Chapter 20
“Welcome, Reno.”
Ronan greeted Reno, who had traveled a long way.
“You’ve worked hard. How’s everything going? That business with the Haegenda brothers—is it really settled?”
Ronan shook his head as if the whole thing made him shudder.
“Don’t even mention it. I’ve never seen grown men fight so childishly.”
“What happened this time?”
“Over a well.”
“A well?”
Ronan recounted the absurd situation, incredulous that he had to act as a mediator in such a childish dispute.
Count Ezra Haegenda had dug a well that encroached on the land of Baron Silas Istan.
Istan claimed it was his land, so the well was his, and he used it freely.
In response, Count Haegenda covered the well with a lid, locked it, and blocked access, demanding a huge fee.
Istan refused to pay such an amount, smashed the cover, and brazenly used the water.
Haegenda made a new cover and locked it again. Istan broke it once more.
The repeated cycle escalated tensions, eventually leading to fights among their servants and even casualties.
So Ronan proposed that the well be jointly owned, that the fee demanded by Haegenda be replaced with the Baron family managing the well for one year, and that afterward it be managed jointly.
Fortunately, the proposal was accepted, and the matter was settled, though the trip was frustrating.
“You’ve done well.”
Reno patted Ronan on the shoulder in comfort.
“Come in first.”
Ronan offered Reno the drink on the table.
“Once daylight comes, we should head to the site where the body was found.”
Reno spent the previous night catching up with Ronan and arrived early in the morning at the scene.
The body had been discovered by border soldiers.
However, its condition was bizarre. The neck and both armpits were swollen, as if someone had blown air into them.
“Right now, the decay is gradual, so it’s not that noticeable. But when we first saw it, it was truly strange.”
“Any idea who it is?”
“We questioned all the nearby villages, but no one knew. Likely an outsider.”
“Any of our knights good at drawing?”
“Drawing? Why?”
“To draw it.”
“What?”
Reno gestured toward the body with his chin.
“I think our lord needs to see it himself. No matter how much you explain, seeing it makes a difference.”
Ronan instructed a nearby subordinate.
“Do we have a knight who can draw? If not, go to the village and bring someone skilled. Pay them well.”
“Yes, sir!”
As the subordinate went off, the two men turned their attention back to the body.
“Could this be some sort of curse?”
Reno tilted his chin, frowning.
The more he looked at it, the stranger it appeared.
“Once the drawings are done, have the artist make a few copies to send to Count Haegenda and Baron Istan as well.”
“I agree. Since the body is in a peculiar state, if it’s unlike common deaths, we should report it.”
“You handle things so decisively. I like that.”
“Flattery, sir.”
Ronan gave a brief laugh at the unexpected compliment.
“Our lord is going to have a headache over this.”
Ronan, hearing Morgan’s name mentioned by Reno, grew curious.
“Is our lord well? Has the prince’s nanny been secured?”
“Oh! Haha, heh heh heh.”
Reno suddenly began chuckling.
Ronan blinked repeatedly, confused by the laughter.
“Did something good happen for our lord? Or the prince?”
“Heh heh heh.”
Reno kept laughing without speaking, leaving Ronan frustrated.
“Ah. Come on, say something.”
“Something good did happen. Yes. Heh heh heh.”
“……”
The longer Reno delayed, the more frustrated and curious Ronan became.
“The prince now has an excellent nanny. And she’s very beautiful, capable, and makes the ducal family comfortable. She speaks freely to Duke Morgan Ergana Yohaim. She’s not afraid of the duke. Heh heh heh.”
“……”
Ronan had no idea what part of this made Reno laugh so much.
He guessed something must have happened, though he couldn’t understand it.
What was clear: the nanny is beautiful, capable, and unafraid of their lord.
“Reno, explain in a way I can understand.”
Ronan’s curiosity grew as Reno continued chuckling.
“The nanny arrived only recently, and already the prince spoke to her.”
“What did he say?”
Ronan was shocked.
He had seen countless nannies give up, or try to charm the lord and get dismissed.
‘In such a short time, what happened? At least the lord must be relieved.’
If the ducal heir couldn’t speak, opportunistic people would pounce.
But this nanny handled it all in one go, so it’s understandable that the lord values her.
‘Values her? Perhaps…’
Finally, the lord also seems to have feelings for a woman.
That must be why Reno is laughing.
Indeed—Reno had been the lord’s longtime friend, knowing his childhood personality and tastes.
‘I see. If my guess is right…’
“Our lord must be very pleased.”
“Yes. Very pleased. He even gave her a gift. Heh heh heh.”
“A gift? What kind?”
Reno chuckled and whispered in Ronan’s ear.
“A hairpin studded with tiny amethysts and sapphires. By the way, the nanny’s eyes are purple—her birthstone is sapphire, September.”
Ronan’s eyes widened as he processed the news.
“The lord gave a woman a gift?”
“Yes. He could have given gold coins, but he chose a hairpin instead.”
“Did you nudge him into it?”
“Heh heh heh. A little. I thought coins would be too plain. He frowned at that.”
“Explain more clearly. What does that mean?”
Ronan was inexperienced with women and mostly clueless about these matters.
“The duke has never given a hairpin to anyone. I just mentioned it, and he switched from gold coins to a hairpin. Do you understand now?”
“Ah……”
Ronan immediately understood.
He now longed to return quickly to the ducal palace to see the nanny at the center of all attention.
Afterward, Ronan and Reno discussed other matters.
Meanwhile, a painter was brought along.
The small, elderly man arrived out of breath, carrying his painting tools.
“Here I am, sir.”
Without pause, he asked about the task.
“Yes, the body over there. How long will it take?”
“If you want a detailed drawing, it’ll take some time. But if only key features are captured, it can be done within an hour.”
“Good. Capture the important features only.”
The painter began quickly sketching the body’s distinctive features.
After some time, he painted the body’s details with color.
“All done.”
“Impressive skill.”
The elderly painter had captured all key aspects clearly and efficiently.
“Make four copies at home. They should be ready by tonight.”
“Yes, sir. That’s possible.”
The painter bowed.
“Here’s one silver coin in advance. The rest after delivery.”
Ronan handed the coin to him.
“Thank you, thank you very much.”
The painter smiled broadly, revealing yellowed teeth.
“If you ever encounter another strange corpse like this, report it to the lord immediately.”
“Yes, sir! Of course. I’ll follow orders.”
Ronan called the knight who brought the painter.
“Take him home quickly and bring back the drawings by evening.”
“Yes, sir!”
Ronan then instructed the others to cremate the body.
To avoid direct contact, they dug a pit, stacked firewood, rolled the body in, threw more wood over it, and set it ablaze.
After the cremation, they covered it with earth, completing the task.
“Now that everything is done, let’s head to the Haegenda estate.”
“Agreed. Let’s also rest and prepare for departure.”
Ronan agreed.
He was eager to return to the ducal residence to see the nanny Reno had mentioned.
‘Our lord showing interest in a woman…’
