They Say an Age Gap Like This Doesn’t Even Need Matching - Chapter 104

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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They say an age difference of a few years doesn’t even warrant checking compatibility.
Chapter 104
I slowly closed my eyes, then opened them again.
The Young Boy walked ahead, oblivious to everything.
How would our actions alter the trajectory of this child’s life?
‘I could find his father, but….’
Marquis Ramon would pay the price, and the Lord governing this region would be replaced by someone else.
The Mercenaries the Marquis had employed would lose their work and abandon the Castle.
Punishing the traitors and driving out their underlings—that was the extent of my responsibility.
I couldn’t calculate everything, so there would certainly be unforeseen changes.
Still, I intended to look after the lives of the Fief’s people as much as I could.
“It’s this way. The Watchtower is definitely worth visiting.”
As it happened, the Watchtower was exactly where we intended to lead the Young Boy.
Though the Young Boy called it a Watchtower, its true purpose was a watchtower, so Soldiers were stationed there to guard it.
“Uncle Gale!”
“Oh, isn’t it Fino? You’re wandering around at this hour—is that alright?”
The Soldier greeted the Young Boy with a pleased expression.
From the fact that he even knew about the Young Boy’s circumstances with the Inn, they seemed quite close.
“Mom gave me permission. Today I’m guiding these people.”
“Is that so?”
The Soldier’s gaze turned toward us.
I pretended to be frightened and retreated slightly behind Elhart, concealing myself.
Elhart stepped forward in my stead and greeted the Soldier.
“Greetings. When I asked for guidance to a place with fine scenery, he immediately led us here. What do you make of our guide’s judgment?”
Even his casual glance around the surroundings was flawless acting.
A momentary look of discomfort crossed the Soldier’s face, but he soon stepped aside.
“It would be best to see for yourselves and judge.”
“Indeed.”
Elhart nodded and turned back to me.
“There seem to be many stairs, so I’ll carry you.”
“Darling, there are people watching….”
“How bashful.”
He bent his knees and lifted me like a princess in his arms.
“Oh…!”
I didn’t need to feign anything—my face flushed crimson as I covered it with both hands.
As he strode up the watchtower’s stairs, I heard the Young Boy’s soft whisper from behind.
“They’re newlyweds.”
“Yes, I can tell without being told.”
“They seem to be nobility, don’t they?”
“Do they appear so?”
“Yes, they remind me of distinguished people I met long ago.”
I lowered my hand from my face and looked up at Elhart.
It seemed that no amount of disguise could conceal an inherent nobility.
“Darling.”
At my call, Elhart gazed down at me with gentle eyes.
“Yes?”
“You didn’t need to embrace me like that.”
Pretending to be newlyweds was fine, but wasn’t that a bit much?
“I simply wanted to.”
He glanced at me cautiously and asked.
“Did you dislike it?”
If I said yes, he would likely become dejected.
“No, I enjoyed it.”
His face brightened at my answer.
“If I ever become insensitive, feel free to kick my shins.”
I laughed and nodded.
“Understood.”
Of course, I could never imagine myself hurting him.
From the watchtower, I could see the entire fief and the surrounding forest at a glance.
“That must be the Southern Forest.”
I wondered if there might be another village there, or perhaps something else entirely.
“Looking at it this way, the border is quite close.”
While it was some distance from the active front lines, it was indeed adjacent to the Cradion Empire.
After surveying the Lord’s Castle’s position and the visible military deployments, we descended from the watchtower.
The young boy waiting below with the soldiers watched us with eager eyes.
“How was it?”
Elhart nodded with satisfaction.
“The view was magnificent. We had an excellent guide.”
The boy’s face lit up.
“I’m so glad!”
Elhart’s praise seemed to invigorate the young boy even more.
“Your legs must be tired, so next I’ll show you a place with benches. The fountain and the surrounding scenery are quite beautiful.”
“I look forward to it.”
We exchanged nods with the soldiers and followed the boy.
***
After touring the destroyed village and finishing dinner and a bath, the night had grown late.
I was preparing to leave, deliberating whether to check on the Lord’s Castle first or explore the Southern Forest beforehand.
I sensed movement from outside.
It sounded like quite a few people.
‘The third-floor guest rooms were supposed to be completely empty.’
Unlike the relatively affordable second floor, the third floor had larger rooms but cost twice as much.
Because of that, there were no other guests besides us in the corridor’s rooms.
In other words, the presence in the corridor likely meant they had business with us.
“This is the place, right?”
I heard them whispering among themselves.
“Yeah.”
“They just looked like an ordinary newlywed couple though.”
“We’ll have to see about that. There were orders to thoroughly verify the purpose of visit for anyone coming from outside.”
Elhart and I exchanged glances.
It seemed Marquis Ramon had issued orders to the soldiers and mercenaries.
Since suspicion would be problematic right now, I’d have to play the role of a newlywed couple until they left.
At my eye signal, Elhart spoke.
“Darling, you’re not already thinking of going to bed, are you?”
Elhart quietly set down his cloak as he spoke.
“We walked so much today that I’m exhausted.”
“Then let me give you a massage. Lie down.”
Since I’d confirmed the soundproofing wasn’t particularly good, there was no need to strain my voice.
I climbed onto the bed and lay down as Elhart suggested.
As Elhart climbed onto the bed as well, it creaked sharply.
“…That’s quite a sound.”
“Surely it doesn’t reach the other guest rooms?”
“It shouldn’t.”
He climbed over me and actually began kneading my neck and shoulders.
I wasn’t particularly tired, and there were no knots to work out.
Yet groans escaped me unbidden at his massage skills, which had reached a considerable level of mastery.
“Mmm… honey, right there….”
“Here?”
By this point, they should have left, but those with their ears pressed to the door showed no signs of moving.
“Aah… that feels good….”
As I exhaled a languid sigh, his hands paused briefly.
Moving his hands toward my waist, he suddenly untied the knot of my garment.
“Why are you removing my clothes….”
I asked in confusion, and he answered nonchalantly.
“It seems more effective this way.”
In an instant, his nimble hands made my cumbersome clothing disappear.
“W-wait, you’re really just giving a massage, right?”
“Of course. Don’t you trust me?”
“No, it’s not that….”
I couldn’t tell whether he was acting or being genuine.
His movements were so deliberate, so utterly devoid of hesitation.
I could sense those eavesdropping outside holding their breath.
‘It seems to be working after all.’
Elhart’s approach appeared to be the right way to drive them out quickly.
He began kneading and rubbing my lower back more earnestly than before, pressing firmly into the muscles.
“Ah, ouch… mmm….”
It felt absolutely divine, the tension melting away.
“Your legs too—let me work those out.”
He spoke with unmistakable enthusiasm in his voice.
The massage continued until his hands had touched every inch of my body.
We naturally expected them to leave by now, but we could only exchange bewildered glances.
When I silently mouthed ‘Why won’t they go?’, Elhart dragged his palm across his face.
“Apparently….”
He murmured softly.
“This won’t be enough.”
‘Good grief.’
Understanding his implication, I could only curse those fools outside under my breath.
For them, this mission was clearly just an excuse.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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