Reborn as the Villainess's Bodyguard, I Refused to Stop at Bodyguard novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: The Truth

Marguerite Lowe was nineteen, brown-curled and shivering in a pale blue cloak, and she held a covered basket in both hands.

Haruka met her on the third landing with her tunic buttoned wrong and her sword in its sheath.

"Captain Delamere." The Saint's voice was low and rushed. "Please. I know the Prince has forbidden visitors. I have come before the guard changes so that no one will know."

"The prisoner is asleep, my lady."

"Then I won't wake her." Marguerite swallowed. "I only wanted to leave this."

She lifted the cloth.

Under it lay a heap of small red strawberries, shining like glass.

"Hothouse," Marguerite said. "From the temple garden. She used to say she hated being served anything that wasn't in season, and I..." She stopped. "That was the one thing she said that I understood."

Haruka looked at the berries.

She looked at the girl who had broken her wrist on a sabotaged coach and still stood here at dawn with fruit.

This was the Saint of the novel, and the author had been lazy with her.

In print she was an angel with a halo.

In person she was a frightened kid with cold hands.

"I'll taste one first," Haruka said.

"Of course."

She ate one.

It was sweet and sharp and better than anything she had put in her mouth in a week.

"Come back tomorrow at noon," Haruka said. "I'll take you in myself."

Marguerite's eyes filled.

"Thank you, Captain." She pressed the basket into Haruka's arms, turned, and went down the stairs two at a time.

Seraphine was sitting up in the cot with the grey blanket held to her collarbones when Haruka came back.

"Strawberries," she said, staring. "In winter."

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