Chapter 84

Around the time we were preparing for Sister Juella’s wedding, Esadien had visited our estate and whispered something about that sandwich to the butler.

“Hahaha. Were you surprised? His Highness cares deeply for the young lady.”

The butler had chuckled heartily and explained everything when I looked shocked upon seeing the sandwich served at the table. And just as expected, my hunch was right.  

Looking at the neatly arranged, thick sandwich on the plate, I gave a wry smile.

“Since yesterday, really…”

It wasn’t like anyone was intentionally bringing him up, but everything around me kept reminding me of Esadien.  

Still, aside from that, the sandwich was delicious. The juice burst out the moment I bit into it—just like always.

“The sandwiches here are always so good. Thank you, Butler.”

As I thanked the butler, El came lumbering over and rested his head on my knee, apparently done with his meal.

“You can’t have any. It’s seasoned.”

“Growl…”

“Are you still hungry? Should I ask for more?”

But El just kept his head down and closed his eyes. He looked like he wasn’t planning to move, so I just let him be and kept eating my sandwich. I was halfway through when a hurried knock sounded, and Clidane entered.

“Young lady, there’s been contact from the Magic Gate Administration.”

I didn’t even need to hear the rest to know what it was about.

“Ah, today’s the day the knights are coming from the northern stronghold.”

It was a group being inducted as knights of Karnian, regardless of their status.

“Tell them I’ll be there shortly.”

It was about time some interference came our way, especially if Austin hadn’t taken his eyes off us.

“El, I’m heading out. Go up to your room, okay?”

El looked up at me like he wanted to come along, but after I scratched his neck, he quietly accepted it.  

Watching him slowly climb the stairs from the front hall made me feel a little guilty.  

But he was a large beast. To me, he might seem like a cuddly cat that fits in my arms, but the moment I took him into the city, there’d be an uproar. No one could say how El would react if startled.

‘I’ll make sure to spend time with him tonight. Give him a good bath myself, too…’

Just as I was thinking that, El turned to look back. I smiled and waved.

“Good boy, El. Rest well. I’ll be back soon.”

He couldn’t have heard me from that distance, but it felt like he could read my thoughts.  

Sure enough, he opened and closed his mouth like he was replying, then disappeared up the stairs, tail and all.  

Only after his tail had vanished from view did I turn abruptly and set my expression firmly.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, young lady.”

I’d already thought of an excuse, just in case. But if the other side didn’t listen to reason, I was prepared to make a scene.

And then—

“Huh?”

Someone was standing in front of the door.

The man whose face I’d seen just recently through a communication crystal, now tanned even darker, gave a playful whistle.

“Whew~ You look like a general heading off to battle.”

“Theodore!”

I called his name with delight. He’d only said he’d be coming to Roquate “soon,” but it looked like he’d wrapped up business in the South sooner than expected.

“Heading out? Looks like I came at the wrong time.”

“What are you talking about? You’re always welcome, Theo. It’s just that the Magic Gate Administration…”

I trailed off, then mouthed the word ‘knights’.  

Theodore nodded in understanding.

“If that’s the case, I’ll come with you.”

“You sure that’s okay?”

“Yes. I’ve used the Magic Gate so often that I’m pretty familiar with the folks there.”

“Ooh.” I marveled and got into the carriage with him.

“How did you show up at such perfect timing? Thanks.”

“Haha. I’m just glad I can be of help. Thanks to you, Lady Minuelle, I gained a powerful ally for handling things down south.”

His sudden gratitude made me a little bashful.

“Haha… I didn’t really do anything…”

“I mean it. If it weren’t for you, the Karnian family would have had no reason to support me.”

Through the communication crystal, Theodore had met with my mother and Sister Elga.  

We were tied up defending against monsters, and he hadn’t had the time or excuse to travel north.  

During that brief but meaningful meeting, my mother and sister had given him advice both as a swordsman and a knight—and aid from our merchant group soon followed.

But that was only because Theodore had shown genuine sincerity, and my sisters had deemed helping him and the South worthwhile.

The Tregosnan family is one of noble lineage, and while the southern lands are looked down on by central nobles for being underdeveloped and near the desert, that just means they’re full of untapped potential.

…But I set all those thoughts aside and just laughed.

“You earned it yourself. I had nothing to do with it.”

“Oh no. I’m sure that if a con artist showed up and said you recommended them, both the Young Duchess and Lady Elga would give them money and send them off smiling.”

