Ch.281Side Story) Old Maid? (2)

“W-what… I suppose you could say that. I completely understand.”

What could you possibly understand? How could anyone understand this?

“Really?”

“…Yes, of course.”

See, your response was delayed.

You’re not understanding at all; you’re just saying whatever comes to mind to reassure me.

Ah, ugh…

“Are… are you alright?”

“That’s what I should be asking you…”

“Ah, hahaha… I… suppose so…”

This isn’t working.

There’s nothing more embarrassing than this.

I made the mistake, yet I’m the one receiving sympathy—what greater humiliation could there be?

And the fact that the recipient is the heir to the Akitan Duchy, someone who doesn’t rank below me in status—if this reaches anyone else’s ears, I’m finished.

“Lord Ethan, I have a request.”

“Yes?”

“Could you… keep this incident a secret…”

“Ah, yes… of course.”

Phew… thank goodness, truly thank goodness.

To be honest, I’ve never thought highly of Ethan for taking Lily away, but now he seems surprisingly decent. No wonder Lily fell for him.

“Since you’re not injured, we should be able to hide this easily enough… huh?”

“…What?”

Despite the dead of night, I can see it clearly.

Droplets of blood reflecting in the moonlight and starlight, dripping from his forearm.

When Ethan awkwardly tries to scratch his head, the blood flowing from his arm finally makes its presence known.

We were standing so close just moments ago, and we were both so excited by the sudden incident that neither of us had noticed.

Drip— drip—

“…”

When I look toward the dagger in my hand, I’m greeted by blood flowing along the blade, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.

Blood from his arm and blood from the dagger simultaneously transform into droplets that fall to the ground with soft plops, and the quiet garden night amplifies the sound.

“Um… well…”

“Uh, uhh…”

This is bad. Really bad.

This can’t be hidden. How could anyone hide such a conspicuous stab wound?

Moreover, as the heir to a duchy, even if he tried to hide a small injury, he’d have to show it to a doctor. And his clothes are soaked with blood!

The Imperial Princess stabbing the heir to a duchy with a knife—what an absurd, vulgar story.

Just imagining this reaching Mother’s ears… No, my legs are giving out. I’ll surely die.

“F-first, let’s stop the bleeding, quickly!”

“What? Oh, yes—”

“Hurry, give me your arm!”

“—Ugh?!”

At the very least, if I’m going to make excuses, I need to prove I did my best.

I’ll die either way, but perhaps less painfully.

Riiip—

“Ugh… e-excuse me…”

For now, I tear my sleeve to use as a bandage.

Fortunately, my current outfit has two layers, so losing one won’t be too noticeable, and the cotton material is perfect for stopping bleeding.

Of course, the price is fitting for an Imperial Princess… but that’s a small price to pay if it can change this terrible future.

“Um… Lady Clodia…?”

“Please stay still, I need to tie this!”

Forcibly rolling up Ethan’s sleeve, I can clearly see the stab wound. The cut runs from the lower forearm to the outside.

Ugh… at least it’s on the lower forearm rather than the upper, and it’s horizontal rather than vertical, so it should be easier to stop the bleeding.

“Haaa… there, done.”

When Mother’s attendants first taught me how to stop bleeding, I found it annoying and wondered why I needed to know, but I’m glad I paid proper attention. If I had let it go in one ear and out the other, I wouldn’t have been able to handle this disaster.

Using a freshly broken branch and cloth torn from my sleeve, I tie it tightly above the wound, binding the forearm firmly, while also wrapping the wound itself to prevent foreign matter from entering.

“Um… Lady Clodia. We should go inside now.”

Ethan looks alternately at his wound and at me, then smiles awkwardly as he speaks.

Thankfully, he seems pleased with my work.

His arm must be quite painful from the tight binding, but the complete cessation of bleeding alone is an impressive enough first aid technique to surprise anyone.

“Yes… let’s do that…”

“And please wear this.”

“Ah… thank you…”

Ethan drapes his outer garment over my body. The size difference is significant, so even just wearing it like this covers me almost to my thighs.

Ugh… what do I do now?

How am I going to explain this to Lily, Mother, Father… everyone?

……….

[Ethan! Have you lost your mind?!]

[I’m sorry, Father.]

[T-this…! Thankfully Lady Clodia was with you, but what would have happened if you were alone?!]

…Wait, what’s happening here?

That wound was clearly my doing. I accidentally cut him with my knife.

[Mistaking a bird for a kidnapper is foolish but understandable, but injuring yourself with your own weapon? And you call yourself a man!]

[I’m sorry, I have no excuse.]

