The place where Sylvia arrived with Rubia was a quiet park. There were no noticeable decorations or embellishments, as you never know when and where monsters might appear, but the cool breeze made it a good place for an outing.
“You two, please talk. We will step aside.”
Thelma and the servants spread out a mat, prepared some refreshments, and stood at a distance. Geoffrey, the escort, retreated closer. Rubia opened her mouth softly only after the workers had retreated far away.
“Isn’t it about time you told me something? That’s why you called me here.”
After hearing those words, Sylvia took a sip of tea and looked at Rubia for a moment. Rubia Glever is not a person who can be fooled by the excuse of simply ‘getting acquainted’. She needed to answer with a mix of truth and lies to avoid unnecessary suspicion.
“What the Young Lady said in the banquet hall is not entirely wrong. I obviously don’t know much about the North.”
And that was what Sylvia did best after living for so many years. She spoke with a moderate smile and a subtle tone.
“So, from now on, I’m going to find out. I think a Lady who knows the situation in the North better than me could help me. Is not it?"
“Do you think I will do you any good?”
“You will never become a Duchess as long as I live anyway. In that case, wouldn’t it be wiser to help me?”
At first glance, it could be seen as rude. Sure enough, Rubia glared at Sylvia over her teacup. Sylvia calmly accepted that gaze.
'Seeing as Randall has not yet identified a vassal related to the Dark Bug, this probably means that there were no problems with the recent access records.'
However, if dark bugs had entered the North before the recent events occurred, the story would be different. Not only is it not revealed in recent access records, but you can also meet with internal helpers as many times as you like. Sylvia, who had been discreetly observing Rubia's reaction, raised her teacup and begged her.
“Now that I think about it, you seem to be very close to your father. Even when there were a lot of monsters around, he was so worried about his daughter that he took risks and ran to her.”
She calmly took a sip of tea with her gaze lowered. The carefully calculated actions were as natural as flowing water. Perhaps thanks to that, Rubia also answered calmly, putting down the teacup without a sound.
“After my mother passed away, my father raised me alone. He personally taught me things like bows, so naturally, we had no choice but to spend more time together.”
This was Sylvia's first time hearing this story, as she had never done any research on the Marchioness of Glover.
'...It doesn't look like he's hiding anything. Did the Marquis not express anything in front of Rubia?'
Sylvia furrowed her brows in puzzlement. Sadly, Rubia even showed a hint of her slight pride. It was noticeable to her that Rubia truly admired her own father.
“My father is a great man. He also provided great help in the Duke’s succession, and thanks to that, the people’s trust in our family is strong.”
Of course, it eventually led to overflowing self-love and family pride. Rubia's face, which had been straightening her shoulders and continuing her boast, suddenly darkened.
“But you are overdoing it. These days, people go on outings and walks more often than before...”
Rubia muttered softly and then looked at her with a straight face.
“Then why am I telling you this?”
“...Do you know me?”
“Are you sure you’re using the beauty world on me right now?”
“You have to say it right away. I’m not using the beauty world, I’m just a beauty.”
“...It’s so absurd.”
“That’s what I’m going to say.”
Sylvia and Rubia looked at each other and made bewildered expressions. Jeffrey, who was standing like a shadow on one side and watching the scene, rolled his eyes and thought.
'Strangely enough, you two... You look alike?'
Of course, he didn't say that thought out loud. He acted wisely as an escort. Meanwhile, even while arguing with Rubia, Sylvia was mulling over her words in a corner of her head.
'I go out often...'
Golden eyes narrowed. Of course, as Rubia said, it could have been simply an outing or a walk, but since the opponent was the Marquis Glever, suspicion deepened.
“...!”
At that time, Geoffrey felt that he was being attacked and reflexively tried to draw his sword. But right after, as he looked in the direction where the crowd was approaching, he let out a confused voice.
"Uh? Master?”
Golden eyes narrowed. Of course, as Rubia said, it could have been simply an outing or a walk, but since the opponent was the Marquis Glever, suspicion deepened.
“...!”
At that time, Geoffrey felt that he was being attacked and reflexively tried to draw his sword. But right after, as he looked in the direction where the crowd was approaching, he let out a confused voice.
