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Chapter 54
Hieder and I left the Del Trading Company. We had even bought some much-needed supplies on the way back. Hieder pulled his hood as far down as possible.
“…You could go back ahead of me or wait here, you know? I can take care of this on my own.”
“And leave you to who knows what kind of trouble?”
Hieder shook his head firmly and gripped the sword at his waist.
“I told you, nothing happened. That thug ended up worse off than me anyway.”
According to Viscount Aros, the herbalist had shattered his tailbone. Ahem. That wasn’t exactly my intention, but apparently there’d been a rock on the ground when I threw him.
‘He paid the price for what he did! No need to worry about it!’
The viscount had said it heartily enough, but the truth was, I had never really been in danger.
“What if there were ten of them? Or a hundred? Better two than one.”
I had no choice but to pull my hood lower and walk with Hieder.
“What we need to buy is… mostly meat. Meat’s the most important.”
Everything else we could manage on our own, but not that.
“And salt, pepper, and other seasonings. They said we’d need sauces as well.”
So basically, it was all food-related. Aside from that, there were things like thread and silk. Hieder glanced nervously at the pile stacking up in our basket, but I didn’t mind in the least.
“…You’re still as strong as ever.”
Hieder tried lifting the basket, then shook his head.
“Give it to me. Quick.”
He couldn’t handle the weight, so I hoisted it up without effort. All that was left was to buy leather for making shoes.
We were on our way to the leather shop when—
“Ah, Mother!”
That sharp, ringing voice. I knew it well. Inside our hoods, Hieder and I locked eyes.
I nodded, and we stepped back. Not long after, Duchess Kiera appeared with Sornya.
“I want to go to the Del Trading Company too! All my friends have that beauty tonic! They even came out with a kids’ version!”
Sornya whined and tugged at her mother’s arm. The duchess glanced around and took her daughter’s hand.
“I told you to wait. They’re out of stock right now. They promised to bring more when it’s our turn…”
“How can you say that? Why should Katieron wait? Why should Aites wait? Waaaah!”
Sornya stomped her feet and burst into tears. Still the same as always. Back in Katieron, if she didn’t get her way, she threw a fit just like that.
“This is all your fault, Mother! Because you took me away from Katieron! I want to go back there!”
She shrieked. Beside me, a cold scoff slipped out.
“Who said they’d even take her back.”
Hieder muttered icily.
He wasn’t wrong. The gates would never open for her. The duchess sighed heavily and tugged at Sornya’s hand.
“Let’s go for now. People are staring, Sornya. Please?”
Her tone softened as she coaxed her daughter.
“I’ll try to get it for you.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
Only then did Sornya sniffle and hold her mother’s hand again. But of all directions, they started walking right toward the alley where Hieder and I were hiding.
Why here of all places?!
The alley connected to the street where the leather shops were. What business could she possibly have here?
I instinctively stepped back, but Hieder clutched my hand tightly. My heart pounded. The moment I thought I’d met the duchess’s eyes, my Stealth skill activated.
Holding my breath, I stared straight ahead.
“What is it, Mother? Weren’t we going to buy leather? For the gloves you wanted to make for Brother?”
“…I thought I saw a familiar face.”
“Hm?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
The duchess cast a glance toward us, then turned away. I didn’t dare move until she and Sornya were a safe distance off.
Only then did I yank Hieder along.
We had to get back immediately.
What if the duchess grew suspicious and sent people searching? What if they discovered Hieder and me outside?
The thought made my stomach twist. If Kiera caught Hieder—after all, she already hated him with a passion—then…
Absolutely not.
“Young Master, we’re picking up the pace.”
As soon as we reached a quieter spot, I scooped him up in my arms. He tried to protest, but I dashed off before he could speak—like someone was chasing us.
This was why I shouldn’t have brought him out. I’d been careless, forgetting that Kiera and her brats roamed freely in the city.
“Young Master, you’re not coming out again.”
I declared firmly as we stepped back into the estate.
“Absolutely not.”
“But nothing happened, Lani.”
Hieder gave an awkward laugh and pointed at my hand. I was still clutching his. Embarrassed, I let go and stepped back.
“If we hold hands like this, we won’t get caught. No one will notice.”
“But…”
“If I’m in danger, then so are you. If I’m a target, then you are too. So why insist on going alone?”
“That’s because…!”
Because my skills could protect me—but not him! Yet I couldn’t say that, not when I no longer had my self-healing skill either.
I swallowed hard.
“That’s why we stick together. One person can’t handle everything, but two people might.”
Hieder’s tone left no room for argument. I pressed my lips together.
When neither of us gave in, Hieder always won. I was too weak against him.
So be it.
From now on, I’d move in secret.
If we don’t get caught, there’s no problem.
It was a comforting thought. The natural extension of it was: If we don’t get caught, we can’t be caught.
And I would never get caught.
* * *
From that day on, a suffocating battle began between Lani and Hieder.
One running away, the other chasing.
When Lani leapt down from a tree like a cat, the servants clapped and cheered. That was how she managed to escape Hieder and vault clean over the duke’s estate wall.
“She’s getting good at this!”
“Her skills improve every day!”
“A perfect score—100 out of 100!”
Even Dania chimed in. Hieder could only sigh. He’d lost her again. No matter how creative he tried to be, Lani always found some outrageous way to slip away.
Grinding his teeth, Hieder glared with burning eyes. Hildeon, watching, spoke firmly.
“I understand how you feel. But you’ll never match Lani. That’s beyond human ability.”
“I know that.”
Hieder spat, then drew his sword. All the determination in the world couldn’t close the gap. By the time he reached the marketplace, Lani was already on her way back.
She was a fae—it was only natural.
The truth was, he was slowing her down. But even so, Hieder wanted to protect her. To keep her safe from even the slightest harm.
And though Lani didn’t see it, his own shortcomings infuriated him. If he were like Taibern, maybe he could catch her.
Fueled by that burning drive, Hieder trained relentlessly. Hildeon, watching him, nodded.
This cat-and-mouse chase with Lani was unexpectedly pushing him forward.
Step by step, Hieder was closing in on his goal. And at just fourteen years old—
If he really achieved the rank of Sword Master now, he would surpass Taibern.
It would mark the birth of the youngest Sword Master in history.
