"Go, go, go, go!”
While Sylvia went out to the market with Jeffrey and Philia, Randall was out with the knights to deal with the monsters that had appeared on the outskirts of the territory. Randall, who was frantically dealing with the monsters, turned his head with a fierce grimace at the sound of the roar that shook the valley.
“It seems like some crazy person is desperate to get into the monster’s mouth. If that’s what you wish for, I’ll give it to you.”
The green eyes shone brightly. The blood on his face made him even more terrifying. The knights knew that when Randall was in the middle of a battle, he was more ferocious than a wild beast. They had instructed the entire order to be careful when subduing, as making loud noises could provoke the monsters and the lord.
What kind of idiot would step on the tail of a hungry beast?
The knights mourned in their hearts. Of course, when the monsters started to rage, their mourning turned into curses. However, the knight who had run into the valley did not seem to care about the murderous gazes of Randall and the knights. The knight who had knelt on the cliff of the valley shouted, gasping for breath.
“Huh, huk. My lord!”
“Damn it, if you say one more word I’ll knock you out of there...”
“The Lady has disappeared!”
"...What?"
Randall, who was gritting his teeth, did not understand what the knight said and lost his mind for a moment. The knight commander took advantage of the opportunity to kill the monster that tried to bite Randall's arm.
'Sylvia is gone?'
Randall absentmindedly chewed on the knight's words. From what she heard, Sylvia had clearly gone out with her escort, Jeffrey.
“What about Jeffrey?”
“That’s right, there were so many people in the market that I lost sight of her, the madam! It looked like she was following a woman!”
The monsters became even more excited and jumped around at the knight's loud shouts. Randall, who belatedly regained some sense, swung his sword and struck the monster's head.
“Damn it, if you say one more word I’ll knock you out of there...”
“The Lady has disappeared!”
"...What?"
Randall, who was gritting his teeth, did not understand what the knight said and lost his mind for a moment. The knight commander took advantage of the opportunity to kill the monster that tried to bite Randall's arm.
'Sylvia is gone?'
Randall absentmindedly chewed on the knight's words. From what she heard, Sylvia had clearly gone out with her escort, Jeffrey.
“What about Jeffrey?”
“That’s right, there were so many people in the market that I lost sight of her, the madam! It looked like she was following a woman!”
The monsters became even more excited and jumped around at the knight's loud shouts. Randall, who belatedly regained some sense, swung his sword and struck the monster's head.
Kieek!
The monster screamed and fell. Randall wiped the monster's blood that had splattered around his eyes and spoke in a low voice.
“...Please proceed with the search first until I return.”
The green eyes hidden by the sleeves flashed with an ominous light.
“I’ll join you soon.”
After that, it only took Randall ten minutes to slaughter all the monsters in the canyon.
“...Please proceed with the search first until I return.”
The green eyes hidden by the sleeves flashed with an ominous light.
“I’ll join you soon.”
After that, it only took Randall ten minutes to slaughter all the monsters in the canyon.
***
Boom!
The door to the tavern opened violently as if it was going to break. Sylvia opened her eyes wide in surprise at the sight of a man running through the opened curtains.
“...Randall?”
“Sylvia!”
Randall, who must have heard that small muttering that was almost like talking to herself, rushed towards her. He stood in front of Sylvia and watched her as she fidgeted.
“Are you okay? Where are you hurt?”
“There’s no way...”
“Who is this person? And how did you find out about this place?”
After confirming that there were no injuries, Randall let out a sigh of relief and then turned his attention to Bella. Bella laughed inwardly at his gaze as sharp as a freshly sharpened blade.
'And.'
She felt goosebumps rise on the back of her neck at the ominous murderous intent. The man in front of her didn’t even introduce himself, but she could instinctively recognize him. Duke Randall Belfort. The lord of the North and the shield of the kingdom.
“...Randall?”
“Sylvia!”
Randall, who must have heard that small muttering that was almost like talking to herself, rushed towards her. He stood in front of Sylvia and watched her as she fidgeted.
“Are you okay? Where are you hurt?”
“There’s no way...”
“Who is this person? And how did you find out about this place?”
After confirming that there were no injuries, Randall let out a sigh of relief and then turned his attention to Bella. Bella laughed inwardly at his gaze as sharp as a freshly sharpened blade.
'And.'
She felt goosebumps rise on the back of her neck at the ominous murderous intent. The man in front of her didn’t even introduce himself, but she could instinctively recognize him. Duke Randall Belfort. The lord of the North and the shield of the kingdom.
