Ines put her fingers on her temples as if she really had a headache.
“It’s my arm that’s hurt. Put me down. I can walk.”
“Right now!”
Ines’ mouth snapped shut as he suddenly raised his voice.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get angry. But listen to me now. You’re not normal right now.”
Ines was immediately put into the carriage, along with the doctor who had been on duty for the hunting festival. She seemed to be the only one worried about what would happen to the hunting festival after its organizer disappeared.
The doctor sat down next to Ines and cut off the sleeves of the shirt she was wearing. He quickly poured disinfectant and examined her wounds.
“The wound isn’t deep, but it’s not something to ignore. You’ve lost a lot of blood.”
Carson and Louis tilted their heads in the same direction at the doctor’s words.
“This part is okay, but the lower part needs stitches.”
The expressions of the two siblings examining her wound were so similar that Ines couldn’t help but laugh.
When she laughed, the two siblings looked at her with the same faces.
“Are you laughing?”
“It’s just that it looks bad, but it doesn’t hurt that much.”
Her voice naturally died down at the worry-filled rebuke.
“I told you to stop causing trouble.”
At the word trouble, Ines recalled the events in the tent that she had forgotten. When she remembered the feeling of the strong arms that had been holding her just a moment ago, her ears blushed without her knowing.
At first glance, it seemed like a feeling similar to shame. Carson, who had no way of knowing her situation, urged the doctor to treat her quickly.
“We can disinfect it, but it’s hard to sew it up in a moving carriage. Don’t worry too much, I’ll try to stop the bleeding as much as possible.”
“What kind of world is this that a Baron would hurt the body of the Viscountess Young Lady."
“But it wasn’t me who pushed you...”
“You didn’t push me?”
She laughed as if she had heard something really funny, and Zemern hurriedly replied.
“Isn’t that right? I didn’t touch Young Lady’s body even once.”
“Oh, that’s right. But I was even more scared because of you. Didn’t you approach me threateningly in a place where no one was around?”
“That’s not right!”
“Do you want to say that it’s not true? Then try it.”
“Just because you have a high title doesn’t mean that everything you say is true.”
“So go out and tell people.”
Ines’s face turned cold as if her smiling face up until now was a lie.
“While all the men have gone deep into the forest to hunt, what on earth were you doing in the rabbit hunting grounds frequented by women?”
“...”
“If you explain properly, there might be someone who will believe you, Baron.”
His mouth shut completely. And soon a mean expression appeared on his face.
Ines sighed as if frustrated.
“I have to tell you something again. Do you know what punishment a noble receives when he injures another noble?”
“...”
“Oh, the law of the nobles doesn’t apply to Barons? Then do you know what happens when a commoner injures a noble? Oh, I see. You were a commoner until just a short while ago.”
He clenched his fists and shook them. Ines glanced at him, then straightened up.
“Baron Winningstone, I’ve been feeling strange since a while ago.”
He couldn’t answer because his molars were clenched.
“Why is the Baron afraid of me...?”
Ines turned away from him, repeating what Zemern had said.
“Ah!”
Then as if remembering something, she turned her head slightly toward him and lowered her eyes.
“I was thinking of being generous and just letting your ignorant sins slide.”
“...”
“I don’t know what Her Highness will do. So you should hope that the Princess doesn’t bring up the matter just now. It’s not something that will be resolved just by me keeping my mouth shut.”
“But it wasn’t me who pushed you...”
“You didn’t push me?”
She laughed as if she had heard something really funny, and Zemern hurriedly replied.
“Isn’t that right? I didn’t touch Young Lady’s body even once.”
“Oh, that’s right. But I was even more scared because of you. Didn’t you approach me threateningly in a place where no one was around?”
“That’s not right!”
“Do you want to say that it’s not true? Then try it.”
“Just because you have a high title doesn’t mean that everything you say is true.”
“So go out and tell people.”
Ines’s face turned cold as if her smiling face up until now was a lie.
“While all the men have gone deep into the forest to hunt, what on earth were you doing in the rabbit hunting grounds frequented by women?”
“...”
“If you explain properly, there might be someone who will believe you, Baron.”
His mouth shut completely. And soon a mean expression appeared on his face.
Ines sighed as if frustrated.
“I have to tell you something again. Do you know what punishment a noble receives when he injures another noble?”
