IDEFYEM - Chapter 29
Black Man, I'll Do Everything For You Except Marriage!
"Don't forget. You can drop a drop of blood anytime, anywhere."
"Aw, I understand."
Until the very end, he was a devil who urged me on as if he were my protector. Even after regaining his true form, he often transformed into a cat and roamed around the Count's residence comfortably.
Today again, I lightly pet him as I saw him off in his cat form. Still, since we shared blood, a strangely strong bond developed after the contract.
I thought we had become close friends by meeting once a day and studying simple magic.
As soon as my hand touched it, the cat made a strange sound, trembled, and disappeared into the grass.
"Oh my, you're so picky."
I shrugged my head and went back to where the people were. I was just about to board the carriage with my lightly packed luggage.
Sarah, who was supervising the carrying of my luggage, approached me a little hesitantly.
"I'm sorry for insisting on staying, Miss. You might need me."
"No, Sarah. I'm even more scared of seeing you so depressed... sad."
"It's really important to me. Thank you for allowing me."
When Sarah heard that I was leaving to attend the hunting banquet, she cautiously expressed her desire to stay at the Count's residence.
There is something that needs to be done or something.
Since I had no desire to get involved in the evil woman's private life, I gave permission right away.
I didn't really intend to take her with me from the beginning, but she seems very sorry.
"You really don't have to worry. A reliable escort driver will be my companion for a week."
Hayden, in full military command, greeted Sarah while holding the reins.
I looked around for no reason and followed the traces of Kael who was not here.
"I won't be able to attend the banquet due to circumstances at that time, Enri.”
Kael had already left the Count's residence two days before I left for the banquet.
I had heard in advance that he was busy, but it felt strange to turn my back on the Count's residence without a man present.
"Lady, please get in the carriage. I will do my best to help!"
Hayden, who was brave again today, opened the carriage door and said.
I thought I would end up on a lonely journey without a maid or fiancé.
"Lady, greetings again. This is Sasha Gren, whom Lady generously forgave last time."
"Ah, it's been a while!"
The female knight who accidentally sent a sword fragment flying at me was among the group.
"The leader has entrusted me with the task of being a companion and escort. It's better in many ways than the black guys."
She said with an embarrassed face. There were a few maids who came along as companions, but they were all in an awkward relationship, so I was worried even if they weren't.
After greeting her warmly, I gave Sasha a seat next to me in the carriage.
"Oh, no. How could I be by Lady's side...?"
"Okay, sit down quickly. I heard that being a companion is part of the mission."
Riding the carriage alone for that long was somewhat scary, but it went well. I thought to myself as I laughed and waved at Sarah through the window.
'I don't know what your plan is, but I'll support you!'
Meanwhile, the wheels of the carriage began to roll with a clatter. Even if you use the magic portal in the middle, it takes eight hours to reach the forest where the banquet is held.
Thinking about the daunting road ahead, I started to feel a little nervous.
"She asked if Grand Duke Kronhardt and Princess Wintersaour were attending the banquet."
What on earth does Marta have up to to make such a request?
Even in a situation where I had made my own preparations, I felt anxious.
“Hmm, hmm.”
I tried to change my mind so as not to show too much nervousness in front of Sasha.
'Yes, the hunting banquet is originally an important event in the novel.'
I wanted to see it at least once. I recalled the scene where the second Prince and the female protagonist Sophia appeared.
This time, those two will get caught up in the Grand Duke's plan and overcome the risk of death.
Although the two of them were alone in a cave and went through a lot of hardships, they also experienced an event that would strengthen their relationship even more.
Does it make sense to direct a romance in such a dangerous situation?
They are holding their tongues and saying that this is possible because it is literally a novel.
At that time, an ominous feeling passed through the back of my throat.
'What? Is it because of the wind?'
When I tilted my head, Sasha asked.
"If it's cold, should I close the window?"
"Oh, thank you for that."
Because my imagination suddenly occurred to me, I ignored the goosebumps that arose and smiled.
'No way, there's no way it would ever happen to me to be stranded alone in a cave.'
There was no opponent in the first place!
***
"Ugh, this...."
It was a completely different level of travel than anything I had done so far.
Eat in a carriage, talk in a carriage, and see the scenery from a carriage.
I thought riding a magic portal would at least be fun. After passing through the portal, my motion sickness got worse, so the pain I had to endure on the carriage only increased.
"Thank you for your hard work, Lady. Now you just have to wait for about an hour."
"Wow, one hour....."
Even the tiresome journey has an end in sight.
"Sasha, doesn't your back feel stiff?"
"I'm used to subjugation and training going far away, so it's okay."
I looked at her with respect, not the least bit distracted. Then she naturally added her own words.
