Published: August 15, 2025
Mr. Angelo had only exchanged a few words with Ms. Kaede, having just woken up moments ago.
However, by the time we arrived, he was already sitting up halfway on the bed, smiling gently. Though his complexion was pale from blood loss, the life had returned to his blue eyes.
As soon as we entered the room, he smiled warmly and raised a hand.
“Ah, Lord Cyrus and lady Marie. Good morning.”
“Mr. Angelo... thank goodness you’re awake,” I said.
I tried to approach him, but Ms. Kaede was standing right beside him like a wall, so I stopped and sat down on a guest chair a little away from the bed.
Even Lord Cyrus, who usually wasn’t very close with Mr. Angelo, looked relieved. Mr. Angelo then chuckled cheerfully at us.
“You’re making too much of it. It’s true I fainted from the shock of blood loss, but that was only at first. After that, I was just incredibly sleepy and took some rest.”
“That’s a lie. You didn’t react for a whole day, you know? That’s not sleep—that’s a coma.”
“Ha ha ha, harsh words. But well, my strength has returned to heal the wounds. Now I just need to eat and drink to replenish the blood, and in two or three days I might even be able to dance.”
“...Dance?”
“I’d like ten days of practice, please.”
“So when can we actually see this dance then?”
“Don’t joke around!”
The peaceful conversation was suddenly broken by Ms. Kaede’s scream-like shout.
“Angelo, you told me to summon Lord Cyrus and lady Marie as soon as you woke up, so I went and called them. And this is the kind of thing you wanted to talk about? If it’s just chatting, you could have done that with me!”
“Ms. Kaede—”
The hand I reached out to Ms. Kaede was scratched like a stray cat.
It must have been reflexive. I let out a startled scream, and she apologized with a soft “Sorry.”
“...Thank you for worrying and coming all this way. But could you please leave now?”
She spoke rationally, but her voice trembled.
“Please, let Angelo and me be alone for a little while...”
Hearing that, of course, I had no intention of forcing myself to stay.
I exchanged a glance with Lord Cyrus and was about to leave, but Mr. Angelo stopped me.
“No, my story starts now. I apologize, but Ms. Kaede, could you please leave us three alone for a while?”
“Wha—You’re telling me to leave? Why?”
“It’s nothing for you, there’s a confidential matter we need to discuss.”
He said with a bright smile. Ms. Kaede just opened and closed her mouth, speechless. Without even glancing at her master’s condition, she invited Lord Cyrus and me to take seats and waited for Ms. Kaede to leave before starting to speak.
—Bang! Ms. Kaede slammed her fist against the wall.
“Why? Angelo belongs to me...”
Mr. Angelo didn’t respond. Wearing something like a wry smile, he bowed his head to Ms. Kaede.
“My apologies, Ms. Kaede. Even retainers have private time.”
Ms. Kaede struck the wall again without a word, then stormed out of the room.
I instinctively wanted to follow her, but Mr. Angelo stopped me. What he wanted to talk about seemed urgent. Once Ms. Kaede’s footsteps faded, he faced Lord Cyrus and me and bowed deeply.
“First of all, I sincerely thank you both. If Lord Cyrus had not rushed here, I may have lost my life, and in the worst case, Ms. Kaede might have been kidnapped. I cannot thank you enough.”
So losing his life is one thing, but the worst outcome would have been Ms. Kaede being taken.
“I also offer my gratitude and apologies to lady Marie. I brought an unfortunate incident to your special day and have no words to express my regret.”
“Not at all. But please stop bowing like that. Isn’t that where your wound is?”
“Not at all. A samurai’s dictionary has no word for ‘pain from wounds.’”
“That must be a faulty dictionary. You might want to recall it.”
Lord Cyrus said mercilessly.
“Enough of the social niceties. What is it you want to tell us?”
“To be direct: I beg you not to pursue the culprits behind this incident.”