Chapter 55

Episode 55

Translator : Missme  Editor : Aru

“…….”

“When you get in, ask Bessie to make you something warm. Honey water will be boring, so not that.”

I’m glad I don’t have a heart in my hand.

I thought of it as I moved my steps since my hands were being held by Ash.

It’s a stupid idea, but at this moment I was just being sincere.

My heart beats so fast.

A tall, wide shoulders, big, steady, firm hand.

If he walks comfortably, he’ll be ahead of me first, so he purposely slows his pace and matches with me.

My heart couldn’t be quiet at everything that came into my eyes, and it shook like when a stone was thrown into the water.

‘Ash.’

It was fortunate that Ash had no talent for reading people’s minds.

‘……I like you.’

I murmured a word in my mouth that I could not and could never say.

Even though my heart was pounding like crazy, I felt like crying at the same time.

The pace was too slow..

‘Why did I come to like you?’

I was more eager and stronger than ever to hope that something like the future would never come like this.

***

The mansion, which had been quiet since the incident, became as noisy by afternoon.

This is because all the soldiers who Lucas had kept at other territories in reason of dispatch have returned.

As soon as they heard the news, they ran all the way back to the territory and were surprised when they heard the whole situation.

“Lucas, that crazy bastard……!”

“I didn’t like him from the start. That trashy moustache!”

“Where is he? I have to kill him!”

“He’s already dead.”

“Let’s go carve the body!”

“His finger is mine!”

And Sir Valla, who leads the Knights, felt particularly responsible among them and even showed tears in front of me.

“I’m really sorry, my lady. I don’t even have any excuse for that, Your Excellency. I foolishly fell into the Viscount’s tricks and left the mansion empty……..”

“Oh, no. It’s alright. It’s all working out well anyway. Right, sir?”

As soon as he recovered his energy to the point where he could not be too tired to move, Ash was not here right now because of the work related to the estate.

I wanted him to take a break at least until the bandages were released, but it was inevitable because he needed to deal with a few things and fix the situation.

However, he only cursed Lucas, who had already died, as much as he wanted.

I looked back at Sir Davery and asked for help instead of Ash, who was not here.

He nodded his head.

“Yes. That’s right, Commander Valla. Nothing different will happen by crying and since it’s too late, it’s ugly to see your tears.”

“What?”

‘Why talk so stings?’

And while Sir Valla was ‘beaten’ by Sir Davery, one by one, the men from the Imperial Palace came.

In addition, the angry knights failed to carve the dead Lucas’ limbs as they wished.

Because it was strictly up to The Imperial Court’s duty from now on.

“It’s an honour to meet you, Princess Lydia Widgreen.”

They introduced themselves as the 5th Division of the Imperial Knights, and soon collected and arrested the bodies and other sinners involved in the incident.

For those who belonged to a group of the rebels but did not participate in the raid and fled, they decided to stay in the territory for a while to chase and catch them separately.

And when the Knights of the Territory cooperated with them, they were able to find and destroy the main ingredients of the hallucinogens hidden in every corner of the mansion.

“No, even the underground of the field is burned too?”

“It looks like the root is the main ingredient, unlike its appearance. It’s amazing.”

“If you’re curious, go for a taste.”

“Who wants to know how it tastes? Anyway, The Imperial knights are full of people who can’t communicate.”

“What did you say?”

There was a little patter along the process, but it ended soon anyway.

The hallucinogenic plants were all burned down and the fields were completely dug up and turned over.

Later I saw of the Wizard and the Crown Prince, who left the territory first for busy official duties.

And only then did I remember that I had completely forgotten the Crown Prince since I got out of the parlour room.

“……I was very rude, Your Highness.”

Ash came in on the way, but he withdrew himself from the conversation.

In many ways, I was sorry, but the Crown Prince just smiled softly.

“No. It’s alright. Don’t worry about it.”

Looking at his smile, which spread gently in the setting sun, suddenly I could not understand what happened in the parlour room.

‘Why me?’

I didn’t know.

“I hope to see you again next time for a joyful occasion. Oh, and so does The Duke.”

“……”

“Then, I’ll see you in a situation where you don’t have to overdo yourself and your injuries. I’ll keep in mind what the Duke said.”

“It’s an honour.”

At first glance, it seemed like the prince and Ash were exchanging meaningless glances over my head, but I couldn’t understand the meaning because it was literally a meaningless gaze.

Soon after, the Crown Prince disappeared in a swarm of light.

It was my first time to actually see space-movement magic.

