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***
“What do you want, then?”
At Regina’s question, the fishermen answered earnestly.
“Didn’t they build a cruise terminal recently to attract tourists? The place where the terminal stands used to be a small fishing harbor called ‘Moon Canal.’”
“Moon Canal Harbor?”
“It used to be a spot where only local folks came and went. But it’s a passage connected to the coral reef… Fragile creatures gather there in groups. If large cruise ships start coming and going, the vibrations and noise will kill them all. Watching it would be heartbreaking for us.”
“So, you’re saying that all you want is for the harbor to be restored to its original state?”
“Yes, yes. It’s such a small place that it wouldn’t take much effort.”
Their earnest gazes seemed genuine. Regina glanced subtly at Finley.
“You shouldn’t negotiate with extortionists.”
Finley’s cold rejection made the fishermen bristle.
“Excuse me, carrot-haired gentleman. We’ve never made threats.”
“Aren’t you currently blocking the lady’s carriage and insisting that she listen to your demands?”
“It’s true we asked her to listen, but the reason we’re blocking the carriage is because the horses got excited and started thrashing around… We were just calming them down.”
“Think about it. If the lady were to get hurt, wouldn’t we be the ones in serious trouble?”
By now, the once-agitated horses were docilely resting their heads in the fishermen’s hands. Finley glared at them as though betrayed, but all he got from the salty sea breeze was a teary eye.
“I can’t promise you anything right now.”
Regina spoke each word carefully.
“As you may have heard, I’ve just recovered from being bedridden, so I’m completely out of touch with outside affairs. I’ll need to discuss this with my husband.”
Would such a lukewarm answer suffice? Yet, the fishermen seemed satisfied.
“Please speak well on our behalf to the Count, Madam.”
“Take care, Madam!”
“Thank you for your leniency toward these rude fellows!”
Regina couldn’t recall saying she forgave them. She looked at the fishermen with the feeling of managing a gang run on bait and hooks.
At that moment, an unexpected, thunderous shout rang out.
“Who dares threaten my family in the Cavill estate?”
Oh no. Barbara, leading a group of knights, was charging in with a fierce expression.
“You scoundrels!”
Barbara had discarded her usual lady-like attire for a knight’s uniform. Draped over her shoulders was her signature leather shawl, which billowed in the sea breeze, perfectly complementing her imposing aura.
“How dare you threaten my family? I’ll gut you and feed your oversized livers to the fish!”
“Ahhh! Run for your lives!”
“The Manticore of Cavill has appeared!”
The fishermen, who seemed as steadfast as rocks weathering countless waves, turned pale and fled in all directions. Behind them, Barbara drew her sword from its sheath and fiercely pursued, her silver hair tied high fluttering wildly.
The fading sunlight cast their figures into dark silhouettes. The waves crashing against the sand looked like ink stains spreading, and the foam breaking apart resembled sugar dissolving in hot coffee. Within that backdrop, Barbara’s unrestrained movements were a spectacle.
As Regina stood dumbfounded, one of the knights following Barbara approached and asked,
“Are you alright, Madam? Are you hurt?”
“Oh, I’m fine. But how did mother…”
“A merchant delivering seafood to our residence from the port happened to witness your predicament and immediately informed us.”
It seemed Barbara had come running at full speed to rescue her.
“She said, ‘My family,’ didn’t she?”
Regina had always misunderstood Barbara’s feelings toward her, thinking she disliked her. If it weren’t for her experience as a comatose patient, she might still believe so.
Regina felt a twinge at her nose. However, she couldn’t ignore the loud cries of the fishermen echoing all around.
“They didn’t harm me. They were just talking.”
“Would you like me to relay that to the lady?”
“Could you perhaps try to calm her down? I’m worried she might get hurt driving the horses so aggressively.”
“Pardon? That’s unlikely.”
The knight smiled faintly, as though he had heard an absurd notion.
“The horses are practically an extension of her legs.”
“Well, that’s reassuring.”
“This might take a while. Would you like to return home first? I can escort you to the residence.”
“But I can’t leave mother here…”
“She would feel more embarrassed if you stayed to watch.”
Given his insistence, Regina had no choice but to agree. She hesitated but finally climbed into the carriage as the knight suggested.
“Mr. Brixton, you’re here too. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Thanks for asking before I died. Ha ha.”
With a biting laugh, Finley followed her into the carriage. Surrounded by knights, the carriage finally started its journey home.
***
Regina was lost in deep thought the entire way. Finley, who had expected her to ask various questions, grew increasingly anxious.
Surely, she hasn’t completely lost faith in the Count because of this, has she?
What if she’s considering divorce? The longer Regina remained silent, the more noticeable the sweat stains on Finley’s shirt became.
“Ahem, Madam.”
Unable to bear the unease any longer, Finley broke the silence.
“Are you all right? You must have been quite frightened by what happened earlier.”
“I’m fine now.”
“I deeply regret that such an incident occurred. I’ll make sure those men are severely punished through the town guards.”
“Surely, you’re not thinking of locking them up for five years, are you?”
Finley flinched. He had just finished calculating that, combining charges of insubordination against the Lady of the estate, obstruction of duty, and threats, such a sentence would be reasonable.
“Please don’t.”
Regina shook her pale face firmly.
“They could have easily intimidated us, but they didn’t.”
“Because they knew that doing so would send them to the gallows rather than prison.”
“There are, surprisingly, many foolish people in the world who would rather take a reckless gamble.”
That… was true. Having experienced all sorts of ups and downs under Gray’s command, Finley reluctantly agreed.
“I should discuss this with my husband. Can I see Gray now?”
He had expected her to say that, especially after what had just happened.
But Finley, wearing the expression of a hamster in trouble, tried to comfort Regina.
“As you know, the Count has a prior engagement today, Madam.”
“He mentioned meeting a guest, didn’t he?”
“Yes, yes.”
Finley, unaware of the hint he had just dropped, looked clueless. Just as one can guess the intentions of the mind by observing the body, Finley’s judgments typically reflected Gray’s values.
But for him to respond this way…
“It seems what I’ve experienced isn’t important enough to trouble Gray.”
“What do you mean?!”
Even as he jumped in protest, Finley glanced nervously at her.
“Please don’t misunderstand. If the fishermen had attempted to kidnap you or used violence, the Count himself would have come rushing to your aid instead of sending me. Of course, he would have!”
“If those fishermen were truly as dangerous as you suggest, we wouldn’t be calmly having this conversation right now.”
Gray’s business methods created many enemies. Like the ancient military tactic of driving out competitors with massive iron shields and building a golden castle on the flattened ground, he was a conqueror. It wouldn’t be surprising if someone, out of spite, wanted to display Regina’s head in front of the castle gates.
“Madam.”
Finley understood the fundamental issue. However, there was only one thing he could say.
“It was you, Madam, who determined that the fishermen were not a threat.”
“We were lucky this time. But we can’t always rely on Mother to come running to our aid.”
“I swear I will ensure such a situation never occurs again.”
“I’d appreciate it if you could at least do that much, Finley.”
Finley chose to ignore the thorny sarcasm. Regina didn’t bother to scold him for that.
“In any case, I promised the fishermen myself, so I’ll discuss it separately with my husband.”
“Yes, yes.”
However, the worst day wasn’t over yet.
***
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