“Ah! Are you awake, Your Highness?”
Karina looked at Mikhail with bewildered eyes.
“The Grand Duchess’s offer. I’ll accept.”
“Oh, well... thank you.”
Karina stuttered, taken aback by his willingness to do it.
Still, she felt better, thinking that she could now escape the knights’ surveillance.
Karina also smiled brightly at his cool acceptance.
At that moment.
“What are you doing here?”
A low, soft voice penetrated between the two.
Karina turned her head in surprise.
When did he come?
Jeremiah was glaring at her and Mikhail with a sharp gaze.
‘Why is Jeremiah here...?’
Karina couldn’t hide her doubts at his sudden appearance.
Jeremiah was currently in the middle of a meeting with his adjutants.
At the same time.
‘At least it saved me the trouble of having to go see him in person.’
The look in his eyes as he looked at Mikhail was so cold that it felt like a chill.
“It’s related. I’ve decided to hire him as my personal escort.”
“Escort?”
Jeremiah’s straight eyebrows quirked at an uncomfortable angle.
“Is that why you, the Grand Duchess, came to the prison early in the morning?”
It was a tone that implied that she had left behind the dignity of a Grand Duchess.
“It wasn’t my intention, but that’s how it is.”
Karina pretended not to understand his true intention and got to the point.
“Anyway, as I said earlier, I would like to have him as my personal escort. I would appreciate it if you would allow me.”
Jeremiah coldly rejected Karina’s cautious request.
“You’re talking nonsense.”
“Why do you say it doesn’t make sense?”
Karina’s voice became sharper without her knowing as she asked.
However, instead of answering, Jeremiah asked an unexpected question.
“...You two. Have you known each other for a long time?”
“No, I just saw him yesterday?”
“Then, you’re going to bring in an outsider you just met yesterday as your escort? Do you think that makes sense now?”
“What’s the problem?”
“Identity, status, skills, dignity. This man's entirety is problematic. No, perhaps the biggest problem is your foolishness in bringing in someone you don’t even know as your escort.”
“If you’re so displeased, why don’t you just start verifying things now?”
'You did such a thorough background check on me, so investigating Mikhail’s background check would be nothing.'
Karina barely swallowed her bitter words. This was something that happened in the past before the regression and something that had yet to happen in the future.
Jeremiah’s cold voice continued.
“Do you really need to go that far to change your escort? If you don’t like your current escort, I’ll replace you with another knight.”
“No. I don’t like your knight. If I need an escort, I’ll use that one.”
“Do you think the issue of the escort is something you can decide on your own?”
“Of course not. That’s why I’m telling you right now, right? And it seems like you weren’t the one who didn’t discuss it in the first place, but you?”
Karina winked at Guilford.
It meant that he had decided on the escort knight without consulting her.
“Even if I don’t like it, you’re going to hire an escort. In that case, I’d like you to let me decide on that escort. Since he’ll be following me around all day, I’d like to choose someone I like at least.”
That way, Karina could be free from Jeremiah’s annoying surveillance, even if only a little.
However, Jeremiah didn’t even raise an eyebrow at her request.
“That’s an outrageous request. Do you think I’d allow it?”
“Then, I’ll also decline to be your escort knight.”
Karina and Jeremiah glared at each other and stood off sharply. As the tension between them grew,
“Excuse me, but may I intervene for a moment?”
A soft voice was heard.
It was Mikhail.
“After hearing what you two had to say, it comes down to my identity. Are you saying that I’m a ‘vagrant with an unclear origin, so I can’t be trusted’?”
“It’s not just because of that, but it’s true that that part is problematic.”
“Then I think there’s a solution. Although I’m a wandering magician now, I’m not that suspicious.”
“Can you prove your identity?”
“Yes. If you ask the Magic Tower, you’ll get a clear answer.”
Karina’s eyes widened at Mikhail’s words.
“You were a member of the Magic Tower? If you had said that from the beginning, things wouldn’t have gotten this complicated.”
Karina swallowed a sigh inwardly.
“I had my own circumstances.”
Mikhail winked at her.
“Still, I thought it would be better for the Magic Tower to find out about my whereabouts than to be misunderstood.”
Mikhail whispered softly to Karina, who was looking at him with a surprised expression.
“I’ll explain it to you in detail later.”
Mikhail smiled meaningfully and turned to Jeremiah.
“Then there’s no problem for me to be the Grand Duchess’s escort now, right?”
“Of course not. Even if your identity is confirmed, my position won’t change. I can’t entrust the Grand Duchess’s protection to someone whose skills have not been proven.”