‘It’s amazing to see it in person.’

I stared at the place where the wizard and the Crown Prince had just stood and then turned around.

Sir Davery, who was seeing them off together, was beside me and uttered a ‘dead’ voice.

“Oh god, it’s tingling.”

“Does it hurt where you got hit?”

“Didn’t you see that? He hit me hard.”

“Oh, so why would you provoke Sir Valla?”

“If I hadn’t, he wouldn’t have stopped his tears because of his personality, and he would have been whimpering through the night.”

“Um…”

“You must have had a hard time watching middle-aged tears. I’m sorry that you didn’t realize the loyalty of my willing sacrifice.”

Well, I can’t say anything to that.

“Huuu, by the way, that person’s strength hasn’t changed. Why doesn’t he get old when wrinkles?”

“I heard that, Davery Sack!”

“It’s crazy. He has good ears, too.”

Sir Valla came close with a blushing face among the knights.

A member of the Imperial Knights, the one who sent off the Crown Prince, suddenly shone his eyes on the scene.

“Oh, Sir Davery Sack, who cuts everything down, and Sir Valla who no one can keep up with the swiftness of the sword. It’s an interesting match.”

“Your Imperial Knight, I recommend you to look around but not to bet money. I’m going to lose anyway.”

“Why, Sir Sack?”

“I respect my elders.”

“Give this old man a good deal of dust!”

While Sir Davery and Sir Valla played their second game in front of so many spectators, I left the two behind and took a step back to the house that was roughly arranged.

Most of the house’s employees were former chefs and maids, who Lucas had already coaxed or replaced them with his own people.

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Only the vice butler, who had just returned from work after taking a long vacation, was not even aware of the situation.

He decided to take charge of hiring new people in the mansion.

‘As soon as he got back from vacation, I felt a little sorry.’

Still, can I congratulate him on his promotion from vice butler to butler?

It is assumed that the problem of the employee and the living of the mansion will be resolved by a butler who has been promoted so suddenly.

Lucas, who was originally in charge of overall territory management, died and needed someone to replace him, but the right person unexpectedly took over the position.

‘A reward for uncovering rebel groups and wiping out some of them.’

The new territory’s lord who is a baron was called as the man of frugality, integrity, ability, as much as innocent within the empire.

Although I may not know his abilities, he was clearly the opposite of Lucas in terms of his character.

Breaking my prejudice established in my past life, The Imperial Court was quick to handle things.

The baron said he would arrive at the territory at least the day after tomorrow and be on the front line.

This was the end of the uproar Lucas had caused by his ambition.

‘To be honest, I don’t know if he was blinded by ambition or if he was brainwashed by hallucinogens.’

Personally, I think it’s the latter.

‘This is why drugs are dangerous.’

Thinking of that, I slowly stepped out.

Before entering the porch, I stopped for a moment and looked up casually, and the sky was red. The sun was setting.

“Why?”

Ash’s voice was heard.

Only then did I know I was staring at Ash without knowing because I was looking up at the sky.

“……nothing.”

Fortunately, as time passed, the scenes of dreams that emerged and the senses that were vividly revived gradually faded.

Since I didn’t forget to take the antidote in the morning, I won’t have to dream about it again from tonight.

As time goes by, it’s definitely going to get a lot more cloudy and faded. Someday it will be like never happened.

It was just that.

Dreams fade, but other things don’t fade.

If I let my guard down, I can’t even control my gaze.

My heart throbbed. I wanted to make excuses for standing there staring at him, so I said anything.

This was also taken from the inside of my heart, so it was based on sincerity.

“Don’t overdo it.”

“I won’t.”

Listening to Ash’s answer, which is flowing out of the blue, I looked back every time I knew he was going to overdo it, but he was good at answering every time I looked back.

I consciously captured Sir Valla and Sir Davery, who was making a scene from afar.

I wasn’t curious about the progress of the rivalry between the two. Rather, I thought I’d have to do that so I wouldn’t be distracted by seeing Ash again.

‘……what am I supposed to do now?’

Lucas is dead.

The mansion will be filled with new employees, a new acting lord will come, and the territory will still return to itself, just slightly different from before.

And to my consistently unanswered questions, a subtle weight has been added that never existed before.

The sky is already dark. I could see Sir Davery tripping over the terrain, who was wondering if he was able to avoid Sir Valla’s sword, which was so fast that it could not be seen.

It was a ridiculous sight like a scene from a comedy-drama, but somehow there was no laughter.