Chapter 44
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Surveillance
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Miss!
Blanche arrived at the scene in a rush and looked around.
Fortunately, she spotted Bella right away.
There was one woman whom the special police officers were sneaking glances at while cleaning up the area.
A silver-haired beautyBella.
Bella spotted Blanche and waved her hand.
Oh, Blanche. Over here.
Miss! Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?
Blanches eyes slowly narrowed as she spoke.
A man who had no business being there was standing right next to Bella.
Count.
Yeah.
What are you doing here?
Cant you see? Im getting treated.
I can see that. Im just asking why Lady Bella is the one treating you.
A freshly changed clean bandage was wrapped around Tristans abdomen.
And the one cutting the end of the bandage with scissors to finish up was none other than Bella.
All done. Dont push yourself now.
Miss why are you treating that man?
Oh, I had no choice. If I didnt, this guy mightve died.
What? What do you mean?
Blanche tilted her head.
Bella spoke as if it were truly regrettable.
The Count took the injury upon himself trying to save me. What could I do? I didnt want to, but I could at least help treat him, right?
Youre the one who begged me to let you treat it.
Oh dear Look at this. Your head must be hurt too. You cant even remember properly.
My heads fine.
How pitiful.
.
Tristan started to say something but shut his mouth.
He looked oddly tired.
It seemed true that he had worked hard to protect Bella.
Blanche bowed deeply to him.
Thank you, truly. Count, I never imagined something like this would happen while I was away.
Then she turned to Bella with a stern tone.
Miss. From now on, if you plan to come to a place like this, you must tell me first.
Im sorry Blanche.
Did you hurt your head, Miss? Is there blood?
Blanche spoke with concern, eyeing the bloodstained gauze on the back of Bellas head.
Im really fine. Its just a little bump.
Thats a relief, but you nearly had a huge disaster today. Hm?
Only then did Blanche notice the eyes plastered right against Bellas side.
But whos this child?
Shes a lost kid. She got kidnapped along with me by chance, so shes sticking with me until we find her parents.
I see.
Blanches expression softened as she looked at the child.
She knelt down and extended her hand to the girl.
Nice to meet you. Im Blanche. Whats your name?
Alice.
Alice hesitated before shaking Blanches hand.
Alice Thats a nice name.
Tall sis.
Yes?
Tall sis are you the fairy ladys minion?
Fairy lady? Oh?
Blanche exchanged a glance with Bella and soon chuckled softly.
Thats right. Im the knight who protects the fairy lady.
Knight?
Yes.
Then you punish bad people too?
Bad people?
At Blanches question, Alice pointed at Tristan with her finger.
That guys bad. Punish him.
Alice somehow looked sulky as she said it.
Blanche cleared her throat awkwardly and asked Tristan.
Count did you do something to this child?
Just like she said. I did something bad.
?
Blanche tilted her head again, even more confused.
Tristan fell silent, as if it wasnt worth saying more.
Then, as if something occurred to her, she asked Bella.
By the way, those bad guys who kidnapped you no, where are they?
Theyre being taken away. As you can see.
Hm?
Blanche had to furrow her brow at what Bella pointed to.
There, the special police officers were hauling away a group of men.
But the men were all in wretched states, one and all.
A man writhing in pain, a man clutching his broken arm and wailing.
It looked less like the special police were arresting criminals and more like they were transporting patients.
It was also a scene familiar to her.
At that moment, Alice whispered in Blanches ear.
That bad guy did it.
..!
The Count?
Blanche stared at Tristan in disbelief.
He sat there with his usual arrogant demeanor, unchanged.
Blanche knew well, having clashed with Tristan in combat before.
She knew he was strong enough to inflict serious injury on her.
Of course, his limits were clear, but the fact that Tristan was a tricky opponent remained unchanged.
But that.
She could tell at a glance.
The men who kidnapped Bella had been thoroughly crushed.
It was the technique of assassins.
A technique for killing people barehanded.
The finishing touches were clumsy, but there was no mistaking it.
It was impossible unless you were someone who knew how to break humans, like her.
The Tristan she knew could have somehow taken them down.
But no matter what, he couldnt have done it like that.
Blanche fell into thought for a moment.
Her cool-headed mind weighed every possibility.
And she arrived at one single possibility.
No way he wasnt going all out back then?
It had been an undeniable deathmatch.
In that fight, Tristan hadnt used any hand-to-hand combat.
In a life-threatening situation, he had faced her solely with a single gun and his wits.
Why?
Tristan was a thoroughly calculating man.
He had judged that that alone was enough to beat her.
Even if he had superior hand-to-hand skills, Blanche was confident she could win.
But was he really just hiding his hand-to-hand skills?
Blanche could no longer make any assumptions about Tristans power.
She recalled what he had said.
-I know. I know youll come after me again.
-But I wont die. Im confident of that.
Her head cooled sharply.
Blanche carefully picked up Alice.
And she muttered quietly.
Indeed I see.
So thats why he was so confident.
Blanche smiled at Alice.
If she hadnt, she wouldnt have known what expression to make right now.
Dont worry, Alice. Ill make sure that man cant do any bad things Ill keep watch over him.
Yeah! Thank you, tall sis!
Blanche hugged the beaming Alice tightly.
At that moment, she spotted a special police officer approaching them.
The high-ranking officer bowed his head.
To Tristan, no less.
Count. Is this the one?
Behind the man who spoke stood a woman Blanche had never seen before.
It was Alice in Blanches arms who recognized her.
Mommy!
Alice!
Alice leaped into her mothers arms.
The mother and daughter embraced and sobbed right there on the spot.
It was a heartwarming sight, the reunion of the separated pair.
We investigated around the market and found the woman looking for her missing child.
Good work.
No, Count. Were just glad we found her. If you ever need assistance, please call on us anytime.
Mmm.
The special police officer, having completed his duty, bowed politely and returned to his post.
Bella, who had watched the whole thing, spoke up.
Hmm Count, do you have connections in the special police? Or should I say, money lines?
Im heading out.
Where to, in that condition?
I have somewhere to be.
By yourself? Without an escort?
Yeah.
Tristan was about to take a step, ignoring Bella as if she were a nuisance.
Would it be alright if I accompanied you?
Blanche?
Bella tilted her head.
Blanche had appeared out of nowhere and was blocking Tristans path.
You saved the missI cant just let an benefactor like you go off alone into danger, now can I?
She added in a polite yet bold stance.
Oh, of course, only if the miss permits it.