‘My Lady must return within two months at the latest. There was an imperial decree to leave for the Isle of Lakai before the founding ceremony.’
Klisha hurried on, recalling her nanny’s request.
Shukrim, the horse she was riding on, also seemed to be enjoying the rare long journey. His steps were light and lively as he pounded his hooves on the ground.
Three nights ago, she had left without telling her father…
The truth was, her father had sensed her intention of leaving and rushed to stop her. Finding no other choice, she had to tie her own father up in a remote location of the mansion before leaving.
Nevertheless, she was glad that no one was aware of her departure officially since she had left without letting anyone know. She didn’t even want the few guard knights of the family and the family seal-embossed carriage accompanying her.
However, Klisha…
As is standard in such matters.
She had departed wearing the appropriate men’s attire which was carefully selected by her nanny.
‘No one would think it strange for an ordinary adult man to be traveling alone, so it’s fine.’
But Klisha didn’t know.
She had a quite tall and slender build. Along with her originally flawless, white skin, almond-shaped eyes, a straight nose, and red hair tied nearty tightly on top of her head.
She appeared to be an extremely handsome young man from a distance.
Even though she was covered in dust after the long rough journey on the road, the young women couldn’t help but glance at her frequently, making her the center of attention on the street.
And the self-proclaimed ‘dark forces’ within the city began to show great interest in the handsome young man who appeared alone on a rare and magnificent horse.
Whether or not she noticed the quick exchange of glances, Klisha stroked Shukrim’s neck and spoke softly.
“Let’s stay here for the night and have a meal. The city is bigger than I expected.”
The cityscape they had arrived at around sunset was warmer than she had expected.
People were seen bustling everywhere. Merchants shouting to sell cheap items even cheaper, children walking hand in hand with their parents, couples laughing together, the smell of delicious food in the air, and even the light leaking through the cracks in the windows of the houses around.
Compared to the frontier where war was raging all over the year, it was a picturesque scene.
‘Maybe because this city is located close to the capital. The atmosphere is rather peaceful.’
Even the distant sound of quarrels and shouts of drunkards sounded endearing to Klisha.
“I haven’t washed properly in days. My nanny would faint if she found out.”
Klisha snickered as she recalled the nanny from her childhood, who used to scold her with a stern face, insisting that ‘washing your face every day’ was essential.
Let’s see. Perhaps the inn near the intersection over there would be a good resting place?
Klisha got off her horse and walked toward the five-story inn that boasted a rather neat exterior.
“Welcome, Sir.”
A girl standing behind the counter, who looked to be about sixteen, greeted her with a bright smile.
“Are you planning on staying overnight? Or just having a meal?”
“A single room for me to stay until tomorrow morning. I’d also like to be provided with meals.”
“Certainly.”
“I hope you could take care of this fellow as well.”
“Ah! Apologies but our inn doesn’t have a stable. However, there is a large horse management company called <Tomma Horses> in the central square. They handle horses for long-distance travelers, providing services like shoeing and bathing. Would it be alright to leave your horse there, esteemed guest?”
“Hmm.”
Klisha looked back at Shukrim.
Meanwhile, Shukrim was clearly busy by a moth sitting on his nose, constantly flicking his long tongue and shaking his head.
Klisha was a bit concerned about whether it would be alright to leave him in a place where she couldn’t keep an eye on him. Considering his unusual temperament, which he must have inherited from a certain someone, it was a bit troublesome to leave him alone.
However, the outside was getting dark. The time was ambiguous for her to wander around looking for another inn.
“Shukrim. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow morning, so be a good horse and behave yourself.…Don’t cause trouble.”
Whether he understood or not, Shukrim was busy chewing on something.
A bit of a torn moth wing was sticking out between Shukrim’s large front teeth, but Klisha chose to ignore it.
* * *
At that time.
A commotion erupted at the mansion of Viscount Mezerine.
The Young Lady had disappeared!
Furthermore, she had tied up the Viscount in the northern warehouse!
Although the young lady had caused trouble and run away more than once before.
Who would have thought she would confine her own father and escape?
“My Lord, are you hurt?”
Butler Hans asked with concern, carefully cutting the rope tightly bound behind the Viscount’s arm.
“….”
“My Lady…was the one who did this to My Lord?”
“….”
Hans observed the Viscount’s expression as he sat silently, rubbing his wrists. He hesitated a little before opening his mouth slowly.
“When My Lord mentioned that you were going to buy a house on the Isle of Lakai, we all assumed that was the case… We didn’t expect you would be tied up in a place like this…”
Issac’s eyes turned to the window.
Outside the window, the clouds were painted red by the setting sun.
During the war, being confined together with other people in a strange place was common. And daily life often involved sleeping rough, with inadequate access to food and water. For the Viscount, being locked in a warehouse hadn’t had any physical impact on him compared to the harsh environment of the battlefield. The real issue was the psychological impact.
