Chapter 26 seems to have loosened up a bit
Chapter 26 seems to have loosened up a bit
“I am surprised. The Lady of Count Fordward asked me all those things.”
I’m not being sarcastic at all.
I didn’t expect that he would really ask about me, so it was nothing more than a feeling of wonder.
“… ….”
Her pale purple eyes were staring at me. It was an insensitive look that didn’t show any dislike or hostility.
“If you don’t want to answer, don’t.”
Mullia jerked her head away from her again. Then, with her chin on her chin, she looked at the street scene.
A look that really drew attention from me.
“I never said no.”
“I see.”
The silence returned after a concise response.
All around us was the sound of the wagon wheels rolling.
“Let’s pretend the question just wasn’t there.”
Mulia still didn’t look at me.
Did you say a word because you were bored?
Maybe. No matter how quiet a person normally is, it would be boring to sit in the carriage without doing anything.
I was in that state now too.
‘Well, it’s not really something to hide.’
While we were measuring the timing to speak out, the carriage stopped near the entrance to the northern gate.
“I’ll get off and check the surroundings.”
“… ….”
First of all, since I came all the way here for work, I needed to take a look.
I jumped off the wagon. I looked around the walls and the streets, but there was nothing wrong.
After checking, I finally approached the guards guarding the gate. It was because there was something to be delivered in advance.
“Is it okay for a moment?”
I approached the guard guarding the left side of the door. While talking to him, he did not forget to show the imperial plaque, which symbolizes being an imperial staff member.
“Yes. Are you having any trouble?”
As soon as the knight confirmed my imperial defeat, he stood at attention with a spirited face.
I was yawning just a moment ago.
Thanks to that, I was able to realize the power of the imperial defeat.
“Ah. There is nothing difficult, I have something to convey.”
“Yes. What is it?”
I asked the guard to inform the imperial family well in advance that the imperial knights will be returning here, to the northern gate, in a few days.
“There will also be a parade, so please check if there is anything unusual around the street.”
“Yes.”
“Deliver it to the captain of the guard.”
“Okay.”
The guard saluted me. Instead of saluting, I responded with a light wave of the hand, then climbed back into the carriage.
Now that the course inspection is over, it’s time to go back to the office.
That means you have to wrestle with the tide of paperwork again.
‘When the X run is over, another X run is waiting for me… ….’
Mulia had a calm expression with her arms crossed.
“How was it?”
“Ah. There was nothing wrong with it. I also conveyed the story to the guards well.”
“What are you talking about?”
Mullia raised one of her eyebrows as she expressed her doubts.
“Sooner or later, the Knights will return through the northern gate. I told them to contact the imperial family in advance before they arrive.”
“Certainly, this is a necessary story.”
Mulia put on an expression of understanding. After checking it, I gave the coachman instructions to depart.
The carriage ran down the street at a leisurely pace, just like before.
“… ….”
“… ….”
As soon as the necessary conversation was over, silence coiled around again.
But trying to keep my mouth shut was so painful that I couldn’t stand it.
Wow, why can’t this guy’s mouth stay still?
“The daughter of Count Fordward. You asked earlier. Where did I learn administrative work?”
“… ….”
Mulia did not answer. Instead, she only casts her gaze towards this side.
Still, looking at her like this can be interpreted as meaning that she is interested.
“Well, it doesn’t matter if you’re not curious. I’m bored on the way back, so I’m just trying to make a little noise.”
“… ….”
Mullia nodded her head slightly.
Still, it’s better than not responding at all.
“As you know, I am from the countryside. It’s called Nedville, and it’s so kinky that you have to ride a horse for about 15 days here, kinky village. Perhaps the Lady of Count Fordward didn’t even know a place like this existed.”
“Right.”
Mulia briefly expressed her affirmation.
“My father was the lord of Nedville, but he was so informal… …. Do you think it is possible for the Lady of Count Fordward to get along with nobles and commoners?”
Mullia tilted her head slightly to one side, her eyes wide open. A reaction she couldn’t even imagine.
That’s right. It’s normal for normal nobles to come out like that.
That means my father is abnormal.
By the way, I never say anything behind my back. It’s just a story that is so when you see it from the universal perspective of this era.
“Right. It’s normal to think that we can’t be friends. Just like the lady’s reaction just now.”
“Yes. Yes. Because there is an insurmountable difference in status between nobles and commoners.”
I nodded and agreed. What she said was a theory that any aristocrat could relate to.
“That was the atmosphere of our manor. To begin with, even if we were nobles, we, the Nedville family, were everything. Also, since the territory is so small, we just treat each other comfortably. And it was all the more because my father really liked meeting people.”
Mulia’s pale purple eyes gradually showed interest in her. If the listener is immersed in the story like this, it gets more exciting from the point of view of the story.
