“…Oh, I see.”
At Kisa’s dejected voice, the smile on Seyard’s face changed to one of embarrassment.
“I’m sorry. I have quite a few matters to handle, and I should be heading down to my territory soon. I don’t think I’ll be able to make it during the monastery’s open week.”
“No! It’s fine. It’s because of work, after all. I completely understand.”
In truth, as a lord, he should have been spending much more time in his territory.
Moreover, the territory belonging to the Hillan family was the most extensive in the Sorbi Kingdom, except for the royal family’s.
Ordinarily, after finalizing his succession to the title, he should have made appropriate appearances in the capital to maintain relationships with other families, and then immediately gone to his territory to focus on its administration.
However, due to the unexpected contract marriage with Kisa, he had to extend his stay in the capital.
This was because important family events like engagement and wedding ceremonies couldn’t be held in a remote location, and it was customary to hold them in the capital so that as many people as possible from various families, including the royal family, could attend as guests.
Of course, that didn’t mean Seyard had completely neglected the management of his territory during this time.
He had been busy dealing with issues coming from his territory every day, and whenever he had free time, he made brief visits there.
‘But it seems I’ve reached my limit trying to manage things this way.’
It appeared that Seyard was planning to go down to his territory soon and stay there for an extended period.
Kisa, bringing a piece of beef to her mouth with her fork, honestly felt disappointed.
Even apart from this particular occasion, she had always wanted to visit the monastery where Seyard grew up, together with him.
[One of the monks I know often used to discern people’s lies in this manner. I don’t know if it was truly because the heart beats faster when one lies, or if he had other methods, but he was someone who could see through the human heart. Once, a young monk who had recently entered the monastery, bearing a grudge after being scolded by him..]
Ever since that day in the back garden of the Vansfelt mansion when she heard Seyard’s reminiscences, Kisa had been curious about what kind of place it was where he had grown up.
She had thought that someday she would like to actually go there and hear more of the small memories he had shared.
And then imagine his ordinary daily life there—eating, sleeping, studying, chatting.
‘But.’
Currently, Kisa’s primary purpose was not such a lukewarm desire but to find out what kind of person he was through the monks.
For that purpose, it was actually better that Seyard couldn’t make time due to his territorial affairs.
“Um, then would it be alright if I go alone?”
She could steer the conversation this way.
“Kisa, by yourself?”
Seyard’s eyes widened as if he had heard something unexpected.
“It’s a shame we can’t go together, but I still want to see it. Because it’s where you grew up.”
Kisa spoke, once again making a great effort to appear natural.
“Besides, if I miss this opportunity, I’ll only be able to visit a year later, and by then, I might be in Yomos.”
Yomos was a city located in the center of the Hillan duchy’s territory.
Though she had never been there, she had heard it was a much more prosperous place than the quiet Vansfelt family territory, and the Hillan family castle was also located there.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, after marrying Seyard and becoming the Duchess of Hillan, Kisa would also spend most of her time there.
And Yomos was farther from Bonzmos, where St. Pavela Monastery was located, than the capital was.
‘So it’s not strange for me to insist on going alone.’
Kisa anxiously awaited Seyard’s answer.
For her part, she really wanted to visit the monastery alone this time.
It’s only in the absence of the person concerned that genuine stories come out.
Even if the monks tried to speak as favorably as possible about Seyard, their major benefactor, there was a clear difference between him being present and absent.
Unaware of Kisa’s true intentions, Seyard leisurely tilted his wine glass.
“Indeed, it would be better to visit that place while staying in the capital.”
Just as relief was about to bloom in Kisa’s heart at hearing what seemed to be her desired response, he continued.
“Still, I would prefer that we go together.”
“What?”
“I’d like to personally introduce that place to you, rather than someone else doing it. Let’s go when we both have more free time.”
Kisa momentarily wanted to object with a “But,” but closed her mouth.
If she continued to insist on going alone at this point, it might seem suspicious.
‘What should I do?’
Should she aim for next year’s open week?
But that was still in the distant future, and by then they would already be married.
