Chapter 2
“You wish to inspect the merchandise?”
A genderless voice called out to Edelis.
“Yes.”
Lehan’s condition could hardly be called ‘treated’—his bleeding had barely been stopped, a few herbs slapped on, and some bandages haphazardly wrapped around him. The manager called in the attendant who had been waiting outside and instructed him to wake Lehan. The gladiator who had been guarding the room ran out and returned quickly with a bucket of water.
“Wait, what are you—”
Before Edelis could stop him, the cold water was dumped straight over Lehan. The manager spread his cloak wide to shield Edelis from the splash and gave her a sly smile. But Edelis could feel nothing but revulsion. How could they drench a man barely alive, instead of giving him real care?
“Cough! Cough!! Guh!”
Lehan jolted awake with a violent cough, his golden eyes flickering open. His face twisted in pain—clearly, no anesthetic had been used, only a crude patch of herbs.
“Lehan, are you all right?”
The manager’s tone was sickeningly sweet, like asking if a man on death’s door was “fine.” Lehan glanced around and assessed the situation before answering curtly.
“Yes.”
“You heard him. Go ahead and inspect him.”
Edelis could hardly believe what she was hearing. Just moments ago, he had been nearly carved open in the arena. Even without recalling the brutal match, it was clear Lehan wasn’t remotely “fine.”
She wanted to demand proper treatment for him—but she wasn’t in a position to do so. And yet, if she left him here, he would surely die. Would that change the future? Or would the future only shift if she took him with her and saved him?
‘Even if Lehan dying changes the future, it would feel awful… like he died in my place. But if I don’t take him and he survives, the future won’t change anyway.’
In the end, taking Lehan with her and getting him treatment at the count’s estate seemed like the only rational option. Even if she now believed the book’s contents were true, she had no other clues aside from “Lehan.”
“No need to inspect further. How much?”
Edelis steadied her voice as she asked.
“Well, he’s injured, so I can’t get the highest price. However, there were many eager to see him die… Quite a few lost money thanks to Lehan, you see…”
Listening to the manager smile and speak so cheerfully about raising the price in front of the injured man made her nauseous. There was no time to waste on this drivel—Lehan’s life was slipping away.
“Whatever the price, I’ll pay it. Call out whatever number you want.”
***
After a lavish sendoff from the manager, Edelis was now on her way back to the count’s estate with Lehan. Neither knew what to say, until Lehan spoke first.
“Why, out of all the gladiators, did you choose me?”
His voice was cold, and though sweat beaded on his face, he was clearly trying to hide how much pain he was in. Edelis couldn’t exactly say, “Because your name was in a book that predicts my death.” So she mixed truth with a touch of fiction.
“I heard your name called from the stands. They said you are exceptional.”
“So what do I do now?”
His question caught Edelis off guard—he’d seen through her lack of a plan.
“…Most people take gladiators as personal guards.”
Lehan stared at her.
“Then wouldn’t it make more sense to hire a knight or buy an adult gladiator with proper training?”
She had no response. He was right—any healthy gladiator would’ve been a better option.
‘But I don’t need just any gladiator—I need Lehan, the main character from the book!’
She didn’t know if he’d one day save her life, but it helped to think of it as an investment. If she treated the protagonist well, maybe he wouldn’t turn on her later. He might even be the key to escaping her fate.
But Lehan, expressionless, spoke again in a cold voice.
“There’s a more common use than guarding.”
“…What is it?”
“Assassination.”
His tone implied she should stop pretending and just be honest. Edelis, flustered, waved her hands in protest.
“No, no! Absolutely not! That’s far too dangerous!”
Now it was Lehan’s turn to look confused. After all, people did buy gladiators for dangerous tasks—not to pamper them. Gladiators were disposable. But Edelis was, in fact, preparing to keep Lehan.
‘If he’s tied to my life, then yes—I’ll keep him with me.’
Of course, she couldn’t explain all that. So she gave up on reason and went for stubbornness.
“Because I liked you.”
“…What?”
“I liked you more than the others.”
No proof needed—feelings were subjective.
‘You can’t argue with someone who says they like you.’
As expected, Lehan was caught completely off guard. A man who had lived on the brink of death had no resistance to such soft words. Edelis smiled slightly as she watched his confused reaction.
“I like your hair color. Your eyes, too. They go well together.”
‘Though really, it’s your name that matters.’
She left that part out. Lehan, overwhelmed by this unfamiliar situation, fell silent. Edelis grinned.
