Chapter 37: Vivian’s Escort – 4

Through a hasty change of clothes, Vivian had transformed completely.

The resplendent silk dresses and luxurious jewellery she usually wore were nowhere to be seen.

Such garments would be a hindrance on a gruelling journey and would only get damaged.

She had shed every bit of her noble attire and now wore gear that a servant might use.

The leather vest covering her upper body was thick and rugged, completely unlike her usual clothes.

Pieces of cloth and crooked stitches showed here and there.

The vest didn’t fit quite right; it sat awkwardly around her shoulders, and one edge was faded from prolonged wear.

Her arms were protected by worn leather pads, full of cracks, and the gloves covering her hands were frayed and stained with use.

Her lower half was no different.

Instead of a girlish dress, she wore well-fitting pants that gave her a more boyish look.

A rough leather belt was fastened around her waist, supporting several pieces of equipment.

On her face, there was a faintly embarrassed expression, her lips trembling subtly, and a blush on her cheeks…

It looked as if she felt considerable shame.

I struggled to hold back my laughter as I looked at her.

It wasn’t that she looked ridiculous—if anything, I was surprised at how well it suited her.

Seeing the expression on my face, Vivian clenched her fists.

“Don’t laugh.”

Her warning was cold, but the more she tried to stop me, the harder it was to suppress my laughter.

She seemed on the verge of tossing off the equipment in a huff as I wiped tears of laughter from the corners of my eyes and finally responded,

“Alright, let’s go. Everyone’s waiting.”

I turned and began walking, and Vivian hesitantly followed.

We were in the barracks of the punishment unit, the perfect place to find suitable gear for her.

The barracks housed equipment meant for boy soldiers, with just the right fit.

The soldiers of the punishment unit, who had witnessed Vivian’s peculiar outfit, were waiting to greet her as she stepped outside.

Vergor was the first to approach, eyeing her up and down with disbelief.

“Lady Vivian, what on earth…”

Vivian looked back at me with anger in her eyes.

I pretended not to notice, turning my gaze elsewhere.

I had set the stage for her; the next step was her choice.

After a hesitant pause, Vivian looked up at Vergor and spoke.

“The entire army is mobilizing… I can’t just sit back at the castle and watch. I’ll join the expedition too.”

The young soldiers reacted with admiration, surprise, and even reverence.

Vergor, who seemed the most shocked, finally found his voice.

“But Lady Vivian…the journey will be arduous, and for a young lady like yourself to endure—”

“Don’t treat me like a girl. I am the Lady of Loctana.”

With the stage set, Vivian boldly asserted herself, reciting what I had told her, as if she had already steeled herself.

“I know it might take a long time, that we might have to sleep in dirty places, that the food might not suit my taste, that I might see brutal sights, or that it could be dangerous… but I will go.”

“My father always said that.”

Mentioning her father, Vivian’s expression softened with a hint of determination.

Perhaps she did feel some responsibility, some sense of duty, toward sending the army into battle.

Mentioning the Duke of Rondor seemed to bolster Vergor’s resolve, and he straightened his posture.

“Understood. I will do my best to ensure your safety throughout the journey.”

Vivian nodded, and soon Vergor’s lieutenant, Coleman, brought her horse to her.

She gently stroked the horse for a moment before mounting with Coleman’s assistance.

I smiled at her and turned to head toward my position.

“Kailo.”

Vivian called out to stop me, still embarrassed and faintly annoyed, as she said.

“Where do you think you’re going? You’re supposed to lead my horse.”

Some of the punishment unit soldiers chuckled at her remark.

It wasn’t so much animosity toward me as it was the delight of friends watching me get hassled.

Valon, Wallace, and Martin laughed the hardest.

I felt a tinge of embarrassment, but I took the reins regardless.

When we reached the courtyard where the army was prepared, the knights’ astonishment was clear.

With her flowing red hair the only recognizable feature, they could hardly believe she was Vivian.

“Lady Vivian, what is this…”

Muttered Sir Thoros, the Second Knight Commander, echoing Vergor’s earlier shock.

Vivian glanced at Vergor, who quickly explained.

“With the whole army mobilizing, Lady Vivian feels it is her duty to join, as her father did before her.”

All the knights around us were abuzz, just like in the punishment unit.

They were either impressed or inspired.

“We’ll do our best!”

“Thank you, Lady Vivian!”

“Let’s give it our all!”

Overwhelmed by the response, Vivian looked at me frequently, as if seeking guidance on what to do.

