“Is it that obvious?”
On top of that, Lady Swenden had even saved Princess Louisianne, so it was strange that there weren’t any novels based on them.
“I’m not going to let you be okay anymore. I’m going to let you know that it’s not okay to come to this dangerous place alone.”
For a moment, she couldn’t understand what he meant.
“So hold my hand tighter.”
Although she didn’t fully understand, Ines held his hand tighter as he told her.
Even as they came down for a long time, he never let go of her hand. He led the way on narrow paths that were difficult to walk alone, and when there were too many rocks and it was slippery, he pulled her arms up to his chest and held her tighter.
When they came down from the mountain, the ground was getting dark. He asked her to ride his horse that he had parked at the entrance to the mountain and go with him.
Carson naturally put Ines on his horse. Then, holding the reins, he walked beside her.
“I was planning on contacting you tomorrow.”
The only sound in the quiet road was the sound of the horse’s hooves. The ground, which had settled heavier than usual, did not raise dust.
“I thought I should tell you why I came here today.”
“Ah...”
“Since we’ve met like this, I’ll tell you now.”
He paused for a moment and then heard the sound of insects chirping. The weather seemed like it might rain.
“I found out what Count Graham was after.”
Noah clicked his tongue internally. It was a bit disrespectful to say that he was openly talking, but he couldn’t think of any other appropriate expression.
The nobles were already busy spreading rumors that the young lord was deeply in love with the beautiful Lady Viscount. Although that wasn’t true, Noah could tell from the way he acted that he was a man in love.
All sorts of speculations were running wild.
That a Prince who was so in love with Lady Ines Swenden deliberately claimed to be the lord of Landhill, or that he transferred the Swenden family to Landhill to marry her...
The nobles were already busy spreading rumors that the young lord was deeply in love with the beautiful Lady Viscount. Although that wasn’t true, Noah could tell from the way he acted that he was a man in love.
All sorts of speculations were running wild.
That a Prince who was so in love with Lady Ines Swenden deliberately claimed to be the lord of Landhill, or that he transferred the Swenden family to Landhill to marry her...
On top of that, Lady Swenden had even saved Princess Louisianne, so it was strange that there weren’t any novels based on them.
The two people who were the main characters of the rumor were the only ones who were indifferent to this.
There was no need to stop it, so Noah just watched the rumors spread. It was something that the lord would never hear anyway.
If the lord could quickly find a wife and settle down, one of Noah’s big problems would be reduced, so it wasn’t bad.
At that moment, Carson suddenly stopped on the steep downhill road, and Noah ended up hitting his forehead on Carson’s shoulder.
“Ouch.”
It was fortunate that he didn’t roll down even if he hit him hard because he was such a big man, but it was hard, not like a rock.
“Are you okay, my lord?”
“Even you see.”
Instead of answering the question of whether he was okay, Carson stared blankly into the depths of the mountain far away.
“Is that woman Ines Swenden?”
Noah looked, and there was a woman busily going down the mountain with a body that was clearly not that of a noble lady. She looked like a part of the forest because she was wearing a dress with a mix of brown and green.
Perhaps it was a flying squirrel flying between the branches. And to his eyes, she was definitely Ines Swenden.
Right in front of him, he could hear his master’s deep, long breathing.
“I should call her Ines Swenden, not Ines Troublemaker.”
Noah shuddered slightly at those words. Ines Troublemaker, it was as if he was scolding a cute, disobedient puppy. How could such an affectionate nickname come out of Carson’s mouth?
Noah stared at the back of his head, wondering if it was the cold-blooded Carson von Raymond he knew. Meanwhile, Carson ran down the path like a tiger to catch the mischievous flying squirrel.
Ines tilted her head all the way down. Her father had said that there were more knights of Count Graham on the mountain than usual, but for some reason, there wasn’t a single knight in sight.
It was a good thing, but it was strange.
“What on earth are you doing here? Ines, the Lady Troublemaker.”
Ines stopped walking down because of her name that came out of nowhere. When she looked up, a man was standing there who had absolutely no reason to be there. She really felt like she was seeing things.
If the lord could quickly find a wife and settle down, one of Noah’s big problems would be reduced, so it wasn’t bad.
At that moment, Carson suddenly stopped on the steep downhill road, and Noah ended up hitting his forehead on Carson’s shoulder.
“Ouch.”
It was fortunate that he didn’t roll down even if he hit him hard because he was such a big man, but it was hard, not like a rock.
“Are you okay, my lord?”
“Even you see.”
Instead of answering the question of whether he was okay, Carson stared blankly into the depths of the mountain far away.
“Is that woman Ines Swenden?”
Noah looked, and there was a woman busily going down the mountain with a body that was clearly not that of a noble lady. She looked like a part of the forest because she was wearing a dress with a mix of brown and green.
Perhaps it was a flying squirrel flying between the branches. And to his eyes, she was definitely Ines Swenden.
Right in front of him, he could hear his master’s deep, long breathing.
“I should call her Ines Swenden, not Ines Troublemaker.”