Bella understood why his people called him the greatest enemy of the Demons the moment their eyes met. Unlike when he was directed at his wife, the gaze directed at her was sharp and piercing. It was as if she would be torn to pieces if she took even one wrong breath.
'...Is it just a tavern?'
Randall looked around, glaring at Bella with wary eyes. At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary tavern, but the atmosphere was subtly and stickily subdued. For a moment, the thought of Sylvia being in a place like this made him feel a fire burning inside him again. Randall glared at Bella and asked as if gritting his teeth.
“How did you meet my wife?”
"That is...”
At that time, Sylvia opened her mouth one step before Bella.
“I lost my brooch, and she helped me find it.”
“...Yes?"
“So I decided to buy her a drink as a token of my appreciation. I came here because this place was nearby.”
Bella was taken aback by the sudden words. After all, isn't that all a lie? Then, Sylvia turned to her and smiled and opened her mouth. Her white, slender fingertips secretly touched the glass on the table. Sylvia asked again as if hypnotizing her.
"Yes?"
"Ah."
Only then did Bella read the meaning in her golden eyes and let out a small sigh. Sylvia knows that what she gave her was not ordinary alcohol. So let’s cover up this matter between them. That’s what Sylvia’s eyes were saying.
'Definitely, it would be better to move on quietly from here.'
If Sylvia opens her mouth and says there is something in her drink, things get worse. Therefore, it was safer for Sylvia to quietly send them away like this, instead of asking why she was following Bella.
‘...You also knew that I wasn’t fooled by that excuse earlier.’
Bella nodded faintly, thinking that Sylvia was no ordinary girl. She knew that she was the Duchess of Belfort anyway. For now, she just had to get out of this situation, and she could investigate that woman further later. In fact, it had been quite some time since the order had been given from above...
'Ugh, if I had known this would happen, I would have found out right away. I'd have gotten in trouble if I had said I put it off because I thought it wouldn't be a big deal anyway.'
Bella clicked her tongue, spread her arms, and smiled broadly. And she answered in a lively tone.
“Yes, of course. It’s all true. I guess I was lucky. I can owe it to such a beautiful person.”
“That’s a joke.”
Sylvia smiled softly and accepted Bella's words. No matter what the circumstances were, it was a cheerful scene on the outside, so Randall had no choice but to cast aside his doubts. He sighed and spoke lowly.
“Let’s go back and talk.”
“What about Sir Cedars and Marquis Seicrine’s daughter?”
“Jeffrey waiting outside the door. I sent Philia back to the castle first.”
"All right."
Sylvia was about to follow Randall out of the tavern when she suddenly turned around and asked.
“Come to think of it, you’re the person who helped me find the brooch, but I didn’t even hear your name. What’s your name?”
Bella, who was breathing a sigh of relief, wondering if it was over now, stopped. She was silent for a moment, then gently raised the corners of her mouth and answered eloquently.
“...This is Bella, Ma’am.”
“Yes, Bella. If it’s meant to be, we’ll meet again. Take care.”
With that greeting, Sylvia led Randall out of the store.
'...Is it just a tavern?'
Randall looked around, glaring at Bella with wary eyes. At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary tavern, but the atmosphere was subtly and stickily subdued. For a moment, the thought of Sylvia being in a place like this made him feel a fire burning inside him again. Randall glared at Bella and asked as if gritting his teeth.
“How did you meet my wife?”
"That is...”
At that time, Sylvia opened her mouth one step before Bella.
“I lost my brooch, and she helped me find it.”
“...Yes?"
“So I decided to buy her a drink as a token of my appreciation. I came here because this place was nearby.”
Bella was taken aback by the sudden words. After all, isn't that all a lie? Then, Sylvia turned to her and smiled and opened her mouth. Her white, slender fingertips secretly touched the glass on the table. Sylvia asked again as if hypnotizing her.
"Yes?"
"Ah."
Only then did Bella read the meaning in her golden eyes and let out a small sigh. Sylvia knows that what she gave her was not ordinary alcohol. So let’s cover up this matter between them. That’s what Sylvia’s eyes were saying.
'Definitely, it would be better to move on quietly from here.'
If Sylvia opens her mouth and says there is something in her drink, things get worse. Therefore, it was safer for Sylvia to quietly send them away like this, instead of asking why she was following Bella.
‘...You also knew that I wasn’t fooled by that excuse earlier.’
