Gallota’s sly smile crossed Brantley’s gaze.
“By the way, the Princess seems to be very close with her escort.”
He was still smiling, but there was a grimace of annoyance. Along with his insincere smile, his eyes were tainted with something else.
Brantley lowered his head and clenched his fists. It seemed he was desperately holding back.
‘He couldn’t have seen Brantley and me hugging, could he?’
Gallota’s almond-shaped eyes turned back to my anxious face.
“A knight dares to stand on the same level as his master. Your Highness must have permitted to do so.”
“……”
“This truly makes me jealous. To be so kind even to a mere servant.”
Thankfully, it didn’t seem he was acting this way because he had seen Brantley and me together.
Instead of making Brantley step back, I took a step forward myself.
Gallota, dissatisfied with the increased proximity, clasped his hands behind his back and leaned in. He was close enough that our faces nearly touched.
‘I don’t feel good about this.’
Now I understood. His blatant gaze. It was filled with a desire to possess me.
Hiding my discomfort, I flashed a sweet smile, “I’d like to be kind to the Second Prince as well.”
“Really? It didn’t seem like that when you tore up the corsage in front of me,” Gallota smiled as he spoke.
I looked straight into his eyes which were burning with greed.
“Of course. When His Highness returns to the Eastern Continent in a few days, we’ll not have the opportunity to meet. I want to treat you kindly while you’re here.”
“……”
His once excited gaze gradually turned cold. His sudden change was terrifying, but I pretended not to notice.
“Your Highness, it’s time to go.”
Brantley interjected at the perfect moment.
Feigning ignorance, I bowed to the Second Prince, “I must take my leave. Have a pleasant time in Berg.”
“Your Highness…”
Gallota’s low voice stopped me.
“You may not have heard yet but…”
“Oh! And I don’t believe in fate. Coincidence is just coincidence.”
I cut him off abruptly. Then, I bowed to Gallota once more and turned away briskly.
I could feel his persistent gaze on my back. As we rounded the corner and Gallota was out of sight, Brantley whispered, “That was dangerous. Did you see the way that jerk was looking at you?”
“I’m not scared of him. Just annoyed.”
“I know you are reckless. It’s still chilling to think what might have happened if I hadn’t come to the capital with you.”
Brantley ran a hand through his hair and sighed deeply, “I really can’t leave you alone.”
***
The plan to have dinner with Grandfather and Dad was completely ruined.
Because of Gallota, Dad stormed out, and Grandfather kneaded his throbbing head.
After briefly greeting Grandfather, I got into the carriage to head home.
The sunset cast a warm glow outside the window. I watched the street bathed in a red hue, trying to soothe my rubbled feelings.
“They’re following us again.”
Brantley’s words put a halt to my train of thought. The setting sun had cast a reddish glow on his handsome face.
“You mean those trailing us?”
“Yes. There are more of them this time.”
Brantley spoke with a tense expression. He closed his eyes and assessed our pursuers through his sharp senses.
“They’re following quite closely this time.”
Clatter!
The carriage suddenly came to a stop.
Brantley opened the window connected to the coachman and asked, “What’s going on?”
“There’s a large rock in the middle of the road. We need to move it.”
Brantley and I exchanged glances. We were thinking the same thing.
‘Those following us must have set this up.’
And this was a narrow, deserted road.
“Hanelope, stay right here.”
Brantley instructed before stepping out of the carriage.
I watched him through the window. Instead of removing the rock, Brantley walked into the dense trees along the road.
“Ah!”
A scream rang out. Most likely it was from the men who were trailing us.
The man had a large physique, yet he was helpless in Brantley’s grip. Brantley forcefully held the man’s neck and yanked off his hat.
“If you want this guy to live, the rest of you better come out now…!”
Brantley, who was letting out a menacing aura, suddenly froze. He stared at the struggling man in his grasp with a shocked expression.
“Why are you….”
Did Brantley know him? As my curiosity piqued, I leaned out the window.
“It’s me, Big Bro. Ack, cough…!”
“Big Bro! Please let him go! It’s us!”
