Chapter 73

Chapter 73

As Seth softened his hardened expression, Gawin smiled softly as he looked at the two of them before putting his arm on Bediviel’s shoulder, who was sitting next to him, and spoke.

“Haha, you don’t have to worry too much, Duchess. If you do, I’ll make Sir Bediviel disguised as a woman and mix with the ladies.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, so you can rest your mind. Didn’t the Duchess see it, too? That look yesterday… You didn’t feel any sense of discomfort at all, right? If I hadn’t known that it was Sir Bediviel, I would have picked flowers and offered them right away.”

“…Sir Gawin, do you want to die?”

“Haha. Who wants to die… Ahh!”

“As I always say, there’s always a problem with your words, Sir Gawin.”

While Bediviel clenched his fists and ran towards Gawain in earnest at the words teasing him, Gawin hurriedly avoided his fist. At the same time, seeing Lancelot glancing at the two with pathetic eyes, Min-ha laughed out loud.

Seth gazed at Min-ha with a loving gaze as he clasped her hand.

It was when the hot sun of late spring rose in the middle of the sky.

Dozens of nobles and their servants attending them stood in front of a forest behind Loengram Castle, which was lush with trees in late spring. In addition, dozens of horses and hounds they brought were gathered near them as well.

Among the nobles who were invited last night, the men chosen by the Marquis of Loengram wore colorful hunting clothes and were preparing their equipment in anticipation of the monster hunting that would be held in a while.

Subsequently, the servants who followed them busily moved between them, carrying their masters’ weapons and tending the horses and hounds.

And, at the very back was a large, white tent, in which there were selected noble women and children.

Sitting on silky sofas upholstered in white linen, they were having an inconsequential conversation while being served by the maids standing next to them, who were also taking care of their children.

Min-ha, seated on the far right in the front row, where there were only six seats, opened her mouth as she looked at Noah, who was sitting next to her, trying to ignore what she had heard at first glance during the conversations between the ladies.

“Noah, what are you doing?”

“Leo and Leona were playing!”

The child answered, holding the lion and rabbit dolls in his hands.

Originally, only the lion doll called Leo was the doll that Noah was attached to, but now, the rabbit doll Min-ha made has also become one of the child’s attachment dolls. It was even given the full name of ‘Leona.’

Min-ha gently folded her eyes as she saw the child’s cute figure playing with the two dolls she had fixed and made for herself. Then, she reached out and stroked Noah’s fine yet messy hair.

“Really? What were you playing?”

“It’s a knight game!”

“Then, who is the knight?”

“Leo and I are knights, and Leona is Leo’s lady!”

“Oh, really? It’s very exciting! If you don’t mind, can I join as well?”

“Yes!”

“What role should I play?”

“Hm, umm… Then, sister-in-law will be my lady!”

“Oh! Hmm. Thank you, Knight Sir Noah.”

“Hehe. Yes, lady!”

Min-ha took part in the house play by matching her rhythm to Noah’s words.

Because of that, Noah got excited and grabbed the two dolls in his hands and started making noises with his mouth. Min-ha followed him and helped the play with chuimsae* and lines.

[ T/N: Chuimsae is a form of exclamation during Korean traditional music. While the author used this word, you can just interpret it as making sounds for the game since it’s really not to the extent of chuimsae. ]

At that moment, one of the Persen Knights, Percival, who was guarding the two with a blunt expression, sneaked up to him and spoke.

“Young Master Noah.”

“Here it is! It’s the devil…! Hhut, hhut!”

“Noah. Soon after seeing the Duke off, you must attend the tea party. Stop playing house and leave the doll to me.”

“No! I want to keep them!”

“Didn’t you behave so well yesterday? What’s wrong with you today?”

“Tea parties are boring! Just like yesterday, sister-in-law will be spending time with other people today…”

“It’s the Duchess’s duty to get along with the other noble ladies, so she can’t keep spending time with Young Master Noah. And, since there are many other young people and young girls at this tea party, how about making friends with them?”

“…No. I mean, they hate me. They also swear at my brother and father.”

“That ordeal is also a process you have to go through as a man who’ll become a knight in the future. You can’t avoid bad words forever, can’t you?”

“But…”

Sir Percival urged his hands as he reached out with a blank expression while Noah shook his head and shouted. Listening to their conversation, Min-ha had an embarrassed expression on her face.

“Ah, this… You’re going to have a hard time today, Duchess.”

“…Yes? Why?’

“Well, Sir Percival is principled. There are no cracks like nails. It might be difficult to breathe with him.”

Just a moment ago, it seemed that she would understand what Gawin came to inform her that the guarding knight who would be in charge of her and Noah’s had been decided.

‘Although everything Sir Percival says is true, Noah is still a child… Isn’t that too much?’

At least, if there were Lancelot, who pampered Noah, or Gawin, who was playful, they would have been able to appease Noah more skillfully. Still, everyone but Percival had been notified to attend the hunt.

Looking at him, who was arguing with Noah with a blunt face as the child was distraught, she carefully intervened.

“…Sir, Sir Percival.”

“Yes.”

“If Noah hates it so much, maybe we can let it go for now. I’ll try to convince him again after seeing the situation later.”