When I didn’t respond, she tentatively raised her hand in a small wave to acknowledge their cheers.

Then, Sir Mordain of the Third Knight Commander raised a question.

“Lady Vivian, what about Sir Robert?”

After a brief pause, she answered with calm resolve.

“He’ll have to wait for me.”

There was no dissent; they merely nodded slowly, accepting her choice.

Only after participating directly did she realize how many people go into battle at her command.

Even if it was a rational and logical choice, someone still ends up suffering like this.

“…Ha.”

As reality hit, the excitement she felt quieted down.

At Vivian’s sigh, Kailo asked.

“Why the sigh again?”

She hesitated to answer but decided there was no need to hide her thoughts this time.

“I can’t believe I’m leading these people.”

Kailo brushed it off, as if it was nothing significant, and quickly changed the subject back.

So, Vivian asked.

“…What would you have done?”

“Hmm?”

“You’re the eldest son of the Alan family, right? If things had gone as they were supposed to… you would have inherited the family.”

“…If things had gone as they were supposed to? I still have an inheritance to receive.”

Vivian frowned.

“Who’s going to let you go? You have to stay here.”

“…I was promised I could leave if I won the bet.”

“That’s a story for when you win. That future isn’t going to happen.”

The conditions for his winning were either that he must be loved by the people of the territory or that she must cry.

Neither was a likely scenario.

Kailo, unfazed, dropped the argument about that.

He returned to the earlier topic and answered.

“Well, if it was me… I think I would just feel good about it. They’re all under me, right?”

His answer was so typical of Kailo that Vivian let out a laugh.

Somehow, his casual words lightened her mood.

Just as her expression began to darken, feeling the sting in her thighs, Vergor called for the end of the march.

“Stop!”

Even from afar, his shout made my fellow soldiers drop to the ground.

“That was tough. Really…”

“…It’s over for today.”

I exhaled in relief.

The fatigue in my legs had built up, making it difficult.

I looked around.

There were trees sprouting here and there, hills rising haphazardly, and the soft glow of the sunset against a clear sky.

There didn’t seem to be any immediate danger around.

It was a decent place to spend the night.

I turned back to Vivian, who was struggling to dismount from her horse.

I reached out to her.

-Swoosh.

The horse was too tall for her to get down on her own.

She blinked at me, silently staring at my hand.

I stayed still, without adding any further explanation.

-Swoosh.

Slowly, she grasped my hand.

Our fingers intertwined tightly. It felt like it was the first time we’d been this close since the fire incident.

She used my help to climb down from the horse.

“…Thank you.”

She whispered, but I didn’t respond.

Meanwhile, Vergor approached her to explain.

“Lady Vivian, you can rest here. We’ll camp for the night. The Yanes squad will go out on reconnaissance to check for any dangers around here, while the others will set up the lodging and prepare the food. Tomorrow, we will likely engage in battle, so please take care.”

“Yes.”

“If you feel uncomfortable at all, please let me know. I think I’ll join Yanes on the reconnaissance. Coleman will stay here with you, so if anything happens, you can rely on him.”

“Yes, understood.”

While they were talking, I pulled Vivian along and headed towards the trees in the distance.

The real challenge was about to begin.

Would Vivian be able to endure among these smelly men?

I could already see the awkwardness and the foolishness in their behaviour.

I noticed her struggling in that process.

I sighed and tied the reins of the horse to a nearby post.

Just as I was about to turn around…

“…Whoa!”

I was startled to see Vivian standing right behind me.

I thought she would be chatting with Vergor or staying by Coleman, but she had followed me.

“…What are you doing here?”

I asked, and Vivian made a troubled face, pointing behind her.

“I… I didn’t know how to be around them, they were so awkward.”

The young soldiers were peering at us with curious, yet fierce, gazes.

It wasn’t just one or two; all fifty of them were glancing at Vivian, making quite the spectacle.

I sighed through my nose again and chided her.

“They’re all your people, aren’t they?”

“Ha, but…”

“What? Are you saying you can’t be with commoners because you’re a noble? I live with those commoners too.”

“Th-That’s not it…!”

I stopped bothering her and thought for a moment.

Maybe since they were around the same age, Vivian might be able to find her people here.

With that thought in mind, I steeled myself.

“…Follow me. I’ll introduce you to them.”

“What?”

I left Vivian, who looked surprised, and took a step forward.

After hesitating for a moment, she eventually followed me again.