| Chapter 30

I was half serious. I thought it might be better to be with them wherever they were going rather than being left alone in this unfamiliar place.

Kirhin’s expression, which seemed surprised, quickly softened. He got up from his seat and approached me, gently placing his hand on one of my shoulders. I looked up at him with a bewildered expression.

“You’re scared of being lonely, aren’t you, Lucy? It’s okay. I’ve told Nina to take good care of you. Let me say it once more, everyone here should remember that Lucienne Bickman is my sister. While I’m gone, think of Lucy’s words as my words and follow them.”

The servants around them bowed their heads at Kirhin’s words, spoken with emphasis. As I glanced at Nina’s face, who was narrowing her eyes, I saw Kirhin bending one knee to sit. He looked into my face and smiled.

“This kind of thing will happen often from now on. It’s all for the family, so don’t worry about anything and just focus on studying hard. With the new tutor, okay?”

“Okay.”

When I made a dejected expression, Kirhin poked my cheek.

“Ask Brook or Nina for anything you need. Oh, and there’s one thing you have to do.”

“What is it?”

“I’ll send word ahead when I’m coming back, so on that day, you should wear the pretty dress I bought you, make sure to wear the perfume bottle, and come out to greet me. It would be even better if you come running from the moment you hear the horse’s hooves and throw yourself into this big brother’s arms.”

What a strange thing to like. It seemed like he thought of me as a pet dog he was raising at home.

When his gaze urged me to answer, I reluctantly nodded, and Kirhin ruffled my hair before standing up.

“Good. Now I should get going. Brook. Is everything ready?”

“Yes, master.”

“Then let’s go.”

I went to the door to see Kirhin off as he left the mansion. The carriage he rode in and the horses ridden by the escort knights disappeared into dots. It felt like silence was descending upon the vast mansion.

“Now, Lucy. It’s almost time for your etiquette teacher to arrive, isn’t it? We should hurry.”

Laurel, standing beside me, naturally pushed my back. As I turned my head, Nina’s stern voice rang out.

“The meal is not over yet. And,”

Standing with a rigid posture, Nina exuded an authority as if she were the master of this mansion. Her cold gaze pierced Laurel like a knife.

“If you’re going to serve the young lady, you should maintain proper etiquette. What kind of tutor calls a noble young lady by her first name so casually?”

A smile slowly spread across Laurel’s face. It was an unexpectedly combative smile, not born from goodwill.

“We’ve known each other for a long time. Since Lucy was very young.”

“I saw the master being born.”

Nina didn’t budge at Laurel’s words. This time, her gaze fixed on me.

“The Bickman family has its traditions. As a member of the family, you should learn to uphold those traditions. If you let yourself be looked down upon by subordinates, you’ll end up lowering yourself, young lady.”

It wasn’t something that should be said by someone who seemed to look down on me the most while calling me ‘young lady’, but if we were to consider the principle, there was no flaw in Nina’s words.

Moreover, I have to see Laurel here as a completely different person from the Laurel at the laundry place. I needed to distance myself from her, who was acting as if we were extremely close.

“I think Nina is right.”

“Lucy.”

Laurel grabbed my arm with a hurt expression. I slowly removed her arm while looking at her.

“Adapting to changes in circumstances is the basics of conduct. Shouldn’t you be thinking about my reputation rather than emphasizing our friendship?”

“You…”

Laurel, who was staring with disbelief, closed her mouth at Nina’s sharp gaze flying towards her. I calmly walked back and sat down in the chair.

“Nina. Tea.”

“What kind would you like?”

Nina never brought it without question. In some ways, she was even stricter than the etiquette teacher. There were times when even Kirhin seemed to be under her scrutiny.

Suppressing a sigh, I tried to recall. I had a good memory and always kept my senses alert during meals with Kirhin at the mansion to avoid making mistakes.

Kirhin drank different teas in the morning and evening. I, who had never tasted anything but tea made from leftover leaves sold cheaply, couldn’t possibly know the brands and types of tea. He would often order for me from Nina when I didn’t know what to do.

