The butler of Pertelian, since serving his current master, was now receiving the most persistent instructions.
“Have you prepared everything necessary?”
He wasn’t sure how many times he had already been asked that.
“Yes, Your Grace. I’ve packed the cookies Lady Ariel likes, as well as plenty of bones and jerky for the dog. I also made sure to include the dog training manual passed down in the duchy.”
But without showing any sign of annoyance, the butler answered everything. It was only natural since Kasion was so excited.
“It feels like something is missing…”
“You also mentioned the fruits from the duchy’s garden, so I packed more of those.”
“Not that…”
“Flowers?”
“Yes, that would be nice too.”
The problem was that the list of gifts kept growing as the departure time approached. Would it all fit in the carriage?
“If we keep this up, Lady Ariel will be upset for being late.”
“That’s true… Then, let’s depart… Does my outfit look strange?”
“Hahaha, to my eyes, you look the most handsome, Master.”
The butler, seeing his master looking like a boy about to go on his first date, made a slip in addressing him. Even the seasoned butler couldn’t help but laugh at the pure demeanor of the master he had served since childhood.
“I see.”
Even the Duke, who normally wouldn’t tolerate a single speck of dust on himself, seemed a little off today.
“Alright, let’s head out.” Kasion finally finished preparing to leave. He planned to take his time so Ariel could have more time to get ready comfortably.
“Your Grace, there is something to report.”
It was the secret knight assigned to Ariel. Kasion’s eyes sharpened at his appearance.
Leaving the carriage behind, Kasion mounted his horse instead. He would reach the marquisate much faster that way.
* * *
I stood at the front gate, holding a puppy in my arms. It’s rude to send away a letter from an imperial without even accepting it, no matter how impolite they have been to me. To be precise, it’s not an issue of manners but survival. After all, I’m just an ordinary noble lady.
“What brings you here?”
I had tried telling him to just deliver the letter. But he didn’t listen.
Apparently, the second prince himself ordered him to deliver it in person and get a reply. It was obviously a lie. Someone as kind as Dertis wouldn’t send such a person to run his errands. Besides, this man has lived in the fief his whole life. How could he possibly have any connection to the second prince, who rarely leaves the palace?
“Ariel, didn’t the butler convey my message? Honestly, you still can’t manage your people properly, tsk tsk.”
His voice, squeaking like a rat, hadn’t changed. Even his shamelessness seemed to have multiplied by a hundred.
“I’ll ask again. Why are you here?”
“Are you not even going to greet your uncle?”
He had always been like this. Trying to lecture and teach me at every opportunity, saying that a child without parents had no manners. But who exactly is being rude here…
In any case, the viscount was still a vassal of the marquis’s family. And I am the daughter of the marquis. Strictly speaking, it’s he who should be showing me respect.
“If you have nothing to say, then leave.”
Despite claiming to be here on the second prince’s orders, he had a lot to say. Was this a trap, luring me in with lies? In that case, it was best to retreat inside quickly.
Though the knights of the marquisate were watching Viscount Kainum closely, there was no telling what he might do, just like in the old days.
“How cold.”
“I don’t think you’re in any position to say that.”
“Your brother, and now you… Are you both still misunderstanding me?”
I was dumbfounded by his audacity, which seemed to pierce the sky.
“Address him properly. My brother is Marquis of Mellin.
I should have just ignored him and gone back inside.
At my sharp reprimand, Viscount Kainum’s face twisted. Yet, seeing that look on his face was oddly satisfying after everything he had done to us.
“You’ve… grown a lot.”
“Of course.”
It would be a mistake to think of me as the clueless young girl I once was.
“Yes, I’m glad to see that.”
“You said you came to deliver a letter from the second prince. If you keep dodging the issue, I’ll have you charged with impersonating an imperial messenger.”
At my resolute stance, the Viscount’s face contorted further.
“Tsk tsk, you don’t even know what rumors are circulating in society right now…”
What was he talking about? He’d been holed up in the fief this whole time.
“If you don’t know our family’s circumstances, then keep your mouth shut. That’s your duty as a vassal.”
