38. Excessive Interest.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“It’s not something that will change if you ignore it, right?”
At Blatt’s words, Elizabeth’s hand vigorously fell down as if slamming the air.
Thud!
A huge stone flew down and fell on a group of monsters, making the ground shake.
Their gazes that met mid-air were sharp.
Blatt warned the blue eyes staring at him.
“Keep in mind. There is a Duchess of Baloch.”
“Keep in mind. We’re in a battle right now.”
Elizabeth’s hands slashed the air nervously.
Thud!
With a heavy roar, Elizabeth, who was commanding the catapult, raised her voice.
“Soon, they will be back within the range! Archers, prepare at your respective positions and wait for the signal!”
The blowing wind was sour and fishy.
Starting from now, the long night began in earnest.
***
Was the problem that I was obsessed with work, refusing everything except the very basic things like eating and sleeping?
‘Was it too much?’
Although I wasn’t physically strong, I thought I wasn’t weak either.
I just thought I was lacking strength.
But to spend it all after working hard for only a few days…
Bianca looked pitifully at her limp body, unable to move.
Even raising one hand was difficult.
“Why? What can I get you? Are you calling me?”
Somehow, out of desperation, I raised my pale hand and looked at it, but Julie, who was guarding my side, seemed to have misunderstood and rushed towards me.
“Would you like some water?”
“I just don’t have the energy. Don’t be like that.”
“Do you know how dangerous that is in this cold North?”
Julie reached under the blanket and felt for the water bag on Bianca’s side.
“If you hang around without energy, you lose body heat and are likely to freeze.”
“Okay, okay.”
Bianca laughed weakly at her cute nagging.
Julie had been like this ever since I found myself unable to get out of bed this morning.
She kept nagging me so much that I was really shocked.
Maybe it was because of what happened in the past, but the amount of nagging wasn’t normal.
Still, I guess since this was a first for me, I didn’t really hate it.
“You can’t say that. Madam always says so, but she doesn’t listen every time.”
“Okay, I’ll be careful.”
Ugh again.
Julie’s anxiety was evident on her face as she grunted audibly and examined my body.
Her dark brown eyes had a soft glow and was filling up with worry.
Although it was very unfamiliar to Bianca, it was something she had always longed for.
The attention I have always wanted.
The affection.
Because I like it so much, it keeps making me laugh.
“Didn’t I tell you not to laugh it off? I kept telling you this all along. You should go for a walk sometime. If you keep looking at documents, you’ll get sick.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Creta is a monster. It won’t be a problem for her even if she don’t sleep for three days, so you should never compare yourself to her.”
Julie wrinkled her eyebrows and made a stern expression, as if threatening a disobedient child.
She wasn’t scary at all, she was just cute in Bianca’s eyes, but she didn’t laugh this time.
Because, once before, when I laughed in front of Deborah who was nagging me..…1If you don’t remember, that’s her cousin.
“Ah…….”
Bianca sighed softly at the nostalgic name that suddenly came to mind.
“Where does it hurt?”
I completely forgot about her.
Deborah Elien.
I had forgotten about my lovely younger sister, who fearlessly stepped up to protect me even though she was more than half a span smaller than me.
Bianca’s mouth felt bitter at her lack of conscience and heartlessness.
How could I forget that child?
“Shall I call Mr. Benson again, Madam?”
“Oh, no.”
“But your face is so pale.”
“I was surprised because I almost forgot something I shouldn’t have forgotten.”
Julie seemed curious, but unlike Deborah, she did not pry.
It was a good attitude.
But it reminded her of Deborah even more, and Bianca’s heart continued to tingle.
‘Hey, what’s wrong? What else are you keeping to your self? You can tell me everything, okay? Also, what did that b***d, no, His Majesty, say? I told you to just listen from one ear and let it out from the other.’2I like her(≧▽≦)
“It was something I shouldn’t have forgotten.”
“Wouldn’t it be nice if you have something to help you remembered it? Or how about writing it down so you don’t forget?”
Bianca, who was frowning at the throbbing feeling, widened her eyes at the unexpected words.
“Good idea. Well then, maybe I should write her a letter….I won’t be able to sent it though.”
“As soon as the snow melts, I can send it right away. Just hold onto it a little longer.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Yes?”
“All I have to do is to wait for the snow to melt?”
“Right now, it’s snowing enough to obscure the magic spell engraved on the transportation…….”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying. Are you saying I can send letters outside?”
Julie’s eyes widened at Bianca’s words.
“Why wouldn’t you be able to?”
The one who was taken aback by those words was Bianca.
Of course I thought I wouldn’t be able to.
“Can I contact the outside world?”
“Did the Duke forbid it?”
No, that was not the case.
***
‘I heard you were selected to be Princess Termina’s escort? Escort or surveillance?’
‘A real duchess! I was born and raised in Baloch, but this is my first time hearing about the Duchess.’
‘It’s not like there was no duchess, so what’s the fuss about?’
‘It’s not a fuss, it’s actually true, right? The two of you were never seen together and when you did, you suddenly disappeared all together. I wonder if anyone actually saw her. Anyway, so are you the only escort?’
