Chapter 84

"Daisy needs to be a bit more difficult. Easy women have no charm. Even if you're a fine viscount, don't fall for her so easily."

"You're Lus."

"Lus? I don't know who you're talking about. A lover? To mistake me for someone else, you must be quite a handsome man. It's an honor."

"Stop it..."

"Anyway, the important thing is—"

A long, slender hand reached out and gently pinched my nose.

"You must remember the words of this viscount. Daisy has eaten a heart. I don't know where she found it or who gave it to her, but you must remember... Ah."

And I bit that arrogant finger hard.

His golden eyes stared blankly at his fingertips, specifically the index finger trapped between my front teeth.

The corners of Viscount Selenie's mouth curved into a deeper, more languid line.

"Oh, it seems our Daisy is a dog. But even as a dog, you shouldn't bite a human's hand."

I warned him firmly, still biting his finger.

"Be more careful. Don't be Lus again."

"Hmm. It feels strange when your tongue touches it."

Startled, I pulled away, and a cheerful laugh echoed through the underground.

"So, the heart?"

"I don't need it."

"Is that so? What a pity."

With a gentle voice, he brushed back his bangs and turned away.

"Come, it's best to leave now. This place is bad for your health if you stay too long."

The transformed Viscount Selenie grabbed my collar and tossed me over his back.

I shouted at the top of my lungs from the back of the beast as it ran up the stairs like the wind.

"Stop this ridiculous act!"

"Indeed, you're quite cute."

The rain had already stopped.

We returned to the courtyard where we met, and he gently placed me on the ground, his long tail swaying.

"Now, go back to your room. The viscount is busy and needs to attend to other matters."

"What? That's ridiculous."

I leaped onto his back and clung to him like a cicada.

I deliberately applied a strong grip, but the four-legged beast only turned his head to look at me.

"Where are you going? You left Westwind so abruptly, and now you're going somewhere else?"

"The noble Viscount Selenie doesn't understand what this maid, Daisy, is saying."

"Is it fun to deceive me?"

His golden eyes fixed on my face, and I felt a surge of anger.

Just as I was about to grip his fur to prevent him from escaping, my vision rose, and my body floated into the air.

Instead of the rough warmth from his fur, I felt the solid warmth of a firm body embracing me.

Viscount Selenie, who gently cradled my legs, whispered softly.

"Don't you need the relic of Dian Ket?"

Dian Ket.

It sounded like an important word, but strangely, I couldn't focus. My heartbeat, trying to consume my brain, only added to the confusion.

"To obtain the relic, you must reach Logue. The third relic is hidden there. You might be able to steal it secretly."

He laughed heartily today.

Again, he laughed to himself, then pressed his nose against my cheek.

"Good night."

And Viscount Selenie disappeared into the darkness.

'...What is this?'

What is it?

What on earth is it?

What just happened?

Why couldn't I say anything and just let him go? Why am I standing here, staring at that man's back like an idiot?

'...No, I shouldn't think too deeply about this. I should go back. Go back and get some sleep.'

Despite my resolve, I didn't fall asleep until the morning sun rose.

A night where I only managed to get a few hours of sleep.

By early afternoon, everyone had gathered.

I don't know what they were doing before they gathered. I woke up late, did some light stretching and exercise, and the lunch hour had already passed.

However, there was one thing I was certain of the moment I saw Jin and Andert's faces.

'They must have been exercising.'

Their fresh expressions were a clear indication. They were thorough in everything they did.

While Jeger was leading the conversation about the not-so-interesting news from the Northern Continent,

A tall man in riding gear entered the parlor without hesitation. It was Viscount Selenie, the lord of the castle.

"Good afternoon, friends. How was your day at Selenie Castle?"

"Of course, it was very enjoyable, Viscount. The castle is so vast that we couldn't even see everything in one day. Today, we plan to explore the city and visit Viscount Velboar in the evening..."

And then Jeger's long greetings began. He was a thorough businessman.

While Viscount Selenie was sipping tea, he suggested we go horseback riding.

"The rain last night made the grass grow quite a bit. It's a perfect day to provide our cute horse friends with a fresh meal. Would you all like to join?"

No one refused, and we all headed out of the parlor.

I glared at the back of Viscount Selenie's head as I followed from a distance, but he didn't turn around at all, as if deliberately ignoring me.

I'm so frustrated.

