There’s Something Special About Her – Chapter 9

Author: Asternkm

“Did I… do something wrong?”

“The poison that Eins was exposed to today is a deadly poison called ‘Varga.’ Luckily, the wound was small and we were able to give you emergency treatment quickly. But honestly, it wouldn’t have been strange if you had died. We had to use a top-grade antidote.”

“Ah.”

What a relief.

It seemed that Valeska Heintzel had not discovered my secret.

And I thought I understood what she was trying to say.

“A top-grade antidote.”

Top-grade antidotes were expensive.

Far too expensive to use on a mere low-ranking member of the Action Squad.

“I’m sorry, but would it be possible for me to repay the cost of the antidote by having it deducted from my salary each month…?”

“I’m not doing that.”

Dr. Heintzel suddenly became irritated, turned around, and walked out of the infirmary.

I could even hear her shouting, “The cost of the antidote? Seriously!”

She wasn’t asking me to pay for it?

I tilted my head in confusion, and Deacon Gold chuckled softly.

“Dr. Heintzel was probably trying to tell you to be more careful from now on. She may not look like it, but she’s actually a very caring person who worries a lot.”

“Worries?”

Valeska Heintzel was not one of the seven executives, but she was definitely part of Knox’s inner circle.

And someone from the inner circle had actually worried about a low-ranking member who was basically expendable?

That was like feeling sorry because a bar of laundry soap had been used up.

Before I could hide my disbelief, Deacon Gold went even further.

“It’s not just Dr. Heintzel. I was worried that something might happen to you too, Runelk.”

He even gently patted my shoulder.

“You’re my benefactor, Runelk. If the Green Merchant had actually succeeded in harming His Grace….”

The handsome blond man slightly furrowed his brow as though the very thought was horrifying.

“The Gold family never forgets a kindness. Thank you, Runelk.”

Wasn’t this the same Deacon Gold who was famous for squeezing every last coin out of his business partners?

Wasn’t this the same cold-blooded Deacon Gold who had personally set fire to a farmer’s wheat field and burned down the entire vast plain because the farmer had cheated him by lying about the price?

As I stared at this handsome man with slightly drooping eyes and a gentle smile, wondering if he was really the Deacon Gold I knew, I suddenly heard a knock.

Knock, knock.

The visitor was Dupont Clancher.

The tall, broad man was large enough to fill the entire doorway, and his face looked noticeably more tired than before.

“…You’re awake.”

“You’re here, Lord Dupont.”

Deacon Gold stood from his seat and greeted him respectfully.

There was a hierarchy even among Knox’s seven executives.

Deacon Gold currently ranked fifth.

In front of Dupont Clancher, who was Killian Knox’s right-hand man and ranked first among the executives, Deacon Gold looked quite disciplined.

Dupont gave a brief nod in response before turning his gaze toward me.

“Good evening.”

“So, you’re Runelk Eins from the Action Squad.”

His sharp gaze swept over me from beneath his deeply tired eyes.

Of course I looked suspicious.

A low-ranking organization member who had appeared out of nowhere had stopped someone who was trying to assassinate the Duke.

If something like this had happened in Wickers, they would have hung me up beside the assassin and interrogated me.

“You’re the member who prepared His Grace’s bathwater.”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

What a monster.

We had only crossed paths for a moment, and he still remembered me.

Had they used such expensive medicine on me because they intended to keep me alive and interrogate me later?

Just as I thought once again that Knox was an opponent I could never let my guard down around, Dupont spoke.

“Well done.”

Dupont Clancher frowned and pressed his temples.

“His Grace asked me to convey his praise for your courage and sacrifice.”

Courage? Sacrifice?

I could only blink at those words, which had absolutely nothing to do with me.

Deacon Gold seemed to interpret my reaction differently.

“You don’t need to be embarrassed, Runelk. Throwing yourself into danger for your lord is something not everyone can do. You deserve the praise.”

Apparently, instead of subduing the assassin because my body had become weaker after changing my gender, I was now being seen as someone who had recklessly rushed into danger after seeing a dangerous situation.

I had intervened because there was no time to think, but as someone who needed to keep pretending to be a low-ranking member, this was actually better for me.

That aside, there was something more important they hadn’t told me.

“Um, but His Grace….”

“His Grace is busy.”

Dupont Clancher cut me off sharply.

“What you did today was certainly admirable, but it isn’t enough for His Grace to personally come here.”

“No, I was going to ask if His Grace was all right….”

What was with this guy?

Why was he so sharp?

Dupont Clancher seemed to realize that he had misunderstood me.

