The End of First Love - Chapter 35

“My lady, have you calmed down?”

How long had she been crying?

After shedding all her tears, Elizabeth finally lifted her face from Milia’s chest.

“Milia, I’m sorry. My thoughtless actions put you in danger.”

Elizabeth took a step back from Milia and deeply bowed her head.

It had been a situation where she could have lost her life. Because of her selfishness, she had put many lives at risk—the knight guards, the coachman… Were they all safe?

A wave of anxiety rushed through her, and she quickly looked around—only to be met with an odd sight.

Dozens of men dressed in white uniforms were scattered around, sitting or leaning against trees, chatting casually. Among them were the very knights who had been her escorts, also mingling with them. Furthermore, the white uniforms they wore were familiar to her.

The men she had mistaken for bandits were not bandits at all.

“Um… I don’t quite understand the situation, but we’re safe, right?”

“Yes, though unwillingly, it seems we are.”

“What do you mean by ‘unwillingly’!?”

A disgruntled voice suddenly rang out from behind Milia, making Elizabeth quickly look up.

There stood a man, impeccably dressed in a white uniform with every button fastened neatly. His short ash-gray hair and striking violet eyes made him a handsome figure, but his gaze toward Milia was filled with discontent.

(Who is he…?)

Her question was soon answered.

“Lady Elizabeth Baker, I apologize for the delayed introduction. I am Michael Loser, the captain of the knight squad under the Royal Castle Investigation Bureau.”

“Royal Castle Investigation Bureau?”

“Yes. The bureau is an organization entrusted with the authority to investigate and suppress crimes involving nobility. If you look at this, you will understand.”

Michael handed Elizabeth a ring. Engraved upon it were the royal emblem and the crossed swords symbolizing the Investigation Bureau.

“This emblem of the royal family cannot be easily forged. And I’ve heard of this before—a knight order that bears the crossed swords as its symbol. So, it was your group.”

“As expected of the Baker family’s lady. You are well-informed.”

The man smiled, and his face seemed genuinely pleased.

(He takes great pride in his work as a knight.)

Elizabeth slowly stood up, brushing off the dirt from her dress before bowing deeply.

“Thank you truly for saving our lives. If your knights hadn’t been passing through by chance, we all would have perished. I am deeply grateful. To encounter you in such a remote place—this must be nothing short of a miracle. I will surely repay this debt one day—”

“This was no mere coincidence! My lady, you are far too trusting. The Royal Knights don’t just happen to be in a place like this. Michael, just confess already! Who ordered you to come here?”

Elizabeth listened to their exchange, confusion filling her mind.

“Milia, do you know Sir Michael?”

“Know him!? I don’t even consider him an acquaintance anymore! He’s always dragging me into his nonsense! Let me guess—it was his orders, wasn’t it?”

“Milia, are you still mad about this morning?”

“Of course I’m mad! Who in their right mind summons someone just because a rat appeared in their house!? Because of you, I almost lost sight of my lady! Deal with your own rats!”

“But that was impossible! That rat was huge—you’re the only woman I know who could catch something like that with her bare hands. You saved me this morning.”

“Um… Can I ask something? What exactly is your relationship?”

“He’s my incompetent cousin!”

“What…? You’re the Michael Loser from the Viscount Loser family—the crybaby Michael?”

“What!? Crybaby… where did that shameful name come from…?”

“It’s the truth. Even now, you still make a fuss over something as trivial as a rat. Honestly, how pathetic.”

“You—!”

Watching them argue so intensely, Elizabeth suddenly recalled something Milia had once told her.

A few years ago, she had excitedly spoken about her cousin being appointed as the captain of the newly established Royal Castle Investigation Bureau.

Elizabeth had been surprised when she first heard the news.

Even if it was a newly created division, for a viscount’s son to be chosen as the captain of a knight order was an extremely rare occurrence. It wasn’t that she doubted Michael’s abilities—he had already served in this role for several years, proving his competence.

However, in a hierarchical society, merit alone wasn’t enough to secure such a position. That meant there had been some kind of influence behind his appointment.

“Sir Michael, the head of the Royal Castle Investigation Bureau is Lord Heinz, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Just as she had expected.

Even before Michael’s appointment, Heinz had been laying out strategies, placing pieces across the board.

Perhaps even this ambush had been accounted for.

And not just that.

Even her broken engagement with William—was that part of Heinz’s grand plan as well?

(So many layers of strategy… If everything has been meticulously arranged just to capture me…)

A chilling realization crept over her.

For the first time, Elizabeth felt the sheer, unfathomable terror of Heinz’s machinations.

And yet, at the same time, there was something else—a strange sensation deep inside her.

(Like a butterfly caught in a spider’s web…)

The spider, Heinz, had ensnared the butterfly—her. And she, rather than resisting, was beginning to find pleasure in her captivity.

Had she already gone mad?

What frightened her most was that she did not find it unpleasant.

“So, it’s all within Lord Heinz’s grasp… Then I have no choice but to follow his plan. Sir Michael, you are to take me to him, correct?”

“Yes, that is my order.”

“Then, let us go.”

Michael raised his hand, and one of his subordinates stepped forward.

“This man will escort you to Lord Heinz.”

“Oh? Not you personally, Sir Michael?”

“No, I must remain here to restrain Milia.”

“What!? You’re letting my lady go alone!? Let me go, Michael! Release me!”

“I’m the only one in this squad capable of holding Milia back. Honestly, she almost killed me earlier.”

“Then just die already! My lady, you must not go alone! This is exactly what Lord Heinz wants!”

“I’ll be fine. I need to have a proper talk with him.”

Elizabeth waved to Milia, who was still struggling against Michael’s grip, before turning on her heels and stepping into the carriage.

Once the doors shut and she was alone inside, she let out a deep breath.

“I have to settle this with Lord Heinz.”

Her whispered words faded into the silence of the moving carriage.