NLBM CH 10

Chapter 10

At Viscount Ribelt’s words, the lords stared hard at Evelyn.

“The Witch of the North?”

“You mean that infamous villainess with the terrible temper?”

Damn. Did they already figure it out?

Feeling their stares, Cassian fell into thought.

Evelyn’s identity as the daughter of the Seldean duchy had to remain secret for now.

Should he just kill them all?

Their crimes were serious enough to justify immediate execution.

Meanwhile, the person in question—Evelyn—seemed completely unaware.

“If it’s too hard, would you like to lean on my shoulder?”

As speculation about her identity spread, Cassian carefully studied her face.

Her blue eyes shimmered like the sea, moisture gathering in them.

She looked innocent—yet filled with worry for him.

As if wiping dew from a leaf, Cassian gently pressed beneath her eye, then slowly pulled his finger away.

“I’m fine. Just a little tired… Ah, suddenly my head—”

He deliberately staggered and buried his face against her shoulder, breathing shallowly.

“Oh my! Look at the cold sweat! Lean on me, dear!”

Startled, Evelyn hurried to support him.

Playing along, Cassian leaned slightly into her and spoke weakly.

“Ha… just a little slower…”

Acting like a fragile deer made the murmuring behind them grow louder.

“Unbelievable.”

Swish!

“H-He’s looking back!”

“Shut your mouths!”

Cassian turned his head, and the lords’ faces went pale.

Their eyes met.

Cassian crooked his lips slightly.

Tilting his head so Evelyn wouldn’t notice, he silently mouthed—

Want to die?

Reading his lips, the lords quickly shut their mouths.

As Cassian looked forward again, he noticed something on the floor.

A dessert knife?

“Why did you stop, dear?”

“It’s nothing.”

Before Evelyn could turn around, Cassian urged her outside.

But he didn’t stop watching behind them.

Viscount Ribelt had picked up the fallen knife and was rubbing it against the rope binding him.

Normally Cassian would have stopped him immediately.

But not now.

Evelyn was beside him.

“Just a little more! The exit is close!”

“Yes. I’ll try.”

The knights were outside, so it should be fine.

They were less than ten steps from the door.

Then—

“Aaaagh! Die!!!”

A beast-like roar tore through the air.

Cassian and Evelyn turned around.

Cassian’s hand moved to his sword, but Ribelt’s target wasn’t him.

“Evel—!”

Seeing Ribelt swing the knife at Evelyn, Cassian drew his sword to protect her.

But something astonishing happened first.

“Impossible!”

“No way!”

***

“Ah!”

A scream rang in my ears.

It all happened so fast, I couldn’t process it.

When I sensed the attack, I reached out instinctively.

I only meant to block the knife.

Whoosh!

“Aaaagh!”

In the blink of an eye, the knife pierced the man’s shoulder.

Looking closer, it was the same dessert knife I had taken before leaving the estate.

I didn’t even know when it fell.

I had acted on reflex—and the result shocked everyone.

“Did she just twist Viscount Ribelt’s wrist?”

“She used his momentum against him!”

“How strong is she? She’s still restraining him with one hand!”

The lords fired off their observations.

Only then did I come to my senses.

I quickly let go and stepped back.

“I attacked him…?”

Strange. When I first transmigrated, I was completely powerless.

Why is it different now?

Have I ever learned swordsmanship?

Questions crashed over me like waves.

Before I could process it, strange images flooded my mind.

[—Watch out! Behind you!]

Whoosh!

Someone shouted urgently.

I turned and blocked a blade from someone who looked like an enemy.

[Today, I’ll take your heads! Die!]

Blades slicing the wind.

[Don’t hesitate! Fire!]

Arrows tearing through the sky.

[Kraaah!]

A monster’s roar.

[No more retreat! To the end!]

[Waaaah!]

A war was raging across a snowy field.

Foreign invaders kept climbing over the walls.

Soldiers fought desperately to defend the border.

In the chaos, I was armed—swinging my sword as if dancing.

I calmly deflected attack after attack.

Then—

[Bell! Behind you!]

Someone grabbed my shoulder.

The touch felt familiar.

I tried to turn—

“Ugh!”

A violent headache struck.

It felt like someone was hacking into my skull with an axe.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Madam? Are you hurt?”

Cassian’s voice whispered near me.

I wanted to say I was fine.

But I couldn’t speak.

Sensing something was wrong, Cassian pulled me into his arms.

“Your Grace, are you alright?!”

The knights rushed inside.

“I’m fine. Take care of the rest.”

After giving short orders, Cassian led me away.

I should’ve been supporting him.

Instead, he was helping me.

I insisted I could walk, but when I stumbled, he hesitated briefly.

“Excuse me, Madam.”

After asking for permission, he reached for me.

His left arm wrapped around my back and supported my waist.

His right arm slipped under my legs in one smooth motion.

His broad chest and strong arms formed a sturdy shield around me.

“Just endure a little longer.”

Once inside the carriage, he urged the coachman to hurry.

As I lay in his arms, the pain began to fade like magic.

His rough but careful hand stroked my back gently, over and over.

A familiar scent brushed my nose.

A subtle woody fragrance, like autumn.

Cassian’s scent.

The familiarity made me feel safer.

My eyelids grew heavy.

I tried to stay awake.

“Go ahead and sleep.”

The moment he finished speaking, I drifted into darkness.

***

“I apologize, Your Grace. It was my fault.”

“The blame is mine, my lord.”

Heavy silence filled the office.

Sebastian and Sophia bowed their heads, waiting for punishment.

Not only had they let Evelyn go outside—they had let her fall into danger.

Showing her a fake ledger to make her give up managing the household had backfired.

The image of Evelyn collapsing—and Cassian carrying her—was horrifying even in memory.

Prepared for any punishment, they confessed everything.

Cassian, who had been staring out the window, finally looked at them.

“The communication artifacts given to the servants?”

“It seems the maids turned off the function before leaving. We apologize.”

Cassian let out a low breath.

When the fake ledger was mentioned, he had guessed Evelyn might do something reckless.

But this had far exceeded his expectations.