Chapter 28
Gasp.
However, the moment Chloe arrived at the training grounds holding Lucian’s hand, she had to catch her breath.
It was because the leaders of the two families’ knight orders—people she had vaguely assumed were gentle and wouldn’t fight much—were now fiercely clashing their swords.
“Looking at these filthy kittens face-to-face, it feels like my nose is going to rot from the stench.”
Chloe bared her teeth and looked at Brooks, who was smirking, with a bewildered expression.
To Chloe, Arus’ knight commander was as familiar and friendly as family.
In every memory she had of him, he had always worn a kind expression.
But now…
“I need to finish this quickly. I can’t let my nose go numb just to catch a single cat.”
He seemed like a completely unfamiliar and frightening adult—someone she had never seen in her life.
“This is the first time someone has taken away the order of what I wanted to say.”
But Brooks wasn’t the only one who seemed unfamiliar.
“After all that effort to pin a disgusting crime on me… now you’re finally showing your true colors.”
Arthur’s eyes shone with murderous intent as he swung his massive sword vertically.
Bang—! Chloe flinched as the deadly weapons collided, the loud noise full of raw emotion shaking her shoulders.
“Today, I’ll separate your head from your body. Thank you… for letting me stop your disgusting actions as if I were a god.”
Thud, thud. The impact even shook the floor beneath her, and Chloe instinctively stepped back, her gaze dropping.
The adults fighting fiercely in front of her no longer felt like the people she knew.
Those who had always been kind to the point of being slightly foolish—the adults she could rely on—were nowhere to be seen.
Memories from her past life clawed up her ankles again.
The shouts and impacts she had remembered from the last time her parents fought…
“Stop.”
At the moment when Chloe twisted her body, wanting to run away, she felt the strength of a damp hand gripping hers tightly.
When she lifted her head, she saw Lucian’s jaw set stiffly, as if angry.
“Who told you to start a fight?”
Lucian, noticing Chloe’s state, held her hand firmly and warned in a low voice.
“Arthur Harrison, this is as far as I’ll tolerate. Sheathe your weapon.”
At those words, Arthur’s movement toward Brooks’ neck stopped.
Yet his eyes still glimmered with a murderous intensity, as if wanting to defy the command.
“Let me fight, Your Excellency.”
“Denied.”
“Brooks Lowell, Your Excellency!”
Arthur spat out his words, voice full of rage.
“Brooks Lowell, Your Excellency! How can I just let this man—!”
But he couldn’t finish speaking and had to close his mouth.
Chloe, who had ducked instinctively at the loud noise, hadn’t noticed that Arthur’s gaze had shifted toward her—standing there, head lowered, looking at the ground.
Only then did his eyes, shining with murderous intent, waver the moment they met her trembling shoulders.
‘…What’s going on?’
Curious at the sudden quiet, Chloe slowly lifted her head.
And as she cautiously raised her gaze, her eyes met Arthur’s directly.
Gasp!
Chloe instinctively averted her gaze at the sight of Arthur standing there, holding a massive sword like a reaper.
Had her body turned into that of a child?
Her mind felt childlike too.
Whenever a man shouted loudly, whenever an adult threatened someone with their massive body, her heart shrank.
She feared that hand might strike her.
That it might destroy everything she held dear.
‘No.’
But Chloe forced herself not to overlay her past-life memories of her father onto them and clenched her jaw.
She lifted her head and met Arthur’s eyes again.
‘Don’t be afraid. Don’t act weak.’
Muttering this to herself, Chloe tried to smile as brightly as she could.
“Sir Arthur, please don’t fight!”
“……”
“I’m sure there’s been some misunderstanding. I can explain it.”
But with Arthur’s unyielding gaze fixed solely on her, her words tumbled out awkwardly.
“I—um, I know the two families best, so… well, not the very best, but I know somewhat—”
Chloe couldn’t finish her messy sentence and bit her lip.
She felt frustrated.
She hadn’t intended to act this clumsily. If she acted this foolishly, no one would believe her.
Then she wouldn’t be able to protect her mother, her uncle, or anyone here.
But the near-tearful moment passed quickly.
‘It’s okay, I can try again.’
Chloe gathered her courage and quickly organized her words in her mind.
“I’ll explain—”
“Princess.”
Just as Chloe was about to speak, a soft, gentle voice like sunlight reached her ears.
She quickly turned her head and saw a familiar face she hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Long time no see. I missed you.”
Brooks, now kneeling with his sword sheathed, no longer looked like a stranger.
He was the same person she had known for a long time.
Kind, gentle, someone Chloe could feel safe being playful with.
“May I come closer, if it’s not rude?”
Chloe’s face brightened at the unthreatening sight of Brooks.
Lucian’s complicated expression softened as he released Chloe’s hand.
“Don’t run. There’s no grass in the training grounds.”
“Yes!”
But despite answering, Chloe practically ran toward Brooks, extending her arms as if asking to be hugged.
“My princess…”
Brooks, moved, carefully embraced her.
Holding her tightly with trembling hands, Brooks took a deep breath and gently released her.
“How have you been?”
“Good! I’ve been really, really well. Eating well, sleeping well. I think I’ve grown a bit too!”
Brooks glanced at the top of her head and smiled with relief.
“That’s good. You look healthy, making all my worries seem needless.”
“And Uncle Brooks, how have you been? How’s the baby growing?”
“Yes. Last week, he managed to roll over.”
“Wow, already? Amazing! A genius baby!”
“Princess, I missed you too.”
The knights standing behind Brooks slowly joined in.
“The castle felt so cold while you were away, Your Highness. It was as if the sun had set and never risen.”
“Indeed. I barely had any appetite. It was the least tasty month of my life.”
“Hmm… but Nate seems to have put on some weight…”
“Not at all! That’s all armor, armor!”
Chloe, forgetting her earlier fear, laughed brightly with the knights.
“Your Highness.”
From behind, a heavy voice called out.
She slowly turned and saw Arthur, still seemingly watching her.
“I’m sorry, Princess. I was unfit as your guard.”
“……”
“Blinded by vengeance, I startled the very person I should have protected. I sincerely apologize. I will accept any punishment.”
Chloe quietly looked at Arthur.
He lowered his head, staring at the ground, much like she had just done moments ago.
Like she had been too scared to meet his gaze.
Unable to lift his head, he remained looking down.
Strangely, that gave her courage.
Her small frame felt as if it could tower over him like a grown adult.
“No, it’s okay.”
Chloe pushed aside her fear and bravely approached him.
“You were doing it for me. So it’s alright.”
Arthur’s shoulders twitched as he looked down.
Encouraged again, Chloe cautiously reached out and held his large hand.
“It would be a lie to say I wasn’t scared… but it’s okay. You apologized, and I know you acted out of misunderstanding.”
“Princess…”
“You thought Brooks was bothering me, right? That’s why you got angry, to protect me? I know, so it’s okay. You’re truly a wonderful guard, Sir Arthur. No punishment needed.”
At last, Arthur lifted his head and looked at Chloe.
The eyes that had seemed so terrifying just moments ago now shimmered with unshed tears.
