Chapter 79
The lord of Arden was neither authoritarian nor did he wield his power arbitrarily. He wasn’t extravagant, nor had he ever harmed his people, so she had thought of him as a “kind and benevolent lord.”
But it seemed he had merely been a “coward” who hid away from everything.
Watching Elruana’s expression sink, Duke Spes rose from his seat.
“Let’s stop here for today. I need to finish my lesson with Prince Kazar.”
“Yes, Father.”
Even after Duke Spes left, Elruana sat there for a long while.
What is the Imperial Family plotting with Serus?
Rolling the bead-like trinket in her palm, Elruana rose and headed to the study. The servants who had moved the statue earlier had already left, leaving only Serus standing alone.
Elruana carefully placed her hand on the statue.
“Hello, Serus. Did you enjoy the trip?”
[My ears… it feels like they’re going to bleed.]
Elruana tilted her head in surprise.
“Are you hurt? Did you bump into something on the way?”
Alarmed, she inspected the statue’s ear, but there were no cracks or chips. When she touched the statue again, Serus’s voice flowed into her mind.
[That guy, Singh. If you’re going to dismiss him, please do it quickly. I never want to see him again.]
“Dismiss him?”
[Isn’t that what you’re planning? He kept saying it the whole way here. That since he failed to protect you in Arden, he’d be expelled from the Order. At the very least, he wouldn’t be allowed to serve as your guard anymore.]
Elruana’s mouth fell open.
She was the one who told Singh to rescue Louis, even if it meant leaving her side. She hadn’t thought he would torment himself over it.
Could it be he had been worrying about this the entire way back from Arden?
“That’s not true. Nothing like that will happen.”
[Impossible. I heard it 111 times.]
“…I need to see Singh. Soon Kazar will finish his lesson and come here, so stay by yourself for a bit, alright?”
[Please, leave me alone. I missed being lonely.]
“I’ll be back.”
Patting the statue’s shoulder, Elruana left the lavender room. Outside, Ring quickly fell in step behind her.
“Where would you like to go, my lady?”
“Where is Singh?”
“Probably in the knights’ quarters. Shall I take you there?”
“Yes. I need to see him.”
Since he was on leave, he might already have left the ducal residence. Hoping she wasn’t too late, Elruana quickened her pace toward the knights’ quarters.
The quarters were attached to the training grounds. Ring, standing before the dormitory building, scanned the area. Spotting a gardener pruning a tree, she approached him, exchanged a few words, and returned.
“The First Order uses the third floor. The doors are labeled, so it should be easy to find. Shall I call Sir Singh out for you?”
“No, I’ll go myself.”
Singh’s room was at the far right end of the third floor. Elruana gently knocked on the door marked with his name.
“Singh?”
From inside came a disbelieving voice.
“…My lady?”
“May I come in?”
With a loud clatter, the door burst open.
“Please, come in. It’s a bit messy, though.”
Elruana’s jaw dropped as she stepped inside.
This is more than a bit.
The room was very, very messy. Not only from being unoccupied for long, but belongings were strewn chaotically all over the floor.
Carefully searching for safe spots to step, Elruana picked her way forward. Each step was cautious, so as not to crush anything. Singh trailed behind her awkwardly, hopping over clutter like a guilty child. It almost looked as if he had deliberately turned the room into an obstacle course for balance training.
Thankfully, Elruana managed to reach the table without stepping on anything. She sat first, and Singh stood before her, unable to meet her eyes—just as Serus had said.
“Sit down, Singh. I need to talk to you.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
His weak reply was followed by him slumping into a chair, head bowed.
“I like having you as my guard.”
“You can dismiss me. My duty was to protect you. I don’t even deserve to eat. No… I don’t even deserve to breathe.”
Elruana was stunned that he truly thought this way. Watching him wilt made her uncomfortable. She leaned forward.
“I mean it. I like having you as my guard.”
Finally, Singh, who had been sagging like boiled greens, lifted his head.
“Then… you don’t hate me?”
“Why would I ever hate you?”
“But I failed to protect you.”
“I’m the one who told you to save Louis.”
“Then… at least dock my pay. Please. Your silence on punishment makes me more anxious. I endangered you. Even if it was by your command, I failed.”
“There won’t be a pay cut. And no punishment either.”
Elruana’s voice was firm.
“As I thought… a pay cut is too much luxury for me. I guess I’m not even allowed to breathe, then.”
He looked ready to bury himself into the ground. But that wasn’t what Elruana wanted.
“I want you to keep being the way you are. Not blocking me, but helping me reach where I want to go.”
“Then I…”
“Of course, you’ll still need to protect me. If you’re to take me where I want to go and guard me, you’ll have to grow even stronger. I’m going to have a lot of enemies.”
Singh’s face brightened dramatically. Energy returned to his voice, and his nostrils flared. Soon his cheerful voice echoed through the room.
“Yes, my lady! Singh will become stronger!”
