Chapter 22
Fwaaat—
At that moment.
A bluish sword aura burst forth, scattering blood in a grand spectacle. The count, who had just reached out his hand, was brushed by the aura and had his shoulder and clothing drenched in blood.
“Sp–spare me. Please, spare me! I beg you!”
As Khalid, who had instantly ended the chaos, approached to sever his neck, the count scrambled backward as though flipping his palms inside out.
“I suppose I’ll have to let you live this once.”
Looking coldly at the count, whose eyes had rolled back in fear, Khalid’s voice hardened. The man deserved to die immediately, but unfortunately, Khalid couldn’t kill him.
The reason Khalid knew so much about Count Mond was because his cousin, Crown Prince Cedric, had been pushing to imprison this piece of trash.
Bad luck, perhaps? It was suspicious that the count, who had no business being in the East, had been caught in such a coincidental encounter.
For someone like Khalid—who neither wanted to steal the credit of his close cousin, the crown prince, nor meddle in the affairs of the palace and capital—it was an irritating situation to stumble upon.
“Even so…”
Khalid turned his gaze to the old fox gasping raggedly alone. Without changing expression, he seized the wrinkled fingers that had dared to touch Luna earlier, and snapped them like twigs.
“Aaaghhh!”
The count’s scream of pain shook the air close by. His bloodshot eyes spilled saliva as he clutched at his broken fingers, swallowing his agony.
“Th-this humiliation… ugh… I won’t forget it…”
Barely breathing, the count croaked a threat at the black-clad swordsman.
“Bold words for a man who wets himself in front of a lady.”
“I’ll find out who you really are… and kill you…”
The count’s bloodshot eyes trembled and then rolled shut. More than his fury, the sheer shock of having all his fingers broken at once had stolen his consciousness.
Khalid twisted his lips like a lowly villain as he looked on. The ridiculous threat only made him laugh.
Then, as he turned, he met a pair of rose-pink eyes trembling with nowhere to hide. She hadn’t obeyed his order to close them. Such a hopelessly disobedient woman.
“My lady.”
“Y-yes?”
“Never look back.”
Watching Luna, who shook like a leaf with eyes wide as a startled rabbit, Khalid sheathed his sword. He stripped off his blood-soaked gloves and mask, then shrugged off his cloak, shook it out, and moved closer to drape it over her.
Luna couldn’t do anything as he approached. Her heart still pounded, and cold sweat drenched her skin.
Up close, he reeked of blood. He had slaughtered every one of the attackers except Count Mond.
Was this man the head of an assassination guild? Was that why he’d dealt with Arne so easily back at the Glass House?
Whatever he was, he was dangerous.
“Ah!”
Before she knew it, the cloak wrapped around her and he lifted her into his arms. Her vision rose in an instant, close enough now to see every speck of blood spattered across his face and neck.
“I’ll be moving us. Keep your eyes shut tight.”
“Th-thank you for saving me.”
He gave no reply—only started walking.
From the unfamiliar height, Luna clutched at him to keep from falling. She wanted to escape his arms, yet they held her so securely it felt as if they were molded for her.
Before long, they had left the restaurant. He set her down, and she collapsed onto the ground, drained at the mere thought of what had just happened.
As though expecting this, Khalid silently watched, then pulled medical supplies from his pack and tended her wounds. He was so practiced, it was obvious he’d done this countless times.
“…”
Luna stared at him wordlessly. This man who had just slaughtered so many people so calmly was now gently wrapping her wounds.
The dissonance was so jarring that every hair on her body bristled again. He had saved her twice now, yet trusting him was still difficult.
“How did you know Count Mond?”
Once finished, Khalid’s voice cut in, cool and sharp.
“My grandfather arranged a marriage meeting…”
Luna answered bitterly. Rewinding the chain of events that brought her here made her chest tighten and her eyes brim with frustration.
“I told them clearly I didn’t want it. I said no marriage, absolutely not!”
“…”
So he hadn’t imagined it—when the count had reached for her waist.
She had refused marriage, yet still…
The thought was terrifying. In such a helpless moment, when all she could do was suffer, how lucky she was that this man had appeared.
Her halted gaze locked on him again.
“He only killed people who tried to hurt me… So to me, he’s a good person. He must be.”
“Sir Client?”
Just then, his blood-scented hand rested gently atop her head. His large hand radiated warmth as he softly stroked her hair.
“You’ve done nothing wrong. I heard you clearly say no.”
“…”
At the tender voice in her ear, Luna’s nose stung.
She’d expected his touch to be chilling, but instead it felt like sunlight filtering through a forest canopy. The same man who’d been so ruthless was now offering her gentle comfort.
She slowly exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Just his simple words steadied her turbulent heart.
Strangely, astonishingly, though she barely knew him, she felt as if he was on her side.
The silver of his hair shimmered in the breeze. Khalid lifted his hand from her head and rose.
Snort—
Startled by the horse tethered nearby, Luna cried out.
“Don’t leave me behind!”
“Of course not. Aren’t you hungry?”
In his hand appeared a fresh apple.
Luna accepted the halved fruit and looked at him, expecting he would eat the other half—but he casually fed it to the horse.
“That was… horse feed?”
Her stomach growled. But somehow, eating that apple herself felt like it would strip her of dignity. So instead, she offered her half to the horse as well.
“You’re not going to eat?”
“This belongs to him…”
Pouting, Luna clutched her belly. Even in the midst of such chaos, her hunger proved her stubborn will to live.
No—since she was alive, she had to live harder. Cling to life no matter what.
As she resolved this, he smiled faintly and took the reins.
“Can you ride? We’ll head back.”
“To some extent, yes. Blackie, I gave you this, so please get me home safely, okay?”
“…”
This time he openly twitched his lips.
What? Did I just do something funny?
Luna flinched. He was usually expressionless, except when angry. And he was clearly the one with power here—in both money and life—so she had to stay on his good side.
Suddenly, he stepped forward and seized her waist.
“L-let me go!”
Her world spun up toward the open sky, her hair scattering in the wind. The next moment, she was settled firmly atop a leather saddle.
Her heart, so tightly clenched, finally eased. Khalid mounted behind her, and the horse started forward.
“How did you know I was here?”
“No need to know.”
Just as she expected. Luna’s lips jutted forward in a pout. Even if he seemed to be on her side, it didn’t erase the unfairness.
“How much debt does your family still owe?”
After a long stretch of silence, his casual question landed.
“That’s none of your business. Anyway, I think you should receive purification now. I’m fine already—see? Riding just fine.”
“About your last payment. You do know you didn’t take the full amount, don’t you?”
She thought she’d repaid him with equal words before, but now he was dangling tempting information again.
“What?”
“At that time, since you had no guards, I only left you with what you could reasonably carry.”
That day… in the bathhouse… when I was embarrassed… he’d spared me by only giving a small sum?
“Why are you telling me this now? You should’ve said so right away! If I’d known earlier, I could’ve used it so well!”
Suddenly bold, Luna twisted toward him with sparkling eyes, thinking only of money. Her fear of him vanished entirely.
“Careful.”
Khalid steadied her and looked her in the eyes. Then, just like before, he pulled up that sly smile.
“Every time I meet you, there’s never a quiet day. I forgot—best to keep your eyes ahead, it’s dangerous.”
“Forgot… what?”
“Are you questioning me? In that case, consider the payment settled.”
“No! That’s not what I meant.”
Her voice rose before she quickly quieted and faced forward. Was it her imagination, or did she hear him chuckle behind her?
“Is he teasing me?”
Blinking, Luna found herself smiling too.
For all his rudeness, she decided to forgive him.
After all, he was her savior—her precious client.
