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“H-He’s…!”
The assailants jumped up with their swords drawn.
“Don’t be scared! He’s alone!”
“Y-Yeah! He won’t be able to handle all of us!”
“Attack together!”
The attackers lunged at Calix.
Clang!
Sparks flew as their swords clashed.
Clang! Clang!
Though two men rushed at him wildly, Calix’s sword remained composed.
With sweeping motions, he deflected their blades with ease.
Clang! Clang clang!
Their swords were dull and slow compared to his.
“…”
He blocked every strike, shutting down any chance of a follow-up attack.
“D-Damn it! This guy’s swordsmanship is insane!”
“Shit…!”
Despite his calm technique, Calix’s face burned with rage like molten lava.
He struggled to keep from killing them outright.
He didn’t want her to see him as a monster.
‘How dare they, to that woman…’
But it was hard to control himself.
Mari’s face—smeared with dirt and tears—kept flashing before his eyes.
He couldn’t forgive the men who had done that to her.
She was important.
She was… the one overseeing the business he had invested in.
‘I should’ve killed them and left earlier. Dammit! I need to find a way out first!’
One of the attackers quickly realized their efforts were useless.
He stopped fighting Calix and ran to Mari.
“Stop! Surrender or I’ll kill her!”
He pointed his blade at Mari’s chest, its tip aiming precisely between her ribs.
“…!”
Calix froze.
“Yeah! If her life means anything to you, don’t move.”
In that moment—
Whoosh!
A dagger flew through the air. It was instinctive.
He couldn’t allow her to be in danger for even a second.
“Gah!”
The man aiming at Mari collapsed onto her.
“…!”
A dagger had pierced his neck—thrown by Calix.
“D-Damn…!”
The attacker writhed, pulled the blade from his neck—
Shhk!
—and blood gushed out like a broken dam.
“Urgh…!”
His eyes rolled back, showing only the whites.
Sticky, hot blood spilled like molten tar, soaking Mari in a grotesque warmth.
“……!”
Still, her eyes couldn’t leave Calix, who watched her and the attacker with blood-red eyes.
“……!”
The rumors were true.
This was the man who destroyed everything—people, buildings, anything in his path.
The man who plunged a dagger into someone’s throat without a second’s hesitation.
‘Calix!’
He was indeed the man from the stories.
The proof was on her chest—his enemy’s blood soaked into her dress.
It was unbearable. She needed to get out from under the man immediately.
But the attacker, heavy as a boulder, was dying on top of her.
Mari screamed and thrashed.
“Aaah!”
That scream snapped Calix back to his senses.
“No…”
He had killed again.
Without realizing it—again!
And the one person he didn’t want to see that side of him… had seen it.
“Get him off! Get him off me!”
She shrieked, nearly hysterical.
The man’s twitching, bleeding body was crushing her.
“Damn it!”
The remaining assailant threw down his sword and fled.
“Mari…!”
Calix rushed over.
He rolled the dead man off her, revealing Mari’s horrified face, her eyes wide with terror.
“…!”
Her sky-blue dress was soaked in dark blood.
“Are you all right?”
He reached out to help her up.
Flinch!
She recoiled.
“…!”
He realized immediately—
She was afraid of him.
She no longer saw him as a kind investor.
Her fragile green eyes now held the terrifying figure known as the “Bloodstone of the Cliff Fortress.”
“…”
He slowly withdrew his hand.
“Are you… okay?”
“Y-Yes!”
Mari replied quickly but couldn’t meet his gaze.
“…”
He remembered the woman who had trembled in fear as he destroyed the Viscount Brian’s villa—
even though he had saved a child.
It was nothing new.
“…”
Mari forced herself to stand shakily, still trembling.
‘That man’s dead.’
She had seen it—
A scene straight out of a movie, playing out right before her eyes.
The terror and shock in the man’s eyes—burned into her memory.
“How… how did you find me…?”
She asked, trying to sound calm.
“I’m glad you’re safe,” Calix said flatly, sounding indifferent.
“Ranid slum borders my territory. My people sometimes clash with the locals.”
“…”
He took off his cloak and draped it over her shoulders.
It was heavy.
“…”
It felt like someone was holding her.
The musky scent from the cloak masked the iron tang of blood.
“I happened to be in the Ranid area. I learned from two of the White House family’s servants that they were searching for you.”
‘Young Lady.’
He had called her that.
‘Please, call me Calix,’ he had once said kindly.
Now, the warmth was gone.
His crimson eyes were colder than when they first met.
“My men are still searching the slums. They’ll be here soon.”
“Won’t the lord of this region oppose you?”
“You needn’t worry about that.”
He turned his back and walked out of the barn—
as if annoyed.
Mari was more unsettled by his cold demeanor than the corpse before her.
‘Because of me… he killed someone.’
And in the end, she forgot to even thank him.
Calix stepped outside and whistled sharply.
Frrr—
A sleek black horse came trotting over.
“…”
Mari followed him out with heavy steps.
The fresh air helped her feel a little better.
Outside, the air was crisp and smelled of the forest.
She looked up at the sky.
Countless stars sparkled overhead as if nothing had happened.
As she watched them, the fear and anxiety in her heart began to ease.
“Ah!”
The stars reminded her of Lady Brian, who must be crying.
She wished the starlight could ease her fears too.
Whistle—
Calix whistled again. A pigeon flew over.
“I heard from Mildred, your secretary, why you came here. I’ll let her take care of it. She should still be nearby.”
He scribbled a note, tied it to the pigeon’s leg, and sent it off.
“Thank you.”
Their eyes met briefly.
It was only for a moment, but it felt like time stopped.
“…”
She noticed her wavy, light brown hair was speckled with rain like morning dew.
Her green eyes, still full of fear, sparkled like stars.
“My people will take too long to arrive. I’ll take you back to the White House myself.”
He was slightly tense as he spoke, in case she rejected the offer.
“…If you would… I’d really appreciate it. I was planning to stop by the Ranid cathedral, but… not today.”
“Let’s go.”
Frrr—
The black horse snorted. Calix mounted and reached down.
When Mari got on, a sudden downpour began.
“Oh my!”
Rain splashed up from the ground.
“Oh—are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Actually… I’m glad it’s raining. It helps wash away the smell of blood…”
Droplets clung to her silver lashes and her lips.
“…”
Though the rain poured, the scent of the forest clung around Calix.
Her delicate hands held onto his coat as she trembled.
“Hold on tight, or you’ll fall.”
“Yes…”
She wrapped her arms around his waist.
“…”
He felt heat rise to his cheeks where her skin touched his back.
When he turned slightly, her green eyes were gone from view.
Something felt empty.
Not because he missed her beautiful face—but maybe because of the cold rain.
“Is this okay?”
Her soft, rain-drenched voice whispered near his ear.
Her lips were close.
“Yes. Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
Ashen cinders mixed with rain seemed to fall from the sky.
All his thoughts vanished.
It felt like he was riding through a pure, fresh forest.
Clop clop clop…
The sound of hooves echoed through the rain-soaked path.
A short while later, Mari, exhausted, rested her face gently against his back.
Warmth spread from her.
“…!”
He stiffened but said nothing.
His mind had gone blank.
No words were exchanged.
Clop clop clop.
..
Only the sound of hooves in the rain filled the silence.
Raindrops fell on their faces and lips.
Shhhhhhh…
The rain grew heavier, soaking them completely.
Yet strangely, the only part that felt warm—was where she touched him.
