Chapter 13
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Chapter 13
The Lord's Castle carried a particularly acrid stench.
It resembled the smell that had emanated from my Grandfather when he fell ill.
[I heard there was quite an unusual incident at Grunvalt's Lord's Castle. It seemed to involve the Lord himself, though I don't know the details. Please be careful, Miss!]
"In exchange, just tell me one piece of information I need."
"I can tell you anything! As long as it's not about the Imperial Palace, of course I'll tell you."
"Why can't you tell me about the Imperial Palace?"
At that, Rosanna's face went pale.
"My head would roll off."
She touched her own neck gingerly.
"The Emperor shows no mercy."
Rosanna, trembling slightly, suddenly glanced at Dale.
Dale was casually preparing vegetables in the kitchen. Though his expression was somewhat displeased.
When our eyes met, Dale offered a faint smile. I turned my attention back to Rosanna.
"What's wrong? Is something the matter?"
"No, nothing. I just felt a sudden chill. It must be my imagination."
Rosanna looked at me and cleared her throat awkwardly.
"So what is it you wish to know from me?"
"Tell me about Grunvalt."
"Hmm, Grunvalt? You mean this very land?"
Rosanna tilted her head in confusion.
"I'm not from Grunvalt. I was born in the Capital and have lived there mostly, so I'm not sure how much I can help."
"About the Lord's Castle. I heard the Lord is quite ill and unable to move about..."
"You already know, then. Well, it's become fairly common knowledge."
Rosanna stroked her chin and looked at me.
"Then rather than Grunvalt itself, you'd want to know why the Lord became that way. And perhaps... you're also curious about Kiddleland?"
I laughed at Rosanna's words.
She possessed the instincts of a merchant—sharp perception and excellent information gathering.
"I wondered why you seemed so disinterested sitting at Miss Adeline's party. So you were interested in Kiddleland?"
"I heard the empty land in front of the Lord's Castle belongs to Kiddleland."
"They likely purchased it after the Lord collapsed."
"How so?"
"Originally, even Kiddleland couldn't get the land no matter what. But once the Lord fell ill, Grunvalt desperately needed money. Support funds and all."
Rosanna told me everything she knew.
"Kidland supported Grunvalt in every way possible, and the Lord's condition seemed to show slight improvement."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. However, the outcome was ultimately the same, and the medicine's effects faded quickly, so Count Grunvalt never regained consciousness. Nevertheless, Grunvalt gave Kidland the Wasteland as compensation for his dedication."
"Do you know why that happened?"
"I don't."
Rosanna shook her head firmly, as if to say she knew nothing beyond that point.
Yet her eyes gleamed with curiosity.
It seemed Rosanna was equally intrigued by the reason. I studied her carefully.
"Would you be willing to pay more if I found out the reason?"
"Oh, we already made a deal."
But as Rosanna considered it, she broke into a broad smile.
"However, information is more valuable than money. It's not quite a wager, but if you discover the truth, I'll add to the necklace's price. Or if you need my assistance in the future, I'm always available."
"That's a good idea."
"Shall we go with the latter option?"
"Agreed."
I made a promise with Rosanna.
She glanced at the medicinal herb pots scattered throughout Dale's and my home, then seemed to recall something and spoke.
"However, Marquis Kidland is not someone who makes losing bargains. I've met him before, and I'm certain of it."
I agreed with her assessment.
I knew why Marquis Kidland had purchased that Wasteland. So this was a wager Rosanna would lose.
'He received it as compensation after the Lord collapsed.'
Certainty gradually crystallized within me.
"Did Adeline Kidland perhaps become the Lord's adopted daughter?"
"No. Marquis Kidland treasures his only daughter, Lady Adeline, so dearly. Were you aware that the two territories were originally one land?"
When I nodded, Rosanna continued.
"The Lord simply cherishes a young distant relative as he would his own granddaughter."
"...Having lost family before, even a relative becomes as precious as a true grandchild, I suppose."
"Yes, Lord Grunvalt is renowned for his kind character."
"Then where is his actual granddaughter?"
"She's always at the Lord's Castle. Didn't you see her that day?"
Wait?
Now that I thought about it, there was a woman who called Adeline her older sister.
But Adeline was Marquis Kidland's only daughter.
