Chapter 73
After I Die, the Little Groom
Nadia checked the child’s condition. There were small bruises and scrapes, but no deep wounds.
However, for a child so young, even witnessing someone getting hurt could be a huge shock.
Biting her lips in anxiety, Nadia heard the heavy sound of hooves from behind the carriage.
“Are those palace knights?”
“No. They sounded like assassins.”
“What?”
Someone else was chasing Lady Vivian and the daughter of Marquis Desmond in this situation?
If they were caught by palace knights, at least they could be punished by the law. But she could not hand the child over to unknown assassins. Even if it weren’t the princess’s suggestion, she would have prevented it.
But how could she stop them now?
Going straight to the palace wasn’t an option. And if they went to the Hest Townhouse, things would only escalate.
As Nadia furrowed her brows, the carriage jolted violently. The connecting bars between the horses and carriage creaked.
Nadia quickly held the daughter of Marquis Desmond tightly to protect her.
“Neigh!”
The horses began to scream, startled by something at the driver’s seat. The carriage slid down the slope at high speed, and the screams of the people faded.
Nadia gritted her teeth, holding the child tightly.
Each time the carriage leapt, her knees and elbows felt like they might shatter.
Her head throbbed, and death felt closer than ever.
Was this what a life flashing before one’s eyes felt like? Countless thoughts flashed through her mind.
Nadia had experienced something similar before.
Inside the miserable body of Liebenya, she had faced her impending death calmly.
At that time, the only lingering emotion was regret and guilt for not attending Heinrich’s graduation.
But now was different.
Nadia had the responsibility of safely smuggling the girl and handing her over to the princess. She also had to rescue her still-imprisoned father and properly reconcile with Yuria.
And…
There was much she hadn’t known about Heinrich. When she was Liebenya, she thought she knew everything about him, but there were many traits visible only in his younger, smaller body.
She wanted to see all of it. She had to know who Heinrich truly was.
Bang!
The carriage finally collided with something and came to a halt. She heard the loud sound of wood breaking.
Despite her body aching, Nadia sensed something was off. After the carriage had rolled this long, she should have been in unbearable pain, vomiting blood, or even unconscious. Death would not have been surprising.
Nadia opened her tightly shut eyes and looked around. The carriage was completely broken, leaving the outside fully exposed.
Vivian had fallen out onto the grass, and Arkis was leaning against the broken carriage, unconscious.
Nadia checked the child in her arms. She was still unconscious but breathing. Nadia laid the child carefully on the grass and moved toward Vivian.
“Ha…”
Fortunately, Vivian was breathing.
Then she approached Arkis, placing her hand on his neck. He groaned faintly and lifted his eyelids.
“Na-Nadia…”
“Arkis! Thank goodness. Really, thank goodness.”
After confirming Arkis was safe, Nadia’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.
Arkis squinted and surveyed his surroundings.
“What happened? The carriage is completely wrecked… Are we already dead?”
“I wouldn’t say that. My whole body hurts.”
“Haha, indeed. I can’t move at all.”
Arkis forced a laugh but coughed from the pain.
“Before I passed out, I felt a massive magical power. Nadia, didn’t you feel it?”
Nadia placed her palm near her chest.
Her heart—more precisely, her core—felt solidly condensed. That power spread throughout her body, allowing her to perceive the mana flow more clearly. The fact that it was night didn’t matter at all.
She rubbed the core area with her palm.
“Was… that magic?”
At her mutter, Arkis’ eyes widened.
The daughter of Marquis Desmond groaned. Nadia crawled to the girl on her knees. The child was still unconscious, sweating as if having a nightmare.
“You’ll be fine, Lady. I’ll help you stay safe.”
Nadia wiped the girl’s forehead with her sleeve.
Arkis supported his upper body with his elbows, watching Nadia and the girl.
He frowned, letting out a deep sigh, clearly troubled.
Nadia, who had been tending to the girl the entire time, called him without looking back.
“Arkis.”
“You called?”
“You have something you’re not proud of, right?”
Arkis sighed again, this time with a weary smile.
“You saw it.”
“I didn’t mean to. You’re hiding something, and you feel guilty. Can I ask why?”
Nadia finally looked at him.
Arkis couldn’t help but admire her golden eyes. They shone even in the darkness.
He realized that lying in front of her was useless.
“…I’m Lady Tasha’s man. More precisely, our family is connected to Lady Tasha.”
“Lady Tasha…”
Nadia felt a bitter taste in her mouth. Arkis lowered his gaze, as if anticipating her reaction.
“I hinted to Lady Tasha that it would be advantageous if she made you an ally of the Prince faction. I don’t trust the prince, so I told her not to tell him about you… but…”
“So that means things didn’t go as planned when the prince approached me. Is that why Arkis kept asking me for help?”
“I have nothing to tell you.”
Arkis’ blue eyes twisted with pain. His guilt was palpable.
Nadia didn’t know why he had to do such things, but she could sense the torment in his heart.
She deliberately closed her eyes. Watching his mana any longer would sway her emotions.
Even with her eyes closed, her thoughts didn’t change much.
She resented Arkis, but she didn’t feel like avoiding him. She recalled the warm gestures and witty jokes he offered when she first came to the capital.
“I’ll forgive you… in time.”
“…Nadia, don’t push yourself. I know you’re kind, but…”
Shaking her head, she spoke firmly.
“I’m not pushing myself. But there won’t be a second time.”
Arkis’ expression twisted in pain, but he nodded.
“I won’t forget.”
Nadia was satisfied. It felt better to offer a chance than to cut someone out.
She glanced at Arkis, smiled, and gently rubbed her knees. They couldn’t stay here forever. Arkis seemed to think the same, planting his hands on the ground to rise.
“If you wait a moment, I’ll carry Vivian. Can I entrust her to you, Nadia?”
“Of course.”
As they struggled to stand, hooves clattered from a distance.
Could they have chased them even to the accident site? Nadia forced herself to steady her trembling legs.
She helped Arkis lift Vivian and took the daughter of Marquis Desmond herself.
At the very least, they had to hide from sight.
“Let’s head into the forest.”
Arkis pointed toward the dim forest. Nadia nodded and followed him with heavy steps.
But the hooves were approaching rapidly. Soon, they’d appear over the hill where the carriage had tumbled.
At this speed, they couldn’t escape. And judging by the sound, it seemed there was only one horse.
Nadia crouched and set the girl down, gathering a golden orb in her palm.
Arkis gasped in shock.
“Nadia! You won’t have any magic left!”
But Nadia could feel mana in her core—plenty of it. She might be a beginner, but if she poured all her strength into it, she could probably incapacitate at least one person.
As Nadia concentrated, a large figure finally appeared.
Moonlight broke through the clouds, casting a cold light on a man riding a horse.
Seeing him, Nadia had no choice but to release the energy she had focused in her core.
“…Your Excellency?”