Karina’s brow furrowed at Jeremiah’s consistent opposition.
“You. Why would you...”
At that moment, Mikhail stepped forward.
He stood in front of Karina as if blocking her path, and strode toward Jeremiah.
The two men’s gazes clashed fiercely.
However, Mikhail, who had been creating a serious atmosphere, soon showed a leisurely smile on his lips.
“Now that I think about it, it makes sense. It wouldn’t be good if someone who is called a bodyguard had poor skills. Then, I just have to prove my skills, right?”
Mikhail continued with his usual lazy smile.
“Let’s do it. Prove your skills.”
“...?”
As she opened the door, a sturdy knight guarding the door greeted her.
‘What is this?’
“My name is Guilford. Starting today, I will be your escort.”
“My escort?”
Guilford said as his eyes met Karina’s.
“His Highness the Grand Duke has ordered us to take turns guarding the Grand Duchess’ room.”
Karina’s brow furrowed.
It seemed that Jeremiah had assigned her an escort knight because of what happened yesterday.
‘Without even listening to my opinion...’
Karina became displeased.
Even before her return, there had been times when knights had been assigned to protect her under the pretext of protecting her.
However, the words that he had assigned knights as escorts because he was worried about her were ultimately a lie.
The excuse was protection, but the reality was surveillance.
The knights he had trusted as her escorts betrayed her when the situation really needed it.
'Stop it. If you act any more violently, I will subdue you.'
'Stop. If you don't back down, I will restrain you with force.'
The knights he had given her as her escort were actually nothing more than sentries to watch over her and chains to suppress her actions.
She had shed so many tears of resentment when she found out about this later.
"I didn't know the Grand Duke was interested in me enough to send you as ny exclusive escort. Aren't all the knights in the North busy? There was an explosion just yesterday."
It was a complaint to the Grand Duke without asking for his opinion, but the knight seemed to have taken Karina's words in a different light.
"If it was yesterday's explosion, the culprit will be caught and it will be over soon."
"What? The real culprit has been caught?"
'So soon?'
Karina couldn't hide her surprise at the unexpected words.
With Jeremiah and the knights of the North, she had thought that catching the real culprit would be no problem.
However, she didn't know that they would find the real culprit in just one day.
"How did you find it in just one night?"
"We didn't find it."
"Then?"
“At dawn, a wizard in his early 40s came to the Grand Duke’s house. He said he was the real culprit who planned this.”
As she opened the door, a sturdy knight guarding the door greeted her.
‘What is this?’
“My name is Guilford. Starting today, I will be your escort.”
“My escort?”
Guilford said as his eyes met Karina’s.
“His Highness the Grand Duke has ordered us to take turns guarding the Grand Duchess’ room.”
Karina’s brow furrowed.
It seemed that Jeremiah had assigned her an escort knight because of what happened yesterday.
‘Without even listening to my opinion...’
Karina became displeased.
Even before her return, there had been times when knights had been assigned to protect her under the pretext of protecting her.
However, the words that he had assigned knights as escorts because he was worried about her were ultimately a lie.
The excuse was protection, but the reality was surveillance.
The knights he had trusted as her escorts betrayed her when the situation really needed it.
'Stop it. If you act any more violently, I will subdue you.'
'Stop. If you don't back down, I will restrain you with force.'
The knights he had given her as her escort were actually nothing more than sentries to watch over her and chains to suppress her actions.
She had shed so many tears of resentment when she found out about this later.
"I didn't know the Grand Duke was interested in me enough to send you as ny exclusive escort. Aren't all the knights in the North busy? There was an explosion just yesterday."
It was a complaint to the Grand Duke without asking for his opinion, but the knight seemed to have taken Karina's words in a different light.
"If it was yesterday's explosion, the culprit will be caught and it will be over soon."
"What? The real culprit has been caught?"
'So soon?'
Karina couldn't hide her surprise at the unexpected words.
With Jeremiah and the knights of the North, she had thought that catching the real culprit would be no problem.
However, she didn't know that they would find the real culprit in just one day.
"How did you find it in just one night?"
"We didn't find it."
"Then?"
“At dawn, a wizard in his early 40s came to the Grand Duke’s house. He said he was the real culprit who planned this.”
“The wizard who helped the escape turned himself in?”
It was hard to believe.
“We also found it strange, but the confession about the crime matches the investigation, so it seems that the real culprit is certain.”
The reason the wizard turned himself in was unclear. However, Karina was more interested in something else.
“It’s fortunate that the real culprit has been caught. Then, how about the person who was unjustly imprisoned?”
“A basic investigation is necessary, but since the suspicion has been cleared up, he should have been released by now.”