“Agess Mountain black tea would be nice. With milk.”

A faint smile appeared on Nina’s lips as I mentioned the familiar name. Her expression seemed to say, ‘That’s all you know, isn’t it?’ It hurt my pride, but it was true. At least I had avoided being embarrassed in front of Laurel.

“I’ll prepare it for you.”

When Nina withdrew, I sat calmly under Laurel’s pointed gaze. And looking at the sunlight pouring in warmly through the wide windows, I made a wish.

…I hope everyone return safely.

* * *

Lars turned his head at the rustling sound. Yanken was walking in, pushing through the bushes.

“How’s the situation around?”

“It’s still quiet for now.”

“We can’t let our guard down. Killing the baron means they’ve been watching the movements of the Freemont merchant group.”

“I did tell them to be careful about deception, but…”

Lars knew well why Yanken was trailing off.

The merchant group people didn’t actually have to deal with them. Although Balshwin was trying to take more and more excessive profits, the merchant group was somewhat giving up because his power was too great to defy.

It was Lars who persuaded them. He emphasized that Balshwin was not a person who would be satisfied with this much. If they kept giving in like this, the merchant group itself could be swallowed up by Balshwin.

Using the wealth accumulated in this way, Balshwin would grow his army, and Lars could see where the spearhead of that army would eventually point. Diverting the deal with the Freemont merchant group elsewhere was the starting point to prevent all of that.

The merchant group responded to their proposal because of their friendship with the Bickman family and because Lars’s story made sense, but if they saw Balshwin’s cruelty with their own eyes, there was a possibility their minds could change. At least for today, everyone needed to be safe.

That’s why they chose an abandoned farmhouse at the edge of the forest as the meeting place. There were mercenaries Yanken had recruited hiding in the forest. They weren’t many in number, but each individual was highly skilled. They were all from Lars’s unit during the war.

“Someone’s coming.”

Yanken whispered softly as he lowered his body. Lars, who had already sensed the presence, had his hand on his waist while sharply staring out the window.

As he listened to the sound of someone crossing the dark grass, he soon relaxed his guard and exhaled. Judging by the careless footsteps, he could guess who it was.

“Little duckling Betty. Little duckling Betty. Little duckling Betty.”

Kirhin, who recited the password as if complaining, opened the door and came in. Startled by Yanken’s murderous gaze, he quickly cleared his throat pretending to be bold and approached Lars.

“Don’t people usually use more impressive words for passwords?”

“The purpose of a password is to distinguish between those involved and those who aren’t. What’s wrong with Betty?”

When Lars asked indifferently, Kirhin, at a loss for words, shuddered.

“It’s too cold, the road is muddy, did it have to be a place like this? If we went out just a little further, there are plenty of warm and spacious places.”

“If that were the case, you would have already gone to your father’s side on your way here.”

Lars spoke calmly, but it was enough to sound ominous. Kirhin hugged himself with both arms and made a strange frown.

“Is the situation that dangerous?”

The sound of Yanken clicking his tongue could be heard. Lars shook his head and asked.

“The ring.”

“Of course, it’s here.”

On Kirhin’s outstretched finger was a thick ring engraved with the bull, the emblem of the Bickman family. It was proof that he was the rightful heir to the barony and an item needed when signing contracts with the people of the merchant group.

“Act with dignity. Fortunately, those people don’t know yet that you’re not exactly a trustworthy person.”

As Lars said with a slight smile to prevent the atmosphere from becoming too heavy, Kirhin wrinkled his nose bridge, seemingly relaxed.

“If there’s even one woman on their side, the story will be different. I’ll be the key to success. If you acknowledge my abilities then, it might already be too late…”

Kirhin, who was continuing to speak while puffing out his chest like a proud peacock, suddenly stopped. His nostrils were flaring. Sniffing as he approached Lars, Kirhin smiled with an impressed expression.

“I thought I smelled a nice fragrance, did you also consider the possibility of a woman being on their side, Lars? But this scent feels somehow familiar. Where have I smelled this before?”