CH 113

Chapter 113: A battle of Sincerity [unedited]

Soon, the day we departed for the deadland arrived. We left at dawn. 

In this expedition, of course, Sigren was the leader of this force. 

I also successfully reduced my escort to the very minimum thanks to Kwonter before we departed. However, this created a small problem. The knights of Heilon protested that they could not entrust the safety of young miss to a mercenary who they knew nothing about. Honestly, Why did I feel that everyone was kind of like Abel nowadays? They were a bit overprotective. Anyway, my stubbornness won in the end. There were some things that couldn’t be compromised either. Neither Sigren nor I was in the capital, so Heilon mansion must not be weakened. 

And Kwonter, who was watching such a series of processes, gave his opinions, “I have to escort a tomboy lady because I was threatened by the duke, yet I was also threatened to be killed by his knights because I was in charge of escorting her. Poor me, why did this happen…”

It was a sloppy attitude for a mercenary king.

“You’re calmer than I thought.”

“Yeah, I would have turned everything upside down if I were in the usual state.”

Well, to be honest, I said that because I thought so too. He was surprisingly much more docile than I expected. It was in contrast to his character.

“Don’t worry, though you are here because of Abel’s threat, I would pay you separately. Besides, I’m not that kind of annoying miss to be escorted though.”

“If I have to say it, your existence alone is being a pain in the ass.”

“…”

This guy was really….

Seeing my expression, Kwinter then continued, “ah, of course it’s not Miss’ fault.”

“So what does that mean?”

Kwonter looked over my shoulder and responded, “There are a lot of annoying people around you. And one of them is coming.”

I turned around at the same time. It was Sigren. 

“Sigren is not annoying.”

As soon as those words were said, Sigren uttered annoying words. “Are you sure you’re going with him?”

Ah, of course, this definitely happened only sometimes.

I patted his cheek. “I’m going with you too.”

“….”

Sigren seemed speechless hearing my logical reasoning.

I grinned.

“So what should I do? Your highness?” No matter what, I was a pretty high-quality worker. I was a mage, and good at handling things. 

However, it seemed that Sigren’s judgement was different.

“Stay still in the carriage until we arrive at Marquis Relton’s estate.”

“Isn’t this a waste of manpower? Are you sure?”

“No, it isn’t. And Yes, I’m sure. Eunice Arlyn also stays in her carriage, so you don’t have to go out. Besides, there is nothing to do until we get to the dead land.”

I knew Eunice was also in this delegation. I’ve been thinking why I haven’t seen her face. It turned out she’s been in her carriage all this time. 

“There are mercenaries in the back row, be careful not to get caught up in unnecessary disputes.”

The delegation’s members were diverse. Although there were numbers of knights and soldiers, as well as Saintess Eunice and few priests, it was not enough. Therefore, mercenaries were hired to fight the monsters. 

I glanced at Kwonter. “We have Kwonter here.”

“Still.”

I felt like I was facing a disobedient child. I’ve seen Sigren like this before, and it was somehow disturbing…

“Okay, I’ll be careful.” Currently, Sigren was on the top of command system. Well, I mean, I should still follow his orders.

Sigren looked like he still had something to say. But, because he was busy, in the end he returned to his position. 

Kwonter looked at Sigren’s back, “So, he’s not annoying?”

I answered in a sour way, “I take that back.”

***

if you read this on other websites, it means it was stolen. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.wordpress.com.

Instead of staying in the carriage, I chose to ride a horse. It wasn’t a rebellion against Sigren, it was just more comfortable for me. 

“We’re going to rest at the Viscount Aden’s estate in the middle.”

“So I’ve heard.” Kwonter responded briefly.

My current position in the delegation procession was in the middle. Sigren and the knights were in the front row, and the mercenaries were in the back row. The middle row was the safest position, thus there were important luggage and non-combatants. 

“It would be better if we were placed in the front row or the back row.”

Those positions were the combat force. 

“The back row is annoying, though.”

“You don’t want in the back row?”

He was praised among the mercenaries, I think if he were placed in the back row, he could help controlling the mercenaries. 

“First of al, I’m your escort.”

“Hmm, you’re more sincere than I thought.”

The conversation ended there. 

Kwonter was not very talkative.

I suddenly got curious. “Kwonter, can I know how the Duke threatened you?”

“Why are you curious about that?”

“You comply with me more calmly than I thought.”

Well, he was not inherently a violent person, but he was not a calm person either.

“For being curious, you also treated me very calmly than I thought.

“I’ve seen enough mercenaries.”

Actually, it was because I knew his basic tendencies.

“The threat…, it isn’t much.”

“Really?”

“It’s simply because I killed someone.”

“Ah, yeas. It isn’t much.” I said sarcastically.

“And the person who I killed is a noble.”

“You’re still alive.”

“Duke Heilon concealed that fact.”

Did I just hear my father’s crime now?

“In my defence, that person was a trash.”

“I see.”

It was understandable. Trashy noble, It was nothing new. Even my used-to-be-family, Green family, was a good example of scum nobles.

Kwonter looked at me as if I was a strange person for a moment. 

He was the one who talked about killing people, why was it me who received that look?!

“There was a blacksmith who I was familiar with in a small village that I stopped by fom time to time. His wife was a rare beauty.”

“Then?”

“The lord of the village kidnapped the blacksmith’s wife and raped her. The wife had tried to commit suicide.”

Oh man, the reason was darker than I thought.

“No matter how I looked at it, it shouldn’t be his wife who should die. That’s why I killed the lord.”

And Abel covered it up. 

That was Abel.

“I see.”

Kwonter, again, looked at me as if I was a strange person.

“Is that really the only reaction?”

“Then, how should I say?”

“No criticism, or lecture, or something else. Even if you’re not scared, shouldn’t you at least be surprised?”

Then, should I give a round of applause instead?

Anyway, I’ve seen enough people die or were killed. How could I be surprised by that?

“You made you own choice. Do you need other people’s opinions or affirmation?”

“I’m not.”

“I don’t critize or lecture. In the end, it’s up to you to choose and take responsibility. You reap what you sow.”

“I think i get it now.”

Wait a second, if that was the case, then being with me was the price of what he did?

Kwonter looked at me as if I was a strange creature, again. What was his problem?

“I could see why Sigren is so anxious. You’re a lady with no compassion, a girl with a lot of distance. You must have heard that you’re bad at understanding the mood often, right? Very out of touch.”

“…”

This punk.