Chapter 27

Upon encountering Hazel, Elena found herself acutely aware of her standing, as Hazel unabashedly radiated animosity. No matter the opulence of Elena’s attire, Hazel exuded an arrogance and self-assurance that stood in stark contrast to Elena’s demeanor.

The haughtiness inherent in those who’ve been privileged since birth clashed with Elena’s nature. With a lowered head, she observed as Hazel’s dress skirt gracefully brushed past her, intending to retreat to her room in a manner devoid of confrontation. This encounter served as a sobering reminder for Elena to tread more carefully during her strolls in the future.

As Hazel’s dress skirt faded from sight, Elena released a sigh of relief and gradually lifted her gaze. Suddenly, an exclamation escaped her lips as the wind forcefully seized her arm, causing her body to sway. A sharp pain akin to a knife’s thrust shot through her still-recovering arm and shoulder.

“Miss Elena!” Cura, who had been observing from a distance, hurriedly approached in surprise. Elena, grappling with the pain, found no opportunity to respond. Her vision blurred, and cold sweat emerged in an instant.

Through the haze, her sleeve slipped down, revealing the arm enveloped in bandages, down to the exposed hand. Gasping for breath, Elena turned to identify the person who had caught her arm.

Hazel clutched Elena’s wrist tightly, examining her with a scrutinizing gaze that furrowed her brow in contemplation. As Carmen called out to Hazel and approached, she was taken aback upon witnessing Elena’s arm firmly held by Hazel, revealing new wounds on the palm and back of the hand that were not concealed by bandages.

However, the visible injuries were just the tip of the iceberg. Among them were freshly healed wounds marked by reddish scars, old scars that had darkened over time, and calluses on the fingertips, all telling a tale of past struggles.

“Who are you?” Hazel demanded, her voice sharp and unwavering.

“Miss Hazel, please release her arm. Miss Elena is still recovering from severe injuries,” Cura pleaded urgently, mirroring the concern etched across Elena’s face. Despite Cura’s plea, Hazel remained unyielding, maintaining her firm grip on Elena’s wrist.

“How audacious. Where do you think you’re placing your hands?” Hazel retorted with a stern glare, directing her piercing gaze first at Cura and then at Elena.

Startled, Cura momentarily stepped back, but quickly regained her composure and firmly grasped Hazel’s arm. “Let go. Miss Elena’s injuries will only worsen.”

In a swift motion, Carmen intervened, twisting Cura’s arm and separating her from Hazel. Carmen then pushed Cura towards the corridor wall, where she held her arms behind her back to prevent any further interference.

“You call her Miss Elena? Looking at her condition, she seems more like a commoner or a slave, and you even bring a servant girl around. On top of that, why is she wearing such an expensive dress?”

Hazel, with a fierce expression, jabbed a finger at Elena.

“That’s…,” Elena wanted to respond but couldn’t articulate her thoughts properly. The pain in her arm, shoulder, and back was so intense that she bit her lower lip to avoid screaming.

Struggling to cling to her fading consciousness, Elena summoned every ounce of strength within her. Beads of cold sweat, a testament to her exertion, traced a path down her forehead and meandered along her temples.

“Are you perhaps a slave? Does His Highness have a hobby of acquiring such things?” Hazel’s voice dripped with unbridled contempt, resonating through the corridor.

“What are you doing?”

A commanding voice sliced through the tension, echoing loudly. The steady cadence of approaching footsteps accompanied the arrival of Serin, who swiftly intervened, creating a physical barrier between Elena and Hazel.

Supporting Elena just before she teetered on the edge of losing balance, Serin fixed a stern gaze upon her. “Are you okay?” he inquired, concern etched in his voice.

Despite the throbbing pain in Elena’s arm and shoulder from Hazel’s relentless grip, she managed a nod.

“Let go of that hand.” Serin, firmly holding Cura’s arm, shot a piercing glare at Carmen, whose determination shone through even though she seemed poised for action.

Elena sensed the anger coursing through Serin’s body, a stark contrast to her own trembling from pain. It was understandable; Cura was Serin’s younger sister. Despite the constant scolding, Serin’s eyes consistently reflected deep affection for Cura.

Carmen, stealing a glance at Hazel, hesitated but continued to restrain Cura’s arm without making any additional movements. It became apparent that Hazel’s instructions were paramount for Carmen to release her hold on Cura.

“Miss Hazel, what’s going on?” Serin’s voice broke through the tension, assisting Elena to her feet.

“Miss Hazel was just trying to confirm the identity because it seemed like this woman was wearing inappropriate clothes for her status,” Carmen interjected, responding on behalf of Hazel, who continued to regard Elena with suspicion.