"Uh? Master?”
"What?"
Sylvia opened her eyes wide and turned her head at the unexpected name.
***
That time when Sylvia took Rubia with her on the outing. Randall was traveling around the territory with Auston, installing new barrier stones.
“...”
Randall, who was standing on one side and watching Auston replace the barrier stone, quietly opened his mouth.
“Auston.”
“Why are you calling me?”
“...I have concerns.”
“1 bronze per minute.”
“Anyway, I won’t go beyond one word, uh?"
Randall grunted playfully. But Auston was sincere.
“...”
“...”
As Auston continued to remain silent, Randall finally sighed and nodded.
“Hang it.”
“I will record it second by second.”
“Please note that this is not about me, but about my friend.”
“Yes, yes, please speak. I’m listening.”
Auston responded by putting a lot of effort into removing the previously embedded barrier stone. Randall was worried about how to get the story out, and he got it out in the best possible words.
"My friend... He has a lover. The lover doesn’t seem to be very interested in my friend other than their physical relationship.”
"Hmm."
“... She always acts like the only thing she wants from her partner is his body. What do you think should be done?”
When he explained the situation objectively, he became doubly disturbed. The situation from last night came back to his mind again.
"Wasn’t we in a good mood just now? I think it would be good to continue."
Could it be that he was ambushed while he was happy that Sylvia seemed worried about him? He was quite shocked because he felt like he had just realized that all she wanted was his own body.
'...Am I that bad? Well, even Philia lamented the day she faked this big fool.'
Randall became a little sullen and waited for Auston's answer. Auston, who was shaking off the dust from the barrier stone and firmly fastening a new barrier stone in the empty space, suddenly asked.
“Does your friend truly like his lover?”
"Uh?"
“...”
Randall, who was standing on one side and watching Auston replace the barrier stone, quietly opened his mouth.
“Auston.”
“Why are you calling me?”
“...I have concerns.”
“1 bronze per minute.”
“Anyway, I won’t go beyond one word, uh?"
Randall grunted playfully. But Auston was sincere.
“...”
“...”
As Auston continued to remain silent, Randall finally sighed and nodded.
“Hang it.”
“I will record it second by second.”
“Please note that this is not about me, but about my friend.”
“Yes, yes, please speak. I’m listening.”
Auston responded by putting a lot of effort into removing the previously embedded barrier stone. Randall was worried about how to get the story out, and he got it out in the best possible words.
"My friend... He has a lover. The lover doesn’t seem to be very interested in my friend other than their physical relationship.”
"Hmm."
“... She always acts like the only thing she wants from her partner is his body. What do you think should be done?”
When he explained the situation objectively, he became doubly disturbed. The situation from last night came back to his mind again.
"Wasn’t we in a good mood just now? I think it would be good to continue."
Could it be that he was ambushed while he was happy that Sylvia seemed worried about him? He was quite shocked because he felt like he had just realized that all she wanted was his own body.
'...Am I that bad? Well, even Philia lamented the day she faked this big fool.'
Randall became a little sullen and waited for Auston's answer. Auston, who was shaking off the dust from the barrier stone and firmly fastening a new barrier stone in the empty space, suddenly asked.
“Does your friend truly like his lover?”
"Uh?"
“Well, if he doesn’t like her, there’s no need to worry about it.”
"Uh...?”
Randall, who had blurted out a retort without realizing it and understood Auston's question a beat later, covered his mouth with one hand.
'A feeling you like?'
His ears heated up with anger.
‘I like Sylvia... Was that what I was doing?'
Since when? Auston's question made Randall reflect on himself again. He is happy that Sylvia seems to care about him. He is unbearably upset that all she wants from him is his body. Every little thing she does makes him interested and laughs.
'Oh my God.'
All this time, he had been behaving awkwardly and embarrassingly in front of Sylvia, and he had not even thought about what this feeling was. Even though he had already suspected that she was the King's spy. It was a feeling that could not be packaged in words simply that he was doing his duty to his wife.
Randall ended up squatting on the floor for a moment, covering his face with his hands and taking deep breaths. When he realized that he liked Sylvia, he once again understood his current feelings. His face, covered by his hand, was distorted.
'You... I wish you willed me of your own will.'
