“You know, Ines."
“I’m excited about the fact that I can be anything from now on. There’s no husband here who beats me. And I like walking around like this. It’s so fun to see new things.”
Charlotte came out of the water, having washed up. Ines was relieved that she could only see a faint silhouette under the faint moonlight. If you didn’t look closely, you wouldn’t even be able to tell that there was a person there.
“I’ll sit on that rock. Go wash up. The water is really cool.”
Ines left Charlotte behind and crossed the shallow stream to a more secluded place. The lantern was far away, so it was dark for a moment, but she soon adjusted to the moonlight. She could see the moon’s shadow rippling and forming in the transparent water.
As she went further in, one side was much deeper than she had expected. She curled up and sank down, submerging her head in water.
Gulp, the vacuum made it so she couldn’t hear any surrounding noise. Ines felt at peace, feeling as if she were cut off from the world.
At that moment, Charlotte was standing face to face with someone she hadn’t expected.
“Your Grace?”
She could see him from afar because he was so confidently carrying the bright lantern. He was the biggest of the group, so even if he was alone, it was easy to distinguish Carson.
Charlotte glanced at Ines in confusion.
“You came here to wash, right?”
His question seemed so casual that Charlotte nodded absentmindedly.
“Are you done washing?”
“Yes? Yes...”
“Ines is inside?”
“Yes.”
“Go first. I’ll guard here and take her.”
“Ha, but...”
Carson snickered at Charlotte’s reaction. Then he shouted loudly into the darkness.
“Ines, I’m here. I’ll send Charlotte back, so wash up and come out.”
At his voice, a loud splashing sound could be heard in the water. Despite the lord’s order, Charlotte couldn’t move her feet and floundered.
“I’m worried. There are a lot of wild animals here. There are too many men.”
However, Charlotte couldn’t bring herself to ask, “Isn’t my lord also a man?” Carson smiled again as he looked at her expression.
“Don’t worry, I won’t peek.”
Of course, she didn’t worry about that. Carson von Raymond peeked at the naked body of a bathing maid. It was something Charlotte had never imagined. Then there was no reason not to go.
Of course, her friend must have been very embarrassed in the water, but the relationship between the two was not something that could be judged by ordinary people.
“Oh, don’t take the bucket. There are knights who want to help.”
Carson watched Charlotte leave and sat down where she had been. He hadn’t intended to come here like a thug from the beginning. He thought back to what had just happened at the campsite.
Carson got out of the wagon and followed Ines with his eyes. He had developed a habit of always keeping her in sight, even if he couldn’t approach her to talk to her or take care of her. Normally, he would have found her right away, but today, for some reason, he couldn’t see her no matter how hard he looked.
He knew that Ines often took a bucket of water to help prepare meals.
Carson couldn’t wait any longer and went out to look for her.
“What was that? ‘Goodbye... Goodbye.’ Go.”
“Be quiet, phew.”
As he approached where she might be, Carson happened to hear two knights talking. Of course, at first, he just tried to pass by.
“Well, I don’t really use informal language easily either.”
“Yeah, maybe because she’s originally a noble, her mannerisms are different.”
At that point, Carson couldn’t help but stop. He could tell that the topic of their conversation was Ines.
“She really is pretty. When I looked up close, her face was shining. I don’t know, but if you put her in a dress, your eyes would roll around.”
“I... have seen her.”
Carson tried to look at the face of the knight who said he had seen her in a dress. Glenn Methefill. He wasn’t particularly skilled, but he was a pretty honest knight.
“Really? Where?”
“...”
“Well, you’re different from me. I guess the second son of a Viscount would go to banquets often. How was she? Was she pretty?”
"An angel... was like that."
The knight called Hugh made a playful 'oooh' sound at Glenn.
But Glenn spoke seriously despite his mischievous reaction.
Back then, Ines was a star in the sky, but now she was like a flower blooming beside him.
Carson bit his lower lip.
A flower blooming beside him... Rather than using such poetic expressions, he thought it would be better to make some low-quality jokes about Ines.
"But don't be serious."
"Why?"
"Are you asking because you don't know? Her nickname is the attempted pulley murderer."
"I don't care about that. Ines didn’t kill him.”
“Will you just stay still at home?”
