169 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards 169
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The man who had been in the carriage with me until we left the city center moved to the coachman's seat as soon as we passed through the city gates.
Sir Halberd filled his empty seat. He looked quite troubled as he apologetically explained that he was being rude out of necessity to protect me. He didn't seem to like the idea of accompanying me on something that was clearly dangerous.
"When we arrive at the location, Sir Halberd, please take a few knights and begin the investigation. I will go to a nearby city with someone else to buy gifts."
"Wouldn't it have been better to split up right after leaving the city gates?"
"If we separate from the beginning, it might be difficult to meet again."
"But..."
"I know what you're worried about, Sir. But this is the best way."
Then, he asked me in a voice that sounded like he was holding back a great deal. It was hard to believe that the rough, scratchy voice, as if he was suppressing a boiling anger, belonged to Sir Halberd.
"Why does it have to be the Young Lady?"
"Then who did you have in mind? Roena? Or the Countess? Or should I go around telling everyone that there's a problem in the Bishvarts Family?"
The words came out sharply. The sharp nature I hadn't shown to Sir Halberd was gradually sharpening its edge behind the thin shield of distance.
But that was only for a moment. As I met his gaze, my pointed heart gradually softened.
I sighed and rubbed my temple with my fingers. Then, in a subdued voice, I said to the Knight of Clear Hearing.
"Please forgive my rudeness, Sir Halberd. I know you're saying that for my sake. But this is the best way for now. And you wouldn't let me be in danger, would you?"
As a knight of the Bishvarts Family, it was only natural to protect the family's Young Lady. The perfectly natural right that I couldn't even dare to hope for before was finally being realized. And so was my demanding it as a matter of course.
Sir Halberd asked me as if he couldn't understand at all.
"What's going on?"
"That's what I want to ask. Because no one knows what's going on right now."
I swallowed a sigh and answered in a calm voice. My head felt like it was about to explode with complicated emotions.
No, who would have thought that something like this would happen even half a year ago? A case surrounding my adoptive father... Who would have imagined it?
I might as well have died by running aground on a reef like before. If I had sunk into the water according to my destiny, without any machinations of thugs or anything else, I wouldn't have had to go through something like this.
No, maybe there was some kind of conspiracy even before, but I was too stupid to notice. I was too busy clearing the path ahead of me to look around. I had almost no affection for my adoptive father, so there was no reason for me to be interested in what happened after his death.
"I don't even know who the man sitting in the coachman's seat is. I left on this road relying solely on the butler's words. So if Sir Halberd asks me what's going on, what should I say?"
That I'm sure my adoptive father is dead, but I need to know how he died, so I'm taking action? That I think the person who sent the letter is the culprit, but I'm confused because I don't know if it's the Crown Prince or someone else?
Sir Halberd's mouth snapped shut at my words. His face was slightly distorted by emotion, as if he was quite embarrassed.
"So please investigate thoroughly and let me know. That's why we set out on this road."
After speaking, I closed my eyes. It meant I didn't want to say any more.
But he didn't seem to be doing that. Judging by the fact that he spoke even though I had tightly shut my mouth.
"I will follow the Young Lady."
"No. Please go there and start the investigation."
"It's dangerous."
"You can assign two knights to me, can't you?"
"Even so, it's dangerous. With all due respect, those two cannot defeat me alone. So it would be safer for me to be by the Young Lady's side."
If you misheard it, it could sound like a very arrogant statement, but he was entitled to say that. That's why my mouth felt bitter.
The real Roena was becoming more and more foolish, but he, who was at odds with Aires, was establishing himself as a much better and more wonderful wall than I remembered.
So much so that it would give that poor man, who was only being used by me, a great sense of frustration, very greatly.
So it was awkward. As I tasted that confidence head-on, I felt like I was committing a great wrong. The emotion that had sunk to the bottom resembled depression.
Was that why? Even though I knew what kind of person Sir Halberd was, I felt like I couldn't taste the feeling of dancing with him back then anymore. I thought so as if I was sure.
So I opened my mouth with my eyes closed. Whatever my true feelings were, I wouldn't be able to say it like this if I met his gaze, so I pretended to have a cold voice.
"Shall we turn the carriage around and go back to the mansion?"
"Why?"
"I think it would be better to bring a knight who will focus on the investigation."
"Young Lady!"
"Sir Halberd."
I relaxed the strength in my voice and spoke softly. I called his name again as if whispering in a gentle voice, like soothing a child.
"Sir Halberd."
"Yes."
"Follow my instructions. I don't want to argue about something like this. Don't you think so too?"
"Young Lady."
"Are the knights of the Bishvarts Family so incompetent that they can't protect one person? That's not true. I'm just out to buy gifts. So nothing will happen. Okay? You'll listen to me, right?"
It was much easier to say what was on my mind when I closed my eyes. So much so that I could pretend not to hear his desperate call.
At the same time, I laughed in vain, wondering if I was the kind of person who could act like this. It was funny because the heart that had been boiling so desperately as if it was about to die was covered by the shadow of Roena, so it was so empty that it didn't matter.
