Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Max entered the Commander’s office with his hands full of letters that were all bearing the same emblem. They were all engraved with a blue pattern representing Count Dratius.

Max quietly put all of them on the table. The old butler of Count Dratius was sending letters from time to time when it was time to bring the golden eggs from the Dratius province. The Count had never been interested in the province, so the order to bring eggs gave the butler some expectations. He wondered if he had changed his mind.

Max looked at the elegant patterns on the letters and agonized over them. He knew the old butler’s troubles well because he had known him for a while.

It was frustrating for him because the only owner did not get married, did not come back to the mansion and ignored his letters. Max had kept this correspondence secret because he was wary of Hizen, and he decided to bring it now. Also, he needed his absence.

“Now that you’ve found Miss Leasis, wouldn’t it be okay to take a break?”

Hizen, who was arranging some piles of documents, answered briefly at Max’s careful recommendation.

“Burn it.”

Don’t be that harsh. Max, grumbling inside, asked carefully.

“But why don’t you read at least one letter? The butler was very worried.”

“There’s no time for that.”

In fact, Hizen was very busy. Even if Max filled his absence by investigating the magic circles, there were a lot of things to deal with because there was so much work.

“I can do some of your work.”

“It’s all right.”

It’s not all right. Max smiled bitterly, recalling Elnos’ orders. Hizen did not give Max a break, saying he would deal with it on his own because there was a recent issue related to top secret documents. It was consideration, but it was quite difficult for Max.

At that time, a brilliant idea came to his mind. There is only one thing that can shake Hizen. Isn’t it Leasis?

“Commander-nim, before, Miss Leasis.”

The words slowed Hizen’s movements noticeably. One way or another, Leasis was the only special medicine for Hizen.

Max continued casually.

“I heard what her ideal type is.”

Ideal type? Hizen’s face became very serious. This felt more important than signing a state-confidential letter.

He bit his lips instead of going over the documents. You have an ideal type? What could it be? Leasis’ ideal type is probably not ordinary. Isn’t she a special woman herself?

Hizen, who was struggling, brought up one name.

‘No way… Neren?’

Without realizing it, he unknowingly gave strength to the hand holding the thin feather pen. Every time she brought up Neren’s name, she was very pleased and could not hide her longing. In particular, he may have taken Leasis’ heart as he had been loved by a lot of young noble ladies.

Hizen, who had never envied anyone in the world, was now jealous of his dead friend. He began to think deeply, looking for something he had that was better than Neren’s. It was a little mean.

First of all, he was taller than Neren, he was embarrassed to say it but he was handsome, and even in the same three major families he was becoming more influential, he was healthy, and…

Max, who was holding back his laughter at the sight, put the letters on the desk.

“Please finish the rest of your work. I’ll let you know when you get back.”

I can’t hear you. Hizen shouted inside and narrowed his eyes. When he reviewed the document again, he had a sharp look as if he was going to cut the paper.

Max never stopped throwing bait. Since he had started hanging out with Elnos, his personality had unintentionally been stained.

“Miss Leasis’ ideal type. Aren’t you curious?”

“Not at all.”

Hizen, who managed to give him a cold answer, cleared his throat. He looked at the pile of papers again. There were so many things to do, and he could not waste time on his favorite woman’s ideal type. He thought it was a kind of sacrifice, but he could not help it.

However, the words that followed broke all reason.

“Well, I’ll go tell Jason then.”

Bang!

Hizen stamped the desk with his feather pen and pressed it down. The thin frame was shining like a white sword.

“Commander-nim, please don’t make the old man wait.”

“…”

“You’re going to the mansion, right? I’ll take care of the rest of the documents.”

As Hizen’s silence lengthened, Max smiled with remorse.

“If you wait to much, the Imperial Palace will close.”

Hizen, uttering swear words, jumped up from his seat. Max became very sullen, saying he would take over his work, and took a cup of tea. Hizen put some documents in his arms so that he could not see them.

He was dressed in his usual light uniform as he left the Imperial Palace. He hesitated and looked around as he led his horse out. He was hoping that he might run into Leasis with the 1st Division.

Hizen walked slowly on purpose, but could not even see a single strand of her red hair.

His always confident shoulders drooped slightly. Well, I can’t run into her at this late hour. He led his horse and crossed the bridge, as the darkness fell.

Looking at the calm flowing lake reminded him of Leasis. She must have walked through this place too. What would she had looked like and how would she have felt?

He was envious of the people who saw her during the time he did not know her.

‘Crazy. Why did I become so childish?’

Hizen touched his forehead with one hand. He thought it was a good thing that she was safe and in the same palace as him. The unfamiliar feelings that he had felt for the first time shook him.

“Hurry up and catch her!”

“Oh, shit! Why is she so heavy?”

He heard a bad commotion somewhere. When he followed the sound, he saw some thinly dressed bullies carrying someone on their back. The carried person had long hair. Apparently, they were trying to kidnap a woman.

I can’t take a break. Hizen sighed and loosened the reins of his horse.

“There. Why don’t you stop?”

“Get out of my way!”

The unlucky bullies facing the strongest knight on the continent took out daggers out of their arms. There were just toys for Hizen, though.