“Really?”
After hearing the knight’s answer, Karina went into her room and changed into simple clothes. She then grabbed the bag she had prepared the night before and went straight out.
The knight followed her as if it were natural, but she tried not to pay attention.
When Karina arrived at the dungeon, Mikhail was just leaving his cell.
“Are you released now?”
Mikhail, who had been pardoned, was delighted at Karina’s voice.
“You really came?”
“I didn’t come to see you. I just came because I heard the real culprit was caught and I was curious about who he was.”
Mikhail smiled softly.
“Oh, that’s a bit disappointing.”
“I don’t know what you’re missing, but take this instead.”
She handed the man a heavy pouch.
“What is this?”
“It’s a token of my gratitude for yesterday’s work. It’s not a lot of money, but you won’t have to worry about being homeless for a while.”
“...”
“I’ll say it again, it’s not a lot of money. So you’d better find a job before you run out of money.”
Karina continued her final greeting to end the conversation, watching Mikhail stare at the pouch.
“That’s all I can do for you. Thank you for saving me that day. Bye.”
“Just a moment.”
Mikhail’s voice stopped Karina as she tried to turn away without any regrets.
“I can’t take it. I’ll return this.”
Mikhail returned the pouch to Karina.
“...?”
Karina frowned, looking back and forth between Mikhail and the pouch he had returned.
‘What is this guy thinking?’
Yesterday, he refused to escape, and today, he refused the money bag, saying he had nowhere to go.
Karina couldn’t understand Mikhail’s behavior at all.
“Why are you refusing?”
“If I take this money, I feel like I saved the Grand Duchess in return for something. If you really want to do something for me, then do me one favor later.”
“What a strange man.”
Karina let out a sigh, clearly revealing her frustration.
“Later... Well. I don’t think we’ll ever meet again.”
Mikhail shrugged his shoulders at Karina’s firm answer.
“I plan to stay in the north for a while. Unless the Grand Duchess stays in the mansion all year round, wouldn’t we run into each other by chance?”
“...”
His tone was confident that they would meet again.
“What do you mean...”
Just as Karina was about to ask why,
Karina’s escort knight, who had been silently listening to the conversation, suddenly interrupted the conversation between the two.
“If you’re done talking, let’s go back to your room.”
“...”
Karina frowned at the rude interference of the escort knight.
‘Oh, by the way, there was this guy.’
The escort was assigned by Jeremiah.
As expected, he was a nuisance.
He probably came out to protect her, but from the receiving end, she couldn’t help but be quite annoying.
Thinking about continuing to wear this bruise, she sighed.
At that moment, a thought crossed her mind.
‘Wait... Escort?’
She thought that if she did well, she might be able to get rid of the annoying surveillance Jeremiah had assigned her.
Karina asked Mikhail again.
“Hey. You said you were going to stay in the north for a while, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then I guess you should find a job in the north?”
“I can’t just play around forever.”
“That’s great. Then how about you become my escort?”
A question mark appeared above Mikhail’s head at Karina’s unexpected suggestion.
“Escort?”
“I was just looking for a skilled escort. You said you needed a stable job. What do you think? You can be my escort for the time being until you have somewhere to go.”
Mikhail’s eyes widened.
“Hmm, that’s an interesting offer.”
The corners of Mikhail’s lips went up as he answered.
Karina thought his reaction was not bad.
She took a moment to think about how to persuade him further.
“I’ll pay you a lot more than other places. Even if you’re an escort, you don’t have to do anything fancy. Just stay by my side. There won’t be any particularly difficult things.”
“Yes. I’d like to.”
“I know it’s hard to accept because it’s such an unexpected offer. But... Yes?”
It was hard to believe.
“We also found it strange, but the confession about the crime matches the investigation, so it seems that the real culprit is certain.”
The reason the wizard turned himself in was unclear. However, Karina was more interested in something else.
“It’s fortunate that the real culprit has been caught. Then, how about the person who was unjustly imprisoned?”
“A basic investigation is necessary, but since the suspicion has been cleared up, he should have been released by now.”
“Really?”
After hearing the knight’s answer, Karina went into her room and changed into simple clothes. She then grabbed the bag she had prepared the night before and went straight out.
The knight followed her as if it were natural, but she tried not to pay attention.
***
When Karina arrived at the dungeon, Mikhail was just leaving his cell.
“Are you released now?”
Mikhail, who had been pardoned, was delighted at Karina’s voice.
“You really came?”
“I didn’t come to see you. I just came because I heard the real culprit was caught and I was curious about who he was.”
Mikhail smiled softly.
