Bang. Bang.
The heavy sounds echoed through the building, making not only Camilla but all three men flinch.
“W-What was that!?”
“That was loud!”
“Sounded like the front entrance!”
The young man’s face drained of color. He clicked his tongue sharply and spun toward his underlings.
“You two, go see what’s going on! I’ll take this woman and escape while you do!”
“W-What!? We want to run too!”
“I-I’ll guard the maid, sir!”
Their complete lack of reliability made a vein throb on the young man’s forehead. And then, at that very moment—
“Lady Camilla!”
Footsteps thundered closer, followed by her husband’s voice. Camilla gasped and forced herself upright.
“Luke!”
“Is it this way!?”
The door burst open, and there he was, wearing the same clothes she had seen him in that morning.
(He came…!)
Relief flooded Camilla’s chest. But Luke had already noticed the three unfamiliar men standing between him and his wife. His hazel eyes flared with unmistakable killing intent.
“You bastards…!”
“W-What!?”
“Who are you!?”
D-Don’t tell me… Earl Beresford!?”
The young man alone seemed to realize who Luke was. True to his noble connections, he went pale, glanced around frantically, then slid to the floor in a full prostration at Luke’s feet.
“E-Earl Beresford! Th-This is all a misunderstanding! I was deceived! Yes, deceived by that woman!”
He jabbed a finger straight at Camilla.
“She claimed to be Lady Deidre’s maid and tried to frame us as kidnappers! How terrifying!”
“Um…”
“…‘That woman,’ you say?”
Luke’s tall frame shifted slowly. His right foot lifted, then came down without mercy on the young man’s head.
“Gah!”
“A wretch such as you dares refer to the precious Lady Camilla as ‘that woman’?”
“W-Wh-What…?”
As Luke ground his foot down, the young man’s muffled screams grew increasingly desperate. Camilla hurried over as best she could.
“Luke, stop. At this rate he’ll die.”
“Trash like this deserves death.”
“No. I won’t let you become a killer.”
Rather than appealing to mercy or salvation, Camilla chose words she knew would reach him. She gently placed her hand on his arm.
“Thank you for coming to save me. Please, instead of stepping on him, hold me.”
“Lady Camilla…!”
At her request, the murderous fire vanished instantly from Luke’s eyes. He withdrew his foot and pulled Camilla into a firm embrace.
“Lady Camilla, are you unharmed? Does anything hurt? Did these scum lay a hand on you!?”
“They didn’t. You arrived in time.”
She patted his back gently as she spoke. Luke released a long breath of relief, hugged her once more, then reluctantly loosened his arms.
Even then, he kept one arm protectively around her as he cast a cold glance at the young man sprawled at his feet and the two frozen against the wall.
“…So. It seems my wife was in your care.”
“W-Wife?”
“Th-Then that lady isn’t a maid… she’s the countess!?”
The thin man and the round man squeaked in unison. The young man slowly lifted his head, whispering in despair, “No way…”
“The countess…? She’s far too young…”
“You are the nephew who trails after some viscount like a remora fish, aren’t you?” Luke said flatly. “I hear you have been casting lecherous looks at Deidre. If you are interested in a woman, at least investigate her family properly.”
Luke spat the words out, then turned his gaze on the other two men.
“And you chose the wrong master to serve.”
“Hii!”
“Luke,” Camilla said quickly. “They did abduct me, but they did not do anything terrible.”
If left alone, the three would likely have become nothing more than stains on Luke’s blade. Camilla hurried to soften the situation.
She had been drugged and dragged here, and her arm had been pulled. That was all.
“As you can see, I’m not injured. And, well…” She hesitated, then smiled gently. “The gentleman over there even said I was cute enough to mistake for Deidre.”
“Gah! C-Countess, that’s—!”
Camilla had meant it as mitigation, but the round man went pale and began trembling violently. Luke’s lips twitched.
