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Chapter 15
A few days later. Carlos knocked on Ludiana’s room door.
“Lady Ludiana, it is Carlos. May I enter?”
Right before lunch, Ludiana, who had been reading a book, draped an indoor cape over her shoulders and offered a subtle nod to Michaela. Michaela slowly opened the door, greeted Carlos, and stepped back toward the wall.
“I have a matter to discuss with Lady Ludiana…”
Carlos cast a subtle glance at Michaela standing behind her.
“Michaela, could you bring some tea for Sir Carlos?”
“Yes, My Lady.”
Grasping his quiet intention to speak in private, Ludiana naturally asked Michaela for tea. Michaela bowed respectfully and left the room. Carlos maintained his silence until the sound of her footsteps faded away.
Is he really only thirteen years old?
Unlike herself, who had matured through regression, Carlos’s mental age matched his physical age of thirteen.
He was indeed extraordinary from the start.
Unlike her, who had only collected herself after returning to the past, Carlos displayed a precocious dignity despite his young age. Ludiana inwardly marveled at him.
“Engineers and scholars fluent in the Arian language began studying the ancient texts two nights ago.”
Carlos, who had been standing stiffly by the doorway, spoke in a firm voice, though his eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“Let us sit and talk, Sir Carlos.”
Ludiana rose from her chair and walked slowly toward the sofa. Carlos nodded and followed behind her like a puppy, his solemn expression melting away in an instant. Watching that, a low laugh escaped between Ludiana’s lips.
“I see.”
At her low, gentle laughter that closely resembled Roselyne’s, Carlos stared blankly for a moment before snapping back to his senses.
“While nothing is finalized yet, many scholars agree with Lady Ludiana’s view.”
“I see.”
Carlos’s eyes widened. Talented children usually craved recognition for their abilities—and Carlos was no exception. Especially for a child who had been abandoned by his family, the desire to prove his worth was all the more desperate. Though young, he was sharp and skilled in swordsmanship, yet he utterly despised compliments tagged with the phrase ‘for your age.’ He simply wanted to be recognized for excellence itself, without conditions.
When Ludiana had spoken of Valtis in front of Duke Pianus a few days ago, Carlos had felt an indescribable surge of exhilaration.
She is a child like me!
Though he didn’t show it outward, he hoped that Ludiana, who had been abandoned by her father just like him, would have her abilities acknowledged. Despite feeling awkward in her presence, Carlos genuinely wished for the three women to live well. In particular, he wished well for Ludiana and Irene, with whom he felt a strange sense of kinship. That was why he had prayed even more fervently than Ludiana herself that her words would prove to be true.
So when he heard the news this morning that the scholars had validated her theory, he had almost jumped for joy. He had rushed to her room without hesitation to deliver the good news, expecting her face to brighten with happiness.
Yet her reaction was entirely composed. As if it were obvious, as if it were no grand feat, as if she had merely done what needed to be done.
Huh…?
Carlos could not hide his bewildered shock. It was the most shaken he had been since meeting her.
“Sir Carlos?”
The sunlight streaming through the window illuminated his trembling eyes, and his long, dark eyelashes cast fleeting shadows. Snapping out of his daze, Carlos’s face flushed as red as an autumn leaf.
“Are you not pleased?”
“I am pleased. Because with this, many lives can be saved.”
Ludiana’s soft smile harmonized perfectly with the garden scenery visible behind her. Looking at that sight, Carlos felt a rush of embarrassment wash over him. Unlike himself, who had been giddy merely over proving his capability, Ludiana was rejoicing at the thought of saving the sick.
I was only thinking of proving my own value…
“Yes…”
Carlos clenched his fist so tightly on his lap that his fingernails dug into his palm, though he didn’t even realize it himself.
Right then—
“Sir Carlos! What are you doing?!”
Surprised by Ludiana’s sharp exclamation, he lifted his head to find her standing right before him. She gently unclasped his tightly clenched hand.