"You said you won't be attending the ladies' tea party held before the banquet, right?"
"Yes, I'm not the type of person who enjoys things like that."
Actually, I wanted to avoid unnecessary encounters with Martha. Because I need the Marchioness's guidance to begin full-fledged social activities.
Until then, I was planning on staying safe.
"Then I guess we should spend the night at a nearby inn and then head out slowly."
"Does the banquet start around the afternoon?"
"Yes, since you are reluctant to interact, it would be easier to go on time."
"You know how I feel, Sasha!"
Even if you arrive early, you will only end up tired as you are noticed by bored ladies.
There are only three goals for me at this hunting banquet.
After figuring out Martha's plan, find a way to counterattack the Duke. Returning safely after a moderately risky hunt. Lastly, never, ever encounter the Grand Duke.
I smiled as I reviewed the plan in my head again. As I resolved my goal, the anxiety I felt when I first started disappeared and I had a feeling that it would be okay.
***
As planned, our group stayed overnight at an inn near the forest. It was a place prepared by Kael, and perhaps because of its rather luxurious appearance, there were several nobles other than us coming and going.
It seemed like everyone turned away after hearing that there was no room.
"Hmm, I don't think there's anyone who has rented the entire place."
"..."
"Customers are leaving in droves, and the upstairs is strangely quiet"
I listed some questionable points and asked Sasha for her opinion.
"Isn't it strange?"
"Haha, I'm fine...."
"Well, thanks to you, I slept comfortably."
I woke up stretching and got ready in a few hours. Even though I said it was okay since I wasn't going to attend the tea party anyway, I couldn't beat the maids' torch.
Instead, I found a compromise and tied my cumbersome hair into one piece. Wear clothing made of light material that is comfortable for movement.
After that, we took the carriage again and finally arrived at the banquet venue.
Since I was exhausted from the cramped journey in the carriage, I was even more delighted to see the open green fields unfolding before my eyes.
When I breathe in, the cold, fresh air feels like it fills my lungs.Because of the dense trees around us, we could hear the birds chirping very close by.
The loud noise created by the crowded crowd could not be ignored. Colorful tents were pitched in the field, and many people were holding a light tea party inside or participating in a card game to appease the freebies.
Before I knew it, I had switched to a horse and was approaching that scenery. The horseback riding skills I quickly learned after deciding to participate in the hunting banquet were still poor.
"Slowly, yes. You are doing well."
As I followed Sasha's guidance, loud drums rang out from the crowd in the distance.
Thump, thump!
Unlike me, who flinched at the sound, Sasha looked excited.
"It's the sound that announces the start of the banquet!"
"Then should we hurry up a bit?"
"There is no need for that. Hey, Hayden is pitching a tent."
I narrowed my eyes and looked in the direction Sasha was pointing.
"Would you like to rest over there and then leave?"
"Um, no. Rather than that, I want to get some cold air right away."
"Then be careful, and come back to the tent whenever you feel tired."
Sasha said with a worried look. Yesterday I showed a little bit of motion sickness.
"It would be nice to go together, but Lady's escort is limited to one person...."
"You really don't have to worry, Sasha!"
I opened my mouth confidently.
"I'll go towards the forest first, so tell Hayden to come to the entrance."
"I understand then, Lady."
I slowly separated from Sasha and turned the reins towards the entrance of the forest. On the way, I encountered several nobles who looked at me curiously.
Even if it wasn't so, I would have been the center of attention these days with a bad scandal. It seemed surprising that I even attended a hunting banquet for the first time.
I gave a quick greeting and stopped my horse at the place where I was supposed to meet Hayden. Five or ten minutes passed like that.
Have our paths diverged? By the time I thought, from afar, I saw a man armed from head to toe in armor.
"Wow, Hayden!"
I greeted him warmly as he approached me riding a black horse with a stylish mane.
"Oh, looking at it like this, there's something..."."
"..."
"Do you think things have changed?"
Can a person change so much just by wearing armor and becoming a knight?
He definitely looked noticeably taller and bigger than yesterday. Above all, the atmosphere was completely different from usual.
It feels like a skillful and intimidating captain rather than a lively boy knight.
Ignoring the slight feeling of discomfort, I continued chattering.
"It looks like the armor matches well and makes you taller. Have you grown up recently?"
"..."
"Wow, you look like a knight and are cool."
The silence continued as we entered the forest. The Hayden I knew seemed like a more talkative boy. Could it be that he was just as nervous as me?
He was in the middle of a compliment to continue the conversation, and while he pursed his lips in a puzzled mood, the horse he was riding suddenly stopped.
The man raised his arms up and took off the helmet that covered his entire face.
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