Chapter 22: Call His Name

Ding- Ding- Ding-

Somewhere, it sounded as if the bells of celebration were ringing.

‘Not to Cecilia, but to me…?’

Wildflowers in a blue hue, reminiscent of Cecilia’s hair, shivered in the wind.

“Ah! Liana, take it quickly. Wow, it’s really pretty!”

Cecilia’s eyes crinkled as she smiled.

“Hurry, Liana. You’re so kind.”

Cecilia stroked the boy’s hair. The boy shook his head, as if annoyed, but when Cecilia kept petting him, he gave in and let her be.

I was still dazed, as if I’d been struck on the head. The question of ‘why?’ dominated my thoughts.

‘With Cecilia right in front, there’s no way they’d give it to me…!’

“Take it! Sister, you’re sharing the money, right?”

Really? If I take it, you’re not going to snatch it back and say, ‘just kidding!’ are you?

As I hesitated, the boy thrust the flower bundle into my arms. I stared blankly at the flowers.

‘He’s really giving it to me…?’

“Ah… Thank you….”

“Hee- If it wasn’t for the pretty big sister, there would have been a fight!”

The child grinned.

Pfft.

The boy was missing his front teeth.

I couldn’t help but laugh. The boy, looking satisfied, ran off down the alley and soon disappeared.

Prettier big sister, he says! Aaah!

I suddenly wanted to dash off just like the boy. My heart thudded wildly.

“Hoo.”

I managed to steady my breath.

‘No! Don’t let yourself get happy over something like this.’

“Liana, lucky you! The flowers are so pretty. And that boy is really cute.”

“Right.”

It felt like a whirlwind had just swept through.

I answered as calmly as I could, but my heart was so full that I felt like I was floating.

The commotion had settled, so maybe I should go to that delicious dessert shop with Cecilia? I never expected anything like this! Oh no, my cheeks are going to get hot.

‘So embarrassing, what do I do!’

“Cecil…”

I called out to her with a bright smile, but the atmosphere was strange.

“…Lia?”

Cecilia was gone!

As soon as the children dispersed, the street suddenly felt chilly. Though the central plaza’s fountain wasn’t far, by district this was the 3rd Sector. Not a very safe area. I needed to leave quickly.

‘Where did Cecilia go?’

A moment ago, there hadn’t been anyone, but now people I hadn’t noticed were scattered along the street, and all their eyes seemed fixed on me. I gripped the flowers so I wouldn’t drop them.

‘How long have they been there? Were they here when I was handing out coins? Did they see me giving them?’

Someone was approaching from the direction of the plaza. I caught a glimpse of blonde hair.

“Cecilia!”

“Liana…!”

As if mocking my excited heart, the scene I was met with was Cecilia being grabbed by a large man.

No! Why!

“Why are you over there….”

How did she get all the way over there? For a moment I forgot the seriousness of the situation and was just dumbfounded. Cecilia was caught by the man near the entrance of the alley where the boys had disappeared. I saw a sparkling necklace in her hand. So she went to pick that up….

“Liana…….”

Seeing Cecilia call me with an apologetic face made my heart ache. Why is she so obsessed with a cheap necklace? What meaning does a friendship necklace even have?

‘Cecilia, you don’t know, but the truth is, we’re fated to part anyway.’

You’ll live and I’ll die, that sort of farewell. I’m trying to stay away because I don’t want that to happen…!

“Puhahaha!”

“I’m sorry… Liana. Go! Just go, now!”

Cecilia trembled as she spoke. The man smirked as if amused by her words, jerking his chin to say, “Run if you can.”

Why is she making me feel guilty! There’s no way I could just leave her behind.

It didn’t seem likely that the commotion here would reach the plaza.

Worse, if someone saw us like this, it would be mortifying.

Is reputation really more important than getting hurt? For a noble lady, they’re one and the same!

I shuddered as I recalled the scandals that swept through the capital and the Academy during every social season. For noblewomen, scandal only led to one thing: ruin, as sure as death.

It’s fine. All they want is money anyway. I hid my trembling hands inside my coat.

Rustle.

“Hic…”

“I have quite a bit of money. I’ll give it all to you, so please let us go.”

The man licked his lips with a wicked grin.

“Liana has nothing to do with this! Just let her go…!”

Cecilia glared at the man, her gaze full of resentment.

“If you brag about money, you gotta pay the price, huh? Hand over every coin you got!”

As the man threatened, Cecilia squeezed her eyes shut. Her eyelashes quivered.

“I’ll give it to you. So please let her go.”

Was he even listening? I said I’d give it to him!

My insides began to boil.

“…Puhaha! Must be some big-shot noble lady, huh?”

The man sneered and spat at the ground.

“What makes you so stiff and proud!”

“Kyaa!”

“You don’t care if your friend gets hurt, huh!? Huh?!”

“…….”

“Do I look like some beggar to you?”

His eyebrow twitched. It was obvious he was offended.

Damn it! You’re demanding money like a beggar, so what’s with acting insulted when you’re called one?

I wanted to throw all my money right in his face.

‘Should I flick all the gold coins in my pouch right up his nose?’

I totally could! I’ve practiced flicking coins as a secret hobby, so hitting the target is a piece of cake!

I clenched the cold coins tight, then barely managed to loosen my grip.

“Are you ignoring me? Huh? What are you trying to do!”

