006
Earendel slept very well.
To be exact, it was close to joyful. It was because Count Lissian’s territory was not that far away, but it was a little too much to walk from here.
I felt refreshed after waking up, but the problem was my leg still hurts when Mortis’ pushed me in the running carriage yesterday.
I thought about putting a support on it, but I thought it would be more inconvenient to walk. Eventually, Erendel was forced to give up everything, and go out as a spy.
So she arrived at the market at noon, but…
“Have you ever seen her? Like this, like this, an old woman.”
Earendel was eager to lose sight of the old woman. I don’t even know how many times it is already. However, the answers from merchants were all the same.
They don’t see anyone like that?
“Why didn’t anyone see her…”
Earendel, who looked tired, murmured as she squatted at the entrance of the market in the corner alley.
It hasn’t been long since my fourth regression. In other words, it was just a few days ago that I bought a ring from an old woman.
I can’t believe no one’s seen her. Of course, I searched for the old woman during my last return, but I came out again just in case.
“…So I’m the only one who saw her?”
Over Earendel’s light purple eyes, a black jewel was reflected. She looked down at the ring with her lips crushed.
Did the old woman know? That this ring has this power. Did she know it and gave it to me?
My questions are so hard to answer. There was only one person who could answer me. The old woman.
“Just one more time… I’ll look around again…”
Then I’ll go back.
I was muttering by myself, and suddenly a dark shadow fell on my face.
…Who is this?
Earendel raised her head without hesitation.
Then her face hardened.
At first, I knew he was crazy. But now he had a cover on his face. In addition, he covered his hair with a thick cape.
….I don’t know why he’s so wrapped up and hiding, but he seemed to not be able to hide his golden eyes.
“The…”
“…”
“The crazy man…”
Castian’s face hardened at the word Earendel spit out without knowing it.
“…Is that what you’re saying to me now?”
“Huh? N-no. You’re mistaken. No way.”
Earendel replied with the most unnatural face in the world. Castian frowned and looked down at Earendel.
[We did a thorough investigation, but there was no new information. It’s the same as I reported last time. She’s nothing special.]
Cliff was right. There was no new information.
I just found out how she had been bullied by her step siblings.
It was a life that was so hopeless.
[Anyway, she seems a bit of a nuisance to be a member of the Duke.]
[….]
[…Should I get rid of this woman?]
At Cliff’s question, Castian replied.
[I’ll go look at her myself, leave her alone.]
“Excuse me… but why are you looking at me like that…?”
Earendel, who couldn’t stand the persistent gaze, carefully moved her lips.
“I wasn’t looking at you, I was looking at the ring you were wearing.”
No, I mean, why are you looking at the ring again! This crazy guy.
What he said yesterday suddenly passed through Earendel’s head, while having a ‘dislike’ expression.
[That ring, is it yours?]
But before that, his gaze was on my ring.
Earendel hid her ringed finger reflexively.
“Where did it come from? The ring.”
“Why are you asking that?”
“…I told you yesterday.”
Castian bent down while pushing his face close to her and said.
“I told you not to let me say it twice.”
It was a pure blackmail.
“I’ve been very, very busy lately. Besides, it’s not a wise choice to walk around outside like this. We don’t know when, where, and what’s going to happen.”
To be exact, you don’t know when or where a knife or arrow flies in. This is because the Empress noticed that Castian’s action was strange. Maybe she already knew. The fact that I’m preparing for rebellion.
Nevertheless, I came out like this. It was purely because of that ring. That’s how important that ring was to Castian.
“Then, why don’t you just stay home…?”
“Tell me right now. Don’t make me annoyed.”
Earendel looked at Castian for a moment without saying a word. I could see his golden eyes shining like jewels in the sunlight.
…To be honest, it wasn’t scary. The alley is narrow, so I don’t think he’ll be able to pull the sword out like yesterday.
It was a really lame reason.
“…If you tell me why you’re so obsessed with this ring, I’ll tell you.”