This is so embarrassing. I never knew having someone cover up my obvious mistake out of pure goodwill could be this humiliating.

“Um… Lord Ethan.”

“Don’t worry about it, it’s nothing.”

“How can you say it’s nothing…”

To be scolded for something I didn’t do—if it were me, I would have been furious with indignation.

But Ethan seems to genuinely believe what he’s saying. There’s not a hint of deception in his tone or gaze.

“…Why did you do it?”

“Pardon?”

“Why did you cover for me?”

I simply cannot understand.

If I were in Ethan’s position, I would have used this as leverage to gain special privileges.

Even in Lotaring, where the Emperor’s power is strong, an Imperial Princess stabbing the heir to a duchy is a powerful justification that could negate any advantage of that power. If the Akitan family had openly raised the issue and demanded compensation, even Father would have had no way out, right?

But Ethan didn’t do that. He simply kept the matter quiet.

Why?

“Well… I’m sure Lady Clodia had no ill intentions. It was just a simple mistake.”

“Yes, but turning that mistake into an opportunity is what a noble—”

“Haha, I dislike such complicated matters. Just think of it as… how should I put it… the most basic goodwill that humans possess.”

“Goodwill.”

Hearing the word “goodwill” sends a sudden shiver through my mind. Something trembles from my neck down my spine, instantly flowing to my lower body.

Goodwill, the most basic goodwill that humans possess…

It’s such a trivial and direct excuse.

But… perhaps because of that, it’s easy to understand.

After all, aren’t human actions determined by simple and immediate flashes of emotion?

“…Ugh.”

What’s happening? Why am I feeling like this?

My ears are ringing, and my breathing is so rapid that it’s hard to breathe.

But my heartbeat is louder than ever, filling my ears with the sound of my pounding heart without even having to focus.

“Lady Clodia?”

“Y-yes?”

“Are you alright?”

Am I alright? Of course I am.

That’s what I should be asking you. You’re the one who was stabbed, not me.

“I’m fi— Ugh…!?”

As my vision, which had been blurry due to my dazed state until just now, returns to normal, I see someone standing before me who seems completely different from the person I was talking to moments ago.

Of course, his outward appearance is exactly the same, but the feeling emanating from that appearance is completely different.

How should I put it… Yes, the thief who stole Lily is now— Ugh?!

‘W-what am I thinking…?’

“…?”

What am I thinking right now?

This man is Lily’s husband.

To harbor such feelings for someone who already belongs to another—I promised myself I would find a man who would love only me, unlike Mother— Eek!?

“…Huh?”

“Hmm…”

When I come to my senses, Ethan has somehow moved right in front of me, examining me with a genuinely concerned expression.

His gaze is so pure that it’s clear he harbors nothing but worry.

T-this isn’t right… I promised myself I would live differently from Mother…

“Ugh…”

My face is burning hot. It feels like I’ve been in the sun all day and my face is scorched.

No, no.

I need to turn my face away… turn away…

“It seems you’ve caught a cold from being outdoors at night with torn clothes.”

“Ah…”

I promised myself… I had promised…

Ah, ugh…

This is too cruel.

The person I’ve been searching for all this time already belongs to someone else—this is too cruel.

“So we should go inside now— Hmm…?”

“Lord Ethan, Lord Ethan.”

“Lady Clodia…? You’re too close—”

Why is this trial befalling me?

What am I going to tell Lily?

Yes, there’s already the precedent with Father, so if I use that to persuade her—

Creeeeak—

“Ethan!!”

“Eek—!?”

Suddenly the infirmary door flings open, and from beyond it comes an all-too-familiar voice that instantly straightens my bending waist into a rigid line.

“What, what is going on here? Hmm?!”

“Lily, I’m sorry. It’s just… I made a small mistake.”

“A mistake? How could you possibly make such a… ugh…”

Lily’s hair is disheveled and her eyes are sunken. She must have been sound asleep but rushed to the infirmary after hearing the shocking news in the middle of the night.

“Clodia, I heard what happened. Thank you so much!”

“Th-thank me…?”

“Yes! I’m so grateful you were there with Ethan. You saved him, thank you!”

Then perhaps you could let me stay by his side a little longer— Ugh?!

W-what am I thinking…?

I couldn’t possibly harbor such wicked thoughts toward my dear Lily.

I’m just… yes, I’m just stressed and my mind is temporarily confused. There’s no other explanation.

“It’s… nothing.”

Clodia barely managed to squeeze out a response to Lily’s words, and Lily, hearing this, continued to express her relief.

Unlike her relieved demeanor, Lily’s eyes were sharper than ever, but Clodia, whose mind was too scattered, failed to notice this.