“Oh? So we share similar tastes in women. Perhaps we should have a long talk later.”
“Hiii…!”
For some reason, all three were shaking, but Luke did seem willing to talk rather than kill them outright.
(This should resolve everything now.)
Relieved, Camilla leaned her cheek against her husband’s chest.
Cradled in Luke’s arms as he rode, Camilla returned to the estate to find Deidre in tears.
“Mother! Thank goodness, you’re safe!”
“I’m home, Deidre. I’m all right.”
Camilla hugged her sobbing daughter, gently stroking her hair.
Deidre had not only realized the kidnappers’ intent immediately, but had also prayed fervently for her mother’s safety while Luke went to rescue her.
“I’m sorry for worrying you. But I’m so glad it wasn’t you who was taken.”
“Mother! Please think about how I felt!”
Though chastised, Camilla still believed that a mother taking her child’s place was only natural.
Sniffling, Deidre noticed her father standing quietly by the entrance, staring at Camilla. She smiled slyly where her mother could not see.
“Oh my. Mother, you’re covered in dirt! And Father, your clothes are a mess too. Please, both of you, go take a bath. I’ve already had the water prepared!”
“Thank you, Deidre. That was very thoughtful.”
“I appreciate it, but Lady Camilla should bathe first—”
“Why not go together?”
The instant Deidre dropped that remark, both Camilla and Luke froze.
Deidre grinned at her father, then turned teary eyes on her mother.
“Surely you’d worry if Father stayed dirty like that, wouldn’t you?”
“Well… yes. He did work so hard. I would like him to wash up quickly.”
“And Father, you want Mother to bathe right away too, don’t you?”
“…Of course. But there are two baths—”
“Oh no! I only had one filled!”
Deidre covered her face dramatically.
“What a terrible mistake. I’m so sorry, Father, Mother!”
“It’s all right, Deidre,” Camilla said quickly, stroking her back. “You must have been frightened. Just preparing the bath is more than enough.”
“Then we mustn’t waste the water,” Camilla continued softly. “Luke… if you don’t mind, shall we bathe together?”
“B-But…”
“I can at least wash your back. Would you dislike that?”
“Never! I would be honored!”
Flustered though he was, Luke answered without hesitation.
“I couldn’t possibly let Lady Camilla wash me…”
“Then perhaps you could wash my hair instead?”
Trading such awkward exchanges, they took each other’s hands and headed toward the bath. Deidre watched them with a satisfied grin, then stretched languidly.
“Well then… while those two relax, I suppose I should take care of something myself.”
She turned to the butler standing quietly behind her.
“…Where are the men who abducted Mother?”
“Bound with rope and left by the rear warehouse, per the master’s orders.”
“Very good.”
Deidre brushed back her dark ash hair and smiled sweetly.
“Now then. Shall we begin our little ‘conversation’?”
The man claiming to be the nephew of Viscount Mason had apparently first noticed Deidre at a soirée he attended through his uncle’s influence.
Unable to gain her interest, he decided that winning the favor of Luke, who doted on her, was the fastest route. Thus, he devised the kidnapping scheme.
When Camilla later asked Luke what punishment the men received, he replied calmly, “I instructed them to reflect deeply on their actions and give thanks for the mercy you showed them.”
It seemed Luke had chosen restraint out of consideration for Camilla’s wishes. If they truly repented, that was best. Camilla felt relieved.
That said, Luke became even more overprotective afterward, increasing the number of guards at their estate. He apparently wished to forbid Camilla from walking alone in the garden, but instead compromised by strengthening security. His kindness warmed her heart.
From that day on, after they had bathed together, Luke began inviting Camilla to join him more often.
Though she still felt shy, Camilla did not dislike bathing together at all, and she found herself quietly pleased each time he asked.
Upon hearing this, Deidre merely muttered, “So he’s acquired a taste for it,” with a knowing look.
“The Countess Is Kidnapped”—The End
