~Chapter 25~
Latryne held out his hand as he spoke, but I didn’t really feel like going back.
Seeing my expression, Latryne asked, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s just… I don’t really want to go back.”
“Aren’t you feeling exhausted?”
“I am… but…”
It was a tricky situation.
Now that there were rumors going around that I had a child and had even been abandoned by the child’s father, there was no way the people in the palace would leave me alone.
Even if I went back to my room, I’d probably be bombarded with questions from the knights waiting for me…
I was sick of dealing with everyone in the palace.
All I wanted was to rest quietly, alone.
“It’s nothing… just, with all these rumors spreading, I don’t think the people at the palace will leave me in peace. They made a huge fuss when I returned after getting injured.”
“Then how about returning to your family’s estate?” Latryne suggested.
“Well, I left home a long time ago… and, honestly, my brother is too busy to pay attention to me. His wife is pregnant, so things are a bit hectic at home too.”
“So that’s the situation… What about staying at your own house?”
“At first, I thought of going to my house to rest, but since I’ve been so busy and always staying at the palace, I haven’t used it in ages. There’s no one at the house now. His Majesty told me not to go there because there wouldn’t be anyone to look after me while I’m unwell…”
Latryne listened quietly to my explanation, but when I mentioned that my house was empty, he reacted.
“No one’s there? Then going to your house won’t work either.”
“But I feel like it would be better for my recovery to be alone rather than go back to my room and face everyone…”
“But if you’re not feeling well and no one’s around to take care of you… that’s not good either.”
“I’ll be fine. I can take care of myself. Even though His Majesty told me not to go, given the situation, it seems better to just head there.”
I smiled a little as I said that.
Honestly, I thought it would be much better to rest alone at my empty house rather than stay at the palace, where I’d constantly be interrupted.
Sure, Phaedris had ordered me to stay, but I figured this was something I could get away with.
Then, out of nowhere, Latryne grabbed my hand and said, “…If it wouldn’t be too uncomfortable for you, why don’t you come stay at my estate?”
“Huh…?”
“The people currently working at my estate are all newly hired in the capital, so they have no connection to my family. You can rest assured. …But, of course, staying in someone else’s home might still feel awkward for you.”
To be honest, I didn’t feel uncomfortable with the idea at all. It seemed like a much better option than either the palace or staying alone in an empty house.
But I couldn’t help wondering why Latryne was offering to go this far for me.
“Wouldn’t I be imposing on you too much?” I asked.
“Not at all. It’s the least I can do. Especially after everything Sertien has already caused you, and after all the help you’ve given us.”
I felt like I had received more help from him than the other way around.
But the thought of going to Latryne’s estate and seeing Sertien was tempting enough to sway me.
‘No, but still… I can’t cause him this much trouble,’ I thought to myself.
I was about to refuse his offer, but before I could even say anything, Latryne spoke again.
“Sending you back alone to an empty house would only make me worry. It seems like it’d be better for you to come to my estate and get proper rest.”
And then, without warning, Latryne lifted me up onto his back.
“Wait, wait, I’m fine! You don’t need to go this far…”
It was the second time I found myself on Latryne’s back.
Ignoring my protests completely, Latryne started walking out of the garden, heading toward his estate.
“I’m really fine. But wait, are you planning to walk all the way to your estate like this?”
“It’s not far.”
“What? No, just call for a carriage! Didn’t you injure your leg the last time?”
“I’m fine…”
But in the end, I couldn’t convince Latryne to change his mind.
Resigned to my fate, I let myself relax on his back, giving up on trying to stop him.
Latryne reassured me, “We can notify His Majesty later, so there’s no need to worry.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about… I’m worried about your condition. You keep telling me not to overexert myself, but it’s okay for you to push yourself like this?”
“Well, I’m less injured than you are, so I’ll be alright.”
“…”
There was nothing I could say to that.
And so, with me on his back, Latryne actually walked out of the palace.
To my surprise, he really intended to walk all the way to his estate.
The streets of the capital were bright with life.
People were still bustling about, going about their business.
It had been a long time since I’d last seen the capital like this, given how much time I spent cooped up in the palace.
As I continued looking at the scenery, Latryne asked, “It’s been a while since you’ve been out, hasn’t it?”
“Yeah… I haven’t had much time to relax lately. …The palace is probably in an uproar right now because I didn’t come back.”
