The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 7

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 7

Chapter Title: I'll Drink It Instead

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Nina suddenly recalled "number 3."

If the Duchess was trying to poison Adrian, wasn't this the perfect moment!

Of course, she had followed him.

She had imagined a dashing scene where she knocked away the poisoned food and shouted, "This is poison!"...

But she had drunk it without realizing.

Well, she probably couldn't have left without drinking it anyway.

"Nina, Nina, you're alive, right? Don't leave me behind."

At the faint voice, Nina struggled to respond.

It was a voice unlike his usual self—one stripped of all composure, pleading desperately.

Adrian was terrified of the cold, limp Nina.

What if she died like this? What if she left him behind?

He was tall and handsome, but still just a sixteen-year-old boy. Pushing through the snowfield, he kept walking. He abandoned the exhausted horse right there.

It was the first time he had ever prayed for night to fall.

There were no shadows or darkness anywhere—just cursed snow on all sides.

The sun reflected off the snowfield, turning the landscape into nothing but blinding light.

As the sun began to set and shadows finally stretched long, he leaped into the darkness.

It was the first time he had stepped into the shadows himself, but he had no other choice.

Running through the darkness, he thought of the knight order. If there was one place in this world truly on his side, it was there.

When Adrian burst out of the darkness, Jin—who was building a campfire—widened his eyes.

"Captain?"

"Kiril! Kiril?!"

The doctor, Kiril, rose from her seat.

"What hap—oh my."

Adrian practically shoved Nina toward her.

"Nina, Nina drank poison. Nina..."

Kiril laid Nina down on the ground and said,

"Poison? Let me take a look first."

Her attitude was so calm that Adrian wondered if she even grasped the gravity of the situation.

"She's vomiting blood, not breathing, and she's so cold."

Vice-Captain Lui gripped Adrian's shoulder.

The group had never seen the always calm and smiling Adrian babbling like this.

"She'll be fine. By the way, did you catch up overnight?"

Adrian nodded.

Kiril examined the limp Nina and burst into hearty laughter.

"What is it?"

Lui asked, and Kiril replied,

"I'm over forty, and this is the first time I've seen something like this. Impressive? Surprising?"

"Tell me quickly."

At Adrian's urging, Kiril shrugged. She was in her mid-forties, her white, curly hair tied back in a single ponytail.

If asked who had been with the Ebony Knight Order the longest, everyone would point to Kiril.

"She lowered her body temperature to slow the poison's spread. Her heartbeat is slow, like a hibernating beast. I didn't know humans could do that. I don't know what poison it is yet, but let's start with some fluids."

Kiril looked around.

"It'd be best to move to a safe place before treatment. Once I start and her body begins functioning normally, it'll be quite painful."

The group quickly repacked their gear. They began the detoxification in a nearby village.

As Kiril started the treatment, the spirits withdrew. At the same time, the poison began to take effect.

Nina twisted in agony, vomiting blood and clawing at the floor with her nails.

It was a horrific night for Nina, for the group, and especially for Adrian.

After stabilizing somewhat, they moved to the Violet Forest, the base of the Ebony Knight Order.

Her mouth, throat, and stomach were all raw, and jaundice lingered, but Nina survived.

Two months later, she was fully recovered, leaving even Kiril amazed.

That night, as everyone raised a toast to the hale and hearty Nina, Adrian visited her room.

"Young Master?"

Rubbing her eyes, she mumbled. The room was dark, and Adrian stood silently in the doorway.

"Why did you do it?"

Adrian's voice was cold. Nina flinched and sat up straight. It was too dark to see his face clearly.

Not that she knew for sure, but the poison had definitely damaged her eyesight.

'Not full night blindness, though.'

Still, her vision had worsened.

Now she understood why Adrian had died young. It was a truly vicious poison.

"What do you mean?"

"The tea."

His answer was curt, and Nina asked,

"Are you mad?"

"Am I mad?"

His tone was incredulous.

"Am I? Mad?"

The last words held no inflection, recited like lines from a book.

Adrian approached slowly. Or was it faster than she thought?

He stood before her. In the faint light, his face was as cold as a statue.

"Why would I be mad? My loyal subordinate drank poison in my place—shouldn't I praise her? I should celebrate having such a subordinate."

"You're mad."

"Don't say it like that."

Adrian gripped her shoulders.

"Don't act like it's nothing, like my reaction is an overreaction to something trivial, like it doesn't matter to you."

"Adrian."

Nina called his name. He didn't respond. His strong grip remained.

Nina spoke.

"I knew the tea was poisoned when I drank it. There was no way I couldn't tell. It had a fishy smell."

"But!"

"But you were going to drink it."

Adrian looked like he'd been slapped. His grip loosened. Nina shot up from her seat.

"You've known since you first received the tea, right? That's why you refused when I tried to pour it."

Adrian staggered back.

Nina stood with her arms crossed defiantly.

"Don't think I'm an idiot, Adrian."

"I've never thought that."

He gazed down at her with a pale face.

How could I ever think that of you, Nina.

How could I.

"I don't know why you planned to drink it, but you should be prepared from now on. If you're thinking of drinking poison, I'll drink it instead. If you're taking a blade, I'll take it for you."

"Nina!"

Adrian shouted, cornered, and Nina gave him a 'what? why?' look.

He swept his hair back.

Swallowing hard, he tried to choose his words. He couldn't.

His mouth opened as if confessing everything.

"Nina, if I drink poison or take a blade, it'll be because I've calculated it."

His eyes fixed on her.

He looked so pained speaking that Nina spoke for him.

"I know. You probably thought drinking the poison was the best way to escape. You even have some resistance to it."

Plus, it would loosen the Duchess's surveillance a bit.

Adrian's eyes widened.

Nina smiled.

"What? I like you, Adrian, but that doesn't make me blind. I know you're no innocent lamb."

So you do think I'm a fool?

She narrowed her eyes, and he hurriedly waved his hands.

"No, it's not that..."

It was unexpected.

Even knowing what kind of person he was, Nina remained unchanged—and that surprised him.

He felt shallow for thinking her affection might be pity for the "poor Young Master."

Nina cut him off sharply.

"Still, don't hurt yourself. What am I supposed to do if you die early?"

"Then what about you?"

Adrian blurted out.

"What about you, Nina."

And what about me if you're gone?

He swallowed the rest with effort and looked down at her.

Nina raised both hands politely and said,

"I'll be careful too."

Suspicion clouded Adrian's face, but Nina continued.

"Really. Well, consider it the best promise an Ebony Knight can make while Belak is rampaging in the Violet Forest."

As she extended one hand, Adrian clasped it with his.

"It's a promise."

Nina smiled, and he swallowed a sigh.

"Yeah. Please."