The Marquis’ Daughter Acts As A Pawn

The feeling of stiffness and grittiness is transmitted from the skin of the sun, so cold that the whole body cools to the bottom. Though the gentle running water sounds comfortable, I quickly regained consciousness.

"... here, is...?

The sun began to set and my vision was getting darker but I could grasp my situation.

The dress that was wrapped around me was torn apart unbroken, and the hair is disturbed by the detachment. Apparently, the assassins of the Diaghilev Empire dropped them off the bridge, wandering through the river but managed to escape to the shallow waters.

"What about Edward!?

When I realise that there is no Edward next door, I rise whipped to my painful body.

I walked downstream, annoyed by the dresses that had gained weight by inhaling water.

And when I walk about fifty meters, I find Edward, who is launched just like me earlier.

"... Edward!

Running over to him, I exhale in relief.

But when I saw blood flowing from his shoulders, my heart froze.

"Edward! Wake up!

Her complexion is pale, she speaks up, but she has no reaction.

I listen to Edward as he takes his pulse.

"... good, alive. I'm breathing, and I don't think I drank water."

Breaking the dress, I wrapped the silk fabric around Edward's shoulder to stop the bleeding.

Hurry up, but it should be better than keeping the blood flowing.

"I don't know how flushed it was, but it shouldn't be unlikely that a chaser would come during the night. Marie and the others must be destroying the assassins.... you think me and Edward might be dead."

I don't have the means to tell Edward and I are safe, and I don't know where we are, so it will be difficult to rendezvous with the Maries. When that happens, we'll just have to meet him at 3rd Street, Teito, as originally planned.

"We need to rebuild the system before we can be chased."

I slapped Edward's cheek thoroughly.

My powers are not strong enough to carry unconscious adult men. We need Edward to help us get somewhere safe.

"Edward, wake up! Belly black! Pervert! Then -"

"... Already awake"

Edward opens his eyelids with a deep wrinkle between his brows.

"... the worst way I've ever woken you up"

"If you can say you don't like it, you're fine.... I'm so glad"

"You worried about me."

When Edward gently strokes my head, he rises in solitude.

I held my shoulders to support his body.

"Let's give your body some rest. It's not too late to take action after nightfall."

"Sorry, Julianna"

The forest stretches beyond the shallow waters.

For one thing, I needed to find a place to stay in the wild today there.

It's quiet in the woods and I find it creepy.

As me and Edward walked, I found a half-baked wooden shed. Around the hut, there is a flourishing cage that holds people back.

"... I don't mean to say all I can, but you're not going to get a rainstorm up there. And the fire won't burn."

"There are signs that people lived there, which means there could be a path nearby. That's not all bad.... Oh, how about over there?

There was a small cave behind the cabin.

It seems to be artificially made, with no sign of a wild beast.

"Did you even use it for storage? But it's perfect for a night."

"You've never stayed in a cave before."

"You've been through all this."

I have decided to reveal the night in the cave.

As he caved in, Edward began to take off his jacket. I don't like wearing a severely painful dress either, imitate him and take it off.

"Hey, Julianna - you were wearing clothes inside"

"... it would be natural. I'm not a crazy woman."

I wore shirts and trousers in my dress just in case the civilians wore them. Take off your moveable boots and flush the water inside, you put it on again.

"I'll get some firewood."

"That's me..."

"You take a little rest. I need you to move tomorrow."

"... helpful"

When I get out of the cave, I pick up affordable trees and dead leaves.

And I took it back to the cave with my arms full.

"... Edward, are you asleep?

I speak, but Edward only sleeps small.

Gently lower your hips next door to keep him awake and take the match out of your nostalgia.

"It's good to have everything ready."

Matches in special iron containers were not wet when they entered the river. Fire arrives easily and burns dead leaves. Fire was gradually turned up by carefully choosing firewood to keep it from going out.

Eventually, the fire becomes strong enough to illuminate the entire cave, warming its twitchy, cold body.

"... a fool to fall with me"

Edward didn't have to fall into the river with me. I should have been able to make it to the Imperial City by myself.

Although it is the duty of military personnel, divisions and male royalty to train in how much dressed swimming, it will be something to avoid on the ground. Falling off a bridge is a possibility of death.

"But thanks"

You should have abandoned me... how good would it have been to say that. I was angry and glad that he fell with me.

The blood color has improved somewhat, but Edward's body is still a little cold.

I lay down softly with him in my arms, sharing my body temperature.