“The story has gone down a side road. Anyway, my father can’t sit still for a long time. Except for my father, I was the only one who knew how to work. So, naturally, I almost took charge of the Yeongji business. From managing the facilities of the manor, to understanding the harvest of Sesurang, to managing food stockpiling for the winter, and so on.”
“You seem to have done everything necessary to run the manor.”
“That’s it. As a result, I did a lot of paperwork. Well, it was really nothing compared to what we are doing here.”
I let it out in a non-trivial tone and shrugged.
It was actually like that. There were so many papers that Nedville handled in a day, at most fifty or so.
But even if you can’t do it here, you have to process 400 to 500 sheets a day, so there’s no comparison.
“I didn’t know you had such an experience.”
Mulia gave a low voice.
“Well, unless someone asks first, it’s not worth talking about.”
“That…… Yes.”
She nodded softly.
Anyway, was there any significance to this boasting?
I don’t think there’s anything special other than that it relieved my boredom a little bit.
But I thought it was going to be soon.
It was because I didn’t feel particularly qualified for being from the countryside. Mulia wouldn’t be inclined to be prejudiced in this way either.
Well, even though it’s being treated as a wary target.
“But… ….”
“Yes?”
I leaned forward to hear her voice a little better. She pursed her lips a few times before speaking her words.
“Thanks to you, I think I know a little bit about what kind of person you are.”
First of all, it seems that the guard against me has loosened a little.
* * *
The carriage with Luke and Mulia arrived at the imperial palace.
Luke got off the wagon first and then held out his hand for Mulia to get off. Mullia gave her thanks with a slight movement of her head, then she took his hand.
“Let’s go back soon.”
“Yes.”
Luke took the lead and moved his steps. However, considering Mulia’s stride, he moved at a slightly slower pace than usual.
‘The more I look at it, the more caring it seems.’
Mullia thought as she looked at her wide back, unlike her own.
Ever since she heard that Luke had helped Cecilia out of trouble the other day, she had let her guard down little by little.
It was a very personal and trivial curiosity that brought up administrative work as a topic while traveling by carriage today.
Actually, Luke tends to do her work quickly and accurately, so she couldn’t help but wonder.
There’s no way he could do so well with just one month of learning from his former secretary, Count Milord.
‘Actually, I thought you wouldn’t tell me.’
However, Luke told the background of his life more candidly than his birthplace. Even though he was the one who showed hostility towards himself.
Perhaps he didn’t care much about the hostility he displayed.
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“… ….”
When she thought that far, Mullia suddenly felt her face turn hot. Then, wouldn’t she be the same as making a clown by herself?
“The Lady of Count Fordward?”
At that moment, Luke stopped his steps and looked back.
Luke was just trying to make sure she was following. But the timing wasn’t too good.
“!”
Mulia covered her own face, her flushed face, with her hands.
“The countess’s daughter?”
“Well, never mind me, go first… ….”
Luke tilted his head, not knowing why. Then she decided to go back to her office first, as soon as Mullia wanted her to.
What must have happened?
“Haa… ….”
As her rook moved away, Mullia let out a deep sigh.
She had to fan her hands on the spot for a while to cool her flushed face.
* * *
That night, Flora and Mulia were gathered in Cecilia’s room. The three women were sitting around a round tea table, enjoying a game of cards.
“Hey, Mulia.”
“Yes?”
Mulia turned her head towards Flora, not looking at her deck of cards in her hand.
“What did you and Luke talk about today?”
There was anticipation on Flora’s face as she threw a question mark.
I was expecting something to happen.
“I am a little bit interested.”
Suddenly, Cecilia also intervened. This made her unable to keep Mullia from shutting her mouth.
She told the two women about her conversation with Luke as they traveled in her carriage during the day.
“Oh, my God. You had such a conversation. It was more normal than I thought.”
Still, Flora nodded her head in satisfaction.
“Certainly it was good that I sent Luke and you together.”
“Isn’t it? Does Your Majesty think so too?”
Listening to the conversation between Cecilia and Flora, Mulia felt puzzled.
“Flora. What the hell…….”
“Ah. Actually, you and Luke don’t get along very well, so I wanted you to get closer.”
“Flora asked for it. I readily accepted.”
“Ah… ….”
That’s why she went out with the secretary.
She was Mulia who had a belated realization.
“So, have you changed your mind about Mr. Luke?”
Flora pushed her upper body towards Mulia. With that momentum, Mulia slipped behind her.
“Not yet, not completely… ….”
“But isn’t it?”
Flora asked, and Cecilia watched her Mullia with her curious eyes. Before long, she said Mullia in a low voice.
“I think I can trust you a little bit.”
-Continued