IATAOTHKG | CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 17

There was one thing all the people of La Rundel Town had in common.

“Oh my goodness! Lady Meyna!”

“I heard you’ve been staying in Ashirius… How did you travel such a long way?”

They all loved House Winslet.

The town began when Duke Tunnel Winslet’s parents gathered orphans and the poor from all over the empire and gave them homes and food for free.

And Tunnel Winslet and his wife carried on that legacy.

Until Meyna’s father, Tunnel, died after being falsely accused.

And until her mother, Rosaline, died of illness.

Both of them devoted their lives to caring for the people and building this town.

So it was no surprise that the townsfolk greeted Meyna with open arms.

“It’s been so long since you’ve come, my dear!”

“How have you been, ma’am?”

Meyna hugged the tearful woman.

Khalif watched the two women exchange blessings and pat each other’s hands, wearing a strange expression.

He murmured under his breath.

“So that’s why they told me to go out.”

“Huh?”

“To let you have your emotional reunion with the townspeople.”

A short while earlier, Meyna’s aunt and uncle, who had been fixing a fence, hugged Khalif tightly and said,

“Go on, enjoy the festival.”

It was February, the season to pray for prosperity in the coming year.

La Rundel Town was in the middle of its biggest festival of the year.

Spring flowers had just begun to bloom, and everywhere was bright and colorful.

“So pretty.”

Meyna murmured without realizing it.

It was truly a dreamlike sight.

People, taking a break from their work, strolled the streets with champagne glasses in hand, their faces glowing with happiness.

“I heard Lady Meyna became a secretary. That tall man beside her must be Khalif Lennox!”

“How elegant! They look just like a married couple.”

‘…At this volume, they’re practically saying it so we’ll hear it.’

Meyna walked awkwardly, like something had gone wrong with her body.

Meanwhile, Khalif, walking half a step ahead, had already taken off his jacket and slung it over his arm.

The pale blue shirt softened his otherwise cold image.

It was an excellent color choice, but the open chest buttons were drawing too much attention.

‘Even though that shirt was tailored for him.’

He was too large to wear off-the-rack clothes, so most of his outfits were custom-made.

‘He must’ve gotten even bigger recently.’

Meyna’s eyes lingered on the shirt’s back, stretched tight with horizontal creases.

Each time he took a step, the movement of his back muscles showed clearly through the stiff fabric.

“Sir Lennox!”

Just then, an old man wearing a baker’s hat stopped in front of them.

“My respects! Thanks to you, we live safe from those wicked beasts!”

He politely removed his hat and bowed deeply to Khalif, then looked at Meyna.

“My lady, please enjoy this with Sir Lennox.”

He handed her something, which turned out to be a sugar-covered donut.

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

Meyna smiled gently and bowed her head.

The praises and gifts kept coming after that.

Khalif didn’t show much reaction, but Meyna could tell from his expression that he was in a good mood.

La Rundel Town was truly full of love.

A holy knight respected by the people, and a noble lady adored by them.

The two walked gracefully through the festival like they were gliding over water.

“Come now, my fine gentleman!”

A man in a flashy floral jacket, busy calling for customers, didn’t seem to recognize them at all.

He was likely someone unfamiliar with the world and not from La Rundel Town.

“Would you like to experience the glory of winning our contest?”

Khalif frowned at his rude tone.

“Sir Lennox.”

Standing beside him, Meyna quietly called his name and lightly tapped his arm.

Only then did Khalif relax his expression a little.

“What kind of contest is it?”

Meyna asked in his place.

“It’s an arm-wrestling competition! Last year’s champion was knocked out in the second round—quite the upset! Hahaha!”

The man laughed heartily and added,

“If you win, your lovely lady will receive a fine prize!”

“Lenn—”

Before she could finish, Meyna froze.

Because she saw the wild gleam in Khalif’s eyes.

***

An hour later.

A mysterious man wearing a ridiculous cat mask appeared in the arena and sat confidently at a table.

He had crushed five opponents in just three seconds each and was now heading into the final round.

“Please, go easy on them.”

Meyna said nervously.

“And make sure your mask doesn’t come off.”

“Why do I even have to wear this stupid thing?”

“…”

…Even Meyna couldn’t explain it.

It was just a seven-year secretary’s instinct that told her his identity must not be revealed.

“All right, miss, please step aside.”

The host with the megaphone gestured for Meyna to move.

With an uneasy heart, she sat among the spectators.

She knew Khalif was competitive, but his determination had far exceeded her expectations.

“On the left, we have the butcher shop owner who can wrestle bulls with his bare hands—Mr. Biggie!”

“Wooooo!”

The massive man raised his thick arm to hype up the crowd.

He had dark skin, a heavy beard, and a huge frame—almost like someone had doubled Khalif’s size.

“And on the right, our mysterious gentleman in a seductive cat mask! We don’t know his name or where he’s from—give it up for the sexy, spicy Cat Boy!”

“WAAAAAAAAH!”

The cheers were several times louder than before.

And then came—

“Oh my god!”

“Kyaaaaah!”

“AAAAAAAAHHHH!”

A chorus of shrieking women joined the crowd.

By now, nearly three hundred spectators had gathered.

The men were flushed with excitement, and the women looked utterly lovestruck.

Even with his face covered, a handsome man radiates charm.

Behind the cheap cat mask, Khalif exuded an irresistible allure.

The host put down the megaphone and took his place as referee.

“Get ready!”

He gripped both men’s wrists tightly.

A tense silence filled the arena.

“Heh.”

A short laugh escaped.

‘Unbelievable.’

It was just an arm-wrestling match, yet the atmosphere felt like a war.

The referee, visibly excited, shouted,

“Start!”

“WAAAAAAAH!”

The contest began amid deafening cheers.

From Meyna’s side of the table, she could clearly see Mr. Biggie.

His entire body turned tomato-red, and steam puffed from his nose like a bull.

“You son of a—! Aaaaargh!”

While Biggie shouted and cursed, Khalif remained completely silent.

Still, the balance tipped decisively in his favor.

“I’m not holding back anymore! Aaaaargh, you bastard!”

With a final desperate scream, Biggie threw all his strength into it.

After a fierce struggle that made the table shake, Khalif put in one last push.

Crack!

A sharp, sickening sound rang out.

Then silence.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!”

The silence broke with Biggie’s scream.

He clutched his arm, which had bent the wrong way, and collapsed to the ground.

“Oh no! His arm—his arm’s completely broken!”

“It snapped!”

“How awful!”

The horrified crowd erupted into chaos.

The referee and the floral-jacketed host rushed to help the injured man.

“This is insane! Absolutely insane!”

Meyna turned pale and stomped her foot in panic.

Meanwhile,Khalif scratched the back of his head and glanced around the stands.

Spotting Meyna, he shrugged as if to say, What can you do?