20 — Time to Show His Stuff!!

“You’re wide open,” murmured Mr. Fisalis. He was exuding an entirely different aura now. I was taken aback by the darkness in his smirk.

One of the hooligans swung in for the attack with his cudgel, but Mr. Fisalis swiftly ducked down to dodge it. Needless to say, the club sliced through nothing but thin air. The ruffian stumbled forward a pace or two and Mr. Fisalis, who was still crouching, used that momentum to slam his opponent in the ribs with one elbow. In no time flat, the man had sunk to the ground.

Well, that was quick. I mused that the word “sunk” described him in more ways than one.

“Is that all you’ve got? Was all that talk a bunch of hot air?” Mr. Fisalis dusted himself off and regarded the remaining four with an icy gaze.

The four men showed a fleeting moment of hesitation, flummoxed by the apparent strength of the prey they had deemed so weak, but they pulled themselves together before long.

“Is-Is that all we’ve got? That was just a lucky shot!!”

“Let’s see how you handle two of us at once! You better be ready!”

They must have been roused to action by their downed comrade, because they were red in the face as they circled in for the attack. Two against one? Hmph! You cowards!!

The able-bodied men among those behind Mr. Fisalis made to come forward, likely in an effort to provide backup, but he waved them away, even as his eyes remained locked on the enemy. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Protect Viola for me.”

“Huh?”

It was like he had eyes in the back of his head. I was amazed.

“Quit posing, you little shit!” Evidently, the four thugs were not the type to shy away from spouting lines directly from the bad guy playbook. Iron rod and rusted sword in hand, they leapt at Mr. Fisalis in unison.

Rusted or not, a sword was a sword. Is he going to be okay!?

But Mr. Fisalis nimbly dodged the blade and, getting around to his opponent’s back in the same swift motion, struck the sword-wielder with a hand-chop to the back of the neck. The blow must have packed quite some power, because the man’s head snapped forward violently. For the finishing blow, he then landed a brutal elbow to his side. The man’s eyes rolled back in his head as he slumped to the ground. Ruffian number two’s battleship was sunk.

While Mr. Fisalis was still crouching, another man brandishing an iron rod came in for a surprise attack from the rear!

“Mr. Fisalis! Behind you!” I shouted, covering my eyes.

But it seemed he was already well aware. Taking the rusted sword from the hand of the fallen, he spun on his heels and fended off the blow with a flash of steel. Though none too sharp, the blade sent the iron rod flying out of the enemy’s hands.

Phew. I was scared stiff. I’m starting to think he really does have eyes in the back of his head!

“Dammit!” The disarmed man now raised a fist against him, but Mr. Fisalis coolly intercepted the incoming punch with one hand and slammed him down in a beautiful one-armed shoulder throw. With a great big thud and a sizable cloud of dust, ruffian number three had now made the floor’s acquaintance. And it had all happened in the blink of an eye.

At some point during the scuffle, the fight had moved from the sidewalk to the main road. I scanned our surroundings, only to find a circle of people had formed around us—although the center of the circle was still just us.

Ruffian number three lay flat on the road, groggy from the impact. This melee was forcing wagons to stop in their tracks. Ahh, my heart can’t take this!

“I told you—you’re wide open,” said Mr. Fisalis, eyes fixed on the last two as he smiled coldly. “Even freshly enlisted rookie soldiers could beat you.”

He rested the pilfered blade on his shoulder. He was being so much wilder than usual!

“Shut your mouth! We don’t need your confusing babble! What did you do!?”

“All I’m doing is clearing out some bad eggs. Have you got a problem with that?”

“You bastard!”

Mr. Fisalis had shown them just how strong he was, but they insisted on fighting an impossible fight. There were only two of them left, and it seemed as though they were planning to rush toward him on the count of three. Meanwhile, Mr. Fisalis brandished the blade he’d been resting on his shoulder. He showed no openings—not a single gap in his defense. He may have been a commanding officer, but he was still a knight, and he was naturally even more formidable when wielding a blade.

The brawny man was holding yet another sword that was in bad shape; the short, stocky man grasped a dagger. The big one sprang at him from the front, while fatso attacked from behind. Oops, did I call him fat? Oh well.

