26 – 26. Belated Birthday Gift (5)
The day is slowly fading.
Since Harneye prioritized showing that we were together everywhere after the contract was signed, we didn’t do anything beyond that.
Instead of pretending to be lovers on the surface, I had to show that we were passionately in love, which took a lot of time to calm down his anger…
Anyway.
The contract engagement is neatly concluded with this.
“I think this is enough, Harneye.”
“I was about to say that I’ll be going back soon anyway.”
“Is that so.”
He’s still angry.
Well, it’s because of the bomb I set off, so I can’t help it.
“I understand that you don’t like it, but let’s not forget that we both have a purpose.”
“I don’t need to say that, I know.”
Huffing, Harneye suddenly reached out his hand.
“What are you doing?”
“Yes?”
“The carriage. When you get on, someone should escort you.”
“But I thought you didn’t like skinship?”
“No, still, you should do this! It’s natural among noble lovers…”
She looked at me as if bewildered.
Facing this situation, I was in a great crisis.
“What…? Escort? What is that?”
There’s no way the etiquette of nobles would make sense to modern people, let alone the naturalness between lovers in this era. For a Korean who has never traveled to Europe, just this scenery alone is already awkward enough. And now they want me to learn etiquette?
Talking about medieval noble etiquette! I only know how to say “I wish you good luck” in Korean style!
Sweat started dripping involuntarily. If I go back, instead of studying economics or society to see how the world is turning, I might have to ask for an etiquette teacher.
…Anyway.
During the moment I was in distress, Harnier, who was tilting her head, reached out and pointed to her lips.
“Hey. Karsain, do you happen to know how to escort?”
“…Yes.”
“Really?”
-Nods.
Surprised by the immediate nod, Harnier chuckled for a moment.
“Ahahahaha.”
She laughed.
With a lovely smile.
“Is that really so amusing?”
“Well, I’m sorry. I didn’t expect that kind of reaction.”
As Harnie laughed with the carriage in front of her, tears eventually welled up in her eyes.
Wiping away her tears, she asked.
“You really haven’t learned any etiquette?”
“No. Why?”
“I see.”
If it were Karsein, he would have learned it.
But it’s not me, so I didn’t learn.
Upon hearing that I didn’t learn etiquette, she took my hand and led me towards the carriage steps.
“Usually, the carriage steps are a bit higher for noble ladies. They wear long dresses and the fringes can be bothersome. So, you should be in this position to be able to get on. Offering your hand means you want it to be held.”
“Like this?”
“No, not gripping tightly, just four fingers. I’ll hold your thumb and give you strength as you climb.”
Oh. Even as a novice, I could understand her explanation quite well.
“The hand position is here. Since I have to climb onto the carriage from here, it would be easier to hold on if it’s slightly above a woman’s waist, right?”
“Hmm. I see.”
In addition to that, Harnie explained in detail how to escort someone in certain situations, such as when dealing with someone of higher status, receiving an important guest, or interacting with a fiancée.
And just as the opportunity presented itself, I gave him practice time and even practiced descending, engraving it firmly in my mind.
“You seem to learn faster than expected. You even consider my comfort while ascending.”
“I’ve practiced a lot while learning. It just came naturally. But, are you okay? You spent more time because of me.”
“To receive proper escort, it takes this much time, right? I became the fiancée who had secret rendezvous and shared love all these months because of someone.”
“…”
Sigh. There’s nothing to say, it’s my own fault.
“Anyway, I’ll really go now. I’ll decide the next schedule, so don’t worry.”
“Yes. Please go in first.”
I watched the sight until the carriage completely disappeared, and once I confirmed that the sun had almost set, I moved to the direction of the Grand Duke’s carriage.
Of course, the carriage didn’t head straight to the designated place.
I had separate business to attend to here.
As I rummaged through my pocket to see the money I had, I realized that I had forgotten something.
“Oh?”
A purple handkerchief popped out of my pocket.
“Hah, I forgot to return it.”
But the carriage had already left… well, what can I do.
I can give it to them next time.
***
“…”
Camilla constantly observes the actions of the coachman. She takes out a piece of paper for a brief moment. Then, after checking the time, she takes out the paper again and writes something.
These actions are naturally meant to be reported to someone.
And Camilla, she knew exactly who would receive that report.
Time goes back to when her owner, Karsein, asked her to prepare for an outing.
While Camilla was waiting for him, she met someone.
“Hey, is that Camilla over there?”
“…Master Emma.”
Emma, her supervisor who had been getting angrier lately.
