Please Kill Me - Chapter 47
Leonid’s sentence was cut off, but what was implied in the unsaid was quite clear.
Yekaterina, though not particularly adept at ordinary conversation, was by no means clueless about subtleties.
So, what he probably wanted to ask was this: the central two families have been asked to provide troops, do you know something about it?
‘It’s come to this, after all.’
Yekaterina stared indifferently at the mirror.
In its reflection, Leonid was looking not at Yekaterina but at his wrist cufflink, perhaps appearing to others as if he was nonchalantly checking his attire after making a casual remark.
Yet, to Yekaterina, it was easy to see through such a superficial facade.
‘I can feel his attention is entirely focused here.’
Trying to catch her off guard with such a flimsy pretense.
Yekaterina sighed inside.
She had anticipated some suspicion when she brought up Vasily. However, she had no intention of elaborating further.
To explain, she would have to reveal that she returned from the future.
‘To talk about that fact, I’d need to delve into the protective magic of the family.’
While she didn’t expect Leonid, one of the heads of the central two families, to be completely unaware of Offenbach’s protective magic, she also doubted he knew the specifics.
‘It seems like he might have guessed that I’m under some protective magic.’
But to inform him that it was capable of sending her back in time was another matter entirely.
Yekaterina didn’t hold Leonid in particularly close regard, nor did she trust him. Maintaining a proper distance and a dose of mistrust between them didn’t feel harsh to her, considering Leonid likely felt the same towards her.
Even having hinted at something about Vasily, she hoped Leonid would appreciate that she had gone out of her way.
‘But that’s unlikely.’
It was time to change the subject.
Yekaterina got up from her seat, remarking.
“It’s curious to have monsters swarming in groups at this time.”
“Indeed. It’s fascinating not only that monsters are swarming, but it also seems like you already knew it would happen.”
However, this time, the subject didn’t change as easily.
Instead, she was caught. Leonid stepped forward and grabbed Yekaterina’s arm as she tried to move away.
For the first time, Yekaterina noticed the color of Leonid’s eyes.
A vivid gold that seemed capable of changing even the sharpest rays of sunlight to its hue.
It wasn’t their first close encounter, but only now had she noted the color of his eyes.
His face was as remarkable as the color of his eyes.
It might seem extravagant to praise merely a color, but anyone who looked into Leonid’s eyes now would undoubtedly think so. Was it because of the long rays of sunlight at this hour, or was this man naturally so radiant?
How could someone be born to look so splendid in every way?
Each time their gazes met, one thought circled in her mind.
You are the opposite of me, who has never been touched by the light.
“Yekaterina, tell me the truth. What do you know?”
“…I don’t understand what you’re saying,” she replied, removing his hand from her arm.
But the distance once closed was not easily widened again.
“Calling up troops isn’t common. Even more so for monsters. You, being part of the central two families, would know this well. Yet, right after you ask such a question, this happens. Do you really think that’s natural?”
“Sometimes, unnatural coincidences happen.”
“You, who didn’t blink even when I was injured, suddenly showed interest in Vasily by coincidence?”
“Yes. Is that a problem?”
“For me to believe it’s just that, without any reason, is difficult.”
“And you distrust me without any reason.”
Yekaterina was genuinely puzzled. Was this situation really worth such suspicion?
She had thought that mentioning Vasily would be taken lightly, regardless of the reason.
“Why are you asking this much? Are you jealous or something?”
“Huh, don’t be ridiculous.”
Leonid scoffed, as if he’d be more at ease if that were the case.
“Deploying troops for combating monsters requires caution. You know that, don’t you? Yet, you’ve caused such confusion.”
“Just sending someone else should solve the issue. Doesn’t Rostislav have anyone else capable of replacing that knight?”
“Yes, there’s only my direct command of knights here.”
“…Then, it’s a perfect setup to get them killed in droves if higher-grade monsters appear at the hunting ground.”
That’s why everyone was so helpless before her return. Yekaterina finally understood.
The knights could handle up to mid-grade monsters, but were helpless against higher-grade ones.
It was a miracle they didn’t all perish.
“Yes. So, if Vasily isn’t available, I’ll have to go.”
Leonid’s words made Yekaterina’s eyes widen slightly.
Until just moments ago, she hadn’t been very concerned about this matter. Whether that knight lived or died was irrelevant to her.
But if Leonid had to lead the troops because no one else was available, that changed things.
Leonid was currently injured, after all.
