(Renée’s POV)

A collapsed table and ruined cake on the floor. A man whose face was smashed to the cake.

My eyes went blank with dizziness. What should I do? I didn’t let go of the cane to do this!

I apologized in a hurry.

“I- I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were pulling it hard, I-I couldn’t feel any strength from the pulling.”

It wasn’t until I said it that I realized, I said something to disgrace the Count more.

This is annoying-! I tried to approach him while biting my lips but Reden grabbed my arm, stopping me.

He was looking at me with his forehead narrowed. I quickly made an excuse because I was confused by his expression.

“I didn’t mean to make him fall on the cake! I didn’t want to cause trouble! C-can you nag me later?”

“Hold out your hand.”

“Huh?”

In this situation, his words were so random that I asked back in utter shock. He sighed and grabbed my hand. It was the hand that was holding the cane until a few seconds ago.

What’s wrong with him? Strangely enough, he looked closely into my hand rather than nag at me. As if to check whether something can be found or not.

“What’s wrong?”

“Alright. Fortunately, it seems to be fine.”

What?

‘Fortunately, you think it was fine? Uhh….’

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

“Not at all. I was going to ask if you like causing trouble like this.”

Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.

As expected, his nagging began. When I felt a little unfair, I immediately lowered my eyebrows.

“Do you think I did it on impulse? I just did what I could for Reden.”

“Why did you even intervene in the first place?”

“What? I saved you and you can’t even say thank you.” Hearing my complaint, he was silent before mumbling with a displeased face.

“I could do it on my own.”

It was then.

A chilling sensation crawled like a bug on my back. Turning my head reflexively, I found Count Sirius rushing towards me like a beast with his cane.

The cane in his hand changed and somehow looked different than before. Just a while ago, it looked like a normal cane, but now, it looks like a weapon.

To be honest, I wasn’t afraid. I had once held the cane wielded by that man. It won’t hurt even if you get hit by such a weak force.

However, something was strange.

The fact that the black jewel embedded on the handle of the cane caught my attention.

That was weird. The only thing that could be considered unique was the fact that it was black as if it were sucking all the light.

Why is he looking at me like that?

Strangely enough, I could see the face of the count distorted harshly beyond the eye-catching jewel. It may be an illusion, but I saw a few scales on the count’s cheek.

What is that….?

At that moment, the cane that I thought had stopped suddenly rushed to me. And when I saw a faintly swaying light in the black jewel, I sensed it.

Ah, something’s different this time. If it’s this time, then… I’m going to get hurt!

But it’s already late. All I could do was shrink back. I closed my eyes and shrank, waiting for the pain to hit me.

(Scream)

The dull sound finally dug into my ear.

However, instead of the pain that had to flow through my body, I felt warmth. When I opened my eyes slightly because I was curious about what happened, then I saw two people in front of me.

Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.

One, Reden embraced me. Two, the back of a stranger was seen in front of Reden and me.

Wide back, splendid yet restrained conquest. And black hair like the black jewel I saw a while ago.

“Strange. Wasn’t the main character of this banquet supposed to be the Knights? Why does it feel like someone else became the main character?”

The voice that followed was not a stranger’s. However, unlike yesterday, it was low and cold, the one that I was used to know.

“Diwen Fergus?”

What? Did he get hit instead of me?

“S-Sir, Sir Fergus.”

“It’s a banquet that His Majesty personally held for the Hugo Knights. How can you make a fuss like this?”

Diwen casually ran his fingers over his temples. Then, the dark red liquid fell on the floor.

“Oh my god, is that blood?”

Surprised, I escaped Reden’s arms and went next to Diwen. His forehead and temple were soaked with blood as if his skin was torn by being hit by a cane.

Regret, confusion, and wonder mixed together.

Why? Why did Diwen Fergus take the blow for me?

Diwen ignored me and looked coldly at the count.

The count’s face turned pale white. Something was strange in this sight, a nobleman was frightened by a knight like Diwen.

“In addition, this.”

Diwen took the cane in the man’s hand as if it were his. The man looked at him with a restless face like a child whose candy was stolen.

“I couldn’t believe it, even so, I tried to observe more….. This….It’s made of dragon bones.”

‘Dragon bones?’

Suddenly, I remembered a report from the Hugo Knights, which had been mixed in with my documents a week ago.

Diwen grinned and closely observed the cane. And in that state, he suddenly shouted.

Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.

“Hezzard!”

It was someone’s name that came out of his mouth. Soon after, someone approached, passing over the crowd.

Rough looking and small scars were visible on his face. One look and I can tell he wasn’t a nobleman but a Knight from the Hugo Knights.

“Keep this separately.”

“Oh, no! That is….”

When Diwen gave an order to a bearish knight, the count jumped and grabbed Diwen by the arm. The latter shook off the man’s hand with a stubborn gesture and laughed.

The smile on Diwen’s face was somehow frightening. Count Sirius stiffened at the sight.

“Did you just say no to me? This is a very funny situation.”

“Dragon bones, skin, and teeth. Did you know that we recover everything that comes from a dead dragon?”

“…..”

“Among them, dragon bones are prohibited products that we don’t distribute to the masses. Dragon mana is purely infused on their bones. If it falls into human hands, it will cause serious harm.”

The more I listened to Diwen, the more complicated my head became. So, that man’s cane is made of dragon bones that was supposedly prohibited from being distributed?

