Scary.

That was the first thought that came to mind when I looked into Killian’s eyes as he approached right in front of me.

It was a moment when I wondered if I had unknowingly done something wrong to Killian.

Perhaps realizing that Alicia was frightened, Killian’s demeanor changed in an instant.

The emerald green eyes that had been flashing as if to tear the other person apart were now filled with warmth.

Wearing a mask of kindness and gentleness, Killian asked again in a soft voice as if to soothe Alicia.

“Who is the bastard that left marks on Your Highness’s body, who I should bite to death?”

…Just because the tone is gentle doesn’t mean the words are gentle.

Alicia smiled awkwardly at his question and explained what had happened in the back alley she had accidentally wandered into today.

“You’re saying the Viscount saved Your Highness?”

“I was lucky.”

“Whose luck?”

“…Mine?”

“I doubt it.”

Killian, sitting across from Alicia with his long legs crossed, smiled as he rested his arm on the carriage window frame and stroked his chin.

“Since it ended with just losing consciousness, I’d say it was their luck.”

“…Pardon?”

“Do you remember their appearances?”

“No, I was too flustered at the time…”

“Ah, that’s alright. We’ll just sweep them all away.”

What on earth has this man been saying all this time?

Alicia pulled down her sleeve to cover her wrist, which was bruised in the shape of the hand that had grabbed her, and glanced at Killian.

“I would have told you to just ask if you had any questions.”

“…What was the Duke doing there?”

It was strange to run into Killian, who rarely went out except to visit the Imperial Palace when returning to the capital, at the entrance of a path leading to a back alley of all places.

Was he perhaps also looking for the Information Guild?

If not that, then maybe the Assassination Guild that she had only heard rumors about…

As Alicia recalled the names of some illegal guilds located in the back alleys, she turned her gaze to the window, avoiding Killian who wouldn’t take his eyes off her.

The scenery outside the window was passing by quickly.

“Aren’t we going straight to the Imperial Palace?”

Alicia asked, noticing that the carriage was heading towards the area where the mansions of the noble aristocrats were gathered, not the Imperial Palace.

“If you get out of my carriage looking like that without preparation, it would spread quite an interesting rumor.”

“Ah… Then how…”

“I have business at the Imperial Palace this afternoon. We can move together then.”

What difference does that make from going back now?

That thought had just crossed her mind.

“By then, the Imperial Palace, having noticed Your Highness’s escape, will have finished preparing to receive you while covering people’s eyes.”

It seemed that, as Killian said, she couldn’t hide her expressions from him at all.

Killian chuckled as he answered the unasked question, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.

“It wasn’t an escape, just a simple outing… Thank you.”

Alicia barely managed to utter those words before closing her mouth and lowering her head.

She looked down at her dirty shoe tips, which had become soiled while wandering the back alleys. Some time passed, and then she felt the carriage come to a stop.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. I am Bril Grant, the assistant to Duke Diaz.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Alicia, who had gotten out of the carriage holding Killian’s hand, received the greeting from the white-haired man who didn’t seem surprised to see her, and took in the exterior of the Duke’s mansion.

This must be the first time she had seen it up close like this.

‘Well, it’s also the first time I’ve entered through the main gate.’

Was it because it was something she had longed for so much in the past? Her heart was strangely fluttering.

Killian, who had been watching Alicia examine the Duke’s mansion for a moment, gently pushed her waist with his palm, urging her to enter the mansion.

Startled by his touch, Alicia opened her eyes wide, then realizing she had been staring at the Duke’s mansion in a daze, her face turned bright red.

Unable to hide her reddened ear tips, Alicia walked into the mansion with small steps. Killian’s gaze softened for a moment as he watched her, but it was something she couldn’t know.

“If you would wait a moment, I will have refreshments brought out.”

The one who greeted Alicia inside the mansion was an elderly butler.

Not a single person among those belonging to the Duke Diaz’s household showed any surprise at Alicia’s sudden visit.

While thinking it was strange, but also thinking that it could be like this if they were Killian’s people, Alicia sat on the sofa in the reception room and looked around.

The robe she had worn over her shoulders had been taken off and handed to the butler, so she was wearing a simple dress that commoners might wear.

Alicia, who hadn’t had many opportunities to examine commoners’ clothes up close, didn’t know, but it wasn’t the kind of clothes that the eldest daughter of a poor noble family could afford to buy with her own money.

The robe she had worn out was also one of those high-quality garments, which was why she had gotten into such trouble in the back alley.

Of course, Alicia, who had no way of knowing this fact, was simply thinking that such clothes seemed not bad to wear around while examining Killian’s mansion with her eyes.

“The master is changing clothes. Please wait a little while.”

