Tl/note: I decided to divide the chapters from now on, but because of this, chapter releases will be more frequent, so don’t worry.
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‘Well, what am I to do with you?’
Betsy was stubborn when it came to Yurina.
Yurina just sighed and looked around.
The knights had been fussing around all this time, and Yurina wanted to beg them for a break. But Sir Aaron shook his head, as if he had read such a thought.
“But what about a little break?”
“It sounds great.”
He left the two knights next to Yurina and led the rest back down the road that Yurina had just descended. Yurina didn’t say anything else and looked around.
“Good day.”
Hot sunlight from above, ripples of water in front of her, birds chirping, Emily playing in the water, Betsy laughing loudly from the side, and a young knight who glances at Emily.
Their time passed slowly, while fierce competitions were going on in the distance.
Yurina looked around carefully, covered her mouth and yawned. She woke up very early to dress up and put on makeup, and being in the middle of such a landscape, she was suddenly inclined to sleep. Bets, noticing this, whispered in her ear.
“If you’re tired, you can sleep. I will cover you with an umbrella.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Yurina leaned on Betsy’s shoulder and closed her eyes. Betsy covered Yurina’s face with an umbrella so people couldn’t see her.
Yurina immediately fell asleep.
Who knows how long she spent like that.
“I’m sorry, but you can’t go.”
Yurina, who was dozing, suddenly opened her eyes at the sudden voice. Sir Aaron, who was guarding the road, raised his sword and blocked someone in front of him.
Yurina couldn’t see his face, but she could understand that Sir Aaron was very wary.
There was only one person standing next to Sir Aaron. And this was a man who didn’t have weapons like a sword or a spear, and he was not considered a knight.
‘What’s going on?’
In this peaceful place, Yurina wondered what circumstances forced Sir Aaron to draw his sword?
“And why can’t I get in? Is this private property?”
Yurina stood up from her seat after hearing an unfamiliar voice. The surprised knights approached and tried to stop Yurina, but she raised her hand to stop them.
“What’s going on?”
If there was a conflict with another noble family here, she, a member of the Carthia family, would be responsible. Moreover, as the stranger had said, it was not the property of their house, so Sir Aaron had no right to bar anyone’s entrance.
“Stay away, Milady.”
“Milady, please come here.”
Betsy also appeared in front of her, as if covering Yurina with herself. Sir Aaron looked at the knights behind Yurina and looked back at the stranger.
Yurina glanced at the man who was detained by Sir Aaron. Blond hair shining in the sunlight. And although he was tall, he didn’t look like a knight at all, because he was thin.
They didn’t look much alike, but looking at him, Yurina remembered Reynard, who by this time was in the middle of hunting with her brothers.
Yurina, who had a curiosity about strangers, largely due to her resemblance to Reynard, suddenly realized that the flow of mana around him was strange.
‘A mage?’
Now it became clear why Sir Aaron had reacted so harshly to the newcomer. And judging by the mana fluctuations, this man seemed to be a very skilled mage.
The man only looked at Sir Aaron with an expressionless face, and raised his arms slightly.
“I just wanted to go down to the water while walking. You shouldn’t have followed me. And I don’t think you’re from the royal family. And there is no law in our Empire that would prevent me from walking where I want.”
“Nonetheless…”
“Sir Aaron, he’s right.”
Yurina then approached Sir Aaron.
“We have no right to stop him. Anyway, it’s time for us to head back, so we’ll just leave.”
“Milady, but…”
“No need to fuss. We’ll leave.”
“As you say.”
Yurina looked at Sir Aaron, and turned her gaze to the stranger. The man’s eyes, until recently expressionless, now showed some surprise. He didn’t move when Yurina interrupted the conversation and didn’t greet her.
It was an act contrary to etiquette, but Yurina accepted it without resentment.
“I think Sir Aaron was more worried than usual because this is my first time in a tournament.”
Again, there was no answer from him. Yurina gave him a meek look, and noted how he blinked a lot, and how his eyes flickered now.
‘As usual.’
It was embarrassing to say this to herself, but her appearance was definitely outstanding in the Empire along with Lydia De Flon.
Even when she was very young, Yurina was beautiful. Now, after growing up, her appearance stood out to such an extent that sometimes she admired herself. Men who saw Yurina for the first time often reacted just like the one in front of her.
In any case, she was lucky that the situation ended without much friction. Yurina now turned to Sir Aaron.
“Sir Aaron, let’s go. Guests are waiting for us.”
“Then let’s go.”
And then, when Yurina had already turned to the road, an insistent speech was heard behind her back:
“Hey, have we ever met before?”
Yurina laughed at those trite words, knowing their purpose in advance.
“Is this thing still working in this place?”
“I don’t know. First time I see…”
It was then that Yurina looked back and was confused by what she saw in front of her.