Chapter 27
One of the three bandits spat roughly on the ground and grumbled in irritation.
“Damn it. They said we’d make a killing if we came here—what the hell is this? We’re stuck deep in the mountains, bored out of our minds.”
“Just wait a bit. The boss is working on something big right now. If that succeeds, something will trickle down to us too.”
“Bullshit. If I was just going to kidnap some noble brat and squeeze money out of them, I could’ve done that alone in the capital. I came here because I wanted something big, not that petty crap.”
At that moment, an unfamiliar female voice cut into their conversation.
“Something big like what?”
“Well, obviously—huh? Wh-what the—!”
“Who are you?!”
Rafaella jumped lightly down from a tree branch by herself.
When a round-faced young girl suddenly dropped down from above, the men were startled at first. But soon, they let out greasy grins and snickered.
“Hey, little lady. You alone?”
“Lose your way? Or did you come running here because you were lonely and desperate? Heh heh.”
“How about we comfort you a bit?”
“She’s a little chubby, but her skin looks pretty soft. Could be fun. Heh heh.”
Rafaella pulled out the spirit-tree club she had tied behind her back and swung it through the air, loosening her wrist.
“Seriously. Where do you all learn those cliché lines in bulk? How is it that no matter how much time passes, they’re always the same? Is that really the limit of your creativity?”
“What’s this wench babbling about? What are you gonna do with a wooden club like that? Heh heh.”
The men each drew their axes and swords, mocking her. Rafaella, unfazed, only smiled playfully—then stomped the ground.
Tadat—!
Dashing straight into their midst, Rafaella struck each of their foreheads with precise blows, shouting:
“Honestly.”
Thud—!
“Everywhere I go.”
Smack—!
“There are always.”
Crack—!
“These damn gnats.”
Bang—!
“I swear.”
In an instant, the three patrolling bandits collapsed, clutching their foreheads and foaming at the mouth.
William leapt down from the tree as if he had been waiting for this moment and came to Rafaella’s side. She slung the club over her shoulder and said proudly,
“See? I told you. When a girl like me shows up alone, they underestimate her and attack quietly.”
“Still… that was reckless.”
“If the duke had appeared, they’d have run off and raised the alarm already.”
“Your Highness, you were in danger.”
“And you’re saying that even after seeing me wipe them out in one shot?”
William frowned and reached his hand toward Rafaella’s face. She flinched in surprise, but his hand didn’t stop—it gently touched her cheek.
When the warmth of his hand reached her skin, she found herself unable to move.
William brushed his thumb over a thin cut on her cheek and wiped away a bead of blood. It seemed a blade she thought she had dodged had grazed her, likely because her body was still sluggish.
“You’re injured.”
William stood there, staring intently at the wound on her cheek, trying to suppress an anger he couldn’t quite place. He knew she was impulsive by nature, but seeing her get hurt after charging ahead like that made his chest feel tight, his tense expression refusing to relax.
“Ahem. Well, it’s just this much…”
Sensing the awkward atmosphere from William’s reaction, Rafaella averted her gaze and stared up at the sky instead.
As an inexplicable silence settled between them, Ferry flew in and urged them on.
“Master! We need to go find Rosalie!”
At Ferry’s words, the ticklish tension between William and Rafaella broke.
“Yeah, we should go! I was about to.”
Rafaella tried to turn away awkwardly, but William caught her sleeve and stopped her.
“Just a moment.”
“Wh-why!”
She had just managed to escape the awkwardness, only to be grabbed again. Rafaella stepped back defensively as she asked.
Seeing her like that, William let out a small chuckle. Then he pulled something out from around his neck—a silver necklace that had been hidden beneath his uniform.
“Please wear this.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a defensive artifact.”
Rafaella startled and refused with an even more uncomfortable expression.
“Why would you give that to me? It looks expensive.”
“I’m worried you’ll get hurt again, Your Highness.”
“No thanks. You wear it, Duke.”
“If you say that, you’ll just rush to the front again. Or will you stay quietly behind me?”
“I’m the leader—why would I stay in the back?”
“There. That’s exactly what I mean.”