Bella nodded faintly, thinking that Sylvia was no ordinary girl. She knew that she was the Duchess of Belfort anyway. For now, she just had to get out of this situation, and she could investigate that woman further later. In fact, it had been quite some time since the order had been given from above...
'Ugh, if I had known this would happen, I would have found out right away. I'd have gotten in trouble if I had said I put it off because I thought it wouldn't be a big deal anyway.'
Bella clicked her tongue, spread her arms, and smiled broadly. And she answered in a lively tone.
“Yes, of course. It’s all true. I guess I was lucky. I can owe it to such a beautiful person.”
“That’s a joke.”
Sylvia smiled softly and accepted Bella's words. No matter what the circumstances were, it was a cheerful scene on the outside, so Randall had no choice but to cast aside his doubts. He sighed and spoke lowly.
“Let’s go back and talk.”
“What about Sir Cedars and Marquis Seicrine’s daughter?”
“Jeffrey waiting outside the door. I sent Philia back to the castle first.”
"All right."
Sylvia was about to follow Randall out of the tavern when she suddenly turned around and asked.
“Come to think of it, you’re the person who helped me find the brooch, but I didn’t even hear your name. What’s your name?”
Bella, who was breathing a sigh of relief, wondering if it was over now, stopped. She was silent for a moment, then gently raised the corners of her mouth and answered eloquently.
“...This is Bella, Ma’am.”
“Yes, Bella. If it’s meant to be, we’ll meet again. Take care.”
With that greeting, Sylvia led Randall out of the store.
***
All the way back to the castle, Jeffrey cried and cried, saying he was very surprised, while Randall remained stern and silent.
'I didn't know the reaction would be this intense...'
Sylvia blinked in confusion. To be honest, she never expected that the impact would be this big when she followed in Bella's footsteps. But Randall even threw away half of the monsters he was subduing and ordered her own search.
'Of course, they say they've taken care of everything, but... '
She only disappears for about an hour, but she can't help but feel embarrassed because everyone is acting like she has been to a dangerous place.
'...Are you angry?'
Sylvia glanced at Randall, who had not relaxed his face even after returning to the castle. Just by looking at the side of his face, Sylvia could see that he was in a very low mood right now. That's right, Randall usually had a smile on his face when he was with her. But his face, which always had a smile on it, was now cold and stiff. The difference was clearly felt when the person who was usually smiling so brightly that he looked a little foolish stiffened his expression.
'Why are you so angry?'
Sylvia was on edge because of Philia's presence, and it was difficult to control her emotions when Randall seemed angry at her. Of course, Sylvia herself was not in a bad mood because Philia and Randall were bothering her, but she firmly believed that the sight of the pale young thing confronting her was annoying. Sylvia kept looking sideways at him out of discomfort, but Randall arrived in front of the couple's bedroom and stopped walking.
“Sylvia.”
“...Yes."
No matter what she was thinking, Sylvia had a calm face on the outside. That fact drove him even more crazy.
“The reason I asked Jeffrey to accompany you was to protect you from danger.”
Randall continued speaking quickly, his voice unusually agitated.
“But you disappeared like that without even saying a word to Jeffrey, and how long have you been missing while you were gone?!”
In the middle of speaking, he closed his mouth, breathing heavily, probably because he was in tears. He soon caught his breath and let out a choked voice with a distorted face.
“Do you know how anxious and nervous I was?”
A face that looks like it's crying, although there isn't a single teardrop visible. Sylvia's heart sank at the deep emotions she read on that face.
'I didn't know the reaction would be this intense...'
Sylvia blinked in confusion. To be honest, she never expected that the impact would be this big when she followed in Bella's footsteps. But Randall even threw away half of the monsters he was subduing and ordered her own search.
'Of course, they say they've taken care of everything, but... '
She only disappears for about an hour, but she can't help but feel embarrassed because everyone is acting like she has been to a dangerous place.
'...Are you angry?'
Sylvia glanced at Randall, who had not relaxed his face even after returning to the castle. Just by looking at the side of his face, Sylvia could see that he was in a very low mood right now. That's right, Randall usually had a smile on his face when he was with her. But his face, which always had a smile on it, was now cold and stiff. The difference was clearly felt when the person who was usually smiling so brightly that he looked a little foolish stiffened his expression.
'Why are you so angry?'
Sylvia was on edge because of Philia's presence, and it was difficult to control her emotions when Randall seemed angry at her. Of course, Sylvia herself was not in a bad mood because Philia and Randall were bothering her, but she firmly believed that the sight of the pale young thing confronting her was annoying. Sylvia kept looking sideways at him out of discomfort, but Randall arrived in front of the couple's bedroom and stopped walking.
