Chapter 11
I Must Find a New Life, Too
Even knowing what might come next—an interrogation at the very least—I felt a sense of relief at Philip and the knights’ intervention.
“Subdue them all!”
Six knights echoed Philip’s command in unison and charged at the armed assailants. Well-trained as they were, the intruders were incapacitated in an instant.
Part of the credit went to Mild and me, though—we had already made sure the villains were sufficiently trampled.
As the knights bound the seventeen assailants like bundles of fish, Philip leapt gracefully from his horse. The cape draped over his broad shoulders fluttered with his movement.
He stepped directly in front of me, and I felt his piercing gaze. It was the kind of look that seemed poised to question me with a coldly rational voice: What exactly happened here? I swallowed quietly, waiting for him to speak.
At last, his lips, which had remained firmly closed, parted.
“Are you unharmed, Madam?”
“….”
The concern in his tone was so at odds with his usual icy demeanor that it sent a subtle shiver through me. My cheeks tingled, almost as if betraying me.
Hadn’t Philip despised Ellen?
“Um… well…”
Embarrassed, I mumbled a vague reply. Now that I thought about it, Philip and Ellen had been married for over ten years. Perhaps their relationship wasn’t as bad as I’d imagined.
Maybe the subplots involving Ellen could improve with just a small change, and I’ve been taking it all far too seriously on my own.
At that moment, one of the knights yanked a parasol embedded in an assailant’s backside.
“AAAAAAHH!”
Even after the parasol was removed, the villain’s agonized scream echoed through the alley. The act had been cruel when it struck, and just as hellish when withdrawn.
Even I, the so-called villainess, couldn’t bring myself to such brutality…
The knight, one hand shielding his ears, held the parasol up for Philip to see.
Philip’s eyes flicked toward me.
Isn’t the answer obvious?
I averted my gaze briefly and brushed the dust from my dress. Philip then instructed the knight:
“Keep it as evidence.”
Soon, the city guard arrived, taking the bound assailants away. The one at the very end stumbled and wept, leaving a trail of blood behind. He looked pitiful, but I held my head high.
After all, this was a novel—and I was the villainess. A little bloodshed for self-defense was permissible.
“Mild, are you hurt?”
He had fought with all his strength until reinforcements arrived and was drenched in sweat.
Catching his breath, he smiled at my concern.
“I’m fine. Madam, are you unharmed?”
I flexed my wrists and ankles. The soreness would linger for days, but it would heal in time.
“I’ll manage. This much is nothing.”
Rubbing my wrists, I turned away.
At that moment, I noticed Domingo handing a folded document to Philip.
“Huh?”
I was momentarily confused.
Wasn’t Domingo holding the Camellia oil?
Philip pocketed the document and patted Domingo on the shoulder.
“Good work.”
“Thanks to you, Madam, I was able to deliver it safely.”
Domingo bowed deeply, his gratitude heartfelt. Philip’s gaze, however, returned to me.
“….”
There was a strange flutter of emotion as I met his eyes—admiration, perhaps, now mingled with surprise at how I had protected Domingo. My shoulders involuntarily lifted, a little proud, a little awkward.
I gestured toward the scattered items in the alley.
“Shouldn’t we gather these?”
“Oh, thank you, Madam,” Domingo said, picking up the scattered belongings.
Among them was a small bottle filled with bright yellow oil.
“Domingo?”
“Yes?”
“Is that the Camellia oil?”
“Yes, and fortunately, it hasn’t broken.”
“….”
Something felt off—it didn’t quite match the original story. Maybe the main purpose wasn’t the oil but the document itself.
I glanced at Philip, who crossed his arms.
“Did you know about this document, Madam?”
“…Yes?”
Philip only smoothed his chin slowly, suspicion now shadowing the admiration in his eyes.
“Why are you looking at me like that? What is this document?”
The thought struck me unpleasantly.
Ah—interrogation time, then.
