Chapter 3: I’m Back
“Is this the carriage?”
A low, dry voice cut through the oppressive heat, which had now subsided in the damp rain. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
It seemed like Richard was responding to something, but his voice was barely audible. In contrast, the stranger’s voice, low and dry, penetrated through the downpour with eerie precision, sending goosebumps down Adeline’s spine.
Who was it?
Adeline gently curled her fingers, squeezing them as a sudden rush of hot air filled her chest.
“Who’s inside?”
The man asked again, and Richard mumbled something in response.
A heavy silence followed, thick and uncomfortable. Adeline disliked the tense quiet.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
She heard the sound of footsteps approaching the carriage. The maid, who had been close to the slightly open window, recoiled in surprise.
Richard’s embarrassed voice reached her from outside. “Uh, that—!”
What an idiot, she thought.
Adeline spoke before the stranger could open the door. “What’s happening out there? Sir, are you a fool?”
“That… that’s what I’m trying to say,” Richard stammered, flustered.
“Just tell me—is this an attack or not? My escort is an idiot indeed.”
“It’s not an attack,” Richard answered, his tone unusually submissive. It was clear that the man in black armor standing outside had something to do with his sudden change in demeanor.
Adeline, irritated, opened the window wider. The wooden frame, swollen from the moisture, moved stiffly. She peered out into the rain-soaked landscape. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
In the midst of the rain and mist, Richard and the knights had stepped aside to reveal…
An unknown man.
A man dressed entirely in black stood before them, drawing everyone’s gaze. His mere presence exuded such a palpable threat that those around him instinctively stepped back, holding their breath. Even though his face was hidden beneath a heavy waterproof coat, the air around him was charged with intimidation.
“Ah…” the maid gasped, trembling under the weight of the man’s charisma.
The rain swept away the mist, and his black armor gleamed coldly despite the strange, lingering haze. The waterproof coat obscured his eyes, making it impossible to see his face in detail, but his sharp mouth, set against his pale chin, gave the impression of someone calmly observing her.
Raindrops splashed through the open window, dampening Adeline’s dress. Water droplets formed on the back of her hand resting on her knee. She frowned slightly as the man took a large step toward the window, revealing his towering figure. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
When he reached the carriage, his presence alone blocked the rain from entering. He grabbed the roof of the carriage with one hand, and his black waterproof coat draped over his shoulders like an awning, cutting off the light and muffling the sound of the rain entirely.
Adeline’s eyes focused on the man’s lips, while his gaze fell on her hands. They locked eyes, silently observing one another for a long moment.
“Adeline Vita?” the man finally asked.
The maid began to hiccup in fear.
Richard, stunned, instinctively took a step back.
Adeline let out a long sigh before replying.
***
At first, Adeline thought the knights were sent by her father to meet her. However, their behavior suggested otherwise. They were simply black-armored soldiers. Who was that man? Neither an enemy nor an ally—just an uninvited guest? Suddenly, Adeline realized something. She recognized him from the shape of his chin and lips peeking out from beneath his waterproof hood. It was a strange “aha” moment. That photo! It was just a fleeting glimpse, yet the face had lodged itself in her memory in an instant. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“You….”
The man was the Lion King, and the others were his knights. He was the subject of the uproarious article she had read in Marma’s noble newspaper just moments ago.
“I asked if you are Adeline Vita,” he repeated.
But Adeline didn’t answer, and he didn’t press further. Neither of them uttered a name, as if they had silently agreed to forgo unnecessary questions, acknowledging each other’s identity without words.
The Lion King’s gaze remained fixed on Adeline, and hers lingered on him in return.
Suddenly, the Lion King’s knights surrounded her carriage, positioning themselves both in front and behind, raising their massive swords concealed beneath their waterproof coats. A clanking sound echoed through the rain.
Richard, flustered, exclaimed, “Is there a problem?”
“An attack is coming.”
The assassins.
“This way!”
“They’re coming! Be on guard above the trees!”
“Kyaaaaa!” The maid dropped to the ground in terror.
Adeline turned her head and slowly closed the window. Just before shutting it, she caught a glimpse of the Lion King’s figure disappearing as swiftly as mist. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
***
The battle didn’t last long. In fact, it was so brief that it barely qualified as a fight. There were only a few screams and the sounds of swords clashing.
They had faced multiple attacks during the long journey from Nova to Marma, but this was the first time they had experienced such a short and futile struggle. Even the maid, who had been lying on the ground trembling, lifted her head in confusion.
“Princess… why is it so quiet?”
“I don’t know.”
Either they were all dead, or they were all alive.
Adeline tilted her head to the side and pressed her fingers to her forehead, which was beginning to heat up. As time passed, the warmth spread through her entire body, making her vision blur and inducing a wave of dizziness. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
Just then, a murmur drifted in from outside.
The maid clasped her hands together, trembling on her knees.
“I’ll open the door.” Richard’s voice rang out from outside the carriage.
Adeline struggled to clear her blurred vision.
As the door swung open, Richard stepped aside to let the Lion King enter.
Adeline squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again as hot sweat dripped into her eyes.
This time, the Lion King’s gaze was fixed squarely on her.
But their staredown didn’t last long; her body had reached its limit.
As soon as he noticed her condition, his expression twisted in concern, and her vision faded to black.
“Adeline–”
The Lion King’s voice echoed heavily in the air.
‘Who told you to call my name like that, man?’
Even as she slipped into unconsciousness, those were her thoughts. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
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