“Wake up.”

“Ugh!?”

At the sudden voice, Blanshe opened her eyes.

But as she tried to get up, she immediately winced in pain.

Every part of her body hurt.

The man who suddenly appeared had ruined everything.

Right. Where’s Marco?!

“He’s already gone.”

When she looked up, a well-dressed man was looking down at her.

It was Tristan Ruelberta, a noble who didn’t even try to hide his arrogance.

“Count… huh?!”

“It’ll still be hard to move. You took Marco’s magic head-on.”

Her body felt weak.

Only then did she realize she was lying on the ground.

Blanshe asked.

“…Did I lose?”

“Yes. You lost to him.”

She had already returned to her human form.

Even with her superhuman recovery, she couldn’t fully heal.

The cold magic flowing through her body was completely depleted.

Just as Tristan said.

She had been defeated.

Blanshe hung her head low.

To think such a monster existed…

Marco, the captain of the Imperial Guard.

He effortlessly blocked Blanshe’s attacks.

Nothing she did worked.

She had once lived as an assassin.

The number of targets she had taken down was countless.

Especially in one-on-one combat, she was confident she’d never lose, and she never had.

There was no opponent she couldn’t defeat.

But Blanshe lost.

Twice in one day.

Blanshe hugged her shoulders.

If she didn’t, she felt like she’d collapse.

The trembling wouldn’t stop.

She sat on the cold floor, utterly defeated.

‘…I died twice.’

Blanshe had never fought without risking her life.

For an assassin, defeat meant death.

For her, every fight was a life-or-death battle.

And today, she lost.

Yet… she was still alive.

“Why am I still alive…?”

“Didn’t you want to live?”

Blanshe looked up.

Tristan was staring at her.

“I thought you wanted to live. Was I wrong?”

“How much do you even know about me?”

“I know.”

“?”

Tristan continued calmly.

“I know what kind of person you are.”

His gaze seemed to pierce through her, and she couldn’t meet his eyes.

“How can you say something so arrogant so casually?”

“I’m just stating facts.”

His tone was so confident.

Thinking back, this was the kind of man Tristan used to be.

An arrogant boy, full of self-righteousness and elitism.

At least, that’s how she remembered him.

But looking at his expression, Blanshe felt inexplicably angry.

“…No. Tristan, you know nothing.”

Blanshe bit her lip.

“You have no idea how much I hate you.”

“I know.”

“You have no idea how much I want to kill you.”

“I know that too.”

“You have no idea how much I despise you.”

“I know it all.”

“No! No! You know nothing! You don’t know a damn thing! If you really knew me so well—!”

The taste of blood filled her mouth.

“You would’ve killed me… because I’m just a hindrance to you.”

Blanshe covered her face with her hands.

While she was unconscious, Tristan had plenty of chances.

If he had killed her then, she would’ve surely died.

But for some reason, he didn’t.

Blanshe steeled herself.

“Kill me now. Otherwise…”

She looked at him.

“I’ll come after your life again.”

Tristan sighed.

Then he slowly approached her.

Kneeling on one knee, he spoke directly to her face.

“I know. That you’ll come after me again.”

“?!”

“But I won’t die.”

Tristan stared straight into Blanshe’s eyes.

As if he could see right through her.

“I’m confident in that.”

“……”

He tossed something at her.

It was a torn coat.

The coat he had been wearing was also tattered from the earlier battle.

“Put this on and get up. You should be able to move now.”

“This is… huh?!”

As Blanshe tilted her head in confusion, she realized she was almost completely naked.

The clothes she had been wearing hadn’t survived the battle.

The outfit Bella had bought her was ruined.

She felt devastated.

But Tristan, completely unfazed, bluntly told her.

“Go back. But how long can you keep paying?”

“…Paying?”

What on earth was this man talking about?

“What are you talking about?”

“Ah, I didn’t mention the amount. From what I see, it’s at least 800 million Kael.”

“…What are you even saying?”

“Repair costs.”

“Repair costs…?”

“Yes.”

