Newlywed Life Begins with a Mistake - Chapter 15
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 15
“…The Princess is going outside?”
“Yes, Your Grace. What should we do?”
Sophia reported with a troubled expression after hearing the news of the outing through the artifacts worn by the maids.
Casian, who had been writing a letter, put down his pen and after brief consideration, took out a potion from the drawer.
“Make her drink this before she goes.”
If her hair and eye color change, she’ll look different from the Princess, so it should be fine.
There’s a limit to preventing her from going outside, so taking this opportunity to let her go out for a change of mood wouldn’t be bad either.
“But she seemed ready to storm into the Nordil County.”
“They won’t meet with the Princess.”
How could she possibly break through to that father and son who have locked their gates tight like an iron fortress and holed up in their estate?
It would be nearly impossible unless she abandoned all dignity and ruthlessly stormed in.
With the picture clearly drawn in his mind, Casian finished writing the letter and tied a silver string symbolizing House of Count Heteus to the parchment.
“The letter goes to the Nordil County. If she wants to eat or buy something, use this.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Casian handed the letter to Sophia who was gathering the potion, then gestured toward a box containing gold coins.
Understanding Casian’s intention, Sophia carefully gathered the items and left.
Left alone, Casian leaned back and slowly tilted his head back.
“Come to think of it, she’s spent over a month only at the Duke’s Mansion.”
Evelyn had never left the grounds except for Dwellon Forest.
Even as a patient, she must have wanted to go out to the streets, see people, and look around.
Seeing how she declared an outing under the pretext of solving troublesome problems, she must have been restless all this time.
She probably wants to take this opportunity to get some fresh air as well.
Thinking it wouldn’t be bad to give the bait some freedom, Casian summoned the knights under his command.
“Did you call for us, Your Grace?”
“Follow Princess Seldian.”
Watch her secretly like shadows.
That meaning was conveyed to the knights.
Though they would normally carry out orders without question, they showed confusion at this unexpected command.
“Pardon? Princess Seldian, you mean?”
“If we leave our posts, there will be gaps in the barrier’s defense, won’t there?”
That was right.
The Valhalla Knight Order was the knight order that guarded the Southern Barrier.
Though House of Count Heteus had several knight orders, Valhalla was the first division among them. More precisely, the elite organization within the first division.
Not only did they guard the southern barrier to prevent invasions by monsters and barbarians, but they were also a shadow group that quietly appeared and secretly resolved major incidents in the south.
“Please reconsider.”
“We believe this matter could be entrusted to other knight orders.”
The Valhalla Knight Order, unable to accept the command, protested strongly.
“The only knights who know Evelyn’s identity are you, aside from the scouts. Didn’t you discover the Princess with me before?”
“That’s true, but… we don’t understand why we must tail the Princess just because we know her identity.”
It was true that they had discovered the collapsed Evelyn while riding with Casian before, but most of the Valhalla Knight Order went around solving major problems while staying hidden.
Unless it was an emergency mission or serious matter, guarding the barrier took priority, so why were they being told to watch the Princess?
As puzzled gazes focused on him, Casian’s eyes grew coldly calm.
“What you see isn’t everything. Right now, following the Princess is more urgent than defending the barrier.”
“!”
“I’ll arrange for other knight orders to be sent to the barrier, so keep that in mind.”
At the firm notification, the knights’ expressions all hardened at once.
If what they see isn’t everything, does that mean there’s another hidden side?
“Do you mean something will come up if we investigate the Princess?”
“…Yes.”
When the slightly delayed answer came back, Pabel, the Valhalla captain, suddenly fell into thought.
‘Come to think of it, the Princess has been too quiet.’
Though she was said to have lost her memory, even so, the Princess had been too docile.
She repeated eating, playing, and sleeping in her room, making the servants’ surveillance network loose.
Then suddenly she caused a commotion demanding to see the ledgers, then went to Dwellon Forest and uncovered corruption.
If this outing isn’t just a simple excursion…
‘There could be contact with spies.’
Is that what he means?
