AWLITEB Chapter 23

After the doctor came to check Bella's nutritional condition, the maids led her to the bathing room.

But just before they could remove her clothes, Bella flinched and froze.

She remembered the scars that remained on her body.

At the capital mansion, she'd shown the servants her wounds naturally enough—she hadn't known then what future she might have with the Grand Duke. Later, when Bella asked Genos if that was acceptable, he'd explained to the servants only that Bella had suffered unspeakable pain, then commanded them to keep the secret.

Even with such light measures, Genos hadn't particularly worried.

A Grand Duke's maid couldn't gossip about the body of a noble lady who wasn't even engaged to her master. That would be tantamount to disgracing the Grand Duke himself.

The same held true after the engagement. If anything, the maids were even more careful—there was always the risk that someone might accuse the Grand Duke of abusing Bella.

Servants in other regions would be no different. Unless they had two lives to spare, who would dare wag their tongue about the Grand Duke's woman?

Still, Bella wondered if she could truly trust the mouths of every maid across the country who had seen her body, once they returned to the capital.

"I'd like to bathe alone. Could you leave?"

The maids who'd just finished preparing to attend her exchanged flustered glances.

"Have we made you uncomfortable in some way, my lady?"

"Please forgive us, my lady. If you tell us the problem, we'll correct it immediately."

"No, it's not that. I simply want to bathe alone. Don't worry, just give me some privacy?"

Bella waved both hands as she spoke earnestly.

The maids exchanged looks, searching for a solution, but Bella was too firm.

Eventually they said to call if she needed anything, added bath salts to the tub, and withdrew.

When the bathroom door closed, Bella exhaled a long breath and removed her clothes.

Looking down at her body, scars caught her eye everywhere.

Reflecting her back in the small bathroom mirror, she saw the same—covered in scars.

Bella stared at the footprints her painful past had left behind, then squeezed her eyes shut.

She wasn't afraid of them. She simply didn't yet know how to control the rage that boiled up because of them.

Bella walked to the tub and submerged her scarred body in the water.

Hidden beneath the sky-blue bath salts, her ruined body disappeared from view, if only for a moment.

"You bathed alone?"

The moment she met Genos in the mansion garden after finishing her preparations, he spoke.

In the distance, butlers and maids stood with horses, one for each.

"How do you already know that?"

Bella's mouth fell open in genuine admiration.

"The maids came asking me to identify the problem, saying they seemed to have made you uncomfortable."

His words confirmed what Bella had suspected.

"I knew Your Grace was close with the staff."

"There's no benefit in making enemies unnecessarily. They're the ones who see me at closest range."

Bella wanted to say that wasn't his only reason, but she kept her mouth shut.

She'd grown afraid of earning a food penalty from Genos for saying something unnecessary.

"So. Why did you send the maids out of the bathing room?"

"It's because of the scars."

"The scars?"

Genos narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Didn't the capital mansion's maids apply plenty of ointment?"

"Yes. Thanks to that they've faded, but they're still vivid."

Genos bit his lower lip, visibly displeased. He seemed to be thinking something through.

"Besides, these aren't the capital's maids, so supervision and surveillance are difficult. They're your maids, so they'll all be tight-lipped, but I still want to prepare for any possible situation. You told me to worry about the execution, didn't you?"

Bella spoke in a calm voice.

She could reveal that the White family had abused her all this time, that these scars were evidence.

But that carried too much risk. If she did that, the truth would come out—that Bella wasn't actually a member of the White family, but an orphan.

The White family would receive some punishment, but it would be negligible.

With their vast wealth, they'd clearly receive something like ten days' detention at most for charges of child abuse and assault.

The fact that Bella was the prospective Grand Duchess wouldn't help either. The imperial palace would cancel the engagement rather than acknowledge an orphan named Isabella as royalty.

In other words, reporting them would gain nothing.

"Right. There's no harm in being careful."

Genos muttered while running his hand through his soft hair.

For some reason, the veins in his neck stood out.

"Still, you can't bathe alone for the rest of your life. It'll look suspicious to anyone. The Grand Duchess bathing alone."

Genos raised his hand toward Paile, who stood at a distance.

When Paile quickly approached, Genos spoke.

"There's a pharmacy in front of the Northern Region 3 knight barracks."

"Are you referring to the one run by Lady Traeghen?"

"Yes. Buy scar removal ointment from there. As much as they have, if possible. Today's destination is Penthyn Orphanage, so come there."

"Yes, Your Grace."

Paile withdrew respectfully, selected the smallest horse, mounted it, and left through the mansion's main gate.

"Penthyn Orphanage? We're visiting starting today?"

Bella asked.

"Yes. We won't be staying in the North long, so I thought it best to proceed quickly. Some matters requiring attention have suddenly increased as well."

Genos spoke while bending his arm toward Bella.

"Matters requiring attention? What do you mean?"

"Later. Better to mention it when the outline becomes clearer."

Genos took Bella's hand and lightly placed it on his arm.

Then he led the bewildered Bella toward the staff.

"I've prepared various breeds."

The butler spoke, showing them a selection of the finest horses from those prepared.

"This one will do."

Genos chose a large male with lustrous chestnut-colored fur.

The butler acknowledged this, attached Genos's personal saddle to the horse, then added a ladies' saddle in front of it.

