Chapter 71
Jealousy
“You’re mistaken, milady. You didn’t travel to Notos for pleasure. You were forced to go to the kingdom of Ryuse because of that contract’s condition—to find a certain item and present it to the Marquis.”
“An item? What kind of item are you talking about?”
“That part… I honestly don’t know.”
“How petty. What kind of item is so important that it’s a condition of the contract for a lady to go all the way to a foreign land to fetch it?”
In truth, Eron had secretly admired Kailian’s steady and calm nature, the leader of the Red Moon Knights.
They had no connection, had barely spoken, but compared to the nobles who constantly fawned before the Emperor, Kailian’s consistently dignified attitude felt weightier and more genuine.
Moreover, despite being persistently courted by Himena, the daughter of the powerful Duke Sylvester’s family, Kailian never gave women a second glance, which earned Eron’s respect as a fellow man.
However, after developing a friendship with Himena, and with conflicts and jealousy swirling around her, Eron’s feelings grew sour.
The dignified personality he once respected started to seem cold and harsh compared to the bright and lively Himena he came to know.
“So then… how long will your engagement contract last?”
“There isn’t a set period, but for now, His Highness the Prince plans to quietly break off the engagement once he officially marries another noble lady and the rumors about milady settle down. So, we hope the novelist who will soon publish the new book won’t continue to slander milady.”
“Hmm…”
Before coming here, Eron had stopped by Andrea to bring some good news to Himena.
“Sheriff, I would appreciate it if you would no longer interfere with my novels. If you keep trying to restrict my creative freedom, I won’t be able to cooperate with the investigation anymore. I hear you’re under strong pressure from the Sylvester Duke family, but isn’t that your problem?”
Andrea openly showed displeasure toward Eron’s repeated visits.
“Author, this isn’t for Lady Sylvester’s sake, but to protect you from the blackmailer.”
“I can protect myself. I always have a bodyguard now. Nothing has happened since those childish threatening letters. I still can’t shake the suspicion that the Sylvester lady sent them. As the capital’s sheriff, shouldn’t you conduct a fairer investigation?”
“You’re suspecting our lady? That’s ridiculous!”
Marie was shocked and outraged.
“If that author includes more malicious content about Lady Sylvester in the second volume, we’ll have no choice but to sue for defamation. Anyway, you should consult me about this, so please report back as soon as you return.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Well then, I’m off.”
“Goodbye, Sheriff.”
After Eron left, Marie thought for a moment, then went to Sophia, who was cleaning the Duke’s study.
“Sophia, you said you know a maid who works for a novelist living in the capital?”
“Oh, Olivia? Yes, I know her well. Why?”
“I have a favor to ask…”
“…This year, only thirty people have been selected for the Beast Subjugation Contest. I know it’s disappointing, but this was requested directly by His Majesty the Emperor, so it can’t be helped. I hope you all understand.”
“Tch! Every year, if it weren’t for our knights, many participants would have been mercilessly killed by beasts, and now they’ve cut the numbers from a hundred to thirty!”
“Exactly! Maybe they’ll finally learn some sense. They don’t even appreciate it!”
As Whale announced the participant list and asked for understanding, complaints echoed.
While Lorex was included, Hermes was ultimately left out.
“Well, perhaps the results of the subjugation will change things later. Please all cooperate fully in preparing so there are no issues with tomorrow’s departure.”
“Yes! Understood!”
Upon the order, the knights, whether participating or not, helped each other ready their weapons, while the servants loaded provisions, tents, and supplies into the wagons.
“Excuse me, seniors. May I ask something? Did any of you go to the weapons store in the city center about fifteen days ago?”
While helping prepare for the contest, Himena asked the senior knights about the knight who accidentally bumped into Andrea’s maid at the weapons store.
“Oh? That was Marcelo and me. Why?”
One senior knight approached while polishing a spear.
“Oh, it was you?”
“Yeah. Marcelo and I went to the capital that day; I stopped by the weapons store briefly, and Marcelo went to visit his sister at the hotel. Why do you ask?”
“I heard a knight bumped into a maid there. Were you the one?”
“Oh, I remember now. A woman accidentally dropped her basket when she bumped into me. I picked it up right away. Hermes, how do you know about this?”
