Chapter 29
Roll back time a bit—about three days earlier.
The very day Cassia barged into Edmund’s bedroom.
The rumor that the maids were passing from mouth to mouth finally reached Willace.
“Did you hear, Mr. Marco?”
“No. I’ve been too busy…”
After cleaning and cleaning and cleaning again, Willace was exhausted like a wet moth.
He didn’t have the energy to humor the youngest maid’s chatter.
He was about to cut the talk short and head back to his quarters when she said something that made his ears doubt themselves.
“They say the little mistress announced she’s going to openly torture Lord Edmund from now on!”
“What?!”
“Isn’t it terrible? Even if the duke hired her for that, he’s still just a young boy… The little mistress is far too cruel.”
The maid slipped in slander about Cassia.
She had a crush on Willace—easily the most striking-looking servant in the villa.
And since there were rumors he liked the little mistress, she wanted to knock Cassia down with gossip—and also grab a chance to talk to Willace.
Whatever her motive, she definitely got his attention.
Fire sparked in Willace’s eyes.
So the villainess finally shows her true colors?!
After tailing Cassia and seeing her abilities, he had just started to change his mind about her—
especially her talent. He truly thought it was a waste for her to rot as the duke’s pawn.
I was going to recruit her to the Academy once Lord Edmund was safe and it was clear she wasn’t evil!
But now she was going to torture the poor young lord openly?
I was too naïve!
Willace had almost forgotten that talent and character don’t always match.
The young lord’s one loyal retainer was furious. He had to ask:
“What kind of torture did she say?”
The maid answered with a bright smile:
“She barged into his bedroom and said she’s going to keep him from sleeping!”
“…”
Willace had to question his hearing again.
Smack!
Edmund’s eyes flew open. The slap had been hard—his cheek flushed red.
On his face rose a jumble of emotions dragged up from sleep: shock, confusion, and anger.
“What do you think you—Cassia?!”
He realized the person grabbing his collar was me, and looked even more stunned.
But there was no time to explain.
The door opened without a sound—
and assassins in black surged in!
Edmund’s eyes turned razor-sharp. The drowsiness vanished in a blink.
As expected of the future final boss—
He read the situation instantly.
He sprang up like a released spring and moved in front of me.
“What do you think you’re doing!”
“…”
I was surprised.
The first thing Edmund did when he saw the assassins was to block them—to protect me.
I hadn’t expected that.
But there was no time to be impressed.
Clang!
The assassins drew their blades as they rushed us.
“Duck!”
Edmund pushed my head down; a blade sliced the air where it had been. I felt a few hairs shear off.
Eek!
Still holding me, Edmund rolled sideways to dodge another slash.
Thunk!
A blade stabbed into the bedsheets with a sickening sound.
No pause—the next moment a kick flew at Edmund.
Whud!
He grunted low and was knocked aside.
I tried to scream for help—loud enough for the whole place to hear.
“Ky—mmph!”
Too slow. An assassin clapped a hand over my mouth.
Damn it! I was trying to call for help!
There were knights in the villa—their main job was to prevent Edmund’s escape, but they existed.
There were also plenty of strong male servants.
If they rushed in, we could hold the assassins off.
Because these assassins weren’t sent by the duke!
The duke still hadn’t gotten the lord’s signet from Edmund.
He couldn’t afford to kill Edmund yet.
Most of the previous attempts had been by the duchess or her family.
This one was the worst yet—and the one that actually injured Edmund in the story.
So if I screamed loudly, people would likely come running.
“Mmph!”
But my attempt failed.
These were trained adults; I couldn’t match their speed.
No!
A silver blade flashed before my eyes.
It was coming straight for my neck.
Facing death, my mind snapped into crystal clarity.
If I lost my head, that was it.
If Edmund hadn’t already saved my life twice tonight, I would be dead already.
I had to focus harder.
Like I’m going to die this stupidly!
I bit the assassin’s hand as hard as I could. He didn’t even scream—professional.
But he paused for less than a second. I didn’t waste it.
I slammed my knee up with everything I had—right into his groin.
Ultimate move: “Nutcracker.”
Thunk!
It’s a real-world technique—I used it once on a creep in middle school.
Even an assassin isn’t trained there, apparently. For the first time, I heard him scream.
“Gahhh!!!”
Even so, a pro is a pro. He didn’t completely let me go.
But Edmund didn’t miss the opening I’d made.
“Die!!!”
Fffssst!
A sharp sound split the air; a hole blossomed in the assassin’s chest. Blood sprayed.
The assassin dropped—dead, heart pierced.
Magic!
All that time teaching Edmund basic magic and sticking Willace to him—worth it.
My mouth was free at last. I screamed.
“Kyaaa!!!”
It was the first time my life had truly hung by a thread—
and the first time I’d seen someone die right in front of me.
It wouldn’t be strange to freeze up like a stone.
But I had no time to panic. I screamed to call help, just as planned.
Edmund, though, seemed to take it the wrong way.
He thought I was panicking.
He came close and asked, voice full of worry,
“Are you all right, Cassia?”
His silver hair was streaked red with blood.
It looked like he’d taken down not only the one who grabbed me, but also one who’d gone for him.
But we had no time to breathe.
Those two weren’t all of them.
Three are still left!
They swung their blades at us without pause.
Two targeted Edmund, one went for me.
Edmund shoved me aside, stepped forward, and cast magic.
“Run!”
He tapped a point in the air; a magic arrow formed.
Then he drew a line with his finger—launching it.
Fwt! Fw-fwt!
Two magic arrows shot toward two of the three assassins.
Unlike the first pair, who hadn’t known Edmund could use magic, these three were ready.
They rolled and lunged aside, dodging the arrows.
“Damn it!”
Edmund was rattled, but he cooled down instantly and formed the next arrow.
Light bloomed in the air.
That’s when I saw it: the assassin at the back lifting something.
A small crossbow. There was no doubt who the target was.
No!
My body moved before my thoughts.
“Edmund!!!”
When I came to, I was already diving in front of him.
Thud!
A heavy impact slammed through my body.
