Diana was sitting on a large rock that had been pulled out. It was a boulder that appeared due to the battle.
She stared blankly at the flesh of magical beasts scattered in the air, resting her chin on her knees.
Rodrick's movements were so clean that it was like watching a controlled dance.
With that level of skill, I think my second brother would lose. I wonder if he'd be on par with my eldest brother.
Perhaps because the search had been arduous, the expression gradually disappeared from her face.
Diana had become a cold beauty, as much as their lord.
"But are you alright?"
Daren asked, his gaze fixed on Rodrick.
"With what?"
Noel was already safely asleep in Daren's arms.
It was bedtime for children in the new country.
"Such scenes must be unpleasant for you to watch, my lady."
She didn't even scream or get scared when the magical beasts first appeared.
Even new recruits tremble and can't move in front of magical beasts.
It was unexpected that a delicately raised noble lady would remain calm when exposed to killing intent.
Ah, what am I saying.
"I'm from the Beatus family."
"..."
As if that one sentence explained everything, Diana shrugged her shoulders.
The Beatus family wasn't called the family of villains for nothing. They committed murder, torture, and even curses.
Yes, her family could cast curses. Though she didn't know the method, they could cast curses using magic stones.
In the original story, while the sub-male lead Felice Schwartz suspected the imperial family, it was highly likely that it was her family who cursed his.
The Beatus family was called the imperial family's dog, doing dirty work under the surface.
For Diana, who grew up in a family exposed to all kinds of evil deeds, magical beasts were not objects of fear.
The knights' expressions became strange upon hearing her words.
"But, miss, you've always stayed at home, so isn't this your first time experiencing such harsh things?"
That's right. That's what everyone believes. As the rumors said, she was indeed a homebody.
However, one could taste the harshness of the world sufficiently even at home.
The minimum duties required by the family included all sorts of education.
Just the fact that they taught assassination techniques and even bedroom arts says it all.
The intensity of training was severe for the direct line of the family. It was as if they were trying to create human weapons.
Thinking about the things she had experienced, it didn't seem quite sane.
That's why she was most afraid of formless ghosts in the world.
If it had a form, she could remain indifferent.
"Are you curious?"
Diana asked meaningfully, tilting her head slightly while resting her chin.
Her slightly raised smile caught the eye, but her eyes weren't smiling.
Why did this unfamiliar young lady give off the same aura as their lord?
Shuddering at that coolness, the knights shook their heads.
"We're not curious!"
"I see."
Diana smiled fully at the knights' disciplined response.
The battle was over. Rodrick, who had stabbed his sword into the corpse, was taking off his sticky black gloves.
Diana took the black gloves from Daren's hand and headed towards Rodrick.
After the fight, only the vice-captain Daren was allowed to approach him when he was sensitive.
But, an exception had been made.
"Rodrick, good work."
Rodrick's face was expressionless as he received the black leather gloves. Diana acted affectionately, regardless of his reaction.
"Look, I wiped those hands."
"..."
I said it because he seemed to have a cleanliness obsession, but there's no answer.
"Rodrick, can you hear me?"
She stood on her tiptoes and placed her hand on his cheek.
Perhaps because it was night and the temperature had dropped, her fingertips were cold. Rodrick closed his eyes momentarily at that cool sensation.
The uncontrollable energy that had been boiling inside him began to calm down.
Rodrick, quietly leaning into her slender hand, looked like a gentle lamb.
Diana's standing among the knights increased at the sight of her looking like a trainer who had tamed a wild beast.
As the knights tactfully made way for the couple, the two stood there, having their private moment.
In reality, their conversation was far from romantic.
"Rodrick. I didn't want to say it because I might be a bother, but I really want to wash up."
"..."
His blue eyes mellowed lazily between his slightly open eyelids.
"Don't you want to wash up too? You've been covered in magical beast blood for days? What's the use of just changing your gloves?"
"...Alright."
It's really strange.
Rodrick's condition seemed too erratic. Sometimes he'd be sensitive and prickly, other times he'd become docile and quiet.
Like now. He stays still even when I poke his cheek with my finger. This isn't like him.
"I heard while coming here, there seems to be a valley nearby judging from the sound of water. I'll go first, okay?"
Whatever. She turned around, thinking it wasn't a big deal. However, she had to stop after a few steps.
Rodrick had grabbed her wrist.
"Where are you going alone?"
His lowered voice was heart-throbbing and charming.
Am I imagining that it sounds like 'Where are you going alone, leaving me behind?'
Search "seduce" at redcatty [.] com to read ahead up to chap 70.