Chapter 36

It seems like two people who look very similar but are completely different.

The red storm has passed.

I was soon moved to my uncle's residence in the first ward of the capital.

I don't know what the princess's purpose was. Why did she know about my skills? Why did she offer to bring me to the Rotus Empire under such extraordinary conditions?

If her goal was to confuse me, she succeeded greatly.

In any case, it became clear that staying in the castle was not a good idea.

There is going to be a friendly match between countries, and if there is someone who can see through the opponent's abilities, it might be called unfair later.

I don't want to cause an international issue.

It might already be happening, but I don't want to think about it right now.

My uncle also told me to rest my body.

Before moving from the castle to the residence, my uncle looked at me as if he had something to say.

I shook my head to stop him.

He probably wanted to say he was sorry for involving me.

What could I do if he said that? Should I forgive him?

I can't express it well, but it feels different.

I wanted some time to think.

Five days have passed since I moved from the castle to the residence.

Even though I was told to rest, lying in bed all the time gets boring.

Lying on the bed, I can't help but think about that princess and my uncle.

I slowly got up and decided to walk around the residence.

I came out to a spacious area with the entrance.

The white marble floor and white walls are clean and beautiful.

In such a tranquil space, I felt a slight chill.

I went up the central spiral staircase and looked outside from the second-floor window.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice.

I quietly opened the tall window near the entrance and peered down.

"Alice!"

There she was, Alice.

Alice was sandwiched between two gate guards and blocked by a knight guarding the residence.

When I called out from the second floor, Alice immediately found me. Following Alice's gaze, the guards also turned to look at me.

Alice waved her hand at me and turned back to the knight. She took a letter from her pocket and handed it to the knight.

The knight read it carefully and signaled the gate guards to let her in.

The knight led Alice towards the entrance.

I confirmed this and slowly descended the spiral staircase.

By the time I reached the bottom of the spiral staircase, the butler and maids were already waiting at the entrance to welcome Alice.

I was a bit out of breath from this short distance, as I hadn't walked much recently.

Alice, noticing this, expressed her concern with a double meaning.

"It feels like it's been a long time. Are you okay, Noah?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks."

I caught my breath and tried to sound as cheerful as possible.

"Why are you here, Alice?"

We moved from the chilly entrance to the living room and sat on opposite sofas.

"By the captain's request."

It seems Tristan asked her to check on me.

I gently placed my hand on my shoulder. Alice's gaze followed my hand.

The letter Alice gave to the knight was from Tristan, apparently allowing her to enter the residence and mentioning that she was my guard.

"He said he wanted to come himself but couldn't due to his position. Everyone was worried."

"I see..."

"How are your injuries? The knights haven't received any information. We only learned yesterday that Noah was at the Earl of Essex's residence."

The tournament must be over. Until then, I was kept in the residence, and contact with others was prohibited.

"I'm much better. The wounds have closed."

"That's good. I'm really glad."

Alice's fingers reached my shoulder. They touched me lightly and then quickly withdrew, but the spot where her fingers touched felt warm.

Somehow, we fell silent.

How is everyone in the knights?

Just as I was about to ask, I heard a knock.

"Excuse me, Master Noah, Master Chris has arrived."

"Chris...?"

I was speechless at the maid's announcement.

I know Chris doesn't like leaving the Essex territory.

The love for one's birthplace is something I, who don't have a clear hometown, can't fully understand.

However, Chris was born and raised as the daughter of the Earl of Essex.

Even during the darkest times, she was reluctant to leave that land. Perhaps it was the fear of losing her homeland, but her attachment never changed.

For Chris, who hardly ever left the Essex territory, to come to the capital...

The moment I stood up, Chris entered through the door opened by the maid.

"Noah! Why did you get hurt! Why are you standing! Get back to bed!"

"Chris..."

She was angry from the start.

Chris's gaze, which had been scanning my body from head to toe, now turned to Alice, who was sitting opposite me.

Chris's sharp gaze pierced Alice.

"Noah, who is this woman? No, that doesn't matter. Go back to bed right now."

"Wait, Chris. I'm fine."

I went to Chris and held her hand to calm her down.

Chris gripped my hand tightly and looked into my eyes.

Her eyes were filled with worry. The corners were red, and her usually strong eyebrows were slightly lowered.

I finally realized that Chris was worried.

"Did you come because you were worried?"

"Of course, you fool. Do you know how worried I was when I heard that my family was stabbed..."

Chris's shoulders trembled slightly.

Despite her male attire and usual strong demeanor, Chris's delicate and feminine heart remains.

Chris doesn't want to leave the Essex territory because she loves it. And she considers me family.

I am among the people she cherishes.

"Christine"

"Don't call me that. I'm Chris."

Chris wiped away her tears as she said this.

"Chris" was a nickname she got as a child for being tomboyish. Now, no one calls her by her original name, and she prefers the nickname "Chris."

After a while, I suggested that the calmed Chris sit next to me.

"Alice, who has been my guard since I came to the capital, happened to come to visit me today. Alice, this is my uncle's daughter, Chris."

"Pleased to meet you, Miss."

"A guard? Then shouldn't this woman have been the one to get hurt instead of Noah?"

"It's not like that, Chris."

The incident happened within the knights. Alice wasn't there.

Moreover, I got hurt because I was powerless.

"Indeed, I failed to protect Noah."

Before I could correct Chris's misunderstanding, Alice accepted the blame. Why?

"But I will definitely protect him from now on. I promise."

"Alice..."

Why?

She saved me when I was attacked in the third ward. She has already repaid her debt. Why does she say she will protect me, knowing the danger?

Chris, leaving me confused, retorted fiercely.

"How can a mere adventurer protect anyone? Just protecting yourself doesn't mean you've protected Noah. If you become a shield, who will protect Noah after that?"

Alice listened intently to Chris's words. It felt like they were directed at me, and it hurt to hear.

"You can't protect Noah from everything. Noah, come back to the Essex castle. I will protect you."

Chris's eyes, which said this, had the same light as my uncle's.

Her strong voice made me feel that she had the qualities to be the successor of Essex.

"I understand what you're saying, but what about Noah's will? Noah was stabbed trying to protect your father. Coming to the capital was his decision."

Alice continued calmly.

"Noah has always resisted being protected. If you strongly wish for it, Noah will return to the Essex castle. But is that really what Noah wants?"

"Both of us said we would protect Noah. What's the difference!"

Chris's counterargument didn't faze Alice.

"I want to protect Noah so he can do what he wants. If someone gets in his way, I will remove them."

"Is that Noah's happiness...? Getting hurt like this and still smiling as if it's nothing. Next time, it might not just be an injury. If you die, it will be too late to do anything!"

Chris grabbed me.

I bit my lip to hold back the emotions that were about to overflow.

"What do you want to do? What kind of life do you really want, Noah?"