Chapter 51 - The Investigator

Valerie still had Caesar's head on her thigh. The Avalon knight tried to breathe regularly, although quite dense dust still filled the room since the collapse occurred. Valerie tried to comfort him and make sure the bleeding stopped.

"Are you okay now?" The girl asked, still a little anxious. She also had occasional feelings of awkwardness. She used to be very afraid of Caesar. He was a formidable Avalon, and did not hesitate to kill. Two Florentian knights died at the hands of his troops. Valerie should hate him. Just like Raphael who kept giving him disbelieving looks.

But Valerie now feels Caesar was not completely evil. He was a knight. All he did was to be a good Avalon knight. Moreover, Caesar had protected her from Shadows earlier.

"I think I'll be fine," Caesar got up and tried to sit up. He was still trying to stabilize himself. Shadows' attack resulted in a deep wound in his stomach area. However, his vampire genes have repaired his injury, although it was not perfect.

"Who is behind all this? What did Avalon do to those Shadows?" Raphael came up to him in a huff with limp steps and asked.

"I told you, Avalon is not involved in this..do you think we should attack and make a fuss to take the shadows away? This dungeon is Avalon's property. We have the key to their cage," Caesar asserted. He was now trying to stand up using the Vulcan as a support.

"So who directed the Shadows?"

"They can talk, maybe they planned it themselves," Valerie chimed in. Caesar looked at her.

"This is a military matter, my Lady, there is no need to burden your mind with such things. The important thing is that you are safe," Caesar said kindly to her. Valerie smiled. She really shouldn't understand things like this. To Caesar she was just an ordinary noble girl who happened to be unlucky enough to be involved in an act of terrorism that could have taken her life.

"I'm just guessing," Valerie cupped her hands in front of her mouth, acting like an ordinary elegant girl.

"How did they know that there was a secret dungeon here? How would they know that Shadows like them were locked up in this place? Plus, they planned their escape well. Through the underground water tunnel? I just know about it today," Raphael mentioned all the odd things he caught after experiencing the events just now.

"Maybe they've looked into it?" Valerie couldn't help but comment.

"How to? They were monsters, had bad physique and would be conspicuous if roaming the crowded Lapella. They can't carry out espionage. They are designed to be killers. There is someone who manages them. Tell the steps and plans they had run. They even chose a day when the majority of Florentia's knights were absent due to attending the generals' invitation,'' Raphael reanalyzed.

"I'll investigate, Avalon is also at a disadvantage in this, so—"

"You guys have illegal military bases in the Lapella underground..it caused us to have to bear a lot of casualties. We're not willing to let you off with mere pleasantries," Raphael said sharply.

"Then what do you want?"

"Involve us in your investigations, we need to know what we're getting into..or we will not allow the Avalon authorities to approach this place even for one step," Raphael said firmly.

Caesar glanced at him, his jaw clenched. He was a little offended. He didn't like it when someone ordered him like that. But what Raphael said wasn't wrong. Lapella was their territory. So the Avalons must be willing to obey their rules.

"We'll be sending our investigative team here in a few days. Maybe we'll ask you guys to cooperate. Just to investigate this..but don't expect us to cover everything we know. Just for today's incident," said Caesar. He who was strong enough now sheathed his Vulcan sword again.

"Commander!" A group of people dressed in civilian clothes and looking tough entered the dungeon. They were Avalons who were looking for their missing commander.

"We heard commotion around here, is there really a Shadows monster running amok?" Ask one of them. His tone was more of curiosity than concern.

"We're leaving now, we have a lot to investigate..especially, we need to catch up with the running Shadows," said Caesar as he limped a little towards them. But his footsteps stopped, he turned and faced Valerie.

"Lady Valerie, we must separate now..I hope we can meet another time," Caesar bent down and kissed her hand briefly in an elegant gesture.

"Take care, sir Caesar," Valerie advised.

"I'm not going to die that easily," Caesar said with a slight smirk before he left.