“I don’t think the Duchess would be able to convince him after you attend the tea party.”

“It’s okay. I don’t really want to talk for a long time because we had so much to talk about with each other last night.”

“Nonetheless, Noah is already five years old. If it’s in the Persen Castle, he has to save face as the son of a noble family in front of other nobles.”

“He’s still five years old, wouldn’t it be okay to put things like saving face for when he’s a little bit older? It’s a natural age to want to play with dolls, do whatever he wants, and avoid making unpleasant words. I don’t think it would be any different just because he’s a nobleman…”

“Still, Duchess…”

“Yes? Sir Percival. Please?”

“…All right. I’ll obey the orders of the Duchess.”

“Oh. It’s not an order, it’s a request. Yes?”

Percival, who had a blunt expression on his face at her persuasion, eventually nodded his head with difficulty. Min-ha smiled as if thanking him and gently stroked Noah’s hair.

“Noah, did you hear that? You’ll have to leave Leo and Leona with Sir Percival in a little while.”

“…I don’t wanna.”

“So, let’s have fun quickly now.”

“Yes?”

“And, wouldn’t it be okay to hang out with me at the tea party later?”

“…Is that okay?”

Noah, who was a little sullen at her words, asked with a smile. Because of that, Min-ha deliberately lowered her voice and whispered to him.

“Yes. This is a secret between the two of us, but the truth is, I don’t really like to hang out with them either… Maybe Noah likes to play with Leo and Leona more than me?”

“Oh, no! I like sister-in-law more!”

“Right? So, after seeing them off, give Sir Percival the doll. All right?”

“Yes, sister-in-law!”

“Haha. Good boy, our Noah.”

Fortunately, Noah nodded at her persuasion.

Min-ha then smiled while stroking Noah’s cutely smiling head, and Percival, who was standing next to him, loosened the corners of his mouth for a moment with a look of helplessness before hardening his expression again.

It was because the hounds and herders outside the tent lined up, and the horses moved. It meant that the subjugation would soon begin.

Sure enough, an attendant ran and shouted to the people in the tent.

“We’re ready for the subjugation! Madams and ladies, we’re prepared to set off.”

At that voice, the noble wives, young ladies, and children in the tent began to get up one by one with the help of the maids.

Min-ha was escorted by Sir Percival, who reached out to her, and after raising her body, she took Noah’s hand. Thanks to the light clothing, she walked to the place where the male nobles stood at a faster pace than the others.

“Seth!”

“Brother!”

Min-ha and Noah, who were looking at the men standing there, found Seth at once and called out his name. At that, Seth turned his head toward them and smiled dotingly. Min-ha quickly walked up to him, who was clad in armor, and said.

“You look great today, too.”

“The wife is truly beautiful today as well.”

“…Must you do this hunt? I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“You don’t have to worry. Your husband isn’t such a bad knight to injure himself on a light hunt like this.”

“You can’t come back hurting now since you’ve been talking big.”

“All right.”

“Brother, please be careful!”

“Yes.”

As they promised to speak formally in front of others, he greeted Min-ha politely and gently stroked Noah’s head as the child gazed up at him. After gently wrapping one arm around her shoulder, who was standing next to him, Seth lowered his head before moving his lips close to her ears as he whispered softly.

“For you, I’ll bring the one with the biggest jewel.”

Seth whispered in a passionate voice as if it would melt her ear.

Then, he lightly kissed her cheek and then released his arm that was wrapped around her shoulder. Min-ha hurriedly clasped her cheek where his lips had touched as her face flushed red. Even though it was not even their first kiss, she was embarrassed to see herself still surprised and excited.

Gently sweeping Min-ha’s blushing cheek once, he bent over and spoke to Noah, who was standing next to her.

“Today, I’m leaving you with the wife. Take good care of your sister-in-law, Noah.”

“Yes, brother! Don’t worry! I’ll protect sister-in-law!”

Noah nodded his head up and down vigorously that she was afraid of his neck hurting. Seth looked at him lovingly and then turned and looked around.

Before they knew it, the surroundings were more empty than a while ago as the aristocratic men who finished their simple greetings got on their horses one by one and ran out into the forest. Seeing that, Seth pulled the bridle in his hand and ordered Percival, who was standing behind Min-ha and Noah.

“Never take your eyes off them for a second, Percival.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

After hearing his answer, Seth got on the horse that was next to him while Percival approached Min-ha and Noah and backed away with them.

When both of them backed away far enough, Seth waved his hand at the two of them once on the horse and immediately struck the reins. The next moment, his horse rushed toward the forest. Soon after, a servant, who was also familiar with Min-ha, followed Seth’s words and controlled the wildly growling hounds.

“Come on, Duchess. Noah.”

“Yes.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

‘…Please don’t let anything happen to him.’

Min-ha prayed for his luck until Seth’s horse disappeared before turning around at Percival’s words and walking towards the tent again. Although it would have been nice to hold Noah’s hand and return to the mansion like this, there was still a tea party left.

‘We can go back tomorrow, so let’s do our best today.’

As she thought so, Min-ha made up her mind again.

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