“No, we went home after work was over.”
It was an unbearable time as if the tick, tick, tick of the second hand could be heard. Unable to stand the situation any longer, Ines leaned over slightly and spoke to him.
“Aren’t you busy?”
“I am busy.”
“Then why don’t you go back now...”
He stared blankly at Ines and then leaned his upper body completely toward her.
“Is this enough?”
“What, what...?”
Ines stuttered because of the man who approached her parents. Her embarrassment didn’t end there. He pressed his lips close to her ear. Everyone there gasped.
“Isn’t your parents going to scold you now?”
Ines pushed his chest with her hand and nodded vigorously. Then he stood up neatly.
“Don’t scold your daughter too much. She ended up like this because she did such a big job for the estate.”
Although the world was changing a lot, Keynes was still a conservative country that followed the feudal system. Ines's parents were too busy thinking about what the lord's actions meant to say, and they couldn't answer properly.
It was not that they had never heard rumors about the young lord and their daughter. However, rumors were just passing wind.
He shook his head. Heh heh, his smiling expression was like teaching a young baby something bad.
“Ines, you’re remembering wrong. We definitely saw it. He kicked his wife’s stomach. Right?”
“Yes?”
He laughed again, “Right?” She felt like an evil and beautiful statue, and she answered, “Yes, yes.”
“I think you remember now. You’re very smart.”
“Yes, I remember. Very clearly.”
“He tried to hit his wife’s stomach again, so she had no choice but to push him. You know how important motherhood is in the Keynes Empire, don’t you?”
As he finished speaking, he gently wrapped his arm around Ines’ shoulder. Then he pushed her toward the bed. It felt a little awkward to see a woman standing in her pajamas in his own house.
Ines did as she was told and tucked herself into the blanket like a well-behaved child.
“So, sleep soundly, I’ll watch you fall asleep.”
She tried to say it was nonsense, but Carson was faster.
“Just sleep. What if you cut my knight’s arm again today?”
At those words, Ines’ mouth completely shut. It was also true that she had no time left alone after he left. She had prevented Charlotte from killing her husband, but she couldn’t avoid the incident.
It was obvious that she would have nightmares worse than usual tonight.
“Stop thinking about it. The very sight of me standing in front of your bed in the middle of the night is far from noble.”
Contrary to her belief that she would never be able to fall asleep while Carson was watching her, she fell asleep faster than expected.
Ines’ body, which had been climbing a mountain for the first time, cried out for sleep, and the alcohol poured into her stomach, which had been empty all day, made her mind a little loose. As she was half asleep, she felt a hot hand caressing her forehead as if it were nothing. Ines buried her face in that hand and fell into a deep sleep.
Carson left the room after confirming that Ines was asleep.
At that time, Noah explained the whole situation to the security forces, returned to the mansion, and went straight to Carson’s office.
Noah couldn’t help but flinch as he entered.
Today, Carson was dressed very comfortably. He had already taken off his jacket that was too tight, and he wasn’t wearing a tie. It seemed that he had already had a drink, as he sat loosely on the sofa instead of the desk, giving off a decadent vibe.
“You’ve worked hard. Come here, let’s have a drink.”
Noah also took off his stuffy clothes and sat next to him. Today, he was a little different from other days.
“Shall I report?”
When Carson nodded, Noah told him in detail about Dropinua. The security forces announced that they would take Charlotte in as soon as she recovered.
“Let’s proceed with the trial a little quickly.”
“Understood.”
“What about Zemern?”
“No matter how much I search, there is absolutely no connection to Lady Swenden.”
He had already finished his investigation into Zemern. Noah knew that the reason he was contacting high-ranking nobles was to ask for a favor, but he didn’t know exactly what he wanted.
Furthermore, no matter how much he investigated, nothing related to Ines came up. However, he couldn’t ignore Ines’s reaction. His intuition was always right. So Carson had ordered another investigation into Zemern.
“But I found out what he wanted.”