"By the way, we have other guests today. They are our neighbors who heard I had returned. I tried to come back quietly, but someone must have spread the news. It's a shame."

"Haha, that's true. It must have been a loose-lipped friend."

It seems Jeger was the one who spread the news.

"To make your stay more comfortable, I've arranged for a special language translation magic tool for our guests today. There shouldn't be any problems with communication."

His kindness resolved one of my questions.

'So, the language barrier was due to my earring.'

While everyone changed into the riding gear prepared by the viscount, I followed in my regular clothes.

The reason was simple: I had no intention of riding a horse.

I planned to walk quietly in the forest and sort out my schedule.

'He said the relic of Dian Ket is in Logue.'

We had about four days left until we returned to Midwinter. We needed to enter Logue by the day after tomorrow at the latest.

Fortunately, I had one trick up my sleeve, a gift from Malicops.

When we arrived at the stables, several unfamiliar men were waiting for us.

"Viscount Selenie, thank you for taking the time to see us despite our sudden visit."

"Haha, Viscount! It's been a while. This is the friend who has been pestering me for years to meet you. That's why I came here uninvited. Please be kind to us."

The men, who had been bowing deeply and laughing, finally turned to look at us.

"Ah, these are the viscount's..."

"Pen Rota Empire citizens? There are quite a few."

Two men who seemed to be the leaders of the group introduced themselves lightly.

"I am Viscount Kwan. This gentleman is Viscount Medes. And this is..."

"Ah, Viscount Selenie. It's been almost three years since your return, hasn't it? Have you heard the story? About the princess..."

The introduction was very brief.

From their openly indifferent expressions, it was clear that our presence didn't even register with them.

Their attention was focused entirely on Viscount Selenie.

"Ahem! Ahem!"

Jeger, who was forced to smile, cleared his throat loudly.

"Nice to meet you. Viscount Medes, Viscount Kwan. I am Jeger Parulla."

"...Ah, is that so? Nice to meet you."

While Viscount Kwan gave a small response, Viscount Medes only nodded and immediately attached himself to Viscount Selenie.

Jeger cleared his throat even louder.

"Ahem!"

Viscount Medes glared at Jeger, frowning deeply.

"Your throat hurts? Why don't you go inside and rest? You're making my ears bleed."

His face was clearly annoyed.

'They are openly ignoring us.'

I've experienced this kind of treatment before, even during the Mage War.

Unlike Raphaelo, who was the proud heir of a noble family, I was from a rural area in the far south and often faced discrimination even when I was revered as a hero.

Perhaps because I, a mere commoner, received the attention of the Sword Saint and Viscount Rosebell?

I often received a lot of trouble from young, hot-blooded nobles.

"Who are you, a country bumpkin with no title, to give orders? Go lick your superior's boots!"

That's an old story now.

'I've beaten so many of them.'

Fortunately, as the war dragged on and the importance of talent became more apparent, the class discrimination within the military gradually decreased.

At that time, I realized that all the discrimination and everything else were just because life was bearable.

The tough Jeger laughed even louder without changing his expression.

"Haha, I'm sorry. Since you've responded, I'll continue our introductions. This is Viscount Dsherro Contana. He is our hero of the Pen Rota Empire! Raphaelo! Janail! The Duke's! Attendant!"

"...Raphaelo Janail, the hero?"

"And this is Jin Barclay... no, Miss Jin. The Sword Saint of our Pen Rota Empire! Jihark! Barclay! The heir of the Barclay family!"

"Barclay? The Sword Saint?"

The duke, who had been looking down on us, showed a glimmer of interest.

It seemed that the fame of Raphaelo and the Sword Saint was well-known even in the Northern Continent.

"And lastly, this is Miss Daisy."

Everyone's gaze turned to me.

The men's gazes were particularly intense, and it felt different from the looks I received in the Allied Army, making me very uncomfortable.

"Ahem."

Viscount Kwan, who cleared his throat lightly, approached me with a lecherous smile.

Phew. The strong perfume smell made it hard to breathe as I bowed.

"I've been observing you carefully. From which noble family do you come, my lady?"

I am not a lady.

"I am a maid."

"..."

"I am."

"..."

"A maid? A maid?"

Ha. Viscount Kwan laughed loudly and scanned my body from head to toe.

A blatant, unpleasant sneer appeared on the man's face.

"Ah. In Pen Rota, do you even introduce your servants? It's new. I can't understand such low culture, but..."