Chapter 9. Mysterious Wagon Accident

As soon as the overturned wagon plummeted to the ground, a white tent unfolded from the fountain pen in my hand.

A huge magic shield came out and wrapped Michael and I.

When I came to my senses, the surrounding area was a mess with broken wagon debris, and there was a lot of acrid dirt.

“Did…we survive?”

I only looked at the fountain pen that I held in my hand blankly.

God, I thought it was just an expensive pen, but it was actually a real magic tool.

When I return to the Royal Library, I should bow down to the director about a hundred times.

“Oh, my head hurts…”

Michael, who was in my arms, frowned and groaned. I was relieved that there seemed to be no major injury.

Over the silver lining of the magic shield, urgent voices rang.

Carlix’s cry and the urgent shout of those presumed to be shadow knights can be heard from somewhere.

“Michael! Erika!”

“The carriage overturned!”

“Save the little prince!”

From afar, the Knights and Calix were riding horses and rushing towards us.

Only then did unfamiliar shadows appear in front of the magic shield.

Three mysterious men covering their faces with black cloth rushed in with swords.

My whole body froze with fear.

They boldly attacked the shield, even though they knew the Carlix and Shadow Knights were running to save us.

Shing!

The unidentified men tried to destroy the shield by wielding a sword, but the sword broke.

“The shield won’t break!”

“We don’t have time! What about the compass?”

“It’s hard to get it because of the shield. Retreat before they come!”

When the attack did not work, the unidentified men immediately began to run away.

Meanwhile, one of the shadow knights picked up a bow and shot one of the men.

“Ah!”

The unidentified man, who was hit by an arrow on his shoulder, screamed. He grabbed his shoulder and staggered, but still ran towards the forest.

“Michael! Are you okay? Answer me!”

The knights urgently called the small prince’s name and approached the magic barrier.

When Carlix swung the sword, the protective shield disappeared like melted snow.

“Brother… I’m fine.”

Michael, who was hugging me, looked up helplessly.

“Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

Carlix stroked Michael’s cheek to see if he was injured.

Michael shook his head helplessly, and looked at my forehead with surprised eyes.

“Aren’t you hurt? Your forehead is bleeding…”

“What? I’m fine…”

When I inadvertently placed my hand to my forehead, there was thick blood on it.

No wonder my forehead hurt and it felt hot. The wound must have been caused when my head hit the wagon as it turned upside down.

Carlix quickly took off his coat and tore off one of his sleeves.

He then wiped the blood off my forehead with skillful and fast movements, and bandaged it tightly around the wound.

He silently devoted himself to treating my wounds.

The distance from him was so close that I could feel the movement of his long eyelashes or even his slightly rough breath.

I was already getting dizzy. If I were the female protagonist, the wound would have already healed just by looking at his face.

“When you get to the library, you need to get recovery treatment from William right away. Erika, are you okay?

He asked me quietly, carefully separating the blood and sweaty hair attached to my forehead.

The cobalt blue eyes that gazed into my eyes were full of sincere affection and worries.

In that instance, I felt as if I had become a precious being to him.

When he suddenly became worried, opposite from his sarcastic self, I quickly turned my head to the side because I felt awkward and shy.

“Oh, yes. I’m fine now. Thank you for the treatment.”

The four knights, who were surveying the surrounding boundaries in preparation for another attack, returned to Carlix.

“Shall we chase them?”

“Matten, keep tracking. I’ll send a follow-up group immediately. Liam, take Michael, and Gilbert, take the injured driver. Lloyd is in charge of escorting. Arrive at the duke’s residence before the sun goes down and receive treatment from a doctor.”

“We will receive your order!”

When Carlix’s order fell, the Knights moved in unison.

When Liam tried to carry Michael on his horse, Michael urgently asked.

“Who is going to take Sister? She also needs to be treated quickly.”

“I will take Miss Diel to the Royal Library.”

“What?”

“You?”

“You will?”

At Carlix’s words, the Shadow Knights, Michael’ and I shouted in surprise at the same time.

Huh? Wait a minute. I was surprised that the Grand Duke would take me directly, but why were the Shadow Knights surprised?

They looked at me and Carlix with astonished eyes, and their gazes at me were filled with admiration.

In particular, Liam and Lloyd were looking at Calix with a proud smile similar to a father looking at his grown son.

Carlix frowned and shouted at the Knights.

“Do you have the time to hesitate? Leave now!”

“Yes, sir!”

At his cry, the Shadow Knights quickly shouted and got on the horse with Michael and the driver.

“Sister, I’ll go to the library later. Please take care of yourself.”

Michael, who rode on Liam’s horse, continued to look at me and said bitterly.

I was heartbroken to see the child thanking me with tears in his big eyes.

Did I acquire affection while we were together? I’m already sad that I won’t be able to see the lovely Michael.

As I watched Michael go away, Carlix pulled his horse and came towards me.

