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chapter 38
But right now, that didn’t matter.
I wasn’t thinking about anything except the desire to rest.
“Haha… it’s amazing, really… Arban too, right? Isn’t it amazing? Hahaha…”
I deliberately passed the conversation baton to him.
“Now it’s your turn. Say something to her. Let me catch my breath for a bit.”
But contrary to my intentions, Arban spoke to me, not Yulen.
“Did you really have such a dream?”
He adjusted the walking pace of his horse, making it slower.
His actions suggested he wanted to start an important conversation, and while I was briefly confused, his gaze pulled me out of my thoughts.
“…Is it difficult to answer?”
“Uh… no. It’s not like that.”
“……”
“Well… I had some certainty. Even now, it’s evident. After all, my words were all correct—the Holy Sword is now at your waist, and Yulen is involved too.”
I glanced back, gauging his expression.
It was an entirely unbelievable story, so I felt embarrassed, and I also worried about how much he might think I was ridiculous.
“My image… I’m really going to be the woman who blindly believes in the contents of a dream.”
I wanted to tell the truth but couldn’t. The silence that fell between us—something I had longed for—was far from pleasant.
“Shall we head to the lord’s house now?”
But the brief quiet was shattered by Yulen’s lively voice.
“Good job! That’s it!”
For once, I felt triumphant at Yulen’s question and quickly answered.
“No, we should go home.”
“…My lady, I was about to mention this, but the area we’ve just entered belongs to the Carnellow estate.”
“Yes.”
I didn’t see the big deal.
While I was briefly puzzled, Arban continued:
“If we push the speed, we could reach the estate’s mansion by today….”
“But?…”
“Going straight to the Duke’s mansion is feasible. However, that would mean spending another night outdoors.”
Ah, now I understood what Arban meant.
“I have to choose between the two.”
Either endure another night outdoors to go straight home, or visit his estate, stay one night, and return home afterward.
I didn’t hesitate and chose the latter.
“Then of course we’ll go to Arban’s mansion!”
“…Of course, you say.”
“Yes. Also, I realized we need to get a gift for our Amon, and it’d be bad to go back empty-handed and looking so disheveled.”
Thanks to plenty of water, I was at least minimally clean, but I wasn’t presentable.
And after all this struggle, I didn’t want to suffer unnecessarily. Of course I wanted at least one day to be comfortable.
“I will ensure that your visit remains completely confidential.”
Again! He called me “My Lady” again!
Annoyed by the title that had been bugging me, I raised an eyebrow in displeasure.
I hadn’t corrected him before because he was still unfamiliar with calling me by my name, but now it felt like he wouldn’t change unless I pointed it out.
And that usually turned out to be true.
“I’d appreciate that, but… why do you keep calling me ‘My Lady’? Aren’t we supposed to use each other’s names now?”
I glared at Arban.
He briefly met my gaze, then looked forward and moved his lips.
“I’m not used to it yet… If I’ve upset you, I apologize.”
It was a polite, but slightly awkward apology.
“Serious and reliable in everything, but awkward in social situations.”
That was very Arban.
I hadn’t even asked for an apology; he simply misunderstood. Fine. I’d be patient and help him adjust.
“You should call me Rieli.”
“……”
“Rieli.”
Even when I told him to repeat it, he mimicked a random dragon instead. Ugh!
“Thank you for saying it, Yulen.”
I fixed my gaze on Arban and deliberately pronounced Yulen’s name firmly—a kind of playful pressure.
It seemed to have a small effect; Arban’s eyes flickered slightly.
“……”
“Now, perhaps His Grace the Duke could try saying it too?”
I teased him like a kindergarten teacher, and finally, Arban let out a resigned sigh.
“…Understood, Rieli.”
“Good, Arban.”
He tried well, yet pretended otherwise—silly.
Satisfied, I let out a bright smile.
“From now on, always call me by my name. We agreed, didn’t we? If you call me ‘My Lady’ again, there will be a penalty each time.”
I turned my head deliberately, speaking loudly as if making a bold declaration.
