Chapter 21

I handed over the translation documents I was asked to do to Mr. Bernard and was making a sandwich for lunch. Nonna was polishing glasses at the table.

Nonna seems to like this kind of monotonous work. She spoke to me.

"Vicky, are you close with the bearded man from the other day?"

"Not really. We just became friends. Nonna, you should want friends too."

"No, I don't need them. It's better to train."

"Oh."

Then I spoke to Nonna in a low voice.

"Want to practice jumping up to high places?"

"Sure!"

Nonna suddenly became lively.

"Nonna, you're cute, so it's better to be strong."

"Cute?"

"Yes, very cute. If a cute girl stays weak, it's dangerous."

"Hmm."

I had previously infiltrated a human trafficking organization.

The girls who were locked in the basement until they were kidnapped and sold were all beautiful. The children of nobles, who always have guards, are not targeted. It's the good-looking girls from common families who are targeted.

On the way back from work that day, it was getting dark.

We practiced climbing the stone wall of an abandoned house near our home. It was about as tall as my shoulder. The uneven stone wall was perfect for practice.

"Jump up and grab the top, then push with your arms and the tips of your feet, like this!"

I demonstrated and easily stood on top of the wall. Nonna's eyes widened. I jumped down and let Nonna try. I helped her by holding her waist as she jumped.

"Use your core, not just your arms."

"Ugh! Oof!"

She got close but couldn't jump up in one go. Well, that's to be expected for the first time.

"If you practice every day, you'll be able to do it. Once you get used to it, you can climb even higher walls. That makes it easier to escape."

"Vicky, you're cool."

"Thank you. It's more fun to be able to do things than not."

"Yep!"

After practicing jumping up the wall several times, I spoke to Nonna in a low voice.

"Nonna, can you go home first? There's a suspicious person, and I need to tell them not to come here anymore."

"Bad person?"

"I don't know. Can you run as fast as you can and lock the door?"

Nonna nodded. She ran off without looking back, just as I told her. There are two capable men at Mrs. Yolana's estate, so she should be safe once she gets there.

I called out to the nearby woods.

"Is there something you need?"

A young man with black hair appeared from the woods, his face below the eyes covered by a scarf.

"You noticed, huh?"

This guy isn't a professional. He doesn't have the aura of someone who is used to killing.

I picked up a convenient branch, jumped onto the wall, and broke it with my knees while keeping my eyes on him. I swung it. It's not very strong, but it should work once.

"Who are you?"

"Who knows?"

"I want to talk. Come down."

"I refuse. Leave. Or I'll attack."

"How scary. I just want to talk a little."

The man raised his hands in surrender but didn't leave.

"Leave."

The man approached and easily jumped onto the wall.

I don't have to wait for him to do something. The moment he landed on the wall, I swung the branch at him. He quickly moved back to maintain his distance. This guy is somewhat capable.

"I really just want to talk, but since you're here, come at me, I'm..."

Before he finished speaking, I swung the branch diagonally and immediately slashed upward at his face. He lost his balance trying to avoid it. Fighting on a high place requires practice.

"Whoa!"

I hit his right side with the branch as he lost his balance. The branch broke, but I probably cracked a rib. He landed well but seemed to be in pain.

I jumped down next to him, feinted a punch to his face, and kicked his right side with my left foot, followed by a kick to his sternum with my right foot. He stumbled back and groaned. If I had really punched him, he probably would have grabbed my arm. My attacks are fast but light.

"Since you approached me with a knife, you can't complain if I use one too."

I noticed the knife in his pocket when we faced each other. I took out a folding knife from a holder on my waist, flicked it open, and locked the blade.

"Wait! I really don't have any ill intentions. I'm sorry. I didn't expect you to be this strong! The knife is for self-defense. I didn't plan to use it on you!"

"I don't believe you. I'll show you what happens when you approach me with a knife."

"I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!"

"Leave now. Next time, I'll break both your arms and legs."

I crouched and held the knife, warning him, and he ran off.

Who is he?

He seemed somewhat capable but wasn't used to real combat.

It's troublesome that he knows where I live.

I need to keep an eye on Nonna. I should check my luggage again in case I need to leave the country.

That night, I sat on the floor, leaning against the bed, to be prepared for any attack.

The next day, at the Bernard Fitcher residence.

I had contacted the Second Knights and the captain had come. It was lunchtime, and Nonna was listening to Mr. Bernard talk about old children's games.

"Victoria, what's the matter?"

"Yesterday, a strange man came near my house. I warned him several times to leave, but he ignored me and approached. He had a large knife hidden, so I knocked him down with a branch. I've had a little sword training. Since I've been followed before, I'm leaving the capital. I'll inform you, Captain, as my guarantor."

The captain's eyes slightly shifted.

"Yesterday, huh. I'm glad you're not hurt, Victoria. What did the man look like?"

"Black hair, blue eyes, good-looking, in his twenties, about 180 cm tall, and slender. He had a scarf covering his face."

"Was he wearing a wig...?"

"What? Do you know him, Captain?"

"Yesterday, the Second Prince went out incognito without any guards. When he returned, two of his ribs were broken. The First Knights were very angry, thinking he had been attacked."

...What a mess.

"The Prince said he just fell."

"Is that so?"

So, he was the Prince.

If it hadn't been me, he might have been killed and buried without a second thought. Does he even realize how dangerous it was?

"I also teach the Prince swordsmanship. Prince Cedric is quite strong."

The captain stared at me. I stared back. The captain looked away first.

"Captain, are you going to arrest me?"

Depending on his answer, I might disappear with Nonna right away. But what should I do with the captain in front of me? A strong man and a great benefactor who vouched for me.

"I don't intend to arrest you. I'll talk to the Prince and tell him not to approach you in such a rough manner. But I understand you might still be worried, so how about moving to my family home for a while? There are always many people there, day and night, and my brother is in a better position to protest to the royal family than I am."

"Let me think about it."

The captain nodded silently and left.

I told the captain that, but I have no intention of going to his family home. I don't want to involve his family in my problems.

During such a crisis, Mr. Bernard and Mrs. Yolana's faces came to mind. The thought of leaving this country and cutting ties with them made my chest ache. I would surely miss never seeing the captain again.

I had somehow become emotionally entangled.

On the way home with Nonna, we stopped at the 'Letter and Parcel Delivery Office' in the South District. The reply to the letter I sent to another country the day after the party had finally arrived.

It was from someone I used to work with, unknown to the special task force.

The letter seemed normal at first glance, with seasonal greetings and updates on the children's growth. I followed the rules to pick out the hidden message.

"Girl, now, unknown, public, Ash, leave, country"

"The real Victoria is still missing, and it's publicly known that she left the country for Ashbury."

(If that's the case, I don't need to run away yet, right?)

Yes, I should check one more thing. I decided to request another investigation as a precaution. I wrote a letter when I got home. My letter also looked normal at first glance.

I finished writing the letter, sewed the prepaid money into a doll, and put it in a small box.