“Her brother will inherit the title anyway, and Ines will become a noble again in a year, so there’s no legal problem.”
“Have you thought that far ahead?”
“That’s what they say, that’s what they say.”
The sound of the water that had been incessant became quiet as Charlotte dipped into the water.
“Huh?”
“I guess I’m a little happy.”
If someone heard her, they’d think she was crazy. Charlotte had lost her child to her husband’s violence. On top of that, she had been stripped of her noble status for almost killing her husband and had been living as a maid for five years. Nevertheless, Ines could understand what she was saying.
“Huh?”
“I guess I’m a little happy.”
If someone heard her, they’d think she was crazy. Charlotte had lost her child to her husband’s violence. On top of that, she had been stripped of her noble status for almost killing her husband and had been living as a maid for five years. Nevertheless, Ines could understand what she was saying.
“I’m excited about the fact that I can be anything from now on. There’s no husband here who beats me. And I like walking around like this. It’s so fun to see new things.”
Charlotte came out of the water, having washed up. Ines was relieved that she could only see a faint silhouette under the faint moonlight. If you didn’t look closely, you wouldn’t even be able to tell that there was a person there.
“I’ll sit on that rock. Go wash up. The water is really cool.”
Ines left Charlotte behind and crossed the shallow stream to a more secluded place. The lantern was far away, so it was dark for a moment, but she soon adjusted to the moonlight. She could see the moon’s shadow rippling and forming in the transparent water.
As she went further in, one side was much deeper than she had expected. She curled up and sank down, submerging her head in water.
Gulp, the vacuum made it so she couldn’t hear any surrounding noise. Ines felt at peace, feeling as if she were cut off from the world.
At that moment, Charlotte was standing face to face with someone she hadn’t expected.
“Your Grace?”
She could see him from afar because he was so confidently carrying the bright lantern. He was the biggest of the group, so even if he was alone, it was easy to distinguish Carson.
Charlotte glanced at Ines in confusion.
“You came here to wash, right?”
His question seemed so casual that Charlotte nodded absentmindedly.
“Are you done washing?”
“Yes? Yes...”
“Ines is inside?”
“Yes.”
“Go first. I’ll guard here and take her.”
“Ha, but...”
Carson snickered at Charlotte’s reaction. Then he shouted loudly into the darkness.
“Ines, I’m here. I’ll send Charlotte back, so wash up and come out.”
At his voice, a loud splashing sound could be heard in the water. Despite the lord’s order, Charlotte couldn’t move her feet and floundered.
“I’m worried. There are a lot of wild animals here. There are too many men.”
However, Charlotte couldn’t bring herself to ask, “Isn’t my lord also a man?” Carson smiled again as he looked at her expression.
“Don’t worry, I won’t peek.”
Of course, she didn’t worry about that. Carson von Raymond peeked at the naked body of a bathing maid. It was something Charlotte had never imagined. Then there was no reason not to go.
Of course, her friend must have been very embarrassed in the water, but the relationship between the two was not something that could be judged by ordinary people.
“Oh, don’t take the bucket. There are knights who want to help.”
Carson watched Charlotte leave and sat down where she had been. He hadn’t intended to come here like a thug from the beginning. He thought back to what had just happened at the campsite.
Carson got out of the wagon and followed Ines with his eyes. He had developed a habit of always keeping her in sight, even if he couldn’t approach her to talk to her or take care of her. Normally, he would have found her right away, but today, for some reason, he couldn’t see her no matter how hard he looked.
He knew that Ines often took a bucket of water to help prepare meals.
Carson couldn’t wait any longer and went out to look for her.
“What was that? ‘Goodbye... Goodbye.’ Go.”
“Be quiet, phew.”
As he approached where she might be, Carson happened to hear two knights talking. Of course, at first, he just tried to pass by.
“Well, I don’t really use informal language easily either.”
“Yeah, maybe because she’s originally a noble, her mannerisms are different.”
At that point, Carson couldn’t help but stop. He could tell that the topic of their conversation was Ines.
“She really is pretty. When I looked up close, her face was shining. I don’t know, but if you put her in a dress, your eyes would roll around.”
“I... have seen her.”