More men emerged from the roadside bushes. They all looked robust and intimidating. But contrary to their appearance, they knelt before Brantley.
‘And they’re calling him “Big Bro”? When did Brantley have such scary-looking subordinates?’
With a bewildered expression, Brantley released the man he had grabbed.
“How did you find me here…?”
“We’ve been searching for you ever since you disappeared, Big Bro!”
“We finally found out you were here and have been tailing you, waiting for the right moment to approach.”
“Why are you looking for me? I’ve already left everything.”
At Brantley’s words, the burly men whimpered like lost puppies.
“Please don’t abandon us!”
“We beg you! Please be our new leader!”
Leader? I tried to make sense of the situation.
‘Are they from Brantley’s old mercenary group?’
Brantley rarely talked about his time in the mercenary group. I always assumed he had a rough time there.
“We don’t want to follow anyone but you!”
“Even the former leader said he wants you to take over and fully retire!”
“Please lead us!”
The men knelt and looked at Brantley with eager gazes. Some of them were even on the verge of crying.
‘…They’re so pure-hearted.’
“Big Bro, we love you!”
Finally, one of them confessed their admiration, causing Brantley to furrow his brows in discomfort.
***
“Are they crazy?” Dad muttered with a frown.
He had just heard what happened to Brantley. Brantley hung his head in shame. Dad still looked at Brantley with disapproval.
“So, the people we thought were stalking Hanelope were actually mercenaries trailing her guard knight?”
“Yes, that’s correct….”
Brantley answered in a subdued voice.
Dad scoffed in amusement, “Spending so much time at the border, they don’t even look like citizens from Berg empire…”
“…….”
“Looks like I’ve been worried for naught. So why don’t you go back and lead your mercenary band?”
Brantley shook his head, “No, I want to keep protecting Hanelope as I am now.”
“Then what about those men kneeling outside my estate?”
“I’ll persuade them to leave.”
“Do you think they’ll listen?”
“I’ll use physical persuasion if necessary.”
With a determined tone, Brantley went outside to persuade the mercenaries.
Dad glared at him retreating, but once Brantley was out of sight, his expression softened.
“Thank God those stalkers weren’t after you!”
His face, now gentle and filled with relief, was a stark contrast when facing Brantley.
“Stay cautious. Even if Gallota hasn’t set anyone to tail you, he might try something else.”
I nodded.
“The delegation leaves next week, so just be careful until then.”
Grandfather would never agree to Gallota’s demands anyway. Going to war with the Eastern continent had already crossed his mind.
For the next few days, I had to be careful and ignore Gallota’s annoying existence.
***
Rustle
The sound startled me as I got out of the carriage.
I was going to meet the Duchess Moltke at a café.
But a large man conspicuously hiding behind a tree caught my eye. It was one of the mercenaries trailing Brantley.
His obvious actions made me chuckle involuntarily.
“How cute….”
“Tsk.”
But Brantley seemed to think otherwise.
The mercenaries had been following Brantley for days now. Since their cover was blown, they openly trailed him.
Of course, they didn’t move in a pack like the first day but seemed to take turns each day. When not on duty, the other members had to recover from the “persuasion” they received from Brantley.
This is how I ended up with an additional guard besides Brantley.
“What are you doing here, Talot?”
Brantley strode towards the mercenary named Talot. Talot also revealed himself immediately. It was as if he had been waiting for Brantley to notice him.
“Go back. Following me around is pointless.”
“We can’t go back like this. Do you know how desperately we’ve been searching for you since you disappeared?”
“I’m done with mercenary work. If you keep this up, I’ll have to persuade you more harshly.”
“No matter how much you punish us, we’ve made up our minds!”
“Wow!” An exclamation slipped out.
Brantley and Talot both turned to look at me.
I approached them with sparkling eyes.
“Talot, you’re really devoted.”
“Devoted? Hanelope, do you know how weird that sounds?”
Brantley recoiled.
“But even after all the punishment, you still like your boss?”
“Of course. Even if he kills me, I’ll follow him as a spirit.”
“Uh…”
Now that’s a bit creepy.
