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Chapter 38
Hider caught Lani as she tried to leave. Lately, Lani had become the pillar of the estate.
She could sneak out without being caught thanks to her nimble body, and she handled farming, as well as most other tasks, exceptionally well.
And quickly, too.
The residents of the mansion were increasingly relying on Lani.
Hider wanted to grow stronger to protect her, but she seemed to be moving farther and farther away. She looked like someone who could survive just fine on her own—and that made it all the more frightening.
Even if she said she was leaving right now, it wouldn’t be a surprise. Maybe that’s why… just looking at her made him anxious.
It had become worse since she started spending less time by Hider’s side.
“Is something wrong, young master?”
“Are you busy?”
“Hmm. I need to check the fields. I heard the Kito seeds were sown again. And I also have to help out in the kitchen.”
Lani began listing the things she had to do, counting them on her fingers.
“You’d need ten bodies to get all that done.”
“Sorry?”
“…Stay with me.”
Hider spoke without realizing it.
“Can’t someone else do those things?”
“Well, yes, but I’m faster at them…”
Lani blinked. Hider drooped his shoulders.
“What’s wrong, young master? Are you feeling unwell?”
“Something like that.”
Hider rubbed his cheek.
“Feels like I have a fever or something.”
“What? You should’ve said so earlier! Sir Hilden, how could you let the young master overexert himself? That’s awful!”
“Huh? Me? What? No, I didn’t!”
Suddenly blamed, Hilden blinked innocently and shook his head. He had no idea what Hider was talking about.
Hadn’t Hider been flying around just this morning during training? Sweating buckets in the cold while swinging his sword.
His swordplay was becoming sharper, and his eyes more focused.
He was steadily proving himself, both as a swordsman and as the rightful heir of Exilon.
The one who had raised the white flag of surrender had been Hilden.
‘The young master might be fine, but this old man isn’t! Let’s take a break!’
And now Hider says he’s sick?
“Why are you sick all of a sudden?!”
Lani glared at Hilden and slammed shut the book on the desk.
“You’re resting for the day, young master. Get up. I’ll help you lie down.”
“You’ll stay with me?”
“Of course! You don’t need any medicine? I can’t call the physician, though.”
With a worried expression, Lani helped support Hider.
As Hider exaggerated a stumble on the way out, Hilden opened his mouth slowly.
“…What is happening?”
He truly couldn’t understand the situation. Hilden looked around.
“Was he really sick?”
Hilden murmured blankly.
Hider lay in bed, gazing at Lani, who had fallen asleep beside him.
Her milky-blonde hair rested gently over her white skin, untouched even by hours in the sun.
Hider gently brushed her hair aside.
“Mm.”
He curled up slightly.
After he claimed to be sick, Lani had stayed by his side all day.
‘You shouldn’t push yourself too hard! Whew, maybe your body’s weak because I haven’t fed you enough meat lately. I’ll make sure to bring some tomorrow.’
‘I’m glad you don’t have a fever. Try this. It’s a tonic brewed by Lady Ruella from some herbs we bought a while ago.’
After watching everyone else take her attention for so long, Hider finally had her focus completely on him again.
It was a little embarrassing, but he didn’t regret faking an illness.
If that’s what it took to keep Lani by his side, he’d do even worse.
Even now, too many people sought Lani. He wanted her to belong to him alone.
“…Don’t go anywhere, Lani.”
Hider whispered quietly. Without her, he felt like a helpless fool.
Others might be concerned about the fall of Kartieron and the disappearance of Tybern. But as long as Lani was by his side, Hider didn’t care. Call it selfish if you want.
“You have to stay with me.”
Hider gently took Lani’s hand.
How could such small hands do such amazing things?
Feeling her warmth, Hider’s cheeks flushed.
“…It’s a promise.”
He smiled softly, repeating the unreturned promise aloud to himself.
The next day, I caught up on the work I’d fallen behind on while caring for Hider. I checked on the newly planted seeds and made sure the sprouts were doing well.
Hehe, I’m a druid, after all.
Humming to myself, I left the mansion. By now, nobody at the estate paid any attention to what I was doing.
These days, Dania was completely focused on figuring out the best way to germinate the Kito seeds.
With the pendant Hider gave me hanging around my neck, I walked lightly. I had tireless, ironclad stamina and…
[Skill: My Feet Are Like a Thousand-Mile Horse v.4]
With my stealth technique and speed, I could move faster than any horse. Actually, faster than most horses.
Anyway, I followed Sir Hilden’s suggestion and headed to Viscount Aros’ mansion.
Though it didn’t look like a large business from the outside, Hilden had said no one could match Aros’ influence within the trade networks.
I reviewed the information I’d gotten from Sir Hilden that morning.
‘We might be able to get more out of this than we thought. He’s smart and promising—a young man who inherited his father’s talents.’
I knocked on the mansion door. Fortunately, the moment I said I was from Kartieron, it opened immediately.
Still, I’d worn my best, most expensive outfit. First impressions matter.
I fussed a little with my clothes as I walked in. I was led straight to the drawing room.
“They said someone from Kartieron was here, and I was curious who it could be.”
Just as Hilden had described, Viscount Aros was a young man—looked like he was in his mid-20s.
“Hello!”
I greeted him politely.
“And you are? They said you were carrying a pendant from the Kartieron direct line.”
“Oh, I’m Lani. I’m here on an errand. I serve Young Master Hider now.”
“Young Master Hider…? He left the main house? But how?! I heard it was sealed off.”
“Oh, I managed to sneak out. And I still move around undetected.”
“Huh.”
Viscount Aros looked surprised and fell into thought for a moment.
“…Is the young master doing alright?”
“Yes, he’s doing well.”
“Do you have enough supplies? The Duchess of Kiera cut off all support. It must be difficult without outside help.”
“That’s why I came, Viscount.”
“I’m afraid we can’t offer any direct assistance. If we support the main family, we’ll suffer consequences too.”
Viscount Aros looked genuinely regretful. His expression was full of dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs.
Understandably so.
Then, the system displayed what I needed.
[Would you like to register this person as a supporter?
Name: Viscount James Aros
Occupation: 3rd Loyalist of Kartieron]
Of course, yes. I pressed the button firmly, and the window updated.
[Name: Viscount James Aros
Status: Thinking of ways to expel Kiera Kartieron. Tired. Troubled.
Betrayal Points: 0]
A true loyalist. And that betrayal score—very nice.
“Don’t worry, Viscount. The help I’m requesting isn’t like that. We’ve started a small farming operation.”
“Farming? I see.”
“We just grew a batch of Kito herbs and I came to sell them.”
My business starts now. I grinned at Viscount Aros.
