Episode 26
The me at that time running towards the forest instead of the path was something close to an impulse. It was because of the foolish thought that if I ran out of the forest, I could go home. While doing so, I had the vain expectation that Sir Halberd would follow me.
Yet, perhaps that desperate wish worked, the one who followed me was Rustein Halberd. He didn’t miss my figure running along the forest path, and quickly narrowed the distance. How relieved and happy I was at the sight of Sir Halberd slowly approaching through the bushes, one could hardly even imagine.
However, this feeling was brief, and soon misery surged in. Even while handing me a handkerchief with his own hands to my messed-up face crying bitterly, his gaze kept watching the tent where Roena was.
In other words, it was merely an action due to a sense of duty, not truly worrying about me. His heart was entirely directed towards Roena.
Those who haven’t experienced how horrific that action is probably won’t know. They wouldn’t know what it feels like for the world to seem like it’s collapsing in despair.
It was close to anger mixed with desolation, futility, and all sorts of grievances. Self-respect disappears somewhere, and only rage close to madness surges up.
So, I had no choice but to cling while screaming like crazy. Displaying misery and begging. Pitifully desperate.
‘Are you even worried about me? If so, why aren’t you looking at me? If it’s going to be like this, why did you follow?!!’
If I walk towards the forest now, would you follow me?
It’s a stupid thought. I let out a sigh and moved my steps. From afar, the laughter of the young lords hunting falcons echoed faintly.
As I mentioned before, when I said I would participate in the hunting ground, Lavallier did not hide her discomfort towards me. And she tried to dissuade me, very displeased with my decision. But unfortunately, you couldn’t perfectly control the beast that is me.
It was because of the adoptive father who was extremely excited at my words that I would attend with Roena.
Madame de Lavallier still lacked faith in me. She showed fear that I might make a mistake at an external event where she wasn’t accompanying me.
You sincerely hoped that I wouldn’t tarnish the name of the Vishubalts family. Lavallie was a person who cherished and loved his sister and family more than anyone.
‘They can be more cruel than the cunning ones in society. They will gladly engage in actions to mock and ridicule you. Will you still go?’
Lavallier’s words were wrong. The young ladies were very rough and fierce like starving hunting dogs, but that was it. Because their teeth weren’t aimed at me. For them, there was no more attractive prey than Roena.
Probably until my value as an existence to shake Roena is sufficiently proven, their, especially Princess Irene’s, probing will be persistent and long-lasting. And that was something fully welcome.
While quietly walking the forest path, I suddenly looked up at the sky and saw a bird shadow that looked like a falcon flying in a long arc. It seems the hunt is still in full swing.
When this time ends, there will be time to distribute food to the falcons, and many young ladies use that gap to watch the falcons or spend cozy time talking with a partner they like.
I also intended to watch the falcons then, and thinking of the majestic posture of the hunting falcons I saw at the VishubaltsWischwaltz estate, my heart somehow fluttered and I felt pleasant. Maybe I could get a chance to touch a sleek, handsome hunting dog?
Although falconry is a popular pastime among young ladies these days, there are not many women who can bravely touch them.
Most people were interested in the picnic enjoyed at the hunting ground. Because there is nothing as enjoyable as sitting obliquely in a quiet tree shade and sharing refreshments.
Today’s falconry also seemed likely to be like that. The servants and maids were already carrying cloths and tableware to a clearing with a large tree a little away from the tent, preparing a small banquet. The scale seemed quite splendid, as the quantity of things being moved was considerable.
“This area has many dangerous places. If you intend to take a walk, it would be better to walk in another place.”
When did he start following? A familiar voice tickles my ear.
Rustein Halberd. It was none other than the knight of the blue sound. He should definitely be by Roena’s side, so why is he standing behind me? Unlike that time in the past, now I am just strolling around…….
Extremely surprised by the unexpected event, I tried to hide my trembling voice and barely asked in a small voice.
“Isn’t my escort someone else? Why you, sir?”
“Lady Roena is resting with her close friend. Sir Bern is guarding her, so don’t worry.”
He probably thought that I, wandering around this area, was more dangerous than Roena who is resting.
So, he must have left Roena temporarily to Sir Bern, who came along to the hunting ground to escort me.
It’s a fully reasonable action and a natural appearance as a knight of the Wischwaltz family, but thinking that his two eyes shining blue contained only me, I somehow felt embarrassed.
Perhaps because it was compared to the past days when even while with me, his gaze was towards where Roena was, it felt even more so.
The human heart is truly strange. I think I’ve sorted my feelings by throwing away the handkerchief he gave me, yet still, in front of him, I become small like a child.
