Chapter 80

80. Difficult Mission (1)

‘Baby?’

Roella waved her hands in the air.

“Mother!”

‘Mother?’

……She’s the Countess of Changeling?

Didn’t they say she was gentle and shy?

Adelaide stared at the woman running toward her, forgetting that she was supposed to greet her. She was not at all like the ladies of the capital.

Her hair was tied back in a single ponytail, her face was makeup-free, her skin was sunburned and unkempt, and she wore the most comfortable clothes in the world.

‘What kind of clothes are those? ’

Adelaide, familiar with the traditional dress of the Helenians and Caucasians, had never seen it before.

The flax dress barely covered her knees, and the undershorts she wore underneath peeked out of the skirt.

The puffed sleeves were short enough to reach just above her elbows, and the neck was loose enough to allow for a fair amount of airflow. It was an outfit that was all about practicality.

“Mom, how are you?”

“I’ve been fine. Our little one seems to have lost weight. Why is your face so thin? Don’t the people in the capital eat?”

“They eat, but only a little. They have to watch their figure, you know.”

“Who watches their figure while eating? Afraid of getting food for free?”

Countess Changeling exclaimed, cupping Roella’s cheek. Her voice was quite loud for her small stature, and it rang with every word she spoke.

“Everyone else eats as much as birdseed, and I’m the only one who can eat as much.”

“You were sent to the capital to eat whatever delicious food you wanted, and if you can’t even eat there, what’s the point? Your father doesn’t even bother to feed his starving daughter, what has he been doing?”

“Father’s been busy, so he hasn’t seen my face often.”

“Even though I’ve repeatedly urged him, anyway.”

The Countess adjusted her nonexistent sleeves. Suddenly, Roella’s words from their journey south came to mind.

“Actually, my mother is a bit of an oddity.”

…Calling her ‘a bit odd’ seems like an understatement.

As Adelaide stood there, dazed by unexpected difficulties, fortunately, Roella diverted the Countess’s attention to them.

“By the way, mom, say hello. This is…….”

“Goodness, what’s with this child?”

The Countess grabbed Adelaide by the wrist.

“Look at this wrist, it looks like it can’t even hold a fork. And what happened to your neck? Who did this to you?”

“What? Over there…….”

“Some asshole did this to her, huh?”

Before she could answer, the Countess bombarded her with questions, glaring at Callion.

“Ahem.”

Callion coughed, feeling misunderstood. Roella raised her voice to interrupt.

“Uh, Mom! Duke Tiflis and Duchess Tiflis. Please greet them.”

“Duke Tiflis?”

The Countess frowned. Callion quickly spoke up, sensing her confusion.

“It is my pleasure to meet you, my lady. I am Callion Tiflis, Duke of Tiflis.”

“I am Adelaide Tiflis.”

“I’m the former Crown Prince, Callion Isulandt.”

At her confused expression, Roella explained. At the word ‘crown prince,’ the countess whispered to her daughter in disbelief.

“Why did such a noble person come here?”

“Didn’t the messenger tell you?”

“No, he only said that you and your father were coming.”

“Unbelievable.”

At Roella’s reaction, the countess shrugged and held out her hand.

“Anyway, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Tarina Duskin Changeling, but you can call me Taryn or Hina. You’ve come a long way, so make yourself at home.”

Callion reached up to kiss the back of the Countess’s hand, and Countess Changeling shook her hand up and down.

“Pffft.”

Adelaide hastily covered her mouth at the burst of laughter. The Countess shouted toward the second floor.

“Flick! Guests have arrived, come down quickly!”

Calling for a servant, the countess patted Adelaide on the back.

“You’ve come a long way, so let’s eat first. Roella, you too, go and change your clothes and come to the dining room.”

“Yes.”

“Please follow me.”

A servant named Flick led the way to a room. Adelaide climbed the stairs, feeling a little nervous.

The guest room in the center of the second floor was spacious and clean. Flick pulled clothes out of the closet and laid them on the bed.

“Please change into these. I’ll come get you when your meal is ready.”

“Okay.”

The servant finished his task and disappeared like the wind. It was a far cry from the institutionalized hospitality of having a personal butler to attend to her every need.

She sighed, glad the storm had passed.

“Uh…… seems like a great lady, doesn’t she?”

“Well, I can see why she’s never been to the Capital.”

“True.”

‘I thought Lady Changeling would hide her strength under the guise of a southern countess, but…’

‘Rather than hiding it… she seems to have the power to bend things to her will.’

