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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Marquis Ingram
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“Cheria? Your eyes have changed.”
Huh?
I felt around my eyes. They didn’t hurt, and there was nothing on them.
“They seem fine?”
When I turned to Kivrin for confirmation, he just gave me a bright smile.
I showed my eyes to Cesar as well.
Cesar opened his mouth as if to say something, but seeming to notice Kivrin’s reaction, he chose to remain silent.
Despite this, Rose, with a hardened expression, hoisted Kivrin and me up.
“Just let me carry you. We need to hurry.”
This isn’t being carried, it’s being hauled like a piece of luggage.
By the time we left the forest, the sun had completely set.
When the marquis’s flag came into view in the distance, Rose set Kivrin and me down.
The marquis’s guards started to appear in our line of sight a moment later.
Perhaps because the monsters had been running rampant, there were quite a few guards.
Rose gestured to Cesar with his chin.
While Cesar went ahead to explain the situation, I brushed the dust from my clothes.
Ugh, even though Rose carried me for more than half the way, I'm exhausted.
“I think I'm going to sleep soundly tonight.”
I muttered to Kivrin.
Sounds of admiration could be heard around Cesar.
“You ran that whole distance?”
“As expected of a knight from the ducal house.”
Instead of being wary of our sudden appearance, the guards were amazed.
It was an ironic reaction, considering how badly the marquis’s family had fallen out with the ducal family.
Well, Rose did run with terrifying speed earlier. Just how far did we get from the duchy's territory?
If they’re that impressed, doesn’t that mean Cesar, who wasn’t far behind, must have incredible stamina too?
Everyone thinks he’s just a parachute appointment, but maybe he’s a skilled one?
As I took this chance to re-evaluate Cesar more highly, a cold wind swirled and tickled my nose.
“A…achoo!”
A sneeze escaped me.
Kivrin quickly took off his scarf and wrapped it around my neck.
Rose draped his own coat over me. Then he snapped at the marquis’s knights.
“If you're going to help, then do it quickly. Are you trying to let the Young Lord’s wife freeze to death?”
At Rose’s words, the guards scrambled into action.
Thanks to them, I was able to rest in front of a campfire.
Anyone watching would think Rose was my parent.
…Gasp, wait a minute!
If I’m Del, then I’m Rose’s guardian, aren’t I?!
Th-th-then what does that make the relationship between Rose and Kivrin?
In his past life, Kivrin seemed to despise Rose.
He even called him a vulgar name.
But the reason Rose stayed at the ducal estate despite hating people, the reason he became a phoenix—it was all because of me.
If-if I don't take responsibility for Rose as his guardian…!
Kivrin squeezed the hand he was holding.
“What are you, th-thinking about…?”
I glanced at Rose and muttered.
“That I think I have to take responsibility for Rose.”
No wonder Rose kept looking like a helpless child you have to constantly worry about.
This, too, made sense if I was Del.
Kivrin smiled sweetly.
“I-I'll share the burden with you. Whatever it may be.”
“Young Looord…”
My heart ached with emotion.
Is Kivrin an angel?
Whether in my past life or this one, my eye for people seems to be top-notch, doesn't it?
The fact that I’m Del would have been too much to handle on my own.
But I had Kivrin.
And there's a positive side to it, too.
After all, they said Del was incredibly strong, right?
That means this great Cheria is the strongest being in this world.
Although for now, I don't even know how to heal my young husband's burns and my stamina is garbage…
Watching my expression change by the second, Kivrin finally let out a small laugh.
Kivrin got some hot water from a guard.
By the time we had warmed ourselves up by sharing it, the situation seemed to be more or less sorted out.
The guard with the gentlest expression raised his hand.
“His Excellency is at the adjacent garrison. I will go and report to him.”
Cesar gave a slight nod.
“Please do. By the way, the forest near the marquis's territory seems to be in particularly bad shape. Do you happen to know why?”
As the topic turned to something that might overwhelm Winter with work, I pricked up my ears.
The guards exchanged glances.
The gentle-faced guard spoke up.
“It’s not just there.”
