Chapter 164
This conversation again. When Walter asked if I remembered him, Theobalt wasn’t nearby. The fact that he asked this question anyway meant Walter’s intentions were quite transparent.
“Is there a reason why I should remember Lord Walter Lorentz?”
“Pfft, ahaha! No. There isn’t.”
Theobalt laughed heartily, just like at the ball. It was an extremely refreshing and satisfying laugh.
‘Hmm…’
It seemed I must have met Walter during childhood. Since my father and Margrave Lorentz were on good terms, he might have come as a guest. When my mother was alive, she occasionally hosted balls.
‘I probably met him then.’
I don’t know what promise I made to him or what it was about, but it appeared to be Theobalt’s basis for asserting that Walter wouldn’t lose interest in me.
‘A childhood promise, huh.’
But I wasn’t interested. Given that I don’t remember it, it probably wasn’t special to me. Even if it had been special, what meaning could a childhood promise have now?
‘So that’s why.’
Suddenly I recalled the countless invitations sent to me from the Lorentz family. I hadn’t accepted any of them, so they should have assumed I’d forgotten… Why bother coming to ask about it?
‘Can’t he tell from my attitude? I’d completely forgotten about him.’
He’s slow-witted and foolish. But in kinder terms, he’s steadfast and consistent.
‘If not for Luwen, we might have become friends.’
In truth, I liked his personality. I had much more affinity for the seemingly timid yet awkward Walter than for Theobalt, who laughed heartily at his brother’s frustration.
‘This is why it’s hard for me to be brave.’
Theobalt is like me. Similar in both environment—becoming the unnecessary child of the family—and in personality, twisted and blinded by jealousy. Won’t someone feel the same uncomfortable feeling toward me that I now feel toward Theobalt?
‘…Mirror therapy is indeed frightening.’
Theobalt left his seat, leaving me with a thoroughly unpleasant feeling. His steps were remarkably light. Seeing him genuinely rejoice in another’s—no, his family member’s—misfortune made my face instinctively scrunch up.
‘What’s more annoying is that I understand his feelings.’
We were too similar, which made it impossible to feel any warmth toward him. Once this is over, I shouldn’t go anywhere near the Margrave’s mansion. I didn’t want to get involved with either the steadfast Walter or the gloomy Theobalt.
Luwen and Taran entered the tent where I’d been left alone. Taran, who I expected to be chattering like a baby bird, was quiet. He seemed to be watching Luwen’s mood. When I glanced over, I noticed Luwen’s atmosphere was very downcast, like the cold, chilly winter air he brought in.
“You don’t look well. I’ll raise the temperature.”
Luwen didn’t ask why I had sent them away or what conversation we had. He just put more firewood in the fireplace.
“Luwen.”
“Yes.”
“Are you angry?”
“No. How could I be angry with you, young master?”
His voice was stiffer than usual. He wasn’t even looking at me.
“You seem angry.”
“I’m not angry with you, young master.”
“Really?”
Luwen pressed his lips together.
“Oh, I just remembered the water barrel is empty! I’ll go fetch some water!”
Sensing the bad atmosphere, Taran made an implausible excuse and fled the tent.
I crouched down next to Luwen. He flinched briefly but didn’t move away and behaved quietly. However, his gaze remained fixed on the fireplace. Like Luwen, I stared at the crackling flames and asked.
“Why won’t you even look at my face?”
“…”
Met with continued silence, I examined his face and saw him firmly biting his lower lip. Fearing his strong teeth might pierce the soft flesh, I reached out my hand.
But midway, my arm was caught. Our gazes locked. His eyes, reflecting the flickering campfire, bound me so I couldn’t move.
“Luwen?”
He suddenly pulled me close. Then, holding me so tightly it was hard to breathe, he murmured.
“I’m anxious…”
After contemplating what to do, I patted his back while leaning my full weight against him. It must all be because of me—because it appeared I was close to Theobalt.
“What are you anxious about?”
“Am I still first for you, young master?”
