Chapter 139
The Conclusion of the Gossip
When it was time to depart, a grand procession stretched out in front of the huge mansion.
There were as many as five wagons just for luggage, one large four-horse carriage, and about a dozen knights surrounding it like guards.
All the servants of the mansion came out and stood in two neat lines to see their master off, creating an even more impressive scene.
“Depart!”
At Karsian’s command, the carriages and horses began to move in perfect order.
Eleanor sat inside the large four-horse carriage and quietly watched the disciplined movement.
“Wow, this carriage is so big and fancy. It’s even nicer than the one in Astria. As expected of a Grand Duke.”
Hilda, who sat across from her, touched the smooth seats and admired them.
Just like Hilda said, the carriage was indeed very large. Eleanor had thought this before, but it really felt like the carriage had been built to fit Karsian’s big body.
It looks like at least three more people could fit in here.
Eleanor thought as she looked out the window.
Karsian, who had greeted her before departure, was riding on horseback a little ahead of the carriage.
She had asked him if he wanted to ride together with her, but he refused. He said that riding on horseback was much easier for leading the procession, and besides, his large body would make her uncomfortable in the carriage.
Ernst had also chosen to ride for guarding purposes, so the result was that Eleanor and Hilda had a huge amount of space—enough to lie down comfortably.
Eleanor felt a little guilty, as if she had taken the master’s seat, but she didn’t insist on riding a horse. She knew that quietly doing what Karsian said was the best way not to cause trouble.
“I’m not sure if we’ll make it on time with all this rain. Oh, my lady, don’t worry about being bored! As you know, I was born with a bag full of stories! I won’t let you feel bored for a single second!”
Hilda thumped her chest proudly. Eleanor thanked her with just her words.
A few hours later—
“Snore….”
Hilda, who had said she wouldn’t fall asleep even for a second, had already closed her eyes within thirty minutes of departure and was sleeping very deeply, not waking even when the carriage bounced.
Ernst, who was riding beside the carriage, peeked through the open window, saw her, and shook his head.
“I’ll wake her.”
“No, let her sleep. She must’ve been tired lately.”
“That may be true, but… My lady, aren’t you bored?”
“Not at all. I’m actually enjoying myself.”
Ernst tilted his head, not understanding. She had been sitting in the carriage for hours, only watching the rainy scenery—how could that be enjoyable?
Eleanor answered only with a smile.
She truly was enjoying it. Leaving the city center and heading out of Cardiff, watching the scenery change little by little—she felt thrilled seeing things she would never have seen if she were still the Lady of Astria. That was why she hadn’t fallen asleep once and kept staring out the window.
She had traveled outside the capital to inspect Astria’s territory a few times, but this was her first time leaving Juvenal entirely. Maybe that was why even the heavy rain made the scenery look refreshing rather than gloomy.
The rain that seemed like it would last all day finally began to fade once they were well past Cardiff.
Around that time, Karsian ordered the procession to stop for a short rest.
“Eleanor, are you feeling alright?”
As soon as he gave the signal to rest, he immediately came to her carriage.
He had come several times during the journey to ask the same thing. Apparently, his worry didn’t lessen at all.
Does he think I’m some kind of sugar doll?
It was as if he were worried she would melt if a drop of rain touched her. It seemed that after she was stabbed, he had developed an overly fragile image of her.
“Of course I’m fine. I’ve just been sitting comfortably in the carriage.”
“Traveling by carriage for a long time isn’t easy either, I heard.”
“It’s nothing compared to horseback riding. Are you alright? You’ve been riding in the rain all this time. I’m worried you’ll get sick.”
She gently reached out and wiped the raindrops from his face. Karsian’s eyebrows twitched.
He made a strained expression as if trying to endure something, then quickly turned his gaze away. His nicely shaped ears turned faintly red.
“…I’m fine. More importantly, Eleanor—we’ll have to eat here. The rain delayed us. We should reach an inn near Royster’s border by evening. I’m sorry, but please endure just until then.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. I’m perfectly fine, so don’t worry. Oh—should we eat together now?”
“I wish I could, but unfortunately I must reorganize the procession. Please eat first inside the carriage with the maid. I’ll return before we depart.”
“Alright.”
Eleanor nodded without hesitation.
Leading a procession—even a small one—was not easy. And on a rainy day like today, there were even more things to take care of. Despite that, he still worried so much about her. She felt both amazed and grateful.
Karsian soon left to take care of things, and a servant came to the carriage to hand out boxed meals.
That was when Hilda finally woke up from her deep sleep.
“Huh…? Oh dear, I dozed off for a moment, haha! We barely left and it’s already rest time?”
