Duke Kyron once again went back to his busy schedule. Since the Duke was busy, I also could not leave his office all day. I had to pick up and send out the documents and papers that he ordered me to bring or bring him another fresh cup of tea.
The only reason why I was out of the office right now was because Chaers and the other vassals were having a meeting. Although I wanted to be in the office when there were important pieces of information floating here and there, I couldn’t reveal myself. Otherwise, once I showed interest in the Duke’s political affairs, Chaers’ suspicion of me might not be solved with just a few bottles of liquor.
After a few busy days, Duke Kyron told me that he was going somewhere in the evening.
“I’m going to inspect the east. Will you be able to pack my things for me?”
“Of course!”
I answered so quickly that I felt a bit embarrassed. Then I asked him tentatively.
“Aren’t you going to check out the outdoor training with Sir George?”
“Since the weather got warmer, the mountains near the east of Movale collapsed. The village had suffered tremendously.”
After hearing his answer, I did not ask him any further questions and just answered him that I understood.
“Yes. I understand.”
I went to Duke Kyron’s bedroom and took out a large bag.
According to the original book, nothing happened to Duke Kyron when he went on a land inspection. The book only mentioned in passing that the Duke spent the spring visiting his territory and hunting leisurely. That was why I could send him away on this inspection with confidence.
I quietly sat on the floor as I placed the clothes I took out of the drawer into the bag one by one. However, it seemed like water had gone into my head.
It feels strange to open the male lead’s drawer to search through every item of his clothing but now I’m here again and I am even packing it in a bag… I wonder if this is how a huge fan who sneaked into their idols’ lodging feels.
I grinned and giggled as I rubbed the soft tunic on my face.
“Are the clothes funny?”
“Keok…”
Duke Kyron stopped behind me as he looked down at the bag over my body. I wanted to yell at him that it would be nice if he knocked but I couldn’t since this was his room. And I was the one who was doing something perverted so I couldn’t just snap at him. Sob…
“N, nothing. Duke.”
When he saw the contents of the bag, he couldn’t help but sigh over my head.
“Do you even want me to change my coat twice a day with what you’ve packed? Or do I have to endure a few weeks with the pants that I have on right now?”
“I, I haven’t taken the pants out yet!”
I took some of his shirts and coats back into the drawer albeit with a small protest. As I put the shirts back inside, I took out some of his pants.
Actually, I truly forgot about the pants! And the idea that the Duke would go and borrow Chaers’ pants was quite terrible. I was glad that I was reminded in advance but I did not want to hear it from the Duke himself. I knew that my face was burning since I could feel the heat emanating from my cheeks.
In addition, if Duke Kyron believed that I couldn’t pack his bags properly then he wouldn’t listen to me during important moments.
Ah, I am truly ashamed.
“You also need some strong and sturdy leather boots. There’s a lot of mud under the snow.”
“Yes. I’ll take care of it!”
I tried to answer vigorously to cover up my mistake but all he did was sigh at me.
“I meant yours.”
“Ah… Yes… Yes?”
You want me to follow you on your inspection?
Disregarding my surprise, Duke Kyron just threw his tunic off and went to bed. I could hear him muttering a bit irritably under the covers of his quilt.
“These days, I feel like I’m back to when I was five-years-old and playing with you. Of course everything is the opposite now. It was a lot better when you took care of me.”
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I came back to my room as I started to pack my luggage.
The more I packed my luggage, the more I felt excited. If nothing dangerous happened on this tour then it would be like a trip with him.
A trip. A trip with Duke Kyron!
My heart was pounding loudly again. Even if he was just standing still and was pretending not to be pretty, our male lead was still doing pretty things. He kept on doing things that annoyed him but he still kept on doing it.
You’re going to be nice to me anyway… Grin.
It was George who interrupted me from my delusions by knocking on my door.
“Dad?”
“I heard that the Duke will be taking you to Movale?”
“Yes.”
His face was filled with displeasure as he spoke to me.
“Dad has to take the kids to outdoor training. I can’t keep up with you.”
The kids that I was talking about were the bunch of dumb and rowdy northern knights. Those kids. I had to stifle a sigh at the thought of them alone.
I looked at George’s face. I felt like he would ask Duke Kyron to not take me along.
“No way!”
“What?”
When George asked me, I immediately replied with irritation.
“You’re going to take me away from the Duke. Who’s going to take care of the Duke if I’m not with him?”
“The Duke doesn’t need anyone to look after him.”
George continued to speak under his breath, he seemed nervous about me hearing his words.
“But you don’t seem to think that way ever since you were a child.”
I actually knew that George was right.
Duke Kyron was a man who gained fame after participating in the battle against the demonic monsters shortly after he became an adult. It was a place where someone like a lady-in-waiting could stay in.
