Chapter 38

The meeting concluded amidst a chaotic atmosphere. The nobles who had gathered at the Gilan Viscountcy with excited hearts chatted among themselves and returned to their homes, and our group also began to move, blending in with the departing crowd. Although I was preoccupied with my thoughts inside the carriage and didn't pay much attention to the outside, I could guess the mood a little thanks to what Mari told me.

"It seems that meetings in the east will be difficult for a while."

"Really?"

"Yes. With such a big incident... they will be cautious for a while."

"That's good. We can have some peace for a while."

As I gazed out the window and replied gloomily, Mari spoke cautiously.

"Um... Lady."

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry for not being by your side when it was important. I should have been there..."

"No. What are you talking about? The maids were all waiting in different rooms; how could Mari have been by my side?"

"Still, if I had been there, I would have kicked that bastard Balhail's crotch!"

Mari, who is usually calm, rarely got excited and puffed up. Seeing her efforts to cheer me up, I couldn't help but laugh a little. Mari's face also softened when she saw this. But as soon as she confirmed the figure reflected in the window, the faint smile on her lips disappeared. Turning her gaze to follow mine, Mari saw Altair and fidgeted awkwardly.

"According to Sir Cain, my lord truly prioritizes your safety..."

"I know. I understand the situation. But I don't feel good."

As I muttered this while looking out the window, Altair, who was driving the carriage, turned his gaze to our carriage, and our eyes met in the air. Without realizing it, my hand moved and pulled the curtain on the small window. The view was instantly blocked, and I could only feel the quiet air inside the carriage.

"Lady..."

Mari, who had been watching the situation, called me awkwardly.

'W-What in the world...'

I couldn't understand how I could be so bold, and my heart was pounding. The intense gaze Altair had given me until the end was still vivid in my mind.

"…I think I need some time to calm myself down."

"Yes, my lord will surely understand."

While agreeing with my words, Mari added a piece of advice.

"But if this time goes on too long, it will be troublesome. If you get used to this awkwardness, you might forget how to be a happy couple again."

"Happy couple? Do I and Altair look like that?"

I asked, wide-eyed, and Mari blinked as if to say, "How could you not know?"

"How many couples among the nobles do you think share a bed every day?"

"Well... in the capital, maybe... but here, it's normal..."

"It's not just about sharing a bed, is it? You're spending the nights properly, right?"

"Well, Altair wants an heir..."

"Is that all it is?"

Mari pressed me with consecutive questions. She was right. If it was just for an heir, we would have only spent the nights on fertile days. But I had never thought about it that way when spending the nights with Altair. I don't think Altair had either.

"So don't avoid him and listen to what my lord has to say. Share your thoughts too. Conversation is the best way to resolve the situation."

Mari's advice made me think a lot. For a timid and sensitive person, conversation was the biggest weakness. Facing people made my heart race and cold sweat pour, making it hard to have a proper conversation. So, I was used to guessing and drawing conclusions on my own. This was possible because I didn't maintain long-term relationships with anyone.

'But I can't do that with Altair.'

Because I and Altair are a married couple. This wasn't a fleeting relationship. As Mari suggested, I needed to resolve the situation through conversation.

'But how... how do I start a conversation?'

At the camp and just now when our gazes met, I had turned away from Altair first.

'How do I start a conversation now?'

I racked my brain, but no easy solution came to mind. As I struggled, Mari moved to my side, gently wrapped her arm around my shoulder, and smiled.

"I didn't mean for you to start worrying right away. My lord did make you upset, so it's fine to be angry for a few days."

"R-Really? How many days exactly? One day? Two days?"

Mari's expression became subtle when I asked about the period.

"Or four days?"

Thinking that the period I suggested was too short, I boldly suggested three days, and Mari burst into laughter and hugged me tightly.

"I was worried for nothing! I thought you might be upset for at least two weeks, but you were planning to get over it in one day?"

"Two weeks?!"

I opened my eyes wide at the unexpected period, and Mari shook her head and stepped back.

"No, you should do what feels right for you."

"Then... I'll be angry for exactly two days."

Mari nodded with a smile, and I felt relieved. Although she didn't say anything, her smile seemed to reassure me that I wasn't doing anything wrong.

"I'm glad Mari is by my side. Otherwise, I would have kept brooding like a fool. Like at the Bain Viscountcy..."

Thinking about the Bain Viscountcy after my parents passed away made my heart sink. Mari, who seemed to recall similar memories, tightly closed her mouth.