***

It didn't take long, the ruined club building was now filled with people. Starting from those who just want to know, as well as the authorities and the military who were trying to explain this event. Raphael and the knights who had encountered them were also asked several times and shared their experiences.

Raphael repeatedly explained the same thing until he felt tired and no longer wanted to answer. He has explained everything to the team of investigators. Now it's their job to draw conclusions. As Florentia's knight, Raphael's job was to wait for orders.

The Florentia commander still felt something was wrong. He had caught Lust and trapped him with a sturdy tree prison. Raphael forgot about it because he was worried about Valerie's condition since the explosion. Now the tree was broken. Lust had already fled. Maybe join the Shadows escaping through the waterways.

Valerie sat on a bench with a tired look. It was almost morning, she wanted to lie down in her bed. Vampires didn't have to sleep, but closing their eyes and dreaming could restore their psychic state. Too much happened today, her mind became full. She was also worried that the Shadows would strike back.

Raphael walked over to her and held out his hand.

"Come on,"

"Where to?"

"I'll take you home," he said again.

"I can go home alone, sir," Valerie said a little stubbornly. She was a soldier who felt no need to be pampered by his commander.

"With clothes like that? You are lady Dubois, no one will know that you are a knight. So, you mustn't forget to protect your honor." Raphael took off his shirt and put it on Valerie's body. Her tiny body made her feel like she was drowning.

"Oh, I'm sorry, sir," Valerie lowered her head.

Raphael sat beside her.

"I ordered a carriage, I'm guessing you didn't tell them you were meeting Petrovsky. They must be looking for you," said Raphael.

"Yes sir. I was just informing you of my meeting,"

"Why?"

"What?"

"Why do you feel you have to tell me about meeting Caesar?" Asked him.

"Eh, isn't Caesar Petrovsky our enemy? You should know where I am in case things turn bad..so you know who will be the main suspect," said Valerie with a slight grin.

"Oh, isn't it because you don't want me to misunderstand?"

"What?"

Raphael didn't answer immediately, the horse carriage they were waiting for had arrived. Raphael guided Valerie up inside. He also sat beside her.

"Sir, there is no need to escort me,"

"I need to make sure you're safe, there are still Shadows hanging around,"

"I can take care of myself,"

"You are indeed a wielder of cursed swords, but that doesn't mean you are strong enough to face them..Did you see what happened to me and Caesar? We could have died. They were no ordinary Shadows. Besides, I'm your lover right? I have to take you home," said Raphael again.

"Sir, you don't have to take all this seriously. We just—"

"Fake lover, I know that..however, you misunderstood some things about me, Valerie," he said.

"What? Do you want to cancel this? Sir, I have to rejoin the military. Being an ordinary noble girl is not my destiny," Valerie shook her head firmly. She feels sad.

Was Valerie not strong enough yet? That was why Raphael was worried about her and treated her the way she was now? Did Raphael think that Valerie would never be worthy enough to be a knight? Valerie had hardly ever practiced swordsmanship. She also had no chance to return to using Apollon.

"Sir, give me a chance!"

"I'm going back to practice! After my parents gave me permission—"

"So please don't think about dumping me, sir!" Valerie behaves like a lady who will be abandoned by her lover.

"I just wanted to say, you misunderstood me," said Raphael. He felt his tone was a little awkward but he needed to make sure Valerie understood.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm a noble, the second son of the Marquess and I don't want to play around with things like this… engagement let alone marriage is a sacred thing. I'm not willing to lie about this," Raphael confirmed.

Valerie choked. She felt guilty for forcing Raphael to follow her plan.

"I see, so you want to stop pretending?" Valerie bit her lip. She has been selfish. She had robbed Raphael of the chance to go through a normal romance. Raphael should be able to really like someone and date them.

"What I mean is, if you're really going to continue this—we have to do it for real," he insisted. Valerie went pale for a moment, followed by a blush on her face.

Did Raphael say that he wanted to seriously date her?