CHAPTER 39
“Milady, isn’t this a bit reckless of us? We could’ve just left tomorrow.”
Jacqueline, glancing nervously around the mountain path, muttered her half-complaint.
She had been working in the kitchen when Adele suddenly appeared and told her to pack up. She still hadn’t wrapped her head around what was going on.
One thing, however, was clear: the road down from San Fidelio to the place where they could catch a carriage was neither easy nor comfortable.
“I don’t know what happened with the captain, but couldn’t you have just endured a bit longer?”
“A bit longer? Until when?”
“The Archbishop should’ve arrived around noon. Or maybe he’s already here. You could’ve explained everything to him…”
“Sure. And if I had, I’m sure he would’ve told me, ‘Good job, now go home,’ and called me a carriage.”
Muttering quietly to herself, Adele looked down the steep slope below. The road ahead was daunting.
Jacqueline peeked over her shoulder and gasped in horror.
“When are we going to get down this? Wouldn’t it be better to go back and call a carriage?”
“If it’s too hard, take a break here.”
“A break? Who has time for that? If we want to make it down before sunset, we need to keep moving.”
“…”
“But really, you’re not acting like yourself at all, Milady.”
“Not like myself?”
When Adele let out a short laugh, Jacqueline clutched her chest, unable to understand.
One of the best things about serving Adele was that she never had to feel frustrated or wronged. But today, that didn’t seem to be the case.
“You never do things that would put you at a loss, and yet, here you are storming out because you’re angry. It was just two weeks! Don’t you think that time was worth something?”
“Hm, maybe you’re right.”
“This isn’t the time to laugh it off. Just getting back is going to be a nightmare. If we miss our window, we might have to sleep outdoors!”
“Then we’ll sleep outdoors.”
Adele, seemingly tired, sat down on a rock between the forest paths.
Wasn’t this around the spot where she had met Killian at the waterfall before?
She listened to the sound of flowing water, looking peaceful beyond words.
Must be nice to be so relaxed.
Jacqueline gave up and sat down beside her.
“If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve brought some food. We didn’t even finish packing properly.”
“It’s fine. We can do that later.”
“There is no later—we got kicked out, remember? And you need to eat something to have the strength to walk. There’s nothing out here…”
“There’s plenty. There’s the mountain, trees, and—oh my, look at that!”
Sitting elegantly on the rock, Adele suddenly stood up, having spotted something.
A small animal blinked at them from behind a large tree.
As Adele reached out with a bright smile, the hesitant creature slowly approached, circling near her fingertips.
“Oh wow. What is this? Not a dog… a fox maybe?”
“Neither, I think. Not much fur either… I’ve never seen anything like it. Yikes! Don’t tell me it’s a monster!”
Jacqueline recoiled in fright, but Adele paid no mind and stretched her hand further.
“What if it bites you?” Jacqueline protested, but the unknown creature finally dropped its guard and nestled its head into Adele’s hand.
It was still a baby—curious and trusting.
“Doesn’t look lost. Probably just alone. They say rare animals live here since San Fidelio’s always been a restricted zone.”
“Still, I’ve never seen one like this. Not even in our merchant guild.”
“True.”
Adele gently stroked its reddish body, examining the creature.
Canine family?
It resembled a fox—small mammal, short fur, very long tail, and patterned scales across its body.
Seeking warmth, the baby snuggled into her palm.
“Whether it’s people or animals, they always have a nose for wealth.”
“Oh please, Milady.”
“Come here, little one.”
As Adele coaxed it closer, Jacqueline turned pale.
“You’re taking it with us?”
“Doesn’t look like it has a mother. I’ll take it along for now.”
“Why are you acting so out of character? You always said pity alone isn’t enough. If you bring it and then abandon it halfway—”
“Hm? Why would I abandon it?”
No way.
Adele wrapped the animal in her skirt, shielding it from hearing the conversation.
Jacqueline, flustered, licked her dry lips.
