Chapter 56

A few hours earlier, right after Gideon told them to go in first.

That was when Lisa was on her way back to the lodging with Layla and her group.

“So, Lisa?”

“Yes, Lady Layla.”

“Did you have a talk with Gideon?”

“What kind of talk do you mean?”

“Oh, come on, you know. Honestly, by now, everyone knows what kind of relationship you and Gideon have, right?”

“If you’re referring to what I think you are… then no, I haven’t talked to him about it yet.”

“Hm, I see.”

Layla responded as if she found it disappointing.

“I wanted to see you and Gideon holding hands during the school trip, but it looks like that won’t happen. Such a shame.”

“Your Highness, I’d appreciate it if you refrained from such remarks.”

Sara, who was standing beside Layla, spoke with clear discomfort.

But Jason chuckled and placed his hand lightly on Sara’s shoulder.

“You really never change when it comes to hating Gideon, huh?”

“Jason, this isn’t about hate or not hate. Like I said before, Lisa unni is the next Duchess. Maybe as a second or third husband it could be overlooked, but as her first husband, that kind of worthless man is—”

“Sara Isrinbloom.”

Lisa suddenly cut Sara off.

And she did so with a chilling gaze and voice.

At the sound and expression of Lisa’s voice, Sara flinched before she even realized it.

“Don’t insult Gideon. He’s far greater than you think.”

“B-but, unni. That kind of lowly bloodline—”

“Alright, alright. Let’s stop right there, both of you.”

Sensing that the atmosphere was about to turn sour, Jason quickly stepped in between them.

“We shouldn’t act like this in front of Lady Layla, should we?”

“…I apologize.”

At Jason’s words, Lisa immediately bowed her head to Layla.

Layla, flustered, quickly waved her hands.

“No, it’s fine. Really, I’m okay.”

“I think something’s wrong with me lately. I can’t seem to control my emotions properly.”

Lisa sighed softly and lifted her head.

Then she turned to Sara and gave her a brief bow of apology before speaking again.

“I’ll be heading back to the second-year dormitory now. Please take care on your way, Lady Layla.”

“Alright, I will. You too, Lisa.”

With that, Lisa parted ways with Layla and her group.

She then slowly walked through the streets of Skedum alone, heading toward the second-year dormitory.

But while walking, someone called out her name from behind.

“Lisa noona, wait a second.”

“Jason?”

Lisa hadn’t sensed his presence at all, but she wasn’t particularly surprised.

After all, members of the Hawkbat Family were known for moving swiftly and silently.

“What is it?”

“Oh, nothing serious. I just wanted to have a little chat.”

Jason smiled as he stepped closer to her.

“When I saw you earlier, your eyes… I could see a faint trace of red aura in them.”

“……”

“You’re thirsty right now, aren’t you? Am I right?”

“…It’s been quite a while since I last drank Gideon’s blood.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to drink sooner? If you lose control during the school trip, things will get really troublesome.”

“It’s… not as simple as it sounds.”

Lisa averted her gaze and sighed.

“I need to talk to Gideon about it, but… it’s not as easy as I thought.”

“How do you want things to be with Gideon, noona?”

“…I want to be closer to him than I am now.”

Jason smiled faintly at her words.

“Then tell him that honestly. You’re good at being straightforward, aren’t you?”

“That’s the problem—I can’t. These days, whenever I’m near Gideon, I just can’t seem to speak properly…”

“You’re just afraid.”

“…Afraid?”

Lisa tilted her head slightly, and Jason chuckled before continuing.

“You’re afraid that if Gideon hears that, he might feel pressured and start keeping his distance. Simply put, you’re scared of being rejected.”

“……”

“Don’t be afraid, noona. From what I’ve seen, Gideon isn’t the kind of guy who’d reject you like that.”

“How… how can you be so sure of that?”

“Trust me. I might not look it, but I’ve had my fair share of relationships.”

Jason said with his usual sly grin before his face turned a little more serious.

“But noona, whatever happens, I really recommend that you drink Gideon’s blood soon. Remember last time, when those monsters escaped from the enclosure? Back then, Gideon managed to stop your rampage with quick thinking, but we might not be that lucky next time.”

“…You’re not wrong. Still, as expected of you, Jason—you really know everything.”

“I may look easygoing, but I’m still a Hawkbat. Anyway, noona, if you go on a rampage and someone gets hurt, it’ll be a real pain to deal with. So please, make sure nothing like that happens during this school trip.”

With those words, Jason quietly and swiftly left the spot.

Left alone once again, Lisa stood blankly in the streets of Skedum.

“…This is bad.”

Just as Jason said, Lisa was feeling an intense thirst.

That thirst had been building since the previous evening, but she had been suppressing it with all her will.

Even when Gideon had fallen asleep inside the carriage, she had endured it.

