Chapter 16
The surroundings were loud and chaotic.
I could hear things breaking, and people’s voices rising in relief.
“She—she’s here! The lady and the child are both safe!”
“Oh, thank the heavens!”
“Truly, it must have been divine intervention. To survive that fire without serious harm…”
Only then did I manage to open my heavy eyelids.
The first thing I saw was Jared’s familiar face.
“My lady! Are you awake?”
“My goodness! Lady, can you recognize me?”
The headmistress—her face a mess of tears and ash—asked me with deep concern.
But none of that mattered to me.
“The child…?”
“She’s safe! Thanks to you, all the children are safe!”
I looked around. Villagers had apparently come to help with the rescue. I saw Marie being held in another man’s arms. Other children were being comforted by local women.
Thank goodness. Everyone made it out alive…
Finally, my body relaxed, and a deep sigh of relief escaped my lips.
“Are you alright, my lady?”
Jared asked, concerned. I tried to act as if I was fine and sat up.
But I had inhaled a lot of smoke, and my head spun immediately. I wobbled, and Jared quickly helped me up.
“You shouldn’t move yet. We’ve set up the village inn as a temporary clinic. Please, let me take you there.”
“Thank you…”
My voice was hoarse and weak. Jared looked pained and spoke solemnly.
“No, thank you. If not for you, the children wouldn’t have survived.”
His tone was so reverent, I could only manage an awkward smile.
To Jared, those children were more than just orphans. They were his family.
I didn’t know the exact timing of the fire in the past, but if this was the same fire from that timeline… then many children might have died originally.
Maybe that tragedy had shaped Jared into the man I once faced—one filled with pain and fury.
Then, suddenly, Jared knelt before me on one knee.
“My gratitude isn’t enough. You’ve saved the children—and me. Though I serve elsewhere, I swear on my life that I will come to your aid, should you ever need me.”
“That’s not necessary—”
“This is the greatest repayment I can offer.”
I never imagined I’d hear such a vow from the very assassin who once tried to kill me.
Maybe… through him, I could find out more about the truth behind everything.
Not wanting to reject what he clearly saw as sacred, I slowly nodded.
“Thank you. I’ll accept that promise.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
He bowed deeply, looking sincerely grateful. I gave a faint smile in return.
“I’ll take you to the healer now.”
As he helped me up, my gaze happened to shift—and I caught sight of someone.
Dressed in a black cloak, standing half-hidden behind a tree at a distance.
It was subtle—easily missed if one wasn’t looking for it.
“Wait.”
What if he had something to do with the fire?
I moved forward unsteadily, trying to approach.
But by the time I pushed through the crowd, he was gone.
Only snowflakes danced in the air where he had stood.
Who was he? The one who set the fire?
Or…
Just then, Jared hurried over.
“My lady, what is it? Did you see something?”
“It’s best to have the area searched. There might still be someone suspicious nearby.”
Jared looked puzzled but thoughtful as he rubbed his chin.
“Well… the fire seems to have started from an old fireplace, but investigating further won’t hurt. Understood.”
An accident?
Then the person I saw wasn’t the culprit?
So why had he been watching from a distance?
I tried to think more deeply about it, but the headache was too much.
I’d kept the fire at lower levels, but I couldn’t stop the smoke. And after passing out, my powers must have weakened—my arms and legs had minor burns.
For now, I needed treatment—just like Jared said.
✧ ✧ ✧
Kallion didn’t understand why he was galloping through the countryside like this.
“You’re leaving now?! Even if you go, everything will already be over by the time you arrive!”
The butler had tried to stop him, and he wasn’t wrong.
Though he didn’t distrust Layla, he had secretly assigned a shadow agent to follow them.
Even if that agent had sent a message right away, the orphanage was far. It would take at least half a day to get a report.
Even riding hard on horseback, several hours had already passed.
Whatever had happened was likely over—she had either been rescued… or not.
The Kallion of old would’ve stayed in his office, waiting for news.
But he couldn’t sit still.
Why?
Why did it matter to him whether she lived or died?
She was just a political marriage partner—tied to him by name and duty. A daughter of his enemy’s house. Even after marriage, he never saw her as more than that.
Just a nuisance. A woman who always pushed at his nerves.
That was it.
And yet…
Why was he so anxious? So afraid?
He didn’t even understand it himself.
But waiting wouldn’t change anything.
So, ignoring the butler’s protests, he left on horseback.
The butler begged him to take a carriage, but he couldn’t bear the thought of sitting still inside one.
Three hours later, covered in dust, he finally arrived at the orphanage.
All that remained were blackened ruins.
His heart sank at the sight.
“…Who are you?”
The men cleaning up debris looked at him in confusion.
“The woman who was here—no, the people from the orphanage. Are they all safe?”
“Oh… we were lucky. Some injuries, but no deaths.”
“No, it wasn’t luck. It was the Lady of Valdormer who saved them.”
At that moment, Kallion’s eyes lit up.
“That woman. Where is she?”
“She’s at the village inn, getting treated by the healer. And you are…?”
Kallion didn’t answer. He just turned his horse and galloped toward the inn.
He burst in, asked the clerk where the injured were, and rushed to the room.
The moment he opened the door—there she was.
Yuliana.
She turned and looked at him with wide, startled eyes.
Relief swept over him before he could even process it.
Then, he noticed Layla, sitting beside her, receiving treatment for a burn.
“…Kallion?”
Layla blinked in surprise. Kallion’s eyes narrowed.
Then, he saw the bandages on Yuliana’s arm.
And his chest ignited with fury.
“I didn’t assign Valdormer’s people to let you do whatever you pleased.”
Was he upset that Layla got hurt? That his people were put at risk?
Yuliana’s face twisted at his tone.
“You’re angry because your secretary got hurt? You were the one who insisted I take someone with me.”
His eyes stayed fixed on her arm.
“Why didn’t you follow the plan? You should’ve left the orphanage yesterday.”
If they had left on time… this wouldn’t have happened.
Kallion looked away from Yuliana’s bandaged arm and turned to Layla.
None of this would’ve happened. He wouldn’t have come here at all.
Yes, that was why he was angry.
Because his people were harmed because of her.
That must be the reason.
Then Layla quietly spoke.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve made her leave, even if she wanted to stay.”
Polite words—but clearly blaming Yuliana for changing the schedule.
Yuliana stared at her in disbelief.
If she hadn’t stayed, the children would’ve died.
Made her leave?
The same person who saw her in the burning building and ran away was now saying that?
“If you were going to say that, you shouldn’t have left me behind in the fire, Layla.”
Layla’s face instantly hardened.
