Chapter 35

One side had been kicked so brutally that their clothes were soiled, and their body was covered in bruises. The other had suffered a direct blow to the face, resulting in a swollen cheek and split lip. It was utter chaos.

“Our duty is to protect the lady,” Malena replied calmly, causing Odelliana to bury her face in her hands in despair.

The mindless violence didn’t frighten her. It was the feeling of weakness, of powerlessness, of being unable to defend herself—and worse, the realization that someone else had been hurt because of her inability to protect them—that she couldn’t bear.

Matthias and Malena’s injuries were a direct consequence of her own weakness. They were a reflection of a powerless leader who couldn’t even protect her own people—a fool, through and through.

“I’m fine. I’ll get up now so I can change these soiled clothes. Please check on his wounds first. It looks like he’s hurt much worse than me,” Malena said, standing up casually as if the brutal kicks had had no effect on her. She even brushed the dirt off her clothes with an air of nonchalance.

“Thank you,” Odelliana replied softly. Malena turned, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. “I was merely fulfilling my duty,” she said. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll go outside first. I think I should bring back some food for him,” she added, her dry, matter-of-fact tone carrying an unexpected warmth.

Odelliana watched her retreat, her heart heavy with a mix of emotions. Only when she was out of sight did she notice the boy cradled in her arms. “Matthias, are you alright?” she asked, turning her attention to him.

Matthias didn’t respond. He merely gazed blankly at her swollen cheek. “…Did that man lay a hand on you, Master?” he asked.

Shouldn’t he be more concerned about his own beaten-up face? Odelliana gave a sheepish smile and touched the cheek where Hermann had struck her. “He hit me the moment he barged in. I had no time to dodge,” she replied.

In truth, even if there had been a delay between the attacks, she would have been just as defenseless. But Odelliana clung to her pride, pretending she had “no choice but to take the hit.” It was a petty sense of competitiveness, even in a moment like this.

“You’re far more injured than me. Why did you step in and get hurt like that?” she asked.

She should have been angry at Hermann, not at Matthias, who had intervened to protect her. But seeing his handsome face swollen, she couldn’t help but feel upset. If Matthias had a more forgettable or unattractive face, she wouldn’t have been so bothered. This really was a national tragedy.

“Let’s put some ointment on,” she said.

Odelliana fetched a box of medicine and pulled out a jar of ointment. But before she could apply it, Matthias snatched the jar from her as if his own injuries didn’t matter at all.

“Please open your mouth,” Matthias said.

“…What?” Odelliana replied, hesitating.

Before she could react, Matthias’s fingers forcefully pried her lips open.

What was happening? Odelliana was taken aback by the unfamiliar sensation as his fingers explored her mouth. His long fingers touched areas no one had ever ventured before, and wherever his fingertips grazed, a stinging pain flared up, followed by a burning heat.

“Your mouth is completely torn up,” he said.

“…What?” Odelliana replied.

“You need some ointment,” Matthias said.

His long fingers glistened with saliva. Didn’t it bother him? His touch, softly stroking the tender flesh inside her mouth, was unhesitant and relentless.

The idea of pushing his invasive fingers away with a comment about focusing on his own injuries didn’t even cross her mind. Her thoughts evaporated into a blank haze, and a sense of shame washed over her, as if she were lying naked on a bed, completely exposed.

Matthias opened the jar of ointment he had taken and scooped out a sticky amount. With one hand, he cupped her chin and, applying gentle pressure, inserted his coated fingers back into her slightly parted lips.

His somewhat dry fingertips touched her moist, tender flesh. They grazed her orderly teeth and caressed places she had never allowed anyone to touch. His movements were cautious, yet rough, as though he had long since forgotten the original purpose of applying the ointment.

His fingers wandered inside her mouth, gentle yet inconsiderate, and Odelliana found herself momentarily dizzy from the strange sensation.

“Haa… Ha… S-stop…” she gasped.

Blood and ointment-laced saliva trickled from the corner of her parted lips. Breathing heavily, Odelliana was wrapped in his arms as he locked eyes with her.

“A disciple…” he began.

“…Cannot tolerate even the smallest wound on their master,” he continued.

What should she do?

Matthias paused to catch his breath. His eyes, still intensely focused on her, were wild and relentless. His breathing remained heavy, and there was a raw savagery in his gaze that didn’t match his otherwise composed and refined face. The unspoken question in his eyes was unmistakable: Could he deal with that man right now?

Odelliana shook her head. At that, he let out a brief sigh.

“You always tell me to hold back,” he said, a faint note of complaint in his voice. It carried the tone of a young boy frustrated by the complexity of the world, mixed with a hint of resentment.

“All I do is hold back,” he continued.

“You turned everything upside down with your last reckless stunt,” she replied.

“Then why not stop holding back just as you did then?” he asked.

“Knowing when not to hold back depends on who you’re dealing with,” she answered.

Getting rid of a mere maid and killing the heir to the Grüsewald family were two entirely different matters. Regardless of how repulsive Hermann was, the value of his life was not insignificant. That was why she had to hold back. Retaliating against him would bring far more trouble than it was worth.

“Don’t even think about revenge. He’s not someone we can handle right now,” Odelliana said.

“And besides, who are you to worry about someone else when you’re the one more badly hurt?” she continued.

With a firm grip, Odelliana snatched the ointment jar from his hand. Then, carefully, she began applying the ointment to his torn cheek. As Matthias quietly allowed her to tend to him, he suddenly clasped her hand.

“You have to take care of the inside of my mouth, too,” he said.

“…What?” Odelliana replied.

He gently bit down on Odelliana’s index finger. Then, with a casual expression, he opened his mouth, revealing the torn wounds inside. The sight of his mouth filled with blood left her speechless.

He really swung his fists like he meant to kill, she thought.

If Matthias was in this condition, a direct hit from that fist would have killed her on the spot. That deranged bastard—no matter how much his birth was hidden, could he really try to kill his own sister?

Odelliana glanced between the jar of ointment and his mouth before awkwardly scooping some onto her finger. A wave of embarrassment washed over her, though it was a different kind of awkwardness compared to when he had touched the inside of her mouth earlier.

She hesitated for a moment, then realized there was no reason to feel awkward. After all, what was so embarrassing about applying ointment inside someone’s mouth? She could have simply let him do it himself, but dismissed the thought. How could she claim to be his master if she couldn’t even perform such a basic task?

With her fingers coated in ointment, Odelliana gently reached into his mouth, carefully tracing the torn wounds. Surprisingly, it didn’t feel unpleasant or awkward at all. She felt only pity for him, knowing the pain he must be enduring.

Matthias, watching her closely as she delicately applied the ointment, playfully bit down on her finger every now and then, only to stop again. Odelliana frowned and gave him a stern look.

“Stay still!” she commanded.

He laughed aloud, and as if in defiance, lightly bit her finger again—this time without causing any pain. His behavior reminded her of a puppy craving attention, and she couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity.

“You really…” she began, her tone playful.

The tense and serious atmosphere immediately dissipated.

The two of them laughed together for a while, teasing each other. The unpleasant incident that had caused their injuries faded into the background, replaced by the lightheartedness they shared in that moment.