“...”
“Oh, the law of the nobles doesn’t apply to Barons? Then do you know what happens when a commoner injures a noble? Oh, I see. You were a commoner until just a short while ago.”
He clenched his fists and shook them. Ines glanced at him, then straightened up.
“Baron Winningstone, I’ve been feeling strange since a while ago.”
He couldn’t answer because his molars were clenched.
“Why is the Baron afraid of me...?”
Ines turned away from him, repeating what Zemern had said.
“Ah!”
Then as if remembering something, she turned her head slightly toward him and lowered her eyes.
“I was thinking of being generous and just letting your ignorant sins slide.”
“...”
“I don’t know what Her Highness will do. So you should hope that the Princess doesn’t bring up the matter just now. It’s not something that will be resolved just by me keeping my mouth shut.”
Ines’ face crumpled as she turned around. Her body, which had been trying not to collapse in front of him, began to tremble again.
Her legs were still numb and it was difficult for her to walk properly, but she gathered all her strength and stood upright. She didn’t want to show Zemern that she was limping in front of anyone else.
After walking a long way down the forest path and turning right, her arm, which had been scratched by the rocks, began to feel a stinging sensation as it rubbed against her clothes. When she turned around, Zemern was nowhere to be seen.
Ines let out a deep breath as if relieved. Her legs, which had been so strong, trembled without strength.
“Young Lady Swenden!”
Just then, she heard Carson calling her from not far away. Behind him were Louis and the maid.
“You came to pick me up.”
When she saw him, the fresh air of the forest seemed to gather and comfort her. When she saw the two people with the same hair color and eyes, a ray of light poured into Ines’ heart.
She straightened her collapsing legs and walked toward him.
Carson’s wide arms immediately embraced her.
“Are you okay?”
His firm voice gave her a sense of stability. The body that was lifted by him felt as light as a feather.
“I’m sorry.”
“What else are you sorry for?”
“I soiled my lord’s clothes.”
Carson swore softly. Strangely, Ines couldn’t take her eyes off him who was speaking harshly.
“Go and get the doctor!”
“I’m okay.”
“You're not okay.”
Her legs were still numb and it was difficult for her to walk properly, but she gathered all her strength and stood upright. She didn’t want to show Zemern that she was limping in front of anyone else.
After walking a long way down the forest path and turning right, her arm, which had been scratched by the rocks, began to feel a stinging sensation as it rubbed against her clothes. When she turned around, Zemern was nowhere to be seen.
Ines let out a deep breath as if relieved. Her legs, which had been so strong, trembled without strength.
“Young Lady Swenden!”
Just then, she heard Carson calling her from not far away. Behind him were Louis and the maid.
“You came to pick me up.”
When she saw him, the fresh air of the forest seemed to gather and comfort her. When she saw the two people with the same hair color and eyes, a ray of light poured into Ines’ heart.
She straightened her collapsing legs and walked toward him.
Carson’s wide arms immediately embraced her.
“Are you okay?”
His firm voice gave her a sense of stability. The body that was lifted by him felt as light as a feather.
“I’m sorry.”
“What else are you sorry for?”
“I soiled my lord’s clothes.”
Carson swore softly. Strangely, Ines couldn’t take her eyes off him who was speaking harshly.
“Go and get the doctor!”
“I’m okay.”
“You're not okay.”
“It’s my arm that’s hurt. Put me down. I can walk.”
“Right now!”
Ines’ mouth snapped shut as he suddenly raised his voice.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get angry. But listen to me now. You’re not normal right now.”
Ines was immediately put into the carriage, along with the doctor who had been on duty for the hunting festival. She seemed to be the only one worried about what would happen to the hunting festival after its organizer disappeared.
The doctor sat down next to Ines and cut off the sleeves of the shirt she was wearing. He quickly poured disinfectant and examined her wounds.
“The wound isn’t deep, but it’s not something to ignore. You’ve lost a lot of blood.”
Carson and Louis tilted their heads in the same direction at the doctor’s words.
“This part is okay, but the lower part needs stitches.”
The expressions of the two siblings examining her wound were so similar that Ines couldn’t help but laugh.
When she laughed, the two siblings looked at her with the same faces.
“Are you laughing?”
“It’s just that it looks bad, but it doesn’t hurt that much.”