He said nothing for a moment before rubbing his dry, tired face.

This was why people needed to sleep.

“I see. That’s what you meant. His Grace is unharmed.”

At the same time, he quietly glanced at Deacon Gold.

Deacon Gold’s face turned pale after receiving that look.

There was definitely something going on.

“I’m really glad to hear that he’s safe.”

It wasn’t my concern.

As long as Killian Knox was alive, that was enough.

“You truly respect His Grace, don’t you, Runelk!”

Deacon Gold’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

“Of course, His Grace is stronger than anyone, but wanting to protect him more safely than anyone else is the heart of a subordinate who admires his lord!”

It sounded like Deacon Gold was the one who genuinely respected and admired Killian Knox.

“Yes. His Grace is an important person.”

At the very least, he was essential to my peaceful life in hiding.

I casually nodded as though I didn’t care either way, and Deacon Gold’s smile grew even wider.

He seemed to think he had found a kindred spirit.

“You will be receiving a special reward soon.”

“A special reward?”

A smile bloomed across my face as well.

Killian Knox!

I thought he was just a strict man, but he actually understood how things should be done!

“Of course! I only did what anyone should have done, but thank you!”

I absolutely did not refuse the offer.

What if they actually took it back?

Instead, I smiled brightly without hiding my excitement.

Dupont Clancher’s expression became strange.

“…You really are just a kid.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind. Get some rest.”

Dupont left the infirmary after saying only that.

“If you’re curious about how much the reward will be, I can find out in advance.”

“You don’t have to go that far, but how much do you think it’ll be?”

“Hmm, usually….”

I let Deacon Gold’s voice fade into the background as I stared at the spot where Dupont had been standing.

A faint smell of blood lingered where he had stood.

***

“Runelk, what did I tell you earlier?”

“You said that if I get a stomachache while sleeping or feel anything strange, I should pull the cord and ring the bell.”

That won’t happen.

Varga was a deadly poison that could cause various aftereffects.

But that applied to ordinary people who had never been exposed to poison before.

I had a fairly strong resistance to most poisons, and I had even taken a top-grade antidote.

There was no way I would suddenly develop problems later.

“Good, you remembered. Don’t ever foolishly try to endure it on your own. Understand?”

“Yes, Doctor.”

When I obediently nodded, Valeska Heintzel let out a small sigh.

“Runelk Eins, how old did you say you were?”

“Eighteen.”

“You’re technically an adult.”

Under the laws of the Empire of Bernheim, a person was considered an adult once they had passed their eighteenth birthday.

So Runelk Eins was indeed an adult.

Even so, Dr. Heintzel grumbled with a dissatisfied expression.

“They’re bringing in children who are barely old enough to….”

I had a feeling that if this continued, I would be listening to the doctor complain in the darkened infirmary all night.

So I smiled and tried to reassure her.

“I’m really fine, so please go home, Doctor. It’s already late.”

“All right. See you tomorrow.”

Dr. Heintzel waved her hand and disappeared.

Click.

The moment the door closed, I collapsed onto the bed.

It was incredibly comfortable.

“Even Knox has nice beds in the infirmary.”

The beds in Wickers’ infirmary, which I had used several times, had always been hard and uncomfortable.

‘Good job.’

Once again, I praised my past self for choosing Knox as the place to hide after killing Benedict Wickers.

After experiencing Knox firsthand for the past year, it was a much more livable place than I had expected.

The organization was well structured, and because it was much larger than Wickers, there were also plenty of places where things were relatively relaxed.

The Action Squad I belonged to was one of them.

‘Most importantly, they’re surprisingly generous to their members.’

I smiled as I gently ran my fingers over the soft bedding.

It was annoying that the infirmary blankets were even more luxurious than the ones provided in my quarters, but at least I would be able to sleep comfortably tonight.

I’ll live comfortably like this for a few years, then slip away.

By then, Edward’s desire for revenge should have faded somewhat.

They couldn’t keep Wickers’ people stationed around the ports and train stations forever.

So when the time was right, I could change my identity once again and cross over to the Western Continent.

I once heard that I had a relative who had moved to the Western Continent a long time ago.

What was that person’s name again?

As my thoughts continued endlessly, sleep slowly began to take over.

Whenever my heavy eyelids blinked, the dark ceiling appeared and disappeared.

‘What was that smell of blood?’

Suddenly, I remembered the smell of blood coming from Dupont Clancher earlier that day.

He didn’t seem to be injured himself.

It seemed as though the smell had seeped into his clothes and hair without him realizing it.