A collapsed table and ruined cake on the floor. A man whose face was smashed to the cake.
My eyes went blank with dizziness. What should I do? I didnât let go of the cane to do this!
I apologized in a hurry.
âI- Iâm sorry. I didnât know you were pulling it hard, I-I couldnât feel any strength from the pulling.â
It wasnât until I said it that I realized, I said something to disgrace the Count more.
This is annoying-! I tried to approach him while biting my lips but Reden grabbed my arm, stopping me.
He was looking at me with his forehead narrowed. I quickly made an excuse because I was confused by his expression.
âI didnât mean to make him fall on the cake! I didnât want to cause trouble! C-can you nag me later?â
âHold out your hand.â
âHuh?â
In this situation, his words were so random that I asked back in utter shock. He sighed and grabbed my hand. It was the hand that was holding the cane until a few seconds ago.
Whatâs wrong with him? Strangely enough, he looked closely into my hand rather than nag at me. As if to check whether something can be found or not.
âWhatâs wrong?â
âAlright. Fortunately, it seems to be fine.â
What?
âFortunately, you think it was fine? UhhâŠ.â
âThank you for worrying about me.â
âNot at all. I was going to ask if you like causing trouble like this.â
Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.
As expected, his nagging began. When I felt a little unfair, I immediately lowered my eyebrows.
âDo you think I did it on impulse? I just did what I could for Reden.â
âWhy did you even intervene in the first place?â
âWhat? I saved you and you canât even say thank you.â Hearing my complaint, he was silent before mumbling with a displeased face.
âI could do it on my own.â
It was then.
A chilling sensation crawled like a bug on my back. Turning my head reflexively, I found Count Sirius rushing towards me like a beast with his cane.
The cane in his hand changed and somehow looked different than before. Just a while ago, it looked like a normal cane, but now, it looks like a weapon.
To be honest, I wasnât afraid. I had once held the cane wielded by that man. It wonât hurt even if you get hit by such a weak force.
However, something was strange.
The fact that the black jewel embedded on the handle of the cane caught my attention.
That was weird. The only thing that could be considered unique was the fact that it was black as if it were sucking all the light.
Why is he looking at me like that?
Strangely enough, I could see the face of the count distorted harshly beyond the eye-catching jewel. It may be an illusion, but I saw a few scales on the countâs cheek.
What is thatâŠ.?
At that moment, the cane that I thought had stopped suddenly rushed to me. And when I saw a faintly swaying light in the black jewel, I sensed it.
Ah, somethingâs different this time. If itâs this time, then⊠Iâm going to get hurt!
But itâs already late. All I could do was shrink back. I closed my eyes and shrank, waiting for the pain to hit me.
(Scream)
The dull sound finally dug into my ear.
However, instead of the pain that had to flow through my body, I felt warmth. When I opened my eyes slightly because I was curious about what happened, then I saw two people in front of me.
Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.
One, Reden embraced me. Two, the back of a stranger was seen in front of Reden and me.
Wide back, splendid yet restrained conquest. And black hair like the black jewel I saw a while ago.
âStrange. Wasnât the main character of this banquet supposed to be the Knights? Why does it feel like someone else became the main character?â
The voice that followed was not a strangerâs. However, unlike yesterday, it was low and cold, the one that I was used to know.
âDiwen Fergus?â
What? Did he get hit instead of me?
âS-Sir, Sir Fergus.â
âItâs a banquet that His Majesty personally held for the Hugo Knights. How can you make a fuss like this?â
Diwen casually ran his fingers over his temples. Then, the dark red liquid fell on the floor.
âOh my god, is that blood?â
Surprised, I escaped Redenâs arms and went next to Diwen. His forehead and temple were soaked with blood as if his skin was torn by being hit by a cane.
Regret, confusion, and wonder mixed together.
Why? Why did Diwen Fergus take the blow for me?
Diwen ignored me and looked coldly at the count.
The countâs face turned pale white. Something was strange in this sight, a nobleman was frightened by a knight like Diwen.
âIn addition, this.â
Diwen took the cane in the manâs hand as if it were his. The man looked at him with a restless face like a child whose candy was stolen.
âI couldnât believe it, even so, I tried to observe moreâŠ.. ThisâŠ.Itâs made of dragon bones.â
âDragon bones?â
Suddenly, I remembered a report from the Hugo Knights, which had been mixed in with my documents a week ago.
Diwen grinned and closely observed the cane. And in that state, he suddenly shouted.
Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.
âHezzard!â
It was someoneâs name that came out of his mouth. Soon after, someone approached, passing over the crowd.
Rough looking and small scars were visible on his face. One look and I can tell he wasnât a nobleman but a Knight from the Hugo Knights.
âKeep this separately.â
âOh, no! That isâŠ.â
When Diwen gave an order to a bearish knight, the count jumped and grabbed Diwen by the arm. The latter shook off the manâs hand with a stubborn gesture and laughed.
The smile on Diwenâs face was somehow frightening. Count Sirius stiffened at the sight.