That’s right, he is first. But I hesitated to answer, wondering if it was appropriate to say so now. Yet seeing him so anxious, I wanted to reassure him, even if it might take longer.
“…Yes. You’re first.”
“Is that so…”
However, Luwen seemed even more unstable. It was probably because my answer was delayed, so I stroked his back more affectionately to comfort him.
“It’s true. I only have Luwen.”
As I said this, I lifted my head to make eye contact… but perhaps because we were pressed together, his face was unexpectedly close. Just as I was startled and about to move back slightly, Luwen suddenly pushed me away and hastily stood up.
“I-I’m sorry. I’ll g-go for a walk for a moment.”
“Huh? O-okay. Go ahead.”
I stared blankly at Luwen’s back as he fled, then rubbed my cheeks with both hands.
‘That was… an erection, right?’
Embarrassment and awkwardness mixed together. Though we were close, there was no sexual skinship, so there was no reason for excitement. Moreover, the atmosphere had been completely subdued.
“Pfft.”
But to run away saying he’s going for a walk. He’s so cute.
‘…Hmm? Perhaps this type of contact could seduce him?’
I thought it wouldn’t work since it was something we always did, but surprisingly, it seems effective. It was a belated realization. Well, if he runs away like that, no amount of seduction would be effective.
‘I guess these tactics don’t work on innocent people.’
Clearing my throat with unnecessary embarrassment, I stood up. Somehow both of them had fled, leaving me alone in the tent.
‘That should be fine, right?’
It’s still before lunch. Since the ogres were supposed to arrive in the afternoon, Luwen would surely return before then.
But after about ten minutes…
“Aaaaah!”
Along with a sudden scream.
Thud- Thud- Thud-
The ground shook.
Startled, I reflexively looked up and realized the cause.
‘Is it starting already?’
It was earlier than expected, but it seemed the guests Theobalt mentioned had arrived. Sure enough, the two knights guarding the entrance rushed in.
“Young master! You must evacuate immediately!”
One drew his sword and watched outside, while the other took out my cloak and placed it on my shoulders. As I left the tent, I saw terrified people staring in one direction. I followed their gaze.
‘One, they said!’
At least twenty ogres were approaching, swinging crudely large sticks as they walked with bouncing steps from a distance. The bare branches of trees shook from their weight.
“Gather this way!”
Someone shouted. Looking toward the voice, I saw the Margrave’s knights who had remained for security holding up swords and shields. The nobles with no combat talent were frozen, and there was intense tension on the faces of the guards.
“All the horses are gone!”
Another urgent cry came from somewhere.
“N-nooo!”
Someone wailed. Among them, I spotted Theobalt. A face of shock. Seeing his expression mixed with confusion and fear, it didn’t seem to be his intention.
‘There’s no reason for the horses to disappear too.’
It seemed some sabotage was at play. With an anxious heart, I looked at the forest beyond the ogres.
‘Sister, you’ll be okay, right?’
I reassured myself that she would be fine since she was with the Second Prince. However, there was something concerning—the timing was earlier than in the original story. That meant Irene’s swordsmanship was that much weaker.
“You two, go to the forest immediately and find His Highness the Second Prince and my sister to escort them.”
Although just two people, they could be of great help in this situation. Above all, I had Luwen.
“We cannot. Our orders are to protect you, young master.”
“I know. But things look unusual. I’ll join the others over there and stay put, and Luwen will protect me, so it’s fine.”
“…”
The knights, whose highest priority was my sister’s orders, remained adamant. I needed to add an explanation.
“This seems intentionally orchestrated. But it’s not something the remaining personnel here can’t handle. Just a skilled commander would be sufficient.”
In particular, the Deputy Minister of Sword Affairs remained here. If he moved, most would follow without major resistance.
“And the Deputy Minister is here. Would the perpetrators not know that? If so, why drive the ogres this way and make the horses disappear?”
The knights looked at each other with stern faces, then at the ogres, and finally back at me.
“To prevent reinforcements.”
“Exactly. Then who’s in the most danger?”
The knights gripped their swords tightly and stared beyond the forest, as if they could see my sister inside.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
