Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 79

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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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Episode 79
The effect of my “hush” lasted barely two minutes.
We sat in silence, listening to the children chatter away.
By piecing together the information that spilled from their newly loosened mouths, I arrived at this conclusion:
‘So their older sister went to work in the neighboring territory to earn money and said she’d be back.’
“Might it be for the wedding of the neighboring lord’s daughter?” Orso ventured.
Baron Orso made the guess.
Large events like weddings often required more hands than the household staff could provide, so temporary workers were hired for such occasions.
Since nobles paid generously for such events, it meant high short-term income for commoners—something the poor Orphanage could ill afford to pass up.
Leaving the children to fend for themselves for a few days was a loss they couldn’t risk.
“Do you know when she’s coming back?”
“After two more nights.”
Nancy answered.
Two days away. That was troublesome.
‘This is a problem.’
We had planned to take the children down today.
After exchanging a brief glance with Everett, I ventured a careful proposal.
“We’re planning to repair the Orphanage, and the children will need to stay in town while the work is being done.”
“You’re taking the children somewhere else?” Nancy’s eyes narrowed.
Nancy asked, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
“My sister told us to stay here and be good.”
“She said never to follow a stranger anywhere.”
She was bristling again like a hedgehog on guard, and I was beginning to look like a child abductor myself.
Even Robin, though familiar with us by now, scurried behind another child the moment our eyes met.
‘This won’t work. Time for a new strategy.’
Everett and I huddled together to exchange ideas.
“What do we do? They’re not going to want to leave.”
“We try to convince their guardian when she arrives.”
“But that’s two days from now—you want to leave the children here that whole time?”
The Orphanage building was so decrepit it looked ready to collapse at any moment.
It was far too dangerous for children to stay in.
Everett, who had been thinking for a moment, spoke up.
“What if we move them to the Temple?”
Though the Temple building was also quite old, it had been regularly maintained and repaired, making it practically a new structure compared to the Orphanage.
“That might actually work.”
When I suggested they stay at the Temple until their “sister” returned, the children initially refused, fearing they’d be scolded by the priests.
But when I assured them that the Lord himself had approved it, they finally relented.
“We’ll need to send down food and bedding.”
Baron Orso—whose name and honor had been sold cheaply—seemed intent on taking responsibility for having neglected the Orphanage while placating the Temple, and he promised various forms of support.
“I’ll also send handmaids and servants to look after the children.”
‘Or is he trying to impress Everett?’
Every time he listed something he would do for the Orphanage, he glanced at Everett, his eagerness to look good plainly evident.
Everett merely nodded without much enthusiasm.
“I need to make a trip to Diegis, Lina.”
When he spoke to me, his tone was full of purpose.
“All right.”
With Baron Orso providing servants to care for the children, it made more sense to visit Diegis than to wait in Peram for their “sister.”
As Everett and I discussed the rescheduled trip to Diegis, Baron Orso ventured cautiously,
“Word of the Inspection of the Peram Temple will likely reach the higher Temple authorities soon.”
The Temple would certainly not sit idle and would undoubtedly send someone to lodge a protest.
Given the distance, that someone was most likely to be Priest Harkan.
Baron Orso seemed worried about Harkan arriving at the Fief while we were away.
“We’ll be back within two days.”
At Everett’s words, he visibly exhaled in relief.
“That’s fortunate. If you’re departing for Diegis tomorrow, wouldn’t it be best to spend tonight at the Manor House? The carrier pigeon I sent to the capital will arrive there anyway.”
Everett looked at me, his eyes asking for my assent.
‘It’s fine with me.’
I gave a slight nod, and Everett agreed.
“We’ll do that.”
“It’s an honor to receive you, though I’m afraid the accommodations are humble.”
He was the one being hosted, yet Baron Orso was the one offering thanks.
* * *
Baron Orso gave us the Manor House’s finest guest chambers.
Adjacent to each other.
We each entered our assigned rooms.
After washing away the dust from a day of climbing up and down the mountain paths, I suddenly realized we hadn’t settled on what time we’d be departing tomorrow.
“Is Everett still awake?”
Looking at the clock, there was still a chance he might not have gone to bed.
“If he’s asleep, I’ll just come back.”
I pulled on my robe over my nightclothes and carefully slipped out into the hall.
The room directly next to mine belonged to Everett.
“Everett, are you awake?”
I knocked on the door carefully, worried about waking him if he was sleeping.
Creak.
The door swung open—it hadn’t been properly shut.
‘That wasn’t intentional.’
I found myself peering inside, but the room was empty.
Where could he have gone at this hour?
‘The washroom, maybe?’
Thinking he’d return shortly, I decided to wait a moment at his doorway.
About ten minutes passed.
“He’s not coming back.”
Everett still hadn’t returned.
“It’s taking a while.”
I shrugged and turned back down the hall.
Resolving to wake up early instead.
* * *
The road to Diegis proved surprisingly easy to navigate, even for someone unskilled at riding.
The mountain path was narrow but well-trodden, probably from the frequent passage of people traveling between the two fiefs.
There were almost no obstacles like loose stones or tree roots.
I’d been nervous when I first mounted the horse, but once we set out, my anxiety quickly faded.
And then I finally noticed the scenery around me.
“Everett, doesn’t this feel just like a picnic?”
The summer mountains were thick with verdant growth, and the sky was a flawless blue.
A breeze, cooler than down in the lowlands, brushed my cheeks.
Since I’d allotted plenty of time to account for my riding skills, I felt relaxed and unhurried.
Everett nodded in agreement to my observation.
Chatting amiably, we continued down the trail.
“Oof.”
The horse lurched sharply where the path had worn into a rut.
After three hours of riding, my backside was already sore, and this was the final blow.
“Should we rest for a moment?”
Everett suggested, noticing my posture deteriorating.
“Yes, please. Can we stop for lunch?”
I answered eagerly.
It was nearly noon anyway, and a brief rest wouldn’t be enough to restore sensation to my lower body.
“All right. That spot under the trees looks good.”
Everett pointed to a massive tree, so large I couldn’t wrap both arms around it, as if he’d already scouted the area.
The ground around it was flat, which seemed suitable.
As we approached the tree’s shade, Everett helped me dismount.
“Aahhh.”
As I shifted position, muscle soreness struck me.
“I can’t stand up.”
When I whimpered, Everett let out a small laugh.
“We should have taken the carriage.”
Though concern was more prominent in his voice.
The carriage would have been no better than the horse—just a different sort of discomfort.
‘If that’s the case, it’s better to just push through briefly.’
“No, I prefer the horse.”
Determined to finish what I’d started, I patted the horse’s neck in gratitude for three hours of work.
We let the horses drink and graze for a while, tying them to a nearby tree.
Now it was time for the humans to quench their thirst.
But what emerged from Everett’s provisions was more elaborate than I’d expected.
A Picnic Mat, chilled Fruit Juice, and even Cookies for dessert appeared.
“This isn’t just like a picnic—it’s an actual picnic!”
We sat with our backs against the tree and ate Sandwiches.
“This tastes wonderful.”
The moment I took a big bite, I realized it.
The Manor House made exceptional Sandwiches.
Though the fillings weren’t especially abundant for the season, eating outdoors, after all that exertion, made them taste even better.
Everett watched me eating for a moment, then began on his own Sandwich.
Enjoying the cool breeze, gentler than down in the lowlands, we ate in concentrated silence for a while.
As I was finishing my first Sandwich, I felt Everett staring at me intently.
“What?”
I asked, keeping my mouth as closed as possible.
“You’ve got something on your lips.”
Everett said with a soft laugh.

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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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