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Chapter 56
“Tan. Stay with Rena today and follow her around.”
“Yes.”
The knight named Tan answered.
‘Tan?’
I recognized his face. He was one of the knights who had traveled with us when we went to the old Truxia territory with Calix. I hadn’t seen him during this trip to the capital, so I assumed he had stayed behind in the territory. I didn’t expect him to show up here.
When I asked when he had arrived in the capital, Calix answered instead,
“Tan arrived a little later. He still had things to finish up in the territory.”
“Ah, I see.”
I was a little suspicious, but I let it go.
“Tan, please take good care of me today,” I said, naturally holding out my hand expecting him to escort me.
But Tan didn’t move. He just looked at Calix as if waiting for instructions.
“…?”
Seeing my confusion, Calix explained,
“Tan isn’t going to escort you today. He’ll protect you from behind.”
“…So…?”
“Just do whatever you want and pretend Tan isn’t there. He’ll be following you in secret.”
“…?”
So this was a secret bodyguard? Or… a bodyguard pretending to be secret? I’d never experienced something like this before.
“Can’t he just come with me normally?”
“No.”
“…”
‘So stingy…’
I muttered under my breath, “Your personality is really strange sometimes.”
Calix smiled as if he had heard me.
“At least it’s only sometimes and not every day.”
“…”
Seriously, Calix had such a weird personality.
In the end, I was able to go out, but only under the condition that my not-so-secret secret bodyguard would follow me a few steps behind.
We took a carriage to leave the imperial palace. Tan didn’t get in the carriage with me, and I had no idea how he planned to follow.
‘Will he just run behind it?’
Well, carriages in the palace moved very slowly, so knights could easily keep up.
‘Such a stingy boss. Won’t even let my bodyguard ride in the carriage.’
I wanted to say that, but I held it in.
Anyway, the carriage left the palace and headed to the capital’s shopping district. Calix had given me a note saying anything I wanted could be charged to the House of Hertrio.
‘This is basically a blank check. Time for some retail therapy.’
I looked down happily at the note with the Hertrio crest. Soon, the carriage arrived at the shopping district.
“Give me everything from here to here,” I said at a clothing store.
“I’ll take every color of this ribbon, and the hat too,” I said at an accessories shop.
“Oh, this is so cute. I’ll take it,” I said while buying a teddy bear at a toy store.
“This one’s cute too. I need this one,” I said, picking up a squirrel plushie.
“Wow, there are elephants in this world too?” I bought the elephant plushie as well.
“Oh, puppies!” Of course, I bought the puppy plushie.
After hours of shopping, my arms were full of bags. I had most items delivered to the Hertrio mansion, but I kept the plushies with me.
People stared at me strangely. I was dressed like a wealthy lady, but I was carrying all my own bags.
Tan was nowhere to be seen. Did Calix tell him something like, “Don’t you dare speak to Rena!”?
I was curious, but I couldn’t ask if I couldn’t even see him.
Eventually, I went into the most famous dessert shop in the area. (I knew it was famous because I had asked people passing by.)
I took a seat by the window where I could see outside. A staff member brought the menu.
I ordered coffee and then said casually,
“Bring me everything on this menu.”
“Miss, the portions are too large for one person…”
“It’s fine. Someone will be joining me.”
Soon, the table was overflowing with desserts: pancakes, slices of cake, baked goods—enough for several people.
‘Hmph.’
I didn’t touch any of the desserts. Instead, I looked out the window, waiting.
“Coffee will get cold if you don’t come soon,” I muttered.
There was even a coffee cup across from me, prepared especially for my ‘secret bodyguard.’
Finally, ten minutes later, Tan walked in with a very troubled expression. He sat down across from me as if he’d seen everything—the coffee, me stubbornly waiting, and the spread of desserts.
“If the lord finds out, he will be angry,” Tan said stiffly.
“People will think we’re having an affair,” I teased.
“The lord told me not to speak to you.”
“Of course he did. I already knew that.”
Tan sat down reluctantly, clearly uncomfortable.
“But you came anyway, disobeying your master’s orders,” I said.
“That’s…”
“Don’t worry. If Calix says anything, I’ll cover for you.”
“Have some cake.”
Tan didn’t touch the cake. He didn’t even drink the coffee.
“Why did you call me here?” he asked.
I took a big bite of cake before answering,
“Tan, Tan-nim, Sir Tan. What should I call you?”
“…Call me whatever you want.”
“Okay, Sir Tan.”
I noticed his expression change slightly and asked with certainty,
“You’re not actually a knight, are you?”
“…I can’t tell you that.”
“So you’re not a knight.”
Hmm. He wasn’t a knight, but Calix employed him personally and even lied to me that he was one.
Could I get something out of him? I leaned forward.
“Has Calix asked you to do anything recently?”
“…I can’t tell you that.”
“Did Calix tell you to investigate Pryn—Lenia?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“Did Calix tell you to kill the Emperor?”
“Lady Rena!” Tan’s voice rose in warning.
He didn’t answer a single question. I pouted and sipped my coffee.
“I’m just worried about Calix. It’s not like I want anything bad to happen to him.”
“….”
“Eat a cookie,” I said.
Tan hesitated but finally picked up a cookie and ate it awkwardly.
I smiled and said,
“I have a favor to ask.”
This was the real reason I had called Tan over. I needed someone I could trust to keep a secret from Calix.
Calix had surprised me by sending someone he personally employed and kept hidden from the public. That was an unexpected gain for me.
I watched Tan eat another cookie and said seriously,
“If Calix ever tries to do something dangerous… tell me first.”
Tan put down the cookie.
“That’s the favor?”
“Yes. By ‘dangerous,’ I mean killing the Emperor or the Prince, or planning an attack by himself—things like that.”
Tan’s expression became strange, but I continued firmly,
“If anything happens that could put Calix’s life in danger, you must tell me. Promise me.”
“…The lord won’t want you to know,” Tan finally said.
I stabbed my fork into the cake with a little irritation.
“That’s why I’m asking you to tell me secretly. If you really care about Calix, you’ll tell me.”
“….”
“And I have one more favor.”
“You said one favor.”
“You’re so talkative now. Anyway…”
I popped a bite of sweet cake in my mouth before saying,
“Find out about Prince Adrian for me.”
“…The Prince?”
Tan’s expression became openly puzzled now, as if thinking, “Where did the lord find a woman like you?” Or maybe, “She’s just like the lord, they really are a pair.”
“Calix probably already told you to investigate Lenia, right? So while you’re at it, I want you to look into the Prince too.”
“What’s the reason?”
“Do you ask for reasons when Calix gives you a job?”
Tan didn’t answer. Of course not.
