◇ Chapter 9◇
Cesare’s question felt completely different from the day the mansion had almost been destroyed.
Back then, he had been trying to frighten Catherine into leaving.
Now…
He was asking her sincerely.
Whether she was truly willing to face dangers like these.
“The Imperial Knights can kill people. As long as they come up with a believable reason, everyone will simply accept it.”
“Are you saying… they’ll kill me?”
“Well, if we’re being exact…”
“…They have every reason to.”
There wasn’t the slightest trace of a lie in his eyes.
Yet to Catherine…
It sounded too unbelievable to be true.
Imperial Knights.
She had only seen them a handful of times in her entire life.
Even during high society gatherings, she had crossed paths with them no more than once or twice.
And now…
Out of all those rare chances…
She was facing them as people who might kill her.
What should I do?
Cesare surely had a way to drive them away.
Otherwise, there was no way he could stay so calm.
But no matter what…
She couldn’t bring herself to ask him for help.
It was a matter of pride.
Cesare’s blue eyes quietly waited for her answer.
Instead of replying, Catherine turned around and hurried downstairs.
“Surely you’re not planning to pack your things and run away in this weather, Miss Panya?”
“This is my house.”
“Why would I run away from my own house?”
Cesare’s legs were so long that one of his steps matched two of hers.
He caught up with her in no time.
As Catherine opened the door to the first-floor room that had become a storage room, she spoke irritably.
“Then why do you people keep coming after my house?”
“You people?”
While Catherine searched the small storage room by touch alone…
Cesare leaned against the open doorway with his arms crossed.
“Those men and you aren’t that different to me.”
“You keep bothering someone who’s just trying to live peacefully.”
“Hm.”
“That’s a rather disappointing thing to say.”
“Have you already forgotten that I cooked lunch for you?”
Carefully feeling along the wall, Catherine moved her hand until she found what she was looking for.
Fortunately…
It didn’t take long.
It was heavy enough to be difficult to hold with one hand.
It was also awkward to carry.
It was…
A large shovel.
Holding it carefully, Catherine walked past Cesare and left the storage room.
The hall was lit only by a few distant lamps.
More shadows than light covered his face.
“Cesare, do you know something?”
“Whenever I ask why you came here… you always change the subject.”
Cesare smiled faintly.
“There are some things in this world that are better left unknown.”
“…Fine.”
“Then why were you standing in the rain yesterday?”
“If I change the subject again…”
“…will you get angry?”
Catherine narrowed her eyes before turning away from him.
He kept following her around like a stubborn stray…
Yet he acted as though he had countless secrets.
If he didn’t want to tell her…
She wasn’t going to force him.
Still…
It irritated her a little.
Soon…
Catherine stopped in front of the mansion’s entrance.
The rain roared outside.
Holding the shovel tightly with both hands, she focused all her attention on the sounds beyond the door.
“Wait, Miss Panya.”
“You’re not actually planning to…”
Those men had entered her house without permission.
Then this counts as self-defense.
Creak—
The door opened.
A fierce wind and heavy rain rushed inside.
Heavy boots echoed across the ground.
The moment a figure wearing a pitch-black raincoat stepped through the doorway…
Catherine swung the shovel toward the hood, which was almost two hand spans above her head.
Or rather…
She tried to.
“…Huh?”
If Cesare hadn’t caught her arm…
She blinked blankly before slowly looking up.
A cold face, dripping with rainwater, stood right in front of her.
Holding both of her wrists firmly with one hand, he muttered,
“You’re a woman who never thinks before acting.”
At the same time…
The careful footsteps outside suddenly stopped.
Catherine quickly turned her head.
Her eyes met the second intruder, who had just entered.
“Who are you?”
His voice was rough and low, like stones scraping across sand.
The men in raincoats showed a flash of surprise before quickly hiding it.
One of them took a step back, ready to fight.
“Ugh!”
Thud!
A dull sound echoed through the hall.
One of the intruders slammed his head against the door and collapsed.
“Anyone with common sense…”
The other intruder didn’t escape either.
Before Catherine even understood what had happened…
Cesare kicked him hard in the shin.
He lost his balance and fell sideways.
“…should ring the bell before visiting someone’s house.”
“Ghk…”
Unable to understand the situation anymore…
Catherine slowly lowered the shovel that had become useless.
Those were Imperial Knights.
They had powerful bodies that made anyone shrink just by looking at them.
Yet…
One punch and one kick from Cesare had knocked them both down.
“Don’t you agree, gentlemen?”
His voice was so cold that he sounded like a completely different person.
The two men hurriedly got to their feet.