“Why does he even want to take you with him at a time like this? Even if the doctor followed you, he won’t be able to take care of your ladder disease since he needs to treat the wounded there.”
What did you mean by ‘ladder disease’? This terribly named disease was purely the doctor’s fault.
I was a bit afraid that George would stop me from accompanying the Duke on this trip so I hurriedly spoke and tried to placate him.
“Dad, I’m telling you that I’m fine.”
He stared at me with a look of pure disbelief. I stood up and rubbed his arms as I spoke gently and tenderly.
“Dad, I’m really okay. And even if I make a little mistake, the Duke will look after me because of my condition.”
“Is that so…?”
George finally looked at me with a slightly relieved face as he raised his fist.
Ah, you can’t beat me again!
I quickly stepped back before he could give me another flick. This time, it was my turn to annoy him.
“This brat…”
George’s face became ugly in just a single flick. I looked at him with a frown.
“How can you give your grown daughter a finger flick!”
“Here! This is why!”
“This is why I’m leaving the castle with the Duke!”
“Heok…”
When I looked at George who seemed to be paralyzed from shock, I realized that I had said something that I shouldn’t have said.
“No. Dad. I’m just going out to get some fresh air. I’ll go and come back soon. Why is my daddy so worried?!”
His eyes softened a little when I rubbed my cheeks and clung to his thick forearm.
“You brat…”
I giggled when he sighed ruefully.
“Ah!”
He took that moment to flick my head with his finger. Then, he spoke to me as he moved to leave the room.
“Take good care of the Duke and make sure that you tell the doctor if you’re in a bad condition.”
I looked at him with teary eyes as I answered his words.
“Of course, Dad! I don’t think that I still have to tell you to go to training and come back safely?”
“Of course. Who do you think your dad is? Euhaha!”
My stepfather George would stay very fit and healthy until the Duke joins the war at the Emperor’s behest. That was why I decided not to worry about him for now.
For the time being, my goal was to enjoy my first trip with Duke Kyron!
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2 Clumsy, Lies.
The trip that I imagined looked like this…
I would ride a horse and trot a bit behind him. And if I turned my eyes a bit then I would be able to peek at his dashing profile to my heart’s content.
Meanwhile, the sunlight scattered through the leaves in the northern forests would make him look fantastic, just like a hologram…
But my imagination had been shattered from the very beginning.
Duke Kyron, together with Chaers and the other knights, took the lead and I was stuck inside a shaking carriage where the only opening was the back.
As soon as our trip started, I finally realized what the maids meant when they told me ‘We have placed enough cushions’.
“If we were dairy products then I’m a cheese.”
I quickly took out the cushion and placed it behind my back but the carriage was rattling too hard that I couldn’t even get a wink of sleep. In addition, I was trapped in this carriage so I could not see Duke Kyron unless we were resting.
‘This wasn’t what I had in mind.’ was the last thought that came to my mind before I fell asleep.
“You. What on earth are you thinking with that tiny head of yours?”
“……?”
The first person I saw when I woke up was none other than Chaers. He was staring at me as I lifted myself up and wiped the saliva that dripped down my mouth.
The sky outside the carriage was already dark as the sun had already set. I could also see the servants making a fire behind Chaers. It seemed like we were already starting to prepare for outdoor camping.
Everyone was moving busily while I slept alone in the carriage. My face turned red as I blushed in shame. When Chaers saw my reaction, his expression became a bit more irritated.
“Go and make sure that the Duke is comfortable!”
“Yes!”
I quickly jumped off of the carriage. However, I ended up looking around all by myself. This was actually my first time ever setting foot in the northern forests ever since I opened my eyes in the castle.
The dark and dreary coniferous forest had a somber presence that weighed down on everyone. The slightly damp and cold air gave my body chills. However, the presence of the small bonfire gave a charming twist to this dreary atmosphere. It somehow felt a bit cozy with just that small warmth.
I found Duke Kyron sitting by the fire. Even when he was outdoors, his aura was still as formidable as ever.
Ah, my heart is full.
When I approached him, he quietly addressed me without even turning his head to look at me.
“Did you sleep well?”
“W, wait. I just dozed off.”
“While snoring?”
I could see a crooked smile forming around his mouth. And yet, I still felt like I was a bit cheeky when I saw this smile even though he was not looking at me.
“Duke, do you need anything?”
I quickly turned away as I blurted the words I needed to say.
However, I needed to find somewhere else to look at since I made eye contact with Chaers from over there.
“Sit over there and eat your meal. You’re of little use until we get to the village. Arielsa.”
“…Yes.”
It was impossible for me to dislike Duke Kyron but the way he spoke those words bluntly to me was frankly, very hurtful.
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TL’s note!
I did not separate the 2 from the rest of the chapters since it’s too short.