Chapter 63
After returning from a successful deal, Lucy was warmly welcomed by Count Rayford and Heiris.
“I heard from Michael. You worked very hard.”
“It wasn’t hard at all. I received a lot of help from the Grand Duke of Cretine. Thanks to him, the deal went smoothly.”
“I see. That’s why I was thinking… what do you say about inviting His Highness, the Grand Duke, to our estate? What’s your opinion?”
At the Count’s question, Lucy suddenly remembered the day she had harshly lashed out at Lucas with cold words.
“Ah… but would His Highness really accept such an invitation?”
Come to think of it, his attitude toward her had indeed grown colder since then.
Lucy felt unsettled, weighed down by guilt.
Noticing her expression, Count Rayford studied her face carefully, as though he understood what she was feeling.
‘He even invited us to a party hosted by the Chancellor to help us… it’s clear he holds some goodwill toward Lucy.’
The Count had long suspected that Lucy and Lucas shared some unusual history.
But lately, he had been puzzled by how they seemed oddly reluctant to face each other.
“Then I shall ask His Highness myself. By the way, I heard you hired a mercenary on your way back from Collin? What was that about?”
The Count, as though suddenly remembering, asked about her reason for hiring Shan.
“Well… since I’ll be representing House Rayford in external affairs, I thought having a bodyguard would look proper in others’ eyes.”
“If that was the reason, I could have easily hired someone outstanding for you. Why didn’t you tell me sooner!”
Seeing the Count’s disappointed expression, Lucy hurriedly waved her hands.
“It’s not that… It’s just that when I saw Shan’s swordsmanship, I really wanted to hire him specifically!”
Her words brought to mind what Michael had told the Count with a concerned expression:
“My lady has hired a wandering mercenary named Shan as her guard. But… there are rumors among the attendants that she may have feelings for him…”
‘It must only be rumors…’
All the same, the Count decided that to silence such talk, he absolutely had to invite Lucas to the estate this time.
Lucy was training Ray.
Though she no longer intended to use him as a carrier pigeon, she thought it would still be good to let him fly about with her, as he had been trained that way since he was a chick.
Piiiik—
Lucy blew the whistle Ray had become used to.
Flying around the garden, Ray immediately turned toward her at the sound.
When she extended her hand, he landed on her palm.
“Ray, you did so well!”
What a clever pigeon! Lucy couldn’t help but be proud of him.
She stroked him affectionately, marveling at his intelligence.
“Don’t go too far, Ray!”
She released him into the air again.
“Shan, isn’t our Ray really smart?”
Standing nearby, Shan frowned slightly—his usual sign of disapproval.
Just then, Ray, circling the garden, flew back toward Lucy.
She hadn’t even blown the whistle this time, so she was delighted at the thought that he recognized her and stretched out her arm.
“Ray!”
But in that instant—
A large eagle was chasing Ray at high speed.
Now she realized it wasn’t recognition that brought Ray back, but fear.
Seeing the eagle, Lucy dashed forward.
“Shan! Ray is—”
Ray, lowering his altitude, was heading straight for Shan.
As if seeking help, he landed on Shan’s shoulder.
“Shan! There’s an eagle right behind him!”
Yet, despite Lucy’s urgent cry, Shan simply stood there motionless.
The eagle dove straight for Ray.
“No!”
At this rate, the eagle would snatch him away.
Lucy pulled a dagger from her clothes and began wildly slashing at the eagle.
Only then did Shan stir, shaking his shoulder and stepping back.
Thrown off balance, Ray tumbled from his perch.
The eagle seized the chance, snatching Ray in its talons mid-fall.
“Ray!”
Lucy dropped even her dagger and lunged barehanded at the eagle.
Gripping its neck with both hands, she desperately fought to pull Ray from its vicious claws.
“Let Ray go this instant!”
How long she struggled against the eagle, she did not know.
In the end, it was the eagle that yielded, releasing Ray and retreating in defeat.
Only then did Lucy collapse onto the ground, exhausted.
Ray’s white feathers were stained crimson with blood.
Her own hands, slashed and torn by talons and beak, were a bloody mess.
“A-are… are you all right…?”
Shan hesitantly approached her.
“Does this look all right to you? Move aside—I need to treat Ray!”
Furious, Lucy glared at him.
Ray’s wounds were deep, but thankfully not life-threatening.
Lucy’s own hands were covered in cuts, yet she hardly felt them—saving Ray was all that mattered.
‘Even if he hates Ray, how could Shan just stand there and do nothing in that situation?’
Lucy couldn’t understand Shan’s behavior.
Then, a thought struck her.
‘Could it be… Shan is afraid of eagles?’
If he had frozen in fear, that would explain his stiff, motionless stance.
“Ah! Not just eagles… birds!”
Lucy leapt up suddenly.
‘Yes, that must be it—Shan is afraid of birds!’
From the first time he frowned at Ray, to urging her to release him from the cage… everything fit.
Even on the way back from Collin, Shan always grimaced whenever Ray was near.
“One mystery solved! But still…”
Would this incident perhaps make Shan admire her? Lucy wondered curiously.
As she sat pondering over Ray, there was a knock at her door.
It was Shan.
“I truly have no excuse.”
He bowed deeply, apologizing at once.
“I’m fine. It was only an eagle, after all.”
Lucy waved her hand lightly, pretending it was nothing.
The memory of that struggle still chilled her blood, but she forced a calm smile.
‘If Shan were afraid of beasts instead of birds, my life might’ve been in danger…’
She was relieved it was only birds that frightened him.
But Shan’s expression turned strange—deeply moved, almost grateful at her words.
Seeing that, Lucy became convinced she had finally earned his trust.
‘But hopefully he doesn’t actually fall for me… that would be troublesome…’
Though she had gained Shan’s loyalty, Lucy couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
“Prepare a banquet?”
Lucy repeated Count Rayford’s words in surprise.
“Yes. His Highness gladly accepted our invitation. So, I was thinking… how about you take charge of preparing this banquet? It’s time you began learning how to manage the household.”
Lucy wanted nothing more than to be useful to House Rayford. She eagerly agreed.
“I may not be perfect, but I’ll do my very best!”
“Good. I’ll inform the butler—he’ll guide you with anything you don’t know.”
The Count smiled warmly at her spirited expression.
“Oh, and you must hurry a little. His Highness will be visiting our estate in four days’ time.”
“Four days?”
Lucy’s eyes widened.
Such a short time was hardly enough to prepare for receiving a guest.
“Don’t worry too much. His Highness mainly wishes to see the new extension of the manor.”
The Count reassured her with an enigmatic smile.
