Chapter 27

Valhail Castaques.

“You already know it, don’t you? I’m sure you’ve heard it.”

I expected the Raven to tell him.

The warlike Raven would not have committed suicide without pointing his sword at him if it hadn’t been for it.

“I’m not familiar with the name. It isn’t mine.”

Did he really know nothing?

It was unknown if Valhail lost his memory while being tested at the temple or if he came in the empire with his memories erased from the beginning.

In <Bound of Salvation>, he was from the southern kingdom, who did not have much relative importance. There was no mention of what he was going through.

He, too, didn’t seem to place a high value on his own history or forgotten memories.

“So you give me a name.”

As he said that, I stared at him.

“Hmm.”

Valhail was most likely pushed aside or betrayed by the royal family during the power struggle.

He would not have been put into an enemy country with his memories erased if it hadn’t been for that.

Even before the end of the war.

I was busy handling what was in front of me, so I didn’t intend to intervene in his complicated past.

In addition, it was a story that did not appear in the original.

“Are you wounded in any way? According to what I’ve heard, you saved my uncle’s life.”

I changed the subject and turned to face him.

“Is your body still in the same condition as I treated you?”

“Yeah.”

He remained unaffected even when I turned the subject as I would like.

I even wondered if he was the ferocious man in the quarantine room.

“Show it to me.”

He stiffened when I glanced up at him right in front of him, as if embarrassed by the bold request I made.

However, as he realized I was serious, he quickly drew his cloak.

Tap, tap…… he unbuttoned his shirt one by one as he glanced down at me.

He lowered his hands after releasing the last button, as if telling me to do anything I wished.

I took a step closer and gently leaned against the exposed side of the tunic.

I was still astounded by his excellent body when I glanced at it again.

I examined his bulging neck, collarbones, shoulders, chest, and abs with my eyes and hands as gently as possible.

There were no wounds in the sleek, firm physique that came close to touching my fingertips.

It was perfect.

I stroked his body with arrogance, as if I were an artist inspecting his own sculpture, yet he didn’t condemn me for being impolite.

“Can you promise that you will not be hurt in the future?”

When I looked him in the eyes and asked, he answered sheepishly once more.

“I promise.”

It was then.

Beyond the guard post, I heard a voice calling to me quietly.

“Lady Selina!”

It was William.

Valhail’s eyes remained glued on me even when I turned my attention away from him for a little while.

“Is your name, Selina?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a beautiful name.”

I busted out laughing since his appearance was both amazing and adorable.

“It’s time for me to leave. Next time, I’ll see you.”

I turned back after a few steps and found him still staring at me, kneeling in the moonlight.

“Valhail.”

My lips moved by themselves.

“Your name is Valhail.”

* * * * *

“I believe that strengthening the limits will necessitate greater funding.”

The realm of Count Crawford, which was in a marginal area, did not earn much originally.

Only five years have passed since the war came to an end and a ceasefire was declared.

The desolate land has not yet recovered, and the farm was the target of exploitation of barbarians.

“How much more of my money are you going to spend?”

Camilla wrinkled her brow like a worried man as she bandaged Cedric’s arm splint.

“Now, all that’s left is dowry. It’s been long since my husband died, and I keep reaching out to my father.”

Cedric struggled to find the right words. If it weren’t for this circumstance……

“My father knows well that if you marry another woman, I’m in a position to leave the countdom, Cedric.”

“I’m not getting married to anyone.”

“Well, we never know.”

Cedric locked his gaze on Camilla, who was delicately bandaging his arm.

“Changing a man’s heart is as simple as turning the palm of your hand.”

She was slyly lowering her eyes, so Cedric wouldn’t tell what kind of face she had.

“Please consider my situation, Cedric.”

Camila placed her palm on Cedric’s shoulder after finishing the bandage and tenderly raising her gaze.

“You and Selina are the only Crawford family bloodlines left, but she’ll marry and leave shortly, and you’re still unmarried.”

Only heirs through lineage can inherit the family title, according to imperial law.

“Who knows? Which lady will come and knock on the gate of this castle with a baby that looks just like you.”

“…Are you trying to insult me?”

“It’s conceivable. Because you’ve been gone for quite some time. Cedric, don’t act as if you have no idea what’s going on.”

“I have nothing to say. It’s better if you leave now.”