Carson tried to look at the face of the knight who said he had seen her in a dress. Glenn Methefill. He wasn’t particularly skilled, but he was a pretty honest knight.
“Really? Where?”
“...”
“Well, you’re different from me. I guess the second son of a Viscount would go to banquets often. How was she? Was she pretty?”
"An angel... was like that."
The knight called Hugh made a playful 'oooh' sound at Glenn.
But Glenn spoke seriously despite his mischievous reaction.
Back then, Ines was a star in the sky, but now she was like a flower blooming beside him.
Carson bit his lower lip.
A flower blooming beside him... Rather than using such poetic expressions, he thought it would be better to make some low-quality jokes about Ines.
"But don't be serious."
"Why?"
"Are you asking because you don't know? Her nickname is the attempted pulley murderer."
"I don't care about that. Ines didn’t kill him.”
“Will you just stay still at home?”
“Her brother will inherit the title anyway, and Ines will become a noble again in a year, so there’s no legal problem.”
“Have you thought that far ahead?”
“That’s what they say, that’s what they say.”
“Still, Arthur.”
Hugh lowered his voice a little so that no one would hear.
“There are rumors that Ines and the lord have a special relationship.”
“I know. That rumor was rampant in Landhill a few years ago. But that’s over now.”
“How do you know that?”
“Even a guy like me wouldn't date a woman who’d be kicked out of the family. How could someone like my lord take such a woman as his wife?”
“Well, that’s true.”
“I couldn’t do that if I were my lord. Anyone with even a little pride as a noble could never go into a place that would bring such a stain on themselves.”
Up until this point, Carson had tried to hold back.
Of course, he was upset, but it was always the case that people would gather and gossip about him. If he got involved in such matters, he would be unable to do anything all day. However, Carson could not bear to stand the words that followed.
“But those two went to wash, right?”
There was no answer to Hugh’s question.
“Shouldn’t we go and protect them?”
“You brat.”
“What do you think of people, and what if a big beast comes out of that forest?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m telling you, carry the heavy bucket on the way here. That’s how we can become friends.”
Glenn, who had thought he would naturally say no, paused for a moment.
“Then... shall we just go nearby?”
“Where!”
The two turned around in surprise at the unexpected, uninvited voice.
“Your Highness!”
They immediately knelt on one knee as if they had seen a ghost. They were so surprised that their hair was shaking.
“Forgive me.”
Carson slowly approached them. He didn’t speak, but the pressure was immense. However, contrary to his expectations, the voice he heard was quite loud.
“What is this, the Flambeur era? Are I going to kill you for saying one wrong word?”
The Flambeur era was the absolute monarchy of a hundred years ago. At that time, mentioning the name of the royal family could lead to death.
“I’m not talking nonsense.”
“That woman was like an angel,” he said, as if he was joking with his friend.
But who was he?
People knew Carson as a brilliant strategist, but not among the knights. If this were a war, he would have been called a war hero. When such a person spoke to him so casually, his knees began to tremble again.
“But you know. I think it would be better to be a little more selective about where you’re talking. If that woman had heard what you just said, instead of me, you’d be dead. You wouldn’t even have to go to a knight’s trial. So, let’s say a prayer of thanks and go to bed tonight.”
“I didn’t mean it badly. But it was a big mistake to say it out of the blue. Please forgive me.”
Glenn’s voice was trembling, but he confessed his mistake clearly.
“I know, I know. But that’s worse. You don’t have to have good intentions toward her. That flower that seems to have bloomed beside you will soon be turned into a star in the sky by me.”
Carson turned to them, wondering what he was doing to the twenty-something knights.
But he couldn’t help but say childish things to them again.
“And don’t call her by her name. It took me so long to call her by her name, so what’s so easy for you?”
It was forced. It was natural for knights to call the maids by their names. But more than anything, it was when Ines was called by her name that Carson couldn’t easily calm down.
He was determined to put the woman in a position where no one could call her name without permission. Without hesitation, he held the lantern and walked toward Ines.
“That’s why I can’t help but say sorry.”
As he walked along the dark night road, only his shadow led him, he suddenly muttered to himself. If she had heard it, Ines would have heard it over and over again, her ears tingling with such stories.
Attempted murderer of a pulley, a stain.