“It’s been four hours since we left.”
“…What?”
“Here, the food is here. You must be hungry. Let’s eat.”
Embarrassed, Hilda’s cheeks instantly turned red. The lunch tasted especially good after her long nap. Which only made her more embarrassed.
After they finished eating, Eleanor looked out the window again. Ernst was nowhere to be seen.
Was he awkwardly avoiding everyone and standing alone somewhere? She suddenly became worried.
“Hilda, the rain seems to have stopped. Should we get off and go check on Sir Ernst? I’m worried he might not have gotten his meal properly.”
“I’m not particularly worried but… sure, let’s go out. A little walk will help digestion.”
Eleanor and Hilda got off the carriage and looked around. Because the procession was quite large, there were people everywhere.
They wandered around looking for Ernst’s handsome face and ended up near a secluded path between the luggage wagons.
Did we take a wrong turn?
Eleanor turned to go back—
That was when she heard it.
“Did you see it earlier? The way that woman was ordering the Commander around with just a gesture?”
“Oh, I saw it. And the way she just stood there doing nothing before we left… It wasn’t exactly pleasant to look at. She’s not even a noble anymore.”
Even without hearing the rest, Eleanor knew that “that woman” meant her.
“Sir Russell, shouldn’t you say something to the Commander?”
“And what exactly should I say?”
A familiar voice joined in. It was Russell—the knight whom Karsian introduced to her that morning.
“Honestly, isn’t it a little unsettling? Sure, she’s breathtakingly beautiful, I’ll give her that—but still. There’s a huge gap in their status. This relationship just isn’t right.”
“Exactly. If we’re being honest, she’s basically beneath a commoner now. I feel bad for her situation, but realistically—does this make any sense?”
It’s been a while since I’ve heard people gossip about me in person.
Eleanor thought with a blank expression. None of what they were saying surprised her; she had already expected things like this.
But Hilda certainly didn’t feel the same.
“Those sons of—!”
Hilda’s face twisted with rage as she cursed. Then she snorted sharply and lunged toward the gossiping knights.
Eleanor quickly grabbed her and covered her mouth.
Thankfully, Hilda had been so angry that her voice didn’t come out loudly, and the knights were talking loudly themselves, so no one noticed.
“Mmph! Mmmph!!”
Let go of me, my lady! I’m going to kill those bastards!
Hilda’s eyes practically blazed. Eleanor shook her head firmly and whispered:
“Endure it, Hilda. If we interrupt them now, the rumors will get even worse.”
She had plenty of experience dealing with gossip. She knew the best thing now was to let it go.
While Eleanor held onto the furious Hilda, the knights continued talking.
“Quiet, you idiots. If the Commander hears this, you’re all dead.”
“But Sir Russell—!”
“You think I’m thrilled about her? But the Commander chose her. It’s not our place to judge.”
Surprisingly, Russell didn’t join the gossip. It wasn’t because he respected Eleanor—he was clearly just afraid of Karsian.
“If you knew how crazy the Commander was for her all those years, you wouldn’t say that crap. So shut it. You never know who might be listening.”
“Who could possibly hear us out here…?”
“Shut up, I said! If she hears any of this and tells the Commander, you’re done. Completely done. I’m not joking.”
The knights immediately fell silent. Apparently, they were all quite afraid of Karsian too.
Eleanor decided that was enough. She pulled Hilda away, taking her back the way they came. Listening any further wouldn’t do any good.
“Uh—good afternoon!”
As they walked past one of the wagons, a young knight who noticed them bowed reflexively. Eleanor briefly greeted him and continued to her carriage.
The young knight watched her retreating figure, then hurried to the back of the wagons.
“Sir Russell!”
He called out brightly when he reached the group.
“Were you just with Lady Astria?”
Among the knights, the official way to address Eleanor was still “Lady Astria.” They knew she wasn’t a noble anymore, but they didn’t have anything else to call her. Off the record, they simply said “that woman.”
“What? Of course not. Why would she be here?”
“Oh, no reason. It’s just that I saw the lady coming out from this area.”
At his innocent words, the senior knights’ faces turned pale.
“Wow, but she really is beautiful. They say she’s the villainess who ruined her family, so I wondered if she used her pretty face to do it. Hehe… Why are all of you looking like that?”
I was just joking. The young knight looked around awkwardly.
While the seniors recalled everything they had just said and fell into despair, Russell replied in a hollow voice:
“We’re… finished.”
Completely finished. Done for.
Russell muttered in shock.
The only one who didn’t understand anything was the young knight, who just tilted his head.
