12.I don't want to ride with the Duke!
From behind the door, William's soft voice emanated:
“Tomorrow I must meet His Majesty. I ask you to take care of the palace’s security during my absence.”
“It seems that the king also feels remorse, as evidenced by his invitation to you because of the nightmares that have plagued him for the seventh year in a row.”
Carlex's sarcastic comment was followed by the sound of a sigh from William:
“Please, show at least superficial loyalty to your family, do not increase the number of your enemies.”
“A relationship of convenience based on the exchange of benefits is better than an artificial relationship of loyalty. I abandoned my loyalty to the king a long time ago, ever since my father was killed. From that precise moment, all I do is protect my country and my fiefdom. This was my father’s pride and conviction, and our family’s mission.”
Carlex uttered the words slowly, as if chewing them, holding back his anger.
“I still have the nightmare of that night. Every night I face the image of my father being brutally devoured before my eyes. If the royal family had acted correctly, my father would not have died! My father had given everything to the state but the king was nothing but a helpless ruler, unable even to save his loyal servant. How could I swear true loyalty to a king like that?”
I remembered what I read in the original text.
The tragedy of the palace party seven years ago.
It was written there that the first crown prince and high-ranking nobles were killed by a monster.
Carlex's father is said to have died there as well.
I was shocked by Carlex's angry, bitter voice, and I peeked through the gap in the door.
Why does he suffer so much?
If it was the monster, then at least it wasn't his fault.
William looked at his friend with a tender look.
While Carlex only appeared from behind.
His broad, dark-shrouded back looked weak, as if it were about to collapse.
From his shaking shoulders as he tried to control his heavy breathing, bloody bitterness, pain, and endless sadness emanated.
When William softly placed his hand on Carlex's forehead, a faint light streamed out.
“Carlex, don’t you also have constant nightmares? When do you finally sleep? I thought you were fine for a while, why didn’t you call me?”
“I was busy managing the Duchy headquarters after returning from the northern border, and you were also busy moving between the library and the palace.”
“Don't think that torturing yourself is penance.”
“William, you talk a lot and it’s useless.”
So, for seven whole years, Carlex continued to suffer from nightmares.
Is the reason for his bad nature due to lack of sleep?
Good sleep is known to improve skin and mood.
Although the timing is not right for this observation.
The faint light emanating from William's hand disappeared.
“This will make you safe from nightmares for a while. Consider it a reward for treatment. Take care of her at least until I return from the palace.”
At William's polite request, I held my breath and listened intently.
“What exactly does that librarian mean to you?”
Carlex asked in a sharp tone.
“I... am guilty towards her. I must live the rest of my life as an atonement before her.”
William whispered humbly, as if confessing his greatest sin to God.
sin? Why should he make amends to Erica?
Carlex also looked puzzled, but William just smiled bitterly.
After remaining silent for a long time, they began to prepare to go.
Oh, I'll be exposed!
I left their conversation, which left behind countless questions, and carefully returned to my room.
When I opened the door of the room, the palace was shining lonely and sad behind the window in the complete darkness.
The majestic white palace, as if it was looking at everyone from the highest place.
This building has stood tall for hundreds of years, with bright torches at every corner of its walls.
How many people lost their lives defending that light? Even Carlex's father...
I looked at that sparkle that never goes out, and I fell into a deep sleep.
***
“Miss Erica, good morning.”
On the third day of my stay at the palace, I finally stepped out to enjoy the beautiful, sunny afternoon sun.
The Knight of the Shadow Knights, Ser Lloyd, came forward, smiling cheerfully, to greet me.
Sir Lloyd was a knight in his early thirties, with dark brown hair and a pretty face, but with a touch of a lover's temper.
He was such a friendly person that I felt like he was one of the seniors at the university I knew well, even though I had only met him a few days before.
“Sir Lloyd, you are still standing guard today. Thank you for your trouble.”
I tried to quickly pass him while smiling to hide my embarrassment, but Lloyd got ahead of me and stood in my way.
“You're dressed as a librarian. Are you going to work? But I think the Royal Library is closed.”
“I'm tired of staying inside the palace. I just want to go to the library to check my work in advance. I got permission from the director.”
Sir Lloyd smiled, winking his eyes secretly, as if he knew everything.
“Hmm. Miss Erica, is that really all you want? Don’t you have an important appointment for lunch today?”
"an appointment?"
I tried to pretend not to know, but Lloyd didn't back down easily.
“Oh, why are you doing this? Gilbert is accompanying His Highness the Duke and the Young Master on their way here. You made an appointment for lunch today, didn’t you?”
In fact, I received a letter from Michael yesterday.
It was a touching and courteous letter, asking to meet me to eat first, as a kind of repayment for my saving him during the carriage accident.
His handwriting was surprisingly mature and beautiful for a ten-year-old boy.
I said yes, because I was bored staying in the palace.
“I, Lloyd, will safely protect Lady Miss Duke, even if it costs me my life.”
Lloyd said excitedly, cupping his fist and placing it near his heart in a formal salute.
I immediately raised my hand to stop him.
“It's just lunch, there's no need to exaggerate and please delete 'His Highness the Duke', that's not true at all.”
