Episode 38

 

“Oh? Father, you’re here to see Sierra too.”

“What, am I not supposed to come here?”

While I was stuck here, my father had come looking for me himself.

“Father!”

I ran to him and hugged him tightly.

“Congratulations on being appointed as the heir.”

“Thank you.”

He smiled for a moment and then spoke with a serious expression.

“From now on, there will be more threats. They will target you instead of me. I will do my best to protect you, but…”

At that moment, my grandfather approached from behind and said,

“For a while, I will assign my personal guard to you.”

“What?”

If it was Thergon Drenihan’s personal guard…

The genius swordsman, Desar.

Soon, Jenna would reveal his true identity as the lost son of the Tower Lord.

As befits an extraordinary setting, he was one of Jenna’s male leads.

When he was a child, wandering the streets alone, my grandfather took him in. Seeing his talent, he taught him swordsmanship.

Despite his natural talent for magic, being the Tower Lord’s son, his swordsmanship was equally outstanding.

Later, when Jenna revealed his blood relation to the Tower Lord, the Tower Lord rushed to the duchy to find his lost son.

However, Desar, who had guarded Thergon Drenihan all his life, refused to return.

Thergon was the benefactor who saved his life.

Yet, eventually, even Thergon persuaded him, and he returned as the Tower Lord’s son.

Having reached the level of a magic swordsman, Desar soon inherited the position of the Tower Lord.

One day, he was on the verge of going berserk due to his excessive power, and then he met Jenna again.

Receiving her purification and finding peace, Desar, like the other male leads, became captivated by her.

The problem lies elsewhere.

‘That guy despised Sierra intensely, even in the original story.’

The reason was unknown.

But it was said that even long before Sierra became a full-fledged villain, he disliked her.

So much so that near the end, just before Sierra was executed, he asked if he could carry out the execution himself.

‘It’s ridiculous for such a person to be my guard.’

“His skills are unmatched. No one can easily harm you.”

That’s true, but I might end up dying at his hands first.

I smiled as brightly as I could and said,

“If it’s a guard, I’d prefer Sir Valten. As you know, I’m very shy, and I’d like someone I know as my guard.”

“Valten is out on a mission, so that’s not possible.”

“Then how about Sir Jake?”

“Jake’s skills are still not reliable. He’s a novice.”

This is a problem. I only know two knights.

At that moment, someone walked toward us from a distance.

A man with sky-blue hair and eyes as deep as the ocean.

“Ah, just in time. Desar.”

The man walked straight to my grandfather and bowed deeply.

“You called for me, Master.”

“Yes. I have a task for you.”

“A task…”

“Protect my granddaughter, Sierra, so that no one can lay a finger on her. That is your mission.”

“…My lifelong mission is to protect you, Master.”

From Desar’s perspective, this must be the first time he ever talked back to his master’s command.

My grandfather, looking surprised, widened his eyes for a moment before laughing heartily.

“Just think of it as temporarily changing masters! She is my granddaughter, after all.”

“…How long do I have to take on this guard duty?”

“Let’s see, you should stay by her side until Serkhan safely becomes the family head.”

“Then who will guard you during that time, Master?”

“What kind of enemies would target an old man like me? Besides, I have countless guards, so don’t worry about it.”

With that, he placed Desar in front of me and turned away with my father.

“I have something to discuss privately with Serkhan, so we’ll go ahead. You two can have a brief conversation.”

Watching them walk away, I wanted to follow them.

“….”

I slowly glanced at Desar.

Although he didn’t openly display dissatisfaction, he couldn’t hide the cold look in his eyes.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Sierra Drenihan. So… I look forward to working with you.”

I forced a smile and spoke reluctantly.

“Nice to meet you…”

Desar muttered as if he was displeased with something, then bowed his head in greeting.

“I’m Desar. I have no family name. I will follow the master’s orders and protect you from now on.”

It sounded as if he would stick by me no matter how much he or I disliked it because it was the master’s order.

It was quite a burdensome guard arrangement.

With a heavy heart, I nodded and walked toward the dining hall for a meal.

The man with blue hair, trailing behind me like a shadow, felt incredibly awkward.

* * *

I was the only one in the dining hall. As expected.

Grandfather and Father were in meetings for the formal succession process, and the Orzen family was preparing to leave.

I finished my meal alone in the quiet dining hall and went out.

While walking around the garden and then returning to my room, I received the news I had been waiting for.

A letter arrived from Ludwig, saying it was okay to visit the Grand Duchy.

The content stated that a carriage from the Grand Duchy would come here tomorrow morning.

‘Wait, that means Desar will be going with me too?’

I realized this fact, conscious of the man guarding my door.

In the original story, Ludwig and Desar were arch-enemies.

However, that was because Jenna was involved, so I didn’t need to worry too much about it now.

“-!!”

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside, and I looked out the window.

Servants were busily loading luggage onto large carriages, and next to them…

Orzen, who hadn’t yet shaken off his hangover from last night, was repeatedly retching on the ground, while Lady Beth looked at him with contempt.

And there was Calik, still oblivious to the situation, scolding the servants.

It was supposed to be a relatively prosperous and quiet estate.

If it were me, I would go there and live peacefully, spending money freely, but those with ambition in their veins wouldn’t be satisfied with just that.

This increases the likelihood that they will cause harm to my father or me, and I need to make sure to deal with that.

Watching them load the carriages and board, I then drew the curtains shut.

* * *
This time, I was an officially invited guest of the Grand Duchy. I prepared accordingly.

I chose the most aesthetically beautiful and suitable dress among the dozens my father had ordered from the salon last time.

With long, wavy blonde hair cascading over a green dress, the maids around me couldn’t stop expressing their admiration.

“You look so beautiful, miss!”

“Your skin is becoming more radiant day by day. It’s not easy for a green dress to suit someone so well!”

“Haha. Thank you, everyone.”

“No wonder the Grand Duke might fall for you!”

“Viet, that’s just your imagination.”

Except for Nella and Viet, who had been with me for many years, the rest of my maids were Lady Beth’s people.

They outwardly smiled brightly but secretly reported my every move.

Their covert disregard was quite evident.

I recently dismissed a large number of them.

Many had already resigned and left the family on their own, seeing the changing atmosphere.

Those who had slighted me or picked fights with me left on their own accord.

I replaced them with people who had been relegated to menial tasks under Lady Beth’s influence.
The newly assigned ones were eager to serve me.

Thanks to this, the family had become quite peaceful.

Once I weed out the remaining troublemakers, it will be perfect.

Seeing the smiling faces of my servants, I felt better as well.

While the maids were spreading out the hem of my dress, I looked in the mirror and was surprised myself.

The glossy, fair skin with a rosy blush and the delicate features on my small face.

I always thought I resembled my father, but now I could see my mother’s face in the portrait.

“Alright, you’re all set.”

At Nella’s words, I walked out of the room.

I greeted Desar briefly and awkwardly as he waited outside the door, then headed towards the carriage outside with him.

The large black carriage was adorned with the gold emblem of the Karsian Grand Duchy.

The coachman opened the door, and as I got into the carriage, I was surprised to see Desar following me inside.

Usually, guards ride in front or behind the carriage on horseback, don’t they?

Is he coming with me?

Noticing my confusion, Desar closed the door and spoke.

“It is the master’s order.”

Of course, I had gotten permission from my grandfather before heading to Karsian.

Although he wasn’t completely without worries, he had readily given his permission. It seemed he had ordered Desar to provide close protection.

“Am I making you uncomfortable?”

Desar’s unexpected question caught me off guard.