CHAPTER 037
"Wh-What?"
As soon as Lewis muttered something briefly, the dagger that had been aimed at me was deflected.
The dagger spun and fell to the ground as if it had collided with something.
At the same time, I heard a growl from behind, like that of a beast.
Both I and the assassin turned to look. There was the golden wolf, Lewis's summoned creature, that I had seen before.
The large wolf soon charged at the assassin.
"Aaah!"
The wolf targeted the assassin precisely and tackled him.
The assassin fell to the ground, and the wolf pinned his upper body with its front paws as if to prevent him from getting up.
"Ugh..."
I instinctively took a step back as I watched the scene.
"Don't look back."
I heard Lewis's voice, wondering when he had approached.
He covered my eyes with his large hand, telling me not to look.
'Marquis, I can still hear the sounds...'
But the sound didn't last long. It ended with the sound of a person's last breath.
I had heard rumors of Lewis being ruthless, but this was the first time I had seen him deal with an enemy directly. My legs trembled.
Soon, Lewis turned me around. Then, removing his hand from my eyes, he spoke.
"You were surprised."
"Yes, a little..."
Actually, a lot. A whole lot.
Once I thought everything was over, I felt exhausted. Maybe the tension had finally been released.
Before I could fully respond, my vision turned black.
* * *
"Selina!"
Lewis caught Selina's collapsing body.
The shock must have been immense. Maybe Bella could handle it, but Selina had been taken hostage and witnessed a person die.
It was natural that Selina wasn't immune to such things.
It was evident that she wasn't in good condition.
Her once rosy cheeks were pale, and her lips were bluer than usual, devoid of color.
There was no time to think about anything else.
Since the matter was settled, he decided to move straight to the capital.
A magic circle emerged on the ground, and Lewis, holding Selina, stepped onto it.
Lewis transported them to his mansion.
"What on earth happened?"
The butler, who had come out to greet them, was alarmed upon seeing Selina.
Lewis placed a finger on his lips and lowered his voice.
"There was a commotion outside. Prepare a room immediately."
"Yes. Should I contact the Duke's residence?"
"There's no need. I'll take her there myself when she wakes up."
The loyal butler didn't ask further questions and moved quickly. Soon, a room on the second floor was prepared for Selina.
Selina was still unconscious.
Lewis used healing magic on her pale face.
The magic that hadn't worked well when he was seriously ill recently worked perfectly this time.
Her complexion returned, and she looked peacefully asleep as if nothing had happened.
But the shock must have been significant. When she regained consciousness, she would be flustered. Selina was that kind of person.
Lewis hadn't expected the assassins to follow them that far.
It was their fault that Selina ended up like this.
Perhaps they thought it was safer than targeting him in the capital because the place was deserted.
Since he had caused this ordeal, he decided it was best to apologize for taking her there when she woke up.
He had been concerned anyway.
'I'm not depressed at all right now. You don't have to worry about me!'
Her tone was bright, but it was excessively so. It wasn't sincere.
She couldn't have been unaffected when talking about her estranged family.
Selina sometimes showed signs of wanting to see her biological parents.
'Oh, don't you find that curious? I do.'
Even when she spoke casually, there seemed to be a sense of loneliness, which made Lewis constantly worry about her.
As he gazed at the sleeping Selina, Lewis gently stroked her hair.
Her curly orange hair softly wrapped around his fingers.
Selina wouldn't know.
Before the assassin appeared, he had been glancing at her whenever she looked away, constantly thinking about her.
'Was I ever someone who cared so much about others?'
Not at all.
This side of himself felt entirely unfamiliar.
As he recalled that moment, Lewis quietly watched Selina.
Soon, a soft voice escaped him.
"I just can't take my eyes off you..."
* * *
When I opened my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling. I was alone in a spacious room.
Where am I...?
"·······!"
The memory returned quickly.
Did I faint? This has never happened before...
As I struggled with my confusion, the door opened, and a familiar face appeared.
"You're awake now?"
It was Lewis.
As I had guessed, it seemed to be Lewis's mansion.
"Marquis, I didn't mean to faint..."
