Volume 5 - CH 3

I went to find Valhail.

‘Let’s see if he’s alright.’

I tried not to visit him as frequently as I had before, but I was bothered when I learned that he had gone to the temple to seek forgiveness.

However.

“That man is on leave today, my lady. He’s most likely resting at home…… I’ll have someone call him right away, my lady.”

William looked at me as if he wanted to know what I was thinking.

I lightly shook my head.

“It’s fine. There’s no need to do that.”

Anyway, I was on my way out under the guise of visiting the temple.

I looked sideways and behind me before climbing into a simple carriage by myself.

“I’ll pay him another visit on my way back from the temple.”

“I will accompany you, my lady.”

“No, I want to go alone.”

William was dressed in the White Eagle Knights’ cape. Everyone would be buzzing if he followed me behind.

‘I don’t want to draw attention to myself.’

I was sick and tired of the servants staring at me every time I walked around the castle.

I assumed they were still amazed even after seeing me so frequently.

“Then…… please do not remove your hood, my lady. Never.”

“Okay.”

“Then let me at least accompany you to the village……”

“No.”

William appeared to be eager to follow me.

“My mother’s face didn’t look happy the last time I saw her at dinner.” Something bad might happen to my uncle.”

“Yes.”

“Please take good care of him.”

I asked William not to take his eyes off my uncle, then I left the county.

⇺⇺⇺⇼⇻⇻⇻

Valhail’s home was a small mansion that Cedric had given him as a reward for saving his life.

I’ve heard he’s living alone there.

“This is the place, lady.”

The carriage came to a halt near the town square, near the river.

Is this perhaps the area between where the nobles and the commoners live?

I noticed a small single-story house as I walked along, listening to the sound of the quiet-flowing water.

‘Is this the house?’

The house appeared exactly as described. It looked like it had been recently built.

There was a large cloak hanging in the yard, as well as a sword and armor.

The cloak was marked with a pattern of Count Crawford.

‘I guess this is the house.’

A warm light filtered through the door’s crack.

I kicked my tongue inside, tsk tsk.

‘How come he didn’t lock the door? What if a thief breaks in?’

No, a thief will not escape this house alive.

So I don’t have to worry about him leaving his sword and armor hanging outside or his door open.

“Khm khm.”

I cleared my throat as if to announce my presence in front of the door, but there was no response.

“Was he out?”

I walked in, fearlessly opening the door.

The interior design was neat.

“Valhail?”

The entire house reeked of fragrant sage as if to prove that it was Valhail’s.

‘Let us just thank him and leave. Thanks to him, my uncle’s dignity was saved.’

What if later he harbors bad feelings toward me as an arrogant and impudent young lady who doesn’t know to be grateful when he helped me?

I knew I was his savior, but Valhail is a scary character.

The tyrant who will destroy anything that gets in his way and……!

“Selina?”

I was so engrossed in my own thoughts that a sudden voice startled me.

“I apologize for coming without permission……”

I was shocked when I looked back at him.

“……what happened to your body?”

I forgot that I had decided to keep a safe distance from him, and I actually got closer to him.

“Oh, this is…”

Valhail said it casually as if it were nothing.

But it wasn’t nothing.

His body was a total mess.

Except for his face, he was whipped all over.

When I saw his back, I couldn’t say anything.

The flesh was cut wherever the whip passed.

I’m sure this was his punishment from the temple.

This was not even a martial arts competition. For the first time, I was astounded to see a person hit so severely.

“I’ll put on some clothes.”

I could see the wound all over his body because he was only wearing pants. When he saw my pale face, he turned around.

What a pain it would be if the cloth brushed up against the scarred body in that way!

‘I don’t believe he has used medicine on his body.’

I grabbed his wrist and pointed my chin at the sofa.

“……sit down.”

It’s a good thing I brought a magic stone with me.

Valhail’s body was not in a state where a simple treatment would suffice.

Inside, I was boiling with rage.

“Why are you look angry? Your face doesn’t look that good.”

He had the same expression as usual.

No, rather, his expression was bright as if he were curious when he saw me come to his home.

“Hurry up and sit down!”

I forced him to sit on the sofa.

Valhail sat down, obediently, as he wondered about my mood.

‘How can they hit someone to this extent!’

I’m enraged even more because he doesn’t seem to care.

If I had met him in the Count’s Castle, I would not have known about his injuries.

While I rummaged through my pockets, he looked at me nervously.

“……”

He appeared to have something to say.

But because I was frowning, he couldn’t open his mouth recklessly.

‘What kind of tyrant is this?’

The man in front of me did not feel like the Valhto Heinrich described in the book.

I began to doubt whether he was truly the iron king.

Everything is clear, but……

“Didn’t I tell you to value your body?”