How to Live as the Terminally Ill Younger Sister of the Villain - Chapter 22
Instantly, the monster blood that had been thickly covering their armor and weapons disappeared.
The deep-set bloody smell in their clothes couldn’t be helped, but just the removal of the messy bloodstains made them look much cleaner.
Behind Blake, the sound of Sean drawing in a breath could be heard.
That alone was enough to tell how intricate and high-level this magic was.
“…You have a capable person by your side.”
“I receive a lot of help.”
Blake showed restrained admiration, and Angelina responded with a compliment-laden boast.
“Let me greet you properly as well.”
Blake took Angelina’s hand. But it didn’t lead to a handshake.
“I am Blake Kadenhart.”
He gently grasped her hand and turned it slightly.
Raising his other hand behind his back, he bowed and briefly kissed the back of her hand.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Miss Flaubert.”
Angelina’s eyes widened slightly at this unexpected courtesy.
Although she bore the Flaubert name, she had no title, so there was no need for a duke like him to be this polite.
That wasn’t the end of it.
“I bear great responsibility for what happened that day. It was clearly my fault for not correcting the misunderstanding-prone words and leaving them unaddressed.”
Angelina couldn’t help but be surprised at his apology for past events.
All the nobles she had met until now were those who only asserted their pride with stiff necks.
But here he was, bowing his head so easily, more than she expected.
“I simply missed the timing to speak, but I hope you understand that I never intended to deceive you, Miss Flaubert.”
Faced with this impeccable apology, Angelina realized she had held an unworthy prejudice.
‘Come to think of it, even in the novel, this man was described as polite and courteous.’
Although it was a fact she knew, it had momentarily clashed with her other experiences, making her despise herself for the brief misconception as she responded.
“I also acted quite selfishly that day and didn’t give you a chance to speak, so shall we call it mutual fault?”
“If Miss Flaubert is fine with that, I’m grateful.”
His considerate response made Angelina think about the novel again.
‘It might be an unbelievable novel, but the character descriptions seem trustworthy. Is it because he’s the main male lead with a significant role?’
Although it was an unfriendly novel with many suspicious parts, at least the parts about the male lead seemed reliable.
“By the way, if you’re heading this way, are you on your way out?”
“No, we’re heading to the magic tower. We just wanted to check who it was when we sensed a presence.”
“I see. Then, since we’ve met like this by chance, shall we go together?”
“That would be fine.”
Blake readily agreed.
But no sooner had his answer ended than a low groan was heard from behind.
“Ugh…”
It was Mason.
He hadn’t meant to make a sound intentionally.
It was just that the hope of finally getting some rest after entering the Tower’s Path had been shattered, causing his inner voice to leak out.
At Blake’s fierce glance, Mason and the aides quickly prepared to march again, but Angelina’s eyes were already examining them.
Even to Angelina, who knew nothing of the battle, they all looked visibly tired.
“Your Grace.”
Angelina spoke after confirming their condition.
“Actually, we were thinking of ending the day around here.”
Of course, Angelina and her knights still had enough stamina to go on for a few more hours.
However, Blake’s group looked too exhausted to suggest going further.
“…Then let’s do that.”
Blake nodded with a slightly disgruntled expression, unable to miss Angelina’s consideration.
“Then I’ll go ahead and put down my luggage.”
Angelina, not noticing his hesitation, slightly bowed her head in greeting before turning away.
“Sir Zeke, please help out. Haley, I’m counting on you too.”
“Yes, young lady.”
“Of course~!”
At Angelina’s call, the two approached where Blake’s group was.
After paying their respects, they immediately began giving instructions.
“That area over there would be best for setting up camp. If you’re uncomfortable being right next to us, I recommend under that tree and inside those bushes.”
“…You know this area well.”
“Yes. We completed the preliminary survey of this area two days ago.”
“Wasn’t the decision to camp here just made now?”
Angelina clearly had no intention of stopping. It seemed obvious that she made the decision on the spot after seeing the condition of Mason and the other aides…
To Blake’s puzzled words, Zeke answered nonchalantly.
