Chapter 20
I couldn’t hide my excitement when Edmund showed up at just the right moment. I consciously tried to control the widening of my nostrils.
“Oh my, dear! What’s going on here?”
His voice gave me a headache. The throbbing feeling was quite unpleasant. Edmund’s large hand gently pressed his temple.
‘He must have been pretty worried, thinking that woman like a mudfish had run away.’
Edmund bit his lips and quickly composed his troubled expression.
“That’s what I want to ask. Why are you here? And what are all these people?”
He looked around and asked in a cold voice. The knights, who had been excited, immediately sealed their lips tightly.
“Oh! I came to see you, but since you weren’t around, I decided to chat with the knights and asked Letin to prepare some food. It’s more enjoyable to eat together, isn’t it?”
“Eating during training? That’s quite irresponsible.”
Edmund’s cold voice was accompanied by his red eyes quickly scanning Chloe.
Exposed shoulders, neck, and deep neckline—her usual free-spirited outfit, but something about it caught his eye. He noticed the dark stains on her clothes and said,
“What’s that mess on you?”
“Oh! The knights said the smell was bothering them, so I brought some charcoal. I guess some got on me. Even if it looks like this, charcoal is the best deodorizer.”
I raised my thumb cutely, but all I got back was my husband’s icy reaction.
“Go back now.”
“There’s still plenty of food. I have more to discuss with the knights…!”
“Are you seriously planning to stay here like that? Don’t you realize you’re being a nuisance?”
His sharp words sealed my lips. He was right, which made me more irritated. I had no words to argue and grew smaller.
“Fine, then! Sorry for bothering you! I was just trying to help, but if I’m a nuisance, I’ll leave!”
I replied sulkily to show my hurt feelings and quickly turned away.
“L-Lady! Let me go with you!”
Sasha hurriedly followed behind me. With the duchess’s departure, the previously lively training ground quickly fell silent like cold water poured over it. Edmund’s gaze naturally shifted to Tibero.
“Duke…”
The items in his hand were familiar—the rings that had been on my fingers just hours ago.
“Follow me.”
A cold voice soon rang out.
Inside, a suffocating silence filled the room. A meeting alone with the duke felt like sitting on a bed of nails. Cold sweat dripped down Tibero’s back.
Melvin, watching the situation, swallowed dryly and held his breath, hoping this hellish time would end soon.
After a while, the tightly closed lips of Duke Randolph parted.
“What did you talk about with Chloe? I heard you even went to the kitchen together.”
“Well…”
For a moment, Tibero’s thoughts became tangled. The lady’s plea to keep this a secret from the duke flashed vividly.
‘Make sure to keep this secret from our lord. Understand?’
Lying to his superior or breaking a promise to the lady who showed kindness was awkward.
As time passed, Duke Randolph’s expression grew colder. Despite it being midsummer, a chilly air filled the room. It was time to choose carefully.
“It was nothing special. She just encouraged the knights to do well.”
“Encouragement these days comes in such forms, I see.”
Edmund pointed at Tibero’s clenched fists arrogantly. The duke seemed to know everything already. If Tibero continued lying, punishment was certain, but he kept his mouth shut.
For the sake of trust with the duchess.
“Did you plan an escape?”
Edmund asked.
“No. Absolutely not. How could I betray you, Duke? I just wanted to help, so I accompanied her.”
“If you’re thinking of sneaking Chloe out of the mansion, you better give up. It’s definitely not for her good.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I met the lady for the first time today!”
Confused by the strange words, Tibero widened his eyes and waved his hands. Continuing like this would only make things worse.
“For the lady’s safety, give up now. Tibero, I trusted you. Is this how you repay that trust?”
“No! Duke, I really don’t know anything. Safety? All I did was bring charcoal with her. Yudelli complained about the smell in the quarters, so the lady took the trouble to come.”
Tibero earnestly defended his innocence. If this passed quietly, something big was bound to happen.
“I’ll spare your life if you leave the mansion today. It’s the greatest mercy a comrade can give.”
Edmund let out a heavy breath and lowered his heavy eyelids. At the same time, Tibero’s face turned pale.
If this continued, he would be kicked out without a doubt. If he left now, no knight would accept him just because he was from Randolph.
The matter was no longer about trust. To help the lady who showed kindness, first he needed to stay in the knights’ order.
“The lady helped me! A few days ago, I got into a fight with a Heshton knight and needed a lot of money. The lady apparently overheard and gave me this to help. I never, ever betrayed you, Duke.”
Tibero urgently showed the gold coins in his hands. Edmund’s red eyes flickered slightly. There was no lie in the expression or words.
Not escape money, just kindness? Why?
Edmund’s mind was full of unresolved questions. He was at a loss over the unpredictable behavior.
“How much?”
“Five gold coins. Because I broke my nose…”
Tibero added as if proving his innocence.
“To be honest, I was surprised too. The lady used to seem very displeased when she met us before, but she gave this personally now… If you want to verify, you can ask Gerita from the Heshton knights.”
The more he heard, the more Edmund was left wondering why.
“Why would Chloe show such kindness?”
“I don’t know… But the lady I met today was warm, contrary to rumors. She begged me not to tell you…”
Tibero trailed off, watching Edmund’s reaction. Though the reason was unclear, it was obvious she wanted to help.
Somewhere deep inside, Edmund felt a strange tickle in his heart. Clearing his throat, he loosened his tie.
“Then can I leave now?”
Embarrassed, Edmund motioned with his hand. The tense atmosphere eased a bit.
Melvin also breathed out in relief and nodded to Tibero.
“Get out quickly. Leave this place now!”
In the silent shout, Tibero was about to put the rings into his pocket when—
“Wait.”
Edmund tapped the desk with his fingers and added,
“Leave those here.”
“Oh… alright.”
Tibero scratched the back of his neck, hesitating.
“I’ll pay the price. They’re my knights after all.”
Edmund emphasized the words “my knights.” Tibero put down the rings and bowed respectfully.
“You two get out now.”
Edmund nodded toward Melvin. The two bowed and left the room.
Left alone, Edmund picked up one of the neatly arranged rings and examined it.
His heart was oddly troubled. Though he didn’t know why, he clearly disliked someone else holding Chloe’s belongings.
“So small.”
He muttered lowly, a faint smile forming as he closed his eyes.
A small figure stomped forward. Passing the training ground entrance, he headed straight to the mansion. As the scorching summer heat grew stronger, so did his rising blood pressure.
He had given away his gold, showed goodwill, even carried charcoal to remove the smell!
“What exactly is so displeasing to him?”
Instead of praise, he received reproach—it was frustrating. Thinking about it, a bitter voice escaped.
After some time, the familiar mansion came into view. The way here felt so long, but the return was short.
My anger still burning, Sasha came running up, panting.
“Lady! Come with me! Why are you in such a hurry?!”
At that moment, my fast steps suddenly stopped. Then I spoke with a deeply angry voice.
“Ugh, the more I think about it, the madder I get. That look? A nuisance? I’m the nuisance!?”
“Sire, it’s not just one or two days. Please cheer up~ okay?”
Sasha blinked innocently, trying to be sweet, but my crushed mood wouldn’t improve.
“Phew…”
Clenching my fists, I lit a fire inside. A sigh escaped me from the unfairness.
“This can’t go on.”
At my low voice, Sasha’s face quickly hardened.
When the lady makes that expression, disaster is sure to follow… I know that now.
