CHAPTER 56…………………………………
“Rooooon!”
I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t help shouting Ron’s name at the top of my lungs like a fool.
It had been such a long time since I’d seen him.
“Raaaaaaan!”
Luckily, he seemed happy that I called his name. Ron shouted back and ran toward me.
His feet landed solidly beside me.
The dark forest seemed to brighten instantly just by meeting him.
Hoo. I blew on the lantern’s flame to make it burn brighter.
“Ron, how have you been?”
“Good! How about you, Ran?”
“I’ve been well too.”
Ron looked healthy in the light.
Now that I noticed, he seemed a bit more filled out, taller even.
The last time we met, he was shorter than me, I think.
It seemed I was the only one who hadn’t grown.
I looked at Ron, who had grown to nearly my height, and spoke.
“Thanks. I was able to fend off the assassins because of you.”
“…Huh? Ran, you defeated the assassins yourself?”
“Ah, well… I misspoke. Someone I know did it. Haha.”
I almost got caught.
I laughed awkwardly and quickly changed the subject.
“Here, Ron, eat this.”
I handed him a cream cookie I had specially asked the chef to prepare.
“The last one I had was so good, it reminded me of you. So I brought one.”
“Thanks. Let’s eat together.”
“Okay.”
Crunch. We shared the cream cookies and chatted about everything that had happened.
Mostly, I asked questions, and Ron answered.
“So your master dozed off on a tree and slept until morning?”
“And now you can drink poisonous water and it doesn’t affect you?”
“What? You cross mountains every morning? Your master really trains you hard.”
Whenever I fretted, Ron reassured me that everything was fine.
Just like I had questions about him, Ron was curious about me.
But I dodged every question.
Since I was disguised as a boy, I couldn’t reveal my private life.
“Sorry, Ron. I’ll tell you everything… eventually. But not now.”
“Mm…”
Seeing Ron’s drooping expression made my heart ache.
His ruby-red eyes looked as if they were saying how disappointed he was.
Ah, no! I can’t stop!
But I’m terrible around handsome boys.
Especially when someone like Ron, with that cold, beautiful boyish look, seems so pitiful you want to hug him—it makes my heart crumble.
“Okay, Ron. Then just one question—just one! You can ask only one. No more.”
Ron’s red eyes sparkled.
I tried to set the condition late, but seeing how excited he was, I couldn’t.
What on earth is he going to ask?
Probably about my identity.
Maybe why I went into that cave that day.
Or perhaps about the family I belong to.
Or why I keep helping him.
Whatever it is, it’s going to be a tricky question.
As I fidgeted with his hands in mine, Ron’s cheerful voice reached my ears.
“Ran. Where did you get that hat?”
“…Huh? What?”
For a moment, I thought I misheard.
As I tilted my head, I felt the small wings on either side of the hat flutter.
“That hat really suits you, Ran.”
“Ah.”
I went momentarily blank, as if punched, then took off the hat.
The winged bread-shaped hat Britta had picked.
Its unique cuteness was still hard to get used to.
But apparently, Ron was curious about it.
I laughed nervously, thinking I’d worried for nothing.
“Ron, you can have it.”
I felt sorry for Britta, who had carefully chosen it, but I could just buy a new one later.
Ron shook his hands.
“No. I didn’t want it. I just said it because it suits you.”
“I have another one. Really, you can take it. And if it suits me, it’ll suit you too.”
Through his dark blue hair, Ron’s eyes blinked.
His pure, clear face looked contemplative, then he took the hat.
“Try it on.”
As Ron slowly put it on, his small head fit perfectly inside the oversized hat.
It covered even his eyebrows.
It was utterly adorable.
I tidied the stray hair under the hat and tilted it slightly back so his face showed.
“Let’s see.”
“How is it?”
“Wow, so cute! It really suits you!”
He brushed his red cheeks, embarrassed, under the winged hat.
I wondered who made it—definitely deserves a prize!
Since I didn’t know, I’d praise Britta when I returned to the mansion.
“Really suits me?”
“Yes! Very much!”
Blushing, Ron pressed his small lips together, and his cheeks puffed adorably.
I smiled and tapped the small wings on the hat.
We laughed and chatted until it was time to part.
Feeling the approaching dawn, I waved to Ron.
“Take care. See you next time.”
