Chapter 47 - Could it be... the saintess?
Translator: Yonnee
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Fortunately, I was able to return to the mansion before Mom found out. I quickly went back to my chambers and rushed to a mirror.
After our lips had bumped into one another like that, mine seemed to have burst at one part, but it's not so severe that it's instantly noticeable. I breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Milady, are you back?"
Just in time, Mary came and I opened the door right away.
"The Madam is looking for you."
"Yes, can you tell Mom that I'm in my room? And tell her that I'm feeling a bit tired, so I'll just eat dinner here and go to bed early tonight."
"Will do, Milady. Shall I bring you a change of clothes?"
"Please."
Mary glanced at the state of my riding clothes-completely muddied and filthy. As soon as I changed into a fresh negligee, I ran away to my bedroom.
"Then, that's the whole message I'll be delivering to the Madam?"
"Please also tell her not to come into my room because I'm tired."
"...I can inform her, but I'm not very sure if she would follow."
"Yes, I know."
My family wouldn't not come if they're told not to, but I nodded anyway at Mary and burrowed straight into my duvet.
If Mary were to notice my burst lip, she'd definitely tell Mom.
Ever since I reincarnated, I never felt physically lacking, but I was definitely feeling fatigued right now because I had guided someone.
I intended to just lie down and rest, but inadvertently, I fell asleep without realizing it.
* * *
"Duke!"
Ciel's eyes snapped open as soon as he heard someone calling out to him.
He sprang to his feet. After returning to the empire, he had been unable to get a single good night's sleep, but for the first time in a long while, he was feeling unbelievably refreshed.
"Are you alright?"
At Baron Closch's question, he looked up.
"Did I lose consciousness?"
"Something like that, but... You were even snoring a little..."
Arthur's answer was ambiguous. When the baron managed to find the duke, he was surprised to see the duke lying in such a comfortable position on the dirt floor as if it was a bed.
At first, Arthur thought that Ciel had blacked out, so he put his finger under the duke's nose and checked, but he was breathing very evenly.
"I was snoring?"
Ciel looked at Arthur in disbelief.
"No, I mean no harm in saying that... Everyone's defenseless while sleeping after all. Rather, I felt a bit relieved to see you look so human, Your Grace. And I'm only saying that because you look beyond human."
The baron meant it sincerely. From the first time they met and again here at the estate, even as a fellow man, Arthur couldn't help but admire the duke's perfect outward appearance.
More than that, the abilities he displayed earlier only cemented the impression that he was beyond human.
He did not need to do an incantation, yet such huge pillars of fire shot up one after another at his will. The sight of it was enough to strike both fear and awe to anyone watching.
Of course, the baron and the guards wouldn't have met any problems had the duke not stepped in, but it's undeniable that many casualties and damages would have occurred if not for his help. The monster they faced earlier was one that Arthur had seen for the first time.
Yet the duke attacked the monster as if he was perfectly familiar with the motions, as smooth as flowing water.
"I immediately set off to search for Your Grace when I saw that you were flying to this direction, but I didn't expect that you landed here in the mountain behind my family's residence."
"Is that so..."
Ciel was so disoriented that he could mutter out only vague answers.
He had been guided by someone. He's sure of it.
If he hadn't, it's impossible that his condition would have recovered on its own. His side effects wouldn't abate even after he gulped down gallons of holy water.
It was for this reason that he conserved his energy and used it as efficiently as he possibly could.
But then... he's suddenly feeling impeccably refreshed after just one session of guiding?
Could it be... the saintess?
Just one split second of thinking about that abominable Seo-yoon made Ciel's expression harden in an instant.
That woman knew how to shift through dimensions at will and she already had a history of sneaking around, so could it be that she came here? Did she open the dimensional gate to come to this place?
But as far as Ciel knew, she had yet to do those things at the current time.
As Ciel was in deep thought, Arthur asked him.
"Are you truly alright, Duke?"
"...Baron, were you the first to find me?"
He couldn't bear not asking. He was so sure that someone else found him first, guided him, and then left.
While stroking his chin, Arthur answered.
"Hmm... I don't believe so."
"I knew it. Then, can you tell me who found me first?"
"I'm not quite sure about that either, Duke."
"What?"
"I only saw footprints."
"Can you tell whether it's a man or a woman?"
"Judging by the footprints alone, it's a woman. It looks like she came and went on horseback."
"Ha..."
With a strong hunch, Ciel thought that the person who came here was the one who guided him. But who was it? Who was the person who provided the same guiding that his wife, Seohyun, gave him?
And why did she leave without telling him about it?
Because she didn't want to reveal herself?
For what reason?
Though he's not conceited, he was well aware that many women, of all classes and appearances, liked him. If that woman had helped him, she would have at least let him know her name.
If it was a typical case, that's how it would have gone.
However, that person was hiding her identity from him.