Noah shuddered slightly at those words. Ines Troublemaker, it was as if he was scolding a cute, disobedient puppy. How could such an affectionate nickname come out of Carson’s mouth?
Noah stared at the back of his head, wondering if it was the cold-blooded Carson von Raymond he knew. Meanwhile, Carson ran down the path like a tiger to catch the mischievous flying squirrel.
***
Ines tilted her head all the way down. Her father had said that there were more knights of Count Graham on the mountain than usual, but for some reason, there wasn’t a single knight in sight.
It was a good thing, but it was strange.
“What on earth are you doing here? Ines, the Lady Troublemaker.”
Ines stopped walking down because of her name that came out of nowhere. When she looked up, a man was standing there who had absolutely no reason to be there. She really felt like she was seeing things.
“My... Lord?”
“As you can see.”
“Why on earth are you here?”
“That’s what I wanted to ask.”
“Oh, I’m going for a walk...”
At the absurd words, Carson spread out his hand, looking around. Behind him, he saw Noah running, panting.
“It’s a really nice place to go for a walk.”
“The weather was nice, so I was walking...”
She knew he wouldn’t believe her, but she had no excuse. She thought she wasn’t usually lacking in quick reflexes, but that didn’t matter now. Fortunately, she was far from where he was going to work, but she wasn’t reassured. He looked at her for a moment, shook his head, and held out his hand.
“I don’t think you’ll answer me anyway...”
Ines stared blankly at his outstretched hand. Long fingers were nicely positioned on a large palm. It was a hand that made one feel at ease just by looking at it.
“Please take my hand. It’s a difficult place for a woman to go down alone.”
“I’m fine. I can go down this much alone...”
“I know. I’ve already seen from afar that you can go down this mountain path alone.”
Ines’s earlobes turned red with a slight feeling of shame. If he had seen her from afar, he would have seen all of her actions that were neither noble nor like a shady woman. So she didn’t say anything else and just placed her hand on the one he offered. Carson held her hand tightly and began to walk slowly. Then he began to speak in a small voice.
“But, Ines.”
Ines had to lean in close to hear what he said.
“I’m not going to let you be okay anymore. I’m going to let you know that it’s not okay to come to this dangerous place alone.”
For a moment, she couldn’t understand what he meant.
“So hold my hand tighter.”
Although she didn’t fully understand, Ines held his hand tighter as he told her.
Even as they came down for a long time, he never let go of her hand. He led the way on narrow paths that were difficult to walk alone, and when there were too many rocks and it was slippery, he pulled her arms up to his chest and held her tighter.
When they came down from the mountain, the ground was getting dark. He asked her to ride his horse that he had parked at the entrance to the mountain and go with him.
Carson naturally put Ines on his horse. Then, holding the reins, he walked beside her.
“I was planning on contacting you tomorrow.”
The only sound in the quiet road was the sound of the horse’s hooves. The ground, which had settled heavier than usual, did not raise dust.
“I thought I should tell you why I came here today.”
“Ah...”
“Since we’ve met like this, I’ll tell you now.”
He paused for a moment and then heard the sound of insects chirping. The weather seemed like it might rain.
“I found out what Count Graham was after.”
Ines even forgot that she was on a horse, took her hands off the saddle, and buried both hands in her face.
Carson was surprised for a moment by that, but he immediately jumped behind her. And he felt the proper emotion she was producing for the first time. He continued while listening to Ines crying.
“You know very well that this mountain belongs to Swenden.”
She nodded, unable to stop crying.
“There is a gold mine on this mountain. It’s a great mine.”
In a word, it couldn’t be anything but a shabby reason. It was just because of something like that.
“I thought about what Graham would lose if Swenden were taken from Landhill. That’s why I started researching this mountain.”
Carson continued his explanation even as he watched her shoulders shake. Ines thought that was fortunate.
“If the Swenden family is completely annexed to Landhill, this mountain range will no longer belong to Lesonia. Even if they take away the title of your family, there is nothing left for Count Graham to gain.”
Ines already dug deeper into the man holding her in his arms. If only she could, she would jump off his horse and kiss his feet. If it weren’t for him, she might not have known the whole story until she died.
“Swenden has already been listed on the list of nobles of Landhill.”
So now she was safe.
There was no longer any fear of them taking away her father, her mother, her family title, or Ines’ life. He was saying that. But even so, the mistakes she had made in the past did not disappear.
“You did well.”
And yet, instead of scolding her, he mercifully praised her.
“If you hadn’t asked me to let Swenden belong to Landhill, I would never have known.”
As he continued to speak, Ines's sobs grew louder. The sound of horse hooves and the crickets no longer came to mind. Only the steady, steady beating of Carson's heart filled her world.
When they reached the flat road, there was Carson's carriage with a horse design on it. Carson got out first and helped Ines get out.
As soon as her feet touched the ground, Ines tried to move away from him, but Carson did not allow it. He buried Ines' face in his chest and walked toward the carriage. Although he could not see it clearly, there were other people around.
"My lord?"
"Just go."
"But what is this...?"
"Your face is all 'I cried' right now."