âDid you just say no to me? This is a very funny situation.â
âDragon bones, skin, and teeth. Did you know that we recover everything that comes from a dead dragon?â
ââŠ..â
âAmong them, dragon bones are prohibited products that we donât distribute to the masses. Dragon mana is purely infused on their bones. If it falls into human hands, it will cause serious harm.â
The more I listened to Diwen, the more complicated my head became. So, that manâs cane is made of dragon bones that was supposedly prohibited from being distributed?
In other words, we can conclude that the Count might have either stolen the staff from someone or purchased it from a black market.
âItâs probably because we caught a dragon recently and carved it outâŠ.â
Diwen stopped talking midway as his blood fell on the countâs cheek. The Countâs face became perplexed and found Diwen to be extremely vicious.
âWell, it doesnât matter. It was still made from Dragon Bones so we will be collecting this.â
âOh no- Dragon bones, I-â
âHey, Count. You know what?â
Diwen, who interrupted the noblemanâs words, looked fearless, waving his hand as he stared at the shivering Count.
Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.
âYou have no right to stop me. Just be quiet, will you?â
ââŠ..â
âDrag him out. Donât let the atmosphere be tainted.â
Diwen stretched out his back and pointed at the knight with the staff. The knight silently held the countâs arm and led him out as if he was towing a heavy load.
I thought the count would immediately struggle and rebel, but instead, he just looked at Diwen with a bewildered face.
As such, the fuss ended with Count Sirius leaving in vain. The nobles, who were openly watching, quickly lost interest and began to do their own thing.
On the other hand, I stood blankly because I couldnât get rid of my shock.
Dragon bones? Thatâs none of my business, so itâs okay.
That Count Sirius held malice and harmed me? Itâs ridiculous, but thatâs okay, too.
The reason why Iâm still dumbfounded itâs because.
âI didnât know Diwen Fergus would receive the blow for me.â
I couldnât understand.
Iâm sure he was the one who killed Renee Blair in the original story. Rather than killing, he was willing to get hit for me? Is this progress coming from being unable to die under Diwenâs hand yesterday?
âIt might be something like that.â
âAre you okay?â
As I shifted my gaze towards the sudden voice, I couldnât hide my surprise with Diwen smiling at me, treating me gently.
It was still creepy because he was covered with blood, but he looked innocent at first glance.
If I look at him, itâs as if he was waiting to be praised for doing a good job.
Diwen tilted his head slowly.
âWhatâs wrong? Were you too shocked that you couldnât speak? Perhaps, are you hurt?â
â⊠Why did you take the hit that was meant for me?â
âHuh?â
âNo, better than that, why didnât you avoid it? Youâre a knight.â
Heâs also a Dragon Slayer!
Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.
He looked at me, said ah, with a low voice. He wiped the blood flowing through his hand. Diwen was wearing gloves yesterday, but he didnât wear them today, his white fingers were being stained with blood.
âI didnât avoid it because I wasnât feeling well, plus it was annoying. More than that, youâve changed a lot and you seem like a different person, and Iâm worried about that.â
âWhat?â
âSir Fergus.â
When Dywenâs narrowed purple eyes gave off a meaningful glow, Reden came to his side, calling him.
Is it because of the mood? Redenâs gaze toward Diwen seemed to be sharp and wary.
Anastasiaâs face from yesterday overlapped with Redenâs face.
Come to think of it, Anastasia didnât seem to like Diwen either. What is this man doing that he was hated not only by the heroine but also by Reden?
âMarquis Blair. Itâs been a while.â
âWe met yesterday, too.â
âBut yesterday, Renee collapsed so we couldnât have a conversation.â
I got goosebumps while listening to the conversation between the two. How did Diwen know that I collapsed? And what was that? Renee?
[Tl: Well, I wasnât sure if itâs Miss Renee or just Renee from the different tl, but after analyzing the flow, it seems that he called her name familiarly so I concluded with Renee so Diwen would be calling her as if he was very close with her.]
Redenâs gaze was directed at me for a bit before glancing toward Diwen.
âThe two of you must have gotten close without me realizing it.â
[Tl: Now Iâm wondering who the Ml is, how curious, idk who to vote for.]
âWhat? No!â
I immediately waved my hand in denial to Redenâs strange conclusion. I felt Diwenâs gaze right away and was scared for some reason. I quietly hid behind Redenâs back.
âWeâre not close, but why do you call me by my name?â
âWell, weâve been talking informally since yesterday.â
âBut weâre not that familiar with each other, so how can you call me by my first name informally?â
âWhat? I canât call you by your name?â
It was when Diwen asked with an absurd look that made me flinch. However, he frowned because some blood was getting on his eye. That made me pull out a handkerchief and wipe off the blood around his eye.
However, the handkerchief was not made from a well-absorbed material, so rather than wiping the blood, his forehead only became dirty. He clicked his tongue with an audible sound.
Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.
Sneaking glances at the flowing in his hand and forehead, the wound seems to be quite large.