He seemed to be frowning, as if something displeased him. Perhaps it was because I had seen him a few times now, but his expression no longer frightened me as it once did.
‘Thank goodness. It seems the traitorous knights of Bedford haven’t seen the Duke of Ashbon.’
If the traitorous knights had seen Nobert, information about him would have gone straight to Lizzy and David.
They might have encountered the knights of Ashbon, but fortunately, they were not wearing distinctive uniforms, making it difficult to deduce their affiliation.
“There’s still much for you to do for me, my lord. The first step is to escort me to the tailor’s shop.”
“Pardon? Are you going there again?”
Amira, who had been glancing between Nobert and Adam after applying ointment to her wounds, suddenly interjected in surprise.
“Yes, I think it’s better to confirm whether the tailor’s shop really exists or not. Just to avoid any unnecessary trouble.”
“……I understand what you mean.”
Amira nodded with a sigh.
David was one to cling to unnecessary matters, and there was no guarantee he wouldn’t do so again this time. The reason for wanting to go back to the tailor’s shop must be for that reason.
“Still, your ankle isn’t well… I’ll just go by myself.”
“I’m not in that much pain. Thanks to the ointment, I can walk fairly well. Even if that weren’t the case, Amira, I can’t let you go alone. Who knows what might happen?”
“My lady…!”
Amira clasped her hands together and looked up at Ariella with teary eyes.
Between the two women, a bond had formed that was much stronger than before. For a moment, Nobert and Adam were forgotten, and a world of their own unfolded.
Ariella realized that her resolve to keep a suitable distance from Amira had completely failed today.
Amira was someone who had protected her without hesitation, even in moments of danger. Even if Amira had other motives, Ariella now had no way to distrust her.
“……It seems you are mistaking the ointment I gave you for a panacea.”
Suddenly, a deep voice intruded, pulling Ariella and Amira out of their private world.
“If I had known you would be so overconfident, I wouldn’t have given it to you.”
“You’re not suggesting we turn back, are you, Your Grace?”
I didn’t expect you to be such a petty person. I added with a smile, but Nobert’s expression twisted in displeasure. He then turned his head sharply, as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.
He truly was a man who didn’t appreciate jokes. Ariella clicked her tongue inwardly.
Still, the fact that the situation had stabilized enough for her to make such jokes was all thanks to him.
I still hadn’t heard a proper reason for his kindness, and my suspicions hadn’t completely dissipated, but it was better to accept gratitude as mere gratitude.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, my knight and maid are both safe. I still haven’t repaid the debt from last time, and here I am causing you more trouble.”
“……I have never thought of it as a debt.”
“Fortunately, you’re not as petty as I thought.”
Nobert did not respond to my second joke either. I resolved not to try again in the future.
“I will surely repay you someday, so please wait. Now, it seems the situation is coming to a close, so will you be leaving first? I still have things to do.”
“If you’re going to the tailor’s shop as you mentioned earlier, I will accompany you.”
“Pardon? There’s really no need for that…”
“There may still be lingering ailments, and it seems we need more people to keep an eye on the prisoners.”
That was a reasonable point. It didn’t seem like any more trouble would pop up here, but one could never be too sure.
Adam alone wouldn’t be able to respond to any potential threats. We also needed someone additional to keep watch in case the prisoners attempted to escape.
‘This isn’t the time to be stubborn.’
Ariella was generally good at accepting the reality presented to her, and this time was no exception.
“Then, I’ll be in your debt a little longer.”
