“It’s late now so I do not think we can move any further, we’d better camp here. Is this alright with you?”
It took about four days to get to Kreisen by carriage. On the first day, they stayed at the village inn, but today things did not seem to go very well.
Louiselle, who was riding by the carriage’s window on her horse, spoke to the people sitting on the inside of the carriage, and Noel answered, nodding.
“So be it.”
“Yes.”
At Noel’s response, Louiselle moved away. Eventually, the team went deeper into the forest and stopped in a wide-open space.
“Why don’t we take a short walk while they prepare dinner?”
Irene’s expression grew troubled in response to Noel’s suggestion.
“But is it really okay to just take it easy on our own when they are that busy?”
“It’s fine. Rather, it will be easier for them to prepare everything without us.”
Irene gave Noel’s words some thought then eventually nodded in agreement. Well, she did not know if they were on equal terms, but it was a fact that the two were nobles. In addition, it was her that was in a position to be guarded; to be in their care. What was more, it was obvious that if she roamed around saying she wanted to help, she would only get in their way.
“There is no wind, so it would be nice to take a walk before the meal.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Irene consented as she grabbed his hand and got off the carriage.
“Do you need anything?”
When Louiselle saw the two of them getting off, she asked as she approached the couple,
“I’m going for a light walk with my wife.” Noel replied.
“Then I will accompany you. If a wild animal appears, it will be dangerous.”
“It’s alright, I will be by her side. You stay and help prepare for the camp.”
“But I’m definitely Irene’s...I mean...I am Madame’s personal guard.”
“You are to protect my wife when I’m absent. You must have forgotten your duty for a moment while I am here.”
“But…”
“I will protect my own wife, so you go back to your position and mind your own business.”
//Noel getting grumpy. Just wants some wifey time haizz
At Noel’s resolute words, Louiselle pursed her lips. Then, she turned to look at Irene with pleading eyes.
Please choose me.
Irene’s pupils wavered at those sad eyes. But she soon bowed her head.
“…Sorry, Louiselle. I promise to be back soon.” She said apologetically.
Boom!
(쿠궁 is short for 쿠구구궁, which is the sound of being struck by lightning).
When Irene refused and left, Louiselle’s whole body hardened with a shocked face as if she had been struck by lightning.
“What is it, Louiselle? What’s with that expression…do you like the young Duchess that much?” Celt, one of the mercenaries, approached Louiselle, asking.
He did not lower his voice, so the enlisted knights of the Kristen Duchy could hear him well, all attention was drawn to him. Either way, Celt continued.
“Do not be too hard on yourself, Louiselle. You know better than anyone. You might be the one who gets hurt and abandoned even if you put your body and mind into protecting her. I am just saying this out of concern.”
There was no particular subject, but the guards could tell that the person he was referring to was Irene and were ready to unsheathe their swords at any time. Although Irene had only recently become a member of the Grand Duchy, to them, she was the great Duchess, someone worthy for them to devote and sacrifice themselves as long as they followed her.
“You know what kind of people the nobles are.”
“Sir Celt, I will not tolerate any further disrespectful remarks toward my master.”
By that time, the soldiers of the dukedom were already enraged, it was hard for them to suppress it, meanwhile Louiselle shot a freezing cold glare at the discourteous mercenary. It was the first time he had seen Louiselle like that, so Celt exclaimed in confusion.
“Well…I am only saying this because I am being considerate of you, isn’t that too harsh?”
“You know nothing about the Young Madame, so stop acting rude and humiliating yourself. She is…”
Louiselle paused for a moment. Irene’s image emerged in her mind, she was a warm and friendly person who never asked about her scars.
“Because she is different from the nobles we know.”
“...”
At the end of Louiselle’s words, silence fell. The mercenaries, who were watching to see whether a fight would break out, also kept their mouths shut.
“...they are all the same.”
Celt, who muttered quietly, soon turned his back and walked away. Louiselle looked at his dejected figure with complicated eyes and fiddled with the scar on her face. Was it because of the conversation with Celt that reminded her of the past? Her back was exceptionally throbbing today.
And unbeknownst to anyone, Mr. Mulliman’s assistant, Ryun, who had been hiding behind a tree in the distance, touched his chin.
Hmm, what was that all about?
His expression was odd.
♔♔♔