BVAL 07

Chapter 07

Why Are You Doing This to Me

“…Miss! My lady!”

…What? My body feels cold, yet warm. And…

“Please, wake up!”

Among the murmuring echoes, that voice stood out the most. It was familiar.

But… this person wasn’t the type to sound this desperate, was he?

“Please wake up…”

I snapped my eyes open, unable to believe it.

“…Mikhail, cough, hack, ugh…”

“Are you conscious?”

“Just now… cough… was that really you talking?”

My throat burned as I coughed repeatedly. Seriously, I felt like I was dying.

When I lifted my head, Mikhail—his clothes slightly disheveled—looked at me with a drained expression.

“Is that really what matters right now?”

“If it was you of all people calling me so desperately, then yes, it matters.”

“I did not call you desperately.”

A small laugh escaped me. That cold response—yeah, I was definitely alive.

Ignoring the onlookers around us, I looked straight at him.

“Right. Mr. Haslov, who risked his life to save me and got worried because I wouldn’t wake up.”

If something had happened to me, the Duke of Lavius’s wrath would’ve fallen on him, so of course he’d be worried—but still.

“Thank you for saving me.”

I said sincerely, meeting his worried silver-gray eyes.

But Mikhail made a slightly strange expression.

“I don’t even know where to begin correcting you… but first, I was not the one who saved you.”

“Huh?”

Now that I thought about it, Mikhail’s clothes weren’t that wet.

I slowly scanned him. He had taken off his shoes, as if preparing to jump in—but that was all.

“My memory’s hazy, but I don’t think I swam out on my own…”

Thud.

That’s when I realized why I had felt warm despite the cold.

A large, pure white uniform jacket, adorned with small medals and decorations, was draped over me.

It was clean—and even smelled nice.

“Uh… I don’t know whose clothes these are, but thank—”

“Good to see you’ve regained consciousness.”

“…?”

Can someone explain why Admiral Aquilus was standing in front of me, completely soaked?

And tell me that this jacket in my lap wasn’t his…?

But the aide with gray hair retrieved the jacket and placed it neatly over the Admiral’s shoulders—it fit him perfectly.

The dizziness I felt wasn’t just because of the unreal physique visible beneath his wet white shirt.

“I must be hallucinating. I think I should faint again.”

“Stop talking nonsense and stand up.”

Mikhail coldly cut me off and grabbed my shoulders, lifting me up with ease.

“Whoa.”

Even though I had worn a relatively practical dress, it was still a dress—completely soaked and heavy.

“You’re stronger than I thought.”

“If there are any blankets or towels, please bring them.”

Ignoring my comment, Mikhail addressed the staff.

“Yes! Right away!”

Louisa rushed over and handed him a large towel she got from a staff member.

I murmured thanks, and in no time, Mikhail wrapped me up like a mummy.

“Thanks, but now I can’t move my arms.”

“Just stay still.”

His silver-gray eyes, framed by long lashes, watched me like I was some troublesome cat.

I lowered my gaze slightly, then cautiously peeked past him.

From head to toe, soaked.

Yeah… there was no way the Admiral had just gotten splashed.

“…”
“….”

He accepted a towel from his aide and slowly wiped his wet hair.

With every droplet that fell, it felt like my lifespan was draining too.

Because all this time, he had been staring straight at me with an unreadable expression.

Did he notice that I avoided his hand earlier?

If he asked why, I’d have no answer.

My already soaked body felt even colder with cold sweat.

“M-Mikhail, step aside. I need to greet the Admiral.”

Mikhail looked over his shoulder at the Admiral.

Their gazes met briefly, then Mikhail gave a short bow and helped me stand on my own.

“I, Kalia Lavius, greet Admiral Aquilus.”

Holding up my drenched skirt with towel-wrapped arms, I bowed.

“Thank you… for your kindness.”

I really didn’t want to believe it, but all signs pointed to this man being the one who saved me.

It must’ve been difficult to save me without touching me—so why did he jump in himself?

…Did he touch me at all? How much life do I have left?

There was no immediate reply.

Growing anxious, I carefully raised my head. He was so tall my neck strained.

“Lady of the House of Lavius.”

His low voice made me flinch.

Those deep blue eyes pierced through me.

It wasn’t just his inhumanly perfect appearance—the sheer pressure of his gaze made it hard to breathe.

Damn. Do I have a talent for getting on the bad side of powerful people everywhere I go?