I consider myself healthy! I'm not someone who faints just anywhere!
As I tried to explain, half embarrassed and half apologetic, Lewis asked.
"Are you okay? You collapsed so suddenly, I was worried."
He looked more annoyed than worried. Seeing his frowning expression, I immediately apologized.
"Yes... I'm fine now. I'm sorry."
Sorry for fainting!
Lewis might not have had much trouble bringing me here, but he must have been surprised.
I would have been flustered in his place.
But Lewis said something unexpected.
"Why are you apologizing? I'm the one who should apologize, right?"
"Yes, Marquis, you should- What?"
Lewis apologizing? Why?
Seeing my puzzled expression, Lewis spoke in a serious tone.
"You've never seen something like that before, right?"
"Ah..."
"So it must have scared you."
Lewis spoke as he placed a hand on his hip.
"This happened because of me. Why would they have come all the way there if it weren't for me?"
"...You're right."
He was right.
Lewis had accurately identified the cause.
Then suddenly, his expression changed.
"I was also at a loss when you fainted. I told Bella I'd bring you back safely, but this happened."
"It was my lack of courage..."
I was safe with Lewis anyway! Why did I faint?
Feeling I had been a burden rather than a help, I made a resolution in front of Lewis.
"I won't tell Bella about what happened today. And I'll keep my composure no matter what happens from now on!"
I'll show an unshakable resolve!
As I clenched my fist, Lewis confirmed once more.
"Really?"
"Yes. I won't tell Bella about today. She'll believe we returned safely!"
"Then promise me one more thing."
Huh? Lewis wanted another promise.
How could he after we both apologized?
"Never faint again?"
"No."
If not that, then what?
Lewis's words left me wide-eyed.
A little later, at the Croft Duke's residence, Bella, who had been spending her free time, hugged me as soon as I arrived.
"Selina! Did you have a good trip? Nothing happened there, right?"
Bella already knew I had gone to Lewis's hometown. Lewis had informed her in advance.
"Mm-hmm, nothing happened."
Actually, something big happened, Bella.
I recalled the significant events of the day.
The attack by the assassins.
Hearing strange things about Lewis's father.
And one more thing.
I glanced at Lewis and remembered what he had said earlier.
'Don't just tell me the scary things. Don't hide your feelings from me and tell me everything.'
'Huh?'
'I want to know all your thoughts.'
He said he wanted to know what I was thinking. Was he that curious?
Even Bella hadn't said that...
Then it hit me. I had been interrupted during an important conversation.
Seizing the opportunity when Lewis left the mansion, I followed to see him off.
"About your father, Marquis!"
It was something Lewis hadn't told the Duke or the twins. It was what I had heard in Lewis's hometown.
"Could there be any records if we look through the existing documents?"
"I've already looked through the records about the noise. Nothing came up; I'm the first."
Lewis's response was skeptical.
Oh no, I thought I found a lead...
"There's nothing special you need to do. Just let me know if you find anything."
"I'll take a look. I have more free time than you!"
As I spoke enthusiastically to Lewis, I began my search for records the next day.
"I'm going to the library!"
"The library?"
"Yes. Do you want to come with me?"
I asked Bella if she wanted to go to the library, but unfortunately, Bella was far from being a book lover.
"Go on your own. Let me know if you find anything interesting!"
Despite disliking being apart from me, she was firm about avoiding places she didn't want to go.
So I went to the library alone and unexpectedly ran into a familiar face.
"Lady Elsner!"
It was Charlotte.
Right, Charlotte visited the library often because she loved books.
"It's the first time I've seen you at the library, Lady Elsner."
"Yes, I'm looking for something."
"I just arrived too. Shall we go pick out some books together?"
At Charlotte's suggestion, we headed to the bookshelves together.
But what kind of book should I look for? Lewis said he'd already searched all the magic records, and they found nothing.
Would Charlotte know?
Feeling at a loss, I asked her.
"Do you know where I can find records related to magic?"
"Hmm... For that kind of material, it might be better to check the Royal Library."
She thought for a moment before answering.
"I've heard they have more specialized resources there."
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