TVTLQ - Chapter 73
The Villainess Wants To Live Quietly
"Ugh, huh. Duke! Please, can't we just rest for a little while?"
The beginning of the Kiel Mountains, where the Pontry Mine is located.
The knight, who had been dying from the forced march that lasted for several days, finally shouted as if he was surrendering.
"Everyone is exhausted! If we don't rest, we'll all pass out before we even get to the mine!"
Calix frowned disapprovingly. Does this mean that you are crying no matter how far you ran?
Plus, it's just half a day's drive away from the Pontry Mine. But he also had a speck of conscience. Above all, after seeing the tired faces of the knights, it became difficult to ignore his words.
Eventually, Calix stopped running without stopping.
"We're going to rest here for about 30 minutes."
"Yes!"
The knights were delighted and responded loudly to his declaration.
Everyone came down from their horses, slurping like liquid. Calix, who was watching this, clicked his tongue.
"It's because you're so physically weak. Can you say you're a knight?"
"The Duke is like a monster..."
"You're right! I can't feel my butt anymore."
The youngest knight comically rubbed his butt. Calix curled his mouth.
"I see if you have the energy to play around, then I guess we can run again."
"OMG! No. I will correct it."
"But why are you in such a hurry? It's clear that the mine is in a somewhat dangerous state, but didn't you say that it's not at the level of collapse right now?"
"That..."
"Kkeuk, don't you have a lover that you left behind in the capital?"
Calix, who was about to answer, stopped. The knight, who was only joking, also flinched.
An awkward silence instantly filled the space. At that moment, a knight who was like a leader stepped forward.
"Oh my, Duke. Now that I think about it, it looks like we've run out of drinking water. Would you like to go find a stream with me?"
"... Sure."
"I'm coming with the Duke! Rest and stay! Duke, let's go!"
He smiled cheerfully and left with Calix in tow. When they disappeared, the knights sighed at the same time as if they had made a promise.
"Whoa, I'm surprised."
"Hey! What if I ask you something like that?"
"Anyway, you need to know that I don't care."
"No, what is it? Why are you doing that?"
The person who didn't know his mistake opened his eyes. One of the knights pounded his chest as if he was frustrated.
"Where can the Duke have a lover! Who likes a man who works all the time! It's just killed the Duke twice!"
"What do you mean? Gossip magazines pick the man they want to marry every year as either His Royal Highness the Crown Prince or our Duke."
"That's because voting is for fun, right? If that's true, there's no way the Duke hasn't had a lover before."
"I guess not now."
"Uh?"
The knight, who had been taking a step back and just listening, opened his mouth.
As everyone's eyes were focused on him, he spoke slowly.
"Do you all know that the Duke goes out regularly these days?"
"The Duke is usually busy, isn't he? But why is that?"
"I think the Duke really has a lover this time."
"What?!!"
The huge knights shouted at the same time. The voice was so loud that the birds resting in the forest were startled and flew away.
"Is that real?"
"Our Duke, who only cares about work, has found a woman?"
"What! Who! Did you see who it was?"
"No. I haven't seen it."
"This bastard..."
They just overlooked it. The steam had leaked out and everyone was sinking. Then, the knight that raised the Duke's dating rumor quietly refuted it.
"Don't do that, just listen. Don't you all know the Duke's style? He always wears flashy clothes. But he goes out two or three times a week wearing plain, boring clothes. The frequency has increased these days."
"Is that really proof that the Duke has a woman?"
"What if the Duke was only smiling on the days he wore those clothes? What if he was sometimes holding flowers or gifts or something?"
They don't know about flowers or gifts, but smiling is a bit suspicious.
The expressions of the listening knights gradually became more serious.
"It's not just that. I heard from a guy who works at the store that the Duke doesn't come to the store very often these days. Instead, I heard that Viscount Gray has been visiting more often."
"Hmm, the Duke is not the kind of person who would entrust work to someone else."
"Besides, what was the road like to get here? He keeps looking back toward the capital and sighs. And this is what happened yesterday when I was on watch..."
The knight looked around and lowered his voice.
"Yesterday the Duke said, 'I shouldn't have done that.' I clearly heard him mumbling."
"What?"
"He also said, 'Why did I do that'?"
"Hmm."
"Why should he blame himself alone in the middle of the night? He has a lover. Even if it's not a lover, at least he has someone he likes. That's why he's rushing his schedule so he can get back to the capital as quickly as possible."
This is such a random statement As they continued to listen, it seemed plausible.
"Well, just because he hasn't had a lover so far doesn't mean he won't have one in the future."
"It's time for the Duke to start dating too."
"Isn't that the right age for marriage?"
Considering the past, where they had never seen a woman by his side, it was rather welcome news.
The large knights put their heads together and began to struggle.
"A real woman?"
"No, what kind-hearted woman would meet the Duke? The Duke is a workaholic?"
"Maybe it's her? A famous princess these days."
"Oh, that woman had a relationship like that with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"Maybe they're not dating. We must also keep in mind the possibility that it is the Duke's unrequited love."
"But anyway, if he's dating a man, shouldn't he be leaving the capital like this? It takes almost 15 days to go back."
"OMG."
The knights all covered their mouths.
At that moment, they remembered something unfortunate.
A few years ago, a fellow knight of theirs broke off his engagement after going on a two-month winter training trip. The reason was that she could not marry an indifferent man who left her alone for a long time. Of course, this schedule is only for about 15 days, but they never know.
Considering the Duke's usually very busy schedule, he still needs to have a few proper dates!
At that moment, Calix, who had visited a stream to replenish drinking water, was returning with a knight from afar.
The knights who saw him screamed.
"Duke!"
Calix frowned in surprise.
The knights jumped up from their seats at the same time. They ran towards Calix, creating a wind of dirt, and shouted in unison.
"This is not the time! You must leave quickly!"
"Isn't one o'clock busy right now? The break is over. Let's go!"
Why did these guys suddenly change their minds?
Moreover, what is the meaning of these unholy eyes that seem to strangely feel sorry for oneself?
Calix's face darkened.
However, Calix also wanted to rush the schedule.
So they started running hard towards their destination again.
***
Around this time, Calix was quickly heading towards the Kiel Mountains thanks to the support of the knights. eiving reports.
"That's it."
"Hmm."
Rexed nodded.
A look of satisfaction appeared on his face after hearing the report on Dostic's development status. It was a place where they paid close attention, even deliberately appointing an inspector, for fear that a riot might break out.
However, as if his worries were unnecessary in the first place, Calix was leading the scene in a very gentle and wise manner.
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