10.
“…”
There was silence for a while. Norma seemed to be lost in thought.
“Sir Diazi”
But I couldn’t afford to wait any longer for Norma. I felt like I was going crazy because I was nervous.
“…”
“Hey, Sir Diazi?”
In the end, a sharp voice came out, as was the habit of being a merchant.
“Ah, Lord Mcfoy.”
Norma came to his senses and answered.
“I’m sorry about McFoy, I’m sorry.”
“It’s in the past.”
She looked at Norma with a strangely sad expression. When she saw that face, she felt the tightness in her chest again.
“Since you seem to have lost your mind, I will only ask you three questions. Please answer quickly and accurately.”
So a higher-pressure tone came out. Anyone who sees it will know that I am scolding Norma.
“Yes, my lord.”
“How was Nyx handled, how long has it been since I passed out, and where is this place?”
Norma seemed a little taken aback by his tone, but quickly replied calmly.
“I temporarily sealed him with my holy power. It was just for buying time, so the seal could be broken at any time. If there is no variable, it will be able to withstand at least 15 days and as long as 15 months.”
I knew it. My mouth, which had been pretending to be calm, was twisted at once.
“Anyway, I’m sick of that damn bastard…”
Unable to bear it, she uttered swear words. Her brutal voice made Norma open his eyes, but she ignored it.
Fifteen days to a month.
It was one of the ideal situations, and I had to figure out how to deal with the Nyx in it, how to deal with the Nyx once and for all without me dying.
Is there such a thing? My head hurts already.
“What about the time?”
“A full day and a half have passed since you lost consciousness. It is past noon now.”
“Huh… Did I sleep like that? Me? No, me?”
Could it be that he was mistaken? I am a person who works without sleeping four hours a day.
“It’s only natural that both external and internal injuries were significant. And this is Thule, a small town on the border between Central and Eastern. You can think of it as the west of the Ceria Mountains.”
“That is the good news. If you go a little further west, you will find Katam.”
Katam was the city where the top “Romdak” of McFoy stayed. It seemed better to report survival at Katam.
“Lord Mcfoy is well versed in geography.”
“I do big business. The empire changed a lot while the Lord was asleep. Nobles are directing the top.”
Of course, I was still the only aristocrat who openly pretended to be a merchant.
“Ah, then is this an inn?”
“Inn… no, this is not because Thule was a small town, there were no inns. This is just an old couple’s house with a good heart. They kindly gave me a room.”
Norma said, somehow embarrassed again. The inn was limited to the imperial capital, and it was a place where such things were done.
‘The old couple probably… It looks like they let in a suspicious stranger who is being chased by someone because of that face…’
I looked at the shy face with curious eyes and thought.
“If you have any questions you can ask more.”
“You’ve told me so much already.”
“There won’t be any next chance. Do you have any more questions? Mcfoy is a person who has a lot of information that is difficult for others to obtain. Starting from the blanks in your memory, the secrets of this world.
I instantly remembered <Ophelia and the Night>, and I responded self-deprecatingly, selling my manners. Then she immediately regretted what she had said. At the thought of earning at least 15 days, I unknowingly even talked about things that I didn’t have to talk about.
Norma just blinked prettily and said.
“Lord Mcfoy is an interesting person.”
I’m not an interesting person.
His yellow eyes folded into half moons, and I clenched my fists as they curled.
***
After quickly exchanging information, I left my seat saying I would leave for Katam right away. However, Norma said that I was still patient, and the winner was unexpectedly who was Norma, who was surprisingly stubborn.
I glared at Norma, who was peeling the potatoes, and I shuddered again at the way he pressed my shoulders with a smile, telling me that I had to eat a little.
The short squabble in bed was over as soon as my stomach rumbled. I had a long empty stomach.
I heated up in shame and shouted, “Okay,” and the blush seemed to be contagious.
For some reason, I felt my shoulder hurt, so I glared at Norma again, who was peeling potatoes with a satisfied face. No matter how much I think about it, Norma’s physical contact standards seemed a little strange. It’s just strange, but a question popped up.
‘But what’s this guy doing here for? Why is he moving with me? Aren’t you going home?
Whether I go to Katam right now or not!
I was about to open my mouth for a moment when I heard a knock.
“Oh, the hostess said she was handing out soup, but it looks like she brought it herself.”
Norma said, smiling at me as if to reassure me. I chewed on the potatoes and nodded my head.
As Norma said, the owner of the knock was an old lady with a warm impression. As a courtesy, I tried to get out of bed and say hello, but I was stopped at once. The old lady made a fuss and told me to lie down. I readily accepted the favor because it was still true that my body was still like a stone, so I accepted the favor.
In between conversations with Norma, the old lady glanced at me with a look of joy. I awkwardly avoided her gaze and moved my chin slowly. Uncomfortable with her stare, she could hardly pass the chewy potatoes down her throat.
