🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 9
“Beatrice, let’s go!”
Early in the morning, when I arrived at the marquis’s estate, I saw the uncle walking toward me from a distance and swallowed hard.
I was already nervous.
Why does she feel so intimidating just walking over?
Is it because she used to be a gangster?
I looked at her approaching figure and checked my plan once again in my head.
We were heading to a forest said to be crawling with bandits.
When the bandits attacked us there, wouldn’t Shamal appear and save Beatrice?
To prepare for unexpected situations, I had already stationed knights in the forest and even hired a battle-hardened coachman.
I also told them not to intervene until I clapped my hands.
If the knights defeated the bandits too early, Shamal wouldn’t get a chance to appear.
All that was left was deceiving the uncle.
If she noticed something was off, or if we avoided the bandits entirely, the plan would fall apart.
Hmm…
Was it more likely that the uncle would notice something was wrong—or that she would just wipe out the bandits herself before Shamal even arrived?
“So, where are we going again?”
At her question, I snapped out of my thoughts.
“To buy shoes in town.”
The uncle nodded and climbed into the carriage first. Before I got in, I glanced at the coachman.
Wink—
He suddenly winked at me, as if telling me to trust him.
I gave a strained smile and got into the carriage. Soon after, it started moving.
“Uncle, did you study romance novels properly?”
“Of course. My theory is solid.”
“And you can apply it in real life too?”
“…No idea. I’ll have to see those male leads or whatever.”
She looked out the window, sounding uncertain.
How cute—she actually studied on her own without me.
Just as I was thinking that with slightly sparkling eyes, the coachman’s loud voice rang out.
“Bandits ahead!”
The operation had begun.
I nervously clasped my hands and glanced at the uncle.
“Th-there are bandits? Oh my, what should we do?”
…Wow. That was terrible acting.
I just realized today how bad I am at this.
Fortunately, the uncle didn’t seem to notice.
“I smell blood.”
She narrowed her eyes and scanned the surroundings.
Her calm, dangerous demeanor really did feel like a gangster’s.
And she could even detect blood smell instantly—impressive.
Then suddenly, the carriage door shook.
Someone was trying to open it from outside.
“Let’s open it nicely. We’ve got the coachman too.”
A rough voice came from outside.
Bandits.
I took a steady breath and shouted loudly.
“How dare you touch the carriage of House Rockwood!”
A brief silence followed—but only briefly.
Soon laughter erupted outside.
“A noble house? That means money. Looks like we picked the right target.”
Even though I expected bandits, facing them made my entire body tense up.
Sweat dampened my hands as I glanced at the uncle—
‘Oh no.’
At some point, she had taken off both shoes and was holding them like weapons.
She looked ready to jump out at any moment.
Even worse, she had torn her flowing dress into something easier to move in.
At this rate, she’d deal with them before knights—or Shamal—could even appear.
No good.
I cleared my throat and shouted.
“Ahhh! What should we do! Someone help us!”
“Shh, be quiet. They’ll hear you.”
“The bandits are trying to hurt Beatrice! This is terrible!”
“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”
The uncle, who had been ready to fight, looked at me like I was insane.
But I was serious.
“This is so scary!”
I screamed dramatically, praying Shamal would appear nearby just like in the original story.
“What a weird noble lady.”
The bandits laughed from outside again.
Maybe Shamal wasn’t nearby after all…
I was about to call the escort knights when—
CRASH!
The carriage door handle broke off, and the door flew open.
I turned around hopefully, thinking it might be Shamal—
“Gah!”
A bandit’s yellow teeth greeted me.
I stumbled back in shock, but the uncle immediately stepped in front of me.
“Hey, stay behind me.”
“Then we’ll take care of the lady first.”
The bandit reached out, laughing—
And at that moment—
WHOOSH!
A strong gust of wind suddenly swept in.
It moved as if it had a will of its own.
The wind rushed through, and the bandits’ bodies were lifted into the air.
Like leaves caught in a storm.
“Uwaaagh! What the—!”
Their screams faded as they were blown far away.
I stared blankly at where they had disappeared.
This was definitely…
I quickly jumped out of the carriage and looked around.
But there was no sign of Shamal anywhere.
Had he already hidden himself?
I needed him to meet Beatrice…
While I was thinking anxiously, the uncle, who had followed me out, narrowed her eyes sharply.
“I knew it. Someone’s been watching us this whole time. That male lead bastard Shamal or whatever, right?”
As expected of a gangster—the instincts were terrifying.
While I awkwardly shifted my eyes, she suddenly turned toward something.
Then she stared at one spot and suddenly ran.
“Hey—Beatrice! Where are you going!”
“To catch that Shamal guy!”
She disappeared into the forest after saying that.
I was left alone.
I turned toward the carriage and opened the door—
Without realizing someone was already inside.
“Hello.”
Deep blue hair.
Gray eyes like storm clouds.
Fidgeting fingers that showed nervousness.
And above all—
A floating gauge above his head:
[Affection 90%]
There was no doubt.
Male Lead 3, Shamal.
“…Shamal?”
I narrowed my eyes and asked.
He nodded slightly.
It was really him.
I climbed into the carriage.
“Where’s Beatrice?”
“She’s chasing my clone.”
So he used a clone to distract her?
But why go that far?
Don’t tell me…
“Are you… too shy to meet Beatrice?”
“…Ah.”
His face instantly turned bright red.
Just as expected from the timid male lead—he couldn’t face Beatrice directly.
He’s even shyer than I thought. Can he even be paired with Uncle?
I swallowed my concern and asked directly.
“Shamal, you like Beatrice, right?”
His face turned even redder.
“H-how did you…?”
“I can tell.”
“Did it show? Does Beatrice know too?”
His mind seemed full of I’ve been exposed.
I grabbed his shoulders and looked him in the eye.
“Don’t worry. Beatrice doesn’t know. With how quietly you’ve been lurking around her, how would she know?”
His expression immediately relaxed.
“Then go and tell her how you feel. Who knows? She might accept you.”
Now his face had turned as red as a fully ripened tomato.
Is he really that happy just imagining it?
So far, his affection level is the highest, and he clearly likes Beatrice a lot—so he actually had a good chance.
“I… I’m not ready yet…”
The problem was how painfully timid he was.
I held back the urge to hit my chest in frustration and smiled gently.
“Alright. Then come find me when you’re ready. I’ll help you.”
“Mm…”
“I’m Renée Sauver. Make sure you come find me. Promise.”
At my words, he swallowed nervously.
“O-okay… I’ll think about it.”
And then he vanished.
Probably teleportation or concealment magic.
I stared at the empty seat in the carriage.
Then I turned toward approaching footsteps.
