Chapter 71

"Thank you for saying that, Reta. I will take care of this man."

Tida grabbed Munza's arm, who was in despair after refusing treatment, and forced him to stand up. Munza tried to resist, but he became docile with just a glare.

Perhaps he realized it was futile after confessing so much, or maybe he was too shocked by the refusal of treatment to have the energy to move.

"There are mountains of things I want to ask this man. Of course, if you can't treat him, Reta, but I'll at least give him some first aid."

Tida said this and then clearly told Munza in his ear:

"I will make you deeply regret laying a hand on your sister."

He dragged the pale-faced man out of the inn.

"Reta, I'm sorry, but I'm leaving my sister in your care. Please see her home when she calms down."

"Ah, yes. Of course."

He turned back once, entrusted Valerie to Reta, and then dragged Munza away.

"Y-Your Excellency, please wait! At least let me receive some first aid!"

The flustered secretary chased after him, but Tida did not even look back. The servants who were carrying Munza also chased after the secretary and disappeared. An indescribable silence remained in the inn.

"I never thought the root cause of Valerie's suffering would be found in such a way."

As the saying goes, 'If you curse someone, you'll dig two graves,' and this is exactly what happened.

"…Reta-sama?"

"Valerie-sama, are you alright?"

He asked with concern, as Valerie, who was suddenly stiff with shock, must have been very anxious. She could never have expected to face the person who cursed her so soon after yesterday.

"Eh, yes, I was surprised, but I'm fine. But I never thought that Lord Munza would have cursed me."

"You seemed to know him."

"Yes. He was the representative of the store I used to frequent. He persistently invited me, and I repeatedly refused… I never thought it would lead to this."

"It's the resentment of a rejected man. It's best to forget it quickly."

"…Yes, you're right."

"Lord Tida has taken him away, and he will receive appropriate punishment. So you don't need to worry anymore. That man will not trouble you again."

Regardless of the reason, if Munza was the root cause, he was also responsible for setting fire to the lord's mansion. He injured the lord's sister and caused her to be in pain for a year. This is not just a minor crime.

(I hope he gets a severe punishment.)

Though he didn't say it in front of Valerie, Reta wished for the appropriate punishment for that despicable man.

"Um, Reta-sama?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for protecting me when that man tried to assault me."

"Oh, it was just a reflex."

"This is the second time you've saved me. Not only did you protect me, but you also got angry on my behalf!"

Valerie's eyes welled up with tears as she expressed her gratitude, making Reta feel a bit uncomfortable. He was just reacting normally to the situation. If he had taken action, everyone present would have felt the same way.

"I'm so moved! I, I!"

Finally, overcome with emotion, Valerie hugged Reta. Her warmth and sweet scent were a bit too much for the middle-aged man who wasn't used to women. Her strong grip, unexpectedly powerful, made it difficult to pull away without seeming to reject her. However, he couldn't just hug her back.

(—Someone, help me… but everyone is smirking!)

He looked around for help, but the guests, including Riggs, were smiling and showed no signs of helping.

"Aaaaaah! What are you doing, Dad!?"

"Luna!?"

"I'm here too!"

"Me too!?"

As he was trying to figure out what to do, Luna and Mina, who had been hiding, appeared from the kitchen. They were wearing cute white aprons with frills, which made them look adorable. If one of them wasn't glaring angrily, he might have come up with a clever response.

"I thought it was noisy, but I was trying to make something delicious for Dad… Why is the lord's sister hugging Dad like a cat in heat!?"

"Dad, you're so mean!"

Luna, with a red face, and Mina, with her hand on her cheek, stared at him. Unable to just yell, Luna pulled Valerie away from Reta with all her strength.

"Ah… Ah, Reta-sama was—"

"It's not about Reta-sama! What were you thinking, hugging Dad? Explain yourself!"

"That… po—"

"Okay, okay, I get it. So, you're picking a fight with me again! I'll buy you at your asking price!"

(Though I can't say it out loud, I'm grateful to Luna for this.)

Reta, who couldn't just let Luna, who had attacked the lord's sister without hesitation, go, held her in a headlock. Inside, he was relieved to have escaped Valerie's embrace.