There will be underwater negotiations, so uncover them.
If Pabel’s guess was correct, then Casian had accurately seen through the Princess’s intentions.
‘We almost brought shame to our lord.’
His subordinates must have had similar thoughts, as their eyes had already changed to look determined.
“Please forgive us, Your Grace!”
The knights who belatedly gained understanding all bowed their heads in unison.
Then.
Swoosh.
They quickly disappeared without a trace.
* * *
Clatter. Clatter.
Clatter. Clank.
The carriage shook violently.
My bottom moved along with it accordingly.
“Ouch! Why is the road in such terrible condition!”
The ride was smooth when we went to Dwellon Forest, so why is the road to Nordil Estate so rough?
“Baron Nordil intentionally made the road bumpy and uneven.”
As I frowned and grumbled, Sophia, who was sitting across from me, spoke calmly as if this was a familiar occurrence.
As she said, the view outside the window was filled with rocks of various sizes. As if to block anyone’s approach.
“Is it because of the palladium?”
“Yes, my lady. To be precise, after the price of palladium rose sharply, House of Nordil deliberately blocked the trade routes to cut off relations with House of Count Heteus.”
“They didn’t outright say not to come, but they made it so we can’t come easily.”
The road conditions were so deteriorated that words couldn’t describe them.
The four-wheeled carriage we were riding could barely pass through the narrow road.
The intention to prevent knights from leading an attack was quite evident.
Even at the checkpoint, they tried to identify people from House of Count Heteus.
“Which organization do you belong to? If you’re residents of Heteus territory, entry is prohibited.”
“We’re residents of Nordil Estate. We went to the Count Heteus territory to buy fabric and are on our way back.”
When Sophia presented her identification, the knights stepped aside to let us pass.
‘Is this why Sophia handed me the disguise potion?’
I wondered why she suddenly said I had to drink a potion, but it turned out the checkpoint was blocking entry.
It was fortunate we took a public carriage, otherwise we would have been immediately turned away.
At this rate, it’ll take forever just to get there.
“I need to finish quickly and go home to lie down.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s nothing.”
The words I was thinking slipped out accidentally.
When I quickly added an explanation, Sophia, who had been tilting her head, looked away from me and gazed out the window.
To adapt to the swaying carriage, I leaned back against the seat and muttered.
“I wish someone would clear away all these stones.”
* * *
“We’ve arrived, my lady.”
I opened my eyes at Sophia’s voice.
Since the road was smooth after the section where monsters appeared, we arrived at Nordil Estate earlier than expected.
With Sophia’s help, I got off the carriage and immediately headed to Nordil Manor.
“I’m sorry, but the lord is currently away.”
We passed through the gatekeeper and entered the castle gate, but as soon as we entered the lobby, we were refused.
Damon, who introduced himself as the head butler, pushed up his glasses and spoke stiffly.
“Is the previous count also absent?”
“Yes. Both of them are away.”
“Then what time will they both return?”
“I don’t know. They’ve gone far away, so I can’t give you a definite answer.”
There’s no telling when they’ll come.
That was the response I received.
Then I caught sight of maids moving busily behind the butler.
‘A trolley? They’re preparing a banquet even though the master isn’t here?’
On the trolley the maids were pulling, there was a large, glossy turkey placed prominently.
Something was strange. The maids were carrying various foods even though the master was absent.
I peeked my head out to get a better look.
“I’m sorry, but no further entry is allowed.”
But as soon as I did, Damon turned his body and blocked my view.
He said he was sorry with his words, but his expression clearly showed he wanted to kick us out quickly.
“Then please at least deliver this letter.”
As if this happened frequently, Sophia, who had been observing the situation, held out a parchment tied with a silver string and bowed her head.
“Yes. I’ll deliver it.”
Damon answered half-heartedly and snatched the parchment.
When someone showed courtesy, it was natural to respond with courtesy in kind, but he didn’t do so.
Damon, who grabbed the parchment with his fingertips as if picking up filth, looked down at us.
“Do you have anything more to say?”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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