It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 132
When I handed the coachman ten silver, his eyes widened and he immediately opened the door.
Only after the carriage began to move did I finally let out a shaky breath and look out the window.
‘Did I make the right choice?’
What if this was all for nothing? From here, the Luanax and Calitas estates were nearly at opposite ends, forming a near triangle. If I wasted time and something happened to Lionel… if he died…
Dread crushed my chest.
‘It’s nothing serious. This could all just be a ridiculous misunderstanding.’
Maybe what hit the carriage had been an enemy who failed to ambush him and just bounced off.
Maybe Lionel had already defeated them cleanly and I was the only one who’d gone fleeing in vain.
Yes, that had to be it.
I forced myself not to think about what I’d do if Lionel had fallen. If that unshakable wall crumbled, what would happen to me, a girl who’d already been exposed to the Imperial Family once?
All I could do was pray.
To the gods of this world, who truly exist and bestow miracles.
Let Lionel be safe. At least until I get to him, let him stay alive.
I’d never prayed so desperately in my life.
Not when my family fell and I awakened from my past life. Not during those long, sleepless nights in a foreign monastery, where fear and uncertainty soaked my pillow each day. Not even on the day my stigmata first appeared and I could feel the presence of the divine.
Fortunately, Halid was at the estate.
Contrary to what I’d feared, he didn’t turn me away for showing up unannounced.
I was guided straight to the parlor, and scarcely a minute had passed before Halid appeared. Judging by the timing, he must’ve been dining on the same floor.
“Fairy… No, Lady Dilottete…?”
He looked thoroughly startled to see me, barely an hour after I’d left, now returning alone in a hired carriage.
“Your Grace, please help me. Something’s happened to Lionel. We need to go. Now. If we don’t, he might be kidnapped.”
I stepped in close, nearly whispering the words for fear someone might overhear.
“You mean Lord Luanax?”
Though his face showed confusion, he swiftly ordered a horse to be brought at once.
A perceptive attendant rushed to retrieve his sword and cloak.
“Tell me everything. What happened?”
In response to Halid’s question, I gave a brief account, starting from when I noticed the change in the coachman.
“So Lord Luanax had a hunch who the attacker might be?”
“Yes. That’s how it seemed.”
While I was explaining, Halid finished gearing up and turned to me.
“Wait here. I’ll return shortly.”
“Would I be in the way if I came too? Lionel might be injured… he might need me.”
I wasn’t sure if this was considered meddling.
But…
But I couldn’t just sit still.
Yes, I was finally beginning to understand. Why female leads in novels rush into danger, even when they know better.
Facing the crisis of someone I’d given my heart to, I grew increasingly frantic, and something unfamiliar burst out from within. Something I never imagined existed inside me.
I could no longer cling to logic or think clearly. My head was a mess, and my chest felt like it was being squeezed to the point of pain.
What would I see if I looked in a mirror right now?
The answer was written all over Halid’s face, his eyes and expression.
“…Let’s go together. If I can’t even protect you, the name Calitas would be a joke.”
Instead, he suggested we ride the same horse. He said it was because I looked far too unsteady.
Halid’s judgement was probably correct. Even though I understood what I was doing, I couldn’t stop trembling. My whole body was shaking uncontrollably.
