CH 78.1

“The day to receive the first prophecy will be January 20th next year,” Marianne said.

“Well, I want to take her a bit earlier… Ah, sweetheart, have you ever been on a trip since you were born?”

“No!”

My eyes sparkled at Marianne’s suggestion.

‘A trip!’

I had never been on one in my past life or current life. It was so appealing that my heart raced.

“I want to take it slowly and show you around as we descend to the temple. Can we go on a trip right after the New Year?”

“I’m fine with it, but…”

Actually, I really wanted to go. But I noticed Collen’s expression.

“Why bother? It won’t take even a week to get to the main temple by taking the gate.”

“I just want to spend time together during this opportunity. It seems like the baby wants to be with me, right?”

Marianne laughed and poked Collen playfully.

“Do as you please.”

Collen replied gruffly.

“If my baby wants to go, we can’t help it.”

I glanced at Collen.

‘Huh? But Dad…’

Why does he seem so unhappy?

Just then, Zion entered carrying a tea tray with tea and cake. He whispered in my ear.

“The leader of the thiefs, who was captured and imprisoned, has escaped. He’s furious with the police for not being able to handle that alone. Moreover, he kept it a secret so far, and now he told me ”

The leader of the thiefs… Kien? He escaped. How did he manage it?

“Why are you whispering so much?”

Collen asked Zion coldly. Zion straightened up.

“I asked him to cut the mocha cake on the plate into larger pieces.”

Collen’s icy expression disappeared, and the corners of his mouth twitched.

“Eat a lot.”

“Yes.”

I took a big bite of the sliced mocha cake.

Mmm, it tastes like an adult’s flavor. Now I know how to eat coffee-flavored cake too.

“Ah, our little baby has melted the heart of the distinguished Duke, hasn’t she?” Marianne said with a playful smile.

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

I grumbled to myself. Where did Kien go?

‘Did he return to the cult?’

Will he live a life of thievery again? I even nagged for a long time.

‘Indeed, it’s none of my business to meddle in other people’s lives.’

That’s a truth even a child knows. I don’t particularly want to get involved, but still, I hope he’s alive.

‘As long as Kien stops committing crimes and lives peacefully,’ I stated under the assumption that.

As Collen’s mood improved, Zion followed with the tea tray and spoke.

“Master also has his schedule in early spring. He told you to prepare for the Rombel Mountain hunt, didn’t he?”

“Oh, right. It’s hunting season.”

Marianne tilted her head with a smile.

“Are there noble hunting grounds in Rombel Mountain? Isn’t it just a common mountain path frequented by travelers?”

“That’s during the trading season. Bandit groups targeting merchants gather there because the shortest route connects the Kingdom and neighboring countries, and the road is relatively flat.”

“Why go on a winter hunt there?”

“Well…”

Although Marianne didn’t understand what he meant, I grasped it immediately.

‘Dad, you’re planning to hunt bandit groups.’

In other words, it’s not animal hunting, but hunting humans.

‘For Collen, it’ll be like a buffet.’

Marianne still seemed to find it strange.

“They say the bandits in Rombel Mountain kill people and kidnap women. Hmm, it might be better not to go.”

Jade knows about Collen’s ‘hunting’, but Marianne doesn’t.

Well, I already knew that from the novel.

Collen only smiled silently. There will be a whirlwind of bloodshed at the Rombel Mountain.

‘Well, it would be good if the bandit groups disappeared.’

I concluded it that way.

“Then are we going to observe from the south?”

“That’s how it will be. We’ll take full responsibility for the baby’s safety. Even the slightest injury.”

Collen glanced at Marianne with a side-eye.

“Don’t look at me like that. Your gaze is fierce like a beast, it’s really scary.”

“If you do well, it’ll be fine. Got it? Just focus on this child.”

“I can take care of her too, you know! But more importantly, you’re already threatening me about next year’s trip?”

Collen and Marianne were arguing back and forth, while I swelled with dreams of the southern journey. It would be exciting, wouldn’t it?

And finally, the New Year I’ve been waiting for has arrived. Before the New Year, it was my birthday. It’s already my third birthday celebrated in the Duke’s mansion!

I turned twelve years old.

As the New Year began, Marianne came to pick me up as promised.

‘This older sister knows how to have fun.’

That’s what I realized while traveling with Marianne. The journey to the south involved taking the gate several times.

“If we only consider efficiency, we can take a direct gate to the south and then ride a carriage for a four-day journey, day and night, on an uncomfortable road to reach the mansion right away.”

They say it’s an itinerary that takes less than a week.

“Yes, but?”

“But on that route… there are no good restaurants.”

This sister is a trustworthy person.

After hearing those words, I felt like I had to entrust Marianne with all the scheduling.

“I’ll skip the tasteless meals at the roadside rest areas. So, even if it takes a detour, let’s travel with a focus on cities, sightseeing, and enjoying delicious food.”

At that moment, I couldn’t hold back and asked.

“Will we also have desserts?”

“We’ll have them every day.”

“Let’s go quickly.”

I said in a hurry. Marianne burst into laughter. That’s how we’ve been traveling, circling through cities, taking gates for several days.

“Oh, I think I left something at my dress shop.”

“Yes, I’ll wait in the carriage.”

Marianne and I had finished sightseeing in the city that day and stopped by the dress shop.

Marianne got off the carriage because she had left her newly bought hat. Her escort guards surrounded the carriage.

I fidgeted with the corsage pinned to the bonnet, wearing my newly bought red shoes.

‘It feels good to travel in new clothes.’

I felt like a real noble. And at that moment.

The carriage shook heavily.

‘Huh?’

I raised my head and saw an unfamiliar figure sitting across from me.

Unintentionally, I let out a gasp.

“…!”

The person sitting across from me covered my mouth with a large hand. My eyes widened.

‘This person is…’

Kien. It was definitely him. The leader of those strange religious thieves.

“If you scream, I’ll surround you and kidnap you just like that.”

Kien muttered. His voice didn’t have that liveliness from before. Kien released his hand.