Chapter 11
‘What on earth is this situation?’
The more I thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. I had come to the information guild to dig up dirt on Rixion Luhanes, yet here I was, walking right next to him.
I rolled my eyes sideways now and then, sneaking glances at his annoyingly handsome profile. I couldn’t tell what on earth he was thinking.
After secretly stealing looks at him, I shook my head slightly and fixed my gaze forward again.
‘The mood right now isn’t bad… should I act crazy and ask why he’s here, and how he managed to eavesdrop on my conversation with the guild master so perfectly? I also want to know where he claims to have seen me before. If I ask, would he answer?’
I realized he was more reasonable than I’d expected, and for a moment I felt like daring to ask. But in the end, I gave up.
‘No. From now on, I won’t even talk to this man anymore.’
He had insisted on escorting me all the way to my carriage. I thought perhaps he had more to say, but the whole way there, Rixion Luhanes literally just walked me to my carriage, nothing more.
Not a single word was exchanged until we stood before it. Then, he finally spoke.
“If I could, I would escort you in my own carriage. But I imagine that would only make you uncomfortable. It’s better we part ways here.”
Unlike the original novel, where I had only known him as ruthless and frightening, he now spoke in the most gentlemanly manner. It felt as though he was genuinely trying to consider my feelings.
And that… made me feel a pang of guilt. Because I had coldly told him I wanted nothing to do with him.
If—if by chance Rixion Luhanes truly had no ulterior motives and only wished to get along with me…
Then to hear such harsh words from someone he wanted to befriend—wouldn’t that hurt deeply?
Of course, putting him and me on the same level was a bit ridiculous. But still, guilt was guilt.
“…I, um… I really am sorry.”
As he extended his hand to help me into the carriage, I blurted impulsively.
“Soon enough, Your Grace will meet a wonderful woman. Someone a hundred times prettier, kinder, and so captivating that just looking at her will make you happy.”
I knew the chances were slim, but what if he really had been hurt by my words? The thought didn’t sit well with me.
So without realizing, I ended up indirectly bringing up Ji Eun-ha—the original story’s shining heroine.
To him, my words probably sounded like nonsense, but at least this way I could lighten my conscience a little.
At my words, Rixion Luhanes gave me a strange look before letting out a short laugh.
“I doubt such a woman exists.”
“No, believe me! It’s true. In just a few days—no, not a few days, but soon, such a wonderful woman will appear before Your Grace! And when she does, hold on to her tightly!”
Yes, hold on to Ji Eun-ha. She’s your destined one. Please, as in the original story, cherish her and be happy together.
He quietly studied me, my fists clenched, speaking with all the passion I had. Then, he murmured:
“You speak with such certainty. As if you can see the future.”
Flinch.
My expression stiffened at his casual remark.
And then—
“Kyaaa!”
A piercing scream rang out, sharp enough to tear ears apart. Chaos began to ripple through the crowd.
Almost at the same time, Rixion and I turned toward the sound.
There stood a noblewoman who had just stepped out of the restaurant, pointing with a face drained of blood. Beside her, a nobleman—presumably her husband—looked equally terrified.
Everyone else was the same. They all stared in the same direction, expressions as if they’d seen a ghost.
I followed their gaze.
At the end of their line of sight were two small children.
The first thing visible was their tiny, frail, and bony backs. The two clung to each other, trembling as if the world itself terrified them.
A boy and a girl. The boy, though small and weak himself, held the even smaller girl tightly in his arms, looking around with fearful eyes—eyes desperately pleading for someone, anyone, to help them.
Through their torn, ragged clothes, their emaciated bodies and thin arms were exposed, covered in red blotches.
And then I understood. Why everyone was staring at them as though they were monsters.
Those children… they were from the slums, the one district among the capital’s twelve that was called the “Exclusion Zone.”
And recently, a plague known as the Red Rat had begun spreading there.
Screaming people fled in all directions. Others shouted for the city guards. Still more pointed accusing fingers at the children as if they were creatures, not humans.
Hatred. Disgust. Contempt.
I stared in shock.
‘Why? Why are they appearing here—now, before my eyes?’
This shouldn’t be happening.
Because this was supposed to be an episode that only appeared after Ji Eun-ha descended upon this land.
Rixion, however, remained calm in the middle of the chaos.
He quietly observed: the panicked crowd, the terrified children, and Elizabeth Christener, frozen stiff beside him.
She looked utterly shaken. Her wide eyes brimmed with fear; her face screamed of someone ready to turn and flee at any moment.
And he thought—it was natural. Different though she seemed from the other noble daughters, in the end, she too was raised in a greenhouse. Surrounded always by the finest things, when would she ever have seen slum children treated worse than rats, much less plague victims?
Yes. Even the best-trained knights felt fear before a plague that had claimed countless lives.
So, first things first—he decided. His priority was to get this lady beside him safely back to her carriage. The children could be dealt with afterward.
He closed his icy blue eyes briefly, then opened them again.
“Get out, you vermin!”
Someone roared at the children. Others quickly joined in.
“Filthy rats, how dare you crawl out under the sun!”
“Back to the sewers where you belong!”
The scene grew uglier. Insults and shouts rained down on the small children.
Terrified, they only clung tighter to each other and trembled.
Some even threw rotten fruit. Most missed, but the act itself was cruel enough.
If demons truly existed, Rixion thought, they would wear the faces of these people.
To them, those tiny children weren’t human. They were nothing more than disease-carrying rats.
With a faint frown, Rixion prepared to escort Elizabeth to the carriage first, then return to handle the situation.
But then—
Rippp—!
He froze.
Elizabeth, lifting her right hand, was tearing her own dress apart—from sleeve to shoulder. When it wouldn’t rip easily, she bit into the fabric with her teeth.
“…What are you—”
He was too shocked to comprehend at first.
Before he could say a word, Elizabeth wrapped the torn cloth around her nose and mouth, tying it behind her head. Then she turned and thrust her hand out to him.
“Your coat! Lend me your coat!”
“…What?”
“Hurry! I’ll buy you something more expensive later, I promise!”
At her impatient snap, Rixion dumbly handed over his outer coat. And then—
“Lady Christener!”
She seized the coat, then without giving him a chance to stop her, she sprinted straight toward the terrified children.
Rixion instinctively reached out to grab her, but she was faster.
He could only stare, stunned, as she dashed forward without hesitation.
And in his blue eyes, confusion surged. Unfamiliar emotions welled up, crashing over him like waves.
