The lord of the mansion, who had been watching him with a firm expression, let out an awkward smile and scratched the back of his head.
"I was in trouble. I'm sorry if you've been offended."
Barcas, who was looking at him with cold eyes, crossed the courtyard.
In front of the gate, there was a cavalry line that had already finished preparing to depart.
While looking at them, Barcas spotted Thalia passing on a dirt road and stopped in his tracks.
Her neatly braided pale tan hair shone like pure gold in the autumn sun.
Looking closely at her pale face with fatigue, Barcas left his horse to the servant and approached her. Then the woman who was clutching the doorknob to get into the carriage glared at him warily.
"What, what..."
Barcas, who was about to put her in the carriage, slowly withdrew his hand.
His wife was like prey in front of her natural enemy. When he met her frightened blue eyes, he felt a slight cramp deep in his stomach. In a certain area that he couldn't clearly identify.
He stared at her face with narrow eyes, then took a step back.
As if she was relieved, he saw the tension escape from her body, and a bitter taste filled hia mouth.
Ignoring the strange reaction of his body, he calmly opened his mouth.
"I plan to travel on horseback from today. I'll put a separate escort next to the carriage, so if anything happens, please call me."
A faint sense of relief crossed her face. The woman, who lowered her long, abundant eyelashes as if to hide them, replied bluntly.
"Take care of yourself."
Then she pushes herself into the carriage as if running away.
Barcas, who had been standing by the door and watching quietly, let out a small sigh and turned around. Apparently, all the efforts he had put into adapting her to his hand were in vain.
Looking back on his Impatient behavior last night, it wasn't such a strange reaction.
'...It's better not to touch her for the time being.'
She was as sensitive and timid as a young wild horse.
If he wants to ease her vigilance, it's better not to approach it for a while.
Feeling the bitterness in his mouth thicken, he sat down on the saddle.
"Once again, thank you for accepting the invitation, Your Excellency."
The lord, who had been waiting a little further away, approached him again. Barcas turned his horse to the head of the long line of horses and shook his head slightly.
"We will resolve the marauder issue as soon as possible."
"Thank you. Then, I will see you in Calmor soon."
The man shouted in a booming voice.
He immediately spurred his horse.
As they passed the gates, mounted warriors followed in line. They seemed to have had a lot of fun the night before, and their bodies were filled with a strong smell of wine.
Barcas, who had been glancing at the faces of the cavalrymen, spat dryly at Tyron, who was driving his horse from a distance.
"Bring Lucas to the lead. Until I return to Calmor, I'll educate him myself."
The man gave him a worried look.
Are you worried that I will hurt that fledgling child?
Barkas, who shed a faint sarcasm and added coldly
"Should I say it twice?"
"...I'll bring him right away."
The man turned the horse's head and moved to the back of the ranks.
After a while, Lucas, with a stern face, drove his horse.
Barcas glanced down at his brother with dry eyes and nodded lightly.
"From now on, you will take on the role of a guide. Take the lead."
A clear sign of tension appeared on his young face, which had not yet lost its fluff. He seemed to sense the trials that were coming to him.
He nodded once more.
"What are you doing without coming out in the lead?"
After hesitating for a moment, the boy swung the reins and took the lead.
He added bitterly against his stiff back.
"From now on, I cannot allow you to deviate from the ranks or deviate from my field of vision. If you fail to fulfill your role, you must also take responsibility for it."
"Your Excellency, he is still Inexperienced..."
"Tyron El Drakhan."
The man who was presumptuously intervening immediately shut up.
Barcas issued his first and last warning.
"If you interrupt me just one more time, you'll pay for it."
A cold silence flowed through the cavalrymen. He seemed to realize that his warning was directed at everyone present.
Barcas glanced at the cavalry with a sharp gaze and turned his eyes to Lucas again.
"Let's go."
Lucas, who glanced over his shoulder, spurred his horse. Barcas immediately followed his brother.
They were to make a big detour around the northeast and head south.
After moving to the border of the old kingdom of Alex, they must turn west again and inspect the southeastern region.
Finally, after touring the northwestern area, when they arrive at Calmor, the tour of the territory is completed.
Until then, if you hold it for a long time, it will take about half a month.
It was enough time to discipline his immature brother.
He carefully examined his surroundings and followed Lucas closely. He was determined not to meddle in his brother's guidance unless there was a great danger.
Fortunately, Lucas skillfully found his way without deviating too much from the set route.
However, since he lacked the experience of leading a group, he would enter the remote road without thinking about those who followed him.
In the end, Lucas was visibly discouraged when he went back the way he came.
"Familiarize yourself with the map. Tomorrow we must reach the area around the Brin arch."
It was not until late at sunset that Barcas arrived at the camp and spoke harshly to his brother.
"If the road is delayed, it is all your responsibility. Keep your mind straight and do your part."
"...Why is that my responsibility?"
Barcas, who had come down from the saddle and dragged his horse to the water's edge, paused and looked back at his brother.
Lucas glared at him with a defiant look.
"The delay in the schedule is because of the older brother who made a childish complaint about yesterday's Incident!"
He could hear the sound of heavy breathing everywhere.
Lucas's face was also tense. However, he thought he couldn't do anything about it, and he was upright on the nape of his bronze neck.
Barcas let out a long sigh and slowly walked up to his brother.
Lucas raised his chin high and rolled his eyes fiercely.
With a dry smile, Barcas reached out and swept up his disheveled dark brown coriander hair. Lucas's shoulders stiffened as if surprised by the sudden touch. He grabbed the back of his brother's head and tilted his head tightly over his contemplative face.
"If I had intended to vent my anger over yesterday's incident, I would have put you in the sparring arena instead of causing such annoying trouble."
Blood flowed from his wheat-tanned face. Barcas added softly to that carefree face, which he had never taken responsibility for in his life.
"Thank you that you are not yet an adult and that you are my brother, Lucas. Otherwise, instead of putting you in front of me, I would have put you in the same place as Alec Gutban."
"..."
"If you understand what I mean, you should apologize politely to this brother."
"...I'm sorry, brother"
"Yes. I forgive you for your rudeness."
He continued softly.
"Sooner or later, you will have to apologize for trying to tease my wife's tongue carelessly. Now she says she doesn't even want to see your face, so I just let her go."
Lucas bit his lip.
Barcas, who was staring down at his face that was hot with contempt, let go of his hand as if shaking.
"Now do your thing."
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