Chapter 59
“You left me out….”
Barun gazed down from his office window toward the mansion gates.
A small group was preparing to set off on a journey.
Among them, he spotted Belia wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a blue dress.
She looked every bit like someone going on vacation, and Barun chuckled.
Tove, who had only just realized he’d been excluded from this trip, wore a crestfallen expression.
“I knew she was wary of you, but I didn’t think she’d show it so openly.”
“I’m sorry. This happened because I failed to earn the young lady’s trust. Please punish me.”
Barun studied Belia carefully, watching her bright smile.
He knew she was cautious, but he hadn’t expected her to distance herself from Tove this much.
“When did Bedol manage to win her over like that?”
Barun frowned at Bedol, who even insisted on carrying the small Bea that Belia had in her hand.
“Send someone to find out if she really intends to enjoy the Tenbury Festival.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Actually, this works out. If something happens while she’s away from the mansion at this time, I can use it as an excuse to drive her out of house affairs entirely. With no one left to watch her, you join that task as well.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Go.”
After Tove left, Barun continued staring at the departing carriage for a long while.
In the backyard of a shabby inn near the Misty Forest, knights were checking their gear.
“Hey, hold that properly.”
“Ah, yes!”
The knight looked up at the owner of the sweet, clear voice.
“What the…?”
“Excuse me?”
“Hey, is this one included in the procession too?”
He nudged the knight standing next to him.
“Uh, yeah. They said a servant would be included this time.”
“Why would they bring such a weakling…?”
“Orders from His Highness. Don’t question it. Oh, and you—don’t stay here. Go to the front. You’re directly under the commander this time, so you don’t need to handle chores like this.”
“Ah, yes!”
Despite her ordinary brown hair and brown eyes, her fine features couldn’t hide her beauty.
“Pretty enough, I suppose.”
The knight nodded as he watched the servant run off.
“If a monster shows up in the forest, she looks like she’d be eaten in one bite. Why assign someone like that?”
“Either she got on His Highness’s bad side, or someone at the Tower has… special tastes.”
“They said the Tower’s providing support for this expedition into the Misty Forest, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then why ask for a servant too? Wizards are creepy as hell.”
Belia quickened her pace, overhearing their conversation from behind.
You must never let them discover you’re a noblewoman. These knights are directly under me and have memorized the faces of every noble. If that necklace comes off, the spell will break.
“Since they’re under you, couldn’t you cover for me if I’m discovered?”
They’re under me, yes—but not all the men chosen for this mission are my loyal subordinates. You know what that means.
Recalling Allendo’s advice, Belia clutched her necklace tightly.
Even with the knights’ eyes on her, she forced herself to walk steadily.
I’m just a servant. A servant.
Her nervous fingers fiddled with her short brown hair.
Brother will handle it well, won’t he?
Thinking of Bedol, who would have found her letter by now, she tried to calm her anxiety.
The room wasn’t as fine as a hotel in the capital, but it was tidy enough for nobles to stay in.
Inside, Bedol’s hand trembled as he held a letter.
**[Brother, surprised, right? Sorry.
This is really important.
I’ll be back in exactly one week.
It’s not the kind of dangerous thing you’re imagining. But as you probably guessed from this letter, I want to keep it a secret.
That’s why I refused a bodyguard and wanted to go with you.
I’ll explain everything after I return.
During this week, please pretend I’m still here and enjoy the festival.
Soo will pretend to be me.
Make sure you go out at least once a day.
See you in a week.
Absolutely do NOT tell the mansion.
If you do, I’ll resent you forever. I really won’t even see you again.
I love you, brother.
You know you’re the one I trust most in the world.
I’m begging you.
-Your adorable Belia.]**
“She’s insane, right? She’s lost her mind, hasn’t she?!”
Dressed in plain commoner clothes for the festival, Bedol gawked at Soo in disbelief.
When he noticed Soo was holding a similar letter, his mouth opened and closed wordlessly.
“I… I only found it late myself….”
“She didn’t even say where she was going?!”
Soo paled and nodded.
“Unbelievable!! She’s totally lost it!! What? Adorable?! She’s not adorable—she’s crazy!!”
