Chapter 33

"Zain, s, ma..."

The moment a hoarse, small voice slipped from her lips, Lord Zain's narrow eyes saddened and narrowed.

The man, apparently startled, pulled back his body, causing her hair to be tugged even more, sending pain through her. Her cheeks throbbed with pain, and the taste of blood spread in her mouth.

"What are you! The others are –"

"Kill"

At the same moment those words were heard, the man who had been in front of her disappeared from sight. Not knowing what had happened, a few seconds later, she shifted her gaze to see the man slammed against the wall.

Ice blocks were embedded in his hands and feet. It took a moment to realize that it was Lord Zain's magic.

Lord Zain, who came to me as I sat in a daze, held me as if I were a fragile object.

"...Grace"

The voice, which seemed to be pleading and desperately sincere, made my heart constrict.

Wrapped in the gentle warmth I had always longed for deep down, my vision began to blur.

Despite enduring it to keep the children from worrying since I arrived, my eyes began to overflow with tears uncontrollably, as if a string had been cut.

"I'm sorry I was late"

"......u......"

"Really, I'm sorry"

Even though Lord Zain had nothing to apologize for.

On the contrary, I was so happy that he had come to save me that I wanted to say thank you, but the words wouldn't come out.

"...I'm really glad you're alive"

Burying his face in my shoulder, Lord Zain whispered in a voice that seemed about to disappear. From his expression, I could tell how worried he had been.

"I couldn't feel alive until I saw your face"

"......"

Unable to help it, I gently wrapped my arms around Lord Zain's, and I could feel the strength in the arms that were around my back.

Seeing his weakness for the first time, despite his usual composure and strength, made my heart constrict.

"Did it hurt?"

Slightly pulling away, Lord Zain looked at my bruised cheek and made a face as if he might cry. Then he turned his cold eyes to the man still pinned to the wall.

"Wait a moment. I'll stop his breathing"

"Wait...!"

Thinking that Lord Zain would really kill someone, I hurried to stop him.

At the same time, a large group of people rushed into the basement.

"Your Grace, please don't take solo actions that could destroy you – oh, Miss! I'm glad you're safe!"

Evan was at the front of the group of knights, and his usual demeanor made me feel relieved.

Behind him was the stalkerish handsome boy, and on his shoulder was the broken Haniwa, with one hand missing and part of its face gone.

Haniwa jumped down and wobbled over to me, landing in my palm and then stopping as if it had fallen asleep.

"Haniwa...? No, no, what should I do...!"

"It's okay, it's just resting. If you infuse it with your magic, it should be repaired and move as usual."

Lord Zain reassured me, who was in a panic.

Thinking about how much it must have worked, my vision blurred again, and I hugged the small body tightly.

The knights who entered with Evan secured the culprit and took care of the children. Everyone seemed relieved, and the tension in their shoulders gradually eased.

"Let's go. I'll make sure the children are safely delivered home."

"Thank you..."

I thanked Haniwa and gently placed it in the pocket of my apron.

Saying goodbye to the children, who had done well and were in good spirits, I took Lord Zain's outstretched hand.

"We'll do a bit more work before we return, so please go ahead."

"No, I'm not really involved."

Waving to the smiling Evan and the sighing handsome boy, I headed to the surface with Lord Zain.

Getting into the carriage that was prepared, Lord Zain sat down right next to me. After letting go of my hand, he took out medicine from what seemed to be a first aid kit in the carriage.

"Let's treat the wound on your cheek first. I'll call a healer as soon as we return to the capital."

"Thank you, but I can—"

"I want to do it."

"O, okay."

Unable to refuse his straightforward gaze, I nodded, and Lord Zain smiled slightly.

As he applied the medicine to my cheek with his fingers, it tickled. Being stared at from such close range made me uneasy.

"...Thank you for coming to save me."

"Of course."

Reflecting on the last time we met, I had hurt him and even said I didn't want to talk to him.

Despite that, Lord Zain treated me as if nothing had changed and came to save me. I felt happy, guilty, and a mix of emotions.

"I thought you hated me."

"If I could hate you for that, it would be easy."

Wiping his hands with a handkerchief, Lord Zain smiled in a troubled way and hugged me again.

Being held by Lord Zain always made me feel incredibly relieved.

"...Rather, I realized my feelings anew."

Tilting my head in confusion, I asked the question that had been bothering me while still being held.

"But, how did you know where to find me?"

"Your familiar came to me."

"Huh?"

"It broke into my private room at the Duke's mansion."

"Really?"

In disbelief, a surprised sound escaped my lips.

Apparently, Haniwa had traveled a distance that would take a carriage half a day to reach, to seek help from Lord Zain.

"I knew you were an earth mage, so I immediately headed to the Countess Sentsberry's house. After joining up with your guard knights, we followed the direction indicated by your familiar and arrived."

"Haniwa... is a genius...? Oh, I'll pay for the window repair later, I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it."

I was amazed by Haniwa's unexpected excellence.

Thinking about the distance traveled to the capital, I understood why my magic power had decreased so much.

Most of all, recalling how broken Haniwa had been, my eyes welled up. Haniwa doesn't even eat, so I don't know how to thank it.

There were many things I was curious about, like how it moved and how it knew the way to the Duke's mansion. Eventually, I asked the biggest question.

"But, why did it come to Lord Zain?"

"Didn't you command it to?"

"No, I didn't. I asked it to seek help from someone, but—"

As I recounted the moment I sent Haniwa away, Lord Zain blinked and then smiled softly.

"Familiars share part of their master's consciousness and memories with their magic, so they also share likes and dislikes."

"..."

"Meaning, when you said 'someone,' you were unconsciously asking for my help."

Those words made my heart skip a beat.

Lord Zain continued, saying that because of my memories, it was able to find the Duke's mansion.

"I was glad you relied on me."

"......"

I wanted to deny it, but I didn't want to admit it, even though I knew it was futile. I felt annoyed with myself for somehow accepting it deep down.

His gentle smile made my heart race, and my face grew hot with embarrassment.

"N-no, it was a mistake, really."

"Your expression isn't very convincing. I can't tell if you're being honest or not."

"Maybe it's because Lord Zain is a very strong knight."

"Any reason is fine."

Lord Zain, who was completely in control, was far more skilled, and I realized I couldn't bluff my way out of it, so I fell silent.

The ball is only a few days away, yet I was so nervous, and I hated how I couldn't free myself from his embrace.

"You must be tired. It's good to rest a bit."

Lord Zain quietly pulled away from me and gently pulled me to lean on his shoulder.

While wishing he wouldn't be so gentle, I realized how exhausted I was. I was overwhelmed by sleep and obediently entrusted my body to him.

"...I was so glad you came."

"Ah."

"Really, thank you."

In a drowsy state, I wondered if it was okay to be honest just for today, just for a little while.

"Lord Zain is too kind."

"I intend to grant any wish of yours."

"......Then, I want you to dislike me."

"That's the only thing I can't do."

Lord Zain's small laugh made me feel relieved, even though it wasn't the answer I sought. My eyelids grew heavier, and I quietly closed my eyes.

"– It's too late to let you go now."

With those words, I fell into a deep sleep.