“What?”
“He wanted to be the guard of Romfield.”
“Ha! I can’t even pray.”
“Ines, you’re remembering wrong. We definitely saw it. He kicked his wife’s stomach. Right?”
“Yes?”
He laughed again, “Right?” She felt like an evil and beautiful statue, and she answered, “Yes, yes.”
“I think you remember now. You’re very smart.”
“Yes, I remember. Very clearly.”
“He tried to hit his wife’s stomach again, so she had no choice but to push him. You know how important motherhood is in the Keynes Empire, don’t you?”
As he finished speaking, he gently wrapped his arm around Ines’ shoulder. Then he pushed her toward the bed. It felt a little awkward to see a woman standing in her pajamas in his own house.
Ines did as she was told and tucked herself into the blanket like a well-behaved child.
“So, sleep soundly, I’ll watch you fall asleep.”
She tried to say it was nonsense, but Carson was faster.
“Just sleep. What if you cut my knight’s arm again today?”
At those words, Ines’ mouth completely shut. It was also true that she had no time left alone after he left. She had prevented Charlotte from killing her husband, but she couldn’t avoid the incident.
It was obvious that she would have nightmares worse than usual tonight.
“Stop thinking about it. The very sight of me standing in front of your bed in the middle of the night is far from noble.”
Contrary to her belief that she would never be able to fall asleep while Carson was watching her, she fell asleep faster than expected.
Ines’ body, which had been climbing a mountain for the first time, cried out for sleep, and the alcohol poured into her stomach, which had been empty all day, made her mind a little loose. As she was half asleep, she felt a hot hand caressing her forehead as if it were nothing. Ines buried her face in that hand and fell into a deep sleep.
Carson left the room after confirming that Ines was asleep.
At that time, Noah explained the whole situation to the security forces, returned to the mansion, and went straight to Carson’s office.
Noah couldn’t help but flinch as he entered.
Today, Carson was dressed very comfortably. He had already taken off his jacket that was too tight, and he wasn’t wearing a tie. It seemed that he had already had a drink, as he sat loosely on the sofa instead of the desk, giving off a decadent vibe.
“You’ve worked hard. Come here, let’s have a drink.”
Noah also took off his stuffy clothes and sat next to him. Today, he was a little different from other days.
“Shall I report?”
When Carson nodded, Noah told him in detail about Dropinua. The security forces announced that they would take Charlotte in as soon as she recovered.
“Let’s proceed with the trial a little quickly.”
“Understood.”
“What about Zemern?”
“No matter how much I search, there is absolutely no connection to Lady Swenden.”
He had already finished his investigation into Zemern. Noah knew that the reason he was contacting high-ranking nobles was to ask for a favor, but he didn’t know exactly what he wanted.
Furthermore, no matter how much he investigated, nothing related to Ines came up. However, he couldn’t ignore Ines’s reaction. His intuition was always right. So Carson had ordered another investigation into Zemern.
“But I found out what he wanted.”
“What?”
“He wanted to be the guard of Romfield.”
“Ha! I can’t even pray.”
Of course, it wasn’t that he hadn’t found out anything related to him.
Zemern was, so to speak, a sexual pervert. He had kept his mouth shut so thoroughly that it wasn’t easy to find out the women who had been harmed by him. However, if Carson dug persistently, there was nothing he wouldn’t find out.
The women related to Zemern were definitely not in good health.
If he wanted Romfield, then the reason was clear.
“He even received the title of Baron and called it Romfield... It’s so obvious that it makes me sick.”
“With the title, he’ll soon be the warden, right? He could even become the warden in about ten years.”
“He wants to be the God of a small world, right?”
“Yes, it’s not related yet, but I’ll look into Romfield. It seems to be a place with a lot of corruption.”
Noah hesitated for a moment after finishing what he had to say. He was wondering if it was okay to tell his master that story. Carson noticed his mood and urged him.
“What’s wrong?”
