Chapter 42
Soon, a chilly voice fell.
“You’re unusually flippant today, Tepe.”
“…My apologies.”
“Anyone watching would think you’d become my aide through your flapping gums, not your sword.”
At the abuse so impartially dealt even to his close aide, Lucy wore a slightly appalled expression.
‘Who talks to people like that.’
Yet Tepe, on the receiving end of the verbal lashing, acknowledged it without any particular damage.
“I will correct it.”
“Do not make me correct it twice.”
“Of course.”
As if that weren’t enough, he immediately straightened his posture, perhaps thinking he himself had gone a bit too far.
It seemed he was accustomed to Edward’s manner of speech.
‘Should I be relieved, then?’
Lucy, who had been worried the atmosphere might sour, felt a little reassured.
And then she became aware of Edward’s body pressed close to hers.
‘Oh.’
A strange feeling came over her.
The armor that had felt cold when it had touched her throat earlier was burning hot again now.
Just like when she had been held in his arms all of yesterday, just like when she had kissed him…
‘…I said stop thinking about it!’
When she subtly pulled away to escape the blazing heat, the blood of the demonic beast that had been smeared on Edward’s armor transferred onto Lucy’s clothes.
Edward, noticing this, subtly pushed Lucy back as well and asked Tepe again.
“Enough. What of the temple’s forces?”
“Ah. We led them as far away as possible and dealt with them.”
“They won’t be heading this way anytime soon, then.”
“No. We sent the coachman back through the post station. He’ll likely arrive at the duchy in a few days.”
Gorgo, who had carefully added to Tepe’s words, studied Lucy and Edward with particular attention.
His eyes were oddly meaningful.
‘What’s that?’
Before Lucy could even ponder the meaning of that gazeâ
Edward nodded and waved a dismissive hand, then examined Lucy.
Her face had grown smooth and glossy, like a peeled egg. It seemed she could move again soon.
And above all, he needed to get her to the duchy quickly and…
‘I’ll have to fix that habit of hers, being so generous with everyone.’
Look at the way she’d praised that Count Whatever.
And just now, with Tepe, hadn’t he been completely charmed by this little mouse without even realizing it?
This was his mouse.
Even if he was a close aide, there was no way it could feel good to have another man’s hands on her.
Soon, his gaze drifted toward the inn door.
Through the door, left slightly ajar, a swarm of unwelcome guests was visible.
“Everyone, please, you mustn’t. You must let His Grace rest…”
“I said it will only take a moment!”
Before the innkeeper, drenched in sweat, stood nobles attempting to make amends for their blunders, along with the commoners who had been taking issue with Edward earlier.
The moment he finished speaking, they were poised to throw open the door, rush in, and beg.
‘I detest troublesome things.’
Honestly, he couldn’t have cared less what any of them said.
His only thought was to take the woman before him and bring her to his territory as quickly as possible.
Edward made up his mind swiftly.
“Then we’ll leave at once.”
“Leave?”
“Yes.”
And he returned the answer Lucy had been wishing for all along.
“To the Duchy of Thesseron.”
* * *
“Aaaargh!”
Crash!
Meanwhile, in the innermost chamber of the temple in the capital.
Expensive vases, paperweights, and the like hurtled through the air.
The faces of the temple maids standing nearby drained of color.
“Lady Sepina. Whatever is the matter, to be so furious? Please, calm yourself.”
“Indeed. If you rage too fiercely, you’ll harm your health…”
“Shut your mouth!”
“Eek!”
Soon, a vase came flying at the maids.
Shatter!
The maids, nearly struck by the fragments that burst apart, scattered in terror like the receding tide.
And then, breaking out in cold sweat, they retreated to the corner.
“Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?”
“Exactly. She was always such an angel.”
“I don’t know either…”
The maids, who had no idea of the circumstances, rolled their eyes and gauged Sepina’s mood.
As if astonished that the saintess, who at any other time would have smiled at them and treated them kindly, was behaving like this out of nowhere.
Whether the maids did so or not, Sepina was far too busy gnashing her teeth.
The composure to don a mask of kindness had long since run dry.
‘It was almost within my grasp!’
Edward had always been curt, and yet, to receive purification, he had visited her without fail each time.
Once their bodies were bound, winning his heart was only a matter of time.
At least, that was what Sepina had been taught.
‘But then why…’
