| Episode 6
Lucas had never imagined that he would run into that woman by chance on the street.
He recalled the many expressions Elisha had shown him, changing one after another without pause.
When he first saw her, she had been crying nonstop.
Compared to that day, though, her complexion had clearly returned, and she looked to be in much better condition.
Under normal circumstances, that would have been enough for him to leave it at that and walk past.
But for some reason, seeing Elisha turn pale as if she had witnessed something she shouldn’t have made him change his mind.
Was it because what he experienced that day had been so intense?
Or because the woman before him was looking at him with an expression completely different from before?
Before he realized it, Lucas was already speaking to Elisha.
“My apologies for not recognizing you sooner. Duke Boventin. My name is Elisha Adrian. Thanks to your consideration that day, I was able to return home safely.”
Elisha’s expression in response looked as though she had bitten into something foul, yet her manners were flawless.
The mismatch between her expression and her behavior almost made him laugh in disbelief.
But Lucas restrained himself, ended the conversation, and left.
As he recalled what had just happened, Lucas spoke to Connor, who was nearby.
“The letter expressing gratitude for arriving safely at the estate today—was its sender that young lady’s father?”
“Yes. It was a letter from Baron Adrian, so that would be correct.”
He learned upon arriving at the imperial palace that the man was infamous for being excessively devoted to his daughter.
Almost as entertaining a topic as the confession incident at the palace itself.
“In any case, she’s a woman who can’t hide her emotions and lacks manners.”
Lucas tilted his head slightly at the evaluations he recalled.
True, judging by how she frowned at him, Elisha wasn’t good at hiding her feelings. But…
“She didn’t seem ill-mannered.”
He found himself repeating the same words he had muttered earlier in front of Elisha.
“Pardon?”
“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”
Connor asked again, but Lucas shook his head and continued walking.
There was no need to think further about a woman he would never meet again.
Unaware of what lay ahead, Lucas headed toward the commercial district under his jurisdiction.
“Is this the road that leads to the central commercial district?”
“Yes, my lady. But do you really think they’ll still be there?”
Bell answered cautiously at her side.
She looked anxious, as though worried I might throw a tantrum if things didn’t go my way.
Considering my past behavior, her concern wasn’t unreasonable.
Ignoring Bell’s worried gaze, I started walking toward the commercial district.
Running into that man who had witnessed my darkest embarrassment again wasn’t exactly pleasant—but I wanted to return the item.
Just as I was passing the alley beside the weapon shop—
“Don’t talk nonsense! I’m the owner of this building!”
“Agh!”
Loud voices echoed from the main road, drawing my feet toward the noise before I could stop myself.
The moment I stepped out of the alley, I froze in place.
“Oh my goodness! What on earth is happening?!”
Bell cried out as she stared at the commercial building in the center.
This time, she wasn’t exaggerating.
A man was holding a knife to a young girl’s throat.
Before I could even process the situation, someone stepped forward to confront him.
It was Lucas.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Shut up. Nobleman, mind your own business and move along!”
“This is my jurisdiction. I can’t do that.”
“Then give the order! Tell that swindler over there to hand over the rights to the building I paid for!”
The man pressed the blade closer to the girl’s neck.
Across from him, a mustached man gasped sharply.
The girl trembled violently, tears pooling in her eyes.
“You there.”
“Y-Yes!”
The mustached man approached, his face drained of color upon recognizing Lucas.
“Explain this. Was fraud committed in my district?”
“Absolutely not, Your Grace! That man invested in a shady scheme, got scammed, and is demanding compensation from me!”
“Those scammers have been especially active lately.”
Lucas frowned and let out a sigh.
“Release the child. It seems you’ve been properly deceived. Go to the nearby guard station and file a report.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! I paid a fair price!”
The man pushed the knife even closer.
Blood spilled from the girl’s neck, dripping onto the ground.
The girl, tears trembling in her eyes, looked at Lucas.
“P-Please… save me.”
For a brief moment, Lucas froze.
Then he drew his sword.
As the blade was about to dig deeper into the girl’s throat, Lucas struck the man’s wrist hard with the flat of his sword.
Clang.
The knife fell, and the surrounding crowd surged forward, restraining the man.
A woman—likely the girl’s mother—rushed to her, unable even to wipe her tears.
“Lucy!”
“Mom!”
The girl clung to her mother, blood still flowing from her neck.
“Someone, please get a carriage! Please!”
“I—I’ll get one!”
A man stepped forward, lifting the girl in his arms and sprinting away.
Her mother followed, disappearing into the crowd.
The entire ordeal ended in an instant.
Relief washed over me.
Then—
“Damn it.”
Lucas stared at the blood on the ground and cursed under his breath.
He frantically searched his coat pocket, but his hand came up empty.
I could guess what he was looking for.
“Your Grace!”
“No need to follow. Finish handling the situation. I’ll take a short break.”
Connor hesitated, then nodded and stepped away.
After confirming that everyone’s attention was elsewhere, Lucas staggered into an alley.
Something felt wrong.
His reaction earlier—it was as if he was terrified of something.
“Miss, where are you going?”
“I need to return something.”
“Then I’ll come with you.”
“No. Stay here.”
“What?”
I left Bell behind and hurried after him.
I couldn’t see the full picture yet—but I felt uneasy.
The symptoms Lucas showed were strikingly similar to those of patients I had treated in my past life.
“P-Please… save me.”
The voice echoed endlessly in his ears.
Blood flickered before his eyes.
Lucas collapsed into an empty alley, sitting as though he’d fallen.
“You must survive, Lucas. No matter what.”
A voice from long ago resurfaced.
Then came the accusations.
Why did you survive alone? Traitor who lived while his family died.
His chest tightened.
“Huff—huff!”
Clutching his chest, his vision darkened.
The familiar, sickening sensation returned.
He thought he had improved.
He had been wrong.
His fingers tingled. Focus blurred.
Just as he lowered his head—
“Are you okay?”
A woman’s voice snapped him back to reality.
He looked up, struggling for breath.
Elisha stood before him.
“Why are you here…?”
“That doesn’t matter right now. What’s wrong with you?”
“Leave it. It’ll pass. Just go.”
“You’re clearly not fine!”
Damn it.
His breathing worsened.
At this rate, he might actually lose consciousness.
Then a large paper bag suddenly appeared in front of him.
“It smells a bit since I picked it up off the street, but please bear with it.”
She pressed the bag over his nose and mouth, her voice steady.
“If you breathe out too fast, it’ll make the hyperventilation worse. Slowly… as evenly as you can.”
“Huff… huff…”
“It’s okay. You can do this.”
As he followed her instructions, his breathing gradually steadied.
When Elisha finally removed the bag, Lucas asked quietly,
“Do you have medical training?”
“Just things I picked up watching others. How’s your breathing?”
“Better than before.”
Though he straightened slightly, his face remained deathly pale.
