CH 23

Leone was standing there looking down at her. Behind him, she could see a dreary landscape with corpses strewn about like laundry.

“Huh, uh… ”

She was so shocked that she stopped breathing.

Looking at it, Leone was covered in blood. Mouth, neck, clothes, exposed upper body, hair… There was not a single area that was not stained with blood. Because of his white skin and bright hair, the contrast with the bloodstains was even more striking. It was like a picture drawn by Leone himself in blood.

It was terrifyingly beautiful and frightening enough to make one want to run away. Even the moon, which shines dazzlingly bright today, couldn’t brighten the dark red blood that had been painted on him.

“Trixie. It’s fine.”

Leone’s voice was friendly as usual, but his eyes were different. He had the eyes of an excited beast at the sight of his prey. His eyes, burning like red fire, felt strangely cold.

“Trixie.”

Her expression should have been weird right now. Her stiff face did not move.

That man was a beast. He could easily crush and bite everything.

“Trixie.”

“Re…”

The words came out and stopped. The moment when only the smell of blood and red filled the silence…

“Aww!”

The man who fell right in front of her jumped up. A dagger was in the hand of the man charging at her.

“Ah…!”

There was no time to scream or startle. The man who had shed a lot of blood came towards her with great speed. The man’s black hand reached right in front of her. She had to run away, but she closed her eyes involuntarily.

A stronger smell of blood, like the smell of metal and leather holding the weapon came.

“Die!”

“No.”

At that moment, Leone’s voice was heard. And the body of the man who had come all the way to her suddenly collapsed backwards. She could feel the hot and cold liquid splashing on her skin.

“Cheer…!”

Leone cried softly, and at the end of a short, small throes, a gasping sound was heard.

“… Trixie.”

Her legs were shaking so much that she felt like she was about to collapse. She was barely standing.

“Trixie.”

Leone approached.

“Trixie. It’s fine.”

That sweet voice was a voice she knew. When she opened her eyes, there would be a man with unfamiliar eyes covered in blood.

“Fine… Heh, ah.”

She opened her eyes at the sound that followed. It was clearly mixed with moans of pain. The sound brought her mind back.

After a fierce battle it could be that he was out of breath, but Leone could have been hurt too.

“Lee, Leone. Hey, are you hurt?”

She didn’t think that Leone would be hurt when there was so much blood. It was a careless thought. She asked in surprise.

Leone shook his head and walked over the corpse. He obviously moaned, but it was as if he had never done that before. Leone, who stood up with his back bent to meet her at eye level, had the same eyes as always. Round and gentle eyes. No expression, but full of affection.

“You’re hurt, aren’t you? I just felt sick…”

Leone didn’t respond or react to her words, just brought his face closer. She almost backed away in surprise. But she couldn’t move. It was because he momentarily supported her waist and hugged her.

Out of breath, she inhaled.

Fear or surprise? Worry? Nervous? Unfamiliar emotions surged, and her heart skipped a beat.

Leone’s face, examining her face very closely, was too elegant. He then bent his back even more, examining her body more closely. Mainly on clothes or exposed skin.

“Stop, please… am I hurt… See, are you?”

She realized it a little late because she was so nervous that her brain would melt, but Leone was worried about her. It was a kindness that didn’t match at all with the slaughter just before. Leone’s act of taking care of her first with an innocent face made her tension better.

Soon, her leg gave way. When she tried to sit down, Leone lightly supported her and carefully seated her on the floor. She seemed to be catching her breath a little.

Leone. He was a lovely child who cared about her, he was deeply considerate, and had colorful expressions even though he had no expression normally.

“I’m… not hurt. Let’s see if you’re hurt.”

Her voice quickly calmed down. Leone was so bloody that she couldn’t tell if he was hurt or not.

“It’s fine.”

She picked out words that Leone would know and handed them back. Leone nodded his head in satisfaction. He had a face that seemed to be fine as long as it didn’t hurt.

The stranger from before had disappeared. But traces remained. Blood and corpses in the lobby. The reassurance that he was the same as usual covered the fear, and the strong tension was relieved, but her heart was still beating.

‘What should I do?’

He looked at her restlessly and held out his hand. His blood-stained hand came closer to hers. Startled, she put her hand back slightly.

“… Ah.”

Leone opened his eyes in surprise.

He should not be avoided. She shouldn’t avoid him.