It was then.
“Oh, the new wife is shy! The husband is so kind!”
“Fuck! fghj,kl/;”
The sudden attack forced me to spit out the potatoes I had been chewing.
“By the way, the husband is very handsome and has a great body, so the new wife must be happy! There are a lot of hallways! Never mind, you two. Soundproofing is good, so don’t worry.
The old lady laughed and ran away as if she found it fun to tease the young newlyweds. My facial muscles contorted with the impact.
“…what?”
I rubbed my lips and murmured slowly.
Norma stood still, holding the plate the old lady had left. Even if she didn’t look, it was obvious that the back of his neck would be burnt red.
“…”
“…the hostess seems to have misunderstood. I’ll go and explain–”
Norma creaked.
“No, we can’t explain it. Then we’ll look suspicious.”
“But.”
“… I know it’s unpleasant, but you’d better put up with it.”
To the old lady, Norma and I looked like a country aristocratic young lady and a commoner knight running away for love. It seems to have unintentionally added stimulating fun to the old lady’s boring daily life.
It wasn’t good to make a fuss. I have many enemies, and it’s hard to prove my identity in this way. It was a waste of time explaining the details.
“It would be less noisy if it seemed to be an escape for love.”
Escape for love. It was moderately light and not a bad setup to get help from innocent people.
… As long as Norma is okay. I glanced at Norma’s expression.
“Lo…, love…”
He still looked red, muttered, and shook his head sharply.
“I am not offended. Why is that-.”
“Then I’m glad.”
I tried to look away from the basket of potatoes and said it in the least significant way possible. To be honest, this was also very embarrassing
Norma opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it. Standing awkwardly by the door, he soon came over to me with a plate of soup and sat down.
“Rather than that, I will go to Katam. Where are you going?”
The air was somehow awkward, so I hurriedly changed the subject.
“I will also go to Katam with you. Please do not refuse.”
“…”
It was much more effective than I thought. It brought me to my senses.
‘Oh, look at this guy. What are you up to?’
It was the first thought I had.
“Why? I don’t know why you’re doing this. I already owe you my life. For what purpose are you moving?”
I asked directly. It wasn’t a clever question, and certainly not an aristocratic way of speaking.
It was because I was anxious like a person with a weakness. After all, nothing was fair. Unconditional favor did not make sense to my common sense.
What is Norma moving with?
“As a paladin, I must protect Mehera’s daughter. Above all, isn’t the seal incomplete because I’m lacking? I can’t let you go all the way to Katam alone, not knowing what the danger might be.”
“The Paladin’s duty, the incompleteness of the seal? Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
Norma gave the sternest answer so far.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had a person who gives unconditionally without calculating profit and loss, so I completely forgot that sometimes people like this exist.
You’re a righteous hero, but still…
I squinted my eyes and scanned Norma Diazi. The wind came through the open window and gently rustled Norma’s silver hair. It was a picture.
‘Well, we don’t have to reveal our feelings to each other.’
“Well, let’s just say yes.”
“Lord Mcfoy.”
“I know it’s dangerous to move without an escort. Rather, I was going to ask you to go with me to Katam first. I just wondered why Lord would help me and how far she would help me. I apologize for that because I dared to ask.”
“…”
“I don’t believe everything you say.”
I only raised the corners of my mouth and gave a fake smile. Norma looked at me with a hard face.
“I’ll believe half of you when you talk about chivalry. I’d have screamed if you said something like it was love at first sight. I’ve never seen you before.”
I said, pointing to the lower floor where the landlord and his wife were staying. Only then did Norma smile faintly.
There was another brief silence between me and Norma.
“You must be confused, but I’m sorry for pushing you.”
I got up completely from my seat and said. Then she bowed deeply to Norma and greeted
“Lord McFoy, you must not bow your head to me.”
“It’s late, but thanks for saving my life, Sir Diazi.”
“Me, too―.”
“The lord shouldn’t be thanking me.”
“You said you weren’t a benefactor, but I woke up because of the Lord.”
“I didn’t do anything, but if you think so, let’s say we helped each other. From now on, all we have to do is settle what will happen in the future.”
Norma looked puzzled for a moment, but then he nodded in affirmation.
“Please take good care of me. Sir Norma Diazi.”
I held out my hand. If we made a deal, wouldn’t we shake hands next?
Norma looked down awkwardly at my hand asking for a handshake. Handshaking was a rare greeting in the Empire. Especially between men and women.
The way he hesitated was somehow funny, so I chuckled. Norma stared at my face and slowly held her hand.
The hand was big and warm, like when it had wrapped my face in the cave. Come to think of it, it was the first time I had ever shaken hands without gloves.
Hope you enjoy ♥️