The snake with its venom fully risen disappears somewhere, and only a small cat stretching in the languid sunlight remains.
In fact, I should have learned indifference, not etiquette, from Madame de Lavallier. Or else, I should have learned the method to coldly cut off a piece of my heart. If not that, then I, I…….
“You don’t need to worry.”
Hiding my trembling fingertips behind, I calmly spoke. While doing so, I worried if my voice was trembling strangely, if the smile hanging on the edge of my lips looked ugly.
The other party probably has no interest in my appearance like this, but for me pretending to be calm, it was admirable that I didn’t collapse right away.
Yes, let’s admit it. In a corner of my heart, it’s not that I didn’t hope for you to follow. Because a strand of foolish lingering attachment still binds me.
However, I can’t be shaken by him anymore. So, I decided to resist this foolish lingering attachment once more.
“If this walk makes others taste fear, I won’t do so. In other words, what you are concerned about, sir, won’t happen. So, you don’t need to be here. Aren’t you worried about her who must be sadly crying? You, sir…….”
I continued speaking calmly, desperately holding back my breath panting like someone who ran for a long time. It was the maximum courage I could squeeze out.
“Are Roena’s knight.”
It was then. Suddenly, along with a piercing scream, someone’s shout is heard.
Unconsciously turning my head towards the direction of the sound, at a glance, I see a horse charging fiercely towards me and the servants running to catch it. They were shouting something towards me.
Dodge?
The sky and ground flipping upside down happened in an instant. In the blink of an eye, pain arose in my head, back, and waist, and small dust and grass pieces tickled my face and neck.
I hurriedly inhaled breath under something solid pressing me down and tried to think properly. My ears were ringing and my stomach felt nauseous.
After blinking my eyes a couple of times and wetting my trembling lips with my tongue, I could realize what situation I was in.
The rough breath of another tickling my nape, the strong forearm holding my waist, and even the legs entangled together—it was a situation impossible to ignore.
“Si, Sir Halberd?”
Blue pupils come right up to my nose. He, the knight of the blue sound, frowns and speaks to me as if whispering.
“This is the danger I was talking about. Are you alright?”
Even in this situation, his pupils were dizzyingly unstable. To the extent of reminding me of the blue sky shining over his shoulder.
The fantastic feeling that Sir Halberd saved me didn’t last long. Being held in his arms was undoubtedly an ecstatic experience that wouldn’t happen again in the world, but I couldn’t ignore the time limit that a knight’s consideration could provide.
“Good heavens! Miss, are you alright?”
With Marie’s help, I escaped from his arms. Perhaps because of rolling on the rough grass, various parts of my forearms stung and ached.
Not only that, but even mild pain arose in my head and waist. My stomach was so nauseous that I wanted to vomit everything inside. Whether it was turbid liquid mixed with saliva or the remnants of feelings towards him.
Because the scale of the commotion wasn’t small, the attention of the young ladies resting inside the tent gathered all at once.
They immediately approached me with curious expressions. Seeming to think this disturbance was fun, everyone was chattering in light voices.
“Sir Halberd is truly a brave person.”
“Goodness, how can such a thing happen?”
I looked at Roena mixed in their group. If there were no watching eyes around, she would surely have run to her knight and asked about his condition—with an extremely anxious expression.
I thought that was because she was worried if Halberd was injured.
The praises that other young ladies were competing to give about his bravery and dazzling chivalry were far too weak to be compensation for any possible injury.
I suddenly felt scared that he—though wearing armor—might be hurt. However, knowing that all this was due to my own foolishness trapped in the past, I couldn’t dare approach. The same for conveying words of thanks. I only felt like backing away and running just like this.
The only thing I could do was stand blankly like a stone statue watching them, but even that failed because of the servant wailing towards me.
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Please, have pity on me.”
He was dragged by a servant belonging to the Vishubalts. Seeming to anticipate the future coming to him, he was extremely terrified.
His face soaked in tears was collapsed in misery, looking like the face of a death row inmate informed of execution.
This pitiful person looked powerless like a child and had eyes sunk like a dying old man. Cold sweat flowed like rain on his blackened face, and his lips with white peeling skin were convulsing due to fear.
“The horse got excited, perhaps startled by a bug, and I couldn’t properly pull the reins. If not, the accident of the horse running towards the miss wouldn’t have happened. Please spare me. Please forgive me.”
Although it was an unexpected accident, the problem was not properly managing the horse and that it charged right at me.
Therefore, the fact that he was a servant from another family didn’t become any obstacle. Rather, his master, the young lady, had to bow her head in shame and embarrassment.