“…You just said you’d only take it partway.”
“If it comes to that, we’ll eat it. You said we had no food.”
…Squeak!
The wrapped-up creature squirmed violently, as if it understood her words, but Adele didn’t let go.
Human or animal, she had never willingly released what fell into her hands.
“Shhh, little one. Where would you go now?”
“M-Milady.”
“Well, at least we won’t starve in a worst-case scenario. Survival comes first, after all.”
“…Right. I suppose that’s true.”
Jacqueline, silenced by the grim logic, followed Adele quietly.
Her lady’s steps were still slow, but seeing her usual tenacity reassured Jacqueline—everything else would sort itself out.
To be honest, this was the kind of person who could probably negotiate even with a monster.
“…”
Adele ignored Jacqueline’s slackened pace and scooped up the animal in both hands.
I really can’t tell what this is.
Its reddish fur felt cool rather than fluffy.
And those cool, sharp eyes—she’d only seen them once before.
…In a man far too beautiful to resemble this creature in any way.
Squeak.
“Don’t worry. I won’t eat you… yet.”
With a teasing smile, Adele lifted the animal to eye level.
She didn’t know what kind it was, but the moment it fell into her hands, its fate had narrowed to two options:
Emergency food supply or Paris Hilton’s pet.
Well then, which one will you be?
Bit of an extreme gamble, but a 50-50 chance wasn’t too bad.
Adele gazed ahead and came to a stop.
From here, the slope became steeper—it’d be hard to turn back after stepping down.
“…Aren’t you curious how your fate will turn out?”
Squeak.
“You’d think the decision would’ve been made by now.”
With a meaningful smile, Adele tilted her head, listening behind her.
All she could hear was the wind—but she detected something different, faintly mixed in.
Not just the wind blowing—but something slicing through it.
Hoofbeats growing louder.
The clink of a silver sword rattling.
And a deep, commanding voice calling her name while roughly yanking the reins.
“Lady Adele!”
“…”
“Stop. Please, stop right there.”
At the sound of his urgent, familiar voice, Adele closed her eyes briefly, then opened them.
Lucky me.
She gently set the animal down, wiped the smile from her lips, and turned around with the most pitiful expression she could muster.
“…Captain.”
You’re later than I expected.
“Escort Lord Michael to the western gate? You think he’ll come just because I ask?”
“Don’t worry. He’ll come.”
When Adele had told Jacqueline last night to bring Michael, the plan had already begun.
Captain Michael was the type to listen, even to a lowly volunteer. Unlike someone hotheaded like Reynald, he was steady.
And he kept no secrets from Killian—what he saw would surely reach Killian’s ears.
“There should be a small spire near there. Say you heard something eerie—ghostly even. Say it scared the children.”
“I’ll do it since you say so, but… why?”
“Because…”
I’m about to do something very illegal—and it’s the perfect spot to witness it.
The spire wasn’t too close or too far from the gate. A seasoned knight wouldn’t miss a disturbance there.
Adele didn’t know exactly how things would play out, but she’d guessed enough when she heard Rebecca was in charge of the food supplies.
“You think being a lady of House Sergio gives you the right to do anything?!”
Rebecca had far too much pride.
And her bitterness toward Adele’s wealth revealed she hadn’t grown up with much.
From experience—rich or poor—Adele had learned one unshakable truth:
“The rich may insult people, but they never insult money.”
Still, Rebecca wasn’t just some petty, jealous woman. Unfortunately.
Just as Adele had devoted herself fully to the merchant world, Rebecca took deep pride in her temple work. One look at her constantly smug face told you that.
Her disdain and hostility were likely because, as a true priestess of San Fidelio’s divine power, she couldn’t accept Adele’s flimsy, fast-tracked faith.
A woman like that wouldn’t collude with merchants to deceive the temple.
If only she had—it would’ve been easier to kick her out.
But Rebecca’s pride matched her faith.
So the conclusion was simple.
…She got played.
