Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Come to think of it, since the tea time started, Dielo had only sipped his tea a few times and hadn't touched any of the sweets.
Even Redius was staring at him strangely as he ate his third cookie, and I subtly distanced myself from him again.
"Krua?"
Then Dielo turned to me.
In the end, I held out my hand to him, stopping him from approaching.
Do I have to act like such a sweet couple even in front of Lord Redius?
"Lord Redius knows about us, right?"
That's why we're sitting here comfortably together on the fourth floor.
Dielo nodded naturally at my words.
"Yes, he knows."
"Then do we have to act?"
Dielo was silent for a moment at my words.
Then, he creased his eyes, which shimmered with blue light, and smiled beautifully.
"The more natural, the better, right?"
Well, that's true, but...
I felt strangely and subtly excited.
I had no choice but to lower my head, pretending to drink my tea.
I definitely lowered my head, but...
His hot gaze didn't seem to leave the top of my head.
* * *
"The more natural, the better, right?"
Dielo Argenta, with a faint smile, seemed like a different person.
That smile was different from when he was acting as 'gentle Dielo Argenta' and when he was the 'real Dielo Argenta.'
Redius Argenta felt like he was dreaming.
What am I looking at right now?
Is that really the Lord I know?
He didn't smile like that even when he was young?
Redius briefly recalled Dielo's short childhood.
But from then until now, Dielo Argenta had never shown such focused attention to one person.
No, it wasn't just attention; he seemed to be craving it.
Above all, those blue eyes.
Redius Argenta already knew that the Lord's emotional outburst had subsided.
"......"
When their eyes met, the shimmering blue gaze cooled him down.
Of course, it was a cold gaze, unlike the one he gave Krua.
That was the 'real Dielo Argenta' he knew.
'Don't say anything.'
The gaze that seemed to command him was directed at Redius.
Unable to tell the truth, Redius looked back at the Lord, who was smiling at Krua with blue eyes.
Deliberately pretending to be in a frenzy, he was definitely aiming for something.
Pretending to be in a frenzy, trying to reveal his feelings a little more.
Oh...
Redius Argenta swallowed his admiration.
He's really fallen for the Lady.
"...Dielo."
The problem was Krua Argenta, who was smiling faintly and accepting the Lord's shallow kiss.
She accepted Dielo's advances, but only knew it as a 'sweet newlywed act.'
The Lord is going to have a hard time.
But is it really okay for the Lord to give his heart?
That's when it happened.
"Your Highness, I have an urgent matter to report."
A hurried voice was heard from outside the door.
Dielo narrowed his eyes.
"Lord Rick?"
He should know it's tea time.
It must be really urgent. Krua looked at the door and then turned to Dielo.
"Go ahead and see what it is."
"Excuse me for a moment."
In the end, Dielo left with an apologetic look.
With a gentle smile directed only at Krua.
—Thump.
The door closed, and Redius's eyes gleamed.
It was a good opportunity.
"Madam."
To dare, but to do what must be done. To test the Madam.
He turned to Krua.
* * *
While Dielo was away, Redius brought up the issue of the Knights, out of the blue.
Fortunately, they weren't issues I couldn't give my opinion on.
I had thought about the deployment of troops several times.
The problem was why he brought this to me specifically.
"The knights of Argenta are excellent in their individual abilities, but I've heard that they have difficulty being commanded."
To be exact, I heard that the difference depended on the individual commander's leadership.
I was listening to Redius's concerns.
"Yes. So, on the ground..."
While watching Redius list the problems, I quickly realized.
This person was testing me.
Whether I understood the characteristics of Argenta's troops.
Whether I was someone who could be entrusted with Argenta's life, even for a moment, as Argenta's mistress.
Even though he didn't seem like it on the outside, Redius was also an Argenta.
His attitude towards Argenta and non-Argenta people was clearly different.
If I could prove to this person that I wasn't an enemy of Argenta and that I was a helpful person, it would be easier for me even after leaving Argenta.
"First of all, this problem—"
I was about to give an answer.
"Lord, Madam!"
A hurried voice was heard.
"?"
Don't they all know Dielo is gone?
Did we get separated?
But it's been a while since Dielo left.
"What's going on?"
At my words, Redius got up and opened the door himself.
The knight standing outside the door bowed his head, seemingly embarrassed. I raised my eyebrows as I looked at him.
It's even a knight.
He doesn't know Dielo's location? A knight trusted enough to come up to the fourth floor?
But the knight's next words completely erased the questions in my head.
"The Shadow Supply ship has been attacked."
"What?"
I widened my eyes.
The knight bowed his head and quickly reported.
"According to those who barely escaped the attack and reported, the attackers looked like bandits, but..."
"Argenta wouldn't be defeated by ordinary bandits."
I frowned.
Argenta's Shadow Supply was an important supply given to those who risked their lives for Argenta and their families.
As such, the escort was made up of Argenta people whose skills and identities had been proven.
But there's no way they would be defeated by a mere merchant group.
"Yes. They don't seem like ordinary bandits."
"Hmm."
Just when I thought Kartiel was calming down, trouble was brewing elsewhere.
"So, there seems to be a problem with the supply of herbs."
The knight continued to report. I paused at those words.
"Wait, herbs?"
Who dared to attack the Shadow Supply ship was an important issue, but if the story of herbs came up, there was a bigger problem.
"Then what about the ones being supplied to the northwest?"
In the northwest of Argenta, bordering the Endless Sea's 7th District, many people who constantly needed special herbs lived.
They were mainly people who had retired or were injured while working for Argenta.
They chose to remain in the northwest, saying they wanted to protect the sea until the end.
Because of them, they were special even in Argenta.
I couldn't help but feel for them as I processed the documents several times.
But if there was a problem with the supply of herbs, it would cause a fatal problem for those who regularly received herbs or painkillers for their chronic illnesses.
"The herbs used in the northwest were difficult to store."
At my words, the knight bowed his head.
"It's not that all supply routes are blocked, so some can be airlifted, but..."
That meant the quantity would be insufficient.
"First, explain the situation to those who receive Shadow Supply in other areas, and concentrate the herbs on the northwest. In return, supply more food to other areas."
I said quickly. Then I got up from my seat.
After looking at the Argenta map on the wall, I turned my gaze to the knight.
"And the bandits—"
I was saying that when I narrowed my eyes.
What are the chances that the bandits who attacked at this timing are real bandits?
Above all.
"You said the bandits didn't take all the goods, right?"
"Yes."
At the knight's words, I became certain.
If they were real bandits, their purpose would be to steal goods and make a profit, so why would they leave goods behind and send them back?
To leave them something to live on?
Where are there such benevolent bandits?
"Where are those supplies?"
"They were supplied after confirming that there were no problems."
"Confirm?"
At my words, the knight bowed his head.
"Yes. Whether there were any abnormalities in the supplies..."
Of course, they would have to check.
But why does this feel so bad?
I suddenly remembered those who had subtly poisoned my dress.
"Are there any supplies left?"
The knight paused at my question.
"Yes. There are still some that haven't been sent—"
"Guide me."
I got up from my seat. The knight seemed a little flustered.
So was Redius.
"Madam?"
"I'm just being cautious."
I wondered if those disguised as bandits had left behind perfectly fine goods.