“Sylvia.”
“...Yes."
No matter what she was thinking, Sylvia had a calm face on the outside. That fact drove him even more crazy.
“The reason I asked Jeffrey to accompany you was to protect you from danger.”
Randall continued speaking quickly, his voice unusually agitated.
“But you disappeared like that without even saying a word to Jeffrey, and how long have you been missing while you were gone?!”
In the middle of speaking, he closed his mouth, breathing heavily, probably because he was in tears. He soon caught his breath and let out a choked voice with a distorted face.
“Do you know how anxious and nervous I was?”
A face that looks like it's crying, although there isn't a single teardrop visible. Sylvia's heart sank at the deep emotions she read on that face.
'No.'
It was instinct. Sylvia thought Randall was angry with her. For leaving her post without permission despite her important position as a Duchess, and for leaving behind the escort who was probably watching her to some extent. So she thought he was angry. But the face she had seen a moment ago was not that of an angry person. Rather...
'...Worry.'
His face was helpless with worry and impatience that seemed to be tearing at his heart. That man, Randall Belfort, had already taken her into his heart. Sylvia took a step back from Randall involuntarily, struck by the sudden realization.
Randall should not be sincere to Sylvia. She was someone who would soon die, and he was someone who should be left behind. To Sylvia, who wished for a quick death in any way, Randall’s sincerity was no different from shackles. She had to draw the line here. Sylvia took another step back in an attitude close to self-defense. At that moment, when Randall was reflexively trying to close the distance, she apologized in a kind but firm tone.
"Sorry."
"Ma'am...”
“As a Duchess, I shouldn’t have acted so recklessly, but I was too reckless. I understand why you’re angry.”
"Yes?"
Randall let out a puzzled voice as if he had forgotten that he was even angry. Randall's anger at Sylvia right now was an action born out of his concern. Sylvia had been through a lot since she came to the North, so he kept Jeffrey as her escort to guard against any threats she might face. Sylvia had even bypassed Jeffrey, and deep in the back alley, she was having a drink with a woman who looked extremely suspicious.
"Sorry."
"Ma'am...”
“As a Duchess, I shouldn’t have acted so recklessly, but I was too reckless. I understand why you’re angry.”
"Yes?"
Randall let out a puzzled voice as if he had forgotten that he was even angry. Randall's anger at Sylvia right now was an action born out of his concern. Sylvia had been through a lot since she came to the North, so he kept Jeffrey as her escort to guard against any threats she might face. Sylvia had even bypassed Jeffrey, and deep in the back alley, she was having a drink with a woman who looked extremely suspicious.
Last time, during the Marquis Glever’s treason incident. Randall tried to find their home base by focusing on the area where the dark bugs' signals were found, but he had not yet been able to find them. That's why Randall reacted more sensitively to the news that Sylvia had disappeared. He is afraid that those who have already targeted Sylvia once will try to harm her again. But Sylvia was saying that the reason Randall was angry now was pure because she had failed to fulfill her role as 'Duchess'.
Randel opened his mouth to correct that fact. The moment he met Sylvia's face, looking up at him and smiling without her warmth, he felt his heart drop to his toes. Something is wrong. Randall, who instinctively realized that Sylvia had cut off something in her a moment ago, hurriedly opened his mouth.
"Ma'am."
“I am ashamed to say that I have caused trouble to your schedule for subduing the demons. I apologize.”
“Sylvia, I am!”
But Sylvia repeatedly interrupted Randall. As if she knew exactly what he was going to say and was trying to deny it. Randall eventually lost control of his impatience and tried to pour out his heart.
'I.'
I love you. I had already buried it deep in my heart without being able to do anything about it.
But when their gazes met, those words were stuck in his throat and he couldn't bring himself to say them. Randall covered his eyes with one hand to calm his mind and took a deep breath for a moment before mumbling incoherently.
“...It’s nothing. I’ll just... take a look around the castle for a bit. Take a rest.”
With only those words, he quickly turned around and walked away from Sylvia. Even though he didn't confess his feelings, he felt like he had already heard the answer. So a corner of his heart throbbed painfully as if it had been cut.
“...It’s nothing. I’ll just... take a look around the castle for a bit. Take a rest.”
With only those words, he quickly turned around and walked away from Sylvia. Even though he didn't confess his feelings, he felt like he had already heard the answer. So a corner of his heart throbbed painfully as if it had been cut.
It was Randall's first heartbreak.
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