“It really is Camilla, huh? I heard you were lucky enough to get out of solitary confinement. Why haven’t you even shown your face until now?”
“…”
“Well, it doesn’t matter anyway. Regardless of how this luck came about, your job remains the same.”
Camilla held back the words she wanted to say and remained silent.
Then Emma took out cash from her pocket and showed it to her.
“For the sake of the Duke, you will consider moving again, won’t you?”
Camilla didn’t care how Emma managed to convince her. To Camilla, who would move as long as she was paid, this upfront payment was a perfect means to eliminate hesitation and firmly establish her motivation for action.
There was no one more suitable than Camilla to lower Karsein’s reputation, diminish his presence, and restore the Duke’s favor.
“It seems like you’re about to go out. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of the groundwork. Just let me know roughly what you did outside. I’ll also inform the maidservant to some extent.”
Emma approached Camilla directly, placed the money firmly in her hands, and smirked before returning to where she originally belonged.
In Camilla’s hands were two different objects. In one hand, there was the hood that Karsein would wear, and in the other hand, there was the cash held by Emma.
The two cannot coexist.
Camilla is in a position where she must choose between following Carsein or obeying Emma’s orders and accepting under-the-table payments for her work.
Because of this, she firmly makes up her mind.
-Gwukgit.
Camilla crumpled the money pouch that was clenched in her left hand and put it in the maid’s apron pocket.
As time passed, the appointed time drew near.
“Mr. Marvin. It’s a bit late, but would it be okay to bring Lord Carsein?”
“Camilla personally? Why?”
“Well… I received the order in advance.”
“Hmm. I suppose. Since that woman receives different reports from two people. Go and come back.”
Marvin seemed indifferent.
Camilla left without any problems and was able to bring the items to the meeting place as Carsein had instructed.
When Carsein, who had finished his meeting with Harnier, arrived,
“You’re here, my lord.”
She greeted him without any visible reaction.
***
As instructed to wait in advance, Camilla stood ready.
“You’re here, my lord.”
The time given for free action in the game is so limited that it’s almost ridiculous.
To clear the episode and avoid dead flags by receiving information in advance, there is at most a few minutes of time.
Even after Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony, it was the same. The time to gather information was limited to a mere ten minutes, taking risks by stepping into the restricted area.
Even waking up early in the morning and including the extra time, the freedom gained from taking the current outing was even more precious.
“I have everything prepared, as I said.”
The map I asked Shayden to draw in advance. A hood to hide my appearance. A bag and various other things to conceal the appearance of the items.
That should be enough.
“The problem is… I’ve never ridden one of those.”
-Phew.
…No. It seems like I’m more afraid of riding it.
In the game, I used to ride horses like this.
In South Korea, the level was nothing more than encountering bad people if you had bad luck, even if the security was good and you walked the streets at night. But here, there was a bad ending waiting for you in the nightlife.
That’s why I had to shorten the time. To enter there before the sun completely set.
But…
-Phew, phew.
Damn it.
Honestly, it’s scary. In books, horses were a means of transportation favored by soldiers and veterans, but it’s not like that for ordinary people.
Cars. Taxis. Buses. Bicycles. Kick scooters and other modern means of transportation were desperately missed.
-Ding!
▶The current outing phase of Episode IV is in progress!◀
▶Travel by riding a horse!◀
Amidst my anxiety, the status window automatically appeared.
By this point, there was no other choice but to go along with the situation. I had to ride on this uncertain path. Just like the time I tried riding a horse during a math field trip to Jeju Island.
Suppressing my frustration, I tried to turn off the status window, but it displayed another message without my consent.
▶System malfunctioning behavior confirmed.◀
▶To proceed with the episode, choices will be enforced.◀
[1. Travel by horse.]
▶The forced action will depend on the above choice.◀
“Huh? What?”
Without resisting or arguing with the system, it continued to display the only choice available, forcing me to keep selecting it. And my body, seemingly on its own, started moving towards the horse.
And then, in a very familiar gesture, I found myself not just climbing onto the horse, but actually riding it.
“…Huh?”
While my body moved as if it wasn’t my own when climbing onto the horse, once I was on it, it didn’t feel strange at all.
And contrary to what I had feared, the horse was incredibly docile.
When I took a few steps and moved the reins myself, the horse understood my intentions and moved accordingly. It’s not that difficult… could it be because of the game system?
“No, it doesn’t matter what the reason is. I need to focus on riding this right now.”
I had to retrieve that item without fail to completely deactivate my dead trigger.
