episode_0053

“Welcome, Quell Yeong-ae.”

Pia greeted Quell Yeong-ae as if she were a long-lost friend.

“Yes…”

Quell Yeong-ae, looking somewhat uneasy, nodded slowly.

Dark circles were visible under her red hair.

“I saved a seat for you since you were coming today. You can sit over there.”

She gestured towards the empty seat pointed out by Pia.

Even Tristan, observing her, could tell that she didn’t look well, watching her with a worried expression.

Quell Yeong-ae exchanged greetings with the other Yeong-ae around her and took her seat.

“Now, let’s continue the tea party.”

I lost count of how many times it stopped and started again.

Honestly… it seemed like a dynamic tea party.

I watched Quell Yeong-ae, who seemed unable to relax unlike the other Yeong-ae sharing stories in groups of three or five.

“Marie.”

Laurent approached me.

“Isn’t Quell Yeong-ae a bit suspicious?”

I nodded in response to his question.

“You’re right, there’s something off about her.”

Looking beside me, Pia seemed to express her displeasure.

“For now, keep an eye on Quell Yeong-ae.”

Laurent nodded at my words and stepped back.

“What did you talk about with Bastonu Yeongsik?”

Pia asked me pointedly.

“It’s nothing important.”

I took a sip of the warm tea and looked at Quell Yeong-ae.

“You definitely whispered something…”

Pia mumbled, biting her lower lip.

As the tea party continued, a slice of cake was brought out.

“I prepared this specially because Quell Yeong-ae was coming today.”

“Wow…”

The Yeong-ae sparkled with excitement as they looked at the cake in front of them.

“Due to the recent troubles caused by the Orleang Marquis, which have now been resolved, this is a gift I am presenting to Quell Yeong-ae in celebration.”

As Pia spoke with a wide smile, Quell Yeong-ae shed tears.

“Sob…! Sniff…”

Was she crying out of overwhelming emotion? She began to sob, covering her face with her sleeve.

“It’s okay. It’s okay.”

The Yeong-ae beside her comforted her.

“I… I don’t deserve to receive something like this…”

“Think of it as my small gesture of encouragement for the future.”

As Pia spoke, Quell Yeong-ae cried even more sorrowfully.

Once she stopped crying, everyone began to eat the cake.

“Mmm~! It’s so sweet!”

“I’m sure our chef will be pleased.”

Pia smiled at the Yeong-ae’s admiration.

“Quell Yeong-ae, how does the cake taste?”

Quell Yeong-ae was taken aback by Pia’s question.

“I-It’s delicious… I’ve never tasted something this good before…”

It seemed like she had more to say, but she stopped herself.

After finishing the cake eagerly, Quell Yeong-ae picked up a gift box.

“W-What is this…?”

“It’s a gift.”

“Thank you.”

Quell Yeong-ae handed me the gift box, which contained a music box.

“A music box?”

“I thought about what gift to give to the Yeong-ae who waited patiently until the family’s situation improved…”

“Thank you, shall we listen to it?”

Everyone nodded in agreement with Pia’s suggestion.

Quell Yeong-ae approached Pia.

As she turned the handle, the sound of a song filled the air.

It was a beautiful yet slightly melancholic melody.

“Ugh… Ugh…!”

At the sound of the music, Quell Yeong-ae let out a pained groan.

Her body turned pale and began to swell.

“Ugh…!”

As a sense of danger engulfed me, I grabbed Pia’s shoulder and pulled her behind me.

“Eek?!”

Tristan swiftly grabbed Pia and stepped back.

“Ahh!”

The other fairies screamed in horror at the grotesque transformation of Quel.

“Laurent! Evacuate the fairies!”

“Yes!”

At my command, Laurent and the other knights rushed towards the fairies.

“I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die…!!!”

Quel sobbed with tears streaming down her face.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

I struck Quel, who was swelling as if about to explode.

“Mom!!!”

Quel, now grotesquely swollen, let out a scream before exploding.

Boom!

With a powerful explosion, a blue liquid spread in all directions.

I shielded Pia with my body and embraced her for protection.

After the explosion, I handed Pia over to Tristan.

