Chapter 5
The boy, careful to avoid the knights’ notice, leaned close and whispered a final farewell into her ear.
The situation was already beyond repair.
Even if she was the daughter of his enemy, he didn’t want this girl to suffer consequences for defying her father just to help him.
It was then that Roseline leaned in closer and whispered back.
“Not yet. Before you came, I’m going to carry out the original plan.”
“…?”
The soldiers, seeing the young lady seated on the maid’s lap whispering something as she reached out as if to embrace him, assumed it was merely a farewell and watched in silence.
But in the next instant, Roseline drew the dagger hidden behind her.
“My lady!”
The soldiers stepped forward, tightening the encirclement.
Peter, startled, instinctively reached for his sword, yet hesitated—she was someone to be protected, not struck down.
“Don’t come any closer.”
The short blade gleamed sharply in her hand.
The original plan—it was a staged act of self-harm.
“Who are you people? My father would never order Cora and Mary to be killed. We’re practically sisters.”
Since she didn’t recognize their faces anyway, there was no way they could know the faces of her household maids or companions either.
Without batting an eye, Roseline lied.
Judging by their flustered expressions, it was clear—they didn’t know the servants of the ducal household.
“I’ll go only if we stay together.”
“My lady, please don’t be childish—”
“Take one more step and I’ll cut myself. Shall I tell my father I was frightened because of you?”
Peter let out a short scoff.
How much could a pampered child truly hurt herself?
“You think that’ll work? Grab her.”
“Oh? Is that what you think?”
Roseline smiled coldly.
“I clearly heard you outside that door saying, ‘The young lady’s face must not be harmed,’ didn’t I?”
With a chilling gaze, she pressed the dagger to her own neck.
Peter, who had been about to approach her with casual confidence, froze in horror as drops of blood began to bead and fall from her skin. He hastily stepped back.
“Sorry. Your voices were so loud, I heard everything. You also said that if I’m hurt even a little, your heads will roll, didn’t you?”
The knight glared at Roseline, who smiled faintly.
“The wound is still shallow. Stay quiet about this, and I’ll let it pass. Or… do I need to go further for you to believe me?”
“….”
They said the Clifford princess was clever—indeed, she was cunning.
Should I knock her out and take her by force?
For a brief moment, Peter considered it, then changed his mind.
His master, the Duke of Devonshire, had ordered that the girl be kept alive and raised properly.
Having no daughter of his own, he intended to raise her like one. After all, the young lady—blessed with the blood of the Grand Duke of Clifford and his own sister—was both intelligent and beautiful, which had earned her life.
Now that Peter’s face had been exposed to her, she would eventually learn the truth.
It would be unwise to leave any room for resentment in a girl who might one day become dearly loved by the duke—or marry into great power.
Though she’s just a child who barely understands the world… how much could she really know or remember?
“Very well. We’ll take the maids under our protection as well, so please stop and come with us.”
Deceiving a young girl is hardly difficult.
Liars.
They had underestimated the heir of the Clifford family, fooled by her sweet, honeyed appearance.
“I don’t even know who you are. I’m scared. And I’m hurt—because of you.”
“Y-You can’t say it like that—!”
“And I’m cold. I’ll go only if Mary and Cora hold me.”
Like a child clutching a doll she refused to let go of, the young lady held one maid tightly with one arm while drawing the dagger closer with the other.
In the end, Peter raised both hands.
“You there. Mary, was it?”
The maid flinched but did not answer.
“How dare you not respond?”
Just as he was about to lash out—
the young lady beat him to it with a sudden, hysterical outburst.
“Hurry! It hurts!”
At this rate, she looked ready to collapse into convulsions.
Stubborn little thing.
His master had clearly ordered that every last person in this castle be exterminated.
But…
Though the request displeased him, it wasn’t difficult to grant.
Just two maids.
They weren’t even originally from House Reinz—they had been brought along by the young lady herself.
That much should be fine.
Unless they were long-time servants, there was no reason a girl her age would go so far as to cut her own face—something she would normally treasure—just to make a scene in front of strangers.
Besides, there’s already too much to deal with.
The journey ahead was long, and if something happened to the young lady along the way while under their watch?
If the maids stayed with her, it would actually ease his burden in ensuring her safe transport.
Exhausted from battle, Peter’s body and mind both leaned toward the easier choice.
After finishing his calculations, he spoke.
“Fine. Take them all to the carriage together.”
“My legs feel weak—I can’t walk. Come on, carry me.”
The young lady wrapped her arms around the maid’s neck. Her frail body was light enough for a sturdy maid to lift.
The knight, displeased as he watched the rescued maids move timidly, gave a final order before heading off toward another objective.
“Keep a close watch. Don’t let them escape.”