First the Emperor in the capital, and now the Admiral in the South.

I couldn’t even tell if I was trembling from cold or fear.

The Admiral, watching me shake, slowly parted his tightly closed lips.

“You seemed quite absorbed in your fishing.”

“Ah—! I caused a disturbance without meaning to. I’m sorry!”

The crowd that had been so noisy earlier had gone completely silent, as if zipped shut.

Though their eyes were busily darting between me and the Admiral.

“An apology…”

He’s not going to say he wants my life as compensation, right?

“…is something I should be offering, for startling you.”

I blinked in surprise.

And then—he even took off his coat again and draped it over my shoulders.

“Oh my…”

That wasn’t me.

It came from the crowd, which seemed even larger than during my “legendary fishing show.”

“I-If you do this, your clothes will get even wetter.”

What had felt like a kind gesture before now felt like a restraint.

“Even so, it is nothing compared to a lady falling into the sea.”

Despite the considerate words, his face remained completely expressionless.

“No, it was my fault for being distracted while fishing. You even tried to catch me.”

The moment I finished speaking, the corner of his lips lifted ever so slightly.

A chill ran down my spine.

I don’t know why, but something feels very wrong.

I need to get out of here.

As I searched for an escape route, my eyes landed on the massive fish tank—half water, half fish.

That’s it!

“Ah! Now that I think about it, I must have prevented others from enjoying their fishing!”

I clapped my hands.

“As an apology, I will gift all the fish in that tank to everyone here today—and to the navy who protect the South!”

The effect of my bold “flex” was immediate.

“All of those fish…?”
“She doesn’t seem like a villain at all.”
“Fishing Queen! Fishing Queen!”
“Her generosity is as vast as the sea!”
“Kalia Lavius! Kalia Lavius!”

Good. Now I can slip away while distributing the fish—

“The lady is quite generous.”

What is he saying now?!

“Compared to the navy who defend the empire from ruthless pirates, this is nothing.”

I forced a smile, trying to return his coat and blend into the crowd.

But—

“Lieutenant Ron, the lady seems in need of rest. I’ll entrust the distribution to you.”

The Admiral issued an order to the brown-haired officer who had mocked me earlier.

“Understood! I will distribute them fairly and report back!”

“And make sure the navy knows they were donated by the lady.”

“Yes, sir! Thank you, Lady Lavius!”

Lieutenant Ron looked at me with a repentant expression.

This isn’t what I wanted, damn it.

My escape route was blocked.

“You don’t look well.”

“Haha… I’m just a bit cold. I think I should take my leave and rest.”

I couldn’t exactly say it’s because of you, so I made an excuse.

“I was thinking the same.”

“Yes, then I’ll—”

“There is an unoccupied naval residence nearby. You can rest there.”

If anyone else had said it, it would’ve sounded suspicious—but his tone was utterly devoid of ulterior motives.

“Even with his condition, he’s so considerate…”
“He’s ruthless to enemies but so kind to civilians…!”

Everyone admired him.

But I, having something to hide, found it deeply suspicious.

“Thank you, but I came with Louisa. I can return to the Count’s estate.”

“The Count’s daughter, Louisa.”

“Yes. Louisa?”

But she was nowhere to be seen.

“She was just here…”

“Then perhaps Lady Yuno’s residence—”

“Kalia, it would take over an hour to get there in wet clothes.”

Maribel winked at me.

I wanted to tell her that’s not the problem.

“Then I’ll return to my own estate.”

“My lady, the distance to the Lavius villa is considerable. You might catch a cold, so perhaps—”

I looked at Mikhail with tearless pleading eyes.

He hesitated, then corrected himself.

“…You should change into spare clothes in the carriage and return to the Lavius villa.”

I decided right then—I’d write to the Duke and request a bonus for Mikhail.

Nodding, I turned to the Admiral.

“I appreciate your concern, but it would be improper for an outsider like me to use a naval facility.”

“It is my personal residence. There is no need to worry.”

“I couldn’t possibly—”

“If you were to fall ill, I would feel responsible. So I would prefer it if you accepted.”

Damn it.

If I refused after that, I’d just look like the bad one again.

In the end, I clenched my teeth and said:

“Then I will just dry off and leave immediately.”

“I’ll guide you.”

“…Thank you.”

Something ran down my cheeks—whether seawater or tears, I couldn’t tell.

But it tasted just as salty.