Chapter 15
Episode 14
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Still, he had to admit it. In just a few days, Grace had won the favor of the knights that Walter had barely managed to earn after wielding his sword at the forefront for years. Of course, it wasn't quite a pledge of allegiance.
The biggest catalyst must have been the incident where she didn't give up until the end and saved Andrew, even when her own life was in danger.
But that wasn't all. She smiled appropriately, expressed gratitude, and memorized the names of everyone she exchanged greetings with. It was an unexpected kindness and unpretentiousness for a noble lady who had lived being revered by others.
Unlike the navy blue cotton dress she had been wearing all along, she was now dressed in a cream-colored, elegant dress. Her braided hair, styled by the maid Jessie, was as neat as a bride who had just had her ceremony. Who could be wary of this woman who seemed so upright, like the essence of dignity and etiquette that nobles so revered, yet looked so frail and delicate?
A sword hidden in a very beautiful scabbard.
That was Walter's impression of Grace. The problem was that even he kept forgetting that she was a sharp-edged person.
"Your Excellency."
The gentle call, as if addressing a lover, made the back of his neck feel ticklish for some reason.
In the meantime, Grace, who had come closer, gazed at the foot of the mountain he was looking at. Walter also turned his head, following Grace's gaze. There stood the historic and beautiful Duke Richmond's castle. The Eagle Crest emblazoned on the flag fluttering at the top of the castle was clearly visible. The expressions of the two people turned cold at the same time.
After staring at the castle for a moment, Grace asked.
"Are you afraid?"
"Ha!"
Walter laughed sharply, and Grace burst into laughter as well.
"Are you the one who's afraid?"
A particularly resonant and low voice. Even if she closed her eyes and listened from afar, she felt like she would immediately recognize Walter's voice. Grace said brightly,
"Of course not. But... I think it's time to address something."
Walter slowly turned to look at Grace, but she was still looking down at the foot of the mountain.
"You shouldn't treat me coldly anymore."
"How much more affectionately should I treat you?"
"Grace."
She faced Walter. Her eyes, filled with sunlight, sparkled like stars.
"Please call me Grace."
"......"
"Walter."
His name, coming from Grace's lips, was as sweet as her eyes, which were like ripe green grapes.
From the time he could remember, he had always been immersed in a struggle for survival. He had survived until now with an acute feeling that he would be pushed off a cliff if he looked away even for a moment. Affection and love were too far away for him to even dare to reach out, so why was this woman so easy?
Then, a displeased look crossed Grace's brow.
"It would be difficult if you say even this is difficult."
Shaking her head slightly and glancing at him, she looked as if she were looking at an unreliable person. Walter, who had always done everything perfectly with all his might, even felt like his abilities were being doubted.
"At least, please try until you get Richmond in your hands. I have no intention of doing anything half-heartedly either."
Her soft voice was clearly etched in his ears. As if she had said everything she wanted to say, Grace turned towards the carriage. Walter's gaze followed her.
For the past ten days, he had been watching Grace all the time.
'You just have to love me.'
He thought it wouldn't be difficult, but the closer he got to Richmond, the less he understood.
How should I act like I love you? If I loved you, how would I want to treat you?
The thoughts connected by love and Grace inevitably led him to recall the warmth that spread over his lips and the feeling of slender arms wrapped around his neck. Walter's eyes sank deeply like an abyss.
Finally, as if he had made up his mind, he followed Grace. Catching up to her with large strides, Walter grabbed Grace's wrist just as she was about to get into the carriage.
"?!"
He gently pulled her towards him as she turned around in surprise. Walter took Grace's hand and walked ahead. Wondering what on earth he was doing, Grace saw a huge warhorse appear before her eyes. Looking at her eyes, which had widened in surprise, Walter couldn't help but smile. Grace blankly looked at him and asked.
"Are you suggesting that we enter the castle in Your Excellency's arms?"
"You told me to love you in front of everyone, didn't you?"
"......"
"Why, is even this too difficult?"
Those were the words she had just uttered herself. As Grace put on her usual composed expression, Walter tilted his head and said.
"Then, excuse me for a moment."
Contrary to his polite words, the force with which he lifted her waist was astonishing. In an instant, Grace was straddling Walter's steed. Without having to struggle to maintain her balance, Walter, who came up next, trapped her with his whole body. She felt a shiver run down her right back and shoulders, which were touching his chest, and her ears. Feeling the force that had unknowingly entered her body, he whispered.
"Relax. It'll be easier for both of us that way."
