Episode 44
I froze on the spot, my brain spinning like crazy.
What happens if Adrien finds out I’ve been meeting Raymond?
Is it okay for them to see each other? What kind of relationship do they have?
Am I okay being in the middle of this?
Questions kept flooding my head like a dam had burst.
But it was already too late—I’d been caught, and they’d seen each other. There was no way to know what would happen next.
With my thoughts swirling like a storm, my face fell into a nervous frown. I looked up at Raymond, and he was staring at the exact point where Adrien was holding my wrist.
“Let go of her,” Raymond said in a clearly annoyed voice.
Anyone could tell he was upset.
Adrien looked down, realized he was gripping my wrist too tightly, and quickly let go.
It didn’t seem like he let go because of the command, but more because he was worried it might’ve hurt me.
“Sorry, Eilene. I didn’t mean to grab you that hard.”
“It’s okay,” I said, forcing a smile while rubbing my wrist with my other hand.
But Adrien looked totally lost. His head must’ve been full of thoughts like: Why is Eilene with Grand Duke Rusl?
I could understand. But that didn’t make this situation any easier for me.
“Sir Run.”
Raymond called out to him, and Adrien snapped out of it and looked at him.
“We’re in the middle of something important. You should be on your way.”
“….”
But for some reason, Raymond’s words rubbed Adrien the wrong way. His face turned sharp as he looked up at the Grand Duke, who was slightly taller than him.
“It’s been a while, Grand Duke Rusl. Have you been well?”
“I have.”
“I came here for some errands, but now I have a more important one.”
“What’s that?”
“I just ran into a dear friend on this unfamiliar street. I can’t just walk away.”
“You don’t need to worry. I’m already taking care of her.”
“No, it’s because it’s you that I’m even more concerned.”
Um… excuse me? You two? What is going on here?
I started to panic, caught between Raymond and Adrien’s growing tension.
Adrien was talking back to the Grand Duke without fear. Do they not get along?
They were both swordsmen. Maybe something happened in the past?
Tension crackled between them like sparks. Their eyes were already having a duel, and I was stuck awkwardly in the middle.
“Um…”
“Why does it bother you because it’s me?” Raymond asked.
“You already know the answer to that, don’t you?” Adrien shot back.
“Excuse me?”
“Hm. I have no idea. There’s no reason to worry when she’s with me.”
“Maybe it’s because she’s with the most dangerous man.”
Raymond and Adrien were completely focused on their rivalry and had forgotten I even existed.
Now I was just a third wheel standing in silence. No matter what I said, they weren’t listening.
By now, it was obvious—they already knew each other and didn’t get along at all.
While they were arguing, I happened to notice something in the background—a scene just before a serious incident.
I saw a woman being dragged into an alley, her mouth covered.
Oh no!!
My instincts kicked in. If I didn’t act fast, something terrible would happen.
So I left the two arguing men behind and ran. This was a split-second situation—no time to call for help or explain.
I crossed the street and turned into the alley, which was much darker than the main road. I moved quickly but quietly, following the sound.
The man had already dragged the woman deep into the alley.
“Mmph, mmph!”
I spotted them. The man was struggling to drag the resisting woman. He raised his hand, probably to knock her out.
I yelled at the top of my lungs.
“Stop right there, you creep!”
“Huh?”
The man flinched at the sudden shout and looked up at me. He wasn’t wearing a mask or anything. His face screamed criminal. But his shiny silk clothes looked expensive.
Next to him, the woman had tears streaming down her face. She was very beautiful—and her figure was stunning.
Judging from how things looked, the man was probably rich or a noble, and the woman was a commoner. It was a classic case of wealth and power being used for abuse.
“Who the hell are you? Get lost!” he yelled.
Then he squinted to get a better look at me. His eyes scanned me from head to toe.
“Oho… quite the beauty, aren’t you?”
“What?”
“Your face is pretty and cute, but your body’s like a little kid’s. What a shame.”
This disgusting creep!! Who asked you to rate my looks?!
I scowled harder than ever and stomped forward. If I heard one more word from him, I might go deaf from the stupidity.
My bold movement made him flinch. He tossed the woman aside. She collapsed, clearly injured.
The man spread his arms as if to grab me next.
But I scoffed inside.
Did he really think I came this far just to be caught?
I had a secret weapon—my freakish strength.
If I charged at full speed like a wild boar, I could send him flying.
As soon as I finished calculating that, I ran.
Da-da-da-da-da!
The man probably thought he could easily pin down a “delicate lady,” but that was just a fantasy.
SMACK!
A loud crash echoed as the man flew into the wall.
“Ugh!”
Yes!!
I caught my breath, pleased. Eilene was born strong, though her stamina wasn’t great. But this much was enough—I only had to beat one guy.
Still, just in case, I needed to be sure. I didn’t want to get sneak-attacked like in the movies.
So I walked over to finish him off and punched toward his face.
Boom!
But… I messed up. My punch missed his cheek and smashed the wall instead.
The wall caved in and cracked, sending dust flying.
The man glanced at it and started shaking in fear.
“Eilene!!”
Just then, two voices shouted my name from behind.
Oh… crap. Why now?
Raymond and Adrien had finally realized I was gone and rushed over.
They had been too busy arguing but somehow noticed I’d disappeared.
The two of them drew their swords at the same time. It looked like synchronized twin moves. But when they saw the man slumped against the wall, they paused in surprise.
I quickly lowered my fist. Now that I looked, I could clearly see how wrecked the wall was.
“Eilene… are you… okay?”
Adrien stammered as he asked. He must’ve meant my hand, not whether I was okay in general.
It wasn’t really the right question, but I guessed he just didn’t know what else to say.
Raymond didn’t ask anything. He just came close, pulled me into his arms, and aimed his sword at the man.
The blade rested lightly but threateningly at the man’s neck.
“Hiiik!”
“You dared to put Eilene in danger. You’ll pay for that.”
Raymond’s voice was full of cold fury.
The man was so scared, he peed himself.
Oh. So I was in danger.
I guess Raymond still sees me as someone fragile.
Even though that might not be true, I didn’t say anything. I actually liked being wrapped up in his arms like this.
He did come to save me, after all.
Behind him, I saw Adrien raising an eyebrow—but I decided to ignore that. This moment was too good to ruin.
“You ran straight into a crime scene alone—are you crazy?”
“Yeah. What if something had happened to you?”
We handed the criminal over to the guards and then went to a dessert shop nearby. We sat around a table.
Raymond and Adrien sat next to each other across from me and took turns scolding me.
At first, I just kept saying, Sorry, I won’t do it again, but after hearing them go on and on, I got annoyed.
You two ignored me earlier—and now I’m the only one getting yelled at?
So I leaned forward, clenched my fists, and shouted,
“Excuse me, but neither of you listened to me! You were too busy arguing to care about me, and now you’re scolding me?!”
Once I started, I couldn’t stop.
“Adrien! Did you even hear me calling you? No, you didn’t!”
“Uh… I…”
“And Raymond, too! I pulled your arm, but you didn’t move at all!”
“…Yeah… I guess I did.”
I pointed them out one by one, and both of them started to look sorry. I was finally starting to feel better, but then Adrien dropped a bomb.
“Eilene… Did you just call the Grand Duke Raymond? Since when are you two on first-name terms?”
“Why is that surprising, Sir Run?”
“Uh, I’m very surprised right now!”
Raymond crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat with a frown. Adrien sat up straight, pounding his chest with his fist in protest.
And so, Round 2 of their argument began.
Seriously, how long is this going to go on?!
I grabbed my head and let out a silent scream.
