Chapter 90

#090 He Has a Secret (1)

- Thud!

I couldn't quite grasp what was happening.

I stared blankly at the man blocking my view and his slowly collapsing white hair.

What just happened?

“Ugh...”

“Sir Haines.”

My voice was faster than my brain's judgment.

With a thud, Sir Johann Haines slumped to the theater floor.

I instinctively grabbed his shoulder and checked him over.

A flustered Kristel quickly approached.

The monster, 'Esprit,' which had been replicating his appearance, was nowhere to be seen.

“Sir Haines, you're bleeding.”

“I'm fine.”

“You don't look fine.”

The side of his white shirt was quickly turning bright red.

My voice and fingertips were trembling slightly.

I closed my eyes and drew the healing circle for 'Stanching' that I had memorized.

I was worried I wouldn't succeed on the first try due to my panic, but I managed to do it.

I didn't forget to recite the incantation.

[Let it be declared, the spring of the Lord shall not run dry.]

-Swoosh...

A blue ether circle appeared.

A circular shape enveloped Sir Haines and me, slowly rotating clockwise and generating sky-blue particles.

The particles hurriedly gathered at Sir Haines' side.

Kristel crouched down in front of him.

Her large eyes were moist with shock and guilt.

“What do we do, teacher? It's because of me. What do we do? I'm sorry.”

“It's not because of you... I forgot to tell you about it.”

Sir Haines leaned against the back row of seats.

The bleeding seemed to have stopped, as the stain on his shirt didn't spread further.

But sweat was forming on his forehead.

“Esprit, I saw it when I was very young, the first time. I forgot it had teeth. I should have been more careful when killing it...”

“What do you mean? It's not like it has squid teeth...”

Kristel frowned and said, half laughing, half crying.

I patted her shoulder lightly. It's okay. It's not your fault.

“Is the tooth embedded in your body now? Is there any poison?”

I asked as calmly as possible. If so, I could open the 'Antidote' circle.

Since it was a low-level monster, the beginner-level incantation I had memorized would be sufficient.

“There's no poison. But, um...”

He smiled awkwardly. Clear pain was reflected in his mint-colored eyes.

“It's digging into my flesh. It seems to be trying to pierce through me.”

Kristel and I opened our mouths in shock.

“Elisabeth. Is your father at the mansion?”

The silence was broken by Prince Cedric's voice. I quickly turned my gaze.

Lady Elisabeth, who had entered the room, was standing next to the prince, assessing the situation.

She spoke to her friend with a determined look.

“He is. Let's go to my house.”

*

“Sir Haines, the Mute Viscount's mansion is only a five-minute walk from the opera house. It's much closer than the palace. Please bear with it a little longer.”

I said as I quickly climbed into the carriage, maintaining the 'Stanching' healing circle.

At first, it seemed the bleeding had stopped, but the tooth was continuously creating new wounds as it dug into the patient's body.

Despite the severe pain, Sir Haines, lying in the carriage, was surprisingly quiet.

Ganael, who sat next to me, handed him a painkiller from the emergency supply.

It might not work well for this level of injury, but it was better than nothing.

“Ganael, I need to stay here and clean up the scene.”

Lady Elisabeth said, holding the carriage door.

Thanks to the effect of my divination, fortunately, the front of the theater wasn't too chaotic.

But the Grand Warden of the Royal Guard's work wasn't over yet.

Ganael nodded calmly.

“I'll explain to your father. Don't worry.”

“Okay, I trust you.”

The young viscount interlocked fingers with the boy and then let go.

He bowed to me and Sir Haines and quickly closed the door.

The carriage started moving as if it had been waiting.

I scooped some of the painkiller with a small spoon and fed it to Sir Haines, then lifted his head slightly to let some water trickle into his mouth.

“It's a painkiller.”

“I can bear it now.”

“Not just anyone can be a Grand Preceptor-level Paladin.”

He chuckled at my words. He usually looked a bit tired, but now he looked pale.

I glanced out the window.

