14
“I remember. He is someone I know.”
“Huh…….”
The guards let out astonished sounds and stepped back cautiously.
When Eliza gestured for the man to stand up, he tried to get to his feet but staggered. He was covered in so many wounds that it was a wonder he had managed to make it all the way here.
“Thank you, thank you, Miss.”
“So, why were you looking for me?”
“I-I have nowhere to go……. I cannot go back to those demons. Never!”
As though he had recalled something, the man stared wildly into empty space and trembled.
Seeing his condition, Eliza became serious.
This servant knows something about Hagen.
“Come inside.”
“Miss, it may be dangerous for you…….”
“I can just have Brandon stay by my side.”
The servant bowed his head deeply in greeting and quickly stepped inside. Eliza gave the displeased guards a warning.
“I’ll take care of him and send him away, so don’t tell my parents.”
Since they did not seem likely to listen to words alone, Eliza removed a small jewel button from her sleeve.
When she handed it over, the guards brightened and reached out.
“Ahem. Since you are taking such good care of your subordinates, then we won’t refuse……”
“What am I giving you?”
But at the suddenly intervening voice, the guards jumped and immediately returned to attention.
Eliza clicked her tongue when she saw her younger brother appearing at precisely this moment.
Helreos approached, looked around, and asked,
“What are you doing?”
“I was having a conversation.”
“What is that?”
“My guest.”
“Are you seriously hanging around with vagrants now?”
Helreos shook his head as though she were pathetic. Eliza held back her irritation and turned away.
“Mind your own business.”
“I’d like to do that too.”
Helreos reached out from behind and turned her around.
When Eliza slapped his arm away, Helreos grabbed her wrist and lifted it.
“Let go of this.”
“Tsk, tsk, where did you get that bruise? If you’re left alone, you’ll live however you please like this, so how could our parents not worry?”
There was a bruise on the back of Eliza’s hand from Leopold’s strong grip.
So what? It was her body, so what business was it of his? Eliza swung her foot, trying to kick his shin with the toe of her shoe.
Helreos quickly dodged, but her kick grazed his calf, and he shouted.
“Ow! Seriously!”
Eliza could not understand why this kid was still lingering in front of her. If neither of them had any business with the other, they should have had no reason to see each other.
“Get lost.”
“Do you think I’m here because I want to be? Father told me to bring you!”
“What? Right now?”
“Come with me immediately.”
“Wait, I have something to do right now…….”
Eliza looked around anxiously toward Nancy and the servant.
Helreos narrowed his eyes as he looked at the dirty servant as well.
“Aha. What kind of scheme are you trying to pull this time? Well, it’s not like you would ever sit still.”
“What am I not sitting still about?”
“What? You really didn’t know? You’re completely stupid, aren’t you? How can you not know about your own business?”
Helreos’s words had sounded strange for a while now.
Eliza had thought Helreos appearing at precisely this moment was a coincidence, but it seemed that was not the case.
Anxiety gnawed at her heart. When Eliza pressed her lips tightly together, the corner of Helreos’s cheek twitched obnoxiously.
“Ah~ Should I tell you in advance or not?”
Helreos pretended to hesitate, but he could not suppress his sly grin.
He was the kind of man who would even sell the family seal if it meant teasing his older sister.
“The decision has been made to put you in the Hagen residence immediately and have you take lessons to become a bride……”
“What?”
“You’d better come quietly, you know? Father is waiting.”
Helreos pointed his thumb toward the carriage behind him. Eliza’s heart sank.
“Wait.”
“Do you think I’m a dog? You think I’ll wait just because you tell me to?”
“It would be better if you didn’t act like that. You should start thinking about returning to the academy soon, shouldn’t you?”
Helreos frowned deeply. The reason he had not yet been held back despite having no interest whatsoever in academics was because of his excellent assignments.
He filled his head with knowledge from the books he pushed onto her, while Eliza did the assignments for him.
“I’ll let it slide. Once today passes, we won’t have anything to do with each other anyway.”
