SWRD 23

Chapter 23

Suddenly, I recalled the moment the kidnapper who had been beating me collapsed. After that, Killid appeared at the scene.

…To be honest, I hadn’t really contributed much to solving this missing person case.

That was the reality. What did I actually do? Witness a kidnapping? Attempt to stop it?

Both things Killid, who arrived just a bit later than I did, could have handled himself.

So if I were to be completely objective… I wasn’t a “hero who solved the case.”
Rather, I was closer to a “reckless troublemaker who got hurt.”

Thankfully, I didn’t get too badly injured, and although there were some misunderstandings, the duke and Ethan must’ve decided not to scold me since I had good intentions about solving the case…

‘Come to think of it, I’m the one who should be saying thank you.’

If Killid hadn’t shown up, who knows how much more I would’ve been beaten by the criminal.

Just as I was getting to that thought, Killid’s voice reached me.

“You were…”

“…”

“…getting beat up?”

…What the—can he read minds?

“Does it hurt?”

“What?”

“Where you got hit. Does it hurt a lot?”

“…Not really.”

“The guy who did that to you will be executed after the trial. Just in case you were wondering.”

Killid informed me of that, then followed up with a question.

“Wanna watch?”

…Watch the execution?

“Not really…”

“If you do, just let me know. You can see it if you want.”

Somehow, I was at a loss for words and just nodded.

It was awkward. I didn’t even know why. Or maybe everything was just awkward.

I reached for the cup I had set down earlier. I drank about half the milk when Killid spoke again.

“I have a good instinct for things.”

…I almost replied with “I know.”

I looked at Killid, meaning “And?” with my gaze. His lips moved.

“If it weren’t for you, I would’ve failed again. I would’ve lost the culprit, and the people he took would’ve remained missing.”

“I just feel that way.”

Well… if Killid says so… maybe he’s right?

I became a bit unsure. But Killid seemed confident.

If it were someone else sitting across from me, I might’ve thought they were just trying to comfort a victim who got beat up.

But this is Killid.

Not that he hates Bella and therefore wouldn’t comfort her.

It’s more that Killid, among all the people I’ve met, might be the most honest one…

“…Ah, is that why I feel a bit comfortable around you?”

“What?”

“Ah, nothing. Just talking to myself.”

I set the cup down again. The milk had already gone cold.

I fiddled with the rim of the cup and finally found something to say.

“Where’s the culprit now? In prison?”

“Yeah.”

“Here?”

“No, in the capital.”

“…Someone from the capital came to take him?”

Killid nodded slightly.

“While you were unconscious.”

I glanced at Killid’s expression without thinking.

…Didn’t he want to interrogate the criminal himself? I mean, he caught him.

Maybe my thoughts showed on my face—or maybe he really can read minds—because Killid looked directly at me and said,

“The capital’s been waiting for this case to be solved longer than I have. I just…”

You just?

“I just need to find the missing people. I’m not interested in torturing the criminal.”

Wow, torture…

I let out a chuckle before clearing my throat awkwardly. Then I tried to keep the conversation going.

“Do you think we’ll be able to find all the missing people?”

“We can hope.”

“Their families… and friends must be so happy. When the missing people come back.”

I remembered the middle-aged woman who had visited me to say thank you and talked about her daughter.

“Yeah.”

Killid replied simply. At some point, a faint smile had appeared at the corner of his lips—it was so clearly visible that it almost felt unnecessary.

It felt strange.

Then I realized what I wanted—to run away. I didn’t know the reason, but I just wanted to get out of this place.

As I stood up suddenly, Killid’s eyes followed me.

“Do you need more milk?”

“…No! I’m going back to my room. I’m sleepy.”

I quickly spoke before Killid could get up from his chair.

“By the way, you don’t have to escort me.”

“…No need to support me or carry me like you did before. I’ll go by myself.”

“You’ll fall.”

The words “What does it matter to you if I fall?” almost came out—but I swallowed them.

Normally, I might’ve said it. But now wasn’t the right time.

Killid—maybe because of some temporary gratitude—had been acting a bit too kindly, like a completely different person.

The problem was… me. I found myself wishing he’d just go back to being indifferent, not caring even if I tripped and rolled across the floor. I still didn’t know why.

“I won’t fall.”

I thought about adding “Don’t worry,” but ended up not saying it.

Trying my best not to limp, I walked out of the kitchen.

In the end, I made it to my room without falling.

That wasn’t so hard?

…I should’ve known that saying something like that would jinx it. I realized it the very next morning.

The moment I opened my eyes, I felt my whole body burning up. Even moving was hard.

I barely managed to pull the bell cord by the bed, and when Enfi entered, she touched my forehead and practically jumped back.

“You’re burning up!”

“I thought so too…”

This is insane. I must have a fever over 40°C…

“I’ll go get medicine from Lady Sara. Please hold on!”

“Okay…”

“Don’t go anywhere!”

“Can’t go…”

Even if I had some kind of illness that required me to move to survive… right now, I’d probably just die.

While I was having such pitiful thoughts, I heard Enfi leave the room.

I closed my eyes. At some point, all my senses began to blur.

“Ellie.”

It felt like I had been suddenly pulled out of water, and I became conscious again.

I barely managed to lift my heavy eyelids. The room was dim—even though it was morning—because the curtains were drawn. A figure sat by my bed.

“You’re awake?”

“If it’s too hard to open your eyes, you don’t have to.”

The person by my bed reached out and gently closed my eyes again.

It felt cool.

It wasn’t the hand of a ghost—it only felt this cold because I was burning up.

“I have a question, Ellie.”

Only when I heard that name did I realize who the person in my room was.

Strangely, it didn’t feel like the first time he had called me that…

Ah, my head’s foggy. I must not be in my right mind right now.

Ethan asked again when I didn’t answer.

“Why did you go to Viscount Carmel’s estate?”

What? We already answered that…

…Ah, I see now.

Ethan came to me on purpose while I wasn’t in a normal state.

So I’d tell the truth—not lies.

He must’ve thought I’d say anything honestly because I was feverish and half-asleep…

Ethan Crawford, you’ve underestimated my survival instincts.

My lips moved, and even to my own ears, my voice sounded hoarse.

“To solve… the missing persons case…”

“Really? That’s the only reason?”

“Yeah…”

“Why didn’t you tell me or Father beforehand?”

Well…

“If I did, you’d… say it was dangerous and stop me…”

“Dangerous, huh…”

Ethan repeated my words, then added,

“So you knew. That it was dangerous.”

“…”

“Why did you want to solve the case?”

“That’s…”

“…”

“To be helpful…”

“To whom?”

“…My family.”

“…”

“The Crafords…”

Survival instinct really is something else.

Even with a hazy mind, I could give such perfectly fitting answers.

Ethan didn’t say anything for a while. The silence grew longer.

Did he leave?

Just as I thought that and opened my eyes, a cool hand gently closed them again.

“Sleep more.”

That phrase felt like a spell. Or maybe it was because I had been waiting to hear it.

Before I knew it, I sank back into the depths of sleep, like sinking to the bottom of a lake.

As expected, Dr. Sara really is a brilliant doctor.

After taking the antipyretic she gave me, my fever started going down rapidly.