The royal carriage carrying the prince was leading the way, and behind it was the carriage of the Sarnes family, with Benezaim sitting inside.

I could also see the carriage carrying the guards.

“I didn't know the Mute Viscount's husband was a doctor.”

Sir Haines muttered. I nodded in agreement.

In the world of 'Retired Duke,' not only healing priests but also ordinary doctors who treated internal and external injuries, like the royal physicians, existed.

Especially, commoners, who found it difficult to meet healing priests due to their status and economic issues, often sought out regular doctors.

While they couldn't heal as quickly as priests, they could still make patients better.

I quietly looked down at the patient and then spoke.

“Thank you, Sir Haines.”

“For what?”

“For saving me. I saw the monster's tooth flying towards my chest.”

He slightly raised the corners of his eyes.

“I was just doing my job.”

His answer made me frown involuntarily.

'Doing his job' meant he was protecting me as part of his duty, which he had accepted from Princess Elisabeth.

I knew this, but...

“You should still take care of yourself.”

I said. He opened his eyes wide in surprise.

In a Western medieval setting, it was undoubtedly honorable for a knight to risk his life to protect someone.

I knew I would have died if he hadn't blocked the tooth.

So, saying this was a serious contradiction.

But I was an ordinary Korean who had lived in the 21st century.

Seeing someone else get hurt and suffer in my place was, frankly, scary and made me feel guilty.

No matter how much this world was like a novel.

“I'm not a knight, and I haven't seen much blood. You can think of me as weak-hearted. I'm not asking you not to protect me. I just... hope Sir Haines stays healthy.”

I stopped speaking there. I didn't know what I was saying. I was conflicted.

“...As the prince said,”

-Neigh!

The horse's whinny interrupted Sir Haines' sentence.

Looking out the window, I saw the grand Mute Viscount's mansion glowing brightly in the night.

The carriage slowed down, and the sound of the iron gate opening was heard.

The procession soon stopped completely inside the mansion.

Ganael, who was sitting on the outside, immediately opened the carriage door. A knight from the mansion approached.

“Why has the royal family come, Lord Kalamare?”

“Yes, it's me. Please inform my father that there's a patient who needs surgery. The prince is in the carriage ahead.”

“Ah, understood. I'll bring him right away!”

The knight bowed respectfully and quickly disappeared.

Ganael turned to me and smiled.

I knew he was close to Lady Elisabeth, but now it seemed they were like siblings.

*

As soon as Sir Haines got out of the carriage, he was placed on a stretcher and immediately moved to the study of Sir Michel Mute, Lady Elisabeth's father.

Sir Michel couldn't greet us personally due to the surgery preparations, but the prince didn't mind.

I sighed in relief and received the greetings of the viscount's servants.

They all seemed very familiar with Ganael.

“Prince Yeseo?”

At that moment, a familiar voice rang in my ears.

Turning my head, I saw Eva Blancquer, a guest here, wearing a gown over her nightgown.

I had just remembered the young lady's presence. Wow, how distracted I must have been.

“Eva, did you sleep well?”

We had agreed to call each other by name, as I couldn't bring myself to use a more formal address.

Eva answered spiritedly.

“Yes. It's quiet and nice without my brother. But why isn't Lady Elisabeth here, and why are the others... Hic!”

Her dark brown eyes widened dramatically.

“H-His Highness the Prince! Hello, Princess Sarnes...”

The child's face turned red, and she bowed, unsure of what to do.

Despite seeing the faces from the duel site, she seemed very shy, fidgeting with the sleeves and waistband of her gown.

It was impressive that she had maintained a poker face that day.

She had clearly been genuinely admiring her potential religious companion.

“Hello, Princess Blancquer. I didn't get to introduce myself properly last time. I didn't know you were staying at the viscount's mansion.”

Kristel smiled and greeted the child.

I was a bit worried about how she had shown immense hostility towards the young viscount, but fortunately, she seemed to have no feelings towards his sister.

Given Kristel's personality, this was expected.

“Sh-Should I change clothes? I'll change and come back.”

“No, you're fine. You look cute as