Why two saddles?

Standing there with exactly that expression, Bella received an explanation from Genos.

"We'll ride together."

"What? Together?"

"If we don't do this, I really think I'll watch you fall off."

Genos stroked the horse's head and tapped its neck—tap tap—and the horse bent its legs and lowered its body.

"Mount."

Genos spoke while taking Bella's hand.

Bella swallowed dryly and carefully sat on the saddle.

Feeling the weight, the horse stretched its legs and raised its body.

"Whoa!"

Bella let out an undignified sound before clapping her hand over her mouth in surprise.

"Loud noises startle horses."

Genos said with a small laugh.

Then he placed his foot in the stirrup and swung up smoothly behind her.

When Genos took the reins and corrected his posture, Bella's back pressed against his chest.

"Uncomfortable anywhere?"

Genos looked down at Bella and asked.

"The space between Your Grace and me seems too close. Your chest is too hard—it hurts a bit."

At Bella's words, Genos let out an incredulous laugh.

"Well then. Should I move further back?"

"Can you do that?"

"No. If I did, I'd be the one falling off."

Genos ended Bella's complaint and looked around.

The knights who would escort them had also mounted their horses and finished their preparations.

"Right, let's go."

When Genos lightly kicked the horse's sides with both heels, the sturdy horse moved forward vigorously.

As her body swayed, Bella instinctively grabbed the reins as well.

"It's shaking, shaking a lot, Your Grace."

Bella said, looking back at Genos with widened eyes.

"We haven't even started running yet?"

"What?"

Bella felt an ominous premonition as she asked, and Genos's lips curved mischievously.

"Right, let's go."

Genos's feet kicked the horse's sides harder.

"Ugh...!"

Bella froze with a dying groan.

The horse had started running at high speed. Her red hair whipped around like intense sunlight.

"Your Grace, Your Grace! I think I'm going to fall!"

Bella said, trembling as she gripped the reins and ducked her head.

"You're trapped in my arms—how could you possibly fall?"

"Even, even so, Your Grace. Isn't this too fast? Ah, ugh!"

Her whole body shook uncontrollably in all directions.

She was holding the reins tightly, and Genos was confining her body too, so there was no possibility of falling.

Yes, her head knew that fact, but her body found it difficult to accept.

"Open your eyes and lift your head. It's fine."

"But..."

"I said it's fine. You'll definitely like it."

At Genos's words, Bella lifted her head with difficulty, exhaling in gasps.

When she straightened her back, her toes tingled from the rapid speed she felt through her entire body.

And finally, the moment she gathered courage and opened both eyes, warm sunlight and wind poured over her pupils.

"Ahhh."

Bella exhaled a long, long breath without realizing it.

It felt like the worry and fear that had been clumped in her chest escaped outside her throat.

Only pleasant freedom enveloped Bella's body.

"How is it? You seem to like it."

Genos asked, looking down at Bella's expression.

Bella could feel tears forming at the corners of her eyes along with a refreshing smile.

"Thank you, Your Grace."

Bella's voice trembled.

Not simply because her body was moving.

Among the books she'd read in the White's basement, there had been one that discussed the freedom of horseback riding.

『The pleasure of not being dependent on a fixed chair. That happiness from dangerous uncertainty became most vivid when wind blew across the skin.』

In this moment, Bella could grasp that passage more clearly than anyone.

The tense muscles throughout her body made her heart race.

"I didn't expect to hear thanks just for putting you on a horse."

"I like it as much as the first meal I ate at the mansion the day after the Witch's Night. I like it so much, Your Grace."

Bella looked back at Genos with a clear smile.

At that moment, the wind that blew swept away the red hair that had been covering her face in one stroke.

Her brightly shining smile filled both of Genos's eyes completely.

The scent of the bathwater Bella had soaked in came to his nose and faded faintly.

Genos felt the discomfort of an alien sensation. It was a sweet fragrance, but that's why he disliked it.

"Watch ahead. If a beast appears, you'll need to move the reins."

"What?!"

Bella turned her head forward in a fluster.

Genos's words were a lie, but he was a man who had a record of silently watching her in front of dangerous knife fights with the determination to draw out Bella's abilities.

So Bella didn't think for a moment that his words might be false and immediately focused all her nerves on watching ahead.

Genos felt her swaying hair tickling the back of his hand.

Why of all things had the maids let Bella's hair hang down softly today?

"Your Grace, may I ask you something?"

Bella asked while watching ahead.

"What is it?"

Genos asked back in a composed voice.

"The monster you dealt with while I was asleep."

"What about it?"

"Did Your Grace kill it?"

"Yes. I cut off its breath."

"With a sword?"

"Yes."

"How was it?"

Excitement that couldn't be hidden was in Bella's voice.

"Was the skin tough? How much strength did you use when piercing it?"

"Why, curious?"

"I've never used a blade before. Just in case I might have such an occasion next time, I want to learn."

But for simply wanting to learn, her voice contained too much excitement.

A refreshing smile drew across Genos's lips.

What made Bella shine brightest was indeed her insane side.

"Next time I'll let you use a blade."

"On someone who deserves to die."

"Yes, of course."

Genos spoke, then lightly kissed the strands of Bella's hair that fluttered up to his lips.