Chapter 52
“Madam! Wait—!”
As soon as they began running, stragglers started to fall behind. Selina, whose stamina was the weakest, staggered first, and Geron quickly caught her.
Adella’s stamina was hardly better than Selina’s, but she didn’t stop.
“Radi! Don’t go off alone!”
Even though her throat burned as if it would tear apart, the thought of losing Radi drove her legs harder.
And that voice.
She knew it couldn’t be, and yet, for the first time, that small white back disappearing into the distance filled her with anxiety.
So Adella ran and ran, chasing after Radi’s figure as it grew farther away.
“Milady!”
But there was no way someone as frail as her could match Radi’s speed. Soon, he was gone from sight.
Her knees buckled, and she nearly collapsed, but Emmet quickly caught her.
“Madam, I’ll go—”
“No, I’ll go and find him. Only I can.”
“But…”
Emmet had been her guard even at the borderlands. He was someone who knew Adella, at least to some extent.
And Rio had left him with strict orders: to prioritize Adella’s safety, but also never to stop her when she said she wanted to do something.
“I have to go. Only I can find him.”
“Going alone is too dangerous.”
“Then just keep your distance. Don’t come near unless I call you. Just watch from afar.”
“…As you command.”
While Emmet stood still, Adella ran in the direction Radi had vanished and entered the forest.
As he waited, letting the distance stretch between them, Emmet gave Geron a meaningful glance.
Geron nodded and subtly stepped in front of Selina with a smile.
“Why don’t we return to where Miss Gina is waiting?”
“Why? But Madam hasn’t come back yet.”
“Emmet went after her, so it will be fine. The forest is dangerous for you, my lady. Please, let’s go.”
Selina looked up at Geron’s sly smile with narrowed eyes.
“But what if something happens? What if Sir Emmet gets hurt? And what if Madam can’t come back on her own?”
“That won’t—”
“You never know! I’m worried, so let’s follow them.”
Insisting stubbornly, Selina forced her way into the forest.
Pushing aside the undergrowth, Adella glanced behind her.
Emmet was there, but very far away.
“Radi, where are you? Which way did you go? Please, tell me.”
She couldn’t bring herself to shout. If Selina heard, she might chase after her too.
So Adella continued to wander through the woods, quietly calling Radi’s name.
After who knew how long, her legs aching, she leaned against a nearby tree to catch her breath—when a voice rang out.
[Can’t bear to watch this any longer.]
Adella’s head snapped up in surprise.
[Don’t bring that human behind you any closer.]
Hearing that, she immediately turned and gestured frantically to Emmet.
“Don’t come any closer!”
While Emmet hesitated, she quickly slipped away.
Following the voice’s guidance, she soon found a huge tree towering above the brush.
Beneath it stood Radi, pure white, and beside him a pitch-black wolf.
“Acheron?”
Adella stepped closer, calling the name the wolf had once given her.
[You’re persistent, aren’t you. This is all your fault.]
[Adella already hears the voice.] Radi muttered gruffly.
“What happened?”
[I thought he was hurt, so I came.]
“He’s hurt?”
At Radi’s words, Adella rushed to Acheron’s side.
Kneeling down, she saw what Radi had meant: Acheron’s leg was wounded, keeping him from standing. Blood stained the ground around it.
Adella’s face crumpled.
“How did you get hurt…”
[Why are you about to cry? You’re not the one who’s injured.]
“It must hurt…”
[Strange child.]
With a faint chuckle, Acheron fixed his silvery-gray eyes on her.
Thinking how beautiful those eyes were, Adella quickly rose.
“I’ll bring medicine from the estate. Just wait a little.”
[It’ll heal if left—]
Just as he tried to stop her, Acheron suddenly turned his head.
So did Radi.
“What’s wrong?”
[Humans are coming.]
“What?”
But she had told Emmet not to follow her.
[You’d best go back now.]
“But…”
Her eyes welled up, and Acheron sighed deeply.
[I’ll stay here without moving. Just go.]
Leaving a wounded child behind tore at her heart, but then she heard someone calling from afar.
“Madam!”
Why did Selina follow us?!
Biting her lip, she forced herself to move.
[No humans can enter here today. Tomorrow I’ll open the way again. Don’t worry and go.]
“…I’ll come back tomorrow. Let’s go, Radi.”
Even as she said it, her steps were reluctant, her gaze lingering on Acheron.
“…Should I leave Radi with you?”
[Go.]
“…Yes…”
Finally turning away, she spotted a flash of pink among the green underbrush—Selina’s hair.
“…Radi, stop her from coming this way.”
At her request, Radi bolted toward Selina.
Meanwhile, Adella grabbed a corner of her skirt and tugged. She wanted to tear it off, but her strength wasn’t enough.
“…Acheron, please tear this for me.”
In a faint voice, she held out her skirt. Acheron obliged, ripping the fabric with his sharp teeth.
Taking the torn cloth, Adella wrapped it tightly around his injured leg. It was a crude bandage, but it was something.
[You really don’t listen, do you.]
“It’ll help stop the bleeding.”
Though the bandage was sloppy, Acheron said nothing more.
“I’ll be back tomorrow, I promise.”
[Fine, fine. Now go.]
His eyes wary of the approaching humans, Adella finally turned away and ran after Radi.
As she neared the patch of bright pink hair, Selina’s shrill scream echoed.
“Kyah! Let go of me!”
Rushing closer, Adella saw Radi gripping Selina’s skirt in his teeth, refusing to let her go any further.
“Stop it! What are you doing?!” Selina shrieked, nearly in tears.
Geron moved as if to help, but Radi growled low, his teeth still sunk into her hem.
“Why are you just standing there? Do something!”
Selina screamed again, but neither Emmet nor Geron dared lay a hand on Radi.
“Step aside. I’ll pull him off.”
Another guard had arrived—the one who had stayed behind with Gina at the carriage.
Drawing his sword, he advanced threateningly on Radi.
“Wait!”
Adella rushed in between them, hugging Radi’s neck.
Only then did Radi finally release Selina’s skirt.
“What were you going to do?”
Holding Radi tightly, Adella glared at the guard, Barclay.
“Miss Selina is a guest of the ducal house. I couldn’t let her get hurt.”
“And so? What exactly were you going to do to him?”
Adella’s voice was sharp, her expression cold.
“Now, now, my lady. Please calm yourself. Why don’t we return to where we were?”
Sensing the tension, Geron cut in smoothly with a smile, stepping in front of Barclay.
“I’ll escort Miss Selina.”
Helping Selina up, Barclay led the way.
[I’m fine, Adella.]
“….”
But Adella trembled, burying her face into Radi’s fur.
“…I thought you’d get hurt again because of me…”
The image of Radi facing a knight’s sword overlapped with the memory of him clashing against the Count’s men during their escape from Belhart—and of him gravely wounded afterward.
No wonder she reacted so fiercely.
“I apologize, Madam. I’ll discipline him properly when we return.”
No one could really be blamed—Emmet and Geron had prioritized Adella, while Barclay had prioritized the ducal house.
“…Let’s just go back.”
Rising slowly, Adella walked pressed close against Radi.
When they returned to where Gina was waiting, the mood was a mess.
Gina didn’t know what had happened, but sensing Adella’s foul mood, she urged them to head back quickly.
For the rest of the journey, not a word passed between Adella and Selina. The carriage returned to the ducal estate in suffocating silence.