Seeing his enthusiasm restored, Elruana finally felt relieved. She placed a box she’d brought on the table.
“This is a gift.”
“Eh?”
Flustered, Singh untied the ribbon and opened it. Inside lay a magical artifact she had purchased at a magic shop—an expensive magical defense tool.
“A-an artifact?!”
“It’s from a nearby shop, so it’s nothing too grand. But since you’re a swordsman, I thought it’d be good for you to have some magical protection.”
“My goodness! None of the other knights have an artifact! Only I do! Truly, my lady is the only one who thinks of me like this. I’ll give you my loyalty! Not only my life, but my very soul!”
The words tumbled out so fast he could barely breathe. Yes—this was the Singh she knew. Before he could ramble further, Elruana quickly changed the subject.
“Enjoy your leave. I have more things I want to tell you.”
Singh blinked.
“I’m not going on leave.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t have a home to return to. Even before, I always just lazed around the quarters during breaks. Going out only wastes money, and the meals here are tastier than anything outside. Can’t I just return to duty?”
“Aren’t you tired? You don’t have to overdo it.”
“Singh is always full of energy!”
His shout was so lively, it was hard to believe he had been drooping moments ago. His hunched shoulders were now squared proudly.
“My mission isn’t over yet. Besides, someone came looking for you.”
“For me?”
“I found him on the road. At first, I thought he was a corpse lying there. But since I couldn’t decide on my own, I brought him here. He’s a hunter from Arden named Sam.”
“Uncle Sam came looking for me?”
The rugged but kind face of Sam surfaced in her mind. For him, who should have been in Arden, to come here was strange.
“Do you know why?”
“He said his son has gone missing.”
Elruana’s breath caught. Her hand instinctively grabbed Singh’s arm.
“Hans? Where is Uncle Sam now?”
“I told him to get treated first. After that, I was planning to bring him to you.”
“He’s injured?”
“Not gravely, but he has many small wounds.”
Her hand slipped weakly from Singh’s arm.
“What happened to Hans…”
“If you want to know, I can tell you. I heard a rough version of his story from the man himself. Here’s what happened—”
Singh launched into a long, breathless explanation. Listening to his never-ending tale, Elruana thought perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to replace her guard after all.
Before he could finish, she cut in.
“Let’s go meet Uncle Sam.”
“Then I’ll escort you.”
At last, Elruana could leave the quarters. Outside, Ring was waiting. Seeing Singh again after so long, she beamed.
“Sir Singh! You’re back safely?”
Singh pulled her into a hug and ruffled her hair.
“Have you been well, Ring? Are you used to life at the manor now?”
Straightening her messy hair with a sheepish smile, Ring nodded.
“Everyone’s been kind. And you were right, the food here is delicious.”
“See? I told you. The best dish is the cashew nut stir-fry. If you haven’t tried it yet, you must. I always eat at least three plates when it’s served.”
“Really? Wow. I got to try fig scones here for the first time.”
“Oh, those are good too.”
Watching them chatter, Elruana began walking ahead. It was a bit noisy, but Singh’s return did make her feel less lonely.
They were told Sam was staying in the servants’ quarters. Heading that way, they spotted Kazar walking from the distance.
Elruana waved enthusiastically.
“Kazar! Over here!”
Seeing that, Singh’s eyes gleamed.
“As expected—true love! I heard rumors on the way. I already suspected it back in Arden! The moment the bloodied Fourth Prince carried you back—I knew it. Ah! This is love! True love!”
He had clearly misunderstood. To think there was already so much gossip after only a few days.
“What Singh heard was just a story that Noah, the aide, made up. The real story is different. The engagement is just a contract to check Prince Regis. It’s nothing more than that.”
Elruana tried to explain in a hushed voice, but Singh wasn’t listening. In his head, countless romance tales he had read were unfolding.
“Singh loves contract romance stories. If old tales were about rising status like Cinderella, the trend now is contract romance, contract engagement, contract marriage. Heh.”
“I like those stories too,” Ring chimed in. “At first they deny it’s love, but then they overcome hardships together and realize their true feelings.”
Singh’s expression lit up.
“Exactly! That’s it! Ring, so you read storybooks too?”
“Not many. They’re expensive to borrow. I only got to read them when friends lent them.”
“Don’t worry. I have plenty. I’ll lend you some on the way back. Reading them at night before you fall asleep—it’s perfect.”
Elruana sighed quietly as she listened to the two chatter. By then, Kazar had reached them, eyeing Singh and Ring curiously. The two were clasping hands and casting peculiar looks at him and Elruana.
“What’s with them?” Kazar asked.
“Nothing. Did you see Serus yet?”
“No. I came straight here when I heard you were around.”
Behind them, Singh and Ring’s breathing grew loud.
“He came straight away. True love indeed.”
“Of course. My lady’s presence drew him here like a magnet. That’s how it always is.”
Flustered, Elruana quickened her pace, pretending not to hear their whispers. Somehow, it was terribly embarrassing.