I politely corrected my request, but Lloyd did not listen, and continued speaking seriously, like a knight facing the enemy.
“His Highness Duke Reinhardt has a lunch appointment with the lady? This is the first time since I served him. How could I be so careless?”
“I knew His Highness the Duke was antisocial, but to this extent?”
When I asked in a worried tone, Sir Lloyd's eyes reddened, as if he had been waiting for this opportunity.
He is truly a person who is quick and rich in emotional expression.
He can become an actor.
“I have served His Highness the Duke since his first participation in battle when he was eighteen. He spent his hot youth fighting monsters and enemies, and dealing with mountainous leaves in his fiefdom. Seeing him devoting himself only to work without even experiencing a passionate love relationship makes me, as a subordinate, feel remorse and pain.”
Oh, he really lives the life of a workaholic.
He loses that handsome and perfect appearance.
I nodded vigorously in agreement.
“It is truly sad that His Highness the Duke has not had any affair. Don’t worry. Soon his destined partner will appear before him, Your Highness the Duke...”
I wanted to hint that he would meet the heroine of the story, Freesia, but Lloyd cut me off excitedly with an irritated face.
“I think that lady is definitely Miss Erica!”
"What?"
I was confused and opened my eyes wide.
“No, I think you have a big misconception, this is not...”
I tried to explain quickly, but Lloyd was already lost in his own world.
“At the site of the carriage accident, I clearly saw the scene of His Highness the Duke embracing Lady Erica with a tenderness that was touching! I did not know that His Highness the Duke had this degree of romance!”
It seems that after the carriage accident, Carlex carried Michael out first, and then also picked me up and put me in a safe place.
I didn't remember because I was in shock and it was so fast.
“That was a rescue for anyone who would have done that in that situation.”
“His Highness the Duke does not hold the hand of any lady in any situation. Normally he would have assigned us that.”
He's a really picky person.
He is not a pure man.
“It almost reaches the level of cleanliness. Why does His Highness the Duke stay away from the ladies?”
“Actually, the reason is…”
Lloyd lowered his voice for a moment as he surveyed his surroundings.
He looked as if he was afraid that Carlex would suddenly appear.
“Since His Highness the Duke was young, he frequented the palace as a companion to His Highness the Crown Prince at that time. The noble ladies of the palace pampered him excessively. After that, I only heard from Manager William that he compulsively disliked meetings with ladies or social parties.”
“Oh, there was such a story. What kind of pampering did he receive? I’m really curious.”
“Me too. This is just my guess... Maybe...”
Lloyd and I approached each other and began to think seriously.
I really want to see Carlex as a kid.
Although now he is a cold man with a fierce gaze, but in his childhood he was as gentle as Michael, right?
I imagined Carlex's childhood and smiled a little.
But suddenly, a light flashed, and a long sword blade stopped in front of Lloyd's neck.
“Ah, Your Highness the Duke!”
“Lloyd, I asked you to guard the palace, did I ask you to manipulate the librarian?”
Carlex, dressed in a bright white uniform, stood, staring angrily.
Under the sunlight, his black hair and bright white uniform that revealed his athletic, muscular body made him look like a noble and beautiful crown prince from a strange kingdom.
Lloyd immediately turned away from me, then bowed down in front of the ground.
“I apologize, Your Highness. I have made a grave mistake and I will atone for it with my life...”
“Wait, this is a misunderstanding!”
When Sir Lloyd spoke seriously about his life, I shrieked in horror.
“I was just talking to Sir Lloyd for a bit. He was acting like a gentleman. Pointing a sword at him is a cruel measure, Your Highness.”
“Librarian Erica, why do you always act like this to me? It’s so annoying.”
"What do you mean?"
Carlex put away the sword and looked at me with an expressionless face.
“You're nice to everyone except the one who actually protects and helps you, which is just me.”
Carlex's words made me feel confused, and my ears turned red.
I turned on professional employee mode and tossed out a flattering statement.
“I am forever grateful to His Highness the Duke for protecting and assisting me as a librarian at the Royal Library.”
At the end of my speech, I raised the corner of my mouth and smiled the sweetest smile possible.
Until my lips trembled.
“This spirit is not bad.”
He seemed to like my flattery, because Carlex's gaze became kinder.
“Then let's go before it's too late. Michael is already waiting for us at the restaurant.”
Carlex turned and headed towards his horse, which was waiting in front of the entrance hall.
There was no horse carriage, of course.
“Well, Your Highness, where is my carriage?”
“Why do you need a carriage? You can ride the horse with me.”
"Are you serious?"
Carlex looked at me with an expression that said: Why are you asking a silly question?
Oh my God, my head.
I feel pain in the back of my neck.
Is he suggesting that we ride a horse together intimately, across the capital to a restaurant in the crowded area?
Who wants to derail their marriage plans for this person to act so stupidly?
Carlex looked at me as if to ask: What's wrong? He hurried me to ride the horse.
Only Lloyd could understand my frustration.
Lloyd pleaded with me with a serious face:
“Miss Erica, you shouldn’t ride that horse.”
“What are you waiting for?”
One of them rushes, the other prevents.
What do you want me to do?
[To be continued in the next chapter]
Loving translation