My shoulders slumped slightly, the earlier notion that Philip and Ellen might not be on bad terms evaporating. I felt a surge of indignation.
I risked myself to protect Domingo, and this is what I get?
I fixed my gaze on Philip.
“Are you seriously suspecting me of being involved? That I knew this would happen?”
He shook his head gently.
“I’m curious how you would know in advance, but I’m not suspecting you.”
“Not suspecting? You just did!”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Don’t lie. You never trust me anyway.”
Philip paused, then shook his head.
“That may be true, but this case is different. The pieces don’t add up.”
I crossed my arms, pouting slightly in annoyance.
“So you doubted me, then realized it doesn’t make sense, and now think I’m innocent?”
“If you were colluding with them, there would be no reason to leak such information to us in advance.”
He shrugged at my glare.
“You could pretend to be an ally while attacking, but you wouldn’t use such a unique martial kick either.”
“Unique martial kick?”
My indignation softened a little, realizing Philip had deduced the truth on his own.
“The one that took down three of them.”
Philip’s face reddened slightly. He repeatedly covered his mouth, hesitating as if embarrassed to speak. I felt my own irritation dissipate, replaced by a flustered curiosity.
What is this man doing?
His face darkened further.
“It looked as if red and white roses were twisted together, fluttering in the wind.”
My own face warmed—I realized he must have seen my 720-degree spinning kick, and perhaps even the flicker of my underskirt.
He actually remembered that detail…
Philip changed the topic.
“Madam, among the houses we inspected today, did any catch your eye?”
“Why do you ask all of a sudden?”
“I wish to thank you for today. Apart from the alimony, you may select any property from the list.”
He’s offering me a house, separate from the alimony?
The unexpected opportunity melted away my hesitation. I immediately thought of the three-story building I had liked.
“None of the properties on the list appeal to me. I’ll take a new one.”
“Which property do you have in mind?”
“I found one while inspecting houses today. I’d like to run a small business there.”
Philip’s calm expression stiffened slightly.
“…Where exactly?”
“The one in the city center with the red brick, three stories.”
“Fountain Square, 5th Avenue?”
“Yes. I like it. Even with the alimony, I want the 5th Avenue building.”
Philip shook his head in disbelief.
“That would be unwise, Madam. Even selling all the properties on the list would not suffice.”
Figures, it’s too expensive.
I conceded. In this domain’s analogy to Gangnam, that area was the prime location.
“Understood. Let’s go, then.”
Philip looked perplexed, hesitating briefly.
“Why the sudden change?”
“I’m getting divorced; what’s the point of living like before?”
“Right?”
“I must find a new life, too.”
Philip’s brow furrowed.
“How curious. You seemed opposed to the divorce, yet now you speak as if awaiting it.”
“I’ve promised myself. What’s done is done.”
I turned away, feeling my wrists and ankles still tender. There was little time; independence awaited, with fewer than a hundred days until the divorce. Every moment counted.
“Mild.”
Startled, he straightened his disheveled attire.
“What is it?”
“I left the carriage on the side of the road… I’ll check it quickly.”
He dashed off, returning shortly with an unsettled expression.
“The carriage… it’s gone?”
“Even if someone took it, it’s noticeable as it belongs to the Count. The guard can recover it within hours.”
“Nothing we can do. Which way to the boutique?”
“Over there, but a carriage would be better. Before that, I recommend a check-up at a nearby infirmary.”
“Medical check?”
Mild extended his arm politely, as if offering a supportive escort.
“I’ll accompany you. Walking seems a bit uncomfortable.”
I placed my hand on his arm; it made the walk much easier.
“Good idea. Can we find the carriage during the check-up?”
“Possibly. If not, I will fetch one.”
At that moment, Philip appeared behind us, mounted on a white horse.
“Why did you follow us?”
Instead of answering, he fixed a cold gaze on Mild’s extended arm—it was clear where his concern lay.
