Laila thought it might be better to let the skepticism continue. It would be better than if he firmly believed in Laila’s prophetic dreams and tried to find out “how” she was having them.
As Laila wiped her damp palms on her skirt, the Marquis said.
“You don’t look injured anywhere else, by the way.”
Laila tensed momentarily at his words.
Right, she had implied that revealing the prophecy would lead to her getting hurt.
Laila opened her mouth, thinking she should tumble down the stairs or trip somewhere soon.
“Injuries happen after the events of the dream unfold in reality.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Nothing serious, just enough to not be life-threatening…”
“I see. Anyway, Laila, your birthday is in a week.”
Laila glanced up with a puzzled expression.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Think of a gift. I’ll give you whatever you want.”
“…… Okay.”
“Now, you may leave.”
As Laila walked away, the office door closed behind her.
‘Birthday gift…’
She didn’t have anything she wanted, but she did have something she wanted to do. Laila thought of the capital, or more precisely, the largest library in the kingdom, located in the capital.
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Consequently, on the morning of her birthday, Laila packed her belongings into the carriage and prepared to depart for the capital.
The person accompanying her was Sion, and…
“Miss. I am deeply honored that you have chosen me as your escort.”
“I understand your gratitude; now, please stop.”
Laila climbed into the carriage first and gestured to Taylor. Taylor quickly got in and closed the door.
The carriage set off. Laila leaned back against the padded backrest.
‘You never know what could happen in the capital.’
The capital was vast and complex. Unlike the Marquisate of Hildegarde, there were many people who didn’t recognize Laila.
It wasn’t a safe place for two children to roam around freely. So, after much consideration, Laila decided to bring Taylor along.
There was one concern, though. With Taylor by her side, she wouldn’t be able to converse with Sion.
A week’s journey from the Marquisate of Hildegarde to the capital. Another week from the capital to the marquisate.
Add in the time spent in the capital: two weeks and a few days! That was a long time to remain silent.
In the end, after consulting Sion’s opinion last night, Laila made a decision. She chose to trust Taylor.
“Sir Taylor, there’s something I need to confess.”
“Yes, Miss. Please, speak your mind.”
“Sion’s not being able to speak is a lie.”
“What?”
“Well, he was temporarily unable to speak due to shock, but he can speak now.”
Sharp emotions flashed over Taylor’s composed face. It was betrayal.
“But he didn’t say a word when I was around…”
“Well, there’s a reason for that. I asked Sion only to speak when it’s just the two of us.”
“What? Why?”
“It’s because…….”
Laila spat out the words with difficulty.
“Sion has a good voice…… if anyone hears it, I’m afraid someone might covet it…”
A sense of hopelessness washed over Laila’s chest. This was bad.
The reason she’d concocted sounded terribly feeble now that she’d actually said it out loud.
Ah, would anyone really believe such nonsense?
“So, that’s how it is!”
Laila widened her eyes and looked at Taylor. Taylor was nodding with an innocent look on his face.
“I understand your feelings, Miss.”
“Um, yeah.”
Suspicion crept into Laila’s mind. Wasn’t there some sort of employment scam behind Taylor’s becoming a knight for the Marquis of Hildegarde?
“So, is it a secret that Sion can talk?”
“Yes. Will you keep it a secret?”
“I swear I won’t reveal it to anyone.”
“Thank you. And…….”
Laila hesitated before bringing up a potentially troublesome matter.
“Although Sion is technically my slave, I consider him a friend. So…”
Laila glanced at Sion, who was sitting quietly on one side of the carriage.
“Sion, can you call me?”
“Laila.”
“…Is that so?”
Laila cautiously glanced back at Taylor.
Taylor’s face was shocked as if struck by lightning. That’s right. It was the expected reaction.
“You have a really nice voice!”
“…….”
“I understand Miss’s feelings once again. I’ll definitely keep the secret.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes? Oh, yes.”
Taylor looked back and forth between Sion and Laila, then shrugged.
“How could I dare to voice an opinion on a matter you have permitted, milady?”
…it was indeed a valid point.
“But I also want to talk to Sion when it’s just the two of us. Is that not allowed?”
“It’s not that it’s not allowed… It’s just that I’m not sure if Sion will speak freely to Sir Taylor.”
“Hmmm. Sion, call me.”
Sion’s indifferent gaze turned towards Taylor. After a brief silence, Sion spoke.
“Taylor.”
“What……! You won’t even call me Master?”
“You haven’t taught me anything; what do you mean ‘master’?”
“If I haven’t taught you anything, then what about the swordsmanship you learned from me?”
“I’m mostly self-taught.”
“Hey!”
Taylor’s hips jerked up as if shocked by the term “self-taught,” but he didn’t seem to mind Sion’s retort. However, aside from that, Sion’s informal speech didn’t seem to bother him much.
At this point, Laila found Taylor intriguing. Knights were treated as minor nobility.
‘Sir Taylor doesn’t seem like a… knight.’
No, should I say he doesn’t seem like a minor nobility?
Just as Laila was having these thoughts, Taylor spoke unexpectedly.
“I learned that a knight is someone who wields a sword to protect the weak.”
“…….”
“And Sion is…”
Taylor, who was observing Sion intently, leaned towards Laila.
Sensing Taylor’s intention to whisper, Laila willingly leaned in, and Taylor immediately whispered:
“I would stake all of my assets to say this: I will appear before you in a position that you will one day have to look up to.”
Laila’s eyes widened.
‘Is this…’
Could this be a prophecy?
Maybe Taylor was the true prophet.
As Laila pondered in confusion, Taylor straightened up from his leaned position.
Observing this, Laila slowly spoke up.
“Sir Taylor, how much is your property worth?”
“…Are you really asking about that first? Very well. I’ll get it organized and let you know.”
If left alone, he might actually organize and let her know. Laila chuckled and added that she was joking.
The carriage, bound for a long journey, didn’t rush but moved briskly.
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Laila’s eleventh birthday gift.
It was permission for a trip to the capital.
‘Come back before the end of spring.’
An unusual deadline. Laila answered ‘yes’ obediently, but she had no intention of spending the spring in the capital.
Laila had only one reason for going to the capital.
Peruse the extensive collection at the National Library.
‘I’ll just check the catalog, so a few days should be enough.’
The reason for allocating not just a day but ‘a few days’ was because the National Library was incredibly vast.
And sure enough,
As soon as Laila arrived at the library, she couldn’t help but admire it.
The library, consisting of three floors, was so vast. The library boasted a variety of facilities, akin to a multi-purpose complex, to enhance the convenience of its visitors.
Among them, the “cafeteria” particularly caught Laila’s eye.
Being able to eat inside the library!
Though it had to be in a separate area, not having to leave the library building was a convenience in itself.
‘Perfect.’
After organizing her plans, Laila turned to Taylor and Sion.
“I have something to say.”
“That you’re such a bibliophile that you sought out the library as soon as you arrived in the capital? Yes, I’ve noticed.”
What’s he talking about…? Laila glanced at Taylor before speaking up.
“From now on, I’m going to stay in the library until closing time.”
“What? Even for a bookworm, that’s…”
“Keep it down.”
In a library where silence was paramount, Laila scolded Taylor for making a loud remark and then continued.
“You two don’t need to stay with me in the library. Just wait outside and come back before closing time.”
