CH 78.2

“I’ll be back later, Ignis. If you feel stuffy, will you go to Seria’s room?”

“I got it!”

“Then let’s go out together.”

Isabella exited her bedroom with Ignis and stopped by Seria’s.

She wasn’t there.

Perhaps, she was with Prince Victor.

“You should wait for Seria’s arrival.

“Don’t worry, Isabella! I’m not a kid! I am a great——”

“All right, all right. Then I’ll go.”

Ignis went straight to the window, and Isabella waved at him before closing Seria’s bedroom door.

Then she walked straight to Marc’s office, knocked on the door, and went inside.

Marc looked up from the documents he was reading, and it was the first time Isabella saw him wear eyeglasses.

“You found it?”

“Yes. Your Highness will go to the beast hunting expedition this afternoon.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. He visits the dark forest once a month and brings knights from Rubella Castle. He usually spends a week over there.”

Isabella knew about it.

Every time Duke Kyar went on the beast hunting expedition, Isabella would ask the fire spirits to spy on him and send her news.

The scary demons living in that dark forest make the fire spirits tremble.

“His Highness couldn’t sleep peacefully without you so I think you should go with him this time. I know it’s hard, but you can make it work.”

“Yes, of course, I shall go with him.”

“The dark forest is dangerous, so be extra careful. However,  don’t worry too much because you will have a personal knight who will escort you there. Just be careful not to go to the dark forests alone.” Marc said.

“Yes, sir.” Isabella smiled. “I won’t let that happen.”

“Please take good care of His Highness. It is a relief to know that you’ll go with him this time.” Marc said sincerely.

It appeared like the butler didn’t change at all.

He was concerned about Duke Kyar’s condition.

Isabella placed the box she was holding on his desk.

“What’s this?”

“Oh, it’s a medicine that will relieve your fatigue.”  She replied warmly. “You look tired, so I made it for you.”

“Oh? Thank you. Thank you very much, Isabella.”

Marc uttered with gratitude, and it made Isabella feel better, too.

“No, thank you for always taking care of me.”

“It’s something that I have to do. If you’re having a hard time, you can come and see me.”

“Yes, butler Marc.”

“Please be careful on the beast hunting expedition.”

“Thank you for your concern. Then I’ll be on my way.”

After leaving Marc’s office, Isabella returned to her room and packed her things.

This was the first time she would be on the beast hunting expedition from start to finish.

Her relationship with the Archduke seemed awkward these days, so she was determined to grab at any chance to get closer to him this time.

**

Seria was disappointed when she heard that Isabella would go on the beast hunting expedition.

Isabella was also worried that she could not see Seria off when she left for Arpeon.

She bid Seria farewell and promised to go to Arpeon on her vacation.

She thought about making medicine for Seria and giving it to her the next time they met.

She had to pick ‘Bella’ flowers from the cave.

Maybe, she could ask Marc to do it sooner or later.

Isabella also packed more medicine in case of emergency, and she realized too late that she had more luggage than she thought.

Ignis decided to return to the mountains while she was on the beast hunting expedition.

For the first time in a long time, he seemed pretty excited to be free and assume his original form.

Isabella was thankful that Ignis was in high spirits.

This way, she wouldn’t feel any guilt for leaving him behind once she left.

“My luggage is a little heavy,” Isabella murmured to herself while carrying a large backpack on her shoulder.

At that moment, she heard a knock on the door.

“Yes?”

Perhaps, it’s the knight who’s supposed to be her escort.”

Marc had told her to be with this knight at all times except when she would be sleeping in the barracks with the Archduke.

Isabella opened the door and saw a person she never expected to stand on the threshold.

“What a coincidence! I can’t believe we see each other like this.” He smiled lazily.

Isabella gave him a bewildered look.

“Are you the knight who is tasked to protect me?”

“Yes. You’re aware that you’ll stay with me next week, right?” He grinned.

Isabella nodded awkwardly.

Is it him again?

Isabella suppressed a sigh.

This is going to be uncomfortable.