Chapter 11

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Ellenia had been out since early in the morning, so there were only cold-faced household servants in the house.

I told the maid who came to wake me up that I didn’t need my breakfast. I went out with a good expression on my face, and no one came to look for me all morning.

Tch, heartless people.

Still, I felt a little better lying in bed all morning.

But it was a waste of time, so I finally got up and headed to the bathroom. I was so glad I knew how to wash myself. The overnight sweat was simply washed with lukewarm water and I headed to the dressing room. The robes here were never easy to wear alone, but some of the simple casual clothes could be worn without borrowing other people’s hands. After tightening the corset by myself and putting on tunics, I got into a simple green dress with white puffed sleeves.

I should practice wearing it alone. I didn’t know what was going to happen later.

I put on a little makeup to cover my pale complexion, combed my long hair until it glowed, and gently left the room. As I walked down the stairs through the white marble corridor covered with rugs, I saw escorts standing like statues at the entrance, the line pointing toward the hall. “What do you need, madam?”

One of the knights, who stood there holding on to his spear and staring hard at me, finally spoke aloud, thinking that he couldn’t take it anymore.

“I’m sorry to interrupt. Do you know where my husband is now?”

“I’m sorry, we don’t know where the Duke is.”

Another knight tapped the one who answered on the shoulder.

Did the two exchange glances for a moment?

“I’m not sure, but Miss Ellenia said she’d stop by Elmos port with Lady Furiana around lunchtime today.”

“Ah-“

“…..”

“……as you know, the Duke is in a very bad mood right now, and only the two of them can soothe him.”

I see. Those two girls are the only ones who can soothe that personality wrecker. That’s too much information for something I didn’t even ask. I’m sure it was my fault that he was not feeling well. Yeah, I know my place.

Everyone seemed eager to see me jealous of Freya.

They seemed to think that Freya deserved to be in my place right now, but were they expecting me to make an ugly scene out of jealousy?

I could see why Rudbeckia in the original book was particularly hard on Freya.

It was natural that she’d be encouraged by all sides to do that when she already has a bad reputation. Anyway, Izek must be at Elmos Harbor now.

“I see. Thank you.”

There was a moment of silence. I was still staring at them with a grin on my face while the guards went back to being statues.

It was not long before a dismal voice rang out,”I’ll arrange a carriage if you need it.”

“Thank you, sir. You are very kind.”

“……”

Elmos Port, where I first stepped on the land, was a peaceful and exotic place with the fresh sea breeze, open dock scenery, lighthouses, nearby inns and bars.

But now, city guards and armour-clad Paladins were mixed all over the place, making the beautiful harbor landscape somehow grim and eerie.

What were they doing? The atmosphere was quite serious, were they going to have a meeting? Or was someone important arriving?

I didn’t remember a foreign VIP visiting at this point of the story.

As I stopped the carriage a little away before and walked along, I saw a group of guards and paladins sitting on the stairs around a bar just across the low stone wall, drinking beer cool under the broad daylight.

No, these people… Were they really paladins? I hid behind a stone wall, leaned out, and looked at the busy harbor view.

Ha, this makes me feel like a real stalker. It’s hard to survive.

Indeed, Izek was there. My husband was with a ruddy-looking guard with a red beard. They were talking in a very serious way. It was a relief that I found him easier than I thought.

Now, how should I approach him?

“That man…”

“Who are you talking about?”

Oh, no, please. I thought my heart was about to pop.

I turned my head gently, suppressing a scream that almost burst out at the moment.

Someone had approached me without a mouse or a bird knowing, crouching in the same position as me.

I saw a boy next to me.

Wait, I had seen him somewhere… Oh, yes. Wasn’t he that trainee that came to find Isuke by the pond? As I stared for a moment, the trainee blinked slowly. They were clear amber eyes. The black hair covering his straight forehead suddenly reminded him of Cesare, but Cesare’s hair was not this black.

“Oh, I’m sorry if you’re surprised. I don’t know why, but you seem to be hiding.”

So, he copied me without even realizing it? He was a bit of a weirdo.

Still, it’s a good thing he didn’t exude weird hostility like that Lorenzo kid.

“It’s okay.”