“Yes, sir!”
Once their guard loosened even slightly, everything became easier.
While the carriage was being prepared, Roseline was moved to the main building.
Taking advantage of the changing of the guards and the confusion, the boy said he would escape through another secret passage he knew, refusing to accompany them by carriage.
Roseline made one last attempt.
“My father said he only came to uncover the truth. If we go together and explain—”
But before she could finish, she realized.
The way he moved, watching the outside carefully—it was the posture of someone who had already made up his mind.
Only then did the boy realize he had been ignoring her while focusing, and he slowly shook his head.
“No. It’s better if we part ways here.”
He had already received more help than he deserved from a girl he didn’t even know. It was time to leave.
Roseline could only nod. She didn’t know how long she herself could endure this ominous situation until she met her father.
If the boy were discovered before then, he would undoubtedly face another threat.
If he had a way to escape safely, letting him go was the right choice.
“Alright. Stay safe.”
The boy looked at her with complicated eyes at her calm acceptance, then suddenly said something strange.
“No matter what you see here—forget everything. And survive.”
They were words he himself had once heard as a final testament.
Roseline’s eyes widened slightly, then softened.
Instead of a farewell, she stepped forward, hugged him tightly, and gently patted his back.
“M-My lady…”
A faint groan escaped Cora, who was watching.
The boy hesitated, about to push her away, but stopped and let her be.
Her small shoulders trembled slightly—so different from the brave front she had been putting on alone.
For a moment, he thought she might insist on going with him.
“You too.”
“…What?”
“You have to survive too.”
Since I saved you, she added lightly.
Through their pressed chests, he could feel her heart pounding.
For some reason, his eyes grew hot. As he blinked quickly, Roseline stepped back and held out the dagger—the same one she had used for her act.
“This is a farewell gift. And next time we meet, address a lady properly.”
There was no guarantee such a “next time” would ever come.
At her playful remark, the boy almost let out a hollow laugh, but instead nodded once, accepted the dagger, and swiftly left.
“Do you think that boy will survive?”
Cora asked quietly as she watched him disappear.
“Who knows.”
No matter how one looked at it, this place was a battlefield where lives were lost like flies.
Roseline shook her head with a bitter smile. Staring at her hand as if she could still feel his warmth, she slowly curled her fingers into a fist.
“But… I hope he does.”
As the commotion began to settle, the servants of House Reinz hurried through the main building with pale faces.
As Roseline watched where the boy had vanished, a maid passed by—one with a similar height and hair color.
It was someone Roseline had already marked in her mind while being moved earlier.
Without hesitation, she grabbed the maid’s wrist.
The soldiers loitering nearby stiffened at the sight of the two standing by the door.
They allowed people to enter to attend the young lady without much scrutiny—but were strict about anyone trying to leave.
“My lady—no, Your Grace. You must not step outside.”
Though their duty was to guard her, in truth, they were her watchers.
“Sorry. My maid said she’d go check on something.”
“I—I—”
“We’re under protection, so we shouldn’t wander around freely. Understood?”
Roseline smiled brightly at the maid.
Though pale and confused, the maid seemed to catch on and quickly nodded.
“It may feel stifling, but it’s for your safety. Please be careful, my lady.”
After closing the door, the guards muttered among themselves.
“Still, what were the previous lot doing? Letting her come all the way out here?”
If word reached Peter that the young lady had wandered outside, there would be hell to pay.
Though both sides shared blame, the new guards naturally shifted it onto those who had already left.
Another soldier approached, frowning.
“Hey. Aren’t you being too lax with security?”
“Not our fault. It’s the previous shift’s mistake.”
The guard added, somewhat uneasily,
“They probably thought she’d stay quiet and scared. Who knew she’d have the guts to crawl out?”
“And it doesn’t matter anyway. She can’t escape the castle. We’re only taking her and her two maids alive—the rest will be killed.”
At that, the other soldier nodded and lit a cigarette.
Orders had come down to kill everyone belonging to House Reinz—even the servants.
Though they were being forced to work until the castle was secured, most already understood their fate.
Half had taken their own lives; the rest had been caught while trying to flee and were now being forced to continue working.
Even for knights accustomed to bloodshed, it left a bitter taste.
“Still, stay alert.”
After the warning soldier left, the guards relaxed and fell into idle chatter.
Listening from beyond the door, Roseline clenched her teeth.
Kill them all…
That was not an order her father would ever give.
The situation was far worse than she had imagined.
Meanwhile, the maid who had been dragged into the room by Roseline lifted her eyes with resolve.
In truth, she already knew Roseline’s identity.
The cherished daughter of the Grand Duke—
who had come to annihilate the very House she herself had served.