“…That bad, huh.”

Yeah, my sisters could be… well, very blindly loyal to me.  

No wonder the family fell apart in the original story, even after I acted terribly—they never stopped siding with me.

As I gave him a sheepish look, Theodore declared with certainty:

“It’s beyond just ‘that bad.’”

“Hmph.”

But one thing still bothered me.

“I don’t think that applies, Theo. Want to know why?”

“Huh? Why not?”

“Because even back when I was head-over-heels for Esadien, they kept telling me to break off the engagement.”

“………”

The confidence and gratitude melted off Theodore’s face, leaving him crestfallen.  

Ha, even now, this guy was more worried about Esadien than happy his own business was going well.

“His Majesty said I might be the one to find him, but… I have no clue where to even start.”

Theodore had already scoured all the places Esadien might’ve gone—like Caduren and any towns he’d passed through during knight training.

“Not even a single strand of hair has been seen. The imperial investigators must’ve come up empty too… Where is he?”

“Yeah… it must be frustrating.”

“…Could you put a little more soul into that?”

He looked like he was about to cry. I turned to the carriage window and muttered sulkily.

“We’re broken off. How sentimental do you want me to be?”

“But you’re not fully broken off yet.”

“Theodore, not you too!”

Just like Caesar crying “Et tu, Brute?”, I looked betrayed.  

Theodore gave a sheepish cough.

“Ahem, well. I’ve always rooted for the two of you, after all.”

But the look in his eyes said everything: “It was all a misunderstanding,” and “You liked him.”

Yeah, I liked him. I did.

And while Esadien fumbled through his feelings, I got hurt—exactly as much as I liked him.  

Even when he came back and begged, the wound remained.  

And now, ironically, it’s not while he’s clinging to me but while he’s absent that I find myself wavering.

‘What a mess, Minuelle Karnian.’

The whole thing had fallen apart because he was uncertain—and now I was uncertain.  

Worst of all, it’s only after he vanished that I feel like this.  

Is this what they call playing hard to get?

“Damn it…”

Feeling like I’d been duped, I clicked my tongue. Theodore looked at me with a sorry expression.

“I see you still care about His Highness… I guess I misunderstood.”

“W–Whatever. That’s not it.”

I scoffed and flung open the carriage door. Just in time—we’d arrived at the Magic Gate Administration.  

If knights hadn’t been involved, I might’ve laughed at the perfect timing.

Trying to calm my nerves with silly thoughts, I spoke quietly without looking back at Theodore.

“Regardless of my feelings, I’ll do whatever I can to help find him.”

If I saw Esadien face-to-face again, maybe then I’d know how I truly felt.

“Young lady.”

Clidane looked slightly startled—maybe I’d opened the door too abruptly—and stepped forward to assist.  

Theodore looked like he had a lot to say but knew he couldn’t. Since I hadn’t chosen him in the first place, all I could do was shrug slightly.

“What? So what.”

“N–Nothing.”

The Magic Gate was always bustling. And now, with the Karnian crest and my beauty on display, even more eyes turned toward us.

“Are you the Karnian noble lady?”

A man who looked every bit the stereotypical mage wriggled his way through the crowd to ask.

“That I am. Where are our knights?”

“They’re waiting inside the office. This way, please.”

The inside of the office was bright and tidy. I was just about to be impressed when the mage opened a door—and I arched a brow sharply.

“That man is not one of our knights.”

Even if they brought someone new for a specific role, I at least knew every name and face.  

And this scrawny man with a goatee was not among them.

“And why is he alone? Did he eat the others or something?”

“N–No, that’s not it…”

The mage was sweating buckets, unsure if I was joking or interrogating him.  

Then the man inside finally spoke.

“Please, do come in for now, Lady Karnian.”

Hmph. As I hesitated, something tapped my shoulder twice.  

It was Theodore’s finger, subtly, where no one could see.

‘Right. Theo and Sir Olce are with me.’

And even if unseen, Gabbie’s power always dwelled within me. Which meant I could summon him at any time.

– Just now remembering me? Hmph.

Whoa, you were here?

– It’s a hassle, but what can I do? To fully restore my power, I need to rely on your feeble body.

…Right. Yes, sir.

Anyway, the point is—I wasn’t alone!

Lifting my chin arrogantly, I strode up to the goateed man and seated myself gracefully in the chair Clidane pulled out for me.