Mr. Fisalis crossed blade with blade, and he made short work of fatso with a swift kick, his long leg striking him right in the face!

“Auugh!!” That heavy blow knocked the man backwards so hard he flipped and rolled along the ground. Mr. Fisalis’ leg was longer than fatso’s arm, and the dagger had been flung away without harming him, only to be picked up by one of the good men behind Mr. Fisalis. Nice job, guys.

While fatso was writhing on the ground, Mr. Fisalis took care of the big one. He flicked away the enemy’s sword and then rammed his own sword’s pommel into the man’s solar plexus without missing a beat. The man was instantly knocked out by the painful blow, his body still bent forward at the waist even as he collapsed. But Mr. Fisalis came in with the finishing strike, bringing the sword’s hilt down on the back of his head. The man lay splayed out on the ground, defeated.

Out of the five men, only fatso remained conscious. At some point as he writhed in agony, he’d gotten closer to us and behind Mr. Fisalis. Fatso locked eyes with me, and put his hand to the wall to wobble back up to his feet before heading straight for me. That kick from earlier had smeared his face with blood from his own injured nose—it was an image straight out of a horror show! Stay away from me!

“Ahhh!” I screamed.

“If it’s come to this, then I’ll just make off with you!”

Just then, a woman stepped in front of me, to protect me from fatso as he drew closer and closer. The men behind Mr. Fisalis also made to dash toward us. The woman’s face tensed as she watched fatso approach.

But Mr. Fisalis had cottoned on to what was happening behind his back. “Like I’d ever let you do that!” He spun right around and flung the sword he was holding. It flew under fatso’s nose and pierced the wall with a dull twang. This was more than enough to freeze fatso in his tracks.

Oh my god! That wall’s made of stone! But the sword stuck right through it!

Fatso’s knees buckled, and he fell onto his bottom. Mr. Fisalis quickly closed the distance between them and twisted the man’s arms behind him, pinning him. With a solid hand-chop to the neck, fatso finally gurgled and toppled over.

The fight was over in what seemed like an instant. That was incredible! His motions are all so efficient—he’s a well-oiled fighting machine!!

He dusted off his clothes, four brawny hoodlums and one fatso at his feet. Not one was so much as moaning—it was a total knockout. Mr. Fisalis’ expression was cool as could be, as though nothing had happened.

Wowzers! Mr. Fisalis really is a consummate knight!! This was the first time I’d seen him like this, and I couldn’t look away.

I wasn’t the only one enthralled by Mr. Fisalis’ gallant figure. Initially, the folks around us had simply watched with bated breath, but now they were all over us.

“That was insane, man!! I never would’ve guessed you’re this damn strong, behind that handsome face!!”

“You’re so thin! Where’s all that muscle hiding!?”

“I haven’t seen you around here, so thanks!!”

“Finally, those thugs get their just deserts!!”

“Thank you so much!!”

Applause and hoorays from the crowd came flying our way as everybody showered Mr. Fisalis with praise. So those hoodlums were notorious the whole town over, I guess. Plus, I wasn’t expecting anybody to be referring to Mr. Fisalis as just “man.” Not that that’s what I should be dwelling on right now. I need to see if he’s wounded! They came at him like bats out of hell—maybe they managed to land a blow I didn’t catch?

“That was amazing, Mr. Fisalis!” I shouted, after slipping out of the embrace of the woman who had been protecting me and dashing to his side. “You did away with them in no time! Are you wounded or hurt at all?”

When he looked at me, his menacing aura dissipated in an instant. He hugged me, relief written all over his face. His usual dazzling grin back in its usual place, he said, “No, I’m not wounded. I didn’t even break a sweat, really, seeing as my training drills are much tougher. On the other hand, maybe I wouldn’t have minded an injury or two, if it means you’d be treating my wounds, Viola,” he quipped, smiling.

Sheesh, I’m just relieved he’s okay. “Not being wounded is decidedly better.”

“Okay, point taken. After all, if I got hurt in a light skirmish like that, I’d never live it down.”

“Not to mention it’d make Corydalis mad at you!”

Thanks to his embrace, the distance between us had narrowed. At point-blank range, his smile packed devastating destructive power, and to top it all off, he’d shown me just how capable a man he truly was. If you ask me, a true man of skill’s hard to beat. I can’t stand people who are all talk! And it was a true man of skill who was holding me in his arms... Ahh...

