CHAPTER 63……………..
“Uh….”
What does he mean by that?
Aylla’s face was full of bewilderment.
Realizing belatedly that his words could be misunderstood, Lloyd quickly added,
“No, of course I have no regrets about adopting you. I just wanted to ask if you ever wished for more. So please, answer honestly.”
Only then did Aylla relax a little, fiddling with the cards in her hand.
Because in truth, she already thought her life was luxurious enough.
Three rich meals a day, without lifting a finger.
Soft dresses that made her happy just by wearing them.
A life where survival didn’t depend on the weather—cool in the summer, warm in the winter.
“If I became a child of a better house, would I get to live even more luxuriously than this?”
“…Probably?”
Lloyd gave a vague answer.
After all, Aylla was already enjoying the very best. There wasn’t much more beyond this.
She pondered seriously for a moment, then shook her head and drew a card from Lloyd’s hand.
“I like things the way they are now.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I have you, Father.”
“……”
“And the lady told me, the higher your status, the greater the responsibility you have to bear. She also said there are lots of people who avoid responsibility. What if I end up like that?”
“That will never happen.”
Lloyd immediately rebuffed the thought.
Sure, no one could predict exactly how a child would grow up—but Aylla, becoming that kind of noble? Impossible.
He meant it as a reassurance, a sign of trust, but Aylla’s expression darkened slightly.
She was grateful Lloyd believed in her, yet uncomfortable too.
Because she had already grown too used to this abundant life.
If she were to go back to the orphanage now, with the taste of plenty still on her tongue…
And if she were offered the chance to become a noble’s child, she thought she might do anything to seize it.
Even if it meant turning a blind eye to younger, more desperate children.
Poor children couldn’t survive just by being kind.
Lloyd, who had never known poverty, couldn’t understand what she felt.
Aylla smiled faintly, then suddenly grinned and showed her empty hands.
“I’m done!”
“…Ah.”
While he was lost in thought, Lloyd was left holding nothing but the joker.
“Father, you’re really bad at this game.”
“…Well, it’s not like I’ve ever played before.”
“Then let’s play something else! Do you know cat’s cradle? The lady taught me.”
She pulled a long string out of her handbag.
It felt like a moment when something important could’ve been said.
But not wanting to taint Aylla’s first journey with unpleasant memories, Lloyd shook his head.
“I don’t. Show me how.”
“Wow, what a nice day.”
The merchant, hustling his wagon into the village for deliveries, looked up at the sky in admiration.
As if last night’s downpour had been a lie, the sky was bright and clear, not a single cloud in sight.
If not for the puddles dotting the road, one could have mistaken it for an ordinary morning.
Feeling as if luck was on his side today, the merchant began to hum.
“Let’s ride the wind and go, hooo—”
“…hooo—!”
“…?”
Someone just sang along?
Embarrassed at the thought that someone might have heard him, the merchant stopped the wagon and looked around.
The road was empty, except for himself.
“Ha, must’ve imagined it.”
Sure, traveling the same route every day was boring, but hearing voices? That was a bit much.
Relieved, he took up the reins again. His humming slipped out once more.
“Secretly, we’ll set off on a journey, hooo—”
“…hooo—!”
“Eek!”
He stopped the wagon again.
So it wasn’t just in his head! Someone really was echoing his song!
Right now, he was passing through a stretch of woods. Small enough that calling it a “forest” was generous, but still thickly grown, and eerie enough as it was.
Could it be bandits?
But this close to the village? And in the bright morning? Unlikely.
Holding his breath, the merchant listened carefully.
“…help meee—!”
“…pleeease—!”
Listening closely, it wasn’t some ghostly voice—it was a desperate cry for help.
Still, the world was a dangerous place.
There were bandits who used fake victims as bait to lure in travelers.
Gripping the cudgel he carried for self-defense, the merchant cautiously climbed down from his wagon.
He could just ignore it, but if someone truly was in trouble, he had to help.
It could even be a villager—and that might be good for business.
Following the voice carefully, he finally heard it clearly.
“Help meee!”
“Waaah!”
And he screamed.
Because a filthy beggar was tied to a tree!
Not just tied—suspended from a branch, dangling in midair.
Anyone would scream at the sight.
The merchant fell back in shock, clutching his cudgel tightly.
“Wh-who are you!”
“A p-person! Please save me!”
The scrawny man burst into tears the moment he saw the merchant.
“I was attacked by bandits! I’ve been stuck here all night! Please help me!”
The merchant looked him over suspiciously.
No belongings, no horse.
But who would tie their own comrade up in a tree to rob passersby?
Besides, this young man really did look a little slow.
There was even a shallow cut on his cheek, as if from a knife.
Definitely a genuine victim.
The merchant sighed, dropping his suspicions.
“Wait here. I’ll fetch a knife to cut the rope.”
With the merchant’s help, the young man was soon freed.
“You’ve saved me. Thank you so much.”
The man stank—not of mud, but of sewage, as though he had rolled in a gutter.
Even with last night’s rain, there was no way he’d smell like that from just being in the woods.
It was the one thing that seemed strange. But looking pitiful with no horse, no gear, no dignity left after a whole night hanging in a tree, the young man was hard not to pity.
The merchant warned him,
“Be careful. Even near the village, bandits sometimes appear.”
“Yes, I let my guard down and paid for it.”
For someone with a face that screamed easy target, he sure spoke smoothly.
The merchant was about to leave, satisfied with his good deed, when the young man stopped him.
“Could you perhaps take me to the village? I’ll pay you.”
The stinking beggar pulled out a gold coin.
So suspicious it almost would’ve been less strange if he were a bandit.
Who pays gold just for a ride to the village?
The merchant’s suspicion must’ve shown on his face, because the slow-looking man bent deeply, pleading.
“It’s all I have left. Please, I beg you!”
With a plea that desperate, how could he refuse?
Besides, the coin had come from his waistband, hidden carefully. Clearly, it was really his last possession.
The merchant sighed and relented, offering him a seat.
“Fine, get on. Keep your money.”
“R-really?”
“No matter how poor I am, I wouldn’t take the last coin from a pauper.”
“Thank you! Truly, thank you!”
The young man bowed deeply.
And with that, the stench wafted even stronger, making the merchant grimace.
“…Sit a little farther away, will you.”
The sewage smell was unbearable.
Half a day later, they had long since left the village behind.
Since morning, the carriage had traveled without pause. Now, it was passing through the shortcut forest on the way to the Grand Duchy of Eckhardt.
By now, Archibald must’ve reported to the Mars couple.
At least word would’ve spread that the Imperial Knights were escorting me. That meant they wouldn’t send more fools after us.
Even so, my fingertips drummed anxiously on the window frame.
All because Archibald kept stirring up pointless worries in my head.
Haven’t made up with Gabriel yet? Don’t make me laugh.
