After realizing that the woman he had saved was Catherine Monvoisin, Arcus knew there was no way he could simply walk away at that point.
Leaving two women behind in the Demon Forest was unthinkable to begin with.
In the end, he loaded both of them into his carriage and headed back toward the city.
Normally, they would have been attacked several times by demonic beasts along the way—but this time, the journey passed without incident. By early afternoon, they arrived at the capital of Victor Territory.
Their destination was a modest old mansion sitting atop a hill in a small town.
The carriage burst through the deserted main street, and when it finally stopped in front of the mansion, Arcus practically tumbled out.
He hesitated slightly as he looked down at Catherine, still unconscious in his arms.
"Young master, you were already carrying her around in the forest," Harrison said.
"I know."
Frowning, Arcus muttered quietly to Catherine, "This is an emergency, so it doesn't count," then hoisted her up onto his shoulder.
"Why the shoulder carry?""Princess carry would be worse.""I feel like that might be even more illegal."
Ignoring Harrison's dissatisfied look, Arcus headed into the mansion with Catherine slung over his shoulder.
"It's Arcus. I'm back."
The moment the staff saw him carrying an unconscious noblewoman, the mansion erupted in chaos—like someone had kicked a beehive.
To be fair, it looked exactly like a kidnapping.
Leaving Harrison—who clearly wanted to say I told you so—to deal with the maids, Arcus strode through the mansion, repeatedly telling everyone it was nothing.
He quickly reached the more luxurious of the two guest rooms.
"First, I want to lay her down—uh…"
"My name is Rita."
At the request of the brown-haired maid, Arcus ordered an emergency bed to be prepared. Other maids joined in, and within moments, everything was ready. Arcus gently laid Catherine down.
Her chest rose and fell slowly.
She was simply asleep.
"…Alright. There's a lot I don't understand, but—"
Why had she been in that situation?
And that transformation he had seen in the Demon Forest.
Wanting to整理 his thoughts, Arcus sat in a chair beside the bed. Catherine continued to breathe calmly, showing no sign of being possessed.
(At the very least, I want to know why she was out there.)
He considered asking Rita—then noticed the stares.
Arcus looked toward the door. Several maids were watching him intently.
"What?"
"…Young master. We'd like to change the young lady's clothes immediately."
Under their pointed gaze, Arcus stood up with a wry smile. They weren't wrong—Catherine's dress was torn, and her porcelain-like skin was visible in places.
That would be bad in more ways than one.
"Sorry. Please handle it."
With that, Arcus stepped out, swapping places with the maids as they entered.
"Young master…"
"Keith?"
Waiting outside was Keith, the Victor family's steward. A slender elderly man with a dignified beard and monocle—yet his movements carried the presence of a seasoned master.
"That young lady…?"
"Catherine Monvoisin. A marquis's daughter from the great Kingdom of Alexandria."
Arcus shrugged. Keith placed a hand to his chin.
"Then that rumor…"
From Keith's reaction, it seemed the news of her deportation had already reached this territory.
"Minimal luggage. No attendants. Just one maid. And the escort was a poorly behaved idiot."
Leaning against the wall, Arcus sighed. Keith stared silently at the guest room door.
"It looks less like exile… and more like they intended to let her die."
Arcus snorted. "It's disgusting."
For a marquis's daughter to travel without even a proper escort—no personal guard, not even a retainer. Only a single maid with no combat experience.
And the fact that Keith knew of her only through rumors meant there had been no prior notice to this territory.
No matter what, she was still a marquis's daughter. Even exile should have involved formal procedures.
Skipping all of that meant one thing:
The kingdom had never intended to protect her.
"How deep do you think this goes?"
"…I couldn't say. We should hear the lord's opinion first."
"Yeah. That makes sense."
Just then, the guest room door slowly opened. A maid peeked out and smiled, forming a circle with her fingers.
All clear.
After parting with Keith, Arcus entered the room.
Catherine lay asleep in a nightdress. Rita and several mansion maids stood nearby.
Arcus raised a hand lightly.
"Sorry for the trouble."
"Not at all—we were bored."
"Glad to hear it. Thanks. You can step out for now."
With polite bows, the maids exited.
Only Rita—Catherine's maid—remained, staring blankly.
"What? You look like you've seen a pigeon hit by a pebble."
As Rita hesitated—
"It's rare for a noble to thank a maid."
A clear, bell-like voice came from the bed.
"Milady!"
"It's fine."
Catherine slowly sat up, raising a hand to calm Rita.
"First, allow me to express my gratitude…"
"Arcus Victor. From the Victor Viscounty of the Highland Principality. Officially, the heir."
With formal words and movements, Arcus bowed deeply.
Catherine bowed in return.
"Lord Arcus, you are the benefactor of both my life and my dignity."
"Please, raise your head."
Flustered, Arcus dropped to one knee, positioning himself lower than her.
Realizing how awkward this had become, Catherine asked him—politely—to sit.
Reluctantly, Arcus took the chair.
(This is getting complicated.)
Their eyes met, and Arcus reflexively offered a polite smile.
Still, there was nothing he could ask her.
You don't casually ask a high-ranking noblewoman, What were you doing out there?
That was why he had wanted to talk to Rita first—but she'd woken up.
With no move left to make, Arcus stood.
"I'm glad you're awake. I'll have preparations made for your bath immediately—"
"Won't you ask?"
He paused, hand on the door.
"Ask… what?"
He could guess she meant the exile—but Arcus wasn't insensitive enough to pry.
"I'm not very good at questioning women."
For some reason, Rita's smile twitched—but Arcus ignored it and turned back toward the door.
"Then… may I ask instead?"
Arcus turned back.
"Go ahead."
Shrugging, he returned to the chair.
For the first time, Catherine smiled faintly.
"Why did you thank the maid?"
"Oh. That?"
Arcus's shoulders slumped.
Still, this wasn't a trivial matter in this world.
Among nobles, hierarchy had to be clearly defined.
So commoners wouldn't get ideas.So masters and servants stayed in their places.
Nobles didn't thank servants. In fact—they weren't supposed to.
But Arcus, reincarnated from another world, didn't care.
In his previous life, there had been a saying: The more it bears fruit, the lower the rice stalk bows.
He might be rough in speech and conduct—but gratitude was a line he refused to cross.
He explained all of this carefully.
By the time he finished, he was exhausted.
(Honestly, killing monsters in the forest is easier.)
Still, watching Catherine think it over impressed him.
She wasn't the stiff noble he'd shown her to be.
Turning to Rita, Catherine said—
"Rita, thank you for everything."
—and bowed deeply.
Rita panicked.
Arcus felt a flicker of interest in Catherine Monvoisin.
Just a flicker.
Standing, Arcus placed his hand on the door again.
"Really… you won't ask?"
"Yes."
He turned back with a refreshing smile.
"I'm no longer part of a marquis family. So even then—won't you speak freely?"
Her unchanging gaze fit the title Ice Beauty perfectly.
Which made Arcus want—just a little—to break it.
"Honestly? The only thing I'm curious about is your measurements."
He grinned.
"If you're willing to tell me, I'll listen closely."
Catherine's face turned bright red.
Arcus immediately returned to a formal expression and bowed.
"My deepest apologies. Please forget that."
Leaving the room, he exhaled softly and pointed behind him.
"Sorry, but help the princess with her bath."
"Leave it to us! We'll have her sparkling!"
Two maids pumped their fists and hurried off.
Arcus watched them go with a sigh.
"Young master… the lord is calling for you."
"Right. That too."