We're Married, After All - Chapter 50
“I wouldn’t know, madam. What’s the reason?”
The baroness asked in a smooth voice. Truly a model for high society.
Would things have turned out differently if I were as sociable as Baroness Rodio? No matter how hard I tried, I would never have been like her.
What I excelled at was something entirely different. Like keeping a composed face and approaching the baroness in a situation like this…
“At the final stage, they have to hit a mannequin shaped like a person. The idea of aiming at a person instead of a target scares them. Even though they know it’s not real, their hands tremble.”
“Really? How fascinating. Do you think the children preparing for the exam now will feel the same?”
“Well, I wouldn’t know. It never bothered me, even the first time I threw a spear at a person.”
I grabbed the baroness’s arm. Though she was smaller than me, I didn’t have to use much force to pull her into my hold.
Still holding the baroness, I rolled up my sleeve. Now the knights and the baroness herself could see it clearly—a sharp blade capable of carving wood if I applied enough pressure, now pointed at the baroness’s neck.
The knights tensed and surrounded us. They were in a dilemma. They couldn’t subdue me directly, but neither could they leave the lady of the house in such a dangerous situation.
Eventually, the knights drew their swords. They must have thought a little intimidation would resolve the issue. It was a reasonable conclusion. No matter how threatening I seemed, they likely assumed I wouldn’t actually harm the baroness.
I withdrew the blade from the baroness’s neck and drove it into her shoulder instead. Thud.
The puffed sleeve of her dress was pierced instantly, leaving a gaping hole. Through the torn velour fabric, her bare skin was exposed.
The knights quickly turned their heads, understanding they shouldn’t look at the exposed skin of a noblewoman.
Meanwhile, the baroness couldn’t even scream, only gasping for breath. Shame and fear seemed to consume her entirely.
“As you probably know…” I said calmly.
“I’ve used spears and bows a lot, but this is my first time with a knife.”
“…”
“So, if I get scared, I might miss and stab the wrong place.”
I slowly withdrew the blade. The sharp edge gleamed under the sunlight. Seeing the unwavering blade, the baroness’s face stiffened. She realized the truth—
Even in the middle of this hostage situation, surrounded by knights, I wasn’t nervous at all.
The baroness let out a faint groan. Then, with a gesture, she signaled the knights to retreat.
As expected, she was a perceptive woman. Among everyone present, she was the only one who realized I was capable of stabbing her. She also understood that even if blood was spilled, it could be dismissed as an “accident.”
Only after the knights had retreated a safe distance did I state my demand.
“Take me to Petios Veloce.”
The baroness excused herself and called for an old woman. She explained that while she knew where “what I was looking for” was, she didn’t know how to get there. One of the few people who did was the old woman—a caregiver, likely one of the ones the little adventurer had mentioned earlier.
I followed the baroness and the old woman to the hospital. Of course, I didn’t forget to notify the knights before leaving.
“Tell Baron Rodio this: Do not report to my husband until I return, and keep quiet about the fact that I entered the hospital. I trust you’ll follow these two instructions. You wouldn’t want to make this situation worse by informing him, would you?”
Though I didn’t know the exact dynamics, it was clear Baron Rodio was excessively wary of Danel.
Delaying the report about my visit to Lamprey Castle was likely part of that context. He probably wanted to avoid troubling Danel unnecessarily.
But that decision had only escalated the situation. Even without my threats, Baron Rodio would likely stay silent. My additional comment was merely to ensure the knights and other territory residents kept their mouths shut as well.
I followed the old woman calmly.
‘I really feel nothing.’
I had a vague suspicion this would happen. It had been the same on the day I first threw a spear at a person… the day I fought in a duel in Petios’s place.
When aiming a spear at someone, I thought only about efficiency. The possibility of hurting someone wasn’t very important. If killing that man had been more efficient, I would have pierced his head without hesitation.
‘Perhaps Petios’s judgment was right after all.’
I thought of my former fiancé, who was likely hiding somewhere in this building. Maybe I truly was someone he couldn’t handle.
‘Unlike Danel…’
Danel’s face flickered in my mind. My husband, who divided the workload with me even though he knew I had ulterior motives. The thought that he would have celebrated my victory wholeheartedly wouldn’t leave my mind.
Of course, the closer answer was Petios. Spending a lifetime with someone who could shatter another person’s skull if necessary would be horrifying.
But even if that were true, running away like that wasn’t the answer. Just as Danel shouldn’t have deceived me like this.
The complicated path stretched on for a long time. It seemed even the old woman was certain I wouldn’t be able to memorize the route.
Eventually, she opened the door to a hospital room. Only then did I release the baroness, who collapsed to the floor immediately.
The room was filled with thick, acrid smoke. Instinctively, I realized the situation was more severe than I had expected. The smell was something more suited to a pleasure district than a hospital.
I slowly approached the bed. Hiss. Behind me, I heard the old woman extinguish the fire under a pouch of herbs. The baroness trembled behind me.
I tried to focus on the presence behind me but found it increasingly hard to remain composed.
And yet, despite my efforts to prepare myself… seeing the man lying on the bed turned my mind blank.
“…”