“Actually, the entire marquisate is…”
As another guard tried to speak, the most taciturn one nudged him in the ribs.
“Hey, shut your mouth.”
So suspicious!
There was a moment of awkward silence.
The gentle-faced guard shrugged and stepped back.
“I'll be on my way.”
But Cesar stopped him.
“No. I don't think that will be necessary anymore.”
People on horseback were approaching.
But the horses weren't galloping powerfully; they were staggering.
“Aren't the horses acting a bit strange? Are they sick?”
I muttered absentmindedly, and the guards started waving their hands at me frantically.
“Shh, shh, you mustn't say such things!”
Huh?
The oldest guard explained urgently.
“My apologies, my lady. Right now, it is just the two of you young ones. Even the knight commander will have a hard time protecting you both perfectly here. Now is the time for the virtue of patience in the face of injustice. Do you understand?”
…What kind of virtue is that?
Beads of sweat formed on his face.
He was so nervous he stammered.
“We're not doing this out of any ill will toward you both. The territory is currently in a poor state, so the Marquis is very on edge. Please, do not provoke him and just return safely.”
“…I understand.”
I nodded reluctantly.
It felt like watching the subordinates of a tyrannical lord trying to reduce the number of victims by even one.
The man riding at the very front reined his horse to a stop right in front of us.
The intent to intimidate was so blatant that Rose’s eyebrows furrowed.
Cesar, however, remained calm, as if used to such provocations.
I glanced at the fidgeting guards before straightening my head.
In that time, the man who had dismounted deliberately shoved Cesar’s shoulder as he approached Kivrin.
“Well, if it isn't the young Lord Kivrin.”
So that man is Marquis Ingram?
Only a few seconds had passed since I first saw Marquis Ingram, but I was already starting to dislike everything about him, from his pompous attitude to his mustache.
“I heard strange phenomena were occurring in the forest, which brought this old man out. But thanks to that, I have had the pleasure of meeting a most esteemed person.”
“…”
When Marquis Ingram said “esteemed person,” the corners of his mouth lifted.
Behind him, the guard who had warned me signaled for me to keep my mouth shut.
Rose crossed his arms, and Kivrin, the one who had caused the strange phenomena, showed no reaction at all.
At that, Marquis Ingram asked with a look of waning interest.
“So, when do you plan to return to the capital?”
Huh? Why is he talking about the capital and not the duchy? Is he telling him to go back to the Snake Pit, or what?
“I'm not going. And neither are my parents, of course.”
It sounded like a simple statement, but Marquis Ingram’s eyes narrowed.
But it was only for a moment, and he quickly reverted to his pompous demeanor.
“I cannot let such an esteemed person wander about outside on such a cold night. I shall guide you to my castle. If I serve the Young Lord well, surely His Grace the Duke will clear up his misunderstandings about our family, no?”
He seemed displeased that Kivrin and my parents-in-law were staying in the duchy, but now he says he wants to clear up misunderstandings.
Since I already found the marquis's family suspicious, this only piled on more doubt.
Kivrin tilted his head.
“There's nothing to misunderstand.”
“…”
“You took the money and did nothing… so there's nothing to misunderstand.”
Kivrin retorted slowly, either to keep from stuttering or to deliberately get on Marquis Ingram's nerves.
Thanks to that, the sneer on Marquis Ingram’s face vanished.
As the surrounding temperature plummeted in an instant, the guards clutched the back of their necks.
It seemed they had just realized they should have been trying to shut Kivrin's mouth, not mine.
It makes sense that Kivrin, who even threatened the Pope, wouldn't care what Marquis Ingram thought…
Marquis Ingram barely concealed his murderous intent as he asked.
“That is a difficult statement to overlook. Are you saying you do not require my help?”
“I do need it, but I can't, tell a lie, can I?”
Kivrin said calmly.
The person behind Marquis Ingram tried to stop the argument.
“My Lord, you have been out for too long. We must return now.”
Marquis Ingram clicked his tongue.
“Follow me. You lot, send word to the ducal family's captain of the guard. Tell him to come get the Young Lord at once.”
It seems he's decided to drop the whole “esteemed person” act.