The butler said as he set down a warm cup of tea and a slice of apple pie.

Alicia nodded at his words and then, looking at the glossy apple pie as if she had found something that didn’t belong in this mansion, she spoke.

“Doesn’t Killian, I mean, Duke Diaz dislike apple pie?”

“He dislikes all sweet desserts.”

“Then this is…”

“It’s prepared for guests who visit the mansion. Do you dislike it?”

“No, I like apple pie.”

“That’s good.”

But are there actually guests who visit Killian’s mansion?

Even if there are visitors, how many people would be able to sit face to face with Killian and eat something like this without getting into trouble?

Although she likes Killian, she needs to consider things objectively when necessary.

Alicia smiled brightly, hoping that no matter how delicious a dessert Killian’s butler prepared, he wouldn’t serve it to guests.

The apple pie tasted better than expected.

She was hungry from moving around so much, but even apart from that fact, the taste of the apple pie, which showed the skills of an expert, was excellent.

‘Did they buy it from a shop somewhere?’

It could be the skills of the Duke’s cook, but with this level of quality, it must have been bought from a dessert specialty store.

To prepare a pie that can’t be kept for long for guests who might never come.

She wondered if someone was scheduled to visit, but Killian, who said he would enter the Imperial Palace this afternoon, didn’t seem likely to prepare to welcome other guests.

‘Then what is it?’

Alicia, who had cleaned her plate, put down her fork and washed away the sweet taste left in her mouth with the cooled tea.

“It seems it suited your taste.”

“Duke.”

Killian, who had changed into light clothes and come down to the reception room, smiled with satisfaction after confirming the empty plate in front of Alicia.

It was Alicia who was surprised.

This was because Killian, who had changed clothes, had not come to the reception room alone.

The man wearing round glasses bowed his head towards Alicia with a smiling face.

“I am Faizan, the physician of the Duke Diaz household.”

“Why is a physician…”

“I came to do a simple treatment so that your wound doesn’t worsen until you enter the Imperial Palace.”

Killian, who sat in the most honorable seat with an attitude of not caring what conversation the two were having, threw a word towards the surprised Alicia.

“Receive treatment.”

“But…”

Unless it’s an urgent situation, only the Imperial Palace’s physician can treat the imperial family.

This was because the health information of the imperial family itself was treated as top secret.

Is it okay to receive treatment from an outsider for just a bruise on the wrist?

Faizan, who noticed the reason for Alicia’s hesitation, smiled kindly and bowed his head.

“I’m not saying I will examine you. I will apply an ointment that’s good for bruises and wrap a bandage. It’s an ointment certified by the Imperial Family, and I will open the bandage in front of Your Highness, so you can rest assured.”

“I don’t mind, but if things go wrong, Faizan, your life could be in danger.”

“Ah…”

Faizan groaned in surprise at Alicia’s response.

The reason why the imperial family doesn’t receive treatment from outside physicians is not only because their health information is top secret, but also because they could endanger the imperial family under the guise of treatment.

The Imperial Princess would surely know this reason well…

‘She’s worried about my safety, not her own?’

Faizan, who had been blankly staring at Alicia who was sincerely worried about him, turned his gaze to Killian.

Only the butler who was watching his appearance knew that the look in his eyes was similar to looking at a conscienceless thief.

“I’m fine. If something really dangerous happens, that person over there will take care of it.”

“If it’s Duke Diaz, it would be possible, but…”

“Yes, so would you show me your wrist?”

Alicia nodded after looking at Killian, who wasn’t even glancing at her, and held out one hand.

Faizan carefully rolled up her sleeve to check the condition of her wrist and furrowed his brows.

How roughly did they grab her to leave such a mark?

‘They’ll be dead soon anyway, so don’t worry about it.’

Recalling the first order Killian had given upon returning to the mansion, Faizan composed his expression and smiled gently towards Alicia.

“It doesn’t seem like the bone is damaged. However, since this is an opinion given without being able to examine you, you must have your dedicated physician check when you return.”

Faizan scooped some ointment with a cotton swab and applied it on Alicia’s wrist, then waited for the ointment to be sufficiently absorbed before covering the handprint left by the soon-to-be-dead bastard with a clean bandage.

He couldn’t turn his head to check, but looking at the white bandage covering the handprint, Faizan was certain that Killian would be satisfied. He stood up from his seat.

“Then I will take my leave now. Please make sure to receive a physician’s examination. Your Highness.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

After the Duke Diaz household’s physician withdrew and even the butler left the reception room, only Killian and Alicia remained.

Alicia, who was looking at her bandaged wrist for no reason and avoiding Killian’s gaze, raised her head at Killian’s question that came a little later.