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Chapter 57
Lucas arrived in the Kingdom of Colin later than scheduled and was ignoring the scolding of his aide, Melvin.
“Leaving just a single note and disappearing like that—what were you thinking?!”
Because Lucas, the head of this delegation, had suddenly vanished, the others were making various excuses to postpone their schedule.
“Just tell the Colin royal court that the delegation is scheduled to arrive in Hynelium today. That should suffice.”
Melvin kept emphasizing the schedule, worried that Lucas might vanish without a word again.
But Lucas seemed lost in thought, staring out the window of his hotel room as if nothing else existed.
He couldn’t get the image of Shan, turning away as if she had no interest, and of Lucy, drunkenly distraught with tears in her eyes because of that man, out of his mind. He was furious and could hardly bear it.
He had thought it would be fine if her heart wasn’t directed toward him—but he was wrong.
“I won’t let her get hurt by someone like that!”
This time, he would win Lucy’s heart, no matter what.
For the first time, a burning determination appeared in Lucas’s eyes, which were usually calm and composed.
“…So tonight… are you listening to me now?”
“Investigate the mercenary named Shan among those employed by the Pablo Caravan. And Diaro… no, I should now call her Lady Lucy Layford. Assign a knight to follow her. Report in detail on where she goes, who she meets, and what she does!”
Lucas interrupted Melvin and issued the order himself.
“Surveillance… you mean? Not protection?”
Melvin asked, doubting that Lucas would ever give such an order under normal circumstances. Even when Lucy had been pursued in the past, Lucas had only briefly assigned a knight to guard her—never to spy.
“Of course, protection takes top priority. But unless it’s a truly urgent situation, I prefer her identity not be exposed.”
“Then I’ll assign this task to a knight skilled in stealth,” Melvin replied reluctantly, adjusting his glasses.
“Do it immediately.”
Lucas gave the short order to Melvin.
A few hours later.
“According to the report, the Pablo Caravan arrived in Hynelium last night and will be staying at a nearby inn for fifteen days.”
“…And?”
“They’ve been given free time, including rest, until tomorrow.”
Melvin approached Lucas, who was preparing his attire for entering the palace, and gave the report.
“So, what about Lady Layford?” Lucas asked impatiently, frowning at Melvin.
“It seems she went out. Detailed reports are not yet available…”
“Out? Could it be… with that mercenary?”
“Huh? The report didn’t mention that…”
Melvin hesitated, unsure in response to Lucas’s sharp tone.
“I’ll see for myself immediately.”
Lucas roughly loosened his cravat.
“Your Highness? Grand Duke! Surely you’re not going to Lady Lucy now, right?!”
Ignoring the desperate Melvin calling after him, Lucas headed outside.
At the same time, Lucy was wandering alone, map in hand.
“I’m sure it’s somewhere around here…”
While the other members of the caravan were resting, Lucy took this opportunity to seek the Information Guild.
Her true purpose for coming to the Kingdom of Colin was to meet a certain scholar at the royal academy.
But she could only remember a few characteristics, not his name or detailed information.
“The tragedy of being an extra! He achieved something so important, yet in the novel he barely made an appearance!”
Although he was a minor character who appeared only a few times among Joanna’s many aides, he was essential to Lucy.
“I have to meet him while I’m here!”
Lucy double-checked the guild’s address and looked around.
“Ahhh!”
A sharp female scream rang out from somewhere.
“What’s going on?”
Lucy ran toward the direction of the scream.
Turning a street corner, she saw two burly men threatening a woman.
She scanned the surroundings for anyone who could help, but the alley was deserted.
Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and glared at the men.
“Hey! Let go of that woman right now!”
“What? Do you know her?”
One of the men, holding the woman’s wrist, smirked at Lucy.
Though she shouted confidently, Lucy was terrified inside. If they saw her as weak, she would become their next victim.
“Help me! They’re trying to kidnap me!”
The woman pleaded tearfully.
“Kidnap? Speak properly. They just want you to work off your debt.”
“Listen, miss. If you’re not paying, move along—or maybe you can work at our shop too.”
Another man leered at Lucy.
“You’d better watch your mouth. How dare you show such disrespect to a noble!”
Lucy glanced slightly behind her as if someone was protecting her, then stared down the men again.
Her confidence made the men flinch, exchanging confused looks.
They weren’t the only ones startled.
A knight from Cretaine, hiding on a building above, momentarily panicked, fearing his position had been revealed.
Unaware of this, Lucy seized the opportunity and quickly moved toward the men.
She took out a self-defense spray and sprayed it into their eyes.
“Run!”
Grabbing the woman’s hand, Lucy pulled her along.
“Ugh… grab her!”
“Hey! Stop there!”
The men rubbed their eyes, stumbling as they chased them.
Lucy dug into her bag and pulled out a smoke bomb.
‘I never thought I’d actually use this!’
She threw the smoke bomb, filling the narrow alley with white smoke.
Lucy held the woman’s hand tightly and ran around the corner.
“Cough, cough!”
“Are you okay?”
Lucy checked on the coughing woman, panting herself.
“Th-thank you… I don’t know how to repay you…”
“No, it’s nothing. I just did what I should… You shouldn’t be in debt to such people.”
The woman sighed sadly.
“Uh, it’s almost lunchtime, and you haven’t eaten yet, right? I can’t offer much, but let me at least treat you to a meal as thanks!”
Her face brightened, as if nothing had happened.
“No, I have things to do…”
“Come to my house for a bit. I’d feel bad just letting you go!”
The woman grabbed Lucy’s wrist and pulled her along.
Watching the two from behind a building, Lucas appeared.
“Handle those guys quietly.”
Muttering to himself, the knight hiding on the building bowed deeply and disappeared from view.
“Mom!”
The house they arrived at was a shabby shack, barely standing.
Opening the worn wooden door, a boy of about ten ran out.
“This is my son, Khan. If you hadn’t helped me today, our Khan…”
The woman trailed off, looking sadly at her son in her arms.