They quickly removed their hoods and stood at attention near the door.
Just as expected of Imperial Knights…
They were all handsome.
But more than their looks…
It was the fear on their faces that stood out.
“I… I…”
“Honestly…”
The knight Cesare had kicked immediately shut his mouth.
His discipline was obvious.
Discipline? Toward Cesare?
Ah…
Maybe because he was standing before the Grand Duke.
“Sneaking into an occupied house like rats…”
“How low has the honor of the Imperial Knights fallen?”
After those emotionless words…
Silence filled the hall.
He sneaked in without permission too…
Even Catherine couldn’t interrupt such a frightening silence.
After all…
Cesare was helping her.
…Helping me?
We’re not even that close.
Still…
Now wasn’t the time to say anything.
Quietly…
Catherine stepped behind Cesare and hid behind his back.
The Imperial Knights.
The greatest honor a young nobleman could receive.
Only thirty-three young nobles personally favored by the Emperor could become members.
They were the Empire’s brightest elite.
Just imagining that she had almost attacked one of them made Catherine’s vision go dark.
But judging by their reactions… maybe I don’t need to worry.
She carefully watched the knights.
They were clearly afraid of Cesare.
In this dark hall…
They had recognized him by his voice alone.
Even breathing seemed difficult for them while standing before him.
Cesare simply stood there with his arms crossed.
Neither knight even blinked.
Several long seconds passed.
Finally…
The brown-haired knight, sweating heavily, spoke.
“I… I…”
“Cesare.”
It sounded like one more wrong word would earn him another punch.
The brown-haired knight swallowed hard.
Even Catherine could clearly see his Adam’s apple move.
“I’m sorry.”
“I never imagined that Cesare…”
He hesitated before carefully glancing at Cesare.
“…that Your Highness Cesare would be here.”
“Your Highness Cesare?”
The knight had looked slightly relieved.
As though he believed he had answered correctly.
But Cesare’s question instantly froze his expression again.
Even without hearing his thoughts…
Catherine could almost imagine him screaming inside.
What the hell am I supposed to call you?
The difference in status between the Grand Duke and the knights was obvious.
The knight already looked exhausted from trying to avoid offending him.
“N-No.”
“I never imagined… Cesare… would be here.”
That sounded strange.
He was only saying his name…
Yet it still sounded far too respectful.
“What were your names again?”
“Damian Rodria.”
“Kashin Cloang.”
Their names sounded every bit as noble as they looked.
“I see…”
“Sir Damian.”
“And Sir Kashin.”
Cesare repeated their names without the slightest emotion.
“Neither of you wants to be reported for trespassing.”
“I’m sure of that.”
He had repeated the exact warning Catherine had given him when they first met.
Is he mocking me?
She secretly glared at the back of his head.
“We are acting under the Crown Prin…”
“That person.”
Damian swallowed hard.
“We were carrying out that person’s orders while searching this area.”
“Including the mansion where a woman lives alone?”
For the first time since the conversation began…
The knight looked directly at Catherine.
His eyes seemed to ask,
You’re still here?
There was more hostility than kindness in his gaze.
It made her uncomfortable.
Fortunately…
Cesare shifted slightly and blocked their view.
Now all Catherine could see was his broad back.
“Tell me, Sir Damian.”
“Were you planning to claim that you didn’t know?”
“We were carrying out a confidential mission, so we had no choice…”
The knight couldn’t finish his sentence.
Silence filled the hall once again.
Standing behind Cesare…
Catherine had no idea what expressions they were making.
After a while…
Cesare slowly stepped aside.
The moment their eyes met Catherine’s…
Both knights bowed deeply.
“…We sincerely apologize for our disrespect, Miss.”
“Please forgive us.”
“I’m sorry, Miss.”
Whatever silent conversation had passed between them…
Their attitudes had completely changed.
“…It’s alright.”
What exactly did Cesare do?
“May I ask one question?”
It was the knight who had remained silent until now.
“Why is…”
“…No.”
“Why is Cesare here?”
Cesare answered without the slightest hesitation.
“Does a man need a reason to visit his lover’s house?”
The knights’ mouths fell open.
They turned toward Catherine at the same time.
Their expressions looked as though they had just witnessed a legendary creature.
Of course…
Catherine wasn’t much different.
“But thanks to these uninvited guests…”
“The mood between my lover and me has been completely ruined.”
“Especially at this hour of the night.”
“So…”
“How do you plan to make up for it?”
The knights continued staring blankly.
Catherine could only think,
That’s not the expression you should be making…
I’m the one who should be making that face.
