Chapter: 08
“What’s in that bag?”
For a split second, Emilia’s heart dropped.
“Weren’t you checking for unauthorized passengers?”
She quickly put on an irritated expression.
But the man paid no attention.
“We received a report that someone carrying a large number of weapons boarded this train.”
It was a blatant lie.
They’re the ones carrying weapons.
“Open it immediately, please.”
Although he phrased it as a request, his tone was forceful.
What should I do?
If she simply refused, it would only make her look more suspicious.
Is there any way to keep him from opening it voluntarily?
Ah.
As she desperately searched for an idea, inspiration suddenly struck.
“I’m sorry, but that won’t be possible.”
Emilia let out an exasperated sigh.
“I’m a maid of the House of Count Ilake. Inside this bag is a very valuable item entrusted to me by my young lady.”
She decided to use Reina’s family name as leverage.
“The House of Count Ilake?”
The man raised an eyebrow.
Emilia immediately noticed the subtle change in his expression.
Just as I thought.
Although their influence had weakened considerably, the House of Count Ilake was still a prestigious noble family in the capital.
More importantly, they had no connection whatsoever to the Empress.
If he acted suspiciously toward a maid serving such a household and things went wrong, it could become a serious problem.
“If you insist on opening it, then I suppose I have no choice but to let you…”
She deliberately trailed off, looking troubled.
“But I’ll have to report this to my lady. And my lady absolutely hates it when anyone else even looks at her belongings.”
That wasn’t entirely a lie.
Rosia, Reina’s half-sister, was obsessively possessive of her possessions.
Once, Reina had unknowingly touched Rosia’s necklace, and it had caused an enormous uproar.
Emilia shook her head as though she already had a headache just thinking about it.
“She might even try to track you down afterward. I thought you should know.”
“……”
The man appeared to hesitate.
He was carrying out a secret mission.
If he left behind unnecessary traces or exposed his identity, it would only cause problems for him.
Still, he remained silent.
He’s almost convinced… Is there anything else that can push him over the edge?
As she pondered, her reflection in the train window caught her eye.
This is it.
Emilia tucked her hair behind one ear and deliberately turned her face toward him.
“This bruise… my lady gave it to me.”
Her swollen, bright red cheek was now fully visible.
When the man’s gaze settled on it, Emilia lowered her eyes in apparent humiliation.
“I was trying to be considerate of your situation, but do as you please.”
Of course, if he really tried to inspect the bag, she intended to grab him by the hair if necessary.
She swallowed nervously.
Then the man finally spoke.
“…Forget it.”
Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he apparently decided it wasn’t worth wasting time arguing over such a trivial matter and would be better off searching elsewhere.
He turned and walked toward the next passenger car.
Slide.
Click.
“Phew…”
Only after his footsteps completely faded away did Emilia finally release the breath she’d been holding.
“[Is he gone?]”
Ivan’s tiny voice came from inside the bag.
Emilia quickly opened it enough to let fresh air in.
“[Are you okay?]”
She was asking whether he’d had trouble breathing.
Ivan gave a small nod.
“[Did the bad man leave?]”
he whispered quietly.
“[Yeah, he left.] But…”
Judging by Ivan’s reaction, the male lead’s injuries were probably quite severe.
At the same time, taking Ivan outside with her was far too dangerous.
After thinking for a moment, Emilia spoke.
“[Can you wait here? I’ll help the injured person.]”
Fortunately, Ivan seemed to understand and nodded in agreement.
Instead of closing the bag completely, Emilia left it slightly open and covered it with her coat.
It should be fine, right?
She then checked the pouch inside her clothes.
Several bottles of medicine were tucked away inside.
Her friend Alex, the son of Mrs. Anderson, worked in the Imperial Palace’s pharmaceutical department.
Thanks to him, these medicines were incredibly rare and far beyond what ordinary people could obtain.
I wondered if I’d ever actually have a reason to use these.
She never expected that opportunity to come so soon.
After glancing once more toward the bag, Emilia stepped out of the compartment.
Since the man had already searched this area once, he was unlikely to return.
Using Ivan’s earlier words as clues, she headed toward the rear of the train.
Soon she reached the staff-only section where passengers weren’t allowed.
Without hesitation, she continued onward.
So this is the cargo car.
Then she noticed drops of blood on the floor.
That’s…
She froze for a moment before quickly following the trail and opening the door.
It’s Kaiden.
The male protagonist of this novel.
He sat leaning against the wall with his head lowered.
Because of that, all she could see was his silky black hair hanging over his face and his sharply defined jawline—
Yet even that alone gave off an extraordinary presence.
After staring at him briefly, Emilia stepped back outside.
What is this, Hansel and Gretel?
Using the sole of her shoe, she rubbed away the blood droplets Kaiden had left so conspicuously behind.
…Then again.
He looked like he’d collapsed unconscious.
He probably hadn’t had the luxury of worrying about something like that.
But how did he avoid getting caught in the original story?
Wait…
Suddenly, she remembered Ivan leaving the train to ask people for help.
Maybe Ivan had been intercepted before anyone ever found Kaiden.
Returning inside, Emilia knelt down in front of him.
A blood-soaked dagger lay beside him.
Did he pull this out himself?
Clicking her tongue in disbelief at his sheer endurance, she poured wound medicine over his injury.
I don’t have any cloth…
After hesitating for a moment, she glanced at Kaiden before lifting the hem of her skirt.
She grabbed the edge of her petticoat with both hands and pulled as hard as she could.
Nothing happened.
The fabric neither tore nor even stretched.
It always works so easily in movies!
Giving up, Emilia looked around.
Fortunately, she spotted a splinter of wood that had broken off one of the cargo crates.
Using it, she managed to rip the fabric.
Riiip—
She carefully placed the strip of cloth over his wound and slowly began wrapping it around—
Tap.
An unfamiliar warmth suddenly grasped her wrist.
The first thing Kaiden heard when he regained consciousness was the soft rustling of clothing.
The next thing he noticed was something tickling the back of his neck.
Breathing…?
Instinctively, he grabbed the wrist of the person touching him.
Why is this wrist so thin?
The thought flashed through his mind.
Then the owner of that wrist spoke.
“Ah… You’re awake?”
The woman’s clear voice, barely louder than a whisper, felt strangely out of place amid the situation he found himself in.
