Chapter 33
Before departing for the territory, Calliope frowned at the sight of an uninvited guest who had suddenly appeared.
“Why are you here?”
“Why else?”
Lezaye leaned casually against the carriage door, arms folded.
“I figured my lover might need some help.”
“Help? Or are you just bored being alone, so you came to tag along and get on my nerves?”
“What exactly do you take me for?”
“A nuisance.”
Calliope’s judgment was cold and merciless.
But Lezaye was undeterred. He spun his sword in a wide arc before resting it on his shoulder.
“The road to the territory is pretty long. You’ll need an escort, won’t you?”
“I’m going with several knights from my family.”
“How many? No offense to the Verdys’ knights, but I’m worth more than a dozen of your average men.”
This time, Calliope fell silent. Seeing his opening, Lezaye continued.
“Meals, lodgings, travel costs—those won’t be cheap, right? Ah, but I suppose the wealthy Verdy family wouldn’t care about that pocket change.”
Lezaye secretly smirked when he saw the way Calliope’s mind began whirring with calculations.
“If I go, all that will cost only enough for one person.”
He noticed her ears twitch like a rabbit’s. She was clearly interested.
Almost there.
Just as Lezaye was smiling meaningfully—
“Then what’s the price?”
“…What?”
The unexpected question made him blink. Calliope stared straight at him and repeated,
“What’s the price? You must want something, right?”
For a split second, Lezaye nearly scowled.
Damn you, Calliope Verdy. What do you take me for…
“There isn’t one.”
“What?”
“I said there isn’t.”
His tone turned rigid.
Truthfully, she’d probably asked without much thought.
Given their history, it wasn’t unreasonable for her to wonder if he had an ulterior motive.
But for some reason, logic didn’t stop Lezaye from feeling irritated.
“Didn’t you say it yourself? We’re in the same boat now.”
He tried not to sound hurt, but his brusque voice betrayed him.
When the mood suddenly turned awkward, Calliope hesitated.
‘Wait… is he serious?’
No way. Impossible. He’s probably just laying the groundwork to mess with me later.
Reassured by her own conclusion, she quickly regained her composure. Crossing her arms, she tilted her chin, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“Hey, Lezaye.”
“…”
“Didn’t you hear me?”
“…”
“Don’t tell me you’re sulking.”
“You kidding me?”
Lezaye, who’d been trying to ignore her, couldn’t hold back and frowned.
“Who’s sulking?”
He raked his hair back in frustration.
“What the hell am I doing, going out of my way for this crap just to hear this kind of nonsense… damn it.”
He cursed at himself, each word so biting that Calliope almost felt embarrassed for him.
“…You stupid, idiotic bastard.”
“Hey. No need to insult yourself that badly.”
“Want me to direct it at you instead?”
“You’re dead if you do.”
She shot him a serious glare. He gave a look that said, “There it is,” and stopped berating himself.
“Anyway, I’m not joking—I actually do need a good reason.”
“Why?”
“Well…”
Calliope rubbed her chin with a slightly awkward expression.
“If I tell them you’re coming along, they’ll definitely—”
“Calliope, are you leaving now?”
Archibald’s deep voice cut her off.
She immediately looked caught off guard.
But she quickly smoothed her expression and turned toward him.
“You really didn’t have to come out. I already said goodbye earlier.”
“How could I skip seeing you off?”
He gave a hearty laugh—until he noticed Lezaye standing behind her, and his smile froze.
“And what brings the Seventh Prince here…?”
His eyes held wariness, like someone spotting a thief eyeing a precious treasure.
“Grandfather.”
Calliope quickly placed a hand on his arm. Only then did Archibald snap out of it and return to his usual expression.
With a warm smile, as if nothing had happened, he said,
“Ah, so His Highness has come to see Calliope off as well? You must be busy—how kind of you.”
“Well, that’s part of it, but…”
When Lezaye trailed off, Archibald’s white eyebrows lifted sharply again.
Calliope quickly tugged on Lezaye’s arm and mouthed, “Don’t say anything!”
Lezaye shut his mouth almost involuntarily. In that moment, she pulled Archibald aside.
“The truth is, His Highness offered to be my escort.”
“Escort?”
Archibald’s brow furrowed. Calliope jumped in before he could object.
“Yes! Isn’t that wonderful? Things could get dangerous on the way, but with a Sword Master prince by my side, it’ll be perfectly safe.”
“How long is the trip?”
“Nine nights, ten days.”
“Hmm… Harold, a word.”
Archibald led Harold aside, speaking with him in hushed, serious tones.
While Calliope tilted her head in curiosity, Sylvia came rushing up, breathless.
“Hah… hah… I almost missed you!”
“Sylvia? Where have you been—”
“Here, miss!”
Sylvia thrust something toward her—a pouch about the size of a fist.
“What’s this?”
“Moonlight herb.”
“Moon… what?”
Sylvia gave a sly grin.
Calliope, about to take it without thinking, jerked back in alarm.
“W-wait—why are you giving me this all of a sudden?!”
Her voice even stammered, which was unlike her, but Sylvia remained calm.
“You’re traveling with His Highness, aren’t you? As lovers, you’ll be together day and night.”
“What lovers?! And together, my ass—!”
Calliope’s outburst didn’t faze Sylvia in the slightest.
In fact, Agnes appeared and chimed in.
“I knew it! My lady, you’re far too naïve. The most dangerous person in this situation is clearly the Seventh Prince!”
“Uh…?”
Calliope could only make a dumb sound at Agnes’s absolute certainty.
“All men are wolves. Etch that into your heart—it’s an unshakable truth.”
“Oh, come on, Lady Agnes, that’s so old-fashioned. These days fox-like men are all the rage.”
“Fox or wolf, they’re equally dangerous, Sylvia.”
Sylvia’s bright, sparkling eyes didn’t dim in the least.
“Anyway, miss, you need to be prepared. You never know what might happen.”
Even Harold, who had slipped back without her noticing, joined in.
“Be sure to give it only to His Highness.”
Sylvia beamed, and Archibald patted her shoulder approvingly.
“Well done, Sylvia.”
“You see, my lord? I told you His Highness would insist on going along.”
“You were right. You’re better than me—if I hadn’t listened to you, it would’ve been a disaster.”
After praising Sylvia, Archibald personally handed the pouch to Calliope with firm insistence.
“You heard her, Calliope. The herb’s effects are strong, but His Highness is robust enough to handle it.”
Feeling a sudden twinge in her neck, Calliope reluctantly took the pouch.
This visit to the territory… will it really be okay?
Somehow, she had the ominous feeling it was going to be anything but smooth.