The man held tightly to Cecilia.

“Are you looking down on me!!”

“Kyaaah! Liana! Run!”

“Look.”

I called out calmly and took out my coin pouch.

There was a small note attached to the pouch.

‘What’s this?’

“What are you looking at!”

“?”

“I saw you looking at something just now!”

The man’s eyes bulged.

‘It’s fine! He couldn’t have seen it clearly.’

“N-no, it’s just, I’m so scared— I mean, nervous, the string….”

“…….”

The man stared at me in disbelief.

Why am I remembering Evan’s advice not to act in situations like this. I really am scared and nervous, okay?

“No! I definitely saw something just now….”

I yanked open the coin pouch. With a jingling sound, several gold coins spilled onto the ground. The shouting man fell silent, his eyes glued to the gold coins as if mesmerized.

“I’ll give you all of it. So let her go.”

‘If you don’t want things to get ugly! You wretch!’

I added silently.

My slow-beating heart began to pound heavily. Strangely, I was oddly calm—though I swear I’d been scared just a moment ago.

“It’d be best if you didn’t try anything stupid.”

People started to peek over. Sensing something was happening, but not thinking to help, they only came to watch as if it were some kind of entertainment. A few even whistled.

“Kyaaa!”

“Your friend doesn’t matter, huh? Still acting up?”

The crowd made the man even more excited; he started waving his arms wildly. Cecilia, dangling from his grasp, flailed like a paper doll, screaming.

‘It’s always the idiots who make things worse!’

I filled my lungs with icy winter air. Laughter threatened to burst out.

“What, you think yelling will do something….”

“Natura―”

I shouted the knight’s name.

The name of the one who promised to be my shield!

My voice wasn’t loud enough to carry down the alley, but it was firm and unwavering. I called out strongly so Natura could hear his name clearly.

Before I even finished calling, the platinum-haired knight leaped forward, drawing his sword.

The blade flashed in the sunlight, slicing toward the man holding Cecilia.

My fingertips tingled. My heart pumped furiously, sending blood rushing through every part of my body. My whole self felt alive—strangely, I was exhilarated.

‘Maybe I have a knack for brawling.’

Watching Natura subdue the man in an instant sent a chill up from my toes.

“Wh-what, what, what is this!”

“Lady Liana. Are you unharmed? Please forgive me for not greeting you sooner.”

“Thank you, Natura!”

My cheeks burned.

Natura scrutinized my face, then brought his sword even closer to the man’s throat. Bright red blood trickled down his neck.

“Shall I kill him?”

“Yes! …No. Hey, if you don’t let go of her arm, it’s going to get chopped off. Are you fine with that?”

‘If he dies… hmm, I guess not.’

I stood crookedly, glaring at the man.

If his arm got cut, it’d only splatter blood on Cecilia—poor thing.

“Uuuugh!”

With a terrified face, the man shook his head and released Cecilia as if throwing her away.

“Kyaa!”

Just as Cecilia nearly stumbled to the ground, Natura easily caught her with his other arm.

“Cecilia!”

I hurried over and sat her down on the ground.

“I’ll turn him over to the city guard.”

Natura swiftly tied up the man’s hands.

“Ack! Hey, I-I was wrong! Huh? I just thought you young ladies were flashing coins so carelessly, like you were my own daughters… ack! Ack! It was just a joke… gack.”

Natura, expressionless, twisted the man’s wrists one by one. Unable to bear the pain, the man foamed at the mouth and passed out.

Natura’s cold eyes met mine, and he moved to block the man’s body from my view.

‘N-Natura. There’s no mercy in your hands! I mean, it’s to be expected, but it’s still a shock.’

“Do not utter the lady’s name so carelessly. Unless you want your tongue cut out.”

What is Natura saying? Isn’t he already unconscious—what’s the point in saying that now?

“Liana… what happened?”

Cecilia suddenly grabbed my hand.

“Have you been bringing that man with you this whole time?”

“There was a note on my pouch.”

I tore my gaze away from Natura and took out a handkerchief. I was about to wipe Cecilia’s tears when she grabbed my hand and lowered it.

“A note?”

“Yeah. I just found out, too.”

On the note, it said, [Call his name when you’re in danger.]

Was it always like this, even before my regression?

If I had known about the note during the carriage accident….

I felt a strange mix of emotions. Was the note only there in my first year?

I fiddled with the paper in my pouch. There was no way to ask….

“Lady Cecilia!”

“Lady Cecilia! Are you all right?!”

“Sir Hawkins…?”

‘Hawkins? Here? Then Evan must be…?’

I looked in the direction Cecilia was facing, and saw two boys running toward us.

Hawkins sprinted like an arrow and, seeing Cecilia on the ground, turned pale. His emotions were written so clearly on his face that I turned away out of embarrassment.

“Cecilia! Ah, Miss Liana, you’re here too.”

Evan strode over, calling for Cecilia, then noticed me and nodded. He pushed Hawkins aside and took a spot next to Cecilia, tucking her hair behind her ear. I flinched at his casual touch, more than Cecilia did.

“Crying again, huh.”

“Hic…”

“Are you two all right?”

“As you can see.”

“Are you hurt anywhere?! Are you all right…!”

“I was scared… hng.”

My head hurt.

As soon as I heard Hawkins’ outburst, memories I’d tried to suppress threatened to rise, and I shook my head.