Hizen simply overpowered the bullies who ran at him. With his long legs, he kicked a man’s ankle running at him and hit him in the middle of his back with his elbow. He kicked the head of a poor bully who was hesitant while looking at his fallen colleague. It was done neatly.

His blue eyes shone like a reaper in the dark. The bullies trembled at the sight of his beautiful appearance, black uniform, and bandages wrapped around his hands. He was the legendary hero of the continent, Count Hizen Ben Dratius.

“C-Count Dratius…”

“Run away!”

I won’t let you run away. Hizen warmed up and tried to chase the bullies.

But then, the woman who had fell on the floor made a noise. It was a familiar voice he wanted to hear every day.

“Count-nim…”

Leasis? Hizen’s steps magically stopped. Surprised, he forgot to go after the bullies and ran to her.

Covered with dirt on the ground, she was breathing evenly with her eyes closed.

“Leasis, wake up!”

Hizen sighed with relief while scrutinizing her condition. Fortunately, she seemed to have no major injuries and her heartbeat was steady. She just seemed to be in a deep sleep.

Relieved, Hizen placed Leasis’ head on his thighs. He raised the corners of his mouth as he watched Leasis smiling in her sleep. He liked it even though he was just looking at her. If possible, he wanted to stay like this.

‘No, I can’t.’

Hizen, who was looking at her in awe, shook his head greatly. She was not a maid under her command, but a trainee of the 1st Division of Imperial Knights. It was not the time to do this. If she returned late, was it not obvious that she would be punished?

Hizen carefully grabbed Leasis by the shoulders and shook her. He did it with a precious touch like she was a child.

“Leasis, wake up.”

He tried to wake her up, but she could not open her eyes. She could not wake up, whether she was in a deep sleep or tired of exhaustion.

In the meantime, the doors of the Imperial Palace closed with a magnificent sound. It was now a time when nobody could enter or leave.

It’s driving me crazy. Hizen was restless for the first time. He sighed as he looked alternately at her and at the closed doors of the palace. You can’t even use the secret passage because you fell asleep.

Thinking about it, he carefully hugged her.

*

Since her time in the orphanage, Leasis hated dreaming. Because most of the time she had a nightmare. In it, her vision was dark and suffocating as if she were dying. Even if she tried to move her body, she could not do anything as if she was trapped.

[Save me, save me…]

She heard someone begging for their life. She wanted to cover her ears, but she had no choice but to endure the pain.

But it was different when Hizen appeared in her dreams. When he appeared in the hazy smoke, the world turned into a bright light.

[Leasis.]

Hizen always saved her in her dreams. He would touch her cheek with his big hand and kiss her sweetly.

She shed tears unknowingly. It was too hot.

[Hizen.]

“Ugh…”

Leasis screamed and raised her body halfway. She could not see, and she was covered with cold sweat.

She lowered her head, clutching tightly a white bedsheet.

[Leasis, wake up.]

Hizen’s clear voice eased her tension little by little. Leasis relaxed and slowly raised her head.

She saw a room she had never seen before. A warm fireplace, a large frame covering half of the wall, and a curtain that was deep blue like the sea. Her bed and pillowcase had new patterns.

Having been pondering over it for a long time, she finally recognized it. It was a mysterious symbol representing Count Dratius.

Why am I here? In a panic, Leasis recalled her memory. She was sure Karma was angry, and she was going to wait in front of the Imperial Palace until dawn.

[Leasis, wake up.]

She felt like she had seen Hizen in her sleep. She began to think of whining on his wide back, rubbing her cheeks. She even asked him why he came now, and complained that she missed him.

“Crazy. Crazy. You’re crazy, Leasis!”

She buried her feverish face in the pillow and made a fuss. How could she be such a child to Hizen, not to anyone else? With her fist clenched, she hit the bed. As a result, the luxury bed made of wood from the Kessen Empire stumbled several times.

‘Count-nim helped me…’

Her face buried in the pillow was loosened and a smile rose on it. Her chest tickled, and she kept smiling like a fool.

She turned and looked at the ceiling. Hizen’s face seemed to be drawn on the softly shining ceiling.

Leasis held her pillow tightly and closed her eyes. She seemed to be a different person, with her heart beating faster than usual. She laughed several times and raised herself up. She owe him, and she thought she should greet him.

Leasis rose up and approached the full-length mirror on the wall. A messy knight faced her.

She buttoned up, shook her pants, and put her hair in order with a serious face. After that, she was quite worth seeing.

Leasis crept out of the way. The hallway, which was more desolate than the palace, felt like a haunted house. At dawn, only the cool night air brushed the long hallway, and the moonlight shone over the window.

She took a big breath without realizing it. A faint but sweet scent. The scent that she often smelled from Hizen was hovering here. She closed her eyes and inhaled the scent several times. She felt like her mind was being purified.

Leasis walked slowly down the hallway. The frames hung from place to place on the white wall were still life paintings. The famous works that Leasis had seen in her books and even the painter’s autographs must be genuine.

She could not take her eyes off it. The atmosphere of the corridor was antique, perhaps because it belonged to one of the three greatest families of the Empire. There were scratches all over the frame that looked like they had been made with a sword.

Leasis put her hand on it as if she was possessed by something. The hollow wood felt cold. Feeling uncomfortable, she hurriedly pulled back her hand.