🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 6
Lucas had never imagined he would run into that woman on the street by chance.
He recalled the many different expressions that had constantly crossed Elisha’s face.
The first time he saw her, she had done nothing but cry.
Still, compared to that day, her complexion had clearly improved, and she looked much healthier.
Normally, he would have considered that enough and simply moved on.
But for some reason, seeing Elisha’s face turn deathly pale as though she had witnessed something unbearable changed his mind.
Was it because what he experienced that day had been so intense?
Or because the woman before him was looking at him with an expression completely different from before?
Before he even realized it, Lucas had already spoken to Elisha.
“My apologies for failing to recognize you sooner, Duke Boventin. My name is Elisha Adrian. Thanks to your kindness that day, I was able to return home safely.”
Though Elisha looked as if she had bitten into something disgusting, her manners remained flawless.
The mismatch between her expression and behavior was so absurd that Lucas almost laughed out loud.
Still, he held it in, finished the conversation, and left.
As he recalled the earlier encounter, Lucas turned to Corner, who was nearby.
“Was the father of that young lady the one who sent the letter thanking us for arriving safely at the estate today?”
“Yes, it was a letter from Baron Adrian.”
He had learned upon arriving at the imperial palace that the man was infamous for doting excessively on his daughter.
Well, there probably wasn’t any gossip more entertaining than the confession incident at the palace.
“She really can’t hide her emotions, and she apparently knows nothing about manners.”
Lucas tilted his head at the comments people often made about her.
Certainly, Elisha had frowned openly while looking at him, so it was true that she couldn’t hide her emotions. But…
“She didn’t seem rude to me.”
Without realizing it, Lucas repeated the same words he had muttered earlier in front of Elisha.
“Pardon?”
“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”
Corner questioned him, but Lucas merely shook his head and continued walking.
After all, she was a woman he would probably never meet again.
And so, without knowing what awaited him, Lucas headed toward the commercial district under his jurisdiction.
* * *
“This road leads to the center of the commercial district, right?”
“Yes, my lady. But do you really think those people are still there?”
Belle, standing beside me, answered cautiously.
She looked worried that I might throw a tantrum if things didn’t go the way I wanted.
Well, considering my past behavior, her concern wasn’t exactly unreasonable.
Pretending not to notice Belle’s anxious gaze, I began walking toward the center of the commercial district.
I wasn’t thrilled about meeting that man again—the one who had witnessed yet another one of my embarrassing moments—but I still wanted to return his belongings.
Just as we were passing an alley beside a weapon shop—
“Don’t talk nonsense! I’m the owner of this building!”
“Ahh!”
Hearing the commotion from the main street, I unconsciously headed toward it.
The moment I stepped out of the alley, I froze on the spot.
“Oh my goodness! What in the world is happening?!”
Belle gasped as she looked toward the building in the center of the street.
But for once, she wasn’t exaggerating.
“Lucy!”
“M-Mom!”
“Don’t come any closer!”
A man was holding a knife to a little girl’s throat.
Before I could even process what was happening, someone stepped in front of the armed man.
It was Lucas.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Shut up. Just keep walking, you noble bastard!”
“This is my jurisdiction. I can’t do that.”
“Oh really? Then order that swindler over there to hand over the rights to the building I paid for!”
The man pressed the knife more deeply against the girl’s throat.
The mustached man standing opposite him gasped in horror.
“Hhk!”
The little girl trembled violently, tears filling her eyes.
“You there.”
“Y-Yes!”
The mustached man, having recognized Lucas, approached with a pale face.
“What exactly is going on? Did someone commit fraud within my district?”
“As if I would, Your Grace! That man invested in some shady scheme, got scammed, and now he’s demanding compensation from me!”
“So he fell victim to those fraudsters causing trouble lately.”
Frowning, Lucas let out a sigh.
“First, let the child go. It seems you were properly deceived by some notorious scammers, so go report the damages to the nearby guard station.”
“Don’t make me laugh! I paid for it fair and square!”
The man shoved the knife even closer to the girl’s neck.
