Chapter 18

“I heard that there is a shortage of clinics, how do ordinary people usually get treatment?”

“Is there a separate institution to trains intern doctors?”

“Is the recent epidemic less money?”

The other master’s wives would laugh at how ignorant I was, but Aren gave me serious answers.

“Unless you are seriously ill, the owner of a nearby herbal store is also serving as a doctor.”

“Yes, I usually know that a doctor has a student under him and teaches.”

“I haven’t been here in a while, so I don’t know…”

I was impressed by his demeanor to explain without a hint of a nuisance.

‘The more I look, the more I like his personality.’

Then, Aren asked me curiously.

“Madam, are you interested in the medical field?”

I was obviously interested. I wouldn’t have made it a career if I wasn’t interested in.

However, in this world, there are not many ladies interested in this kind of thing.

“A little bit.”

“If you ask the Master, you will be able to get a more detailed answer than me. It would have been nice if the two of you came together.”

Rupert was busy, so he couldn’t do that. He must be working in the mansion.

“Wouldn’t it be annoying?”

“Is it possible? Master ordered me to escort you as soon as he heard you wanted to go out.”

‘It must have been an order to watch me well.’

I was skeptical, but Aren was different.

“It was the first time I had seen Master’s strange behavior.”

Then Aren smiled softly.

“He must be worried about his wife. Besides, maybe today-“

For a moment, I saw Aren’s face and widened my eyes.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you smile properly!”

I was a little moved by his smile.

“Yeah?”

He had a sharp image like a bird of prey, but when he smiled, the atmosphere was completely different.

“Beautiful.”

Indeed the heroine. It was a magical charm.

Aren looks a little stunned.

“Was that what you saw when I smiled…?”

“Of course.”

I gave serious advice.

“Sir Aren, it’s a wasted life without your beautiful smile, and to make the world happy, you have to smile. Of course, I feel good to see you smile.”

He was a little shy at my words.

“……”

I was kind of excited to see a person who was usually hard-headed showed me this kind of figure. It feels like we are getting closer.

‘Is Aren younger than me?’

Is this what it feels like to have a sibling? I was starting to find him a little cute.

He was looking at me with so much joy, a voice suddenly came from behind.

“I gave you the order to escort the Marchioness…”

I and Aren turned around. Somehow the voice sounds familiar?

“… not to flirt in the middle of the street.”

We were both surprised to see who we were talking to.

“Why are you here?”

“Did I interrupt your good times?”

‘What did this mean again?’

I looked at him curiously.

Why did he look so grumpy?

***

He hated to admit it, but Rupert has been thinking of Noel quite often lately.

He always didn’t want to get any closer than needed to with anyone.

If he swayed by his emotions, he will lose control of the curse. So he always drew a clear line to others.

Even if the other party is a daughter or a wife.

It was good that Noel, who suddenly tried to cross that line one day, gave up. Although there were conditions to be fathered.

He should be happy with this result.

But why?

‘Why do I feel so uncomfortable?’

Noel Ainel, who suddenly changed for some reason, was completely different from before.

Now I want to ask myself.

‘What the hell do I want from Noel?’

The answer was unknown. It was a life in which he tried not to dream of wishes or hopes all his life to control the curse.

He can’t remember the last time he really laughed and cried.

Now, even what he likes and dislikes was vague.

Nevertheless, seeing her these days, he often has strange impulses. Sometimes he wanted to touch her cheeks or long eyelashes when she approached him.

He wondered if she would be angry, shy, startled, or how she would react.

Gradually he wanted to see a different side of Noel Ainel.

This idea itself is a contradiction. He wants her to get away from him, but on the other hand, he wants to get to know her.

‘Am I really going crazy?’

Just before questioning his sensibility, he objectified his heart again.

Judging by this feeling, it will only weaken his control.

“-Master?”

Rupert raised his head.

In front of him was Bert, the commander of the Raven Knight, looking at him.

