MIDV: Chapter 57

Gustav, who had been keeping a close eye on the surroundings, noticed us approaching and his expression hardened slightly.

I hoped he would just pass by, but instead, he called my name.

“Clara.”

“Please don’t call me directly and don’t get confused with the title, Vice Captain Gustav. What do you want?”

“Let’s have dinner together. I have something to discuss.”

I thought he would let me pass quietly just like earlier, but it seemed he was determined to catch me before I left.

This wasn’t a suggestion or a command, it was more of a demand. I felt my head heat up instantly, and I almost said something sharp in response.

But before I could, Ludger, standing beside me, spoke up.

“Apologies, but that’s not possible. Captain Clara has a prior engagement.”

“…What?”

“Since she has already decided to return home with me, it looks like she won’t have time.”

Ludger smiled warmly, holding my hand as if making a point.

“So, you may look for another opportunity. Though, of course, I can’t say whether Captain Clara will give you one.”

“…..”

“Shall we go, Clara?”

“…Yes.”

I was grateful that Ludger handled the situation before it escalated, but the onlooker’s gazes felt heavy.

Isn’t this just going to fuel more rumors, Ludger?

Gustav’s purple eyes darkened with anger. His usual gentle expression, the one others seemed to like, has disappeared.

Briefly suppressing his anger, Gustav smiled. His expression was truly unsettling.

“I’ll contact you later, Clara.”

“…Please don’t.”

With that, I quickly left the Second Prince’s Palace with Ludger.

Once we were a certain distance away, Ludger quietly asked in a lowered voice,

“Did I make things worse?”

“No, I might have lost my temper and hit him if you hadn’t interferred. Thanks to you, it went smoothly. I’m grateful to you.”

“…It’s just a guess, but it seems you and Vice Captain Gustav don’t get along well. You don’t want to be around him, right?”

“Yes. You saw it correctly.”

I sighed internally. I always felt my mood worsening after dealing with Gustav.

Fortunately, Ludger didn’t press for more details.

Instead, he asked something else, his tone light and teasing,

“Sir Clara.”

“Yes?”

“Would you like to have dinner with me?”

No, I didn’t want to fuel more rumors, so I replied with an excuse.

“Um, I appreciate the offer, but I’ll have to decline. I bought some bread, and it’ll get spoiled if I don’t eat it today.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie, even if I usually didn’t mind tossing it out.

“Oh my… there’s no need for excuses.”

“It’s not an excuse, really… But, um, I do have something I wanted to discuss with you.”

Raising an eyebrow with curiosity, Ludger smiled.

“Hmm, as I mentioned earlier, I also have something to talk about. Let’s discuss it in the carriage.”

“Okay.”

Even though I was anxious about what he had to say, I pushed aside my worry for now.

* * *

Gustav watched as Clara and Ludger disappeared into the distance, his eyes darkening with a sinister light, as if calculating something.

Various emotions flickered across his purple eyes.

“…How amusing,”

He murmured under his breath. A cough wracked his body and he covered his mouth.

As he moved his hand away, blood stained his palm, a side effect of the magical tool given to him by that person.

But this was nothing. Gustav had already resolved in using any means necessary to achieve his goal.

‘Today’s mission is complete… but the real game hasn’t even begun.’

Lunar New Year. That symbolic event would serve as a turning point in the Empire’s history.

“But Clara… there’s something you’ll need to prepare for before then.”

He had hoped to give her a warning today, a chance to brace herself.

Clara, however, had refused that kindness.

Gustav raised the corners of his lips, biting the inside of his cheek until he tasted blood once more.

* * *

We finally reached the area where the carriage was waiting.

I practically leaped into the carriage to avoid Ludger’s escort, but his expression darkened slightly at my avoidance.

Still, wouldn’t it be a bit strange to be escorted while wearing a knight’s uniform rather than a dress?

Ludger took a seat beside me and closed the door. We usually sat facing each other, so the close proximity now felt a little awkward. Especially when I couldn’t help but notice his handsome face…

As the carriage set off, Ludger was the first to break the silence.

“Sir Clara, you mentioned you had something to discuss.”

“Oh, right. But since you said you had something to talk to me about first, you can go ahead.”

“No, I’d like to hear your thoughts first. We can take our time with mine.”

“Is that so?”

Now that the moment had arrived, I felt nervous. It seemed silly to bring it up, but I had to. After all, it involved Ludger’s reputation, and I was tired of the rumors, too.

Taking a deep breath, I carefully laid out my thoughts.

“First of all, I appreciate your offer to have dinner together earlier. I fully understand you have the intention of having proper surveillance on me if the opportunity arises.”

“Surveillance… Well, yes, you can say that.”

“I also understand that you need to constantly monitor me. As the Young Duke, you can’t fully trust me, so it’s reasonable to keep a check on me.”

“…..”

“But… the problem is what comes next.”

“What comes next?”

“…Yes. Your Highness, you are a man of high status, and I am merely a low-ranking knight. Being seen together might cause… misunderstandings.”

I felt embarrassed, so I chose my words carefully. I hoped he would understand.

But Ludger only tilted his head in confusion.

“I don’t think you need to worry about others’ opinions. Just be yourself. And Sir Clara, you lead your knight order well and produce excellent results. You shouldn’t downplay your value.”

“That’s not… I mean, yes, but… that’s not the point.”

Was he pretending not to understand?

I didn’t want to spell it out, but it seemed I had no choice.

“Do you know there are… inappropriate rumors about us?”

“Inappropriate rumors?”

“Yes.”

I couldn’t bring myself to look him in the eye while saying it, I could feel my face growing hot.

“So, the more we’re seen together, the more it adds fuel to those rumors. I think it would be best for us to avoid spending time together for a while.”

“What rumors are you talking about?”

His voice sounded amused. That didn’t seem like the reaction of someone who didn’t know about it.

I looked up cautiously.

As expected, Ludger was smiling. A smile so pleasing that it reminded me of a satisfied cat.

I tried to ignore how attractive he looked.

“I wouldn’t know if you didn’t tell me,”

He teased, brushing a stray lock of my hair behind my ear. The gentle touch sent a shiver down my spine.

I suppressed my reaction and finally spoke.

“…There’s a rumor that we’re dating.”

“……”

“I don’t know how things in the noble circle works, and it’s something I’ve just heard floating around. The rumor’s been mostly spreading among the aristocrats.”

Even after hearing it outright from the person involved, Ludger didn’t seem fazed. If anything, his smile widened.

“…Did you already know, Your Highness?”

“Hmm… I suppose I did.”

“Then—!”

“That’s good news.”

“…Excuse me?”

“That’s what I was going to suggest.”

“……”

My eyes widened in disbelief.

Ludger leaned back slightly, his expression relaxed.

“Why don’t we just make the rumor true?”

“…What?”

“We can just start dating. Then I can keep you under surveillance properly, and it would make things easier for both of us, wouldn’t it?”