Kisa’s honest feeling was that she wanted to rid herself of the unsettling emotions regarding Seyard before their marriage.
‘Then, without Seyard knowing…?’
No, that was out of the question.
Seyard seemed to have a close relationship with St. Pavela Monastery.
If someone presumed to be Kisa appeared there, the news would certainly reach his ears.
Moreover, going there without informing him was tantamount to openly saying, “I don’t trust you.”
Additionally, considering that Daniel had returned without much information, sending someone else to investigate on her behalf also seemed ineffective.
So, should she give up on visiting the monastery?
However, as Kisa’s heart was sinking, Seyard made an unexpected proposal.
“In that sense, after I return from Yomos—so about two months from now—let’s depart for Bonzmos together.”
“Two months from now? But that’s not during the open week, is it?”
“Didn’t I mention it before? Since I owe them a great deal, and actually, I recently made a substantial donation to St. Pavela Monastery. It’s not a cloistered monastery or anything, and if I explain properly, they’ll welcome my visit anytime.”
“I-I see. I didn’t know.”
While Kisa was internally flustered by a possibility she hadn’t considered, Seyard said with a smile:
“I’m looking forward to two months from now for many reasons. Not only will I be able to see familiar faces after quite some time, but you’ll be with me as well. They might even say I’ve found a match too good for me.”
“Oh come on, that’s too much praise.”
Watching him speak with seemingly genuine joy, Kisa was filled with a strange emotion.
If Seyard truly had a past he wanted to hide, could he speak so unhesitatingly about taking her there?
She felt uneasy, wondering if all her suspicions were simply her misjudgment, having fallen for Daniel’s instigation.
‘Seyard always shows me kindness, while I…’
However, regardless of such guilt, she was purely happy about eventually going to St. Pavela Monastery.
It was both disappointing and not disappointing that she would be going with Seyard instead of alone.
A contradictory sentiment, but that’s how it was.
As she was thinking that she wished the two months would pass quickly, Seyard changed the subject.
“By the way, Kisa, do you have anything troubling you these days?”
Since she did have a concern, but one she couldn’t share with him, Kisa shook her head.
“No, nothing in particular. Why?”
“That’s a relief then. Actually, about a week ago? Anyway, on that day when you visited here later than usual because of your afternoon nap.”
For a moment, Kisa’s heart sank. It was about the day when Daniel had jumped into her carriage.
“I’m not sure if it’s just my imagination, but since that day, your demeanor seems different from usual. I wondered if you had some concern you couldn’t talk about.”
“Well… nothing happened… Ah, perhaps it’s due to fatigue. Actually, I’ve been feeling inexplicably lethargic lately.”
“Oh dear, it might be because you exerted yourself during the engagement ceremony. I should tell Gilliam to send you some medicine good for restoring vitality.”
“There’s no need to go that far. A good rest is all I need.”
Kisa said this despite already having minimized her social activities and been resting well at home.
She felt a chill at her fingertips, wondering if Seyard would fully believe what she had just said.
It wasn’t the first time Seyard had seen through Kisa’s heart with his extraordinary perceptiveness, and strangely, this time she felt particularly fearful.
He was only concerned about Kisa, after all.
Afterwards, the meal continued in a seemingly pleasant atmosphere, but her inner feelings were not aligned with it.
She couldn’t let her guard down for even a moment, fearing that Seyard might fully comprehend her real reason for wanting to visit the monastery if she showed any vulnerability.
And the more anxious Kisa became, the more Seyard looked at her with concerned eyes, saying he would send medicine as soon as possible.
The two months passed somehow amid Kisa’s anticipation, and the day arrived when she was to depart for Bonzmos with him.
However, when Kisa arrived at the Hillan mansion early in the morning, having prepared for the journey, she was confronted with an unexpected situation.
“What did you say?”
Faced with Kisa’s question, Seyard wore a truly apologetic expression.
“I’m deeply sorry. I received an urgent message from Yomos last night, and I need to go down there.”
It was like a bolt from the blue.