Even during their sightseeing around Skedum, she had barely managed to restrain her urges.

But now, it was becoming unbearable.

“…So thirsty.”

She could feel that thirst slowly eroding her rationality.

As proof of that, her eyes gradually began to glow with a red hue.

And it wasn’t just thirst she was feeling anymore.

“…I’m going crazy.”

Just thinking of Gideon made her breathing quicken uncontrollably.

Before she realized it, she began craving something even more than Gideon’s blood.

‘Jason’s right. I need to do something. I’ll be on patrol with Gideon later—when I see him, I’ll talk to him then…’

With rough breaths, Lisa slowly returned to the dormitory.

Then she lay down on her bed and waited for time to pass.

She wanted to patrol with Gideon as soon as possible.

She wanted to walk beside him, to talk with him under the night sky.

‘Let’s end this today. I’ll just tell him—be my husband, and give me your blood. Yes, no more hesitating. I’ll just say it honestly and drink his blood.’

Lisa’s ability to think rationally was gradually fading.

She wanted to see Gideo even a second sooner.

But as time passed, a message came from him.

He said something personal had come up and that it would be difficult to patrol together tonight.

The moment she received that message, Lisa’s mind went blank.

And until patrol time arrived, she stayed that way—staring vacantly into nothing.

“…I should go.”

When it was time for patrol, Lisa slowly rose to her feet.

Her thoughts kept circling back to Gideon, but she forced herself to step out into the street to do her duty.

As a member of the Disciplinary Committee, she had to make sure that no students got involved in anything dangerous, and that no one wandered into risky areas.

However, the moment she stepped outside the lodging—her mind went white.

“Ah.”

She could smell Gideon.

Following that scent as if entranced, Lisa began to move.

And when she found Gideon standing near the central fountain of Skedum, she could no longer think rationally.

‘…He’s mine.’

Lisa wanted to drink Gideon’s blood.

No—she now wanted not only his blood, but everything that was his.

Abandoning all reason, Lisa let instinct take over and approached Gideon.

—

‘This isn’t good. Not good at all.’

If Lisa hadn’t been deprived of my blood, I would have asked for her help in this episode.

Because tonight, a certain group was going to abduct students.

Normally, no one would believe me if I said something like that.

‘But Lisa would’ve believed me.’

If Lisa had been in her right mind, I would have seriously asked for her assistance.

But as things stood now, Lisa was clearly not in a normal state.

I knew that—so I deliberately tried to avoid meeting her.

And yet, Lisa had come to find me on her own.

‘Strange. Lisa shouldn’t even be patrolling in this area. How did she know I was here?’

There were many questions, but this wasn’t the time to think about them.

There was a far more pressing problem at hand.

‘They’ve appeared.’

As I mentioned before, this fountain overlooked five of the six possible abduction sites.

And right now, I could see members of the rebel faction at two of those locations.

‘Not too many of them… they’re probably just scouting out their targets.’

The fact that their scouts had shown up near the abduction points meant the operation was about to begin.

I confirmed the two students they were watching, and since the other areas were quiet, it seemed the last target was at the sixth location—the one I couldn’t see from here.

‘I’ve got a grasp of the situation, so now…’

I turned my head toward Lisa, who was clinging to me.

At some point, she had sunk her teeth lightly into my neck.

“Gideon, why are you looking away? Look at me.”

“Lady Lisa, now isn’t the time for this. The students are in danger.”

“No, I don’t care. I don’t know about that. Just listen to me first.”

As she said that, Lisa straddled me, looking down at me from above.

“From now on, don’t avoid me. Stay with me all the time. Keep providing me your blood, and be… be my husband.”

“…Pardon?”

“Don’t make me say it twice. Be my husband… my fiancé.”

I glanced up at Lisa.

Her face was flushed, her expression tense, and her eyes averted from mine.

More than anything, it was clear at a glance—she was not in her right mind.

To put it bluntly, she had completely lost control of herself.

Honestly, what she had just said was quite hard to ignore, but this wasn’t the time for that.

If I failed to stop the rebels’ movement tonight, then years from now, I might die trying to subdue the monsters that would resurrect because of it.

That wasn’t the kind of death I wanted.

So, I made my decision quickly.

“Huuuh…”

Letting out a slow breath, I drew my sword.

Then, I made a shallow cut across my palm.

Blood began to flow down my hand, and I brought that palm toward Lisa’s mouth.

“Gideon? This is…”

“Please, just drink.”

Lisa looked startled for a moment, but the instant she saw my blood, she began to lick my palm—carefully, without spilling a single drop, as though savoring something sweet.

And a short while later—

“…Huh?”

“Have you come to your senses?”

“Gideon? What… what am I doing right now…”

“Lady Lisa, I know you’re confused, but please, listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

Though she looked bewildered, I met her gaze with all seriousness.

“The students are in danger. I need your help.”

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