Chapter – 31
The Aftermath…
Heinrich’s murderous voice filled the hall. “Jizia Tigris. What is the meaning of this?”
As if she didn’t care that he was upset, Jizia shrugged her shoulders. She answered indifferently, feigning nonchalance.
“Meaning? What do you mean?”
Heinrich frowned deeply and gave a slight nod to the knights.
The knights, understanding the signal, approached Jizia. Yet, she didn’t even pay them any mind, emphasizing each syllable as she spoke. Her intention was to ensure everyone present could hear her words.
“Still, we once discussed marriage between us, Lord Heinrich. Isn’t this too harsh?”
“What is your purpose in saying that?”
Jizia tilted her head and pointed at Solitaire.
“I’m in a bit of a bad mood. Don’t you think it’s laughable that a lowly rabbit like that is the mate of the great Hiruphs?”
Her words criticizing Solitaire held no affection for Heinrich. Rather, her dry, blunt statement made the atmosphere even colder.
“Know your limits with this nonsense.”
Even though the conflict with Tigris had ended just an hour ago, Jizia was starting another fire.
Under the curious gazes of the beast-kin, Solitaire flinched and hid further behind Heinrich.
“What are you waiting for? Take her away.”
Heinrich saw no need to engage further with Jizia.
The knights hurried to restrain her, but her mouth opened first.
“I just can’t stand the sight of those who steal my place. So, for old times’ sake, let this slide. Please consider it the actions of a pretty younger sister consumed by jealousy.”
Heinrich sensed something ominous in her words and pulled Solitaire into a protective embrace.
The moment he held her, something was splashed against his back. A colorless, water-like substance.
The beast-kin gasped in shock at her action.
“Gasp…!”
Displeased with the situation, Heinrich scowled and glared at Jizia. His head was now completely drenched from whatever she had thrown.
Finally, the knights moved to block Jizia, attempting to take the object from her hand and restrain her. However, the arrival of another person prevented her from being bound.
“Take your hands off her this instant.”
It was Sali Tigris.
He hurriedly rushed to the center of the hall and pulled Jizia away from the knights. Then, he shouted at her, gripping her wrist tightly.
“What are you doing!”
“Let go.”
Even as Sali yelled, Jizia didn’t even blink. Instead, she told him to release her wrist.
Her menacing aura made even the distant beast-kin flinch, but Sali only tightened his grip and pulled her closer.
“Apologize now and come with me.”
“Me, follow you? Why?”
Perhaps sensing their exchange was unusual, Solitaire, who had been hiding behind Heinrich, peeked out.
Back when they used to bully her, they had seemed close, but now they were glaring at each other so fiercely it was chilling to behold.
Heinrich called out to them in a sinister voice.
“…Jizia Tigris.”
But she, as if she couldn’t feel his murderous intent, shrugged and replied casually.
“My, is the heir of our Hiruphs going to punish a childish fit of jealousy? Your precious mate isn’t even hurt, she just got a little wet. Isn’t that right?”
Heinrich ran his hand roughly through his hair at this absurd situation.
Rumors had once circulated that Jizia was Heinrich’s mate. However, that was something Tigris had unilaterally spread, and Heinrich and the Hiruphs house had paid no attention to the matter.
She had even seemed to pursue him at one point, but Heinrich hadn’t thought about Jizia since Solitaire entered Hiruphs. So, he found this current situation utterly ridiculous.
“Ha… Why do these bugs keep clinging?”
Heinrich’s displeasure showed as the corner of his mouth twisted into a sneer. The surrounding beast-kin trembled at his imposing aura.
Solitaire gently tugged on his clothes to calm him down.
“Heinri, let’s go in and change your clothes first.”
Easily led by her touch, he carefully checked if she was hurt anywhere. Heinrich kept apologizing to Solitaire, feeling sorry she had to experience this because of him.
“I’m sorry, it’s my fault.”
“It’s not Heinri’s fault.”
Solitaire held his self-blaming hand. Jizia watched them for a moment before turning sharply and leaving the hall.
Sali and a few knights who had been trying to stop her followed Jizia out, while the remaining knights formed a protective circle around Solitaire and Heinrich, remaining vigilant against any further threats.
One of the knights addressed Heinrich.
“Young Master, perhaps it would be best to return to your room for now?”
However, no answer came from Heinrich. Sensing something strange, the knight tried to approach them, but an immense murderous intent erupted from Heinrich.
The killing aura emanating from him made the beast-kin present tense up and tremble.
To threaten the heir of the Hiruphs house and his mate, no less, within Hiruphs itself. She must have been utterly insane.
It was a situation where war breaking out with Tigris immediately wouldn’t be surprising.
More important to Solitaire than the anxiety of the trembling beast-kin was Heinrich. Seeing him drenched because of her, her lips set into a firm line.
“Why are you making that face?”
Even at Heinrich’s question, Solitaire gave no answer, instead rising onto her tiptoes to carefully brush off his hair.
“What’s this, it’s just making the Young Master look disheveled for no reason.”
“Don’t touch it, you don’t know what it is.”
“Eh… it’s nothing…”
Heinrich caught Solitaire’s hand and moved it away from his hair. At that moment, something strange began to sprout from her hand.
At first, it was only the area that had touched the liquid, but as time passed, it gradually spread wider.
“…Huh?”
It was a grotesque sight, so Solitaire unconsciously furrowed her brow as she looked at her hand.
In an instant, they covered her hand, then her arm, shoulder, neck, and finally, even her face.
Solitaire was bewildered by the strange things growing on her body. She fumbled, touching her face, and found it covered in the same things that had grown on her arm. She had never seen anything like it in her life.
Yet, Solitaire knew what they were.
‘Sc… scales?’
The chaotic situation swirled in her head. She couldn’t fathom why she knew this, nor why she had changed like this.
Moreover, the thought of Heinrich seeing her in this horrifying state made her body tremble.
She racked her brain for a place to run, but there was nowhere to hide. Heinrich stood right in front of her, and knights surrounded her, their backs turned.
“What do I… what do I do? Uh…?”
Even if she managed to push past the knights, it was a problem.
What would happen if the numerous beast-kin in the hall saw her like this? Anxious, Solitaire began to breathe heavily.
“Sol, look at me.”
Noticing her distress, Heinrich carefully took a step towards her, undoing the top button of his coat. Her face pale, she just trembled, unaware of how close he had gotten.
Heinrich carefully enveloped her in an embrace. Engulfed by the clothes of the much larger man, Solitaire finally let out a breath.
“Huuuk… Huk… Young Master, I… I’m…”
“Breathe slowly. It’s okay. It’s nothing.”
He held her even tighter.
Solitaire buried herself in his embrace as if seeking a sanctuary. She could feel his familiar scent and body warmth.
As her trembling subsided, he continued to pat her back and reassure her.
“It’s okay, it’s nothing. I told you I’d protect you, didn’t I? If this is too much, shall we run away? Even now. I’ll do anything you want.”
Heinrich continued calmly.
“If you don’t want to lift your head, just stay in my arms. I’ll block anyone from seeing you.”
“Don’t you look either,” Solitaire mumbled, her voice thick with unshed tears. Heinrich took a blanket handed to him by a knight and draped it over her head.
Worried that just a blanket might not be enough, he took off his own outer coat as well, wrapped it around her, and fastened all the buttons.
“Sol, hold onto me. Let’s go to the room.”
Carefully picking her up, Heinrich strode across the hall.
The beast-kin who saw him carrying Solitaire out buzzed with whispers, directing fearful questions at him. But no answers came from Heinrich.
For Heinrich, the most important thing now was Solitaire’s stability. Nothing else mattered.
