Chapter 13
Today, things seemed to be progressing rather smoothly. That is, if you ignored the fact that Marcella, from a while ago, couldn’t hide her anxious look and kept glancing around.
“Lady, is something uncomfortable?”
When Arthur asked, Nell, who was walking ahead, stopped.
Marcella, flustered by the eyes now on her, waved her hands dismissively.
“No, it’s not that.”
“If there’s a problem, please tell me.”
*Tell me quickly so I can solve it.* Arthur smiled an urging smile. *If you need the restroom, it’s better to say so before we get to the underground.*
Arthur leaned in slightly and indicated to Marcella that the restroom was over there.
Marcella moved her lips and averted her eyes from Arthur with a troubled look.
“I told Tamarin not to approach you.”
“Ah.”
A sigh mixed with relief escaped Marcella’s lips. Arthur swiftly turned to look at Nell.
“Weren’t you scared of Tamarin?”
Nell didn’t understand why both Marcella and Arthur were looking at him with surprised eyes. Especially Arthur looked downright shocked.
“…If you knew I was scared, you should have stopped him back then.”
Was it because she had blurted out the ‘close friend’ claim herself? Or because he had casually shown a bit of kindness? Marcella felt a pang of grievance slip out unintentionally.
Nell’s pupils moved slowly, then he looked directly at Marcella.
“I had forgotten.”
Each time Arthur had made a fuss, Nell had answered that he knew, but somehow, whenever he saw Marcella, he would forget all about it. He had completely forgotten this time too, but just now he remembered.
“I apologize for my divine beast frightening you and causing you harm.”
Seeing Nell bow his head slightly, Marcella moved her lips, not knowing what to say.
*She had thought the apology was just a pretext, that he kept summoning her to torment her. She hadn’t expected him to actually apologize at all.*
“Since I told him not to approach within twenty paces of you, it should be fine.”
Nell raised his head and stared into the distance.
“He’s still following you.”
Marcella jumped in surprise and moved closer to Nell. Arthur also frowned and sharply turned his head.
From behind a tree, they could see the little lion cub riding on top of the phoenix’s head. Though they usually fought enough to blow up a building, they looked quite chummy at the moment.
*I told them to stay quietly in the room, but they just don’t listen, do they?* Arthur glared at the two beasts and stamped his foot, but all he could see was their mocking smiles.
“It seems they’ve taken a liking to you.”
Marcella couldn’t believe the words that came from Nell’s mouth. She didn’t want to believe them.
*That life-threatening little lion cub likes me, so it’s smacking its lips like that?* It was a ridiculous story.
On the other hand, Nell found it interesting that the divine beasts were showing such interest in someone.
*It felt like it took a year to make them recognize Arthur and understand they shouldn’t attack him.*
Whether his ability to handle divine beasts had improved, or they simply liked Marcella, Nell couldn’t quite tell.
However, he could see that despite the two beasts desperately wanting to approach with not a hint of aggression visible, Marcella’s expression showed no sign of easing.
“You seem to be afraid of many things.”
When he said that, Marcella jumped and turned to look at him.
“Come to think of it, you were afraid of the fog too.”
“That… that wasn’t being afraid of the fog!”
To Marcella, it sounded like he was mocking her for being a coward.
Seeing this, Arthur covered his mouth with his hand and slowly backed away.
*Good heavens, His Majesty is having a conversation. I shall discreetly remove this nuisance. Have a good time.* Perhaps because he had wished Nell luck like that in his heart, Nell noticed and turned to look back.
“Why are you following from so far back?”
*I know it can’t be helped, but isn’t this a bit too much? Ah, Your Majesty! You fail to grasp the deep intentions of your loyal servant, Arthur Digory!*
Arthur decided he’d have a drink tonight and smiled brightly at his liege.
Still, wasn’t it something that the atmosphere between His Majesty and the Lady wasn’t as tense as before? Right? Finally, the results of the time I’ve dedicated to this matter during this busy period are showing.
“Lady, are you afraid of fog?”
“No!”
Marcella’s face turned red as she denied it.
“Fog is something His Majesty can dispel, truly, you two are…!”
Marcella, frantic that he might blurt out her secret (the incident of impersonating His Majesty’s close friend) in front of Nell, firmly stepped on his foot.
Seeing Marcella holding up her index finger with a desperate look, the corners of Arthur’s mouth lifted. *I’m in no position to scold Tamarin for teasing the lady now. Even though my foot got stepped on, the lady’s reaction was amusing.*
As they descended into the palace underground, several knights were guarding a certain door. It was a very old-looking door, gleaming even at night, a door that seemed out of place with the shining golden palace.
The knights looked very surprised to see the Emperor, but Nell paid no heed, stood before the door, and placed his hand on it.
“They say only those who inherit the blood of Haili can open that door.”
Arthur explained to Marcella.