“You are bleeding…”
With a worried expression, she pressed her handkerchief gently against his hand.
“Are you alright?”
As Ludiana drew closer, her black hair brushed against the back of his hand, tickling his skin. Carlos’s already flushed face turned even deeper red, and his ears burned crimson. Unable to endure the sound of his pounding heart, he suddenly sprang up from his seat.
“His Grace will call for you shortly, Lady Ludiana.”
“…I see.”
Because he had stood up so abruptly, Ludiana’s hands were left hanging awkwardly in mid-air.
“Well then, I shall take my leave.”
Bowing his head, Carlos hurriedly left the room, almost colliding head-on with Michaela, who was returning with a tea tray.
“Oh?! Sir Carlos! The tea—”
“I have no need for it.”
Covering his face with one hand, Carlos hurried down the hallway and descended the stairs.
“Did I… make some sort of mistake?”
That day, Carlos skipped lunch. He used the excuse that his training was delayed and he would eat separately, but anyone watching could tell he was avoiding Ludiana.
Wondering if he would continue to avoid her, Ludiana thought she should go find him herself if he didn’t show up again. Carrying that thought, she headed to the dining hall for dinner.
“Sister!”
Inside, Irene, Roselyne, and Allen were already seated.
Since the first day, Irene and Allen had taken to strolling through the garden together before dinner. Roselyne, unwilling to let Irene wander alone, accompanied them as well. Unintentionally, Irene had provided the occasion for Allen and Roselyne to walk together every evening.
“I am sorry, I am late.”
“No, it is not dinner time yet.”
Allen welcomed her with a warm smile.
“Is Sir Carlos not joining us for dinner either?”
Ludiana asked, glancing subtly at the empty seat across the dining table.
“Well—”
“Forgive me for being late.”
Before Allen could even answer, Carlos made his appearance. Ludiana looked at him with an unexpected sense of joy at his arrival. Yet the moment their eyes met, Carlos hurriedly averted his gaze and sat down.
“Training is important, but do not skip meals.”
“Yes, that’s right!”
When Allen lightly scolded him, Irene chimed in cheerfully. Having grown quite close with Allen, Irene babbled to him incessantly.
“Yes.”
“…?”
Allen raised an eyebrow. Usually, Carlos would have retorted with a word or two, but this time he merely gave a short answer and focused entirely on his food.
“Lady Ludiana, could you assist us with the research regarding Valtis that you mentioned previously?”
Toward the end of dinner, Allen asked carefully.
“Of course.”
“I have already dispatched knights to Bruno.”
Earlier during their stroll, Allen had spoken to Roselyne about the plague in the East and the facts Ludiana had discovered.
“Rudy went into Nurnbern’s archives?”
Unlike Irene, who always stayed in her room, Ludiana used to venture outside occasionally as a child—but Roselyne had never imagined she would sneak into the archives. The fact alone that young Ludiana had bypassed the guards to enter the central archives was surprising, but Allen’s next words left her even more astonished.
“And she appears to have discovered the cure for the Eastern plague on her own.”
“Our Rudy did that?”
“Then we should stop by Bruno before heading to the East?”
“Yes, I believe that would be best. The knights will inform them of our visit in advance.”
Allen looked at Roselyne with an expression laced with apology.
“It is fine. We needed to visit the territory anyway…”
Roselyne set down her cutlery and offered a faint smile.
Bruno—the center of the East-West trade route and once the home of the proud merchant guild of the House of Mjombeck. However, after Mjombeck was absorbed into Nurnbern, Bruno’s former glory had faded away. Having lived only in the annex, Roselyne had not known the reality of her maiden family’s territory. Learning the truth after the divorce, her heart weighed heavily with guilt.
“Do not worry, Mother.”
Ludiana set down her fork softly and smiled.
Now, the Empire was about to become very noisy indeed.