“What?”
“It’s a loss for me if I’m the only one to answer.”
“…..”
“You don’t have to say it if you don’t want to. It doesn’t matter if I don’t listen. Of course, I’m still curious.”
Castian laughed in vain. What if she knows who I am and she’s talking like that.
Well, she wouldn’t have done that if she knew…
“I don’t think I’m obligated to answer that. But you’d better talk.”
“What kind of….”
“It looks like you’re looking for someone. If you tell me the description, I can help you. I, a nobleman, will be able to find it much faster than you.”
To be honest, it’s not wrong. Rather than me, who is nothing, this nut is working with a guy named Cliff or something, was a little more useful yesterday.
Earendel decided to answer.
“It was given by someone I don’t know.”
“…you don’t know?”
“Yes, I met her for the first time… It was an old woman selling old accessories. She gave it to me as a gift.”
An old woman…
Castian slightly frowned.
“What I’m looking for now is the old woman.”
“…What about her looks?”
“She had a red cape on her shoulders with a hat on her head. So I don’t know her hair color. Her back is bent like this…”
Earendel began to explain the appearance of the old woman.
“Oh, and her eyes were light purple.”
“….like yours?”
Castian looked down at Earendel’s eyes and asked.
He thought it was an unusual eye color, but there was another person who was the same.
“Yes, just like me.”
Earendel nodded and asked.
“Can we really find her?”
“Maybe. I’ll tell my people.”
Earendel’s face was glowing.
I thought you were just an idiot, but you’re so helpful! There’s no way a man should just die…
“But before that, let’s make a deal.”
“…Yes?”
“Sell me that ring.”
Why would I?
Earendel looked confused.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to.”
“I won’t disappoint you.”
“No, I don’t want to.”
“Then don’t take the price and just give it to me.”
As expected, a crazy person is still a crazy person.
It doesn’t help. It’s annoying.
Earendel got up from her seat without answering back.
Then, Castian’s golden eyes shone sharply.
But Earendel was standing and didn’t see it.
“Cra… no, young master. I have to go now. Goodbye.”
“You’d better stop.”
He was not a great man to listen. Earendel took a step while ignoring his words.
…You’re not gonna pull a sword from behind, are you?
No way.
That’s what I’m thinking….
Something happened in front of me.
There was a whimpering sound… and soon I felt a stinging pain in my cheek.
“Heuk…”
The frightened Earendel fell down on the floor. It was an arrow.
I’m speechless. I was afraid you’d pull the sword from behind. Instead, an arrow flew right in front of me.
When I touched my cheek, the red blood came out.
“…I said it would be better to stop. Can’t you hear me?”
In the meantime, the nut was being sarcastic. But his personality was not important because I was in this situation.
“A-arrows why….Kyaa!”
Earendel, who was looking down at her bloody palm with a puzzled look, screamed.
It was because of the suspicious man who suddenly pulled her body.
Soon after, the narrowed alley was filled with men dressed in black cloaks, and Earendel was quickly caught up by the man in the lead.
‘L-l-let go of me!’
I shouted Let go! Let go! but it didn’t work.
The man holding Earendel laughed at Castian.
Castian looked at him with a stiff face.
“You’ll have to come with me.”
“Why would I?”
“If you don’t want to go…”
Swoosh.
The man pulled out a dagger from his waist.
Then he aimed it at Earendel’s neck.
“A-ahh.”
Earendel struggled because she was frightened and because of her trauma on blades. The man pulled Earendel at once.
“You’ll see her neck being cut off.”
“Oh, no! Why me!”
Earendel screamed and looked at Castian. Just say you’re going with him! Anywhere! Of course you’ll escape on your own!
…But his answer was absurd.
“I don’t really care, though.”
“….”
“I’d like you to return the body instead. You need to return it.”
Earendel’s mouth opened at the truly ridiculous answer.
•─────⋅☾ Wendy ☽⋅─────•