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Ka-chak.
After he surrendered his bed to Radis and closed his bedroom door behind him, Yves Russell got all twisted up, flailing, but in silence.
‘Radis, are you out of your mind? It’s out of curiosity? You followed those mercenary brutes fearlessly out of curiosity? And a passageway? There’s only one passageway that goes straight to the forbidden region, but you used that secret passageway? And then bam, you just popped up on my lap after using an ancient technique that’s long since forgotten? Even though that technique’s supposed to be dead? No, no, NO! That’s not the point. I mean, is someone who ‘knows how to wield a sword’ supposed to know how to deal with monsters in the forbidden region that’s about the same level as wolves? Radis, what the hell…?!”
Yves’ nagging burst through like a waterfall in his mind, and he even punched the air a few times.
If he had said all these things in front of Radis, the frustration he was feeling would definitely be gone by now. However, right now, Radis was an injured patient.
He didn’t want to nag at a patient, whose face had become as red as an apple because she got a fever from her wounds.
Moreover, whatever kind of incident happened, the most important was that Radis was right there on his bed. She returned.
If he needed to know anything, he could ask later.
‘And she’s so tiny though…!’
When Radis buried her face into a pillow that had been custom made to be proportioned to his large physique, she looked really tiny there.
How could he burst out in anger at such a lady?
Unlike how she usually acted, she was hesitating, too. And seeing that was also so very cute.
Radis always had an aloof air around her, but this time, her eyes went round every time their gazes met, and she would bow her head as well. The way she bent forward and showed her round head, showing the middle part of her hair. Even that was so. utterly. adorable.
‘What a cute goose. This is probably why the Third Prince fell in love with her.’
It seemed like his golden goose had gone on an adventure these past few days, but in any case, he returned back to his arms after her arduous journey.
At that thought, Yves Russell felt that his anger had subsided.
‘But I can’t let those mercenaries get away with this.’
As he walked towards the drawing room, he saw Allen there, waiting worriedly.
“How is Lady Radis?”
“She woke up. She looked fine.”
“What a relief.”
Yves stared pointedly at Allen.
Even if Allen couldn’t see the marquis’ eyes, he could feel the palpable murderous intent coming from them. At this, Allen bowed his head hastily.
Yves spoke slowly.
“Her night walks. You told me that she’d be fine.”
“It’s all my fault, Milord.”
Yves roughly drew a chair back and sat there.
“Right. I left Radis’ care in your hands. This incident is your responsibility.”
Allen knelt on the ground.
“My sins are worthy of death.”
But Yves shook his head.
“Enough. I’m responsible for being negligent as well. So if you think you’re worthy of death, then I’d have to die along with you. We can’t do that, now can we. So instead, I’ll give you a new assignment.”
“I shall risk my life!”
“No, it’s not going to be that difficult. There were mercenaries who talked about monster eggs in the night market. I remember seeing two guys, but of course, those two can’t be punished with the usual means. Those two mercenary scoundrels, could just get the capital punishment of the death penalty… But no, offing them that way would be too comfortable of a death for the likes of them.”
As Yves thought about this further, he tapped the armrest of his chair with one finger. Then, he opened his lips once more.
“Send them to Mine #9 and put them to work until they die.”
Mine #9 was the worst of the worst among the mines owned by the marquis.
The mine was so prone to accidents that the miners usually sent to that place were death row inmates.
Since they were death row inmates who would die anyway, the treatment they received was abysmal. So truthfully, compared to the number of people who had died from accidents, more people died from starvation or from being beaten by the wardens.
“Those two put Radis in danger, so cut those bastards’ tendons. Let them experience hell to the point that they’d cry blood instead of tears.”
Allen nodded vigorously.
“This punishment is only fitting, Milord. I shall do as you say immediately.”
* * *
Yves must have given up his bed to Radis with good intentions, but for some reason, she couldn’t drift off into slumber.
It was around midnight now and she still couldn’t sleep, so eventually, Radis headed back to her room.
“……”
But what she found on her bed was a snoring Yves, complete with even a black sleeping mask over his eyes.
“I mean, sure my bedroom’s right downstairs, and the bed’s empty… I know, but…”
Radis stared at Yves with a complicated expression, but she soon sat in an armchair by the window.
Her body was a wreck, and even more so her head.
Looking around the room, Radis realized that the haunted sword was at the top shelf of a display cabinet.
Someone must have put it there while she was unconscious earlier.
“Huu.”
Radis sank back in the armchair, sitting more comfortably, then she closed her eyes.
And in that state, she began to circulate her mana.