“I’ve already sent someone that way. By now, the situation should be under control.”
Phew, Ariella let out a sigh of relief.
If Ashbon’s knights had gone to support him, she felt reassured. She couldn’t let her guard down completely yet, but at least her tension eased a bit.
“I will handle this one first.”
Nobert kicked the assailant again with his boot. Perhaps due to the impact on his head, the man lying on the ground could only groan and did not resist.
When Nobert gestured with his chin, a knight standing behind him approached and effortlessly lifted the fallen assailant.
Seeing this, Ariella unconsciously opened her mouth.
“Are you going to kill him?”
Had she relaxed too much? The words that came to her mind slipped out without any filter.
Hah, Ariella quickly covered her mouth, but it was too late; Nobert had already heard.
“…No, I will save him.”
Fortunately, he didn’t seem particularly angry at her rude remark. In fact, his voice saying he would save the assailant sounded almost compassionate.
Perhaps Nobert had a gentler nature than she had thought. Ariella thought this, forgetting the moment he had stepped on the assailant’s fingers without hesitation.
It didn’t take long for her to realize that this thought was a delusion.
“He must be made to pay for the crimes he committed.”
You can’t just let him die so easily. The added voice was anything but merciful; it was chilling.
“After treating him just enough to keep him alive, I will send him back in a compliant state. Then, he can be formally interrogated in Bedford.”
“…I appreciate the offer, but it’s okay. There’s no need for the Duke to go that far. Once the first aid is done, I will take him away myself.”
She firmly declined. Amira, who had been listening to the conversation, shot her a fiery look as if to say why she was letting such a valuable opportunity slip away, but Ariella had no intention of changing her mind.
It was true that she had received significant help from him, but it would be troublesome to get further entangled with Nobert.
‘It’s suspicious that he appeared so timely.’
Thinking back, there were many points that raised suspicion. She braced herself, ready to question him properly.
However, at that moment, a sharp pain shot up her ankle.
“Ugh.”
Ariella grimaced and let out a small groan.
Now that she thought about it, she had twisted her ankle. She had only just remembered it.
“Are you hurt?”
The low, calm voice suddenly turned urgent.
The previously expressionless face finally showed signs of agitation. His thick eyebrows furrowed, and his gaze became more fierce.
The man, who had been treated like a beast for killing without a second thought, now looked extremely angry at her one groan.
As the man, larger than her palm, suddenly stepped closer, Ariella instinctively flinched and took a step back.
Startled. Just as Nobert seemed about to approach her recklessly, he suddenly stopped. Time seemed to freeze, his solid and agile body like a black panther froze without moving.
It was only when Ariella began to feel puzzled that his mouth opened again.
“…The promise you made to use me as you wish was merely to escape that situation, wasn’t it?”
“Ah, that….”
“The reason you are so reluctant to accept my help is indeed because of my blood, isn’t it?”
Words she had never expected came out. Ariella looked up at him, her eyes wide in confusion.
“Is my lowly and filthy origin a burden to you as well?”
“What? That can’t be true!”
Ariella exclaimed in surprise, raising her voice.
Thinking it might be a joke, she met his gaze and saw an endlessly serious look in his eyes.
He truly meant what he said.
The great Nobert, the lord of the Ashbon Duchy, was making such a low self-esteem statement. Even having heard it with her own ears, she couldn’t believe it.
He was a man who wouldn’t even give a second thought to Aaron’s provocations or the light chatter of the nobles.
He had never felt humiliated enough to get angry or run away in sorrow. Instead, he would crush his opponents with flawless logic or a confident demeanor.
However, the man standing before her now was exhibiting an entirely different attitude.
His furrowed brows gave off an unexpectedly weak impression, and his red eyes subtly trembled as he scrutinized her reaction.
It was as if he was gauging whether her response was sincere or not.
‘…Have I been too cold?’
If he hadn’t been Nobert, she would have surely faced another danger. Not only herself but also Adam, Amira, and even the warrior would have been at risk.
Having received his help and feeling safe, she was too busy being wary instead of properly expressing her gratitude to her benefactor.
Suddenly, a wave of self-loathing washed over her. It was pathetic that, even after receiving help, she was filled with suspicion instead of gratitude.