Not for the reason of ‘couple duty’, but with her whole body and her whole heart. The desire for Sylvia wants someone called ‘Randall Belfort’, not just his own body. That greed was why he felt so uncomfortable until now.
“Are you an idiot?”
Randall cursed himself for being stupid and lowered his hand to cover his face. He was looking at Auston as if he were a corpse.
“...”
“...Greatness."
Randall cleared his throat a couple of times and got up as if nothing had happened. He naturally adjusted his clothes and continued the interrupted conversation.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Then shouldn’t he give a gift first?”
"Gift?"
“No matter what it is, people tend to like it when they receive an unexpected gift. This is especially true if the gift is expensive.”
“...”
“Huh? Are you cursing me with your face right now?”
As Auston got angry, Randall, who had been stabbed, hurriedly calmed his expression. Auston, who was glaring at the back of Randall's head with pointed eyes, grunted and stood up.
“Anyway, shouldn’t you have no choice but to consistently express yourselves in that way? Stay with her and take care of her. Until the other person wants not only your body but also your heart.”
Auston tapped Randall's shoulder and walked away, telling him to move on to the next location. Randall stood there lost in his thoughts for a moment and then took a deep breath.
'Yes, the only answer is to try.'
He had to let Sylvia know that what he wanted was not just a physical relationship. It didn't matter how long it took or how much effort it took. Because the only thing Randall can be confident in is his persistently deep and sincere heart. His light green eyes shone with determination. Randall turned his body to find the knight who periodically reported news from the castle and asked.
“What about Sylvia?”
“Ah, I heard she went on an outing to the park with the Lady Glever a little while ago.”
“Go there when you’re done.”
Randall, who was thinking about where to install additional barrier stones, smiled. It would be best to start small first.
“I’m going back with my wife.”
***
"Uh? Master?”
"What?"
Sylvia opened her eyes wide and turned her head at the unexpected name. Then she saw Randall walking from the other side of the park.
"What?"
Sylvia opened her eyes wide and turned her head at the unexpected name. Then she saw Randall walking from the other side of the park.
“Sylvia.”
Randall, who was expressionless, smiled softly as soon as he made eye contact with Sylvia. In an instant, warmth appeared in her once-cold face. Sylvia watched her with a strange feeling. She thought the change in his expression was dramatic, but she was more...
“...What is it all about, Randall?”
It was because of the long-necked duck doll and flower bouquet in his arms. Rubia also wrinkled her face, forgetting to say hello due to the strangeness of the doll he was holding. Randall, who realized that Sylvia's eyes were on the doll, stopped in front of her with a shy look on his face.
“I remember you said earlier that the room was cold. It’s good for cuddling and sleeping, and it’s said to be warm because it has insulating stones.”
Randall held out a doll and a bouquet of flowers. Sylvia looked dazed as she unconsciously accepted the gift. Geoffrey, who had a face similar to hers, made eye contact with Auston over Randall's shoulder.
‘That... What is it, Mr. Auston?'
'I stopped him.'
'Yes?'
'I should have realized when he said it was about a friend, but I was preoccupied with money... Anyway, I stopped him.'
'What do you mean by that?'
Jeffrey twitched his eyebrows and asked with his gaze, but Auston shook his head and closed his eyes. Meanwhile, Sylvia was looking at the doll in her arms with a bewildered face.
'Are you saying that from now on, I will grow up embracing this instead of you? He is telling me not to touch him...?'
She tried her best to think, but her predictions were all bleak. A doll with a unique appearance and a bright bouquet of flowers. The combination of the two incompatible things was strangely comical.
“Randall. Could this be...”
Sylvia looked up at Randall to see if her guess was correct. But when she saw his eyes sparkling with anticipation under the sunset, she couldn't stop herself from laughing.
“... Thank you."
What an amazing person. The straight and transparent light green eyes, as if they could see into his heart just by making eye contact, gave him a strange sense of relief. Sylvia smiled brightly, even forgetting what she had originally intended to say. Randall, who was seeing Sylvia for the first time, stopped breathing for a moment and looked at her as she smiled brightly, and then she smiled back.
'...Oh my God.'
And when Rubia saw Randall's face, she was shocked.
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