I suddenly felt all bashful. I fixed Mr. Fisalis’ hair, which had gotten disheveled from the fight, and I gently patted away the rest of the dust that had settled on him.

“Alas, if only I’d had my trusty sword,” he said, staring at the blade that was still jutting out of the stone wall, “I would’ve taken care of them in a flash.”

Um, excuse me, but even that rusty old thing was a lethal edge in your hands! “I’m actually glad you didn’t have your sword on you,” I said, shaking my head.

Think how dicey that would’ve been. Your trusty sword’s so shiny and sharp... Plus, they were amateurs, and you’re a pro. Cleaning those amateurs up with a flash of your blade would have been total overkill, I’m sure.

“Eh, you’re right, I suppose” he said, chuckling.

Is it just me, or is Mr. Fisalis’ smile on the dark side? His smile is usually so wonderful. But it looked more like a smirk. What was wrong?

Just as I was looking at him with doubtful eyes, somebody pushed his way through the spectators, shouting, “I heard those hooligans were at it again!!”

The speaker was well-built, and his garb resembled a knight’s uniform. He hastened over to us, and his eyes went wide when he spotted the ruffians lying on the ground.

“I say, they’re all out like a light!! So... who laid ’em flat?” he asked, scanning the crowd. And then he saw Mr. Fisalis at the center of it. “It... it’s you!! Young Sir— er, I mean, Your Excellency— don’t tell me you did this?”

“Young Sir”! Ah, right, that’s not what I should be focusing on. It was just way too amusing. In any case, given how he was able to tell that it was Mr. Fisalis who took those men down, this person must be an acquaintance of his.

At the words “Young Sir,” Mr. Fisalis’ handsome face twitched for a moment, but his expression quickly reverted to serious, dignified mode. “Ah, if it isn’t the Captain of the Guard. You’re quite late. So late, in fact, that I took the liberty of facing them myself. They were attempting to kidnap Viola, you see. You said they were ‘at it again,’ so I take it they’ve been terrorizing the town for some time? The big lugs did have some muscle on them, but they went down in seconds.” His tone was a little different from the tone he’d directed at the ruffians earlier, but it was still deep and intimidating.

So this is Le Pied’s Captain of the Guard. That must be why he instantly recognized Mr. Fisalis.

“Your predecessor was called to Rozhe, and while he’s been gone, these goons have taken advantage of the wartime confusion. My deepest apologies for causing you trouble, Your Excellency,” he explained, bowing his head.

“It’s no big deal. I just did a little cleaning up. That aside, from what I’ve gathered, it seems the town’s public order has fallen precipitously. Might you have something to say with regard to that?”

“Yes, sir. Ever since the war began, the guards in several towns have been dispatched to escort individuals to the south. As such, the number of guards in Le Pied has dropped, and we’re short-handed,” he replied with an uncomfortable look on his face.

“Hrmm.”

The repercussions of the war were being felt all the way out here.

“They may not look like much, sir, but we were having a devil of a time catching them. Racketeering out on the streets, sneaking into homes and stealing valuables—the whole town was their oyster. Long story short, they were a bothersome bunch.”

“Take them away at once. I want to hear more about it from you, so be sure to visit me at my abode.”

“Understood, sir.”

The guard gave Mr. Fisalis a knight’s bow, after which he and the other similarly-dressed people who’d arrived at the scene (whom I could only assume were other guards) bound the miscreants up. They were each carried away atop multiple guards’ shoulders, like pallbearers with coffins.

“...Wow, they look heavy,” I remarked.

“Their size was all they had going for them.”

“Where are they taking them?”

“To the guard post in town. That’s where the jail cells are.”

I watched as the guards marched away. The once-thick crowd had dispersed, and the traffic had started up again as wagons and people both went about their business. The clamor of the streets returned as though nothing had happened.

“Now then...” Mr. Fisalis faced me once again. His expression was actually a tad frightening.

What’s this about? I wondered, my head tilting slightly in my puzzlement.

“Viola, did I not tell you, when we left for our stroll this morning, that you should never let go of my hand?”

Is Mr. Fisalis a little angry? His beautiful dark brown eyes were piercing straight through me.

