Chapter 66
Kaiden calmly replied and ate the bingsu with the same spoon.
The cool ice and sweet syrup melted softly in his mouth.
“Sweet.”
When he frowned, Reina burst into laughter.
Kaiden was probably the only one who ate something this delicious in such an unappetizing way.
Reina, who already knew he couldn’t eat sweet things, was pleased with his challenge.
“After trying it, it’s super sweet, right?”
“Yeah. I don’t understand why people eat this at all.”
“I like it because it melts softly in the mouth.”
Reina took the spoon from him and ate the bingsu.
She didn’t care that it was the spoon he had been using.
It was proof that they had already permeated each other quite a bit.
Reina moved the spoon frequently, as if she really liked the bingsu.
Kaiden envied the spoon for the first time.
He, who had been watching quietly, leaned his upper body toward her.
“Give me more too.”
When Reina just stared blankly, Kaiden urged her.
“Hurry.”
“You said you hate sweet things.”
“Still, give it.”
When he stubbornly opened his mouth, Reina held out the spoon as if she couldn’t help it.
At that moment, Kaiden swallowed the spoon in one go, as if he had been waiting.
Perhaps because his gaze was fixed on her.
“!”
Reina unconsciously shrank her body.
It was because the distance was closer than expected, and for some reason, she felt embarrassed to look at him straight.
For a brief moment, a strange atmosphere flowed in the reception room.
A while later, Kaiden, with the spoon in his mouth, gave a signal.
“Ah.”
Reina, who belatedly removed the spoon, caught her breath.
“It’s cool.”
Unlike her, he was smiling with his usual mischievous expression.
‘Strange.’
Reina quietly stroked her erratic heart.
Strangely, she kept feeling shy in front of him.
* * *
A few days later, the feared incident occurred.
A man living in Gomel went berserk, designating the village chief’s granddaughter as Medusa.
Upon hearing the news, Kaiden headed straight to Gomel.
Fortunately, the patrol soldiers subdued the rampaging man, so there was no major incident.
Reina worried that this might be the start of witch hunts spreading throughout the north like in the past.
People gripped by fear often commit irrational acts.
Michael decided to leave Crencia Castle after the Medusa matter was handled.
“Because you might encounter trouble on the way to the capital.”
It was a reasonable reason, so there was no way to refute it.
After that, Michael wanted to have tea and chat with Reina every day.
He made the excuse that she was the only person he knew, but it seemed like there was another purpose.
The interest he showed was burdensome, but there was insufficient grounds to refuse.
That day too, while chatting with Michael, Celine came urgently.
“Madam.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Something has come up that you need to check for a moment.”
Celine glanced at Michael and held out the documents.
It was the document that had compiled a list of female northerners using servant recruitment as bait.
Celine lowered her voice even more and said.
“After receiving the report that an incident occurred in Gomel today, I checked the list again, and the name of the village chief’s granddaughter in Gomel was not on the list.”
“Really?”
Of all people, the victim who almost suffered a witch hunt was not on the list.
Perhaps thinking the same as her, she cautiously gave her opinion.
“Yes. It could be a mistake, but the timing is very coincidental. I think it would be good for you to check it directly…….”
Then Celine glanced at Michael.
It was an issue important enough to interrupt teatime, but she seemed worried that the other party might find it rude.
“Don’t mind me.”
Michael reassured Celine, saying not to worry about him.
Only then did Celine’s expression brighten as she continued.
“If Madam wishes, I will go to Gomel myself and bring the woman.”
“No. I’ll go myself.”
“Yes? No! You can’t! If by any chance Madam becomes in danger…….”
“Is something wrong?”
At that time, Michael joined the conversation. When Celine panicked and just moved her lips, Reina said.
“Something came up, so I think I have to go.”
“It seems like a dangerous matter.”
“That is…….”
“Then I can’t send you alone. I’ll go with you.”
Michael put down his teacup as if he had been waiting and stood up from his seat.
It was a swift movement, as if he had been hoping for such a thing to happen.
Reina blocked his way.
“No, I can go alone.”
“No, Madam. I’ll go.”
Then when Celine blocked her, the situation became strange.
Seeing this, Michael said plainly.
“The maid seems to have a different thought from Reina? For your safety, it seems right for me to accompany you.”
Looking at Reina, whose words were blocked, Michael smiled brightly.
“No need for thanks. I’m also curious about what monsters look like.”
“If Sir Michael gets hurt, I’ll be in trouble.”
“I may not look it, but I handle a sword a bit. Of course, compared to the Duke, I’m woefully lacking, but I won’t be a hindrance, so rest assured.”
“But…….”
“If you keep doing that, I might think there’s a separate reason why I can’t join?”
Michael smiled politely and extended his hand.
Politely requesting an escort while quietly threatening.
At his attitude, Reina sighed.
If she blocked him here, he might find unnecessary fault.
Reina had no choice but to take that hand in the end.
“……Let’s go.”
* * *
When Kaiden arrived in Gomel, the man was already detained.
Due to his rampage, the village chief’s granddaughter was severely injured and lost consciousness.
Because of that, the village chief was extremely furious.
Kaiden headed to the prison where the perpetrator who caused this commotion was, only after comforting the village chief.
The knight recognized him and saluted. Kaiden pointed to the man behind the bars and asked.
“Is it this guy?”
“Yes.”
The main culprit of the incident had a face filled with terror.
Clearly a young man in his prime, yet his hair had turned white, making him look like an old man.
“Why is his condition like that?”
To Kaiden’s question, the knight continued the report.
“After the incident in Gomel, he didn’t come out of his room, and in the meantime, his hair turned white.”
“It seems he suffered severe stress in a short period.”
“It seems so because the victims were his friends. He’s gripped by the fear that he might die too.”
There were a total of five men turned to stone in Gomel.
If they were all friends of the man behind bars, his fear was understandable.
“But why did he attack the village chief’s granddaughter?”
“That is…….”
The knight glanced at the man with an uncomfortable expression.
“He claims that the woman lured and killed his friends one by one. He says he saw it through the window.”
“Is he sure?”
“The village chief strongly denies it. He says his granddaughter never left the house after the incident, and among the victims is her fiancé.”
“Hm.”
Kaiden seemed to sink into thought for a moment, then entered inside the bars.
The man recognized Kaiden and came on his knees, grabbing his pant leg.
“Please save me. I’ll die like this. That woman is definitely Medusa?!”
The sight of a grown man crying pathetically was quite unsightly.
As the knight said, the opponent seemed out of his mind with fear.
Kaiden looked down at him and asked.
“Is that the only reason you designated the village chief’s granddaughter?”
“……Yes?”
“From the beginning, you witnessed your friends going with her, so why didn’t you say it sooner? Unless there was something suspicious, it would have been better to say it quickly.”
“Th, that is…….”
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By Anna 💓
