CH 178

Orion, who wasn’t aware of my poor excuse, nodded and replied that he would look into it and said he could buy the land there if I want.

“I’ll think about it once the semester ends.”

“Mhm. Alright. I will work diligently as well and get an early break.”

“. . .?”

I’m the one who would go on a trip, but are you trying to get a break, Orion?

* * *

After the conversation where Orion and I opened up to each other, the warm atmosphere continued.

On my way up after dinner, I unexpectedly saw knights lining the hallway.

Each of them was looking forward with a clear look of nervousness and tensed shoulders.

“Is there an event today?”

“No. There’s an order from the Young Duke to tighten the discipline, which has gotten too—”

The knight, who was answering with a firm expression, flinched.

I stared at him in wonder, but then someone turned me. It was Sir Rune.

“You’re on your way to your room, right? I will take you there.”

“You don’t need to.”

“It’s fine. There’s also something I want to say.”

I nodded to the soft voice in confusion and headed to my room with him.

I could see that there were a lot of knights in guard not only on the lower floor but also on the upper floor.

I also saw a group patrolling the garden with tight security.

“I heard that your friend that I saw that time visits this mansion more often than I thought.”

“There’s really no secrets here.”

I was in awe that the news had reached Sir Rune when it hadn’t been long since I told Orion.

His voice lowered down a bit.

“Does that perhaps make you uncomfortable?”

“Mm, no. In the first place, I spoke about that because I have no plans to keep it a secret. If I wanted to make it a secret, I would surely ask Orion to keep it to himself.”

I was only a bit surprised that the news spread too fast.

Sir Rune then continued with his soft voice.

“Well, a night guest has to do with the security of the mansion. It’s a bit of a sensitive issue, especially when someone comes in and out of the mansion without proper procedures.”

“Is that so?”

“If we’re letting our guard down on guests coming in and out of the mansion, we might not be able to respond properly when someone who’s not your friend comes in, My Lady. From the standpoint of someone in charge of the safety of the people in the mansion, this is surely a sensitive topic.”

“I guess so.”

Well, that might be the case.

It was then that I felt a little sorry for the words that were pointed out in a soft voice.

Should I ask Zen to refrain himself from coming stealthily at night?

“And it’s dangerous to trust your friend too much. If that friend holds other intentions, you can get yourself in an unwanted situation.”

“He will not do that.”

“Are you sure?”

“Ever since I learned about Zen, he often comes to my room at night, but nothing happened. On the contrary, since I moved here, the number of his visits has definitely decreased.”

Although it was because Zen got busy.

At my answer, Sir Rune was silent with an odd expression.

“My Lady.”

“Yes?”

“It’s good to care about your friend, but . . .”

He dragged out his words.

He looked like he had something more to say, but he changed the subject instead.

“It’d be good if you make sure to tell us before that friend comes.”

I nodded to his sudden request.

However, Zen was someone who came suddenly without notice.

Should I wake and tell everyone even when he comes without notice at night when everyone is sleeping?

I was about to ask out of curiosity, but because I had reached my room, I ran out of time.

He, who opened the door for me, smiled after checking the room slowly.

“Good night.”

“You too, Sir Rune, good night.”

Only after I sent him go, I finally realize that the view in my room had changed a bit.

The window was thicker and double-closed than before, and I could see a security bell next to the bed that would ring immediately if I pressed it lightly.

“Their actions are definitely different from others.”

I was amazed yet again.

Just like their work with the aim to make Lord Duke and Mom’s relationship better, the quick communication and coordination of each person in duty was really amazing.

* * *

The moment I fell asleep, a familiar sensation filled me.

Before I knew it, I felt my body floating again.

Looking down at my transparent hands, I let out a sigh.

Again.

This was the second time I felt the vivid sense like this.

I couldn’t differentiate whether this was a delusion made in my head or simply a silly dream.

I saw a man running away hurriedly through the thick darkness.

Even at a glance, he looked like he had been running for a long time as his appearance was poor.

The long hair was disheveled, and his whole body was full of dirt as though he tripped and rolled somewhere.

His body was covered with wounds.

Behind him, there were sounds of horses’ hoofs of those who were chasing him.

“Catch him! He can’t go far! We must catch and kill him!”

At that time, a note fell down from his pocket.

As he fell, he tumbled down the hill.

The people who were chasing him lit up the torches and began to comb through.

Someone took the note he dropped.

I saw the name ‘Mikel’, clear as day.