Her voice naturally died down at the worry-filled rebuke.
“I told you to stop causing trouble.”
At the word trouble, Ines recalled the events in the tent that she had forgotten. When she remembered the feeling of the strong arms that had been holding her just a moment ago, her ears blushed without her knowing.
At first glance, it seemed like a feeling similar to shame. Carson, who had no way of knowing her situation, urged the doctor to treat her quickly.
“We can disinfect it, but it’s hard to sew it up in a moving carriage. Don’t worry too much, I’ll try to stop the bleeding as much as possible.”
Ines didn’t want him to focus on her wound any longer.
“How did you get there?”
Carson answered, still unable to take his eyes off her wound.
“Louis told me.”
“Oh, so you heard.”
“Yes, I rushed over because I heard that Lady Swenden was with a dangerous animal.”
“A dangerous animal?”
Ines looked at Louis, and the child pushed her bottom deep into the chair and whispered.
“A snake.”
“A snake? That dangerous animal was a snake... a snake, Louis?”
Carson asked again, and Louis shook her head as if she didn’t want to even think about it.
“Yes, a snake crawled up my dress. It was gross. But Ines took it away.”
She yawned deeply after saying that. Carson moved to one side to make room and gently pulled the child’s head against his thigh. Louis fell into a deep sleep, resting her head on his leg.
Ines had actually planned to tell Carson about what Zemern had done. In that case, it wouldn’t really be a wrist cut, but it could be an issue.
But somehow she hesitated. Ines thought of Zemern’s pitch-black eyes. His eyes reminded her of a snake’s eyes that held no mercy. If that had caused the child fear, she didn’t want to remind her of it again.
The peacefully sleeping child looked like an angel. As she watched Louis, Ines also fell asleep. She also buried herself deep in the carriage and closed her eyes.
A long and difficult day had passed behind the setting sun.
Carson returned to the mansion, left Louis with Noah, and picked up Ines himself, who was sleeping. Unlike last time, he brought her in as she was, and took Ines to the guest room on the same floor as his bedroom.
When the doctor said that it would be best to wait until she woke up, Carson sent a messenger to Swenden Mansion. Ines had been injured in the hunting festival, and he would treat her and send her back tomorrow. Of course, he added that she wasn’t seriously injured, so there was no need to worry.
He stared blankly at the sleeping woman. This woman always looked a little younger than her age when she was asleep.
'Dangerous beast...'
When Louis was young, she used to compare people she found difficult or uncomfortable to animals.
At that time, Louis had described the Empress as a wolf. The Empress didn't show any particular attitude toward Louis, but the child was always instinctively picky about people. However, Carson had never thought that such a habit would still remain even after four years.
However, he clearly saw it. Zemern Winningstone, who was coming out of the forest when he was carrying Ines and leaving the forest path.
There was no reason for him to come out of the hunting grounds where only women usually went. According to Countess Jefferson, he was a man who was desperate to join the aristocracy. But why was he hunting rabbits instead of mixing in with the men who were hunting at that time?
He was someone he didn't like from the moment he first saw him. Zemern had a kind face, but strangely, he was a bad person who made the tea he was drinking taste even bitter.
A snake. His sentiments were not much different from Louis’s.
Carson, who was thinking of Zemern’s inorganic black eyes, quietly left Ines’ bedroom.
When he returned to the office, Noah was waiting for him with a lot of things to report.
Carson twisted off the shirt that was tightly fitted to his shoulders and threw it carelessly on the sofa. Noah stared at his master’s actions for a moment, lost in thought.
Something was captivating, even to a man, in his natural, flowing gestures.
“What are you doing?”
“Oh, yes.”
Carson was very handsome. But sometimes when Noah saw him, he felt more than handsome.
“Have you heard that story?”
“What is it?”
“It’s said that most women in the empire, noble or commoner, have a portrait of the lord.”
“Why? Is there a bounty on me?”
“No, it’s because the lord is very handsome.”
“That’s ridiculous. The royal family isn’t some kind of clown.”
“It’s true.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Just report.”
Knowing that he wouldn’t hear anything good if he talked more, Noah briefly explained the problems that had occurred in the territory. However, he was curious the whole time. Did Carson know that he was handsome or not?
“What did I ask you to find out?”