“Hey, I need to wash up first. Hey, I’m cleaning… I… Gourden… I will call him.”

Leone didn’t answer her. He just put his forehead on her shoulder.

A pulse came through.

“Leone…”

There was something stuck in her eye as she was about to say sorry. The dagger held by the man who threatened her earlier was stuck in Leone’s wings.

“Leone!”

She shook him, but he didn’t answer. Leone was breathing heavily and enduring his pain.

“Gourden! Doctor! quick! Leone is hurt!”

It wasn’t long before Gourden in his nightgown hurriedly ran out of him.

Leone was hurt.

* * *

Her head was spinning, but she couldn’t sleep. She joined her hands and stood by Leone’s side.

“Leone…”

Leone got hurt because of her.

Sorry, guilt, worry, anxiety, nervousness. All kinds of emotions swirled around. But the biggest of them all…

“I’m sorry, Leone.”

Because she was human, she was sorry that she did not understand him. She didn’t know about his past, but actually hunting was a natural thing for him. It must have been instinct.

She was so blinded by my fear that she couldn’t properly see his injuries. He was hurt because of her.

She swallowed. Even if she said it, it won’t reach him.

She just held Leone’s hand tightly. She could feel the warmth of his palms and his steady pulse, but his fingertips were cold. She thought he couldn’t handle the painful treatment, so he was put on a sedative, so he was in a deep sleep.

Fortunately, the doctor who was called to the main building at dawn said that Leone’s life was not in danger.

‘I’m glad, but this isn’t the case.’

She was complacent.

While being next to Leone, she got used to the comfort of this place. At first, she thought that she would die immediately if she got involved with the imperial family, but… It was true that she had become complacent and the fear of death had gone away.

“… It can’t go on like this.”

If one was next to Leone, they would experience these things from time to time.

She had to leave.

One year. Everything had to be done within a year, preferably sooner than that. Adler was a man that paid plenty of rewards, so the faster she went through corrections and discipline, the more unexpected money would pour out.

Of course she liked Leone, and Leone liked her too. But that was not it. Even Leone, a supporting character who did not die despite the countless assassination attempts, was injured.

And she was an extra, Could she be fine? Could there be more threats lurking than before? More than anything, it felt like Leone would get hurt again for her. She was easily killed and easily injured. If he tried to protect her like that, it seemed that his body would not remain.

‘And I…’

She was afraid of Leone from earlier. The image of Leone covered in blood and murderous was imprinted in her mind.

She knew that he was worried about her, showing a gentle face in front of me, but she couldn’t deny that fear resided in a very deep place in her stomach.

‘I have to get out of here. I can’t get involved with the main characters anymore,’

When Benjamin arrives, let’s get down to business. One never knew. Adler may be moved and expedite the expungement of the marriage vows.

“I’m sorry, Leone.”

She could only say that. Tears spilled out and fell. She was guilty of Leone, she was stupid, because even though she felt guilty, she was looking for a way to live. She felt like a cold and mean person.

But still… She was afraid all along. Afraid to walk with Leone.

* * *

A dazzling light broke through the darkness and pierced her eyes. She could feel the sting of this light even with her eyes closed… She slept until late.

“This is the first time I’ve seen a servant sleeping in the guest room of the employer’s mansion until this hour.”

“… haha.”

She heard that even a tiger would come when one called it. She hurriedly stood up at the familiar voice she hadn’t heard in a long time.

“Ah, Mr. Adler. You are here. Weren’t you coming back the day after tomorrow?”

Only ten and three days had passed. Adler promised 15 days, and that was already a difficult period. But what about coming sooner? It’s a really crazy motivator.

Laughing awkwardly, Adler straightened his twisted mouth and sighed.

“I just came to hasten the road. It probably doesn’t matter now.”

“… Yes.”

The voice creeped in and Adler sighed.

“I am not blaming you. I’m glad you’re safe. Sir Leone seems to be injured.”

“Sorry.”

“Tell me more about what happened that day. No one knows exactly but you.”

In an instant, Adler, whose complexion seemed to have aged for several years, asked.

She thought of Leone’s face covered in blood…

“Yes.”

She didn’t tell anyone because the knights who allowed the assassins to enter had no right to ask her about the incident, and neither did Gourden. It was the first time she had spoken out since the day the incident happened.

Leone had… killed 15 people.

Their lord did that… and she… her mouth didn’t come off well.