Chapter 86
The day’s schedule was finally coming to an end.
“This really isn’t something just anyone could handle.”
There’s a reason people say that those who wear the crown must endure its weight.
Even though it wasn’t my responsibility, just watching from the side was exhausting. I couldn’t imagine how tiring it must be for Jerelac, who had to take responsibility and make decisions for everything.
Yet, he showed no signs of fatigue.
If anything, the one who seemed completely drained was Lord Orie.
His eyes were sunken from running around all day assisting Jerelac.
“Let’s call it a day here. Head inside now.”
“Your Highness, there’s still a briefing for tomorrow’s schedule.”
“That’s fine. Go on ahead.”
Lord Orie glanced at both Jerelac and me, then pressed his hands together.
He was someone who perfectly understood Jerelac’s temperament. If he said anything more, he would surely receive a sharp look.
“Understood, Your Highness. I’ll see you tomorrow morning, then.”
Once he stepped back, Jerelac immediately unbuttoned one of the buttons near his neck.
“I’ve made you go through unnecessary trouble today.”
“No, Your Highness, you were the one who worked hard.”
“The day started as a simple trip… how did it turn into this?”
All I could do was smile.
“You seemed to be writing more diligently than my own assistants all day. Do you have a special plan in mind?”
That question made me flinch unexpectedly.
Well, it is a “special plan,” in a way.
It’s something I intended for your… counterpart.
But I kept my composure and asked again.
“A special plan?”
By now, lying and playing coy came naturally.
“Like becoming a secretary or advancing into the royal palace.”
Ah… so that’s how I must appear to him.
“How did you know? My goal is to become a secretary in the royal office and secure a position.”
Then the corner of Jerelac’s mouth twitched.
“Did you just smirk?”
“No.”
“But it looked like you did.”
“Nope.”
“Liar.”
“Alright, yes, that was a lie.”
“You’re annoying.”
“But I don’t think anyone could hate you for it.”
Squinting my eyes, I looked up at Jerelac as he approached the sofa I was sitting on.
“You know, Your Highness, you’re really annoying sometimes.”
Why does he look so pleased to be called annoying?
“Is it similar to how you look strange to my eyes?”
“Something like that. But… do I really seem so strange?”
Hearing someone repeatedly say I’m strange, I began to wonder if the problem was really me.
“Yes.”
“Such a straightforward answer, finally.”
“It makes me more curious.”
“….”
“I want to know.”
“Your Highness, do you know what that feeling is called?”
I guess I should teach the medieval handsome man among us.
“It’s called being captivated.”
“Captivated?”
“It’s that feeling when you think of me and it’s strange, but you’re curious and want to know more. Isn’t that right? That feeling… it seeps into you, or you could say it captivates you—”
Jerelac chuckled softly and shook his head.
“You really are something.”
The atmosphere had grown languid, subtly shifted, and I fidgeted my hands.
Knock knock.
A sudden, urgent knock echoed, and before Jerelac could respond, the door opened.
Lord Orie entered, looking pale and shocked.
“Your Highness.”
“What is it?”
Someone returning after trying to leave usually meant something important or urgent had occurred.
He spoke calmly, his voice low.
“A woodsman found someone collapsed near the border… they were already deceased.”
A death near the border was no trivial matter.
If a soldier guarding the border had been attacked, it could escalate into a serious incident.
I froze, feeling the gravity of the situation, while Jerelac stood up with a grave expression.
“Have we identified them?”
“Yes.”
Lord Orie spoke with a solemn face.
“They are not Mutton’s people… we first contacted their family.”
Meaning this wasn’t a soldier or mercenary.
He took a deep breath before dropping a name that felt almost unbelievable.
“Adrian Watford.”
Did I mishear something?
I slowly turned my head to look at Lord Orie.
“Who did you say?”
It must be a coincidence. There’s more than one Adrian in the world, after all.
Adrians are common. Besides, I met one just this morning.
“Yes… Adrian Watford? The administrator from Ostrin?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
No… there’s not only one Adrian from Ostrin.
“That can’t be… no, it isn’t, right?”
He was alive just this morning. Suddenly, he’s dead at the border?
I sprang to my feet and asked Lord Orie.
“This is impossible. Dead… Sir Watford couldn’t possibly—”
The news was sudden, shocking, and my fingertips were icy.
It can’t be… this must be a mistake. There has to be an error.
“Do you know him?”
Jerelac asked as he turned to me.
“Yes, I know him. We even crossed paths on the way to the castle this morning.”
“This morning?”
“Yes, we met and spoke just this morning. So there’s no way… there must have been a mistake. Adrian… Adrian—”
I was speaking without thinking, words spilling out uncontrollably.
“Calm down. For now, it’s best if you return home.”
Jerelac gently held my shoulder, and I finally felt my body trembling.
“Will you go now? I’ll come with you.”
“That’s not possible.”
Jerelac didn’t say more.
And I knew I couldn’t follow him there.
“Please… let me go. I beg you.”
“Nothing is certain yet. It could be a crime scene, or just an accident.”
“….”
“It could be dangerous. I cannot take you there.”
“But—”
“Orie, take the lady back inside.”
“Your Highness—”
I called to him earnestly again.
I wasn’t whining about wanting to go.
“If the identity is confirmed, please let me know as well. I’m asking you.”
He slowly nodded.
Even as we left the castle, my mind was in chaos.
Something’s definitely wrong.
But I knew the truth.
I was desperately trying to escape from the suspicious thought.
The Adrian I met this morning seemed… off.
Even though I knew he was in danger, I had ignored it.
<Ribe, so you were here. Really here.>
<Yes, I’m here. Where else would I be?>
<Are you really Liberata?>
<Yes, it’s me.>
<But you look so… different.>
<I’ve been through a lot.>
<Yeah, it suits you.>
<Thank you.>
<Are you really Ribe?>
<Yes, it’s me.>
<Judging by Ribe’s reaction, it seems not everyone knows yet.>
<I have something urgent to tell Ribe.>
<Yes, what is it?>
<It’s not safe to say here.>
<Sorry, I was on my way to Cygnus Castle.>
<Castle?>
<Sir Watford, I’m really sorry. But I had a prior engagement with Your Highness, so I couldn’t avoid it. Can we talk after?>
If only I had listened to Adrian back then…
Maybe he wouldn’t have ended up in danger.
Even knowing such thoughts were useless, his bitter smile lingered in my mind.
Something definitely happened to Adrian. What on earth happened?
If it’s really because of me… what should I do?
Adrian… what happened to you?
My heart kept racing, and the more I thought, the emptier my mind became.
Meanwhile, Orie and I had completely left the castle grounds.
“Lord Orie.”
I looked at the stoic advisor.
“Just call a carriage for me. I’ll go on my own.”
“No, Your Highness. Since you commanded it, I will see you safely to your destination.”
“You have too many things to handle right now to waste time escorting me.”
“But—”
“You need to assemble the guards and contact the coroner as well.”
“….”
“And I don’t want to be treated like a child, knowing full well. Today, I’m here as your assistant, after all.”
Orie knew how important Jerelac’s orders were.
But I couldn’t return without doing this.
“Please, go and confirm if it’s really Adrian Watford.”
Perhaps moved by my sincerity, Lord Orie looked at me with somber eyes.
“Understood. I’ll call a reliable coachman immediately.”