“This is the path our young lady will walk. We simply consider all possibilities, eliminate risks, and prepare for situations.”
At this, Blake couldn’t help but slightly furrow his brow.
In other words, every place where Angelina might stop had been thoroughly surveyed in advance to serve as a potential campsite.
It was a task that required tremendous preparedness and almost excessive flexibility.
Mason and the aides listening from behind also realized the meaning behind those words and opened their eyes wide.
Regardless, Haley lightly added,
“We’ll set up the barrier from the black tree to that red tree over there. It can’t be any larger than that or it’ll create a sense of discomfort.”
“Wasn’t there already a barrier on the Tower’s Path?”
“Yes, there is.”
Her bright expression as she answered seemed to say, ‘So what?’
So Blake could understand. For them, the Tower’s Path barrier and the campsite barrier were separate things.
“…Thorough indeed.”
It was a level of preparedness that pursued safety so thoroughly, it almost seemed excessive.
“Even if you’re thinking of setting up camp in a different area, you need to stay within it for us to cover you.”
Regardless, Haley continued her explanation on her own.
“Hah.”
Mason, who had been listening, let out a scoff.
Whether she understood the meaning of that scoff or not, Haley smiled brightly.
“Well then, I’ll go ahead and start cooking~!”
“If you need anything, please feel free to ask.”
The two left their positions.
When they thought the two had moved far enough away, Mason opened his mouth.
“What are they trusting to let us inside their barrier?”
Of course, the position of ‘Duke’ had increased their credibility.
But in the Dark Forest, where anything could happen, they could have been treated as subjects to be even more wary of.
“Bluntly speaking, there’s no guarantee we won’t take advantage of them, is there?”
To these words spoken as if in disbelief, Blake replied in a low voice.
“In your eyes, does it look like they trust us?”
“Isn’t it? They’re sharing their pre-surveyed campsite and even the barrier…”
Mason trailed off mid-sentence. He had belatedly noticed the subtle energy surrounding them.
“Damn… Your Grace, don’t tell me this is…”
Though fatigue had prevented them from noticing earlier, a fierce energy that would be strange not to recognize was enveloping them.
Attack magic that would instantly amplify if Blake’s side showed even slightly dangerous behavior.
Whether it would be an explosion, poison, or suppression was unknown. Perhaps, it could be all of them.
Mason’s face turned pale as he realized belatedly. And the answer came not from Blake, but from Sean.
“You catch on quite quickly.”
“Since when?”
“Probably from the moment the young lady approached His Grace. No, it might have been from when we entered the Tower’s Path…”
Sean spoke with a voice that seemed a bit frightened as well.
“Is that even possible?”
When Mason asked in disbelief, Sean answered while glancing at Haley.
“That mage is no ordinary talent.”
At Sean’s words, Mason also glanced at Haley. She was acting cute towards Angelina with a bright smile.
“When we met in Flaubert territory, I didn’t realize she was this skilled…”
Perhaps they hadn’t noticed because they were focused on the other maid.
“Even just the barrier. The barrier they say they’ll set for us is mere deception.”
Sean slightly furrowed his brows as he observed Angelina. He couldn’t help but sigh at the amount and delicacy of the magical power surrounding her.
“Even if a war broke out right here, not a single hair on the young lady would be harmed.”
He couldn’t even properly count how many barriers there were.
A chilling silence fell among Mason and the aides as they realized the wariness hidden within the hospitality.
“Moreover, that…”
What stood out particularly was the beast as large as a horse. Clearly a magical beast, it followed closely by Angelina’s side.
At some point, it turned its head towards where they were. When its gaze fell upon them, the aides collectively flinched.
“…What on earth is that magical beast.”
Mason muttered as if talking to himself, representing everyone.
“I’ve never heard that the Flaubert Marquis family raised magical beasts.”
Though it was wagging its tail gently, its size was threatening. For some reason, they felt their bodies stiffen when it glanced this way.
To Mason’s muttering, Blake, who had been silent until now, opened his mouth.
“For someone who leaves no business untouched, he must have chosen the magical beast just as carefully.”