Bert looked a little surprised.

“It is rare. Were you daydreaming?”

“… no, that’s fine. What were you trying to say?”

Rupert is back to reality. He was about to attack the black magician’s stronghold in his own estate.

“I have captured 3 black magicians in total.”

Recently, four young women disappeared from the estate. Some thought it was just a runaway, but Rupert did not take it lightly and ordered a search.

And today, he found the stronghold of the black magician who kidnapped women.

“Was the Gargoyle that recently wandering outside the fortress walls their work?”

“It was very likely. We haven’t found the statue of Gargoyle yet, but since we’ve caught the magician, there’s no danger right now.”

The Gargoyle was a monster created by a black magician. Usually, it was in the form of a stone statue, but when the magician supplied magic power, it moved.

Conversely, without a magician to control it, it was just a piece of stone.

“Are the abducted women safe?”

“Fortunately, there are no major abnormalities. Maybe they are surprised…”

Rupert was relieved at those words. Those captured by the black magician were usually used as sacrifices for curses or research, or sold as slaves on the black market.

“Tell their family that you found them, and send them back.”

“Yes, Sir.”

And after Bert gave some orders to his men, he returned.

“Now, Master has nothing to worry about. So that’s what I’m saying…”

Bert sighed slightly as if he had something to say.

“What?”

“Since you have time, how about visiting the market with the Marchioness and the Young Lady?”

Rupert frowned slightly.

He had heard that Noel was going out with Leah, so he sent Aren away.

Aren has a clear distinction between public and private affairs, and he has a clear skillset, so he will do well in the tasks entrusted to him.

“I have sent Aren as an escort.”

Bert showed a nice smile.

“I didn’t mean that. Sometimes it would be nice to spend time with the family too.”

Bert, who said this, is of course a strict boss to his subordinates, but at home, he is a sweet guy.

“I don’t even know where she is now.”

“The Marchioness has just been out, so if you walk around the market for a bit, you might meet soon.”

“……”

For Rupert, this topic of conversation was uncomfortable.

There were times when it was difficult to deal with Bert because he was a good person. He is a completely different kind of human from Rupert.

“There is nothing in this world better than spending time with family, my lord.”

“As you got older, your nagging only increased.”

Rupert, annoyed for no reason, turned around.

“……”

And Bert smiled faintly as he watched the footsteps of the lord’s steps toward the downtown, not the mansion.

***

Rupert walked the streets lined with festival stalls and markets.

I didn’t mean to follow Bert’s advice. Coincidentally, my feet only came to this side. Rupert thought.

‘I couldn’t find her that easily.’

Because there were so many people, it was impossible to do as Bert said.

Thinking so, he turned his head when he heard a familiar voice.

Rupert looked at Noel’s back.

As she cared for Leah, she too was looking around with curiosity.

‘It was the first time I had seen such a face.’

Until then, she was a woman who had no interest in how things were outside the mansion, but did she really have a big change of heart?

He paused for a moment as he approached Noel. He warned himself in his head.

If he continues to spend his time with her, he’ll find it hard to draw the line like he used to.

“……”

Rupert stopped. He was afraid that his thoughts on Noel would gradually become more favorable.

Really, not good.

‘It’s not too late now. I’ll just pretend I didn’t see her and go back.’

At that time, Noel looked at Aren’s face with a happy smile on her face.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you smile properly!”

Rupert was slightly dissatisfied with her very friendly appearance. Since when have you two been so close?

He inadvertently walked towards the two of them. Unfortunately, the conversation sounded very good.

“Was that what you saw when I smiled…?”

She has a very kind expression.

“-I feel good to see you smile.”

In fact, Aren is popular for his beautiful face. Still, why did you say that to a healthy young man?

‘I feel bad.’

“I gave you the order to escort the Marchioness…”

Rupert approached and opened his mouth quietly.

“… not to flirt in the middle of the street.”