Chapter 38
Happy Crowell Caslte (2)
Thud.
Rimos Therion got out of the carriage alone with a fresh face.
As the door closed, only Ethan Behemoth and I remained inside.
“……”
Perhaps because Therion had suddenly kissed the back of my hand just now, being left alone with Ethan in the carriage felt awkward. …Was this intentional?
The one fortunate fact was that we were now just one more short warp and about a few dozen minutes’ ride away from reaching the border of the territory. Thankfully, it seemed we would be able to arrive at the main castle before sunset.
“We’re not far from Crowell Castle now.”
Since Ethan Behemoth hadn’t joined in the conversation while riding with Rimos Therion until now, I inadvertently muttered this to myself, not expecting him to answer.
That’s when.
“What kind of place is it?”
Breaking my expectation, Ethan asked concisely.
“…It’s nestled in the mountains, with a large lake in between.”
I thought he preferred contemplation over conversation during carriage rides.
“Sounds spacious.”
I was a bit surprised that he reacted to my words, but I answered slowly.
“Yes. For a baronial territory, it is. But it’s barren in exchange. In fact, it feels like we’ve been handed difficult land to manage.”
“Judging by how the road is getting rougher, there’s potential. Are there no good points?”
“Hmm… Well, the mountains are beautiful and there’s plenty of wild game. It’s suitable for hunting. Above all… my family is there.”
Ethan, who had been listening to my story, quietly added.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“…To what?”
“Your expression changes when you talk about family.”
“……”
Why is he suddenly commenting on someone else’s expression…
I raised my hand to touch my cheek. My tensed cheek was pressed firmly. It seems I had been unconsciously raising the corners of my mouth. I quickly composed my expression and cleared my throat.
“…Ahem. It’s because I love my family.”
“That’s why I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of people they are.”
“My little sister is very cute.”
“Is that so. I don’t have a younger sibling so I don’t know that feeling… Is it like Cain Guinevere?”
…What?
“Absolutely not.”
I answered seriously without a moment’s hesitation.
Who are you comparing to whom?
My expression must have changed quite drastically, as Ethan paused his speech for a moment to look at my face. Belatedly, I cleared my throat and relaxed my expression.
“My sister is much… cuter.”
Starting with the family talk, the floodgates opened for trivial conversations with Ethan.
How I was adopted into the Crowell family, how old my sister is, how long Camilla and Ethan have known each other, and even the story of how Camilla had never actually tasted the special juice she had given me…
“It’s a drink from the Marquis of Guinevere, but she’s never tasted it herself.”
“Of course, she used me as a test subject. No wonder it tasted awful.”
“Even the smell was terrible.”
“I’ll make sure Camilla drinks it next time.”
“I look forward to that.”
And just as Ethan’s persuasion offensive about starting physical training at Crowell Castle and my iron wall of defense were fiercely competing.
“When you enrolled, I was doing personal training and didn’t know any news about the new students. I’ve said repeatedly that it’s regrettable that I’m only getting to know you now. So if you start physical training under my personal guidance now—”
Ethan suddenly stopped talking. I could feel the intensity with which he sharply heightened all five senses.
Ominously thin tree branches began tapping on the carriage window.
He turned to look at me.
“Can’t you feel it?”
The carriage wheel jolted once, shaking violently.
Ethan’s eyes, containing a slight hint of agitation, were looking straight at me.
‘Why wouldn’t I feel it?’
A few minutes earlier than expected, but Ethan Behemoth has noticed too. I answered briefly.
“No. I can feel it.”
I stuck my head out of the carriage window and called out to the coachman.
“Could you please stop here?”
“……?”
The carriage slowly reduced speed and came to a halt. While facing Ethan, who was shifting his gaze to follow my actions with a puzzled look, I flipped my cloak’s hood over my head.
“I told you there was a condition for me to come along, didn’t I?”
“…You did.”
We made eye contact.
“Don’t ask about trivial things.”
“…And to trust and act on your lead.”
Right, you remember well.
