I slumped in a chair on the terrace.

“Thank you for today. I know you hate going around and greeting people at such occasions.”

“You don’t have to worry too much since it was something commanded by Her Majesty.”

“Hehe, even so.”

Throughout the banquet, Nathaniel and I had to exchange greetings with so many people.

How my heart fluttered, fearing Nathaniel might find it annoying and leave halfway through!

Fortunately, he silently went around greeting people.

During that time, I felt a slight change in the nobles’ gaze towards Nathaniel.

‘At best, they see him as stubborn rather than a tyrant.’

Thanks to that, I drank a lot.

Nathaniel might not know, but I was not strong with alcohol.

Even though I chose only the lighter kinds to drink, everything in front of me was spinning.

“Sit down and rest.”

He took care of me first, as I looked terrible.

He brought water from outside the terrace and handed it to me.

As I gulped down the water and cooled the heat, I felt like I was coming back to life.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m getting sleepy now……”

“You don’t seem to drink well. Why do you keep drinking?”

“I thought I’d be fine.”

My head rang as I heard Nathaniel’s nagging.

I moved my body’s center back to lean against the backrest.

Only to forget that this bench didn’t have a backrest.

“Ugh!”

I fell back since there was nothing to lean on.

No, I almost fell back.

Nathaniel’s body swiftly moved closer.

I barely avoided a clumsy fall by grabbing his shoulder with my hand stretched out to survive.

“Really, I can’t take my eyes off you.”

“I’m, I’m sorry……”

He clicked his tongue briefly and helped me sit down.

I watched Nathaniel as he straightened his crumpled clothes.

“Why?”

“No, no.”

He casually turned his gaze away and looked down at the garden.

He seemed to be in a bad mood for some reason.

Even though I didn’t do anything wrong, why was he like that?

“Are you angry about something?”

“Not really.”

“Then why……”

Nathaniel’s eyebrows twitched as he looked down at me.

I chose to close my mouth as it seemed I shouldn’t ask more.

‘What a personality.’

I was cursing him secretly when he tapped my shoulder.

I almost screamed, surprised, thinking I was caught.

“What’s the matter?”

“It looks like your friend is running away.”

Saying that, Nathaniel pointed to the garden with his finger.

“Fri… Theresa?”

I jumped up and looked back.

But it was impossible to find Theresa through the dense trees.

Was he really seeing Theresa at that moment?

“Kyaaaaaaaaa!”

We looked at each other’s faces at the scream heard from somewhere.

Nathaniel embraced my waist as if he had been waiting.

“Hold tight.”

“Huh? Uh, aaaaaaah!”

And he jumped off the balcony.

This time, I clung to Nathaniel’s neck for dear life.

We were on the third floor.

I knew I had to stay attached to Nathaniel if I wanted to keep my limbs intact.

“Kyaaaaaaaaa!”

Fortunately, we landed safely on the ground.

As soon as the solid ground touched my feet, tears welled up uncontrollably.

“Are, are you crazy?! I thought I was going to die!”

A rare emotion of bewilderment appeared on Nathaniel’s face.

‘Really, if you were my sibling, I would have slapped you.’

I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand and got up.

There was something more urgent.

“Can you check if there are people around?”

“Yes.”

Nathaniel closed his eyes and scanned the surroundings with his magic.

He frowned and spoke to me.

“There are several people gathered nearby.”

“Let’s go see what’s happening there.”

What happened to Count Dmitri, who was with her?

Why was Theresa running away alone?

Anxiety overcame me.

I thought everything had been resolved well.

“This way.”

Following Nathaniel’s guidance, we arrived at a clearing where only a few tree stumps remained.

And from that side, suppressed groans were flowing out.

Upon approaching, I saw Teresa lying on the floor.

“Teresa!”

I hurriedly rushed inside, and the faces of others appeared.

Surprisingly, between them, I saw Maximilian trampling an unknown man with his foot.

Despite the gruesome sight, Maximilian did not stop.

“Oh, big brother, stop!”

At my screamlike shout, the trampling finally ceased.

Slowly turning his head to look at me, Maximilian’s eyes were cold, unlike anything I had seen before.

A fearful intensity in his blue eyes.

Frozen by this sight I had never seen, I stood still.

“Shouldn’t we first look to the safety of Lady Menisil?” Nathaniel said.

Coming to my senses, Maximilian and I ran to Teresa, who was lying in the back.

Her face, slack with exhaustion, was a mess.

I instantly realized what had almost happened.

Though I wanted to strike the man Maximilian had been trampling, for now, I decided to hold back.

“First, let’s clear the place. I will dispose of this man quietly but surely, so don’t worry.”

Nathaniel glanced at us and tied the man’s arms and legs with magic.

“Ugh, ugh.”

The man, already beaten by Maximilian, could only moan in pain.

I stepped on him and turned around.

Taking care of Teresa was the priority.