Was it because the story I heard from Lady Roshan made me have confidence?
Even though I didn't hear it from his mouth that it had become like that, and even though I heard the words 'my Young Lady', I was pushing Sir Halberd away again like before. Because I don't have faith in him.
I acknowledge his perfect character, but it was only natural because I had never felt it even once in the past.
Was there any trust between Sir Halberd and me? If it was a relationship like thin ice that would shatter easily with just a little touch, maybe.
Therefore, the dance we danced on Founding Day night should be remembered as a dream of that day.
"...I will do so."
After a while, he barely answered. His voice was clearly reluctant. It really was, judging by the words he added like an afterthought.
"But if anything seems strange, I will run to the Young Lady immediately. Please allow me that much."
"Yes, do so."
No, he won't be able to run to me. Once he starts the investigation, he'll investigate more thoroughly because he's worried about my adoptive father. He will surely look at only one thing without paying attention to other things. If it's Sir Halberd, he's more than capable of doing that. If it's him that I know. So I carelessly spat out the words of permission without any particular expectations.
Sir Halberd seemed relieved that I had given permission without delay and said, "Thank you." And from then on, he didn't bring up the story about this topic at all.
After running non-stop, the time was already approaching lunchtime. It would take a day and a half to walk, but it would arrive before half a day if using a carriage, so it had been moving diligently.
I didn't want to waste time eating lunch, so I decided to eat simply with bread and water brought from the mansion. I quietly chewed and swallowed the hard, cold bread, ignoring the gazes of Seril and the knights, who were quite apologetic.
It hurt my butt and back to sit for a long time rather than eating rough food, but I couldn't openly show it.
Rather than complaining about the discomfort and resting, I thought it would be better to run quickly, part ways with them, find a suitable accommodation, and lie down properly. So I encouraged people to move diligently.
And before long, the carriage gradually began to slow down and soon stopped. Judging by the murmuring sound from the coachman's seat, it seemed like we had almost arrived.
Sir Halberd said he would go outside for a while. It seemed like he was thinking of dividing the knights who would investigate and the knights who would be assigned to me.
"I don't expect anything to come out... But at least I'd like to know the reason for touching the Bishvarts Family."
Would it be crazy to think that the Crown Prince had a hand in it? I felt like I could know at least a little bit about the reason he touched it if it was him.
Then I wouldn't have to be anxious, and I could prepare to some extent... At least it's better than learning without knowing anything like this time.
So I deliberately left a letter for Michael Ayres, saying that I was going to buy the Crown Prince's gifts, so he didn't have to come to the mansion for the time being.
If it was the Crown Prince who did it, he would surely know as well. He will surely chase after me somehow for my sake, like he did before. If he planned this kind of thing to put the Bishvarts Family in my hands, it's impossible for it to end at this level.
But if not...
Suddenly, I hear a small knock on the door. I was startled and flinched, then let out a small sigh of relief when I heard the voice, 'Young Lady, may I open the door?' I opened my mouth and uttered words of permission, and the door opened and Sir Halberd leaned in.
"Have we arrived?"
"Yes. They say it's up ahead."
"I see. I heard that they were suddenly attacked and couldn't properly fight back, but they still resisted to some extent. There must have been a rough fight, so they might have dropped something. I know it's a hassle, but please look at it one by one. I trust only you, Sir."
"I will try. And Young Lady, I have selected three knights to go with you. They are all highly skilled people."
There was no need to say anything about their skills since he was the one who chose them. The problem is whether they sincerely care about me.
Thanks to the efforts I had put in, I was able to take control of almost all of the maids in the house, but unfortunately, I couldn't do that with the knights.
Because they had been watching Roena grow up for a very long time, their attachment and loyalty to her were so special that I couldn't rashly touch them.
Since becoming Sir Aires' lover, my reputation has improved compared to before, but people's hearts were lighter and more fickle than feathers. Therefore, even if Sir Halberd assigned them, I couldn't easily trust them.
But I didn't show it and said with a soft smile.
"There's no need to say anything since they are the people you personally chose, Sir. When I find an accommodation, I will send one of the three knights to contact you."
Sir Halberd must have selected three knights for this purpose as well. Well, isn't it better to send one out of three people than to send one out of two people?
"Yes. Then I will see you later."
He stepped back for a moment to close the door. But his gaze was not leaving me. Was it just my imagination that the door was closing unusually slowly?
Lustewin Halberd, whom I know, a man who is so polite as if he jumped out of a textbook, but the eyes I met were shaking as if telling me not to push him away.
"...Why are we back to square one?"
So was the voice that leaked out like a small sigh.
In an instant, before I could react, the door slammed shut. I almost reached out my hand towards him without realizing it, but I barely clenched my fist and took a difficult breath.
After a while, the carriage shook and began to move forward. The sound of the horse's snorting next to me, which must have belonged to the accompanying knight, was unusually close. I felt somehow tired, so I leaned back and quietly closed my eyes.
'Why are we back to square one?'
Sir Halberd's voice was constantly echoing in my ears.