Helreos raised his fist but stopped himself. He was excited by the thought that soon he would not have to see this annoying older sister anymore, so he could let it slide for a little while.
Eliza quickly approached the servant and lowered her voice.
“Let me ask you just one thing. Have you ever witnessed Hagen doing something that should not be done?”
“M-M-Miss…….”
The servant turned deathly pale and let out a choked whimper. It was a reaction born of fear.
Seeing the servant trembling and barely nodding, Eliza became certain.
‘This man is definite proof.’
“Nancy, guide this man to Brandon. Tell him to take him to the White Fox Inn in Bulture Square and hide him there. Brandon knows exactly where it is.”
In any case, Eliza had watched over Brandon since they were children.
The knight had never been on her side, but precisely because of that, she trusted that he would move if he was given money.
His habitual remark was that he would make a quick fortune and leave this count’s estate.
Eliza handed Nancy the button she had removed earlier. It was small, but it was a jewel, and since it was an item from a noble household, it would be easy to sell.
“Give this to Brandon. Tell him I’ll reward him even more generously once the job is done. And…….”
After hearing Eliza’s whisper, Nancy nodded resolutely and left with the man. Helreos glanced in their direction, then soon stopped paying attention.
“You really should be grateful to Marquis of Hagen. If it weren’t for him, who would take in someone like you?”
“Right. I should repay him.”
“……What is this? Why are you being so obedient?”
“They’re going to throw me into the Hagen marquisate immediately, right? Then I’d like to pack some things.”
Though she made the request while pretending to remain calm, Eliza’s heart was pounding violently.
The thought that she might fall into Hagen’s grasp just like this sent a chill down her spine.
“It’ll only take a moment. You should know how to show consideration to a lady, Helreos. Even going out for a short while takes so many things. Do you think there are only one or two things I need if I’m going to leave home and live elsewhere?”
“Whether it’s for a moment or not, I told you to come right away, didn’t I? The Marquis is waiting too.”
“Ladies like men who seem relaxed. How about practicing being leisurely while you have the chance? Miss Sonia also……”
“Hey. Don’t mention her carelessly.”
At the mention of the woman he was interested in, Helreos easily lost his temper. Since her younger brother was so easily shaken, Eliza felt a little relieved.
Because if she threw out just one last remark, this kid would inevitably fall for it.
“Or perhaps…… are you afraid you’ll get scolded?”
“Who’s afraid?!”
“Think about it carefully, Helreos. Even if I arrive late, I’ll be the one getting scolded, right? Do you think Father would really scold his precious son?”
“I don’t have any worries like that?!”
Helreos’s voice immediately rose. Looking at her huffing younger brother’s face, Eliza smiled brightly.
Helreos sharply turned his head away from that face and shouted.
“You know that, as you said, you’ll be the one getting scolded anyway, right? Hurry up and go! If you make me wait, I’ll tell Father that you were dragging your feet!”
Without answering, Eliza turned around and headed toward the residence.
Of course, she had no intention of obediently going with Helreos.
‘How am I supposed to know what they’ll do to me if I go to Hagen?’
After getting far enough out of Helreos’s sight, Eliza looked around cautiously before changing direction and running off.
Since it had not been long since Nancy had left, she would be able to catch up if she hurried.
“Nancy!”
“Miss?”
“I’m sorry, but there’s something else I need you to do.”
Eliza whispered something into Nancy’s ear. A horrified cry immediately burst out.
“Whaat?! Me?”
“I’m sorry to make you tell such a lie. But you’re the only one I can ask.”
“T-That’s true, but!”
Nancy was flustered, but after thinking over Eliza’s words, she became happy. Miss is relying on me……!
“I’ll carry it out perfectly!”
Nancy raised both fists with determined eyes, and Eliza applauded her.
“Wonderful, Nancy. I’ll be counting on you.”
Nancy left the place like the wind. The injured servant, suddenly left standing there, blinked.
“Uh…… Miss. Then what about me?”
“Don’t worry. You’re coming with me.”
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎☆
