Chapter 16
The news that the war had ended spread throughout the kingdom.
The bell tower rang loudly, splitting the sky, and people filled the streets in excitement. Children ran while waving flags between merchants loudly selling goods on display stands.
Since the capital Pellen was far from the northern region, the war had little effect there, but everyone was joyful because it was a national celebration.
I was someone who possessed a body in this world, and I didn’t know anything about the war that happened before the start of the original story, so I didn’t feel much excitement. As long as the Count’s family and servants were happy, that was good enough.
When I opened the window, fresh air rested on the window frame. I stretched and took a deep breath, letting the scent of flowers carried by the wind seep into my body.
It was perfect weather for a picnic. I should try persuading Kyle to go outside the duke’s mansion soon.
I turned toward Millie, who was humming behind me while clearing the dishes.
“Millie, do you know any good places for a trip near the capital?”
“Oh my! You want to go out?”
She clapped happily and put a finger on her chin, thinking.
“If it’s around here… Ah! How about the Eltia Plain?”
“Is it close? What kind of place is it?”
“It’s about 40 minutes by carriage one way. Every June, there’s a lavender festival!”
Millie joined her hands with an ecstatic expression.
“My friend told me that the purple waves stretch all the way to the horizon.”
“Wow, it must be very beautiful.”
Just imagining it made my heart fill with excitement. But I wondered if Kyle would agree to go to such a bright and beautiful place. If it was a noisy festival-like event, even more so.
“There will be many people, right?”
“Since it’s a festival, probably yes.”
“Is there a more quiet place? Sorry if I’m being picky.”
“No, it’s fine. Then how about Serdin Lake? Noble families in the capital usually enjoy boating on the Ruben River, so Serdin Lake isn’t very crowded. I went there during vacation two years ago, and it was really nice.”
“Oh. That sounds good.”
After memorizing Millie’s recommended list, I finished getting ready.
However, if I wanted to go outside the city, I would need permission from both parents and a guardian.
I imagined going with Darius and felt ridiculously happy, then shook my head.
‘How would Darius have the time for that? And Kyle’s agreement comes first. If he doesn’t want to go, it’s all useless.’
First rule of handling Kyle: lightly provoke his competitive spirit. Second rule: act a little sad to trigger sympathy.
‘I think it might work if I say there is a place I really want to go and I want to go there with my first friend.’
While living with Kyle, I learned that he had a surprisingly soft side. If I asked directly, he had a hard time refusing. He was especially weak to words like “I want to be close to you” or “I like you”.
I had also gotten the birthday party promise from him that way.
I felt like a dirty adult, but I decided to use that side of him one more time.
Sorry, Kyle. But in the end, it’s also for you!
The next day, after making a grand plan of “going on a picnic with Kyle,” I packed snacks and toys and went to the Dierne Duke Estate.
The weather was cloudy unlike yesterday, and even though it was noon, it felt dark. Clouds hung low in the sky, and it looked like heavy rain would fall soon.
‘I should just arrange the picnic promise and go home early today.’
When I entered the familiar central hall of the mansion, the air felt unusually heavy. There was a strange tension in the busy atmosphere.
“Lady Ries, welcome.”
Even the butler who always greeted me warmly with a gentle smile looked slightly less energetic today.
“Butler, hello. Did something happen?”
While scanning the servants who were moving busily but quietly holding their breaths, I lowered my voice.
“Oh, nothing happened. It’s just that the master returned from an expedition two days ago, so the mansion might be a little noisy.”
The butler explained the reason for the change in atmosphere with an embarrassed smile.
The master must be the duke Selfius Dierne.
He was the father of Darius and Kyle, and the owner of this family. Only then did I realize he had returned from the northern war.
Come to think of it, there was a victory parade in Pellen Square two days ago. That must have been the duke’s return.
“Darius young master also returned home this morning.”
“Huh! Really?”
“Yes.”
Darius!!
It’s been so long since I saw him! I really want to see him, even from far away.
But I shouldn’t interfere when the whole family is finally gathered together…
As expected, the embarrassed butler spoke apologetically.
“I am sorry, but the lady will probably be busy all day… so I may not be able to spend time with you like usual.”
“It’s okay! I’ll just go back today.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
Feeling sorry that I had made a useless trip, the butler’s grayish eyebrows drooped in a sad arc. He escorted me near the door but suddenly stopped.
“Lady Ries, it seems that young master Kailus is in the training ground as usual. You may go and see him before leaving.”
“Oh, really?”
Even though his father had returned, Kyle was still focused on training. Did father and son already meet?
“Then I’ll just quickly see Kyle before leaving.”
“Yes, please stay as long as you like.”
I bowed to the butler and walked outside the mansion, but then the sound of many footsteps echoed.
Soon, a group of men wearing black military uniforms came down through the central stairs.
Servants who had been walking around quickly lined up and lowered their heads in unison.
The largest man standing at the front of the knights was noticeable. Walking with overwhelming pressure, he was clearly the Selfius Dierne.
Even though he was around forty years old, the middle-aged man had a huge body without a single wrinkle on his face. He had the appearance fitting the title of kingdom’s strongest sword and supreme commander.
Now I understood why the mansion servants all held their breaths like prey animals facing a predator. One wrong eye contact and it felt like I would be eaten alive.
Looking at him like this, Darius looked like he inherited his mother’s appearance, while Kyle inherited his father’s. Especially the jet-black hair, sharp golden eyes, and sharp gaze were exactly the same. Even the unpleasant, arrogant-looking impression was identical.
As I was examining the duke’s appearance, his eyes briefly touched mine before moving to the butler.
The butler politely bowed and introduced me.
“Master. This is the Count Brant’s young lady, a guest of the madam.”
Not as Kyle’s friend, but as the duchess’s guest? I felt a faint suspicion at the butler’s introduction but still performed a curtsy.
“Nice to meet you, Duke Dierne. I am Ries Brant. I am greatly indebted to your duke family.”
The duke looked down at me with eyes that showed no interest at all, then nodded once and tried to walk away.
“I am friends with young master Kyleus too.”
I added my words impulsively.
His steps suddenly stopped. He turned back toward me and raised one eyebrow slightly.
“You are Kyleus’s friend?”
“Yes.”
Was he mocking me, thinking someone like me dared to be friends with his son? Or was he simply surprised that Kyleus had a friend?
He let out a faint snort, swung his long legs, and disappeared.
The knight squad following him also retreated silently like shadows.
Even though the other party was much younger and of lower status, he spoke informally on their first meeting. Moreover, the treatment felt cold, without even a trace of warmth.
Although this reaction was not beyond my expectations, he was the starting point of conflict in the original story Golden Oath, so he was even more unlikeable.
A man who abandoned his broken family because of his extramarital affair and kept wandering the battlefield irresponsibly.
If I could, I wanted to shout that if he had decided to take Kyle, who was an illegitimate child, into the family, he should give him attention and affection and mediate family relations properly.
Of course, I couldn’t do that, so I held it in.
Feeling powerless, I walked through the gloomy maze garden and headed to the training ground to meet Kyle.
The gray, heavy clouds in the sky made the atmosphere even more desolate.
“The sky looked like it was about to cry.”