“As the lord said, there was something suspicious.”
“What?”
“Even though it’s a border area, isn’t Landhill and Lesonia not hostile?”
“But?”
“There were too many knights from the Graham family.”
Carson laughed in vain at the obvious, too-obvious, trick. As expected, Graham wanted something buried underground, not something visible.
“How did you get there?”
Carson answered, still unable to take his eyes off her wound.
“Louis told me.”
“Oh, so you heard.”
“Yes, I rushed over because I heard that Lady Swenden was with a dangerous animal.”
“A dangerous animal?”
Ines looked at Louis, and the child pushed her bottom deep into the chair and whispered.
“A snake.”
“A snake? That dangerous animal was a snake... a snake, Louis?”
Carson asked again, and Louis shook her head as if she didn’t want to even think about it.
“Yes, a snake crawled up my dress. It was gross. But Ines took it away.”
She yawned deeply after saying that. Carson moved to one side to make room and gently pulled the child’s head against his thigh. Louis fell into a deep sleep, resting her head on his leg.
Ines had actually planned to tell Carson about what Zemern had done. In that case, it wouldn’t really be a wrist cut, but it could be an issue.
But somehow she hesitated. Ines thought of Zemern’s pitch-black eyes. His eyes reminded her of a snake’s eyes that held no mercy. If that had caused the child fear, she didn’t want to remind her of it again.
The peacefully sleeping child looked like an angel. As she watched Louis, Ines also fell asleep. She also buried herself deep in the carriage and closed her eyes.
A long and difficult day had passed behind the setting sun.
***
Carson returned to the mansion, left Louis with Noah, and picked up Ines himself, who was sleeping. Unlike last time, he brought her in as she was, and took Ines to the guest room on the same floor as his bedroom.
When the doctor said that it would be best to wait until she woke up, Carson sent a messenger to Swenden Mansion. Ines had been injured in the hunting festival, and he would treat her and send her back tomorrow. Of course, he added that she wasn’t seriously injured, so there was no need to worry.
He stared blankly at the sleeping woman. This woman always looked a little younger than her age when she was asleep.
'Dangerous beast...'
When Louis was young, she used to compare people she found difficult or uncomfortable to animals.
At that time, Louis had described the Empress as a wolf. The Empress didn't show any particular attitude toward Louis, but the child was always instinctively picky about people. However, Carson had never thought that such a habit would still remain even after four years.
However, he clearly saw it. Zemern Winningstone, who was coming out of the forest when he was carrying Ines and leaving the forest path.
There was no reason for him to come out of the hunting grounds where only women usually went. According to Countess Jefferson, he was a man who was desperate to join the aristocracy. But why was he hunting rabbits instead of mixing in with the men who were hunting at that time?
He was someone he didn't like from the moment he first saw him. Zemern had a kind face, but strangely, he was a bad person who made the tea he was drinking taste even bitter.
A snake. His sentiments were not much different from Louis’s.
Carson, who was thinking of Zemern’s inorganic black eyes, quietly left Ines’ bedroom.
***
When he returned to the office, Noah was waiting for him with a lot of things to report.
Carson twisted off the shirt that was tightly fitted to his shoulders and threw it carelessly on the sofa. Noah stared at his master’s actions for a moment, lost in thought.
Something was captivating, even to a man, in his natural, flowing gestures.
“What are you doing?”
“Oh, yes.”
Carson was very handsome. But sometimes when Noah saw him, he felt more than handsome.
“Have you heard that story?”
“What is it?”
“It’s said that most women in the empire, noble or commoner, have a portrait of the lord.”
“Why? Is there a bounty on me?”
“No, it’s because the lord is very handsome.”
“That’s ridiculous. The royal family isn’t some kind of clown.”
“It’s true.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Just report.”
Knowing that he wouldn’t hear anything good if he talked more, Noah briefly explained the problems that had occurred in the territory. However, he was curious the whole time. Did Carson know that he was handsome or not?
“What did I ask you to find out?”
“As the lord said, there was something suspicious.”
“What?”
“Even though it’s a border area, isn’t Landhill and Lesonia not hostile?”
“But?”
“There were too many knights from the Graham family.”
Carson laughed in vain at the obvious, too-obvious, trick. As expected, Graham wanted something buried underground, not something visible.
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