"Now, let's forget about that place..."

Mari's calm voice of comfort didn't finish as the carriage, which had been moving smoothly, suddenly swayed violently and tipped over.

"Ah!"

My body was thrown up and fell sideways with the carriage.

'No, this can't be!'

Seeing that Mari's head was about to hit the floor, I quickly wrapped my arms around her. It was a reflexive action. However, I only realized that my body would take the impact instead after the pain spread through my entire body.

'Ugh!'

The pain was so intense that I couldn't even scream. For a moment, I felt as if I was suffocating and might die.

"Lady!"

As I felt my consciousness slipping, Mari shouted and grabbed my shoulder. Thanks to her, I took a deep breath that I thought I would never take again.

"Phew!"

I gasped for air and lay on the ground, and Mari, with a pale face, wrapped her arms around my head.

"W-What do we do! Oh my goodness!"

Mari's trembling hands were stained with bright red blood, which must have come from my head. The moment I realized this, my head started to throb painfully.

'The pain is so intense... I'm not even scared of seeing the blood...'

Usually, I would have fainted at the sight of blood, but I didn't have the energy to do so now. Just trying to stay conscious and breathe was draining all my strength.

"What... in the world... is happening..."

While Mari, who is usually efficient, was at a loss and stomping her feet, the door of the overturned carriage opened, and a man covered in blood appeared.

"Aaah!"

At the sight of the intruder, Mari screamed and wrapped her arms around me to protect me. I could feel her determination to protect me, and a faint smile appeared on my face despite my dazed state.

"Calm down! It's me, me!"

Mari's scream was interrupted by the urgent voice of a man. The voice was very familiar, and the tension in Mari's arms holding me loosened.

"Sir... Sir Cain?"

"Yes, it's me."

Mari relaxed and took a deep breath, glancing at Cain's back.

"What is going on here?"

"A monster suddenly attacked. As it fell, it hit the carriage... Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine. But Lady..."

"Is Lady hurt?"

Cain's calm voice became urgent as he explained the situation. He quickly looked inside the overturned carriage and widened his eyes.

"No, the blood... "

"Ugh. She was badly hurt while protecting me. I should have been the one to get hurt... Why did Lady..."

I shook my head and grabbed Mari's arm, which was blaming herself.

'No one should get hurt. That's not right.'

But the words in my head wouldn't come out. I was too weak to speak.

"We need to take Lady outside and provide first aid."

"Yes!"

Mari nodded eagerly, and Cain tore the door of the overturned carriage with his hands and entered, lifting me up. The carriage, which felt spacious when it was just Mari and me, now felt very small with a large man inside. It was also difficult to get out because the carriage was damaged from the fall. Cain had a large wound on his back from the door, but he didn't seem to feel the pain as he carried me out without hesitation. As I was carried out of the carriage, the pungent smell of blood and the chaotic atmosphere hit me. The ground was littered with the bodies of large monsters, and the knights were checking to ensure they were dead.

'At least we're lucky.'

It seemed that none of our people were injured. The blood on us was all from the monsters. However, Cain, ignoring the chaotic surroundings, walked steadily forward. His steady steps showed that he was trying his best not to cause me more pain.

"My lord!"

Following Cain's call, I turned my heavy head and saw Altair at the end of my vision. He was busy managing the scene but turned his head at Cain's voice, his eyes widening in surprise at the sight of me in Cain's arms. He froze, his mouth slightly open.

"My lord! We need to treat her quickly. The bleeding is significant."

"..."

"Perhaps we can call a doctor from a nearby village... or, since we're still close to the Gilan Viscountcy, we can send someone there to request a doctor..."

"..."

Despite Cain's urgent suggestions, Altair remained frozen. Cain, frustrated, stomped his foot.

"My lord! Pull yourself together! If we delay, it will be too late!"

At the loud voice, Altair started to move.

"Calling a doctor might be too late."

It seemed Altair had made up his mind. He took off his coat and wrapped it around my bleeding head, speaking. I felt his hand, which was stopping the bleeding, trembling slightly, but I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination.

"We'll stop the bleeding and take her to a village."

"The carriage is in such a state... Is it possible?"

"I'll take her."

"My lord, yourself?"

"There's no one faster than me here. I'll go."

As I listened to the urgent conversation, I finally let go of the last thread of consciousness.

'I decided to be angry for exactly two days.'

I wondered if I would be able to keep that promise.