Chapter : 62
The red back of a head was gradually disappearing from view.
Daina struggled to twist free the hand that had grabbed hers.
“P-please, let go of me!”
But the person holding her only tightened their grip, pulling her forcefully in the opposite direction.
Because of that, she, who had been slowly emerging from the crowd, ended up being dragged completely behind the throng of people.
“St-Ste….”
“Daina!”
Her body suddenly turned, and she was pulled into someone’s arms.
Blinking, Daina looked up at the person holding her.
“Your Grace…?”
“Where on earth have you been? I was worried.”
It seemed he had rushed over in a hurry—Nox was panting as he drew her close into his embrace.
What on earth was happening?
In a daze, Daina wrapped her arms around his broad back and spoke.
“What brings Your Grace here?”
“The carriage returned to the mansion on its own. The driver said that even though the promised time had long passed, you hadn’t come back. He tried looking around nearby on his own, but you weren’t anywhere to be found.”
Ah… in the end…
It had been her own bold decision to set the meeting time, and yet she had failed to keep it, causing others to worry. She felt genuinely sorry.
“I-I’m sorry. I should apologize to the driver as well.”
“You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
Nox let go of her and began checking her from head to toe. Daina felt a little embarrassed under his meticulous gaze.
“Not at all! I wasn’t in any danger—it’s just that I had more things to do than I expected…”
“Among so many people, what were you doing here?”
“Oh, right!”
Daina only realized Stella when Nox’s question triggered the thought. She turned her body.
“I need to check something for a moment!”
As she tried to move back into the crowd, Nox quickly grabbed her and stopped her.
“For what reason? I can go check.”
“No, it’s….”
Daina hesitated, her voice faltering. She felt uneasy and anxious at the thought that Stella might really be there.
Nox, looking down at her hesitation, lifted his head and began walking.
“It seems there’s some kind of commotion…”
“C-can you see anyone?”
Daina cautiously asked, glancing at Nox, whose height allowed him to see far beyond her.
If it really was a red-haired, green-eyed, cat-faced beauty…
“Hmm.”
Nox narrowed his eyes and looked toward the area surrounded by people.
Daina unconsciously pressed her hand to her rapidly beating heart. If it really was Stella… what should she do?
Her feelings were a chaotic mix of wanting to see her very much, confusion, and anxious unease that perhaps they shouldn’t meet yet.
“There’s no one.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s just a normal market scene.”
“But surely just a moment ago, two people were arguing?”
“I thought I heard that too, but it’s gone now. The situation seems to have already ended.”
W-what…
Anxious, Daina jumped in place, trying to catch a glimpse of what had happened, but she saw nothing.
Nox grabbed her shoulder to calm her down.
“Daina, you’ll get hurt.”
“But…”
“Do you want to watch a fight?”
“Of course not.”
“If that’s the case, it’s better to return. Everyone’s worried about you.”
With that, she could no longer resist.
Daina turned her body along with him. Though she still glanced back, her curiosity lingering, as he said, the situation seemed to have ended; no voices could be heard anymore.
“Your Grace, was there anyone with red hair just now?”
“No. There was only one person in front of me.”
She was pretty sure she had seen correctly…
Reluctantly, Daina nodded and moved along.
Once seated in the carriage, Daina collapsed into the seat.
She was exhausted from wandering all day, and just returning to the carriage, she had to apologize to the driver, Clien, and the other knights, draining her energy completely.
“It’s fine, Young Mistress! I’m glad you’re safe.”
Although everyone reassured her, Daina felt guilty for making everyone worry due to her failure to keep time.
‘So this is the life of nobility…’
Even a few hours of being unreachable had everyone searching for her. Unlike when she was a maid, she realized she could no longer act carelessly.
“Did you finish sightseeing?”
At that moment, Nox, sitting across from her, asked.
Daina straightened herself and spoke.
“I’m truly sorry again, Your Grace. I seem to have caused needless worry.”
“I’m glad you were found quickly. No harm done.”
“I’ll make sure to tell you wherever I go from now on! Or I’ll go accompanied by Erica or Clien.”
“And if the two are busy?”
“Eh?”
If Erica or Clien were busy…?
Clien, as Nox’s assistant, could be busy, but Erica, as her personal maid, wouldn’t have anything urgent to do unless it was exceptional.
“Then who will accompany you?”
If not Clien or Erica…
“Other maids, or….”
“And if they’re all busy?”
“The steward….”
“But the steward has plenty of work.”
Frowning in thought, Daina blinked as she looked across.
“Y-Your Grace?”
But Nox wouldn’t he be the busiest of all at the Betelgeuse mansion? And calling Mrs. Hillary was out of the question. Daina had blurted it out recklessly—yet it made no sense.
However, Nox’s expression slowly softened at her nonsensical suggestion.
“You’re able to find me quite quickly.”
“You’re busy, Your Grace….”
“I’m not busy when it comes to matters concerning Daina.”
“If you keep drawing that line, I’ll feel hurt.”
Somehow, his voice overlapped with one she had heard before.
Unsure of how to respond, she hesitated, and he spoke again.
“So please stay with me, wherever you go.”
Daina nodded absentmindedly.
Seeing her response, satisfaction appeared on Nox’s face.
Unable to resist the tingling sensation of anticipation, Daina quickly opened her bag and pulled out the note Alexian had given her, offering it to Nox.
“Do you know where this is?”
Nox furrowed his brows as he read the note.
“It’s a slum. A place where people without permanent residences mostly gather. Why do you ask?”
“I think Jeffrey Sordaven might be here. Could you help me find him?”
“I’ll have Clien handle it.”
She had wanted to say, “I’ll do it myself,” but after what Nox had said last time, it wasn’t so easy.
Would he call that drawing another line?
Moreover, given her current situation, finding Jeffrey Sordaven in the slums would not be easy. She couldn’t just wander around without knowing the area…
Daina had no choice but to answer.
“The name might have been changed.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Nox folded the note neatly into his pocket and asked:
“Where did you get this information? It seems quite accurate and up-to-date.”
“Alexian.”
She said it casually, but his expression changed. His hand paused for a brief moment, then moved again.
“Alexian Feinstein?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Did you meet him today?”
“Uh… yes.”
Something wrong? The sudden shift in his demeanor made Daina uneasy.
Was he thinking it strange that she met Feinstein, who was as much an enemy to Viviwood as anything else? Why the sudden change…
“This isn’t very reliable information.”
Nox frowned as he spoke.
Wait, hadn’t he just said it seemed quite accurate and up-to-date?
‘Hmm, but…’
Recalling what happened earlier, Daina slowly spoke.
“Alexian seems a little different from his father, Carlisle Feinstein.”
Even when he was suddenly doused with filth, he didn’t get angry at the one who threw it or retaliate. And, in a way, hadn’t he given hints and help about Jeffrey despite her showing open distrust?
At least from what she saw, Alexian didn’t seem like a typical Feinstein.
‘A bit of an oddball, maybe.’
She didn’t know if that would help or hinder her.
“He also seemed easy to talk to, and it feels like there’s some hidden reason behind it…”
Lost in thoughts, Daina looked across and slowly fell silent.
“……”
Nox’s expression, staring back at her, had become extremely stern.