“First, let the count’s physician treat you. Once you’re better, you can look forward to what’s next.”
***
As promised, Lehan received the best care until he fully recovered. Though the staff were wary of him, they obeyed Edelis’s request.
‘Why is she being so kind to me?’
Lehan couldn’t understand it. She claimed to like him, but he’d barely arrived. He expected to be put to work immediately—at worst, sent into combat. But even after recovering, he wasn’t given any task.
He thought of escaping, but security was tight. One day, while studying the estate for escape routes, a thought occurred to him—one he’d never taken seriously before.
‘Could she really just like how I look?’
He stared at his reflection in the mirror. Though he’d cleaned up, he hardly looked noble. Still, Edelis insisted: “I told you—I just liked you.”
Once, he had even asked her to be honest, claiming he could handle the truth. She only doubled down.
“Lehan, I like your name. I like your red hair. I think it goes perfectly with your golden eyes. I want us to get along.”
Even when he told her he had killed people, she didn’t flinch.
“If I had known you earlier, I’d have taken you out of that arena sooner. I would’ve taught you the value of life. But I’ll start now!”
And so, Lehan found himself listening to long lectures about the importance of life.
“If someone tries to hurt others, you have to stop them.”
“Others?”
“Yes! That’s the most important part. If someone around you is doing something wrong, you have to intervene, understand?”
“…Yes.”
As he neared full recovery, the Count—who had been receiving regular reports on Lehan—finally summoned him.
“The Count will see you now.”
“Enter.”
When Lehan stepped into the office, he found a man with the same golden hair as Edelis sitting behind the desk. Without a word, the Count placed a pouch of gold on the desk, which the butler handed to Lehan. Enough to live on for a year.
“Take this and leave. You can rent a room, live in peace for a while.”
It was then Lehan understood—Edelis’s kindness had been genuine.
‘I kept doubting, wondering what was real…’
But here he was, being dismissed—not ordered into serBaise, but released.
‘Maybe the young lady doesn’t even know this is happening.’
Indeed, before the Count could say more, the office doors slammed open.
“Care to explain what’s going on, Father?”
Edelis stormed in, her eyes blazing.
“W-Well…”
The Count, who had been so confident, faltered.
“The physician said he’s almost fully healed, so I thought—”
“And that means you can send him away without telling me?!”
As Lehan suspected, she’d had no idea.
“Edelis, gladiators are dangerous. They aren’t usually brought into noble homes. Especially not by young ladies.”
“Lehan is no longer a gladiator. He left that behind!”
“Even so. Gladiators have tried to kill their wards before. Have you not heard the stories?”
The Count’s voice rose, and Edelis’s eyes filled with tears. Silence fell.
“…Count.”
Lehan spoke quietly. All eyes turned to him.
“I don’t know what other gladiators have done.”
“So you’re saying you’re different?”
“If the young lady hadn’t taken me out of the arena, I’d likely be dead by now.”
He was right. Enough time had passed that he’d likely have fought again—and died from injuries untreated. If not for Edelis.
“I’d like to use this life she saved… for her sake.”
No one was more shocked than Edelis. She’d worried he might want to leave. But here he was, speaking firmly to her father.
“If you still think I’m dangerous, let me be accompanied by a knight at all times.”
In truth, Edelis had acted for her own sake—trying to prevent her death. But Lehan standing beside her gave her strength. She’d make up for it by treating him well.
“Exactly! If you’re that worried, assign knights. You said I needed protection anyway. We’ll all go together.”
The Count’s gaze softened.
“Lehan was well-known in the arena. He’s skilled.”
“Wouldn’t two knights be better?”
“I don’t want two knights. I want Lehan. We’ll go together—me, two knights, and Lehan.”
The Count’s displeasure was clear. But both Edelis and Lehan looked genuinely desperate.
“Gladiators are trained to kill, not protect.”
“Then allow me to train with the knights.”
“Lehan grew up in the arena; if a naive person like him goes outside, he might be exposed to crime again. So wouldn’t it be good to teach him work here?”
Edelis and Lehan kept reasoning. Lehan swore to protect her, no matter what.
“Sigh…”
“Please, Father. If he meant to harm me, he’s had plenty of chances already.”
Unbeknownst to her, guards had been watching closely in case Lehan showed signs of hostility. The Count knew this.
Eventually, the Count nodded. As always, parents couldn’t win against their children.
“If anything happens to Edelis—”
“I will leave of my own accord.”