The knights, with their eyes popping out, quickly mounted their horses and followed Walter, while Jessie, who was left alone in the carriage, quietly watched Grace in Walter's arms. She had expected to feel disappointed to see such a sight... but her heart was calmer than she thought.
"Well, it's much better than seeing her being mistreated by those lousy guys."
Jessie's murmur permeated the cold air and disappeared.
＊ ＊ ＊
Grace's awkwardness gradually faded with time. The world seen from atop a tall horse was different from what she saw inside the carriage.
After passing through a dense forest, a vast expanse of land unfolded. The castle of the Duke Richmond family, the master of the Northwest, stood like an island in the middle of the vast land. The castle, surrounded by a moat so deep and wide that it resembled a river, resembled a natural fortress, and its roofs were sharply pointed, as if embodying sharpness.
On the bridge connecting the castle and the land beyond the moat, a crowd of people had lined up to greet the Duke's return.
However, the person standing at the very front only stared at Walter approaching with his back and neck held straight, without bowing. The woman standing next to him was the same. The way they looked as if the host was welcoming a guest made Grace and Walter's lips curl up at the same time. They had the same thought.
How interesting. So, thieves are this brazen.
Grace tilted her eyes and whispered to Walter.
"It seems like those are Marquis and Marchioness Linko."
Walter also smiled coldly and asked her.
"Are you ready to fight? Grace?"
Instead of answering, Grace leaned her head against his firm chest. Even so, her gaze was fixed on the Marquis and Marchioness standing on the bridge. It was visible from afar that their eyes were widening in shock.
She smiled shyly and replied in a voice as unwavering as a warrior about to go into battle.
"Of course."
I've been waiting for this day all along.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Brother, I'm so scared."
A woman in a lovely pink dress complained in a voice that was just as lovely. Then, the man who was leading her towards the main gate of the castle let out a shallow sigh. And he turned to the woman, putting on a stern expression.
"Flora."
Flora tilted her round eyes and made a tearful face.
"I heard that Duke Richmond was killing Magical beasts like a demon. Even Magical beasts are precious lives, brother. My heart aches so much that I can't even kill a mosquito. You know that, right?"
"...Flora."
"How can I marry someone so scary? Sob... I'm so scared."
As she shook her head slightly, her fine pink hair followed suit.
Flora, the precious daughter of Count Rowen, a vassal of the Duke Richmond family, was the princess of Northwest society. She was so popular that there wasn't a young nobleman who didn't admire her, and all the young ladies followed her actions. Even the excessively lovely dress suited her as if it had been tailored for her.
At that moment, a maid who was tidying up the disheveled hair ornaments behind Flora accidentally pulled a few strands of her hair.
"Ouch!"
"I'm sorry, miss!"
The maid quickly bowed her head, but annoyance instantly spread across Flora's face. She smoothed her hair with her hand and then looked down at the back of the maid's head with a contemptuous gaze.
"Oh my... I don't know why these kinds of people can't do anything properly."
"I'm sorry..."
"Is it so difficult to fix my hair? Hey, don't come back from tomorrow. Brother, send her to the stables."
"Ah, miss...!"
The maid called out to her, crying, but Flora moved on as if she was annoyed.
"Okay, I understand, so fix your expression. It seems the Duke has already arrived at the bridge. Hurry."
"Really. Sob..."
"There's nothing to be afraid of. The Duke will fall head over heels for you too. There isn't a man in Richmond who doesn't love you, right?"
Flora, the most beloved in Richmond. That was her pride. Sometimes she even seduced the fiancé of a close young lady, but that was only because of the man's foolishness, not Flora's fault. Loveliness was her weapon.
Flora pressed the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and followed her brother. Amid the sound of trumpets, people cleared the way for the siblings.
When they reached the main gate, receiving the envious gazes of the people, a wind blew from outside the castle. The wind was mixed with the smell of horses. Flora's brow furrowed involuntarily.
Since Empress Hetbiga came to power, the treatment of knights was not the same as before. Especially within the current Richmond Duchy, it would not be an exaggeration to say that knights were being treated poorly.
Flora also did not have a favorable view of knights. In her opinion, a knight who made a living with only his body was no different from a working commoner. Moreover, the barbarity of taking lives and seeing blood.
So, no matter how much of a Duke he was, she was not very fond of the Duke who was the leader of the knights and had been wandering around the Wall of Death. He would surely be burly, fierce-looking, and barbaric.
"......!"
However, Flora soon froze upon discovering Duke Richmond.