It might be unexpected, but perhaps communication would go well. At least she doesn’t seem to have prejudices against Adelaide like the noble ladies of the capital.

“By the way, I’m worried.”

“About what?”

“About the Countess of Changeling, she seems to have misunderstood that I…… laid hands on you.”

“Pffft.”

Adelaide burst into laughter again at Callion’s uncharacteristic complaint.

“Don’t laugh.”

He arched an eyebrow, clenched a fist, then released it. The hand that had shaken the Countess’s hand earlier was tingling.

“Shall I massage it for you?”

As he jokingly responded, Callion leaned closer. Adelaide’s legs, unconsciously backing away, got caught on the bed. He grabbed her shoulders as she stumbled backward, laying her down.

“Of course, I don’t mind touching you.”

Callion’s face came close in an instant. She closed her eyes at the feel of his lips covering hers.

“Your Grace, the meal-.”

“…….”

“…….”

“Ha, finish what you’re doing and come down slowly!”

Bang! Roella slammed the door shut.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“There’s not much laid out, but eat as much as you want.”

They changed and went down to the dining room, where Lord and Lady Changeling and Roella were waiting for them.

Adelaide pretended not to notice Roella’s fleeting glances and began eating.

“As you know, the food situation in the south is not good, so our hospitality is scarce. I hope you understand.”

“No, this will suffice.”

Callion clapped his hands. It was a humble table, nothing compared to the sumptuous meals of the capital, but considering the situation in the South, it was acceptable.

“Hina, has it rained at all?”

“Not a drop. The water in the cistern is almost gone, and they’re screaming that they’re going to die.”

“This is serious. Even though His Highness provided water and food, I don’t know if we can last two months.”

“Where did two months come from? The dry season should end soon.”

The countess frowned worriedly.

“Well, at least we’ve got a way to live now. Thank you very much.”

“I hope it helped even a little.”

The Countess smiled at Callion’s humility and rose from her seat.

“Then enjoy your meal. Gordon, I’m going to go out and see what I’ve brought.”

“Not even finishing your meal? Let’s go together after eating.”

“Don’t you think it’s unfair to make someone wait to fill their stomach when people are starving? Eat and then come.” Eat and then come.”

The Countess briskly left the dining room without giving them a chance to object. Lord Hayward gave her an embarrassed smile.

“I apologize, Your Grace. She’s always been like that, please don’t be uncomfortable.”

“No need. Let’s finish eating quickly and go together.”

Callion hurried through his meal. Adelaide, who had put down her fork long ago, stood up as soon as Callion finished eating.

The Lord Hayward helped Roella up to her room, and the two of them headed to the carriage they had set up at the entrance to the courtyard.

“Your Grace must be tired from traveling all the way, so why don’t you rest in your room?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll go in if I’m tired.”

When they arrived at the courtyard, the Countess was busy carrying items onto the carriage with the soldiers. The Earl took the box from her.

“Hina, I’m the one who does this.”

“What does it matter who does it? Anyone less busy can do it. Hurry up and go, I’ve called the people.”

The Countess snatched the box away and flashed another. Lord Hayward clicked his tongue and stacked the crates. Callion pitched in to help. Adelaide wanted to help, but the crates were heavy, so she didn’t move.

Before long, people began lining up in front of the side gate connected to the courtyard, hearing the news that food and water would be distributed.

The Countess put her hands on her hips and shouted.

“I’m going to write your name down, so don’t try to cheat and take it just once!”

Adelaide borrowed ink and a pen from Flick, who was about to write names.

“I’ll do this. You go and do your job.”

“These people lie as easily as they eat. You don’t even know who’s who, do you?”

“I’ll handle it, so don’t worry.”

Adelaide patted Flick on the back.

As people began to enter according to the soldiers’ guidance, Adelaide wrote down names and marked dots on their hands with a pen.

The Countess laughed coolly at the idea that no one would take it twice.

“You are very clever, my lady.”

“Not at all.”

Adelaide returned the countess’s compliment lightly, though the crowd soon became too busy for even light conversation.

The Countess chatted with each person as if she knew them all.

By the time the supplies were half gone, the crowds had stopped coming to the castle.

Adelaide put down her pen and sighed. Her wrists were tingling from all the writing.

“This is bad.”

The Countess grumbled as she gathered up the remaining supplies. Adelaide asked cautiously.

“What’s wrong?”