The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 230
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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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“If I had needed escort personnel from the beginning, I would have brought them from the duchy. That means there’s no need for you to accompany me.”
“I mentioned earlier that this is to prevent ‘unforeseen dangers.’ While I am aware of Your Grace’s martial prowess, please consider this a precautionary measure for emergencies.”
“‘Unforeseen dangers,’ you said? Speak properly, Count. Are you concerned that danger might befall me, or are you concerned that I might become the danger?”
“I am merely following regulations, but if I must choose between the two, please think of it whichever way makes Your Highness more comfortable.”
“Both make me uncomfortable.”
“My regrets.”
Ailren, who expressed regret with a face that showed no regret whatsoever, hadn’t changed one bit.
“Just curious, but did you volunteer for this? Weren’t you serving as a regular knight after stepping down from your position as knight commander?”
“I did not volunteer. I was summoned at dawn today.”
This meant that the Princess had personally designated Ailren as an escort.
‘Actually, if I think positively, the Princess is doing me a favor.’
After all, someone who was no less than a Duke’s father was secretly infiltrating the Empire.
She could have made an issue of it if she wanted to, but instead she just assigned one person to serve as protocol officer, guard, and monitor combined.
If I thought of it as her sending Ailren, a knight she was acquainted with, to let me search for Theodor comfortably, this was actually quite considerate.
It was like saying, ‘I’ll keep it secret, so handle it well on your own. I trust you,’ or something like that.
But…
‘The problem is I’m having bad thoughts.’
Why couldn’t I shake the feeling that the Princess was telling me to get a taste of my own medicine?
As I rubbed my temples, I heard Elisha’s voice.
“Tesagh! Why did you postpone our appointment time… Huh? Count Ailren!”
Elisha, who had run over brightly with a cheerful smile, greeted him warmly.
“It’s been so long, Count Ailren! How have you been?”
“Thanks to your concern, I’ve been well, Lady.”
“But what’s going on? Why are you with Tesagh? I heard you were staying in Port Savenne.”
“I have received orders from Her Highness the Princess to escort you both. Though my abilities are limited, I will do my best to ensure you have no inconveniences.”
“Oh, are you going to be so formal with us? Did you forget we’re comrades who went to the sanctuary together?”
Watching Ailren’s expressionless face break into a smile at Elisha’s playful words, Tesagh thought.
It seems like it’s not just the Princess who wants me to suffer, but the entire world…
It wasn’t that he suddenly had feelings about Ailren.
But today, Tesagh didn’t have the mental capacity for this. Something had happened that justified this.
It was when Elisha had gotten into the carriage first and Tesagh, who had escorted her, was about to board the carriage.
“Your Grace.”
Ailren spoke in a low voice that Elisha wouldn’t hear.
“Excuse me, but does the Lady not yet know about Your Grace’s morning schedule?”
Today, Tesagh had postponed the departure time by an hour.
It was because of a classified letter that had arrived urgently at dawn.
“…Yes.”
“Understood.”
[Shall we meet, brother?]
It was Crescens.
He was the one who had refused all visitation requests.
That same Crescens had suddenly sought out Tesagh.
[Just the two of us.]
Looking down at the letter and thinking for a while, Tesagh headed to the prison where Crescens was confined.
He seemed unchanged.
“I heard the news. You’re getting married, brother? Congratulations.”
“You didn’t request a private meeting this morning just to offer congratulations.”
His relaxed attitude, his gentle voice, his characteristic smile formed by barely lifting the corners of his lips.
So, it was as if.
“Of course not. Whose wedding is it that I would just brush it off with words? I have a gift too.”
“A gift.”
“Yes. A gift that’s absolutely necessary and very useful for you, brother. However, there’s just one condition.”
Like Crescenziano from the time when Eivor’s personality was dormant.
“Would you like to hear it?”
Recalling the morning encounter, Tesagh secretly swallowed a sigh.
***
I glanced at Tesagh and thought.
‘…Does he have some worry?’
It seemed Tesagh had forgotten that he had completely unbuttoned his shirt front.
He kept trying to swallow his sighs, but his chest rising and falling was completely visible.
After thinking deeply, I nodded with an “Ah.”
‘Maybe he’s nervous about meeting Father after so long.’
Looking back, Tesagh had strangely never talked about his father.
Theodor had come up as a topic only once. And that was only because I had asked about it.
“Oh, who is this person?”
“Father. He’s far away right now.”
“Ah…”
“No, no. I mean he’s literally far away. He likes pioneering new sea routes.”
At first, I thought maybe he was being considerate of me since I don’t have parents, but if he even forgot to tell him about the wedding…
‘Well, if he’s been away on adventures all the time, they might feel awkward with each other.’
The treasury of the Moro Duke’s residence had many very splendid and magnificent collectibles.
A considerable number of them were treasures that Theodor had discovered and excavated.
Being so devoted to adventures that he filled the treasury meant he spent little time with his family.
That was why I had come along on this journey to find Theodor.
‘I told Tesagh it was to get some fresh air and to neutralize any trouble with my face, but.’
I have no right to judge who’s right or wrong.
After all, I’m planning to travel back and forth between the Empire and the duchy myself.
But just in case, if by any chance Tesagh felt awkward and nervous when meeting Theodor.
I thought being by his side was something I could do.
‘Actually, I’m also curious about what kind of person Lord Theodor is.’
I was of course a little curious about the love story with Belastard that was cut off at the most important part.
But what sparked more curiosity was Theodor as a person himself.
Adventures and explorations don’t always bring good results. There must surely be days when nothing is found.
What was the driving force that made such a Theodor continue to set off on adventures without ending them?
Among the treasures he discovered, which would he consider the most valuable? I wanted to hear such stories.
‘I’ll be able to hear them soon.’
The carriage ran without rest.
Tesagh sighing, no, swallowing his sighs, Ailren reading a book in an upright and neat posture, and me.
Unfortunately, all three of us couldn’t use magic circles, so we had no choice but to be carried in the carriage on this long journey.
‘When will I ever get to travel like this again?’
I smiled while looking at Theodor’s motionless position on the map.
But a few hours later.
When we arrived at the place the map indicated, we looked around in bewilderment.
Since dawn today, Theodor’s position hadn’t moved from near the port, so I thought he might be in the middle of salvage work. But?
“It looks like there’s some kind of festival going on.”
The square was packed with people wearing colorful clothes.
Because of the crowd, we couldn’t even properly see what kind of festival it was.
It was a lively and vibrant scene that was nice to look at, but.
‘I have to find Theodor among all these people…?’
I felt overwhelmed.
Still, we couldn’t turn back after coming this far.
“Shouldn’t we focus on searching inns, taverns, and street stalls?”
“That’s a good idea, Princess. There’s a high possibility he’s staying at places where he can rest or eat to recover from his adventure fatigue.”
“If we happen to get separated, let’s meet back at this spot. Well, it probably won’t take too long.”
And so we enthusiastically shouted “Fighting!” and set off.
“…”
“…”
“…Cough.”
About three hours later.
We reunited completely drained with our hair disheveled.
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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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