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Chapter 33
Before departing for the Verdi territory, Calliope frowned at the unexpected guest who had suddenly appeared.
“What are you doing here?”
“Why else would I be?”
Lerazier leaned casually against the carriage door with his arms crossed.
“I came because I thought my lover might need some help.”
“Help? More like you got bored being by yourself. Or did you come just to get on my nerves?”
“What exactly do you take me for?”
“A nuisance.”
Calliope’s evaluation was as cold and merciless as ever.
But Lerazier was unfazed. He lazily spun his sword in a wide circle before resting it on his shoulder.
“The journey to your territory is pretty long. You’ll need an escort, won’t you?”
“I’ll be traveling with several knights from my family.”
“How many are you taking? I’m not looking down on the Verdi knights, but I’d be more useful than ten ordinary knights put together.”
This time, Calliope fell silent.
As if he had been waiting for that, Lerazier continued.
“Think about the expenses too. Meals, lodging, travel costs—they all add up. Ah, then again, House Verdi is so wealthy that I suppose that amount of money means nothing to you.”
Watching the gears in Calliope’s mind begin turning at full speed, Lerazier smiled to himself.
“If I come along, you only have to cover the expenses for one extra person.”
He noticed her ears twitch ever so slightly like a rabbit’s.
She took the bait.
Just as a meaningful smile spread across Lerazier’s face—
“Then what’s the price?”
“Hm?”
Caught completely off guard, he blinked.
Calliope looked him straight in the eye.
“What do you want in return? You’re not doing this without expecting something, are you?”
For a brief moment, Lerazier barely stopped his face from twisting into a grimace.
Damn you, Calliope Verdi.
What kind of person do you think I am…?
“Nothing.”
“What?”
“I said nothing.”
His expression hardened.
Truthfully, Calliope had probably asked without any deeper meaning.
Considering everything that had happened between them, it wasn’t strange that she would think that way.
And yet…
For some reason, understanding her reasoning didn’t stop him from feeling irritated.
“Weren’t you the one who said we’re on the same boat now?”
Lerazier tried not to let his wounded pride show.
But he couldn’t hide the edge in his voice.
An awkward silence instantly settled between them.
Could he actually be serious?
No. That’s impossible. This has to be another setup before he starts teasing me.
Having quickly reached what she considered the only reasonable conclusion, Calliope regained her confidence.
Crossing her arms, she raised an eyebrow.
“Hey, Lerazier.”
“…”
“Didn’t you hear me?”
“…”
“Don’t tell me you’re sulking?”
“Are you kidding me?”
Unable to keep pretending he hadn’t heard, Lerazier finally frowned.
“Who’s sulking?”
He roughly brushed the hair that had fallen across his forehead aside.
“I even went out of my way to do something I never normally would… and this is what I get. Damn it.”
He proceeded to curse himself.
Every insult was so vivid and heartfelt that even Calliope felt awkward listening to them.
“…You hopeless, brainless idiot.”
“Hey. Isn’t that taking it a bit too far?”
“Want me to direct those insults at you instead?”
“I’ll pass.”
Calliope answered with a perfectly straight face.
Lerazier clicked his tongue as if he’d expected that and finally stopped insulting himself.
“But seriously, I’m not joking. We actually need a believable reason.”
“Why?”
“Well…”
Scratching her chin awkwardly, Calliope hesitated.
“If you say you’re coming with me, then everyone will definitely—”
“Calliope. Are you leaving now?”
Archibald’s deep voice interrupted them.
Calliope froze for a split second.
But she quickly regained her composure and turned toward him.
“I told you there was no need to come see me off. We already said goodbye earlier.”
“And miss seeing my granddaughter off? Of course not.”
Archibald laughed heartily.
Then he noticed Lerazier standing behind her.
His expression instantly stiffened.
“But… Your Highness the Seventh Prince… what brings you here?”
His eyes were full of unmistakable caution.
As though he were staring at a thief coveting something precious.
“Grandfather.”
Calliope quickly placed a hand on his arm.
Only then did Archibald regain his composure.
As though nothing had happened, he smiled warmly.
“Ah, Your Highness has come to see Calliope off as well? I’m grateful, especially since you must be quite busy.”
“Well… that’s partly true, but…”
As Lerazier trailed off, Archibald’s graying brows rose once again.
Seeing that, Calliope hurriedly grabbed Lerazier’s arm and mouthed silently—
Don’t say another word!
Lerazier obediently shut his mouth.
Taking advantage of the moment, Calliope led Archibald a short distance away.
“The truth is… His Highness offered to act as my escort.”
“My escort?”
Archibald frowned.
Calliope immediately rushed to explain.
“Yes! Isn’t that wonderful? Something dangerous could happen on the way. But if the Sword Master Seventh Prince is with us, how much safer could we possibly be?”
“How long is the entire trip?”
“Nine nights and ten days.”
“Hmm… Harold, come here for a moment.”
Archibald called Harold over.
The two stepped aside and began discussing something with unusually serious expressions.
Calliope tilted her head in confusion.
Just then, Sylvia came running over, completely out of breath.
“Huff… Huff… I almost didn’t make it in time.”
“Sylvia? Where on earth did you go—”
“My Lady, here!”
Sylvia stretched out her arm.
In her hand was a pouch about the size of a fist.
“What is this?”
“Moonlight Herb.”
“Moon… what?”
Sylvia gave her a rather suspicious grin.
Calliope had been about to accept it absentmindedly.
Instead, she jumped back in alarm and nearly flung the pouch away.
“W-What are you suddenly giving me this for?!”
She even stammered—something completely unlike her.
Sylvia, however, remained perfectly calm.
“You’re traveling with His Highness the Seventh Prince, aren’t you? Since you’re lovers, you’ll be together day and night.”
“This isn’t some romantic trip! And we’re not going to be attached at the hip!”
Calliope cried out in disbelief.
Sylvia clearly didn’t believe a word of it.
As if that wasn’t enough, Agnes—who had quietly joined them—immediately backed Sylvia up.
“I knew this would happen! Young Lady, you’re far too innocent about the ways of the world. If you ask me, the most dangerous person here is His Highness the Seventh Prince!”
“Huh…?”
Calliope could only let out a dumbfounded sound.
The conviction in Agnes’s voice was simply too absolute.
“All men are wolves. That is an eternal truth you must carve into your heart and never forget.”
“Oh, Miss Agnes, you’re so old-fashioned. These days, fox-like men are much more popular.”
“Sylvia, whether he’s a fox or a wolf, both are equally dangerous.”
Meanwhile, Sylvia’s bright eyes sparkled mischievously.
“Anyway, you should be thoroughly prepared, My Lady. You never know how things might turn out.”
At some point, even Harold had quietly returned and casually added,
“Just make sure you only give it to His Highness.”
Sylvia beamed.
Archibald gave her shoulder a few approving pats.
“Well done, Sylvia.”
“See, Count? I told you His Highness would definitely insist on going with her.”
“You certainly did. You were more perceptive than I was. If I hadn’t listened to you, we would’ve been in serious trouble.”
After praising Sylvia, Archibald personally handed the pouch to Calliope and spoke earnestly.
“You heard them, Calliope. It’s a medicinal herb, so its effects may be quite potent. But His Highness is exceptionally strong, so he’ll be perfectly fine.”
As Calliope accepted the pouch, she suddenly felt a headache coming on.
This trip to the territory…
Will it really be alright?
For some reason, she had a very bad feeling that this journey was going to be anything but peaceful.