Tristan pointed around.

Specifically, at the ruined rooftop garden of the department store.

“Thanks to your rampage, the rooftop garden I just finished is a mess.”

“Huh?! No, that’s…”

“You don’t plan to just leave after destroying someone else’s property, do you?”

“Property? What’s this… Wait, is this place yours?!”

“Yes. I acquired it recently.”

Tristan spoke as casually as if he’d just bought something at the market.

Just how rich was this man?

He held out his hand to her.

“So, when will you pay? 800 million Kael.”

“That’s…! Of course I don’t have that kind of money!”

“Right. I didn’t expect you to. You’re useful enough with your body, so pay with that.”

“Wha, what…! What are you even saying?!”

Startled, Blanshe covered herself.

The torn coat was barely enough to cover her.

“Are you trying to insult me?!”

“Can’t do it?”

“I can’t!”

“Then I’ll just bill your master.”

“?!”

Blanshe’s face turned pale.

She knew the Duke’s family situation well.

If Bella found out, she might pay off Blanshe’s debt.

But…

“That… can’t happen.”

“Why not?”

“Don’t tell the young lady. This is entirely my responsibility.”

Blanshe clenched her teeth.

This situation was too humiliating.

She was now indebted to the man she hated so much.

How was she supposed to live like this?

“I’ll pay the money myself……”

“Good. Then…”

Tristan held out his hand.

“Help me up.”

“Why should I—!”

“50,000 Kael.”

“?!”

He gestured to her.

With an incredibly relaxed attitude.

“Hurry up and help me.”

*

“Please evacuate in an orderly manner.”

Following the staff’s instructions, the nobles were leaving the department store one by one.

Wendy and Bella were sitting on a bench outside.

“What on earth is going on…”

Bella looked up at the top of the department store in disbelief.

Sure enough, smoke was rising from there.

About 30 minutes ago, they had been evacuated outside after staff reported an unexplained explosion on the rooftop.

There didn’t seem to be any casualties, but it wasn’t exactly a great way to end their shopping trip.

‘But those knights in red armor…’

It was an odd sight.

As far as Bella knew, there was only one knight order in this country that wore red armor.

But there was no reason for them to be here.

They were always stationed at the Imperial Palace.

“Som, something’s weird…”

Then, Wendy, who had been silent beside her, finally spoke.

“The Count hasn’t come out yet…”

“Huh?”

“Almost everyone’s out, but I don’t see the Count… Wh, what if something happened to him…”

Tears welled up in Wendy’s eyes.

Bella wiped them away with her sleeve.

“Wendy. Don’t worry. Nothing’s happened to the Count.”

“B, but…”

“That man doesn’t get into trouble. He’s probably just showing off somewhere, spending money like crazy.”

“I hope so… B, Bella… I mean, Bella, your group hasn’t come out yet either…? Are they okay?”

“Don’t worry about her. She’s tough.”

Blanshe had become the Duke’s bodyguard knight at a young age.

She had been strong from the moment she first stepped into the Duke’s household.

She was more capable than others and had exceptional talent.

That’s why she was appointed as Bella’s bodyguard knight, surpassing the others.

But…

‘If she leaves me like this, she’s failing as a bodyguard knight.’

Just as Bella was about to get restless, Wendy suddenly stood up.

“Th, the Count!”

Sure enough, Tristan was approaching from the distance.

But he wasn’t alone.

A young woman was supporting him.

The moment Bella recognized the woman’s face, she couldn’t help but exclaim.

“Blanshe!”

“Y, young lady…!”

Blanshe’s eyes widened when she saw Bella.

“Where have you been? I was worried.”

“Well…”

Blanshe awkwardly avoided her gaze.

As if she had shown something she shouldn’t have.

Bella crossed her arms and scrutinized her face.

Something had clearly happened.

“And why are you two together? What’s with the clothes? Were you hurt? Answer me, Blanshe.”

“Well…”

Under Bella’s questioning, Blanshe hesitated.

Glancing at Tristan beside her, she stammered.

“…He saved me.”