And then, suddenly, Camilla called out to me.
“Um, Your Highness.”
“Why?”
“May I accompany you, Your Highness?”
“Me? How would I know where you’re going?”
“I’m not sure where you’re headed… but if you take me with you, I’m sure it’ll be helpful.”
Hmm.
It doesn’t seem like taking the maid to that place would be helpful.
Because where I’m going is not your typical marketplace.
However, hearing Camilla’s words, spoken in a lowered voice, changes my thinking a bit.
“It seemed like the steward was keeping an eye on your movements.”
Keeping an eye on my movements.
That means someone from the Duke’s side has been sent to figure out my actions.
In case there’s a chance of suspicion.
From Noble mtl dot com
If I have to avoid that suspicion.
It would be safer to go with Camilla.
“I don’t have any clothes to hide your appearance, do you?”
“Just in case, I prepared two hoods.”
“Then it’s settled. We’ll go with just that.”
“…”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“Well…”
In an instant, a creepy chill ran down Camilla’s spine at her hesitation. As if she were ashamed, she shrank back.
Ah, could it be?
You too?
“I, I’m sorry. I don’t know how to ride a horse…”
Somehow, the bad feeling doesn’t seem to affect her.
Ask her to ride. She seemed to understand even if she didn’t continue speaking until the end.
In that moment, the status window appeared again, or rather, the choices forced by the system.
[ 1. Ride and move. ]
My body moved automatically again. Descending from the horse I had skillfully mounted, I helped Camilla to get on the saddle.
“Let’s go.”
After trying it once, it wasn’t difficult.
Thanks to the system, now that I could ride a horse, I should be able to return before sunset.
***
By the time I got used to riding, the desired location appeared.
8th Street. Although it was a place where fairly well-known shops, including O’Hella Boutique, were located, it was not a place mainly used by nobles as a destination outside of this bustling street.
Ironically, the bustling street was right next to this street, but as soon as I moved about twenty feet away, I felt a stark difference. This was exactly where the map that Shaden had drawn with concern indicated.
I had to be on high alert when stepping into this place.
“My lord. This place…”
“Shh. Don’t use that title here for no reason. It stands out.”
“Oh, I see. Then what should I call you?”
“Just be respectful. I won’t pay much attention to that.”
“Yes, I will.”
Even at first glance, the person in front of me gives off a rough impression. The moment they reveal themselves as a noble, they will quickly attract attention.
And then… everything I have will be taken away. Just like when I received a bad ending in a game.
“If I hadn’t come by horse, it would have been quite risky.”
Soon, it feels like the sun will set.
I needed to finish my business quickly and leave this place.
Following the map, a seemingly decent store came into view.
“Welcome, Osu.”
A man who was tidying up his merchandise glanced at Camilla with sharp eyes.
Camilla, as instructed beforehand, avoided making eye contact with the store owner.
The interior of the store was shabby and dim. The lighting was barely visible unless necessary, and it was quite different from a typical store that sells things.
It feels like a black market here.
-Ding.
I moved the episode forward a bit, but the choices didn’t seem to be any different.
I looked around the items with relief and pointed to what I was looking for with my finger.
“This. This. And even this. Can you calculate it all together?”
“Hmm. Wait a moment, Busch.”
The shopkeeper, who was tapping on the calculator, quickly gave me the total. Since I already knew the price, I just paid the money and waited. But…
“This is not enough? It adds up to 1700 pessel.”
What?
The prices seem strange. They wouldn’t be like this in the game.
“Hey, I want to know the detailed prices of the items.”
“Are you suspicious of the prices even after coming all the way here?”
“No, I just need to know which ones have higher values.”
“Well… if that’s what you want.”
The shop owner started writing the prices on a piece of paper without saying a word.
The prices of the other items were as I knew. They were exactly the same as the prices in the game, and just to make sure, I asked about other items and received the same answers.
Except for one.
“…Of all things, why did this one exceed the price?”
The price of the most expensive medicinal herb was 200 Pesels higher than in the main game.
The only difference was that I tried to buy it a little earlier than before, but I never expected such a difference.
“For your information, I won’t negotiate.”
I know. If the shop owner attempts to negotiate, I won’t be able to make any more deals with them.
“There’s no other choice.”
I had to buy those items, even if it meant selling the things I brought just in case.
And then, at that moment.
A hand reached out next to me and dropped the cash.
“I’ll pay the 200 Pesels here.”
The one paying the insufficient amount was none other than Camilla.