RVMPT Chapter 41

Chapter 41

“Both of them are a bit late.”
Was the drink stand far away? Or maybe it was crowded, and the drinks took longer to prepare.
I checked the time and watched the people passing by. Sitting still, I could hear the surrounding noises clearly. Just then, applause from behind caught my attention, and I turned around.

A stage set up on the street was visible in the distance. It seemed like a play had just started.

Curious, I went to watch the play with a knight accompanying me. I left one knight behind, as the other two might arrive soon.

“Oh, this is based on a fairy tale.”
I recognized it instantly; it was a story my mother used to read to me when I was young, back when she was still alive.

“Ah, I remember…”
In the story, a monster with an eagle’s wings and a lion’s face kills the king, leaving the kingdom on the brink of ruin. The princess, now alone, is overcome with sorrow. At that moment, a knight who had long admired her steps forward, vowing to defeat the monster in exchange for a wish if he succeeds. The princess agrees, and the knight managed to slay the monster and return, only to propose to the princess as his wish.

The knight married the princess and became the new king. Grateful and happy, he held a hunting contest every three years to grant wishes. And so, the fairy tale ended.

“Diana.”
Hearing my name, I turned to find Harold standing with a knight, holding bottles of drinks.
Relieved to see them, I quickly realized that someone was missing.

“Where’s Sir Dante?”
“He suddenly remembered something urgent and left. He asked me to apologize on his behalf.”
I nodded without suspicion. If Harold had sent Dante away because he didn’t like him, he would have done it earlier without walking with him for two hours.

“What could’ve been so urgent? Sir Dante was so excited about the festival. He even said he wouldn’t miss the fireworks—ah!”
A cold drink bottle touched my lips.

Looking up, Harold’s eyes, narrow with some unspoken displeasure, softened as our gazes met.
“I thought you might be thirsty. Should I feed you?”
“I have hands, you know.”
I demonstratively grabbed the bottle, and Harold’s lips curled into a long smile.

“Let’s get going. We need to find a spot to watch the fireworks.”
Though I’d heard of a few spots from the staff, but I wondered if there would still be room when we got there.

 As I bit my lower lip, deep in thought, Harold resolved my problem with a single sentence.

“We just need to get moving. I’ve already secured a place to watch.”
“Really?”
“It’s quiet and perfect for just the two of us.”
At the mention of a prearranged location, my heart, already racing, sped up even more.

“Where is it? How do we get there?”
“We’ll need to take a carriage. Shall we leave now?”
“Sure!”

My steps felt light and lively as we headed to where the carriage was waiting.
By the way, a quiet and perfect place for the two of us? Where could it be?

 I had never considered renting a space before. Even though I now lived as a duchess, my mindset was still grounded in the ordinary life I’d led back on Earth. Besides, I was just acting as the Duchess of Baisen in front, basically, I was there just for his treatment.

 Thus, I didn’t feel like I wielded any true authority as a duchess.

“…?”
Suddenly, I heard the faint sound of a child crying.

Following the sound, I turned my head to see a poorly dressed child clinging to a guard’s pants. 

“Oh? That boy is…”
I recognized him. He was the boy who had asked for more bread during my first volunteer outing with Lady Mayer.

What’s going on?
What was he doing there? Without realizing it, I lost strength in the hand gripping Harold, and he immediately held me firmly.

“Do you want to go there?”
“…Would that be okay?”
I wanted to know what was happening, so I asked. Harold replied succinctly, “Go.”

As we approached the boy and the guard, their conversation became audible.

“How many times do I have to tell you?! It’s the festival; your brother’s probably off playing with the other kids!”
“My brother might be a bit slow, but he’d never leave without telling me!”
“Ugh, we don’t have the manpower to deal with beggar brats like you right now! We’re busy, so get lost!”
“No! I’m not leaving!”

The guard, annoyed, roughly shoved the boy away. The child, still clinging to the guard’s pant leg, ended up rolling onto the ground.

“Are you alright?”
I let go of Harold’s hand and rushed to the boy.
He had rolled on the ground and appeared even more disheveled, but thankfully, he didn’t seem to have any serious injuries.

How could he throw a child like that?
I shot a glare at the indifferent guard before turning back to the boy.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Uh…”
The boy’s eyes widened as he looked at me.

“You’re… the lady who handed out bread before, right?”
The boy quickly straightened his posture, clinging tightly to my hem as if holding onto hope itself.

“Please help me! Please, please help me find my little brother! He’s really shy, and if he wanted to go to the festival, he would’ve come with me, not with other kids. I know him—he wouldn’t just disappear like this! Something must’ve happened to him!”

The boy, with tears dripping like drops of chicken dung, had his face swollen from crying.

“I have no one to help me… No one will help me, so please…”

 “…”
“Just this once, please help me…”

I bit the inside of my cheek.
The boy’s desperate voice pierced my heart. But I had no power to help him directly.

The only person here who could help him was…

I looked at Harold, who was approaching.

“…”

“…”

As our gazes met, Harold stopped. His eyes narrowed, and his dark navy blue eyes flickered with something unreadable.

 After a moment, he gestured silently to a knight.

The knight stepped forward and tried to help the boy up, but the boy refused to let go of my clothes, pulling so hard it seemed like the fabric might tear.

“What kind of strength is this…?”
Even the knight seemed briefly taken aback by how strong the boy’s grip was.

 Harold clicked his tongue softly and grabbed the boy’s wrist.

“Let go of my wife.”

“But… but…”

“I’ve already talked to the guards. They said they’ll assign some spare manpower to the search.”

“……!”

The boy’s face lit up with hope, and I felt a similar sense of relief.

“We’ll assemble an additional search party when we return to the estate. In the meantime, give the guards the details about your missing brother.”

“Yes! Thank you so much!”

Despite the boy’s heartfelt gratitude, Harold didn’t even spare him a glance.

Harold ignored the boy’s grateful words, not even glancing at him. The boy left with the guard. I briefly glared at the guard’s back, whose attitude had completely changed. They should’ve helped sooner if they had extra manpower.

I climbed into the carriage with Harold. As we were delayed, the fireworks suddenly exploded in the sky.

“Ah…”

I stared blankly at the colorful fireworks bursting in the distance.

I had a vague feeling this might happen, but it still left a lingering sense of regret.

Even so, I didn’t regret helping the boy.

But I couldn’t bring myself to look at Harold, who had likely prepared a private spot for the two of us to watch the fireworks.

“Harold, thank you for today. And I’m sorry for ruining your plans.”

“Don’t worry about it. That was as easy for me as tossing a single gold coin.”

“…”

“But even if that boy finds his brother, nothing will change if they keep living the way they are now.”

Harold’s words were cold, but they reflected a harsh truth.

The boy’s life wouldn’t improve much in its current state. Just like how, if I hadn’t gained my abilities, I would’ve met the same tragic end as the villainess in the novel, without anyone’s help.

I clenched my hands tightly on my lap.

“Harold, I have a request—”

“What you’re about to say isn’t a request.”

“Huh?”

A deep crease appeared between Harold’s brows. He covered my hands with his own, gently brushing his palm over mine.

“Surely, you haven’t forgotten. Diana, you are the Duchess.”

That…

As I hesitated, Harold pulled my hand closer.

“Now, my dear.”

He kissed the ring on my finger and then lifted his gaze, locking his eyes with mine.

In his deep navy blue eyes, I saw myself reflected.

“Say it again.”