Even so, this was excessive. Before she could protest, they arrived at the carriage, and only after opening the carriage door did he release her face from his chest. Then he grabbed her waist and gently lifted her onto the carriage.
“I’m not a child.”
“I wouldn’t do this to Louis either.”
“But why?”
“If someone saw Young Lady’s face right now, they’d probably think I made you cry.”
“...”
“Oh, did I really make you cry?”
Ines couldn’t say anything in response to the mischievous grin and just opened her mouth.
“Right now, your eyes, nose, lips, cheeks, and even your neck are all red. Who are you showing that to?”
'It's the fastest way to become the world's greatest scoundrel.'
Carson was surprised for a moment by that, but he immediately jumped behind her. And he felt the proper emotion she was producing for the first time. He continued while listening to Ines crying.
“You know very well that this mountain belongs to Swenden.”
She nodded, unable to stop crying.
“There is a gold mine on this mountain. It’s a great mine.”
In a word, it couldn’t be anything but a shabby reason. It was just because of something like that.
“I thought about what Graham would lose if Swenden were taken from Landhill. That’s why I started researching this mountain.”
Carson continued his explanation even as he watched her shoulders shake. Ines thought that was fortunate.
“If the Swenden family is completely annexed to Landhill, this mountain range will no longer belong to Lesonia. Even if they take away the title of your family, there is nothing left for Count Graham to gain.”
Ines already dug deeper into the man holding her in his arms. If only she could, she would jump off his horse and kiss his feet. If it weren’t for him, she might not have known the whole story until she died.
“Swenden has already been listed on the list of nobles of Landhill.”
So now she was safe.
There was no longer any fear of them taking away her father, her mother, her family title, or Ines’ life. He was saying that. But even so, the mistakes she had made in the past did not disappear.
“You did well.”
And yet, instead of scolding her, he mercifully praised her.
“If you hadn’t asked me to let Swenden belong to Landhill, I would never have known.”
As he continued to speak, Ines's sobs grew louder. The sound of horse hooves and the crickets no longer came to mind. Only the steady, steady beating of Carson's heart filled her world.
***
When they reached the flat road, there was Carson's carriage with a horse design on it. Carson got out first and helped Ines get out.
As soon as her feet touched the ground, Ines tried to move away from him, but Carson did not allow it. He buried Ines' face in his chest and walked toward the carriage. Although he could not see it clearly, there were other people around.
"My lord?"
"Just go."
"But what is this...?"
"Your face is all 'I cried' right now."
Even so, this was excessive. Before she could protest, they arrived at the carriage, and only after opening the carriage door did he release her face from his chest. Then he grabbed her waist and gently lifted her onto the carriage.
“I’m not a child.”
“I wouldn’t do this to Louis either.”
“But why?”
“If someone saw Young Lady’s face right now, they’d probably think I made you cry.”
“...”
“Oh, did I really make you cry?”
Ines couldn’t say anything in response to the mischievous grin and just opened her mouth.
“Right now, your eyes, nose, lips, cheeks, and even your neck are all red. Who are you showing that to?”
'It's the fastest way to become the world's greatest scoundrel.'
He spoke cheerfully and seemed really happy. Ines couldn't help but glance out the window because his smiling face was so unfamiliar.
After driving a little on the road with no lights, a busy area gradually appeared. The residential area next to the market had lights on here and there, so it wasn't as dark as near the mountains.
"It's summer, but the sun has set early."
Noah's words broke the silence inside the carriage.
"It looks like it's going to rain."
Ines looked up at the sky outside the window. Just as Carson had said, the moon was obscured by dark clouds and couldn't be seen clearly.
Ines was starting to get worried. It was already a long time since she should have gone home.
"Excuse me, my lord?"
When she turned her head toward Carson, their eyes met as if he had been watching her the whole time. He smiled as if asking why.
"Could you please take me to the garden of our mansion?"
Carson, who had been looking puzzled for a moment, burst into laughter out of nowhere. At that laughter, Ines' heart pounded and fell to the floor.
"Did you sneak out without telling your Mom?"
Ines bit her lower lip and blushed. She couldn't understand why she had been blushing so much lately.
"Yes."
After driving a little on the road with no lights, a busy area gradually appeared. The residential area next to the market had lights on here and there, so it wasn't as dark as near the mountains.
"It's summer, but the sun has set early."
Noah's words broke the silence inside the carriage.
"It looks like it's going to rain."
Ines looked up at the sky outside the window. Just as Carson had said, the moon was obscured by dark clouds and couldn't be seen clearly.
Ines was starting to get worried. It was already a long time since she should have gone home.
"Excuse me, my lord?"
When she turned her head toward Carson, their eyes met as if he had been watching her the whole time. He smiled as if asking why.
"Could you please take me to the garden of our mansion?"
Carson, who had been looking puzzled for a moment, burst into laughter out of nowhere. At that laughter, Ines' heart pounded and fell to the floor.
"Did you sneak out without telling your Mom?"
Ines bit her lower lip and blushed. She couldn't understand why she had been blushing so much lately.
"Yes."
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