“Yes, you did, but... that was out of my control.” When our hands unclasped, the caravan had been passing through. There was nothing either of us could do.

“Don’t give me that. If we hadn’t separated, none of that would have happened.”

“...True.” He certainly had a point, so I acknowledged it without fuss.

“I happened to be close at hand, so this ordeal ended without incident, but I shudder to think what might have happened if they’d managed to take you somewhere else instead.”

“...I apologize.”

“Had the kidnapping happened in Rozhe, it could have devolved into an even nastier affair.”

“...Because I’m a duchess, you mean?”

“Because you’re a duchess, yes.” He heaved a sigh. “And because you’re also my weak point.” Then he embraced me again. “People have begun to notice how important you are to me. You’re bound to be in the sights of some good-for-nothing scoundrel or other. Rozhe may be a land of peace, but there’s still no guarantee you won’t be targeted.”

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t really think of that...”

It wasn’t every day that Mr. Fisalis was angry at me, so I was super remorseful. I was too ashamed to face him, so I nestled my face into his chest. That’s right. I’m a duchess, and I need to be more conscious of that. I’m no longer the destitute countess who would be told to “deal with it yourself” if I was ever kidnapped, simply because nobody had the money to pay ransom. Just today, I heard how crime had gotten a little rougher—heck, I saw that was the case with my own two eyes. And yet I left Mr. Fisalis’ side of my own accord. It never occurred to me that doing so could have led to such a mess. I should’ve just waited for him there. Ugh, I was such an idiot! Plus, it was only because Mr. Fisalis was able to step in so quickly that I got out unscathed. If they had actually managed to kidnap me, then... they said they were going to sell me, didn’t they? Yikes, that’s a scary thought! And even if they didn’t sell me off, if they caught wind of my peerage, they might have demanded a hefty ransom from the duke’s family! Double yikes! I was trembling at the thought.

I felt horrible for putting Mr. Fisalis in danger, and yet so grateful he had rescued me. Thank you so much, Mr. Fisalis!! I can’t cause him or the people at the manor any more grief through my carelessness. From here on out, I’ll be more conscientious!

Inwardly, I was sweating bullets; what Mr. Fisalis was saying was more than valid. But he picked up on my discomfort: “Forgive me, I didn’t mean to frighten you that much. I just want you to understand,” he said, his tone softening. He stroked my head reassuringly.

“I promise I do.”

“Good. As long as you understand. Now, let’s make for the cafe you mentioned earlier, shall we? I’m a bit too tired to resume strolling. Exerting oneself on an empty stomach is far from ideal,” he joked, taking my hand in his.

I chuckled. “...Okay.”

“Eating good food will boost our spirits.”

“Absolutely!” At last, I lifted my face from his chest and looked up. Guess this is where I go, “That’s Mr. Fisalis for you.”

The way to the cafe being clear, we eventually made it to our destination. The location was a brisk walk from the plaza. With its cute red awning and chic atmosphere, the cafe was the perfect place for a laidback teatime on a fine sunny day.

Inside the establishment, even the seats had a stately, dignified air to them. It was quite suited to those who wished to enjoy their tea calmly and quietly. Outside, on the other hand, the copious tables were pure white, lending the place a cheerier, more casual feel. The townsfolk were indulging in their lunches and tea, made just the way they liked them, as they engaged in pleasant chitchat. We were led to our open-air table by a wonderful garçon, and once seated, we were handed menus. As we were discussing what to order—

“Hey, it’s you! The guy from before! Are you some kind of big shot?”

“Do you and the Captain of the Guard know each other?”

“Man oh man, you kicked so much ass back there.”

“Thank you so much for taking them down!”

“Is she your main squeeze? It must drive you nuts how cute she is.”

“She really is easy on the eyes!”

I could hear remarks from the tables around us. Oh, he’s a big shot all right! He’s a noble, and a duke at that. How do you not know that?

Despite picking up on his lofty social status, everyone around us was being super blunt; Mr. Fisalis was just smiling, so it couldn’t have bothered him too terribly.

“The way you rushed to his side... I’m jealous of how close you two are, miss!”

Oh yeah, I ran over to him while the whole crowd’s eyes were on me. How utterly embarrassing...