Everett tilted her head slightly to see his face.
His face was mostly hidden by hair that had fallen forward, but the tips of his ears, which were visible, were flushed red.
Why would he stop mid-sentence like that, making me curious? And now his face is turning red… Could it be he’s unwell and came out anyway?
Everett looked at him with concern.
“Well, if you only use it for the pronunciation, you could probably write it like this.”
Eager to finish the lesson quickly, Everett rushed on with her explanation.
“That’s all I could think of on short notice. Since the purpose of the rune has changed, I’ll reorganize it accordingly.”
“Sorry, Everett. I should have been honest from the start.”
“It’s fine. It’s not exactly easy to say you’re going to use it as a cipher.”
“Thanks for understanding, Everett.”
Kyle drew out her name slowly.
For a moment, his low, steady voice sounded almost sweet.
“This concludes today’s lesson, Lord Kyle.”
Everett quickly gathered her notes and stood up.
“Looks like Madam Marsha and Lord Olbreno have gone back?”
“Probably. They said they’d head straight from the workshop so they wouldn’t disturb us.”
“So you’ll be returning to the mansion alone, Everett?”
“I called for a carriage. I told them the time in advance, so it should be here soon.”
It was a lie.
She had planned from the beginning to walk back alone.
Night had already fallen, but it was a road she often took. Once she passed the alley in front of the tavern, the square would be crowded with people.
Even if she had hidden her identity, walking through the square with Kyle would be uncomfortable.
And the way Kyle kept calling her name was starting to get under her skin.
Everett… Everett…
It felt like his voice was tickling her ears.
“I’ll wait with you until the carriage comes, just to be sure.”
“Please don’t, Lord Kyle. Even though I called for a carriage, it’ll be a little while. Shouldn’t you get back to the palace before it gets too late? And you must be tired from your first lesson—go home and rest.”
Seeing her spill the words out in a rush, Kyle chuckled.
“No, I’m not tired at all. It’s not like this is sword training—what’s there to get exhausted over? I could stay up all night like this.”
“You just don’t realize it, but your brain is under a lot of strain right now. The fact that you kept eating cookies proves it.”
“How so?”
“Craving sweets means your body is very tired.”
Kyle laughed in amusement.
“So all this is just your complicated way of saying you want to go alone?”
Everett started to speak, then let out a deep sigh.
“Yes, that’s exactly it. I prefer going alone.”
“It’s late. Even if your carriage is coming, it could be dangerous.”
“I’ve walked alone much later than this before.”
“You’ve gone out alone at night? Without a butler or servant?”
“Yes. My father’s away in the East on business, and it’s just Daisy and me at the mansion.”
Saying it out loud made her feel like some pitiful, impoverished noblewoman.
And her feeling was right.
Kyle frowned in surprise.
“Oh… but it’s not that our family is poor or anything. We just don’t feel the need for servants…”
Everett added quickly, but Kyle didn’t seem to hear her.
She started to explain further, then gave up—it wouldn’t make a difference.
Maybe she’s lying about calling the carriage. Could be she’s embarrassed about walking home alone.
Kyle was beginning to understand why the baron’s daughter had eaten a late dinner at a tavern.
Having only one maid was shocking enough, but she was even working in a tavern.
I’d noticed plenty of odd things before, but now it makes sense.
Kyle looked at her with pity.
Living alone with just one maid… It might not even be a proper mansion. Some nobles live worse than commoners. I never thought Everett was one of them.
Kyle pressed his lips together. Everett felt like she could see exactly what he was thinking, even without him saying it.
“Then, will you be leaving now, Lord Kyle?”
He stood reluctantly, but couldn’t bring himself to walk out.
The square at the end of the alley was bright as day, but the area around the tavern was dark.
I really should see her off.
Just as Kyle was about to speak again, Everett bent her knees slightly in a polite bow.
“See you at the next lesson, Lord Kyle. Please get home safely.”
“Oh, uh… yes. You too, Everett.”
He returned the bow almost automatically and stepped outside, but his feet felt heavy as stone.
Everett shut the door as soon as she saw him walking down the alley.
“If anyone saw me walking at night with the Grand Duke Kyle…”
She shook her head.
The alley without any lights looked completely different from inside the tavern.
After locking up and turning off the lights, she turned around to find herself surrounded by deep darkness.
“Maybe I should have gone with him to the square.”
She stood still in front of the door until her eyes adjusted.
Then, she felt a chill that made the hairs on her neck stand on end.
Is someone… here?
She wanted to turn her head to check, but her body wouldn’t move.
Don’t panic. If it were a thief, they would have attacked already. This isn’t about money.
Slowly, she turned her head.
Between the tavern and the neighboring shop was a space just wide enough for a small person to stand.
They must have seen me turn, yet they’re not moving at all.
Convinced it wasn’t someone trying to hurt her, a surge of courage rose within her.
She wanted to know who it was.
Why they were hiding in the gap at night, watching her.
They can see me coming now. Will they hide deeper, or come out and run?
If they were small enough to fit in the gap, they could be a woman—or at least not a strong man. She figured she could handle them.
As she approached, she heard faint, hushed breathing. She gripped her small bag tightly.
Once they step out, I’ll hit them hard.
Just as Everett began to turn her body—
Something large and dark suddenly blocked her view.
“Kyah!”
She let out a short scream in surprise.
As if her cry were a signal, the person hiding in the gap bolted out.
“Argh! Let go of me!”
A man’s rough voice rang out.
The figure blocking her view had the man by the scruff of his neck.
“Everett, are you alright?”
The voice was familiar, though breathless.
“Lord… Kyle?”
She looked up to see his green eyes glinting coldly in the darkness.
The man in his grip started to struggle—it was indeed a small-framed man, just as she had guessed.
Kyle scanned Everett quickly, still holding the man.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
He was slightly out of breath.
Did he run here?
Instead of answering, Everett nodded once.
When her heartbeat slowed, she realized Kyle’s face was much too close.
She stepped back until her back hit the wall.
“Did you get hurt? Did this guy hit you before I came?”
His eyes grew cold and sharp.
“No, I’m fine, Lord Kyle.”
“Ugh!”
Suddenly, Kyle let out a short groan and dropped the man.
Freed, the man ran toward the square without looking back.
“That bastard—!”
Kyle moved to chase him, but Everett grabbed his arm.
“He was lying in wait for you. We need to catch him and find out who sent him.”
“I’m fine, Lord Kyle. Nothing happened.”
She spoke calmly.
Kyle, frustrated, shoved back his hood, revealing sweat-damp red hair under the moonlight.
If he goes into that crowd and someone sees his face, it’ll be trouble.
Everett suddenly felt something wet trickle into her hand, still holding his arm.
“Lord Kyle! You’re bleeding!”
Unlike her alarm, he only glanced down indifferently.
“He cut me with a knife.”
Blood was spreading over the torn fabric.
“Quick, come inside.”
“But that guy—”
He still hadn’t given up.
“Lord Kyle.”
Everett called his name firmly and pulled him into the tavern.
“Sit here for a moment.”
She went into the storage room and brought back the first-aid kit Marsha used.
In the light, the wound looked deep. Blood dripped onto the table.
“Oh no…”
Kyle was hurt because of her reckless actions. She didn’t know where he had come from, but sweat still dotted his temples.
“Why did you come back?”
Her voice carried both guilt and a hint of reproach.
“I just thought the alley looked too dark. You’re not getting into a carriage right in front of the tavern, are you? I was only going to walk you to the end of the alley.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Whatever the reason, that was all she could say now.