I shot back at him. His face flushed red with anger. Fortunately, the gate was closed. If it hadn’t been, Viscount Kainum might have lunged at me to rip out my hair.
“Go back to your fief and reflect on your behavior. Don’t ruin the upcoming celebration for no reason.”
“Such insolence. I found the perfect match for you, and you dare speak to me like this, you defective wench?”
He was just as vulgar as ever. Through the iron bars of the gate, his face looked utterly repulsive. And the way he yelled with his throat fully exposed was even worse.
My heart calmed down at such a pathetic outburst. To think such a person dared to target my family. Wasn’t he too weak to be a true villain?
“A wench? Did you just call me that? Should I report this to my brother?”
“You’re the reason Serhen is caught up in such filthy scandals!”
“What did you say? You’re still not in your right mind, are you?”
Was it because of the sturdy gate before me? I stood defiantly, not backing down. If I had been a child, I might have been scared, but I wasn’t anymore. No, maybe I was a little frightened, but not enough to make me freeze. Maybe it was because he hadn’t directly confronted me during that past incident?
I barely managed to calm my breath, which had almost quickened. “Butler, drive him out immediately. Ensure he never comes near the gate again.”
Don’t forget, Ariel. I am the only sister of the Marquis of Mellin. I have every right to give these orders.
“Yes, Milady.”
“Ah, and search his belongings to see if there’s a letter from the prince. If you find it, bring it to me. If not, send someone to the imperial palace right away. Tell them to arrest this criminal at once.”
“Understood, Milady. You all heard her, right?”
As soon as I gave the order, the knights moved to grab the Viscount. He was dragged toward the end of the road by the strong men. The knights stripped off his coat and searched it thoroughly, but there was no envelope from the second prince. As expected, he had only been using Dertis’s name.
“There’s no letter or anything. Shall we search again?”
The knights handed me his coat through the now slightly opened gate. I took it and carefully examined every pocket, but there wasn’t a scrap of paper.
“It’s clear he was lying. Butler, send someone to the imperial palace at once.”
“Yes, Milady.”
The knights tossed the viscount’s coat back at him. Slowly, they walked back toward the gate.
“How dare you insult me!”
Suddenly, Viscount Kainum sprang to his feet. He charged straight at me. The knights ran toward the now slightly open gate to stop him. Everyone got tangled up. They all tumbled through the gate.
“Milady, it’s dangerous!” The butler stood in front of me.
The weight of the armored knights was no joke. The gatekeeper hurried to close the slightly ajar gate. But before it could fully shut, the men crashed into it, making it burst open. Among the knights was Viscount Kainum.
“I won’t let this go.” Viscount Kainum lunged at me. His grotesque form expanded in my eyes.
This wasn’t the first time I’d seen it. Memories I had forgotten came flooding back. The horrible smell from that time resurfaced vividly.
“N-No…” I took a step back. Then, something small and warm leaped from my arms.
“Woof! Grrrr!”
The puppy barked at Viscount Kainum. It bared its tiny fangs as if trying to protect me. And without a moment’s hesitation, the small creature bit Viscount Kainum’s ankle.
“Argh! You filthy mutt!”
Viscount Kainum kicked the puppy away. My precious puppy flew through the air, yelping in pain.
“Stop it!”
Was I the next target of his violence?
But an unexpected turn of events occurred. Viscount Kainum grabbed my wrist and whispered something softly. “Ariel, someone wants to see you. They’re waiting at the end of that alley.”
I widened my eyes in shock. He mentioned the second prince’s name, so could it be Dertis? But Dertis would never use such an underhanded method… Then, could it be…
“The crown prince?”
“As expected, you’re smart. So come quiet—Uuugh!”
Just then, a powerful shock hit Viscount Kainum’s hand. He fell to the ground, writhing in pain, as if his bones had broken.
“Touching Ariel’s body means you have a death wish, don’t you?”
He had come to save me, just like that day.
Hi, if you enjoy the story, please leave a review in the Novelupdates. Thank you~