Camilla, who had been confronting him as if they were in a staring contest, stood up first.

“I’m going to write to my father. The countdom is in jeopardy, and you have been seriously injured.”

The Duke of Maple will no longer pretend to be unaware.

“I appreciate it.”

“This is going to be the last time.”

Camilla returned his stare as she stood at the door.

“Whether you marry me, or hand over the military power to our family.”

“……”

“Cedric, you’ll have to choose between the two.”

Clack.

The door had been shut.

Cedric, who had been left alone, covered his face with his large palm, as if he were in agony.

“…our family?”

No matter how powerful the Maple duke is, but to call Crawford as ‘our’ family……

The support he deserved as the guard of the boundaries of the empire was cut off.

In the first place, the Crawford family was out of the eyes of the imperial family because of the remarriage with Camilla.

Because of the barbarians, he lost some knights, thus they must be in heat.

Cedric was at a loss how to get through this situation.

* * * * *

On my walk back to my room after meeting Valhail, I noticed Camilla from afar.

She walked inside the annex at a brisk pace.

‘Who is that guy next to her?’

Penny sat up all night waiting for me since she was apprehensive about me going out late at night.

“Lady, what has caused you to be so late?”

“I’ve got a job to do. Penny, by the way.”

“Yes?”

“I just saw my mother. Who is the man next to her?”

Was it an escort?

I’ve seen him a couple times with Camilla.

But considering him as an escort, the atmosphere is somewhat……

“Lady, who are you talking about?”

“You know…… the blonde guy who just started to have M-shaped hair loss.”

“Oh.”

Penny smiled and seemed worried for a moment when she realized who I was talking about.

“Lady, you really don’t remember anything?”

“……”

“How can you not recognize the butler? What should I do, my lady……”

My mouth opened wide.

‘Crazy. That was the butler?’

How disrespectful that butler was that he never showed himself to Selina before!

‘I thought he was Camilla’s escort!’

No wonder, he looked somehow like a mischievous guard.

The butler was always by Camilla’s side and never said hello to me.

He never showed himself to me, not just when I went to the monastery for a month, but also when I switched rooms.

Of course, I understand why the butler behaves in this manner.

Also, the reason why I didn’t recognize the butler at a glance.

‘I thought he was a very attractive man.’

He was, in fact, a regular middle-aged man.

‘Didn’t they say they’ve known each other since childhood?’

Camilla and the butler had known one other since childhood.

As a result, he was aware of all Camilla’s evil deeds.

The Archduke threatens the butler and makes him a witness in the trial in the original story, and Camilla weeps bloody tears at his betrayal.

It happened in the story’s second half of the story.

I skipped it since it was tedious, but if my memory serves me correctly……

“Are you sleeping, lady?”

“First and foremost, go to bed. I have something to check.”

“How can I sleep first?”

Penny sat down next to me in her pajamas after getting up from the bed in the corner of the room.

“What are you going to check?”

Penny tilted her head thoughtfully as she followed my gaze.

“Why the annex? Is there anything suspicious about the madam’s behavior?”

“You’ll know it when you see it.”

We didn’t take our gaze away from the annex’s entrance as we sat side by side in front of the window.

How much time has passed?

It was such a deep dawn that one wax candle completely melted.

“Yawn, lady. I’m so sleepy……”

“That’s why I told you to get some sleep first.”

“Still, I’m also curious. What the hell is going on…… Huh?”

Penny’s pupils dilated immediately.

‘As expected.’

At the same time, we both saw the same thing.

A man running out of the annex with a cravat in his hand and a disorganized shirt.

The hand’s moving gesture appeared more suspicious to anyone who glanced at it.

“Why is the butler…… coming out of the Madam’s bedroom at this hour?”

Penny covered her mouth quickly, probably because she had only just realized what she had said.

“Well, My Lady, I’m going to bed first.”

Penny suddenly dived under the blanket, as if she had seen something she couldn’t see.

It was not until late that I could stretch out my feet and lie on the bed.

‘That’s why Camilla chose to remain at the annex.’

She could have kicked me out of the room, but she didn’t since she couldn’t use Cedric’s hunting reason to be alone with her butler.

Those who have lived in the annex are aware of this.

That the annex was a perfect place to avoid the attention of others.

It was a night where the chilly fog cast throughout the evening could be sensed.

‘It is the perfect weather to have an affair.’