‘Since she is Princess Termina, will that prophecy come true now?’
When Rappin heard the news of his appointment, knights immediately rushed to him and asked him a flurry of questions.
Except for a few people in the main castle, the majority of Baloch people did not really know the ‘Duchess’.
Therefore, the atmosphere in Baloch Castle was divided into half and half.
There were half who welcomed Princess Termina and half who were worried that this might be another imperial trick.
Those who welcomed it were also those who secretly expected the ‘prophecy’ to come true.
‘It’s a marriage between Termina and Baloch. Then, isn’t something really changing?’
‘I don’t know what crime our ancestors committed against them, but isn’t that enough to repay it?’
If the first half were optimistic about the situation, the remaining half were extremely concerned about it.
‘Is it okay for me to call her Duchess? I don’t know if the imperial family will find fault with me for daring to call the princess a duchess.’
‘You too think she was sent here to find fault with us? Honestly, I don’t understand how the duke’s mind work.’
‘You really have to go and do well, understand? Now, if even Jillian does something wrong, Baloch will be finished. Just close your eyes and do whatever you are asked to.’
Rappin, who was thinking of the voices mixed with curiosity and worry, suddenly burst out laughing.
Did the knights who poured out all sorts of assumptions after surrounding him that day know?
The ‘Princess Termina’, who was said to be a liaison to the imperial family, did not even exist in this world.
And that poor person thought that she was in no position to send even a letter because she was a Termina.
Did any of them know?
“If the Duke never said anything like that, then you can send it.”
“I thought I wasn’t allowed to.”
“Who on earth would restrict your interactions?”
“…….”
“You are the only other master of Baloch territory.”
Rappin suddenly thought of that while listening to the pitiful yet lovely conversation beyond the door.
‘I should ask Creta to prepare a messenger bird for her.’
On the continent, the Baloch territory’s messenger birds were quite famous.
Since there was nothing better than a messenger bird to urgently exchange news during a wave, the methods to cultivate them had long been developed in the North.
They were especially useful when it was snowing so heavily.
Horses couldn’t get through the snow that was up to their necks, but it didn’t matter to the birds.
When a blizzard is raging, the stronger birds are used, but when the weather is clear or flying monsters appear, the relatively small and agile ones are used.
Thanks to this, there are many different types, so it is not that difficult to get a cute one for the Madam to use exclusively.
“Then, will you prepare the materials for me to write a letter?”
“Of course, My Lady. But please rest a little longer. You can’t get up now. Mr. Benson advised that you should rest for at least half a day.”
“Yes, yes.”
Yes, yes.
It’d a sweet and gentle way of talking, like something you would say to a younger sibling.
Rappin bit his mouth.
Otherwise, he might look like an idiot and make Julie hate him more.
Rappin, who had been correcting his posture by strengthening his back, suddenly became alert.
“What’s wrong?”
The pale-faced attendant who had been assigned to the third floor approached him.
Did he say that his name was Henry?
“I heard the Madam is sick…….”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about all of a sudden.”
Rappin’s hidden pupils, inside the gently drooping eye lids, shone fiercely.
‘There are only two people who can serve the lady: Julie, her dedicated maid, and Sir, who was chosen as her guardian knight. There is no need for any other attendants. Keep that in mind.’
Rappin raised his guard, recalling Hailey’s words, which were a subtle warning to him.
People often forget that because the corners of his eyes are droopy and he looks gentle, but Rappin was the commander of the 2nd Fortress.
As he became alert, a terrifying murderous spirit bloomed throughout his body.
It was a stinging and bloody force that would make an ordinary person run away in fear.
Nevertheless, the servant in front of him was standing there, even though his face was gaunt and tired.
“Um, I mean…….”
Rappin wordlessly lowered his hand and grabbed the sheath of the sword.
It was the most defensive and offensive posture in which the sword could be drawn at any time by simply holding the pommel with the other hand and pulling it.
Of course, the attendant in front of him didn’t seem to know that.
“What’s wrong with her?”
“Why are you curious about that?”
“I’m worried because she’s sick.”
“Excessive interest is bound to cause trouble.”
Go back.
The last words he added were almost like a growl.
Normally, people would get scared at this point and retreat, but somehow, Henry held on despite breaking out in a cold sweat.
“Oh, actually…if it’s a cold, there is medicine from my estate, and I’ve heard that it works well…”
“The Duke has a doctor.”
“It is made from red birch fruit, so it’s a mild medicine that even babies can take.”
“Please stop.”
When Rappin had just taken a step closer to Henry, who was stubbornly holding on…
“What is going on?”
The Duchess’ bedroom opened and Julie came out.
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing, the Duchess heard it all.”
“Miss Julie. Does the Lady have a cold? There is a medicine that we use at our estate and it is very effective, so I would like to pass it on to you.”
When Julie came out, Henry spoke as if he had been waiting, and was as agile as a beast that was waiting for an opportunity to snatch its prey.
Instantly, Rappin’s eyebrows furrowed grimly