“You too, Ran. Bye.”
Knowing he would stand there until I left, I turned and walked away.
As the early morning chill settled,
Ron finally moved after I disappeared.
He felt the wings of the hat flutter and his cheeks heat up again.
“I had so many questions, but I held back.”
He had so many things he wanted to ask.
Why I was disguised as a boy, whether Ran was really my name…
But seeing me nervous, he restrained his curiosity.
That was why he asked about the hat instead.
Ron touched the small wings on the hat, then removed it and held it carefully to his chest.
It was a precious gift.
He wouldn’t carelessly use it—he would take it home and put it in a box.
The rest of his questions could wait until next time.
“Hehe.”
Holding the winged hat tightly, he hurried along.
The Kerais family council was held in two sessions.
The first was between Duke Kerais and the vassals; the second with the family elders and relatives.
I decided to attend the second session.
I had wanted to see the first session too, but the Duke insisted it wasn’t my place yet.
Besides, the vassals were eager to pair their daughters with Shevard, so I couldn’t appear.
“There’s still some time. Let’s think a bit.”
The first session at the villa had not yet ended.
I wondered how Rynes would cause trouble.
“Well, he’ll probably explain why he wants that prime land.”
But from what Duvier said, Rynes had already received his inheritance.
The land belonged to the Duke, who gave it to me.
He had no way to snatch it away.
“Hm. Well, we’ll see what happens when we confront him.”
Soon, a servant called my name.
Following him to the villa, I felt eyes watching me—everyone was part of the Kerais family.
Most had blue hair with varying shades, but all had red eyes.
“That’s Shevard’s uncle, right? And the long-bearded one is the Duke’s cousin.”
Thanks to Duvier whispering, I recognized a few.
That was enough for a preliminary impression.
The one I would face today was Duke Rynes, the Duke’s older brother.
He entered the council room just then.
I greeted him politely; he raised an eyebrow and nodded.
“Well, well. I heard you’d come, but I didn’t expect it. Still, it’s interesting to meet you here, young lady.”
His overly confident demeanor annoyed me.
I ground my teeth, recalling how he had sent assassins disguised as guards.
Once everyone was seated and the final vassal meeting ended, the council began.
Topics ranged from the family’s merchant operations to their lands and forests.
I paid close attention, not wanting to miss anything.
It might be useful for Ron later.
I wanted to know everything about the Kerais family.
As the long meeting neared its end, Rynes raised his hand.
Soon, the agenda about Lemine and Jark 12th Street began.
“Fortunately, the young lady of the Delve family, who will receive this land, is present.”
Rynes smirked at me.
One by one, he voiced his objections to transferring the prime land.
Their reasoning mirrored Rynes’.
It was Kerais family land, passed down for generations.
No one could give such central land to an outsider.
The conclusion: Kerais inheritance must go to Kerais bloodline.
I was frustrated—I had no right to speak as I was only observing.
But then, the Duke’s words cleared everything.
“The Kerais family, one of the founding families of the Triya Empire, possesses immeasurable land. Just as those here have received their inheritance, Lemine and Jark 12th Street are my share. I own it. Why we should discuss it here is beyond me.”
Someone next to Rynes objected.
“That’s because it’s given to a Delve lady, not Kerais bloodline!”
The Duke’s gaze grew icy.
“I heard that my uncle hastily sold land in the Helun region last year.”
“…What? How dare you!”
The council murmured.
The Duke raised his hand, and silence returned.
“Those who have visited his estranged fiancée and received the land documents likely already know.”
“G-Gethre! That’s enough! Stop it!”
Flushed, he finally fell silent, groaning.
Nice, Father.
I straightened my shoulders in uncontrollable joy and listened as the Duke continued.
“I had planned to announce it when the children came of age, but this can’t wait. Miss Maryanne Delve is engaged to Shevard.”
Surprise rippled through the room.
Everyone knew it as a rumor, but no one expected it to be stated officially.
No one imagined a young lady from a declining family becoming the fiancée of the next Duke.
“If you question the suitability of the landowner, the issue will resolve itself naturally. In the future, Maryanne will marry Shevard and bear the Kerais name.”
Gulp. Even though I hadn’t eaten, I nearly choked.
Everyone’s eyes were sharp.
They wondered why the daughter of a declining family would become Shevard’s fiancée.