“Oh, that’s a bit disappointing.”
“I don’t know what you’re missing, but take this instead.”
She handed the man a heavy pouch.
“What is this?”
“It’s a token of my gratitude for yesterday’s work. It’s not a lot of money, but you won’t have to worry about being homeless for a while.”
“...”
“I’ll say it again, it’s not a lot of money. So you’d better find a job before you run out of money.”
Karina continued her final greeting to end the conversation, watching Mikhail stare at the pouch.
“That’s all I can do for you. Thank you for saving me that day. Bye.”
“Just a moment.”
Mikhail’s voice stopped Karina as she tried to turn away without any regrets.
“I can’t take it. I’ll return this.”
Mikhail returned the pouch to Karina.
“...?”
Karina frowned, looking back and forth between Mikhail and the pouch he had returned.
‘What is this guy thinking?’
Yesterday, he refused to escape, and today, he refused the money bag, saying he had nowhere to go.
Karina couldn’t understand Mikhail’s behavior at all.
“Why are you refusing?”
“If I take this money, I feel like I saved the Grand Duchess in return for something. If you really want to do something for me, then do me one favor later.”
“What a strange man.”
Karina let out a sigh, clearly revealing her frustration.
“Later... Well. I don’t think we’ll ever meet again.”
Mikhail shrugged his shoulders at Karina’s firm answer.
“I plan to stay in the north for a while. Unless the Grand Duchess stays in the mansion all year round, wouldn’t we run into each other by chance?”
“...”
His tone was confident that they would meet again.
“What do you mean...”
Just as Karina was about to ask why,
Karina’s escort knight, who had been silently listening to the conversation, suddenly interrupted the conversation between the two.
“If you’re done talking, let’s go back to your room.”
“...”
Karina frowned at the rude interference of the escort knight.
‘Oh, by the way, there was this guy.’
The escort was assigned by Jeremiah.
As expected, he was a nuisance.
He probably came out to protect her, but from the receiving end, she couldn’t help but be quite annoying.
Thinking about continuing to wear this bruise, she sighed.
At that moment, a thought crossed her mind.
‘Wait... Escort?’
She thought that if she did well, she might be able to get rid of the annoying surveillance Jeremiah had assigned her.
Karina asked Mikhail again.
“Hey. You said you were going to stay in the north for a while, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then I guess you should find a job in the north?”
“I can’t just play around forever.”
“That’s great. Then how about you become my escort?”
A question mark appeared above Mikhail’s head at Karina’s unexpected suggestion.
“Escort?”
“I was just looking for a skilled escort. You said you needed a stable job. What do you think? You can be my escort for the time being until you have somewhere to go.”
Mikhail’s eyes widened.
“Hmm, that’s an interesting offer.”
The corners of Mikhail’s lips went up as he answered.
Karina thought his reaction was not bad.
She took a moment to think about how to persuade him further.
“I’ll pay you a lot more than other places. Even if you’re an escort, you don’t have to do anything fancy. Just stay by my side. There won’t be any particularly difficult things.”
“Yes. I’d like to.”
“I know it’s hard to accept because it’s such an unexpected offer. But... Yes?”
Karina looked at Mikhail with bewildered eyes.
“The Grand Duchess’s offer. I’ll accept.”
“Oh, well... thank you.”
Karina stuttered, taken aback by his willingness to do it.
Still, she felt better, thinking that she could now escape the knights’ surveillance.
Karina also smiled brightly at his cool acceptance.
At that moment.
“What are you doing here?”
A low, soft voice penetrated between the two.
Karina turned her head in surprise.
When did he come?
Jeremiah was glaring at her and Mikhail with a sharp gaze.
‘Why is Jeremiah here...?’
Karina couldn’t hide her doubts at his sudden appearance.
Jeremiah was currently in the middle of a meeting with his adjutants.
At the same time.
‘At least it saved me the trouble of having to go see him in person.’
She had to go see him anyway because of Mikhail.
“I asked what you two were doing here.”
Jeremiah came closer to the two with a soft voice.
Karina calmly answered, her expression hardening.
“You’re welcome.”
“You speak as if you were waiting for me.”
“I didn’t know I would meet you here. But since we have something to discuss, I think it’s a good thing.”
“Something to discuss...”
Jeremiah, who had been looking down at Karina with an indifferent expression, turned to Mikhail.
“That can’t possibly have something to do with this man, can it?”
“I asked what you two were doing here.”
Jeremiah came closer to the two with a soft voice.
Karina calmly answered, her expression hardening.
“You’re welcome.”
“You speak as if you were waiting for me.”
