OBML 07

Chapter 7

A dress that had gone out of fashion long ago, overloaded with frills and not even the right size. Hair I had roughly brushed down with my hands on the way here, yet still messy and unkempt. A body that was thin and covered in wounds. Who would look at me and think I’m a daughter of the great Grace family? Even I wouldn’t believe it.

“Ridiculous.”

Just as I expected. I didn’t leave him any opening and continued.

“It’s true. Th-the magic fog just now! You saw me purify it.”

Chase said nothing. He merely looked at me with narrowed eyes, full of suspicion.

“So… I’m really…”

In the end, I had no choice but to repeat myself until I fell silent. Just as the weight of his gaze and the silence became unbearable, Chase finally spoke.

“Prove it.”

“Huh?”

“Prove that you’re a member of  the Graces.”

Prove it? How? Was that purification ability from earlier not enough? But I had nothing else on me right now.

“Y-you requested a mage because the land at the base of the mountain range could no longer withstand mana, didn’t you?”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I’m a mage of the Grace family.”

“I never disclosed such internal information to your side. I simply requested a mage.”

“…”

Ah. I didn’t know that. That was information from the original story. But if I didn’t say this much, there was no other way to prove I belonged to the Grace family.

“I-I’ll show you purification magic again.”

I hurriedly looked around. But the mana had already been completely purified earlier, and in the end I could only look up at Chase helplessly.

“…”

Those cold eyes full of distrust stared down at me without moving.

“If you contact the family, you’ll be able to confirm it…”

The Graces would have to say they had sent someone in order to claim they obeyed the imperial decree, so they would at least verify my identity, right?

After looking down at me silently for a moment, Chase turned toward his knights as if he had reached a conclusion.

“Logan.”

“Yes. Grand Duke.”

At his call, a man with short dark blue hair answered quickly.

“Until this woman’s identity is confirmed, first-”

No!

In that instant, I grabbed hold of Chase’s cloak as he turned.

“…To the Grand Duke’s castle.”

Chase’s words were cut off. At the same time, I froze as well, still clutching the black cloak.

Ah. So he wasn’t about to abandon me.

Chase slowly turned back toward me, his gaze settling on my hand gripping his cloak. I tried to let go at once, but fear made it impossible to release properly. Seeing that his cloak was being held, Chase twisted his face in irritation.

“To think you’d grab my cloak in a situation like this. Impressive.”

I know that wasn’t a compliment. I grabbed it in my panic because there was nothing else to cling to, but I was flustered too.

Grabbing the cloak of someone who is turning away. Among northern knights, that meant challenging them to a fight.

“Do you think you can win?”

I had never felt killing intent this strong in my life.

I-I’m not trying to fight.

“Hah.”

Letting out a scoff, Chase lightly grasped my wrist. And at that moment,

Crack.

An awful sound of bones breaking rang out. Chase’s head tilted slightly.

“What?”

His tone made it clear he had no idea what was going on. But that was what I wanted to say.

What is this?

There’s a saying that when an extremely strong shock is applied to the body, adrenaline is released and pain is temporarily dulled.

That was exactly my state right now. Though the effect only lasted a moment.

Chase von Heinrich. The heir of the Heinrich family, who rules the Forest of Prosperity and is blessed by the wolf. A formidable man immune to mana. The one and only great hero destined to defeat the magic-armed mastermind, Michael. Though obsessive, he is supposed to be a very kind and gentle male lead of this world.

“Y-you son of a…”

Son of a b***h! How can he be this strong!? Where does he get off breaking someone’s wrist like this!? No matter how messed up my physical condition is, it’s not a toothpick! How can he shatter a human bone so easily?!

Countless thoughts swirled in my head, but the horrific pain flooding in made it impossible to say anything more. With a face drained of color, I only moved my lips slightly before losing consciousness.