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Chapter 15
The afternoon classes had ended, and dismissal time was approaching.
I was packing up my things when I turned to look at Martin.
“Martin, do you have to go home early today?”
“Oh—no, I’m fine… I-I was thinking of staying to finish some math assignments I missed… I didn’t get to do them last week because of me…”
At his shy words, I couldn’t help but laugh.
It sounded just like that. If you left out the “assignment” part, it almost felt like a date invitation.
“D-date…?”
“Huh? Lindsay, what did you say…?”
Martin stopped packing and looked at me.
A date? I must be insane.
As I looked at him, I realized just how absurd what I had just said was, and my face instantly burned.
“Martin, I need to go to the restroom for a moment!”
“T-take your time, Lindsay. I’ll wait here.”
Thankfully, he hadn’t seemed to hear properly. As always, he smiled gently at me, and somehow my heart kept pounding harder at that expression.
What’s wrong with me? What kind of nonsense am I thinking?
A date? How dare I compare sacred study time to something like that!
And besides, we had only just begun to open up to each other properly. If he ever found out I was thinking such improper things about him, how disgusted would he be?
In the restroom, I splashed cold water on my face, then slapped my cheeks lightly.
“Be careful. If you keep thinking weird things like this, Martin’s going to run away.”
I scolded my reflection firmly, then reached into my pocket for a handkerchief.
It had a beautiful embroidered rose stitched into it.
My fingers gently brushed over it, but in the end, I couldn’t bring myself to use it and slipped it back into my pocket.
“…I don’t think I’ll ever be able to use this.”
I should treasure it. No matter how many times you offer to replace it, I’ll cherish it every time.
After hastily wiping my face, I hurried back to the classroom. I pushed the door open from the back and shouted loudly.
“Martin! Sorry I made you wai— huh?”
Something was wrong.
The Martin who should have been there, smiling and waiting for me, was gone.
“What…?”
I walked up to his desk. His black bag was hanging awkwardly from the side.
I waited, thinking he might have gone to the restroom—but an uneasy feeling crept over me.
“No way…”
For some reason, I suddenly remembered the way Thomas had yelled at us earlier.
A chill ran down my spine. I shot up and ran out of the classroom.
“Martin! Damn it—Martin!!”
From the music room on the fourth floor to the storage room on the first, I searched the entire academy.
But there was no sign of his blond hair anywhere.
My shirt was already soaked with sweat. In my panic, tears kept threatening to spill out, and I bit down hard on my arm to stop them.
“Get it together… get it together! If I don’t find him, no one will…!”
Where could he be? Where would that bastard Thomas take him?
Just as I was desperately trying to think—
I remembered that narrow gap in the wall where Martin and I had once hidden.
A secluded place behind the academy… where no one passes… somewhere no one would notice even if something bad happened…
The moment the thought formed, I ran without hesitation.
Lindsay—this delicate girl had never run before; her legs trembled as she went. She stumbled more than once, but eventually voices drifted from a deserted open area.
“Martin! Martin!!”
There he was.
Martin lay on the ground, his lips swollen, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
Thomas, as if he had been expecting me, casually waved.
“Oh, just as I thought. I knew you’d come looking for him. Is he that precious to you? Even after seeing him like this? What, are you two dating? Or is he the prized toy of the viscount’s young lady?”
At his words, the other boys burst into ugly laughter.
My heart began to pound violently. Fear and rage twisted together, squeezing my chest.
I forced my trembling legs forward and stood in front of him.
And then—
Smack.
“Ah.”
I slapped his cheek with all my strength.
“You… you bastard… who do you think you are…?”
Who do you think you are to threaten someone like this?
To hurt a child like this and trample on his feelings?
Who do you think you are… to do this to my friend…?
Tears blurred my vision so badly I could barely speak.
Thomas let out a short scoff, holding his cheek, then looked down at me with cold eyes.
“What, you really don’t know your place, do you? You want trouble that badly?!”
“Hit me! Go on, you coward! You think you can lay a hand on the daughter of House Rietberg and still sleep peacefully at night? Go on, try it!”
My voice cracked with fury.
Thomas frowned, then motioned to the others.
“Ugh… you’re not even worth it. Let’s go. Try acting up again and see what happens next time.”
With that, he and the others left the clearing.
I wanted to run after them, to scream something at their backs—but Martin, lying weakly at my feet, mattered more.
“Martin… Martin! Are you okay? Can you get up? It’s me… Lindsay!”
I wiped my tears roughly and hooked his arm over my shoulder. His white shirt was covered in dark footprints, as if he had been stepped on.
“Li… Lindsay…”
“Yes, it’s me. Lindsay. Let’s go home. We’ll call a doctor and get you treated. You can rest a little. I’ll have Lucas notify your estate. Does it hurt? Are you okay?”
He kept his head lowered, barely responding, his body slumping more and more.
Even though he was a boy, I could feel the weight of his bones as I supported him.
By the time we reached the school gate, Bill came running toward us.
“Miss! What on earth happened—!”
“Bill! Explain later—Martin first!”
Bill took Martin from me. Together, we helped him into the carriage and settled him inside.
“Bill… Bill… please take us home… and call Lucas for a doctor… please treat Martin first… please…”
After that, the carriage lurched into motion. My eyes kept closing against my will. I held onto Martin’s arm tightly and slowly drifted off.
“…so! Why on earth—!”
“I-I’m sorry…”
Faint voices reached me, and my eyes slowly cracked open.
Soft light filled the room. I weakly lifted a hand and rubbed my eyes.
“F-father…”
“Lindsay! Damn it… what is this…?”
At my voice, the Viscount Rietberg hurried over.
I was dizzy. My whole body ached, heat rushing through me like I was submerged in hot water.
But even through it all, there was only one thought in my mind.
“Martin… where is Martin? I couldn’t protect him… I was so stupid… why did I—”
Why did I go to the restroom at that moment?
Tears filled my eyes again, blurring my vision.
The Viscount looked at me with anguish, biting his lip.
“Lindsay… Martin is fine. He received treatment and has already returned to his estate. Please… don’t only think of him in a situation like this. I wish you were more selfish… why are you like this…?”
He held my hand gently, unable even to shed tears himself.
“The punishment for the children who bullied you and Martin will be decided between our families. And…”
He hesitated before continuing with a hardened expression.
“And… you should not stay close to that boy anymore. He is dangerous.”