“Why should we confirm the status of the people in this castle? Everyone here belongs to the Duke,” Serin retorted.

“The Grand Duke is an esteemed person. His life is often in danger. It wouldn’t be acceptable to have suspicious individuals around. Moreover, he will be my future husband, so it is my duty to ensure his safety,” Hazel replied, directing her gaze towards Serin with the same condescending look she had given Elena.

“The Grand Duke has stated that he has no intention of accepting a marriage to a member of House Blade, so you have no authority to do this, Miss Hazel,” Serin countered.

“That remains to be seen.”

“Miss Hazel!” A flame ignited in Serin’s eyes, a departure from his usual grumbling and nagging demeanor. Elena felt a sense of discomfort as it seemed a commotion was unfolding because of her. She sensed the need to somehow defuse the situation.

“Ser…”

“Serin!”

Just as Elena was about to intervene, another commanding voice drowned out her attempt. The owner of the deep, resonant voice was none other than Kennard.

As Kennard descended the stairs at the corridor’s end, Hazel promptly turned her body and lowered her head. “Greetings, Your Highness,” she spoke respectfully. Carmen, who had been restraining Cura’s arm behind her back, swiftly released her hold and also bowed her head in deference.

Surveying the gathered crowd in the corridor with an intensity emanating from his deeply-set pumpkin-colored eyes, Kennard remained silent. His piercing gaze flicked momentarily towards Elena, cradled by Serin, before he turned his head away.

“Serin, come to the office,” he instructed calmly.

“Your Highness!” A startled Serin called out to him as Kennard began to descend the stairs. He didn’t turn his head, pausing only momentarily to leave behind a stern directive: “Don’t cause any trouble.”

***

“Even if they’re nobles, it’s just too much,” Cura grumbled, her eyes reddened as if tears might spill at any moment. Dipping a cloth into warm water, she delicately wiped the wounds on Elena’s shoulders.

“What should I do? The bleeding won’t stop. Why hasn’t the doctor come yet?” she lamented, pressing a clean, dry cloth firmly against Elena’s shoulder.

Elena lay motionless, staring blankly into space. Cura, having applied herbal ointment and rewound the bandage on Elena’s wrist and arm, used the back of her hand to gently brush away any rough edges. Although Elena had endured injuries before, the shock this time seemed substantial, likely exacerbated by Hazel’s actions.

“Even if the Duke is known for his temper, he’s never treated lower-ranking people so recklessly, especially being a guest. What’s going on? And why did the Duke just leave like that?” Cura voiced her confusion, and Elena, in silent agreement, closed her eyes. She pondered the same questions as Cura but found herself unable to outwardly express her feelings, given her perceived lack of qualification.

A distinct thud marked the opening of the bedroom door, resonating with the entrance of someone familiar. Elena could now identify the person solely by their scent.

“Teacher, it’s been a while since we saw each other. Why are you here now?” Leto’s voice filled the room as he entered. Elena opened her eyes and directed her gaze toward him. Leto had placed a sizable bag on the chair, his breath heavy and beard, which cascaded to his chest, rising and falling dramatically with each breath. A faint scent of alcohol and tobacco lingered on his clothes, suggesting a recent visit to a tavern.

“Elena is not fully recovered yet. Why did you go to the village again?” Cura inquired with concern.

“The wounds were almost healed. You just needed to apply herbs and bandages, so I came back. Anyway, let’s save the nagging for later and focus on the wounds.” Leto leaned towards Elena, tilting his upper body.

Examining the cloth that had covered the wounds, Leto frowned, his forehead creasing even more deeply.

“Wait, why did the wounds reopen? Elena, didn’t I tell you not to overexert yourself and rest?” Leto retrieved various herbs from a pocket and a small leather bag from the substantial one on the table, muttering to himself.

“Elena did nothing wrong. It was Hazel who suddenly grabbed Elena’s arm.” Cura grumbled, pursing her lips in frustration while assisting Leto and retrieving treatment tools from the table.

Upon hearing this, one of Leto’s eyebrows rose. “What? Why did that happen?”

“I don’t know. We ran into her in the corridor, and she suddenly did that. She questioned why Elena, who isn’t a noble, was wearing an expensive dress. She even dared to question what His Grace had granted.”

“Hmm.” Leto brushed his beard with his hand, letting out a bitter laugh. “I understand that they may not be aware of Elena’s situation, but…”

“I clearly told them that Elena was injured and to let her go. Despite that, they continued to tightly grip her arm like this.” Cura expressed her discontent as if she had personally experienced her arm being caught, allowing her grievances to flow like a burst dam.