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Chapter 40.
There were two people who came running to kill me.
A man charging from the front, and a woman swinging a weapon from behind.
They could have been targeting Lexian, who wore a knight’s uniform — but I had the feeling it was me they were after.
Lexian, who felt nothing toward me, was not the kind of person to be caught in small dangers like this.
He easily dodged the man rushing toward him, seized his spear, and spun it around, striking the woman attacking from behind squarely in the solar plexus with the shaft.
“Urgh.”
With a suppressed groan, the woman collapsed against the wall.
Just then, the shaking of the building stopped, and instead, the shouts of knights echoed around us.
“Caught the suspect carrying explosives!”
“Take the prisoner outside!”
“Seems the explosions have stopped — lower us down!”
At my request, Lexian hesitated briefly, then set me down obediently.
No sooner had my feet touched the ground than a white light engulfed us.
BOOM!
A heartbeat later, a deafening roar made my ears ring.
Something had exploded in a nearby warehouse — a foul smell and heat rushed over us so fiercely that I thought I’d be burned alive.
The man who pulled me close faster than anyone pressed my head down, shielding me from harm.
“Lex.”
The burning heat — the kind I’d only ever felt when I was executed by fire — was suddenly right beside me, then just as quickly, it faded away.
“Le–Lexian. Lex.”
I sniffed anxiously, afraid I might smell burning flesh, but only his familiar scent reached me.
Faintly, there was a trace of ash mixed in.
“Shhh.”
The large hand holding me firmly was as steady as ever, but my heart plummeted into my stomach.
Lexian was holding me just as he had when arrows rained from the sky — back then too, he’d smelled of sunlight.
But the result had always been tragic.
You’re dying already?
Because of me — are you dying already?
My mind turned white. As my consciousness began to fade, I realized I was suddenly free.
A strange blue barrier that had surrounded Lexian’s body dissipated into the air.
Before I could even wonder what it was, I reached out to trace his face — the face still standing tall before me.
“…Lex? You… you’re alive?”
“Yes. As you can see.”
My joy that he was alive didn’t last long — the sight of his left arm made me gasp in horror.
“What—!”
It wasn’t just burned — it was nearly useless, beyond recognition. And yet, he hadn’t shown a hint of pain.
“Your arm — it needs treatment right now.”
“Let’s go first. The air is full of toxic gas; we can’t stay here.”
Corpses of those who hadn’t escaped the blast lay scattered among the debris.
“Watch your step, Rosia.”
Even with his own injuries so severe, Lexian worried only about where I placed my feet. I wanted to grab him by the collar and shout, stop trying to protect me.
But getting out came first.
After leading me outside — out through the shabby tavern that served as the gambling den’s front — Lexian insisted I stay put, warning me not to run off, before heading back inside.
“With that arm — where do you think you’re going?”
“I need to check if my men are safe. The explosion was massive. Stay here.”
Apparently not trusting me, he ordered two knights to guard me. Worried someone from the royal guard might recognize me, I pulled my hood lower.
I don’t know how much time passed, but eventually Lexian returned with a few knights and several captured gamblers.
The search continued as he issued instructions to his subordinates, then approached me.
“You two, you’re dismissed.”
“Yes, sir.”
After sending them off, Lexian sighed, looking at me.
“Where is your attendant? Don’t tell me you came alone.”
“Just a moment.”
I pulled a bottle of white liquid from my bag and uncorked it.
“Do you even know what that—”
“Stay still.”
I’d been through my share of pain, but seeing Lexian injured was harder to bear.
I bit my lip and poured the white liquid over his arm. It sizzled softly — sss — as it disinfected the wound. Once it dried, I applied a blue liquid.
“Urgh.”
He let out a quiet, restrained groan.
Pained by the sight, I gently held his injured arm.
“Just wait a little. The heat from the burn will fade soon.”
The reddened skin slowly regained its color, and finally, I sprayed a red potion over it.
“This one helps the skin regenerate.”
When I rummaged in my bag for more, I realized I’d run out.
“It’s almost healed, but you still need to keep cleaning and applying ointment. Understood?”
“…Understood.”
Lexian gazed at me silently — his eyes full of unspoken questions.
I knew what he was thinking.
It was strange enough that I’d been found inside an illegal gambling den — and stranger still that I knew exactly how to use unknown medicines.
Even if he asked, I had no intention of explaining.
“Lexian, as I’ve said before — don’t ever risk yourself for me again.”
I attacked first, before he could question me.
“And you expect me to just abandon you in a situation like that?”
“Yes.”
For the first time since the explosion, he frowned.
“You really think I’d listen to that?”
“You have to.”
You almost died because of me. If you stay near me, you will die.
It hit me again — I am the hated villainess of this world.
“Where is your attendant?”
Lexian looked at me like I was ridiculous, changing the subject. That was his way of saying he wouldn’t argue further.
There was no point pushing him.
“Over there.”
“Where exactly?”
On the opposite side of the gambling den — quite far away, actually.
When I didn’t answer right away, Lexian ruffled his hair and called for two more knights.
“I’ll be away for a bit. Guard the entrance. If she tries to flee or resist, you have permission to kill her.”
“Yes, sir!”
Once they went inside, Lexian placed a protective hand on my shoulder.
“Where’s your carriage? Don’t tell me you snuck out alone.”
Reluctantly, I told him where it was. He escorted me there himself. As I reached it, I saw him rolling up his cloak — looking at me like I was unbelievable.
“My lady!”
Sir Mary and Sir Bart rushed over as soon as they saw me.
“Where on earth have you been!”
“I happened to see Duke Rishiansius and got out of the carriage without thinking. I’m sorry I made you worry, both of you.”
I was terrified Lexian might contradict me, but fortunately, he just opened the carriage door without a word.
“I have many questions, but now isn’t the right time. We’ll speak later.”
He whispered it quietly enough that only I could hear — and the chill ran down my spine.
Just as I sat down in the soft seat, he reached under my cloak and pulled out the small pouch I’d hidden there.
“This is confiscated.”
“You—!”
There were so many useful things in there!
I wanted to protest, but since the items were technically contraband from an illegal den, I could only surrender them meekly. At least he didn’t find the old stack of papers I still had hidden.
“I’ll visit you soon.”
With his face stiff and cold — a sign that he was furious — Lexian closed the carriage door.
This is bad.
“Of course it is, my lady.”
It was Mary’s voice; she was already inside the carriage.
“It’s fine to meet the Duke of Rishiansius, but you should at least warn us. Do you know how worried we were?”
“I’m truly sorry. After what happened at the tea party, my mind was scattered.”
I explained briefly about the boating accident — how the ship had capsized and nearly cost lives. Hearing that, she seemed somewhat convinced.
“I’ll make sure to serve you more faithfully from now on.”
Something like a strange devotion had awakened in her, but I just smiled in gratitude.
However, my escorts reported the entire incident to my mother, who looked at me with suspicion.
“You said you weren’t interested in the Duke of Rishiansius?”
“I meant not as a man, Mother. I can still be glad to see him, can’t I?”
“Hmm. Odd…”
To avoid further interrogation, I called for Cassie and ordered her to send a huge bouquet — in my name — to Violet, the Countess of Clen.
Only after I’d returned to my room and shut the door did I finally let out a sigh of relief.
After checking several times that I was alone, I took out the worn bundle of papers from my bosom.
Crash!
The moment I sat down at my desk, a loud clatter pierced my ears.