Bedol stomped around, fuming.
“She’s in her rebellious phase or something? She’s sixteen and decides to run away from home?”
“She didn’t really run away… she said she’ll be back in a week….”
“That’s the same thing!!!”
Bedol snatched up two robes lying under the note.
“And acting, on top of it?! Where the hell did that brat run off to? This is why she refused to take a bodyguard—she’s insane!!”
“What should we do, young master?”
“What do you mean what?! We should tell the mansion or gather the knights and find her at once!”
“But she wrote that if we tell them, she’ll never see us again. She also said this is really important and begged us….”
“That’s nonsense!”
“Brother, you’re so mean.”
The memory of a much younger, gloomier Belia flashed through Bedol’s mind, and he flinched.
“…Damn it….”
“So… should we tell the mansion?”
“Argh, this crazy girl!!!”
Bedol nearly screamed.
“What do we do, then?”
He pressed a hand to his forehead.
“For now… let’s wait a week.”
He ground his teeth.
“She won’t get into trouble, right?”
“She’s resourceful enough. And she kept her group small on purpose… Damn it.”
“I never imagined the young lady would do something like this.”
Soo shifted uneasily, remembering how Belia had even asked him to keep it secret from Tove.
“Should we really tell them? What if she’s in danger? No… she can handle herself. Damn it, this really is crazy, isn’t it? Your mistress has lost it, hasn’t she?”
Soo shook his head helplessly.
“Ugh!! Belia! What am I supposed to do with you?!”
Bedol clutched his head.
“For now—dress up!”
He tossed a robe at Soo.
“Eh?”
“Put it on. She asked us to act. We have to. If she’s going this far, it must be serious.”
“Then… wouldn’t it be better to inform the mansion?”
The two wavered back and forth in indecision.
“No. She must have some plan. If we expose it, things could get worse.”
Her request for acting meant someone was watching. Bedol ruffled his hair.
“Then….”
“For now, we’ll do what she asked. Go out at the appointed times, act, and then come back. You stay here in the room. I’ll try to track her down as best I can.”
“Y-yes!”
Soo hurried to put on the robe, and Bedol donned his as well.
“All set.”
Seeing Soo with the hood pulled low, Bedol nodded.
“Don’t take that hood off outside. Let’s go.”
Grinding his teeth at the thought of having to attend the festival, Bedol muttered,
“Just wait. When she comes back, I won’t let her off easy.”
“Where could she have gone…” Soo murmured as he followed him.
“Stay close. You’re playing Belia, so keep your face hidden.”
“Bedol?”
The familiar sweet voice made Bedol flinch.
He turned his head toward the sound—and realized too late.
“It is you! Bedol! It’s me, Saroni!”
From beneath her hood, golden hair spilled over a pink dress.
“What are you doing here, my lady….”
Bedol quickly stepped forward to shield Soo.
“Oh, I came to see the Tenbury Festival!”
“You came all this way for such a trivial festival? Your tastes are… unusual.”
The truth was, the Tenbury Festival was considered a commoner’s celebration, hardly favored by nobles.
Belia had chosen it as an excuse precisely because she didn’t expect to run into anyone of her rank.
“But you came too, didn’t you? And didn’t you know? This hotel belongs to my family. Honestly, there’s not much to see at Tenbury Festival, but when I heard a noble booked it, I was curious. I didn’t expect it to be you, Bedol.”
Saroni smiled brightly, while Bedol fumbled for words.
“Uh, right. Well, anyway—you’ve seen us, so you should head on your way.”
“You have company, I see?”
Bedol moved to block Soo from sight.
“You don’t want to watch the festival together?”
“No.”
His firm eyes made Saroni pout, and she reluctantly stepped back.
“Fine. Enjoy the festival.”
“Yeah.”
Hurriedly pulling Soo away, Bedol disappeared, leaving Saroni’s eyes gleaming.
“So there was a girl?”
“My lady, we’ve finished packing. Shall we head to the reserved restaurant first?”
“Bring me a robe.”
“Pardon?”
“We’ll go to the festival first.”
Saroni’s eyes sparkled.