“Are you doing well? At the palace…”

“I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”

When I answered with a smile, the trainee stared at my face for a moment, and soon spoke in a low tone, scratching his head awkwardly, “I’m actually Lord Izek’s trainee.”

Oh, that’s a surprising fact.

“I thought so. How long have you been here?”

“It hasn’t been long, actually. I was lucky enough, because the trainee before me got in trouble.”

“Trouble?”

“Yes. Was it that he sang an obscene song in someone’s presence?”

Hmm… Why did I feel like that was the song I heard? Lorenzo… this kid was not asking me to see if I’m curious, was he?

“But why is my lady hiding like this? Aren’t you here to see Lord Izek? Do you want me to go get him?”

“No, it’s… I’m not here to meet him, I’m just stopping by to see him.”

“Oh, I understand. He’s the best person to watch from afar. But isn’t he pretty sweet to my lady? He’ll be sad to know that you just left like that.”

I was very, very curious to know what ‘sweet’ meant in his dictionary.

Nevertheless, I threw my eyes down shyly.

“Do you see it that way?”

“Yes, he’s not the one who would beg a woman to wait for him.”

“…… ”

“Oh, please don’t tell anyone I said this. I might be beaten to death.”

At this point, I wonder if some screws are missing because he was beaten so much by Izek. I decided to move on to another topic.

“But what’s going on here?”

“It’s just the palace pond incident that happened all of a sudden…”

“Why don’t you lie flat next time?”

The frightening growl overhead made both of us gasp and shriek.

Oh, my heart.

“Your words of adoration are on point.”

“That’s right. You’re perfect as always.”

Izek didn’t say anything for a moment. His veins popped out at his temple, when he looked down at us, smiling brightly and chatting.

Ah, so scary.

“Oh, it’s definitely my lady. We wondered who Andymion was hiding with and swearing at us.”

You must have committed a lot of crimes, to worry about that.

So, this kid’s name was Andymion.

I got up from my squatted position. I felt a little dizzy, but it was fine.

“Hello, Sir Ivan.”

“Are you feeling well? I was worried that you might have been very surprised yesterday… Hey, Andy, get out of here. Can’t you take a clue, son of a b*tch?”

He smiled so beautifully that I could see the illusion of fluttering rose petals, and while saying those words, he seemed more humane.

“Thank you for your concern.”

“Don’t mention it, of course. By the way, are you here to meet this ferocious b*stard?”

The said ferocious b*stard was staring at his trainee, who crept away. Then, he glared at me again. How could he remain so stoic?

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. But I wanted to thank you for what happened yesterday…”

“That’s something this b*stard should be grateful for, my lady. He had the honor of saving his wife. Don’t you think so, son of a b*tch? Why don’t you answer if you have a conscience?”

Of course, Izek couldn’t have a conscience.

Izek ignored his friend’s taunts and said what he had to say, “It was only natural.”

“No, of course it is. If I die, everyone gets in trouble.”

“What?”

“Now, my lady, why don’t you come and have lunch with us? He’ll love it, too.”

Elegantly intervening, Sir Ivan grabbed Izek’s magnificent shoulders tightly. Oh, he’s got big guts.

“Can I really join you? I’m afraid it’ll distract you from talking to your close friends.”

“What? I think you’re misunderstanding, but we’re not that close. I don’t want to be friends in the first place.”

“But I think Ellen and L-Lady Furiana would be uncomfortable…… I’d rather just go home and rest.”

I tried to appeal to the fullest that I was a pure fan who has no connection with jealousy, but the responses of the two paladins were a bit strange.

“Huh? …Is that… my lady?”

Eh? Why are you asking that all of a sudden?

I tilted my head innocently. But the looks on their faces were getting weird. Besides Sir Ivan, why was Izek staring at me with his eyes so wide open? I couldn’t get used to it.

It was then that I felt something running down my nose.

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T/N: Casual note; I noticed a lot of reviews in kakaopage, complaining about how childish the mc’s monologue was, but imo, it just makes her seem more humane. I’m actually loving her sarcastic comments xDDD she’s a lil dense at times but…i dunno, I really like her character. Let me know what y’all think :3

And thank you, once again, for the comments <3 feel free to let me know if I messed up something,,,