“That... It’s not directly related to Young Lady Swenden, but if there’s one thing I have to say...”
“If so?”
“The fact is that all the women who were harmed by Zemern were blonde. Two of them had green eyes.”
Zemern was, so to speak, a sexual pervert. He had kept his mouth shut so thoroughly that it wasn’t easy to find out the women who had been harmed by him. However, if Carson dug persistently, there was nothing he wouldn’t find out.
The women related to Zemern were definitely not in good health.
If he wanted Romfield, then the reason was clear.
“He even received the title of Baron and called it Romfield... It’s so obvious that it makes me sick.”
“With the title, he’ll soon be the warden, right? He could even become the warden in about ten years.”
“He wants to be the God of a small world, right?”
“Yes, it’s not related yet, but I’ll look into Romfield. It seems to be a place with a lot of corruption.”
Noah hesitated for a moment after finishing what he had to say. He was wondering if it was okay to tell his master that story. Carson noticed his mood and urged him.
“What’s wrong?”
“That... It’s not directly related to Young Lady Swenden, but if there’s one thing I have to say...”
“If so?”
“The fact is that all the women who were harmed by Zemern were blonde. Two of them had green eyes.”
Carson threw his head back and cursed softly. He put his arm to his forehead and spoke to the air.
“Should I attach someone?”
“I already have someone attached to Zemern.”
“No, not that bastard.”
“Then who...?”
“Who? That troublemaker Ines.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Noah gave a textbook answer, as befitting his master’s excellent adviser. Attaching someone to a woman he wasn’t even engaged to was something he shouldn’t have done.
“Yes, I know. If Ines found out, I’d know how she’d look at me.”
Noah nodded and drank the drink Carson had poured for him.
“So we can do it secretly.”
“Yes.”
He spat out the drink he was drinking and coughed roughly because of his master’s serious face. However, he continued to express his terrible thoughts in words as if he didn’t care at all.
“And if you get caught? Then you can just say you did it for her safety. That’s true, too.”
“Cough, cough, cough.”
“Even today. Why on earth did she go to the mountains? For a walk? Well, I can’t open that little head.”
Noah couldn’t glare at his master, so he just glared at the poor liquor. The bottle was already empty.
Yes, that liquor is the problem. That liquor, which is not strong but secretly intoxicates people, is the problem, just like Ines Swenden.
“But tell her not to interfere until she’s in a very dangerous situation.”
“Have you already decided to... Cough, bring someone?”
“Yes.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to bring an escort?”
“There’s no justification. It’s only until I finish my work. Bringing someone.”
Carson’s words were true. Even if rumors about the two of them were widespread, they were actually unrelated.
“You can bring an escort after that. But Noah, is there a curse on that bottle? Why are you staring at me like you’re going to kill me?”
“No.”
Noah looked away from the bottle and got up. It seemed like his advice didn’t get much attention.
The next day, Ines and Carson sat side by side on the sofa in her mansion’s reception room.
There had been a huge uproar at the mansion the previous evening. The child, who used to stay at home and rarely go out, had been spending too little time at the mansion recently. She had even gone so far that no one knew where she had gone.
Susan was standing a little far away, looking at Ines with resentful eyes. Her father and mother were literally in a state of shock because of the big shot that had suddenly barged in.
The atmosphere around them seemed to calm down a little when tea and refreshments were served. Ines lowered her eyes slightly, thinking about what to say.
It was late last night, but her parents had probably received a call from Carson, so there was no reason for him to come inside. Nevertheless, he insisted on sitting next to Ines.
“Should I attach someone?”
“I already have someone attached to Zemern.”
“No, not that bastard.”
“Then who...?”
“Who? That troublemaker Ines.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Noah gave a textbook answer, as befitting his master’s excellent adviser. Attaching someone to a woman he wasn’t even engaged to was something he shouldn’t have done.
“Yes, I know. If Ines found out, I’d know how she’d look at me.”
Noah nodded and drank the drink Carson had poured for him.