Marcella felt strangely annoyed by Arthur’s smiling face. He seemed to be looking at her fondly, but she couldn’t understand why.
She felt as if she had already fallen for his swindling tricks, and desperately hoped it was just her imagination.
“One must have a very special relationship with His Majesty to enter, I suppose.”
“Shh! You promised to keep what I said a secret!”
“Did I? I don’t recall making such a promise?”
Marcella was on the verge of being tricked by the swindler.
Although she wanted to correct him that it wasn’t being a ‘close friend’ but something else, Arthur decided to give these two fresh-faced individuals some time. *Friends? Very good. Nothing wrong with that.*
“Have a safe visit, Your Majesty.”
Arthur smiled brightly and gave a slight bow to the two. Naturally, Marcella had thought Arthur would go in too, so she was flustered and looked back and forth between him and Nell.
Nell, as if he already knew, showed no surprise and stepped inside.
“Lord Digory, aren’t you coming?”
“Thank you for your kind words, but I shall wait here for the both of you.”
Arthur Digory, a man with no father, smiled broadly.
Marcella, suspicious of his smile, glared at him with doubtful eyes, but she couldn’t figure out what his scheme was. Moreover, Nell had already gone inside ahead of her.
Marcella hesitated, then went in.
“Have a good time.”
Arthur smiled as he watched the door slide shut after Marcella entered.
When she first stepped into the underground treasure vault, Marcella thought it felt a bit cold for some reason. But the further in she went, she realized it wasn’t just ‘a bit’ cold, it was definitely freezing.
Shortly after thinking the floor was frozen solid, a hollow wind blew from somewhere and a blizzard began. Despite this place clearly being ‘underground’.
“Marcella?”
Nell’s voice came from far ahead.
Marcella wanted to answer, but her lips wouldn’t part. It was hard to even keep her eyes open properly.
Marcella huddled her body and looked up at Nell, who had somehow come to her side.
“Are you alright?”
“…Yes…!”
“I forgot about your pace.”
He didn’t look cold at all. Was it because he was wearing that fur cloak?
*If he knew it would be this cold, he could have at least told me in advance. Even though I didn’t have a fur cloak among the luggage brought from Morris Castle, I could have dressed more warmly.*
“Your complexion doesn’t look good.”
What a comforting statement.
Marcella silently glared at Nell, who was the only one wearing a fur cloak, and moved her feet again. She was beginning to understand why Arthur hadn’t wanted to come.
“A little further to go.”
Nell watched as Marcella’s steps grew increasingly sluggish. *She seems unwell, but she keeps moving forward without answering. Did she want to see the dragon-slaying sword that badly?*
Nell tilted his head slightly and stood in front of Marcella, who was inching forward very slowly.
As the blizzard was somewhat blocked by Nell’s body, Marcella felt she might survive for a moment, but soon she reached her limit.
Nell took two steps, looked back, took two more steps, looked back, repeating this. Marcella’s increasingly sluggish feet finally stopped completely.
*She’ll collapse soon at this rate.*
The moment he thought it, Marcella staggered forward.
Nell, catching Marcella, realized her body was as cold as ice.
He tried holding Marcella’s hand. It was colder than three years ago.
Only then did Nell intuit that a problem had arisen.
“Arthur.”
Nell called for Arthur but soon remembered he hadn’t followed them.
Here, there was only Marcella, turned to ice, and himself. Moreover, Marcella’s faint breath seemed about to be extinguished by the blizzard.
“Marcella.”
No answer came.
Nell pressed his ear to Marcella’s chest. Her heart was still beating. But he could feel it gradually slowing.
Nell held her and looked up at the ceiling.
“Phoenix, come here.”
Almost as soon as his words ended, the ceiling collapsed.
**【 It’s sad to be sick in a strange place 】**
When Marcella opened her eyes, she felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
Blinking a few times, she understood why. This sensation was similar to that terrible cold she had suffered last year. The culprit that had delayed her debutante ball by a year.
As Marcella blinked a few more times, a red-haired woman leaned into her field of vision.
“You’re awake?”
The woman was laughing as if something was funny. *I’m in such pain, and this laughing woman somehow seems detestable.*
When Marcella glared, the woman laughed softly and brushed Marcella’s forehead. The touch of her hand was hot.
“Look at that frown. Is this the face that threw a shoe at Tammy?”
“Phoenix, please stop bothering the Lady and step back.”
“Oh my, no. Arthur, I don’t take orders from you.”
“It’s not an order, it’s a request.”
“And I have no obligation to grant your request either.”
Arthur exhaled through his nose and turned to look back.
“Phoenix.”
When Nell called, Phoenix, who had been looking down at Marcella and laughing, sharply turned her head.
“I’m just keeping her warm.”
*Warm? Does she think she’s keeping me warm when my body feels like a blazing pit of hellfire right now?*