After ensuring Pia’s safety, I looked at the spot where Quel had been.

Apart from slightly charred marks, there was nothing left where Quel had stood.

“Is this also the work of Duke Orleang…?”

Tristan, who had escorted Pia inside, prodded the blue liquid with his sword.

“Is this the work of Duke Orleang? What does that mean?”

“The Quel family was originally a vassal under the Bourgogne duke.”

“Come to think of it, there was trouble caused by Duke Orleang earlier.”

“The family incurred a large debt to Duke Orleang and was dragged into his schemes.”

Tristan looked troubled.

“He used to be a bright person… how did he end up like this…”

“Miss, all the other fairies have been evacuated.”

Laurent wiped his forehead and approached me.

“Good job.”

“By the way… this was your first time attending a tea party, and it turned out to be a disaster.”

“I only came as a guard, so it doesn’t matter.”

I stretched casually.

“I’m more familiar with alcohol than tea, and I’m more comfortable on the battlefield than in a sunny garden.”

“I feel more at home in a hunting ground than in a place like this.”

“Excuse me, Lord Roang. I have a question.”

As Laurent and I chatted, Tristan interjected.

“What is it?”

“You mentioned being more comfortable on the battlefield. What does that mean?”

“Oh, it’s just a story of a foolish young man who ran to the battlefield out of frustration with the family.”

“It must have been difficult for a woman to go to the battlefield…”

“Let’s leave that story for another time, shall we?”

In the distance, Viscount Lajurang and his soldiers gathered.

“Have you come?”

“Lord Roang, what is going on?”

Viscount Lajurang frowned at the blue liquid splattered around.

“During the tea party, Quel’s body started to swell and then exploded.”

“Once again, you’ve put my daughter’s life in danger.”

Viscount Lajurang bowed deeply to me in gratitude.

“No, it’s not like that.”

As he bowed, I followed suit.

“Tristan, have you had a chance to talk to Lord Roang?”

“Yes, we had a brief conversation.”

“Good, make sure to improve relations in the future.”

There was no shortage of bread, but the rich man was already drinking wine.

“I know this is not the time for such discussions, but please understand my impatience.”

“What do you mean?”

Viscount Lajurang glanced briefly at Laurent beside me.

“This guy is my second, Tristan, who entered the Kingdom’s Royal Guard as the top student.”

“Wait a moment. Father?”

“What do you think of this guy? Are you interested?”

“What?”

I couldn’t hide my confusion at his sudden behavior.

“Ha… Please…”

Tristan sighed, covering his face with both hands.

“This brat, the guy from the Kingdom’s Royal Guard, lacks determination, huh?!”

“Well, still…”

“He’s a bit lacking in courage. Please take care of this friend in the future.”

Count Rajang and Viscount Blanc used magic to lift us into the air and pushed us out of the courtyard.

The three of us looked stunned as we gazed towards the courtyard.

“Should we go check on Pia’s condition first?”

“Let’s do that.”

We followed Tristan to check on Pia’s condition.

“Ugh!”

“Miss…!”

Pia was vomiting violently, apparently shocked by Quell’s explosion, as she repeatedly retched into a bucket.

“Pia, are you okay?”

“Ugh… How can you be fine after seeing something like that?”

Pia asked me in a voice that sounded like she was dying.

“Well…”

It wasn’t a good time to boast about how common such a horrific sight was on the battlefield, so I swallowed my words.

Not knowing what to say, I looked at Tristan, who shrugged his shoulders.

“She’ll be fine with time.”

Pia nodded at my words and resumed vomiting into the bucket.

“Can I ask one favor?”

After stopping her vomiting, Pia wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and asked.

“What is it?”

“Can you… call Bastonu Youngsik…”

“Laurent, come here.”

As Laurent approached the bed, Pia hugged him tightly.

“Youngae?!”

Laurent was at a loss as he saw Pia clinging tightly to his waist.

“I just… want to stay like this for a while.”

“Pia, isn’t Bastonu Youngsik going to be in trouble?”

When Tristan tried to pull Pia away from Laurent, she shook her head vigorously.

On a hot summer day, Pia clung to Laurent’s waist like a cicada stuck to a tree.