“Miss Erika, we’re leaving too.”

“Yes. Where do I ride?”

Carlix looked at me with his eyes squinted like he was asked the stupidest question in the world.

Pls read only at pink muffin tl.

“Isn’t it natural to ride in front of me?”

Carlix placed his hand lightly on my waist and spoke softly.

“Excuse me.”

He gently grabbed and put me in the saddle of his horse.

I was startled and held back the screams that were about to come out. I grabbed the horse’s neck so I wouldn’t fall and tried to keep my balance.

Carlix leapt onto the horse with a light movement and grabbed the reins as if he were hugging me from behind.

I was concerned about the feeling I felt on my back, so I moved forward to not fall back, but Carlix firmly stopped me.

“If you don’t want to fall, you’ll have to come closer to me.”

“It’s my first time riding a horse, so it’s a little uncomfortable.”

“It’s also my first time riding a horse with a lady.”

Calix kicked his horse’s thigh.

The rough movement of the horse’s sudden acceleration almost made me grab unto him.

I couldn’t help but hope that I could get to the Royal Library soon, ignoring his warm body temperature and breathing.

Carlix didn’t say anything in the meantime.

At first, I was very nervous too, but after being on the horse for a long time, the tension was relieved as I was sick and tired from the wound on my forehead.

I couldn’t resist the sleep overtaking me and closed my eyes as if fainting.

~*~

How much time has passed…

When I opened my eyes, I had arrived at the front door of the library building.

The sun was setting, and the sky quickly fell into darkness. It was an evening mixed with the glowing red sunset and dark blue darkness.

“Did you sleep well, Erika? You must be the first person to fall asleep on a running horse.”

Carlix’s low voice echoed in my ears. I was in his arms, and every time he spoke, my body trembled.

I hurriedly pulled myself away from him.

“I must have slept because I was tired. Have we arrived at the library?”

“Yes.”

Carlix jumped off his horse with a light motion. Then he carefully grabbed my waist and lowered me to the ground.

After sitting on a shaky horse for a long time, my legs suddenly faltered as I stepped on the ground.

He quickly caught me staggering.

“Are you okay?”

“Ah, yes. My legs were weak for a second…”

It was like being held in his arms.

I quickly moved away from Carlix and neatly fixed my dress.

As I moved away from his warm body temperature, I felt the cool night air only then.

Carlix came one step closer to me and bowed his head in a polite but respectful move.

“Miss Diel. You saved my brother, I sincerely thank you.”

It was the first time he spoke to me in honorifics, it was unfamiliar and it even made me feel a little frightened.

What’s wrong with him?

“No, I didn’t do anything. He was safe thanks to the director’s magic fountain pen.”

“No.”

Carlix’s gaze stayed on the bandage around my forehead for a long time.

“You shielded my brother even though you were hurt. I pay my sincere respect to your courage.”

His eyes looking down at me changed smoothly. It was the first time I saw it, and I honestly didn’t think I would be able to see it.

He could smile like this?

The noble and elegant lips drew an unfamiliar line.

I had to suppress my fast beating heart while looking at that smile.

“Erika, are you okay?”

At that time, William’s urgent voice came out and split between us. Looking back, William was rushing out of the front door of the official residence.

“I waited after hearing from you. Erika, are you okay? Where did you get hurt?

Unlike William, who was always calm, he grabbed my shoulder with a puzzled look and hurriedly checked for any injuries.

His expression was distorted when he found a bandage around my forehead. Guilt and pain fell heavily.

“It’s all my fault. It was my responsibility as the director…”

I was going to comfort William, who was blaming himself, but Carlix spoke first.

“Director William, I’m sorry. It’s entirely my fault. I couldn’t keep the librarian Erika safe to the end.”

Carlix bowed his head briefly to William and sincerely apologized.

William took a breath as if trying to control his intensified emotions, and returned with a calm look.

“The overall situation was identified through the entire West sent by the Shadow Knights. After Erika’s treatment, we’ll discuss this case.”

“Okay. I’ll be waiting.”

~*~

Upon entering the official residence, the butler and the maids were waiting in the entrance hall.

Carlix was escorted to the room, and I went to the parlor and revealed my wound. Fortunately, it was only a scratch, so it was enough to just apply medicine.

As the doctor left, William rolled up his sleeve and placed his hand on my forehead. I quickly shook my head.

“Wait a minute, you don’t have to do magic treatment. I heard that the royal palace uses magic regularly, so don’t overdo it.”

William looked at me with painful eyes. He said in a dark voice with a deep sigh.

“Give me permission to do this for you.”

I didn’t say anything else.

I leaned quietly in the armchair. A light like a warm spring haze emanated from William’s hand.

The heat gradually disappears from the wound on my forehead.

At that moment, the stiff tension was released and a sigh of relief leaked out involuntarily.

I have returned safely to my home, my fence called the Royal Library.