“They’d probably make a fuss whether you returned or not. Either way, there’d be some kind of commotion, so it doesn’t really make a difference.”
I stared down at the back of Latryne’s head, taken aback by his comment.
He was surprisingly shameless, I realized.
“Latryne, I didn’t think you were so cheeky,” I said, half in disbelief.
“Am I?” he replied, sounding completely unbothered.
As I sat on Latryne’s back, feeling a little bored, I decided to strike up a conversation.
“Come to think of it, when I was at the council room earlier, you suddenly showed up. Why did you come? Did you have some business there?”
“I came for the same reason you did—about my marriage. But when Princess Aileen told me you were already there, I hurried over and arrived before the meeting started.”
“…So you arrived earlier because of me?”
“Yes, I was worried.”
“I’m really not that sick.”
“No… It wasn’t just your condition I was worried about. I was more concerned about what the elders might try to do to you.”
I understood what Latryne meant.
I knew the council very well.
From what I knew of the story’s plot, they were not exactly the most virtuous group.
In fact, they could be considered the true antagonists of this world, given how devious they could be.
“Those people are capable of anything if it helps them achieve their goals. …It’s best to avoid them if possible, but if you do have to face them, be careful.”
Latryne had suffered more than anyone else at the hands of the council.
So, it made sense that he would worry about me in that regard.
A thought suddenly struck me, and I spoke up.
“Did your wife…? Ah, sorry for bringing it up.”
“…”
The words slipped out of my mouth without thinking, and I quickly shut up, realizing I might have touched a sensitive subject.
Latryne said nothing.
Had I brought up something I really shouldn’t have?
“I actually want to ask you something honestly,” I said, feeling a bit awkward.
“What is it?”
“Are you this concerned about me because… your late wife was also frail?”
Latryne didn’t respond for a while.
His light footsteps were the only sound that filled the dark streets.
“If I said it wasn’t related… I’d be lying. Does that bother you?”
“As I’ve told you before, I don’t get upset over things like that.”
“…The truth is, because Erias was always in poor health… I have many bad memories. So, when I see you—someone who reminds me of her—I can’t help but worry that you’ll also become ill, even though I know in my head that you’re different. I just can’t control it.”
“It sounds like a kind of trauma.”
“Perhaps. Seeing you push your body too hard puts me on edge. Of course, even looking at it objectively, you really shouldn’t be moving around right now.”
“I know that…”
His last remark left me feeling a little embarrassed.
I knew I was supposed to be resting, but I kept finding myself in situations where I had no choice but to move.
“Well then, I’ll just have to show you how healthy I am, so you can stop worrying about me.”
“You sound confident.”
“Of course! I may have shown you a weaker side, but I’m actually pretty sturdy, you know? Honestly, I’m probably tougher than you.”
“You might be right. Considering the recent events, you should have been on death’s door, not walking around with only minor injuries.”
Latryne spoke as if it were nothing, but I could hear a slight tremor in his voice.
It was something he didn’t even want to imagine.
“Don’t worry too much. I’ll rest properly and recover quickly…” I said, trying to reassure him.
As we talked, we finally arrived at Latryne’s estate.
Latryne stopped in front of a large mansion.
“Is this it?”
“Yes.”
Since we had arrived, I thought I should get down and walk in on my own, but Latryne didn’t seem inclined to let me down.
“Really, I’m fine…”
But I understood that he was worried, so I decided not to argue.
Then, suddenly, a thought occurred to me, and I shyly called his name.
“Latryne…”
“Yes?”
“Is Seri here too?”
“Of course. I thought I’d be back sooner, but it ended up taking longer than expected… I didn’t even get to finish the business I planned.”
“Um, so… could I stay with Seri?”
It was a ridiculous request, even in my own mind.
Asking to stay with someone else’s child…
But it had been a while since I’d seen Sertien, and I missed him.
Despite the absurd rumors that had started because of him.
“Hm? But Sertien is still young, so he might be a distraction while you’re trying to rest…”
“No, I think being with him will help me recover.”
I was saying whatever came to mind, just because I really wanted to see Sertien.
“…Sertien would be thrilled to spend time with you. …You really do like him, don’t you?”
“Yes, he’s such a lovely child. I’m envious that he’s really your son.”