That’s why even when he looked at her as a man, she couldn’t stand as a woman. She couldn’t stick to him as if she were dirt.
But what must it have been like for her to not be able to leave his side?
He let out a deep sigh and walked toward Ines.
The sound of water splashing behind him brought him out of his thoughts. But this time, his thoughts were more varied. The sound of wiping off the water and putting on clothes sounded like thunder to his ears.
Carson took a deep breath and looked up at the sky from the rock. When the moonlight felt brighter than the lantern, he heard her approaching him in a hurry.
He jumped down from the rock.
Hugh lowered his voice a little so that no one would hear.
“There are rumors that Ines and the lord have a special relationship.”
“I know. That rumor was rampant in Landhill a few years ago. But that’s over now.”
“How do you know that?”
“Even a guy like me wouldn't date a woman who’d be kicked out of the family. How could someone like my lord take such a woman as his wife?”
“Well, that’s true.”
“I couldn’t do that if I were my lord. Anyone with even a little pride as a noble could never go into a place that would bring such a stain on themselves.”
Up until this point, Carson had tried to hold back.
Of course, he was upset, but it was always the case that people would gather and gossip about him. If he got involved in such matters, he would be unable to do anything all day. However, Carson could not bear to stand the words that followed.
“But those two went to wash, right?”
There was no answer to Hugh’s question.
“Shouldn’t we go and protect them?”
“You brat.”
“What do you think of people, and what if a big beast comes out of that forest?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m telling you, carry the heavy bucket on the way here. That’s how we can become friends.”
Glenn, who had thought he would naturally say no, paused for a moment.
“Then... shall we just go nearby?”
“Where!”
The two turned around in surprise at the unexpected, uninvited voice.
“Your Highness!”
They immediately knelt on one knee as if they had seen a ghost. They were so surprised that their hair was shaking.
“Forgive me.”
Carson slowly approached them. He didn’t speak, but the pressure was immense. However, contrary to his expectations, the voice he heard was quite loud.
“What is this, the Flambeur era? Are I going to kill you for saying one wrong word?”
The Flambeur era was the absolute monarchy of a hundred years ago. At that time, mentioning the name of the royal family could lead to death.
“I’m not talking nonsense.”
“That woman was like an angel,” he said, as if he was joking with his friend.
But who was he?
People knew Carson as a brilliant strategist, but not among the knights. If this were a war, he would have been called a war hero. When such a person spoke to him so casually, his knees began to tremble again.
“But you know. I think it would be better to be a little more selective about where you’re talking. If that woman had heard what you just said, instead of me, you’d be dead. You wouldn’t even have to go to a knight’s trial. So, let’s say a prayer of thanks and go to bed tonight.”
“I didn’t mean it badly. But it was a big mistake to say it out of the blue. Please forgive me.”
Glenn’s voice was trembling, but he confessed his mistake clearly.
“I know, I know. But that’s worse. You don’t have to have good intentions toward her. That flower that seems to have bloomed beside you will soon be turned into a star in the sky by me.”
Carson turned to them, wondering what he was doing to the twenty-something knights.
But he couldn’t help but say childish things to them again.
“And don’t call her by her name. It took me so long to call her by her name, so what’s so easy for you?”
It was forced. It was natural for knights to call the maids by their names. But more than anything, it was when Ines was called by her name that Carson couldn’t easily calm down.
He was determined to put the woman in a position where no one could call her name without permission. Without hesitation, he held the lantern and walked toward Ines.
“That’s why I can’t help but say sorry.”
As he walked along the dark night road, only his shadow led him, he suddenly muttered to himself. If she had heard it, Ines would have heard it over and over again, her ears tingling with such stories.
Attempted murderer of a pulley, a stain.
That’s why even when he looked at her as a man, she couldn’t stand as a woman. She couldn’t stick to him as if she were dirt.
But what must it have been like for her to not be able to leave his side?
He let out a deep sigh and walked toward Ines.
The sound of water splashing behind him brought him out of his thoughts. But this time, his thoughts were more varied. The sound of wiping off the water and putting on clothes sounded like thunder to his ears.
Carson took a deep breath and looked up at the sky from the rock. When the moonlight felt brighter than the lantern, he heard her approaching him in a hurry.
He jumped down from the rock.
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