His glare was terrifying. Even if I was an assassin sent to kill him, I’d still have lost my voice.
I wracked my head for any excuse at all.
“No, but um, how did you know I’m here?”
Could he see through walls?
How did he know there’s a person standing outside the door before opening it?
“How did you know I was outside?”
I couldn’t stand the curiosity I was feeling.
“…Who do you think I am?”
At my answer, he raised an eyebrow.
“Your presence could be felt outside. Knights have keen senses. Of course I’d be trained to know if there’s an enemy nearby or not.”
Forgetting the urgency of the situation, I was startled by what he said.
I just paced the hall outside, but he felt that?
“Amoide, you’re amazing!”
Then it makes sense that he was once involved with the novel’s heroine. If only he hadn’t been sick…
“I’m not here to attack you, so don’t stare at me like that.”
“If you were in my shoes, wouldn’t you think it’s suspicious?”
I bit my lips and hesitated.
“Explain what’s going on.”
He looked at me pointedly again.
“I had to go out without Mother knowing. But right now, someone’s in my room and I don’t want to get caught. That’s why…”
I clasped my hands together and fiddled with my fingers.
Then, unintentionally, the bandage that was still wrapped over my hand caught his eye.
I could see Amoide’s harsh expression softening a little when he saw it.
“Why did you leave at such an early hour?”
I couldn’t answer right away.
‘Should I tell you the truth or not?’
But under the current circumstances, considering that I was asking for help, I couldn’t help but be truthful.
“Someone sent a snake to my room.”
He furrowed his brows as his eyes scoured me from head to toe.
The hand that was on my shoulder started to hurt because his grip had tightened.
I looked up at him, bewildered. I was a bit surprised. I thought he’d ask me if I’m talking nonsense or that he’d doubt me until I explained properly.
‘Do you really believe me?’
Whatever he was thinking, this was good. I’m glad he’s open to listening.
So I decided to be more honest.
“I don’t know yet. I’m not sure who it was, but I found out that the snake was being raised by someone.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I mean that it’s a snake that’s being raised by someone in the mansion.”
“Who would raise such a dangerous thing? Didn’t you see the snake the other day?”
“I know. But it might be that the person’s raising snakes secretly.”\nI lifted my hand and sniffed my forearm.
“What smell are you talking… about…”
I froze in place after I raised my arm.
As he said, it smells. Me…
“Why on earth do you smell like that?”
Like lightning flashing through my mind, I remembered the reason.
The fish in Jean’s carriage came to mind.
I didn’t touch the fish directly, but the smell clung to my clothes while I rode the carriage.
“If you go out now, you’ll be loved by every cat that passes by you.”
His tone was thick with sarcasm.
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