William let out a small sigh and stepped closer to her.
“Huh? W-wait a second—”
Before Rafaella could refuse, William placed the necklace around her neck. He then smiled, looking visibly relieved.
“This is my poor excuse for not wanting to increase the debt I owe you.”
“I said I don’t need it.”
“This incident is entirely my responsibility. It’s already an honor that you’re helping personally, Your Highness. If you’re injured, my guilt only grows. So please, wear it.”
Seeing William’s heavy expression, Rafaella spoke with a frustrated sigh.
“Duke. I’ll say this again later, but this isn’t entirely your fault. Well… if we’re being precise, maybe half?”
“No. It was my foolishness.”
“I respect your morality and sense of responsibility. But you really lack flexibility. Something that doesn’t bend and only breaks doesn’t just hurt others—it hurts itself too. Look at you. You’re suffering right now.”
“I’m fine.”
“Good grief, you big bear. That stubbornness is going to stab you someday. So try to loosen up a little, starting now. For your own sake, too.”
William replied with a subdued, downcast face. His eyes wavered.
“…I don’t know.”
All his life, he had lived bearing the responsibility of the ducal house. His father, his grandfather, his great-grandfather—ever since their ancestor, a founding hero of the empire, the family creed had never changed.
Integrity, ethical righteousness, and responsibility.
What he had been taught since childhood was an unyielding conviction that never wore down or dulled. It was also what supported him.
To deny it would be to deny his entire life so far.
“Our House Klimt is the sword and the morality of the Henten Empire. A sword… is useless if it isn’t hard.”
William steadied his wavering gaze.
Reflected in his glass-marble-blue eyes was Rafaella’s face, still mischievous and unreadable.
Like a candle flickering in the wind, he had looked unsteady—but now he returned to his usual firm and composed self.
“I will continue to be firm. So please, Your Highness, use me with flexibility.”
William’s expression was immaculate, as if nothing had happened. It seemed his thoughts had finally settled.
Rafaella grinned in satisfaction. She had expected it to take much longer, so his quick recovery was rather admirable.
“Good. I’ll make very good use of you, so look forward to it.”
“I will.”
“Now then—first, let’s break through that barricade.”
“…Pardon?”
William had been about to smile warmly, but his eyebrow twitched.
Seeing him like that, Rafaella snickered teasingly and continued,
“If this were the old me, I’d have just jumped over a barricade like that. But I’ve already used up all my spirit powder, and my body’s still sluggish.”
“The old you?”
“Something like that.”
“…Understood. Please wait a moment.”
William nearly slapped his forehead without thinking, but barely managed to turn it into a sigh instead. Since meeting the princess, holding his forehead had somehow become a habit.
Sometimes she charged ahead like a vanguard commander; other times she was as unreasonable as a childish brat. Had the reliable 모습 she showed at Sester Castle been nothing more than a fleeting dream?
“Ah—leave that bow with me.”
William slung the large bow he had been carrying diagonally over Rafaella’s shoulder.
Then he quickly climbed up the corner of the barricade made of lashed logs. Slipping into a blind spot beneath the guard post, the duke entered it in a single light leap.
“Wh—who—! Mmph!”
Thud—!
William swiftly covered the guard’s mouth and struck the back of his neck with the hilt of his sword. The guard lost consciousness without making a sound.
From the post, William quickly surveyed the inside of the barricade.
Unlike the patrol Rafaella had taken down outside, the interior was calm. They clearly hadn’t expected to be pursued so quickly.
Inside looked like an ordinary village. Passing several houses, he spotted the largest hut at the very back—likely where the leader stayed.
Beside it was a stairway descending underground like a burrow, with bandits standing guard in front.
After memorizing the most efficient route to the underground entrance, William climbed back down inside the barricade and carefully opened the door.
Through the barely opened gap, Rafaella slipped in like a shadow.
Remembering there had been other patrols nearby, William raised a finger to his lips.
“Shh.”
Then he gestured for her to follow and pointed the direction.
Just as the duke was about to lead the way—
Suddenly, Rafaella’s hand shot out from behind.