‘So the threatening letter wasn’t slipped into the maid’s basket by the knight who bumped into her.’
“She’s a maid I know. She happened to be in the capital on leave, and she told me about the knight who bumped into her at the weapons store. He was so handsome that she still remembers him… haha.”
“Really? She said I’m handsome? Haha. I don’t even remember her face. There were so many people at the weapons store that day, I bumped into a small woman, and it happened one after another. Man, too bad. I wanted to be annoyed because it seemed intentional, but if it was good, then we almost had a miraculous meeting.”
“A small woman?”
“Yeah, a woman in a cloak pushed me suddenly, and I bumped into that maid. After I helped her with the basket, she disappeared quickly.”
“Did you see that woman’s face?”
“No. She wore a cloak like me that day, so I couldn’t see clearly. I think I caught a glimpse of long blonde hair. By the way, Hermes, what does that maid look like? Is she pretty?”
“Ah… haha. That maid is m-married, haha.”
“What? Hey, man! That’s no fun! You should have said that from the start!”
“Haha. Did I not say? She’s a married maid. Haha… sorry.”
“Enough, man! Load the stuff! Geez…”
The senior knight grumbled and walked off. Himena sighed in relief but grew anxious about the culprit’s identity.
‘Is Ines really the culprit? Is she openly roaming the capital, targeting Andrea? Or is it just someone who happens to have the same blonde hair as Ines?’
“Hermes! Leave this here and go see the captain.”
“Ah, yes, vice-captain.”
“If you’re talking about that, I’ve tried a few times. But how easy would it be for a maid to ask her mistress to change the novel’s content? No way.”
Sophia, who was close with Olivia the maid working at Andrea’s mansion, shook her head bitterly at Marie’s request.
Sophia had heard rumors of the novel and had also asked Olivia about Himena but to no avail.
“Besides, the author is stubborn about his work. But how can anyone suspect our lady sent those threatening letters? It’s absurd.”
“Exactly!”
“I don’t get why people get so worked up over such nonsense fiction… sigh, the world of nobles is beyond understanding.”
The two women vented together.
“I’m meeting Olivia at the capital square tomorrow, so I’ll try to find out if she knows anything. But Marie, don’t worry too much. Milady is already engaged to the Marquis, so there’s nothing to fear.”
“That may be, but…”
“Hoho, did you see how the Marquis looks at her? Like honey dripping. I wonder how he seduced her so quickly. Hohoho.”
“Well… judging by how fickle he is, the Marquis probably isn’t that upright either. I worry he’ll suddenly turn cold and hurt our lady.”
“Nah, I don’t think he’s that type. Right now, he seems totally smitten.”
“We’ll see. Honestly, nothing special happened between them before, so this sudden change is strange, isn’t it?”
“Hmm… yeah, now that you mention it. Relationships between men and women are truly mysterious, especially among nobles. Sigh, we’ll just keep our ears and mouths shut and accept it.”
“When you go to the capital tomorrow, I want to come too, sister. I’m bored without milady here and want to get some fresh air.”
“You want to? Okay, I’ll make up an excuse about running errands at the weapons store. Let’s go together.”
“Thanks, sister.”
Knock! Knock!
“Marquis, it’s me, Hermes.”
“Come in.”
When Himena entered Kailian’s office, she quickly dropped her shy gaze when she caught the smile in his eyes.
“You found it?”
“Yes. Were you helping with the contest preparations?”
“Yes.”
“Did you sleep well last night? I wonder if the change of bed was uncomfortable.”
“Not at all. It’s a bigger, nicer bedroom than before. Did you sleep well too, Marquis?”
“Yes. Thanks to that, I even had a peaceful dream of sheep running on wide grasslands.”
Kailian smiled softly, remembering the previous night.
‘Tch… so I’m the only one who didn’t sleep well. Making my heart race, then sleeping soundly yourself.’
“Haha, that’s a relief.”
Himena forced a smile despite her true feelings.
“Hermes, I wanted to ask if you might stay here in the castle during the contest. The site is quite dangerous…”
“What? What do you mean? I’m going too!”
Surprised by Kailian’s suggestion, Himena spoke louder than she intended.
‘What? Why would I have gone through all this trouble just to stay locked up in the castle? Even if I’m not on the participant list, I thought I’d naturally come as the personal secretary.’
