Chapter 44
But why?
If Heresdon had intentionally copied what happened yesterday, that made even less sense.
“…”
As I retraced what had happened, wondering if I’d missed something, the doorknob I was holding moved, and the door opened.
“Move aside.”
Uben frowned as if irritated to find me blocking the doorway.
“Ah…”
I stepped back, and the child hurried out of the room. As the sound of little feet running up the stairs faded, I entered the sitting room.
“How did this happen?”
Lilia asked in a strained voice, holding back a sigh. But she soon stopped, realizing that it wasn’t a question she should ask someone injured.
“It’s nothing serious.”
Rumi’s voice was calm and steady.
“It was an accident, just as the Grand Duke said.”
Though I couldn’t see her face—she sat with her back to the door—her tone didn’t sound angry.
“It’s not a big injury. Nothing to worry about.”
“No, that’s—”
Lilia frowned sharply, disbelief showing on her face.
Then she noticed me standing at the door.
“My lady.”
Rumi turned her head toward me.
“…Are you all right?”
I stepped closer, trying to see her injured ankle, but she was covering it.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
She kept the ankle hidden from view.
“My lady, did you see what happened?”
Lilia asked in frustration, but I had nothing useful to tell her.
When I’d come inside the castle, Rumi had already been sitting at the bottom of the stairs, wincing in pain.
When I shook my head, Lilia let out a long sigh.
“Still, His Grace went too far.”
“But it was an accident,” Rumi said softly, shaking her head, as if defending Heresdon.
Between her fingers, I caught a glimpse of reddened skin.
“Let me help you.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Rumi leaned slightly away from me, shaking her head again, clearly uncomfortable with me sitting too close.
“I can handle it myself. It’s just a sprain.”
“But when I’m hurt, you always help me.”
“That’s different. I can manage on my own.”
It was a gentle but firm refusal.
With no choice, I nodded, and Lilia let out a frustrated sigh beside us.
“This is still violence,” she said firmly. Her voice didn’t waver.
“His Grace was in the wrong. Why do you keep saying it’s fine? You can’t just let it go like this.”
Perhaps because she pitied Rumi for trying to protect Heresdon, Lilia’s tone hardened.
“I don’t know what happened exactly, but maybe Rumi did something wrong too. Maybe that’s why His Grace got angry. But even so, you can’t just brush it off after getting hurt like this.”
Rumi looked at her quietly, then nodded.
“You’re right, Lilia. But I’m saying I’m fine because… I understand why he was angry.”
“What?”
“So, I’ll talk to His Grace myself. I think that’s best.”
Her tone was decisive, as if she wanted Lilia to stop pressing the matter.
“I appreciate your concern, but you don’t have to get involved.”
“Rumi—”
At that moment, the sitting room door opened again. Idorian and Uben had returned.
“Haa…”
Idorian let out a deep sigh, glanced around the room, and went straight to Rumi, sitting down in front of her.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.”
“What on earth happened?”
Judging by his frustrated expression, his conversation with the Grand Duke hadn’t gone well.
“…It seems there was a misunderstanding.”
Rumi shrugged slightly.
She took a bandage from Uben and skillfully began tending to her own leg.
Though she tried to hide it by tucking her leg close to her body, I could see the ankle was badly swollen.
“What misunderstanding?”
“It’s nothing.”
Rumi’s short reply prompted Lilia to add an explanation.
“She said she wants to speak directly with His Grace.”
“Yeah, I think it’ll just get more complicated if too many people get involved.”
Rumi finished bandaging her leg and stood up.
“But not right now—later, when things calm down.”
“…All right.”
Idorian nodded in understanding.
After watching Rumi for a moment, he turned to me.
“Everyone’s on edge, so just get this settled before dinner. I’ll talk to the Grand Duke.”
Then he stood, saying quietly,
“Try not to get hurt again.”
“…No promises.”
Rumi shook her head with a faint, helpless smile.
“Man’s got the strength of a gorilla.”
Her tone was resigned.
“Want me to stay with you?”
“No, that’s not necessary.”
Rumi rose to her feet.
Lilia tried to help, but Rumi waved her hand to decline.
Then she simply walked out as if nothing had happened.
“Hey, Rumi.”
Idorian followed her out of the sitting room and called her name.
“This… does it have anything to do with Penelope?”
He asked quietly, his voice low enough for only Rumi to hear.
Strictly speaking, only Rumi and I—thanks to my zombie-sharpened hearing—caught his words.
“……”
Heresdon pushed Rumi down the stairs… because of me?
He repeated the exact words Rumi once said to me—because of me?
“No.”
Rumi answered shortly.
Later, those who heard what happened swarmed around Lilia and Uben.
“Oh dear, I’m relieved it wasn’t serious. But still, why…”
Their subtle curiosity clearly hinted that they wanted to know more. Leaving the two of them to deal with the questions, I slipped out of the castle and headed toward the back garden.
“My lady, are you all right?”
Someone who had cautiously followed me out finally spoke.
Thick, cropped eyebrows—his face looked familiar, though I couldn’t recall his name.
He wore an expression of pity, his brows furrowed deeply as if truly worried about me.
As if he’s not just curious about what he missed.
Once we leave this fortress with the supplies, we’ll have to face another swarm of zombies.
It’ll definitely be even harder than the way here—and they probably know that.
And yet, this is what they’re curious about? Shouldn’t they be figuring out how to steal food more safely instead?
Or maybe they already have a perfect plan and don’t need to worry.
“Yes.”
I answered shortly and nodded. The man looked startled, opening his mouth as if unsure what to say.
“Ah, still… you must be very worried…”
I simply nodded again and walked toward the farthest corner of the garden. I needed time to think.
Leaning against a large tree, I made sure no one else would find me and start pestering me with more questions.
So…
Heresdon had lied, saying Idorian was looking for me.
And in that time, he’d pushed Rumi down the stairs.
He even copied Rumi’s exact words.
Did Rumi realize he’d done that?
“Was it revenge… or a warning?”
Either way, it seemed I was the reason he was angry with Rumi.
It really did feel like a misunderstanding…
“Penelope.”
I flinched at the sudden voice.
“What are you doing here?”
“Ah…”
It was Idorian. His expression made it clear he hadn’t expected to find me here.