“So we can do it secretly.”
“Yes.”
He spat out the drink he was drinking and coughed roughly because of his master’s serious face. However, he continued to express his terrible thoughts in words as if he didn’t care at all.
“And if you get caught? Then you can just say you did it for her safety. That’s true, too.”
“Cough, cough, cough.”
“Even today. Why on earth did she go to the mountains? For a walk? Well, I can’t open that little head.”
Noah couldn’t glare at his master, so he just glared at the poor liquor. The bottle was already empty.
Yes, that liquor is the problem. That liquor, which is not strong but secretly intoxicates people, is the problem, just like Ines Swenden.
“But tell her not to interfere until she’s in a very dangerous situation.”
“Have you already decided to... Cough, bring someone?”
“Yes.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to bring an escort?”
“There’s no justification. It’s only until I finish my work. Bringing someone.”
Carson’s words were true. Even if rumors about the two of them were widespread, they were actually unrelated.
“You can bring an escort after that. But Noah, is there a curse on that bottle? Why are you staring at me like you’re going to kill me?”
“No.”
Noah looked away from the bottle and got up. It seemed like his advice didn’t get much attention.
***
The next day, Ines and Carson sat side by side on the sofa in her mansion’s reception room.
There had been a huge uproar at the mansion the previous evening. The child, who used to stay at home and rarely go out, had been spending too little time at the mansion recently. She had even gone so far that no one knew where she had gone.
Susan was standing a little far away, looking at Ines with resentful eyes. Her father and mother were literally in a state of shock because of the big shot that had suddenly barged in.
The atmosphere around them seemed to calm down a little when tea and refreshments were served. Ines lowered her eyes slightly, thinking about what to say.
It was late last night, but her parents had probably received a call from Carson, so there was no reason for him to come inside. Nevertheless, he insisted on sitting next to Ines.
“I’m sorry.”
“Oh, I’m not blaming you...”
His father trailed off, unusually flustered. In the Keynes Empire, the royal family rarely apologized. It was understandable for him to be apologizing for something so trivial.
“How is your wound?”
When Carson asked, his father hurriedly answered.
“Thanks to you, it’s much better. I didn’t know how to express my gratitude, so I didn’t come to see you right away.”
“You even came to see me. What you did that day was enough. If you stay healthy, that’s all.”
Despite the words that it was okay, Andrew got up from his seat. Then he bowed deeply.
“Thank you for saving my life again, my lord.”
“A lord also must save his subjects’ lives. So there’s no need to be so overly polite.”
“Yes, father. The tea will get cold.”
At Ines’s persuasion, Andrew sat down again.
“The agenda for the committee meeting this time was rejected, right?”
Andrew nodded, not asking what the agenda was.
“There is no reason for you to attend the committee meeting anymore.”
“Yes.”
“Then it is sufficient.”
Carson sat quietly after that without saying anything. The three others, except Carson, coughed in vain in the awkward silence that followed.
It was an unbearable time as if the tick, tick, tick of the second hand could be heard. Unable to stand the situation any longer, Ines leaned over slightly and spoke to him.
“Aren’t you busy?”
“I am busy.”
“Then why don’t you go back now...”
He stared blankly at Ines and then leaned his upper body completely toward her.
“Is this enough?”
“What, what...?”
Ines stuttered because of the man who approached her parents. Her embarrassment didn’t end there. He pressed his lips close to her ear. Everyone there gasped.
“Isn’t your parents going to scold you now?”
Ines pushed his chest with her hand and nodded vigorously. Then he stood up neatly.
“Don’t scold your daughter too much. She ended up like this because she did such a big job for the estate.”
Although the world was changing a lot, Keynes was still a conservative country that followed the feudal system. Ines's parents were too busy thinking about what the lord's actions meant to say, and they couldn't answer properly.
It was not that they had never heard rumors about the young lord and their daughter. However, rumors were just passing wind.
However, the intensity of the shock was different from seeing it in person.
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