IATVWAMOLS 98

98. Group Project: Despair and Hope (2)

“It feels like I can finally breathe out here.”

“That’s a relief.”

Seraphine, who had gone out with Philip, seemed much more at ease. Simply leaving Baron Garrett’s residence brought her an indescribable sense of relief.

“It’s a shame you couldn’t come with me, Miss.”

“The lady has matters to attend to herself, so there’s nothing we can do. We don’t have much time either.”

Philip offered a dry expression of comfort and hurriedly climbed into the carriage. Before dispatching the dukes’ knights, he planned to visit the mine personally to get the full details.

However, as soon as they left the bustling streets, they saw the roads lined with a heavy presence of security forces.

‘This isn’t even a monster-infested area… why deploy so many troops?’

Philip approached the mining district with a mix of curiosity and caution. Then suddenly—

“Let us meet the lord in person!”

“Why haven’t the workers who entered the mine been heard from for months?”

“Please, let us in!”

Even before they could enter the mine, a crowd blocked the way like a swarm.

‘Are these the baron’s subjects?’

The raggedly dressed townspeople were shouting, each trying to see their lord.

“Get lost!”

“The lord is not someone for the likes of you to meet!”

Armed soldiers were keeping the crowd at bay, threatening the unarmed townspeople with swords and shields.

Then a girl clung desperately to the leg of one soldier.

“Please! My father still hasn’t come home!”

“Move out of the way!”

“Kyaa!”

The soldier mercilessly kicked her. She crumpled to the ground but crawled forward again, clinging desperately.

“Please, let me see what happened inside with my own eyes!”

“Hey!”

Another boot sent her flying. The girl fell unconscious, struck by the soldier’s hard leather shoe.

Other soldiers were no better. They didn’t care if people got hurt during the suppression. In fact, they wielded their weapons even more aggressively, as if to make sure no resistance remained.

Seraphine covered her mouth in shock.

“I—I have to stop this…”

Unlike her, Philip remained calm.

“Miss, please wait inside the carriage.”

“Where are you going?”

“I need to meet the person in charge on site and find out exactly what happened here.”

Meanwhile, back at the residence, I quietly called Caién aside while Philip and Seraphine were gone.

“Was this you again? At the dinner, making Baron Garrett’s life miserable?”

Caién looked at me silently. His silence spoke volumes; I could easily tell it was an admission.

‘As expected, Caién was the culprit.’

He had probably done something similar with Count Vermon before. By now, I was used to Caién quietly causing trouble.

“Why did you do that? What if you’d been caught? You saw Baron Garrett—he’s not exactly easygoing.”

Caién’s expression darkened further.

“He was looking at you with that unpleasant glare. I almost gouged his eyes out, but I held back. You told me not to do it.”

“That’s horrifying!”

I stopped him, horrified. Anyone else might have laughed it off, but with Caién, I could believe he’d actually act on it. He’s the type who follows through if he decides to.

“You can’t do that again. Promise me, okay?”

“……”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

I scolded him like a strict parent, and he stared back, frustrated.

“…What am I to you, Master?”

“What?”

Suddenly he was speaking informally.

“Am I just a servant doing household chores? Or a messenger for errands? Those aren’t tasks that need me specifically.”

“……”

“I wanted to protect you, to prove my worth. But you always just tell me to stay out of the way.”

“Well, of course. I can’t let you recklessly throw yourself into danger to protect me.”

It would be nice if he acted with a bit more discretion, but I had no confidence in controlling someone who always confronts matters head-on.

“Then what about him?”

“Huh?”

“All those important tasks you give him… why him and not me?”

“……!”

It was the first time Caién, normally mild during the day, openly spoke of his night persona. He looked at me with wounded eyes.

“I already knew. That while I was asleep, you met him. I knew, but I waited quietly.”

“….”

“Even though I knew you were seeing him, I waited for my turn.”

“….”

“You never came to me first. Why did you bring me here? Is my role just to stay put?”

His gentle façade twisted in pain. He fiddled with the ring on his little finger.

“That was coordinated with him too, wasn’t it?”

“….”

“When you first came for me, it wasn’t me you were after, but him, right?”

“….”

I had no words. I didn’t know about the daytime persona, which wasn’t in the original account. I had only ever sent errands to the night persona, not paying much attention to the day persona.

“What am I, then? Am I just an accessory to him?”

When I remained silent, his voice grew desperate, almost pleading.

“This necklace… it’s mine. You promised not to throw it away, and that was for me.”

His shoulders shook. For the first time, his usually strong frame looked small and fragile. I couldn’t understand it—why such a small token and a passing word could make him cling so desperately.

“I won’t abandon you.”

After a long pause, that was all I managed to say. But even that felt hollow to me. I wanted to say more to reassure him, but every word felt stuck in my throat.

“Really?”

“….”

“Even if he tries to kill me?”

“….”

“You still won’t abandon me?”

I could not answer that.

At that moment, while Philip was away, Seraphine could not remain idle.

She couldn’t hide somewhere safe after witnessing people getting injured so horribly.

She exhaled painfully, her heart pounding in fear. But still—

“Miss! Where are you going?”

“I need to return to where it happened.”

She had no choice but to leave the carriage. Her attendants hurried to follow her.

Returning to the protest site, the scene was twice as horrific as before. The armed forces had left after suppressing the situation, but all the townspeople were injured. Makeshift splints and bandages were being applied, but there weren’t enough hands.

Without hesitation, Seraphine jumped into the crowd.

“Miss, it’s dangerous!”

“Knights, help! Bring the emergency supplies and water from the carriage!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

She rolled up her sleeves, clearing debris and carrying supplies. Seeing her move, the knights and attendants joined in.

Then she spotted a bleeding girl on the ground.

“That person…”

It was the same girl who had clung to the soldier moments ago.

“Someone help her! She’s losing a lot of blood! We need to get her to a hospital immediately!”

Time passed.

The girl, now in a hospital bed, opened her eyes slowly.

“Where am I…?”

“You’re awake. That’s a relief.”

Seraphine felt a wave of relief seeing her conscious. The girl looked at her warily.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Seraphine, from the Blaine marquis family. I was passing by and saw people hurt, so I couldn’t just ignore it… I also paid for the hospital fees.”

“Eh?”

Seraphine carefully continued, “If it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me what happened? I want to help in any way I can.”

After the conversation with Caién, my mind had been in turmoil. He seemed the same; the moment our talk ended, he ran off.

Better that way. I didn’t have the courage to face him in this state.

By sunset, Philip and Seraphine returned to Baron Garrett’s residence. Philip, having met the mine’s person in charge, told me something unexpected.

“A strike?”

“Yes, but it’s not a simple one.”