It was worth mentioning it in advance. I nodded briefly and shouldered the lightweight backpack I had prepared.
It was a terribly mismatched outfit with the dress I had carefully put on, but it couldn’t be helped.
Still, I was confident I wouldn’t get a single stain on the dress, so it didn’t matter.
“Good. Then we start now. The road to Crowell Castle is a bit rough, you see.”
As soon as I confirmed Ethan nodding, I opened the carriage door and jumped out.
From the stopped carriage, the flustered coachman was soothing the startled horses.
“The horses were already a bit excited. I’m sorry. What’s the matter…?”
“Lord Behemoth and I will make our own way from here, so please go back now.”
“What?! My lady, but… As you know, it’s still quite a way to Crowell Castle. It’s too far to walk.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll borrow just one horse.”
“…Pardon?”
It’s your family’s carriage. You should give permission.
Conveying that meaning with my eyes, I left the bewildered coachman and looked at Ethan, who calmly nodded.
“Do as the lady says. Give her one horse.”
“…Yes, yes. Understood.”
The coachman selected one horse and untethered it from the carriage, then hesitated over whether to hand the reins to me or Ethan.
Ethan calmly asked me:
“Are we riding together?”
“Yes. Since I know the way, I’ll lead the horse.”
“Very well.”
The coachman passed the reins to me.
Even so, he seemed quite concerned about leaving the young lord and lady practically stranded on the mountainside, and checked several times again.
“Then… can I really go back?”
“Yes. You may go back now.”
But as both Ethan and I remained composed, he too eventually gave up and started driving the carriage in the opposite direction.
Ethan, who had been staring blankly at the receding carriage emblazoned with the Behemoth ducal crest, turned his gaze towards me.
He was clearly about to ask about what he had ‘felt’ earlier.
“Edith, do you perhaps let monsters roam free in Crowell territory?”
“Of course not. As I said, the territory isn’t prosperous enough for that.”
“I can feel the killing intent all the way here.”
“Yes. At this time of year, monsters tend to flourish. So we need to deal with them before they invade the territory. First, we need to ride the horse….”
Somehow they gave us the sturdiest-looking horse, but it seemed a bit too big for me to ride.
As I hesitated for a moment looking at the horse, Ethan knelt on one knee at my feet.
“You get on first.”
“Thank you.”
I stepped on his firm thigh to climb up, and adjusted my body to the saddle.
Perhaps because I was smaller, all the equipment felt a bit loose on me.
“Alright. I’ve got you.”
But soon, with the sound of him mounting the horse behind me, I felt Ethan Behemoth’s warm body heat. Finally, my body fit snugly into the saddle.
At least I won’t have to worry about falling off.
“Then, shall we depart?”
“Let’s.”
I kicked the horse’s flank vigorously, leaving the path the carriage had taken and turning completely onto the rough forest trail.
This is the first time I’ve done this process with someone else.
As we entered deep into the forest, Crowell Castle, perched on a distant hill, came into view through the sparsely leaved branches.
A very quiet, ancient-looking fortress stretched out.
The Crowell barony, with its unusually large territory despite its low rank.
And… naturally, they couldn’t properly manage all of that vast territory.
After riding down the slope I knew for a while, Crowell Castle began to rapidly draw closer.
And then the sound I’d been waiting for began to be heard. From all around, under the red sunset, came growling sounds.
“They’re coming.”
“Indeed they are.”
I could feel Ethan Behemoth tensing his muscles behind me.
Then.
“Yelp!”
Ethan Behemoth drew his sword and slashed at a giant wolf-like monster that was charging towards the horse.
The monster’s thick hide was torn easily, and of course, blood gushed out. Not wanting to get it on my clothes, I ducked my head lower and grimaced.
If we fight like this, we’ll be soaked in blood. Then there’s no point in wearing this dress.
“Ethan.”
I slid off the horse as if gliding. Then, after glancing once at the fallen wolf beast at my feet, I looked up at Ethan Behemoth on the horse.
“Let’s split up and handle this.”
🥀
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