"What was it... I think I might remember the Count's granddaughter's name... Just a moment."
Rosanna rifled through her personal registry of names and stopped at one page.
"Here it is."
She pointed directly to one name.
"Sophia. Sophia Grunvalt."
* * *
"That woman was the Lord's granddaughter. Terribly thin, she was. Sophia Grunvalt."
"Is she someone of concern to you?"
Dale approached my side with a freshly prepared cup of cocoa.
Of course, it was meant for me.
He preferred clear herbal tea for himself.
"I've floated exactly five marshmallows in it."
"Perfect!"
I blew gently across the cocoa Dale had brought me.
Dale understood my preferences without needing to ask.
Five marshmallows was the ideal number—any more would obscure the warmth of the cocoa itself.
And if I ate more than five, they'd become cloying.
"Dale, you mentioned you also work at the Lord's Castle, didn't you?"
"Yes."
Dale hesitated slightly before answering.
"I go to the Lord's Castle primarily, and take other work when it arises elsewhere."
"It's not dangerous work, is it?"
"Merely trifling tasks."
I felt reassured by his answer.
Since he was my contracted husband for 364 days, his life was no longer his alone.
"Dale, you remember I said I wanted to own a field?"
"Yes, I remember."
"But it's far too expensive."
At my words, Dale's expression grew pained.
"But now I've found a certain way to obtain one."
"What do you mean?"
"Dale, could you take me to the Lord's Castle tomorrow?"
"To the Lord's Castle, you say..."
I gazed at him intently.
Dale averted his eyes, his face flushing with embarrassment.
"Your dress is disheveled."
"Oh, is it? I'm sorry."
The hem of my one-piece dress had curled up slightly. What normally reached my ankles had risen to my calves.
'Dale dislikes seeing even the slightest exposure of another's body.'
I made a mental note to remember this clearly.
I'd need to be careful around Dale!
"If you wish to visit the Lord's Castle, it is possible. I shall take you."
"Really?"
"Yes. However, I worry that I won't be able to remain with you there."
"I just need you to take me there."
"...."
Dale's expression grew sorrowful.
"But what kind of work do you do there, Dale?"
"I maintain a hunting ground that's been neglected for quite some time."
"So you build fences and such to prepare for the possibility of monsters descending unexpectedly?"
"Yes."
Hearing those words, I grew a bit concerned about Dale.
How could someone who couldn't even kill a single ant—who would carry it outside to spare its life—possibly hunt monsters?
What had become of the S-rank Mercenary?
I couldn't imagine it looking at him now.
'Such a kind person....'
* * *
"Thank you for bringing me here."
Dale, who had brought me to the Lord's Castle, lingered with a melancholic expression.
"Will you be alright alone?"
"You mentioned you suddenly have an external business trip today, Dale. Have a safe trip."
"...."
He groaned with a worried face.
"I'm not a child. I'll be fine on my own."
"If it weren't for this work, I would have stayed with you. I apologize."
Just then, something caught my eye through the Lord's Castle window.
'It's Adeline.'
She was pressed against the window, glaring at me.
"Dale, thank you for bringing me."
I embraced Dale very tenderly.
At that, Adeline's expression darkened sharply, and she withdrew inside.
After confirming that Adeline had fully gone inside, I released Dale.
"Hehe. Dale, I'm sorry. Adeline was glaring over there. Dale?"
His face had turned crimson, and he stood rigid as stone.
"I'm sorry. Did I startle you by hugging you so suddenly?"
"No... It's fine. I'm alright."
He answered in a small voice.
"I'll be on my way."
Dale offered an awkward farewell and departed with his horse.
I gazed at his retreating figure, admiring his broad shoulders and the stability of his posture.
So he truly was a mercenary accustomed to riding. Being from the Northern Region, where villages were far apart and roads were treacherous, he must have ridden frequently.
Yet it was strange....
'He rides with the posture of a nobleman trained in equestrian arts.'
It was remarkably similar to how my older brother, who served as a knight at the Imperial Palace, sat astride a horse.
Actually, Dale's form seemed even more elegant.
'Why does this feel so familiar?'
I stared at Dale for a moment before turning my gaze away.
It must be my imagination.
Dale was simply so handsome that even his riding appeared extraordinary.
I removed my hood and entered the Lord's Castle.
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