Chapter 65

Chapter 65       

Randell stared at Nina’s sparkling golden eyes.

It is not just any yellow, but a beautiful golden color like honey that shines in the sunlight at noon.

He took a deep breath and slowly began to sort out his feelings. He separated the emotions that exploded like tangled balls of thread and examined the colors thoroughly.

“If I stay, the Blue Stone Island might think of it wrongly and put pressure on this side.”

Randell was surprised at himself that he’s still able to speak so calmly, unlike his intense feeling that wanted to break out.

“Ah······.”

Nina opened her mouth and laughed heartily.

“Then let them come if they’ll come. “

Randell was stunned for a moment then burst out laughing at Nina’s remark that goes beyond being confident to being arrogant.

The intensity of his fast-faced changing emotions hasn’t completely dissipated yet, but it has already become much lighter.

“I’ll go back.”

At his words, Nina looked at him and nodded her head.

“I understand. But Randell, if I don’t hear from you for a long time, I’ll barge on the island.”

“All right.”

He said so, and Nina also disclosed to Randell that they were going to the capital.

“We might see each other in the capital.” (Randell)

Randell said and put his hand in his pocket. His fingertips touched his glasses slightly.

He took his hand out from his pocket, took a deep breath, put his hand inside his pocket again, and pulled out his glasses. Randell tried to hand it out to Nina but failed.

“When I get back······.”

Nina smiled at Randell’s words.

“You can take as much time as you want. You also don’t have to rush yourself. You said your Master was the one who asked for you.”

“Thank you, Nina.”

He leaned down and whispered very quietly. Nina looked up and smiled.

“Don’t mention it.”

────── •❆• ──────

It’s only a dream.

Nina knew that.

The Adrian she knows doesn’t look like this, and she too doesn’t look like this.

There was fire burning everywhere. It was hard to breathe because of the smoke.

“Dame Nina.”

Nina turned her head at the sound of the call, and Adrian cut off her arm at once.

Due to the indescribable pain that came over, she still couldn’t figure out the situation as she watched her right arm fall to the ground. She clenched her teeth and held back a scream. In the end, she couldn’t stand the searing pain and fell on her knees.

“Sshhhh. It’s okay, Nina.”

His voice was as hard as steel, smooth and cold.

When she looked up with a vision blurred with tears, the Adrian in front of her was completely different from the Adrian that she knew.

Nina liked his usual decadent eyes.

But these eyes······.

Nina starred in bewilderment at Adrian’s eyes.

She has never wished to see these eyes that seemed to have been completely eaten by darkness.

Dry and dilapidated eyes.

Adrian lifted his arm to cover her mouth. She could feel the texture of the braces of his gloves with hard leather. She tried to push him with her left arm but there was no strength left in her due to the pain.

“Please hold on a little more.”

Nina screamed once again as his sword with a black obsidian blade pierced her thigh.

“It’s done.”

Adrian said in an indifferent tone and drew the sword. Nina’s saliva fell as Adrian pulled out his arm that was covering her mouth then he pulled out a cloth and tightly tied her arm and thigh to prevent it from bleeding further, giving her first aid.

“Wh-why······.”

What came out of Nina’s lips was not resentment, but a question searching for reasons. Even though it was just a dream, Nina felt like it was real.

“Nina.”

Adrian grabbed Nina’s lowered chin and lifted it up.

The eyes she met were full of pain.

Eyes that can’t cry but are hurting inside.

“I’m sorry.”

He made a small apology. He stepped back and left, leaving her alone, getting smaller and smaller as he continued walking farther······. And finally, disappeared.

“Your Grace!”

Nina opened her eyes wide, shouting.

“Huh······?”

She covered her mouth with both hands and lifted it when she realized.

‘Your Grace?’

What kind of stupid dream is this?

Nina flopped back down.

Is it because she’s unfamiliar with the room?

Or perhaps because it’s her first night at this townhouse.

‘It’s a bit ugly here.’

But she still can’t believe she had that kind of dream.

Nina fell down on the bed again. She’s never imagined an Adrian like that. Without realizing it, she stroked her right arm and touched her thigh for no reason.

He’s the one who stabbed her, but he’s the one who wore a hurt expression on his face.

‘It’s a really crazy dream.’

And strangely, it’s also quite vivid. It was so clear as if she was dreaming of something she had already experienced.

‘A cognitive dream······? No, that’s a bit too much.’

Why would Adrian attack her?

‘Is it because I’m exceptionally tired today, is that why?’

Nina recalled what happened this morning. Around dawn, their party arrived at the capital. And upon arriving at the Duke’s townhouse, it was found to be large, wide, and dilapidated.

Nina unhesitatingly looked at it with a smile and was stabbed in her ribs by Jean.

“Well, it’s not that bad right?”

“I tried my best.”

Mimina, who came to meet Nina, smiled at her and answered. She rolled up her tan hair and greeted gracefully in Blecca’s traditional attire.

“Welcome back, Master.”

As Adrian got off the horse, Mimina continued.

“Lorocomo should have come out to meet you, but something suddenly came up today.”

“I understand.”

Adrian answered briefly and followed up with a look at the townhouse.

“Well done.”

“It’s nothing.”

The people brought by Mimina moved the luggage and guided the party inside. After unpacking and settling down, Nina went to see the knights.

This time, only five people were brought with them.

There were five members; Pan and Hayden, who were part of the original members of the Dark Knights, and Kell, Charlotte, and Raja who were chosen among the new members.

Everyone was thrilled to receive the long coat, a symbol of being an elite dark knight. Raja looked at himself in the mirror several times, and Kell trimmed his hair.

Pan and Hayden were happy to be recognized and secretly told Jean, “We thought you wouldn’t pick from the existing Dark Knights.”

When Jean told Nina the story, she just grinned.

Pan had semi shoulder-length orange wavy hair. His weapon was a long two-handed sword, and when he laughed, mischief was apparent in his face.

On the contrary, Hayden had the impression of a silent monk. His dark turquoise hair was cut short and he carried two javelins.

“Has everyone unpacked?”

When Nina asked with her head sticking out of the door for the waiting room prepared for the knights, the group of people rose from their seats.

Everyone was wearing a black coat, so it somehow looked like a powerful movement.

“That’s fast.”

At the praise, Kell smiled at her.

“You have to move quickly in unfamiliar places.”

Raja shuddered, and Charlotte was still silent. Pan added:

“It’s because we’re very well disciplined.”

Nina alternately smiled at the two.

“Charlotte, position the soldiers and report back to me. The rotation is······.”

Since the five of them are in sync, she would usually ask them to decide on their own, but this time, Nina determined the order saying that it would be better to do it that way.

“Why Sir Charlotte?”

Nina answered Pan’s question calmly.

“Because Charlotte has the best perception in a wide range location.”

Nina did not show off, minding that the new and old members could clash.

“Okay,” Pan replied, but his expression was not of someone who was convinced.

But if he doesn’t have any complaints, she doesn’t really have to care about his facial expressions.

Nina looked around the townhouse.

The four-story building actually didn’t have much space to guard. Not all sides were open like a castle, and the garden was not wide.

‘Good.’

Nina checked the points and came down. The people brought by Mimina were doing their part, but the servants were always in a hurry.

‘Will Viscount Chara pop up soon?’

Somehow, she wants the events to happen while she’s still in the capital······.

At that time, she saw Lorocomo entering the front door.

Note. Javelins are mainly used for hunting contests. But some were used to wage war. They are lighter than spears and can be used with one hand. It’s also that one Olympic sport.