“I didn’t know I would meet you here. But since we have something to discuss, I think it’s a good thing.”
“Something to discuss...”
Jeremiah, who had been looking down at Karina with an indifferent expression, turned to Mikhail.
“That can’t possibly have something to do with this man, can it?”
The look in his eyes as he looked at Mikhail was so cold that it felt like a chill.
“It’s related. I’ve decided to hire him as my personal escort.”
“Escort?”
Jeremiah’s straight eyebrows quirked at an uncomfortable angle.
“Is that why you, the Grand Duchess, came to the prison early in the morning?”
It was a tone that implied that she had left behind the dignity of a Grand Duchess.
“It wasn’t my intention, but that’s how it is.”
Karina pretended not to understand his true intention and got to the point.
“Anyway, as I said earlier, I would like to have him as my personal escort. I would appreciate it if you would allow me.”
Jeremiah coldly rejected Karina’s cautious request.
“You’re talking nonsense.”
“Why do you say it doesn’t make sense?”
Karina’s voice became sharper without her knowing as she asked.
However, instead of answering, Jeremiah asked an unexpected question.
“...You two. Have you known each other for a long time?”
“No, I just saw him yesterday?”
“Then, you’re going to bring in an outsider you just met yesterday as your escort? Do you think that makes sense now?”
“What’s the problem?”
“Identity, status, skills, dignity. This man's entirety is problematic. No, perhaps the biggest problem is your foolishness in bringing in someone you don’t even know as your escort.”
“If you’re so displeased, why don’t you just start verifying things now?”
'You did such a thorough background check on me, so investigating Mikhail’s background check would be nothing.'
Karina barely swallowed her bitter words. This was something that happened in the past before the regression and something that had yet to happen in the future.
Jeremiah’s cold voice continued.
“Do you really need to go that far to change your escort? If you don’t like your current escort, I’ll replace you with another knight.”
“No. I don’t like your knight. If I need an escort, I’ll use that one.”
“Do you think the issue of the escort is something you can decide on your own?”
“Of course not. That’s why I’m telling you right now, right? And it seems like you weren’t the one who didn’t discuss it in the first place, but you?”
Karina winked at Guilford.
It meant that he had decided on the escort knight without consulting her.
“Even if I don’t like it, you’re going to hire an escort. In that case, I’d like you to let me decide on that escort. Since he’ll be following me around all day, I’d like to choose someone I like at least.”
That way, Karina could be free from Jeremiah’s annoying surveillance, even if only a little.
However, Jeremiah didn’t even raise an eyebrow at her request.
“That’s an outrageous request. Do you think I’d allow it?”
“Then, I’ll also decline to be your escort knight.”
Karina and Jeremiah glared at each other and stood off sharply. As the tension between them grew,
“Excuse me, but may I intervene for a moment?”
A soft voice was heard.
It was Mikhail.
“After hearing what you two had to say, it comes down to my identity. Are you saying that I’m a ‘vagrant with an unclear origin, so I can’t be trusted’?”
“It’s not just because of that, but it’s true that that part is problematic.”
“Then I think there’s a solution. Although I’m a wandering magician now, I’m not that suspicious.”
“Can you prove your identity?”
“Yes. If you ask the Magic Tower, you’ll get a clear answer.”
Karina’s eyes widened at Mikhail’s words.
“You were a member of the Magic Tower? If you had said that from the beginning, things wouldn’t have gotten this complicated.”
Karina swallowed a sigh inwardly.
“I had my own circumstances.”
Mikhail winked at her.
“Still, I thought it would be better for the Magic Tower to find out about my whereabouts than to be misunderstood.”
Mikhail whispered softly to Karina, who was looking at him with a surprised expression.
“I’ll explain it to you in detail later.”
Mikhail smiled meaningfully and turned to Jeremiah.
“Then there’s no problem for me to be the Grand Duchess’s escort now, right?”
“Of course not. Even if your identity is confirmed, my position won’t change. I can’t entrust the Grand Duchess’s protection to someone whose skills have not been proven.”
Karina’s brow furrowed at Jeremiah’s consistent opposition.
“You. Why would you...”
At that moment, Mikhail stepped forward.
He stood in front of Karina as if blocking her path, and strode toward Jeremiah.
The two men’s gazes clashed fiercely.
However, Mikhail, who had been creating a serious atmosphere, soon showed a leisurely smile on his lips.
“Now that I think about it, it makes sense. It wouldn’t be good if someone who is called a bodyguard had poor skills. Then, I just have to prove my skills, right?”
Mikhail continued with his usual lazy smile.
“Let’s do it. Prove your skills.”
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