The blade cut deeper than before, and blood trickled down her throat onto the ground.
At that moment, the tearful girl looked at Lucas.
“P-Please save me.”
The instant he met those fear-filled eyes, Lucas’s hand faltered.
But only for a moment.
Soon, he drew the sword hanging at his waist.
Gripping it tightly, he charged toward the man at incredible speed.
“Ugh!”
Just as the knife was about to dig deeper into the girl’s throat, Lucas slammed the back of his blade against the man’s hand.
Clang!
The knife hit the ground, and at the same time, the surrounding crowd rushed forward and restrained the man.
A woman who appeared to be the hostage’s mother rushed toward the little girl without even wiping away her tears.
“Lucy!”
“Mom!”
Without even tending to the blood on her neck, the little girl threw herself into her mother’s arms.
As the mother pressed a handkerchief to her daughter’s neck, she shouted desperately.
“Someone, please get a carriage! Please!”
“I-I’ll get one!”
A man stepped forward, scooped the little girl into his arms, and sprinted toward the street.
Her mother followed close behind, disappearing into the crowd.
The entire situation ended in the blink of an eye.
At least she was rescued safely.
Just as I was thinking that—
“Damn it.”
Lucas cursed under his breath while staring at the blood on the ground.
Moments later, he frantically searched through the pockets of his coat.
But apparently he couldn’t find what he wanted, because his empty hand soon emerged again.
Seeing that, I could roughly guess what he had been looking for.
“Your Grace!”
“There’s no need to follow me. Finish dealing with this situation. I’ll rest for a moment and return.”
Corner looked helplessly uncertain before finally nodding and stepping away.
After confirming that everyone’s attention remained fixed elsewhere, Lucas staggered into the alley.
Something felt strange.
His reaction earlier—it was as though he was terrified of something…
“My lady, where are you going?”
“I’m just going to return this.”
“Then let me come with you.”
“No. Stay here.”
“Huh?”
Leaving the confused Belle behind, I quickly followed after him.
At first glance, I couldn’t tell exactly what was wrong.
But somehow, I had a bad feeling.
Because the symptoms Lucas displayed were eerily similar to those of a patient who once came to see me in my previous life.
* * *
“P-Please save me.”
That voice kept echoing in his ears.
And the blood he had seen moments ago flashed before his eyes.
Staggering, Lucas collapsed into a deserted alley.
“You must survive, Lucas.”
The words he had heard long ago resurfaced.
And then came the sharp accusations that followed.
Why were you the only one who survived?
Traitor who let his family die while saving only himself.
The memories made it feel as though his chest were tightening shut once more.
“Hah… hah!”
Breathing raggedly, he clutched at his chest.
That familiar and unpleasant sensation of darkness clouding his vision returned yet again.
He had thought he was getting better.
Was that just wishful thinking?
His fingertips tingled, and his focus blurred.
Just as Lucas lowered his head—
“Are you okay?”
The sudden sound of a woman’s voice snapped him back to reality.
Lucas lifted his head with difficulty.
Standing before him was Elisha.
“How did the young lady get here…?”
“Is that really what matters right now? What’s wrong with you?”
“If you leave me alone, it’ll pass. So just go.”
“You clearly don’t look fine!”
Damn it.
Lucas cursed as his breathing became increasingly erratic.
What had seemed manageable moments ago was rapidly worsening.
At this rate, he might actually lose consciousness.
As that thought crossed his mind, a large paper bag suddenly appeared in front of him.
“It smells a little since I picked it up off the street, but please bear with it for now.”
As she spoke, Elisha covered his nose and mouth with the paper bag and continued in a steady voice.
“If you exhale too quickly, your hyperventilation will get worse. Slowly… breathe as steadily as you can.”
“Hah… hah…”
“It’s okay. You can do it.”
Following her instructions and slowing his breathing, Lucas gradually began to feel a little better.
Watching Elisha slowly remove the paper bag from his face, he asked,
“Do you know medicine?”
“I’m just copying something I once saw from the sidelines. How’s your breathing now?”
“Better than before.”