No. How could this happen, me? No matter what! A surprise attack on me, her own father?!
The fact made him dazed for a day and a half.
The Viscount, who had been silent for a while, slowly opened his mouth.
“…Shasha?”
“…My Lady hasn’t been seen for a few days, and since Shukrim is also missing…. it seems she must have gone far away. Most likely to the capital….”
The Viscount, who had been lost in thought for a moment, got up and pushed open the warehouse door.
The hero of the territorial war.
The Red Lion of Schmarin.
From a young age, he was renowned as a swordsmanship prodigy in the Schmarin region. And as he turned into a young man, he was selected for the direct knightly order under the Honored Temple, rapidly advancing through the ranks.
However.
One day, unexpectedly and against everyone’s predictions, he abandoned his position as the Vice Captain of the prestigious Order of the Sacred Knights, which guaranteed him all kinds of honors, and married Klisha’s mother.
Klisha’s mother was the daughter of an unknown commoner family in the border region. She was born with a weak body.
Shortly after Klisha’s birth, her mother passed away from postpartum fever. Despite everyone urging him to remarry, Issac refused and chose to personally raise the infant Klisha.
The incursion into the borders of the enemy nation, Servan, began around that time.
After observing the progress of the war, Issac, after much deliberation, decided to carry his infant daughter on his back and went to the battlefield. Despite many trials, he ultimately achieved victory.
“My… judgement was wrong.”
The Viscount rubbed his stinging eyes.
“I… raised a black-haired beast.”
[T/N: ‘Raised a black-haired beast’ a Korean slang, often meaning caring for someone only for the person to stab you in the back; a traitor. It has similar meaning to the Chinese slang, ‘White-eyed wolf’.]
One of the oblivious servants asked curiously.
“But doesn’t Her Ladyship have red hair?”
“….”
When the Viscount withdrew his gaze and glared at the servant, butler Hans jabbed the servant in the stomach with his elbow and commanded in a low voice.
‘Keep quiet. For now.’
Issac, averting his gaze from the servant, murmured as he slowly walked towards the main building.
“…She can even use…. When did she grow up like that?”
“Yes?”
“…and… to manage both of them at the same time. Where on earth did she learn that?”
“….”
Issac raised his right hand and gestured this way and that way like a person who lost his soul. He muttered a seemingly audible remark to himself as if he was still astonished.
“This is… Maybe I shouldn’t have taken her to the battlefield from the start. The things they taught are now coming back to me…. It’s my fault, my fault entirely.”
As the Viscount shook his head and lamented to himself, butler Hans and two servants closely followed behind.
“But… butler Hans.”
The round-faced, kind-looking servant, Cain, called to Hans in a low, whispering voice.
“What?”
“Considering the Master’s strength, couldn’t he have cut through those ropes easily? Why was he staying in the storeroom for two nights?”
“….”
At this moment, another oblivious servant, Chris, also spoke up.
“You fool. The Lord was defeated by the Young Lady in the fight. He must have been threatened to stay put. Yes! Otherwise, what do you think he would have been doing there?”
“Oh. So does that mean the Young Lady is the strongest in the household now?”
“The Young Lady was good at combat from the beginning. Her skills are excellent.”
“Have you ever been hit by the Young Lady?”
“Of course. Last time the Young Lady ran away, the nanny ordered me to follow her. But I was caught by the Young Lady and beaten instead.”
Butler Hans interrupted the rambling conversation of the two oblivious servants.
“Keep quiet. Refrain from uttering such dishonoring words about the Young Lady. Otherwise, you’ll be severely punished. Don’t taint the honor of a young lady who hasn’t even gotten married yet….”
Hans sighed as he recalled the already complicated ‘life-long affairs’ of the Young Lady and couldn’t help but add.
“… Stop. That’s enough.”
But Chris raised his right hand slightly and asked.
“But, butler Hans.”
“Oh. Why again?”
“Since earlier, I’ve noticed the Viscount’s back has been… well, rising up. It seems like he’s quite pleased, doesn’t it?”
Hans turned his head,
The war hero’s trapezius muscles, moving lightly along the path illuminated by the moonlight peeking through, seemed to have risen an extra inch today.
‘My Lord seems happy. Perhaps realizing that the Young Lady has grown up.’
He could never understand the intention of the war hero.
Considering the fact that he, a loving father, was bound and imprisoned by his own daughter, his behavior seemed unusually unbothered. He even appeared to be happy. Butler Hans shook his head helplessly.
No wonder the Young Lady’s education was flawed all along… He thought.
A bird with crimson red feather, circling in the air, landed neatly on the tip of a meticulously pruned garden tree, following the group as they walked.
The red bird with its mysterious golden eyes stared at the Viscount’s wide back for a while. It preened its feathers before tilting its head and flying off in a certain direction.
Thank you for the translation! Really interesting so far.