Chapter 16
The hand I was holding was suddenly gone.
Since when had he disappeared?
How could such a big guy vanish like that?
I stood there blankly, not believing it.
I was shocked and confused that he was really gone.
No way… could something bad have happened?
I kept trying to tell myself that nothing was wrong, but my steps grew faster.
I looked around to see if he was nearby, but he was gone without a trace.
Now I understood why he was worried about getting lost earlier… was he really that bad with directions?
A villain… who gets lost easily.
Just thinking about it gave me a headache.
Ugh, if I had known, I should’ve tied him with a leash like a puppy.
But it was too late now.
Instead of wandering around like an idiot, I decided to seriously start looking for him.
I hoped he remembered the rule that if you’re lost, you should stay in the same place and wait.
But that was just wishful thinking.
He was gone. Totally gone!
With that face and height, I should’ve been able to see him even from 100 meters away.
But all I saw were plain, forgettable faces in the crowd.
I bit my nail and stepped into a quiet alley, just in case.
After walking around for a while, I heard angry voices nearby.
“If you let us take the kid, we’ll leave you alive. Refuse, and we’ll gouge your eyes, cut your hands and tongue, but spare your life.”
It was a scary threat.
I bit my lip and quietly moved toward the sound.
In a dark alley corner, I saw César pressed against a wall by four men in thick robes.
What in the world… I never thought I’d see him in a situation like this.
“What were they going to do with the child?”
“Don’t you get it? We’re not here to play. You think we’re joking?”
“I don’t want to play with mashed potatoes either.”
Not the time to make jokes…
He didn’t seem to realize he was outnumbered four to one.
And those guys weren’t just any potatoes—they were muscle potatoes, probably grown strong by stealing nutrients from other potatoes.
“Mashed potato? You bastard!”
One of them raised his thick hand to hit César.
That hand looked strong enough to split someone’s face open with one slap.
If this had happened before I got to know him, I would’ve trusted him to handle it.
But now… he didn’t feel that reliable.
I don’t know why, but he gave off the feeling of someone who’d just let them hit him and report it later like evidence.
I looked down at my shoes.
The shoemaker said these shoes were so strong that even a horse could wear them for 100 years.
Just as the thug’s hand was about to hit César, I threw my shoe hard at the back of his head.
Whack!
“Argh!”
The sound echoed loudly through the alley, and the guy fell to his knees holding his head.
The other men turned toward me, shocked.
But I didn’t stop.
I threw my other shoe and hit another guy right on the forehead.
Smack!
“Ow!!”
“Agnès?”
I heard César’s surprised voice.
“There! It’s the kid!”
“Get the kid first!”
The others rushed at me, so I grabbed some dirt and got ready to throw it in their faces.
At the same time, César stuck out his foot and tripped two of them.
They lost balance and fell forward hard.
Ouch… that must’ve hurt bad.
I winced just watching it, and suddenly, César covered my eyes.
“Ugly stuff like that is R-rated.”
If that’s the case, I’d have to live with my eyes closed until adulthood… Wait, this isn’t the time to joke.
I grabbed his hand and ran.
The thugs came to their senses and started chasing us.
“Ahhh! Lord Valdeon, they’re going to catch us!”
Hearing my panicked shout, César snapped out of it, picked me up, and sprinted toward the plaza.
That brought his face really close to mine.
Even from this angle, he looked good.
We made it safely to the plaza and jumped into the waiting carriage.
Once inside, he looked down at my feet and sighed.
Then he suddenly grabbed my foot.
“What… what are you doing?!”
“You were running barefoot.”
I quickly pulled my leg back.
“I’m fine! I didn’t get hurt.”
Even though I told him not to, he held my ankle and carefully checked for any injuries.
“Agnès, don’t go to dangerous places alone. And if you do, run the moment it feels unsafe.”
“You’re one to talk!”
“What?”
“You also went somewhere dangerous by yourself! I told you not to get distracted, and someone might kidnap you!”
“…Ha.”
“And if you do get taken, say Arno’s name! Why did you even make fun of them when you were outnumbered?”
This world is scary, seriously…
He just stared at me, speechless.
Did I say too much?
He already looked a bit shaken from earlier…
“Anyway, next time, just say sorry and run away when there’s a chance, okay?”
“Okay.”
“You’re not hurt anywhere?”
“No.”
“Good.”
After checking my feet, he set down his handkerchief and stood up.
“Agnès, go back to the estate first. I have something to take care of.”
He was about to get out of the carriage, so I grabbed his clothes.
“Where are you going?”
He’s still in shock! What if something happens again?
“I have something I must do.”
He gently removed my hand.
“Can’t you do it later?”
“But I want to go now.”
“I don’t want to go home alone…”
He frowned and thought for a moment, then sat back down.
“Okay. Let’s go back together.”
* * *
Even when we got to the estate, he tried to carry me out of the carriage, but I strongly refused.
I stayed in the carriage until Sophia brought my shoes. Only then did I get down.
Then I dragged him to his room and made him lie in bed while I called the doctor.
“Is he okay?”
“Yes. No serious injuries.”
“Really?”
“Agnès, I’m fine.”
I finally relaxed after the doctor confirmed he was okay and stayed until I saw him close his eyes.
Those guys were child kidnappers.
I’ll tell Arno to catch and punish them.
And if César saw them, he should’ve told me or Sir Ferzen!
Why did he follow them alone?
He’s unexpectedly careless sometimes.
But something still felt off…
What was it?
“Young Lady, what about the birthday gift?”
Ah! Right, the birthday gift!
Sophia’s question reminded me.
But no matter how hard I looked, it was gone.
I went out to buy it, but where did it go?
“Oh no! Sir Ferzen!”
I had forgotten him at the restaurant!
I quickly sent another knight to go find him.
Later, Sir Ferzen returned with the gift and a look of betrayal.
“Sir, I’m really sorry! We ran into some weird guys and had to rush back. You must’ve been so hot out there.”
I handed him a cold drink.
“It’s fine.”
I had to calm him down with vacation time and a bonus.
That night, when everything finally settled down and I went to bed, I heard a faint breeze.
It scratched at my nerves.
I got up to check the window, and something flashed past it.
‘What was that?’
I blinked.
It had vanished like a mirage.
A person? An animal? A bird?
I couldn’t tell.
I thought about telling someone, but since the estate was full of guards, I figured they’d catch anything suspicious.
So I left it alone—for now.
