eyes grew wide.
“[Thank you… to me?]”
“Yes. Really.”
Emilia smiled softly and stood up.
At that moment, Herald spoke again.
He wanted to repeat the offer he had made earlier.
“Are you really leaving just like that? Why don’t you travel with us to the capital? There won’t be any more danger now. And of course, we’ll reward you generously.”
“No, it’s alright.”
Emilia politely shook her head.
She hadn’t thanked Ivan just to be nice.
The original story had changed, and because of that, things had become difficult for her.
But…
In return, this child now had a future.
Just thinking about that was enough to comfort her.
She didn’t need any reward.
“Then take care, Ivan.”
Emilia gave him one last warm goodbye before leaving without looking back.
Watching her walk away, Herald quietly muttered,
“No way… She heard who His Grace is, and she’s still just leaving?”
Even the most famous noble ladies in high society tried everything they could to get close to his master.
They acted as though even brushing shoulders with him was a great honor.
This woman had even saved Kaiden’s life.
She could have asked for almost any reward she wanted.
If it had been him…
He would have spent days planning how to empty Kaiden’s pockets.
Watching Emilia walk away so freely, Herald could only shrug in amazement.
