Chapter 638- A Shadow Lurking Near Eleanor (5)

Reinhardt’s hand struck the back of the man’s neck.

The man’s eyes rolled back and he collapsed unconscious on the ground.

"Take him and lock him up in the prison."

Knights stepped forward immediately and dragged the man away.

Reinhardt barely spared him a glance. His focus was on Eleanor. He quickly moved to her side and held her gently.

Eleanor was trembling violently now, her body barely holding itself together, her breathing quick and erratic. Looking at her, it seemed like she was on the edge of a seizure.

Reinhardt didn’t hesitate. He scooped her up and carried her inside.

"Look at me, Eleanor. It’s me, Reinhardt. That man is gone. You are safe now."

While saying that, he gently channeled his

[Radiant Renewal]

into her. Warm divine healing energy poured through her, soothing her nerves, easing the tension in her body.

Although her eyes were still unfocused and her skin remained cold, slowly her trembling stopped, and she slipped into unconscious sleep.

.

.

Soft light filtered through the curtains.

On the bed, Eleanor slowly opened her eyes. The familiar ceiling, the familiar furnishings... it was her own room.

"Eleanor!"

A figure came into her view. It was Melissa, her best friend. But Melissa looked a little off today. Normally, she was the very picture of a composed secretary.

Today, her hair was slightly messy, dark circles shadowed her eyes, and she looked like she hadn’t slept at all.

"Melissa...?"

Eleanor’s voice came out weak.

Seeing Eleanor regain consciousness, Melissa’s eyes widened with relief.

"You’re finally awake?! Do you know how much you worried us?! I’m so glad you’re fine..."

Her tone sounded scolding, but her actions were anything but. Before Eleanor could react, she was pulled into a tight embrace.

Eleanor froze for a moment, then her lips trembled, and tears welled up.

"I... I was so scared..."

Her voice broke. Melissa held her tighter.

"It’s alright now. You’re safe."

Click.

At that moment, the door opened, and Reinhardt walked in.

The instant he stepped inside, their eyes met, and for a brief moment, the two simply looked at each other.

"How is your body? Feeling any better?" he asked, walking to her side.

Eleanor nodded faintly. After a short silence, she looked at him again and spoke softly.

"Thank you..."

Before she could finish, she felt a finger gently flick her forehead. It was Reinhardt.

"You don’t need to thank me for that. Did you forget what I told you before? You are under my protection."

Though it was only a few simple words, they had a deep effect on her.

That was right, he had said that before. It was when she had shamelessly imposed on him, even making him agree to handle her protection.

She had made several such unreasonable demands when they first met. And Reinhardt had accepted them all.

Eleanor gripped the bedsheet tightly.

"Still... I’m glad you were there."

For a while, the two shared a quiet moment.

Melissa tactfully stepped away, watching the two with a faint, amused smile.

After some time, Reinhardt asked, quietly.

"What happened back there?"

The moment the question was asked, Eleanor’s body tensed. Her breathing grew uneven again. The memory, the trauma she thought she had finally overcome, began clawing its way back toward the surface.

"No... no..."

Huff... huff...

Before fear could fully take hold, a hand reached out. Reinhardt gently pulled her into his arms.

"It’s alright. If you’re not comfortable, you don’t have to say anything."

Feeling his warm, divine presence steadying her, Eleanor finally relaxed. Then, slowly, fresh tears gathered in her eyes. She cried, leaning into him, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

In that embrace, her trembling stopped, and the fear that had gripped her began to fade.

"No... I’ll tell you."

And so she did. Everything.

The man was one of her biggest fans. Whether it was a movie premiere or a stage performance, he would always be there in the audience.

At first, she didn’t think much of it. But looking back, she realized she should have. He followed her from city to city, from venue to venue.

At first, his flowers, gifts, and letters seemed normal. But then it became too much to the point where it edged into something plainly creepy.

From there, things turned dark.

"He started appearing everywhere," she whispered. "Places he shouldn’t be. Private events... backstage areas... One day, he even got into my dressing room."

Even though the door was locked and only she had the key, when she opened it, there was an unmistakable gift on the table, one he had left. Proof that he had been inside.

Hearing this, even Melissa felt a chill crawl down her spine. Reinhardt’s expression grew colder as he listened.

The man kept pestering her, showing up near her house and neighborhood. He even left a message on the mirror in her bathroom.

"I can see you."

At those words, Melissa’s face went pale, and Reinhardt’s gaze hardened further. Both of them could already imagine what came next.

Struck by paranoia, Eleanor stopped appearing on set and tried to escape.

But one day, that psycho kidnapped her and kept her in his house, locked away, watched every day. One could imagine the mental strain of that ordeal.

"I thought... I would never get out."

She finished, her head resting on Reinhardt’s chest.

Strangely, after letting it all out, she felt lighter. The weight she had carried for so long eased, if only a little.

After a brief silence, Reinhardt spoke again.

"I see. So he is that man."

In fact, he had already suspected the man’s identity. Hearing it from Eleanor confirmed it. Now he knew exactly what to do with him.

"Don’t worry. He is locked in the prison and won’t see the light of the day again. You are safe here."

After a pause, he added.

"I’ll also increase the number of knights guarding you. So you won’t have to fear him again."

Reinhardt’s tone was steady and unshakeable.