Chapter 27 (1/2)

Chapter 27

“…Your Excellency.”

When he came out with an expressionless face, Lancelot, who was waiting for him, glanced at him.

Seeing his gaze, Seth said in a low voice as Lancelot was looking at him with sad eyes as if he understood him.

“Why do you have such eyes? I was the one who killed an old friend.”

“Your Excellency—”

“Don’t look at me with those eyes. I’m fine. If there was anything that bothered me, it was that I ordered the body to be burned.”

“….”

“Even if he was a sinner, the old noble people wouldn’t want to leave me alone if I knew that I burned down the supply and demand of an aristocrat so that even their souls could not be saved.”

“…In principle, a person who commits treason is to be punished with filial piety. It would be a disgrace for the former Count Joaquin, who had a strong sense of pride on the other side. Your Excellency has been courteous to him until the very end.”

“Is that really what Kain thinks, too?”

“Your Excellency…”

“He would laugh at how merciful an executioner who catches people is.”

“Your Grace! What are you saying—! You are just following orders! The reason you’re being criticized like that…!”

“I never thought I’d live to see this day. It’s a wonder to hear that woman say the same thing.”

“…Yes?”

As Seth was speaking as though he was mumbling to himself, Lancelot asked back. At the same time, Lancelot raised his head involuntarily, seeing that his master’s expression was not as dark as he had expected, he couldn’t continue to speak.

His master, Seth, took off the armor with a more calm face than expected, and put his hand inside the solid silver-white chest armor, before pulling out something small.

It was a small handkerchief embroidered with a blue thread. It was given to her by the former Duchess before leaving. Was it because he cherished it?

Looking down at it, which was not very different from the first time he received it, Seth muttered a little with a smile on his face.

“How could someone with a sword according to his position be called a murderer…? It’s funny, she said something like that. Someone who knows nothing about war…”

“…Your Honor.”

Lancelot peered at the face of his master, who was wearing an expression he had never seen on the battlefield with a blank look.

It was the first time. He was a knight stronger than anyone, so he had to cut down countless traitors. Because of that, Seth had a terrible and heavy feeling of guilt for those lives he took away.

Even though it wasn’t enough to take away all the dark and heavy emotions that were weighing him down, nonetheless. Still, he seemed better than before.

Looking at him like that, Lancelot said to his lord with a smile, too.

“Though she doesn’t know much about war and combat, I think the ex-Duchess made some pretty poignant words.”

“.…”

“It’s been days since we haven’t seen the ex-Duchess and Noah. By any chance, do you miss the former Duchess?”

“…Nonsense. Why would I feel that way?”

“Then, why are you taking out the handkerchief that the ex-Duchess made?”

“…It was just that I remembered Noah.”

“Is that really all?”

“Enough of this nonsense. Inform the entire army at the end of the battle and instruct them to rearrange their armaments. As long as the chieftain is caught and executed, there is no point in staying here.”

“…Yes, sir.”

As Lancelot, who had been contemplating his mind as if teasingly, noticed his master’s gaze returned with a blunt face. Hurriedly, he responded to Seth, who gave the order.

Then, at his command, he moved quickly.

Still, Lancelot smiled briefly as he watched his master gently unfold the handkerchief he was holding in his hand and push it deep into the armor.

3. As If It Was Planned

Was the reluctant feeling that she felt was just because she slept in the East Annex for the first time?

After that, Min-ha spent her daily life so dull that she felt bored.

If there was one thing that is a little different, was it that she had become more accustomed to living with Noah? Now, Noah was accustomed to falling asleep holding her hand tight, and sometimes waking up hearing the shouts of knights guarding the hallway outside.

As time went by, one day before the ten nights Seth had promised. Min-ha finished cleaning the library in the east annex as usual, and she came out, rubbing her stiff shoulders.

At some point, the light from the sun setting already filled the hallway of the annex. Min-ha thought of Noah, who would be waiting to have dinner with her after finishing his swordsmanship class she recently started with Bediviel, as she hurried upstairs.

“…M, Madam.”

“Yes?”

At that moment, as she was about to go up the stairs, a small woman appeared in front of Min-ha and called her up with her trembling voice.

Min-ha turned her head to answer the voice.

“What’s going on?”

“Well, that’s… Mrs. Wanda is looking for you.”

“Wanda? Is something wrong?”

“That’s—I, I can’t tell you here…”

“Really?”

“That’s why she said that she would be waiting for you in the annex where the Madam was staying!”

“I see.”

If it wasn’t a big deal, she thought Wanda could have waited to tell her during class this evening. Thinking that, Min-ha wondered if it was something urgent.

After she started spending the night with Noah in the East Annex, her daily life, including sewing classes with Wanda, was also taking place in the East Annex as well. So, it was a little strange that she asked her to come to her annex instead.

Because of that, Min-ha asked the woman in front of her again as though to make sure.

“She said she’d be waiting in the annex? Not the East Annex?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Well, all right. Which room was she waiting?”

​​

“She said she was waiting for you in the bedroom!”

Even though she asked again, wondering if the woman in front of her misunderstood, though the answer remained the same.

Min-ha was puzzled, but she meekly nodded her head. Seeing that, the servant’s face brightened as he stuttered in her trembling voice. Then, even though she did not ask for it, she volunteered to guide her first.