Hmm… now that I think about it, threatening a Duke like that probably didn’t work.
Since I had no intention of actually collecting money, it was just a playful warning—so it didn’t really matter.
He responded to my small threat with a faint, amused tone.
“I will remember.”
I reflexively looked at him again. Yet he had his usual calm expression.
“…I’m pretty sure he smiled, though.”
Maybe he was shy in a way that didn’t suit him.
This guy… he’s a bit like our Amon.
Amon insisted on “sister” while I insisted on “Amon,” and Arban insisted on “My Lady” when I told him to call me by my name.
Tall, handsome, refined speech, and doesn’t speak unless spoken to first.
They would eventually meet as master and pupil, and I looked forward to that encounter immensely.
While imagining that happily, Arban’s voice brushed past my ear.
“We need to increase speed now. Hold on tight.”
He spoke, giving a warning, and then spurred the horse like at the start of our journey. I bit my tongue to keep from screaming, marveling silently.
“So horses can really run this fast!”
The speed rivaled a motorcycle.
Granted, Yulen’s divine power made it possible, but still… incredible.
In the half-day we traveled, Yulen had used divine power more than five times—an experience few others could have.
Racing through the forest, we emerged before sunset. The thick trees thinned, and by the time the sun set behind us, there were hardly any trees around.
The cold wind hit my skin as we rode, chilling me quickly. Even though Yulen’s divine power helped restore my body, the high-speed ride inevitably wore me out.
As the city walls appeared in the distance, Arban slowed, stopping the horse.
He handed me a blanket from the luggage.
“Why… this?”
“We’ll soon enter the estate. Only we should know of the dragon’s presence.”
“Oh, right. Yulen, since we’re entering the city, don’t move or speak, okay?”
“…Got it.”
I gently wrapped Yulen in the blanket, patting him as his silver scales gleamed noticeably. I double-checked that his tail didn’t stick out, then we set off again.
Finally entering the Carnellow estate, I felt my heart tighten in excitement, gripping Yulen a little tighter.
“Finally, I can wash up and sleep on a soft bed.”
It was already midnight, but the guards immediately recognized Arban and opened the gates.
If we had more time, I might have explored the city or the mansion’s exterior, but all I wanted was to wash up and sleep.
Inside the mansion, a servant froze in surprise, almost tripping over her own feet.
“Is she new? So flustered.”
The presumably new servant, like the guards, recognized Arban and bowed deeply before disappearing to fetch the head maid.
All the noble household staff seemed naturally quick on their feet.
I patted Yulen gently as he wriggled slightly in my arms. Soon, the sounds of footsteps echoed along the wide hallway.
“M-My lord! I apologize for not preparing adequately for your visit.”
A middle-aged woman approached with a neat posture, bowing properly.
“Don’t worry. Is there an available room we can use immediately?”
Her gaze shifted past Arban to me. We made eye contact, and she opened her mouth slightly in surprise.
Quickly regaining composure, she answered Arban’s question:
“Yes. Of course, it is ready.”
I nodded politely at the head maid.
“Apologies for the late hour.”
“Oh, not at all. I’m Ranya, the head maid here. I apologize for the delayed greeting, Lady.”
“Please show the lady to her prepared room… Ellie, if anything is uncomfortable, speak to the head maid. It’s late, so rest for now; we’ll see you tomorrow.”
I stared at Arban in disbelief.
“…Ellie?”
Had I misheard? My heart raced.
I had gotten used to the name Rieli Roberr, but hearing the nickname “Ellie” from him shook me instantly.
Rieli Roberr, Rieli, Riri…
But “Ellie” applied only to me now.
“I feel… strange.”
Yet it wasn’t unpleasant.
After nearly a month here, it was the first time someone had directly acknowledged me as I truly was, and it was strangely thrilling.
I had requested to be called by a nickname, but I never imagined hearing “Ellie” from his mouth.
Such sudden intimacy…
“…That’s cheating.”
I unconsciously tightened my grip. Yulen stirred slightly in my arms but soon settled down.