In other words, we can conclude that the Count might have either stolen the staff from someone or purchased it from a black market.

“It’s probably because we caught a dragon recently and carved it out….”

Diwen stopped talking midway as his blood fell on the count’s cheek. The Count’s face became perplexed and found Diwen to be extremely vicious.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. It was still made from Dragon Bones so we will be collecting this.”

“Oh no- Dragon bones, I-“

“Hey, Count. You know what?”

Diwen, who interrupted the nobleman’s words, looked fearless, waving his hand as he stared at the shivering Count.

Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.

“You have no right to stop me. Just be quiet, will you?”

“…..”

“Drag him out. Don’t let the atmosphere be tainted.”

Diwen stretched out his back and pointed at the knight with the staff. The knight silently held the count’s arm and led him out as if he was towing a heavy load.

I thought the count would immediately struggle and rebel, but instead, he just looked at Diwen with a bewildered face.

As such, the fuss ended with Count Sirius leaving in vain. The nobles, who were openly watching, quickly lost interest and began to do their own thing.

On the other hand, I stood blankly because I couldn’t get rid of my shock.

Dragon bones? That’s none of my business, so it’s okay.

That Count Sirius held malice and harmed me? It’s ridiculous, but that’s okay, too.

The reason why I’m still dumbfounded it’s because.

‘I didn’t know Diwen Fergus would receive the blow for me.’

I couldn’t understand.

I’m sure he was the one who killed Renee Blair in the original story. Rather than killing, he was willing to get hit for me? Is this progress coming from being unable to die under Diwen’s hand yesterday?

‘It might be something like that.’

“Are you okay?”

As I shifted my gaze towards the sudden voice, I couldn’t hide my surprise with Diwen smiling at me, treating me gently.

It was still creepy because he was covered with blood, but he looked innocent at first glance.

If I look at him, it’s as if he was waiting to be praised for doing a good job.

Diwen tilted his head slowly.

“What’s wrong? Were you too shocked that you couldn’t speak? Perhaps, are you hurt?”

“… Why did you take the hit that was meant for me?”

“Huh?”

“No, better than that, why didn’t you avoid it? You’re a knight.”

He’s also a Dragon Slayer!

Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.

He looked at me, said ah, with a low voice. He wiped the blood flowing through his hand. Diwen was wearing gloves yesterday, but he didn’t wear them today, his white fingers were being stained with blood.

“I didn’t avoid it because I wasn’t feeling well, plus it was annoying. More than that, you’ve changed a lot and you seem like a different person, and I’m worried about that.”

“What?”

“Sir Fergus.”

When Dywen’s narrowed purple eyes gave off a meaningful glow, Reden came to his side, calling him.

Is it because of the mood? Reden’s gaze toward Diwen seemed to be sharp and wary.

Anastasia’s face from yesterday overlapped with Reden’s face.

Come to think of it, Anastasia didn’t seem to like Diwen either. What is this man doing that he was hated not only by the heroine but also by Reden?

“Marquis Blair. It’s been a while.”

“We met yesterday, too.”

“But yesterday, Renee collapsed so we couldn’t have a conversation.”

I got goosebumps while listening to the conversation between the two. How did Diwen know that I collapsed? And what was that? Renee?

[Tl: Well, I wasn’t sure if it’s Miss Renee or just Renee from the different tl, but after analyzing the flow, it seems that he called her name familiarly so I concluded with Renee so Diwen would be calling her as if he was very close with her.]

Reden’s gaze was directed at me for a bit before glancing toward Diwen.

“The two of you must have gotten close without me realizing it.”

[Tl: Now I’m wondering who the Ml is, how curious, idk who to vote for.]

“What? No!”

I immediately waved my hand in denial to Reden’s strange conclusion. I felt Diwen’s gaze right away and was scared for some reason. I quietly hid behind Reden’s back.

“We’re not close, but why do you call me by my name?”

“Well, we’ve been talking informally since yesterday.”

“But we’re not that familiar with each other, so how can you call me by my first name informally?”

“What? I can’t call you by your name?”

It was when Diwen asked with an absurd look that made me flinch. However, he frowned because some blood was getting on his eye. That made me pull out a handkerchief and wipe off the blood around his eye.

However, the handkerchief was not made from a well-absorbed material, so rather than wiping the blood, his forehead only became dirty. He clicked his tongue with an audible sound.

Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.

Sneaking glances at the flowing in his hand and forehead, the wound seems to be quite large.

It wasn’t my fault, but it was true that he was hit instead of me, so I felt uncomfortable. Diwen Fergus was meant to kill Renée Blair…although that’s what the author wanted…..I don’t feel good looking at him like this.

“It needs to be checked by a physician. There’s a medical office over the hallway, so let’s go together.”

“I’d rather ask the Marquis to heal me than go that far. The Marquis is an outstanding wizard after all.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t use magic recklessly.”

Reden, who flatly refused, silently pointed to the hallway. In response, Diwen acted slyly.

“Wow, you’re so mean. Can you just write it off as something between us?”

“Why do you say it like that?”

“Uhm…Because it’s a private relationship?” Diwen replied.

[Tl: ……is- is this actually a love story between Diwen and Reden? O-O]

“I can’t afford to joke around…. By the way, Sir Fergus.”

When Reden changed the subject, Diwen suddenly looked noticeably tired. As if he had an idea about what Reden was going to ask

“How did the Dragon Bones end up with Count Sirius?”