Episode 70. Mount Bern (5)

I lay down inside the tent, reading a book illuminated by the bonfire. Vera had originally packed this book for me to read on the last trip, but I was relying on it quite a bit this time since I didn’t really have anyone to talk to. I’ve gotten a bit more used to reading these days, so I can read through it without much trouble, except when I come across unfamiliar words. But that doesn’t mean it’s more fun than anything else.

I peeked out of the tent. The rookie knights, who were wrapped up in blankets and lying down, quickly turned their heads away, avoiding my gaze. It might be because they were uncomfortable due to the difference in status within the Family, but it felt like they were deliberately avoiding me. At this rate, I won’t have anyone to talk to. After clearing my throat a few times, I felt that my throat, which hadn’t made much noise all day, was hoarse.

Well, from their perspective, Franchello, the leader of this group, doesn’t have a very good relationship with me, so it would be difficult for them to act friendly towards me. Who would want to get on that narrow-minded bastard’s bad side and suffer the consequences? Still, they can’t treat me poorly just because I’m the Head of the Family’s brother, so this ambiguous distance, like looking at a chicken and a duck, was maintained.

But I don’t really have any major complaints. As long as the food is good and I don’t have any major inconveniences while sleeping, that’s all that matters. It seems a bit exaggerated, but anyway, there was an accident where the Head of the Family was harmed by a freak, so the number of knights they brought as escorts was quite large. It’s hard to travel this comfortably with such a large group.

The only one living in a more comfortable place than me right now is that Franchello bastard, who’s spending the night in the guest carriage… No matter how I think about it, I should have been the one using that… Just then, I saw a figure approaching my tent.

“Sir Edward, you’re still awake, I see.”

Speak of the devil, he must have been outside the carriage, popping out from the blind spot in my vision. If I had known he was coming, I would have closed the book and pretended to be asleep. Where did that rude attitude from a few days ago go? Franchello spoke to me in a fairly polite manner.

“….Yes, I am.”

“Would you like to take a walk with me for a moment?”

I was already lying down and didn’t feel like getting up, but unlike his polite tone, Franchello’s eyes were pressuring me.

“I’m a little tired today…”

“I have something to tell you. I won’t take up too much of your time, so don’t worry.”

His will was so firm that he sharply bounced back my roundabout refusal. There was no point in refusing any further, and it would only make me feel worse, so I closed the book and got up. As I followed Franchello, who was silently walking ahead, the starlight seemed to pour down brilliantly through the darkening sky. …I should have been watching this with a woman, not this dreary old man. It’s only been a few days since I last saw them, but I already missed Vera and Winnie.

“Sir Edward. I apologize for my rudeness the other day.”

“Yes, well, don’t worry about it.”

Don’t worry about it, my ass. I wanted to punch him in the face, but since we still had several days to go, I decided to play along a little. I didn’t know what excuse this narrow-minded old man would use to harass me. Perhaps surprised by my willingness to accept his apology, Franchello looked at me with a slightly astonished expression.

“You have a more generous heart than I thought.”

How much did you think I had? I felt a slight surge of annoyance at his condescending tone, but I didn’t show it and replied. It’s dark, so he probably can’t see my expression anyway.

“Is that all you wanted to say?”

“No. Um… Is there anywhere to sit…”

“I’ll just listen standing up. Please finish quickly.”

Franchello hesitated. He had something he wanted to say, but he looked like he was having trouble saying it outright. I already know what he wants to say anyway, so just say it. At most, it’ll be asking me to help him become the Head of the Family. It seemed his pride wouldn’t allow him to come to me first and lower himself.

Eventually, after much deliberation, Franchello asked me a rather absurd question.

“Do you like alcohol?”

“Knight-nim, I’ve brought your meal.”

“I’ll deliver it, so leave it in front of the door.”

“…Naeuri. Please, just let me see Marie-sama’s face once…”

At the old maid’s desperate request, Allen wore a troubled expression. He knew that this maid had been serving the Countess long before he was assigned to protect her. There was no need to doubt her sincerity, as she brought meals directly to this remote place three times a day.

“No can do.”

But all the more reason why he couldn’t show the Countess in her current state. The worried look on the old woman’s face deepened even more.

“Knight-nim, it’s already been almost a week since Marie-sama hasn’t come out of this room. This old woman is so worried about Marie-sama that I can’t even sleep at night…”

Has it already been that long? Allen thought that it had already been almost a week since Marie had been trying to have Henry’s child without leaving the room. He must have lost his sense of time from sleeping in short naps in front of the door while guarding her.

“Still, no can do. She gave orders not to let anyone in.”

The old woman flinched at his slightly irritable voice, perhaps due to fatigue. Seeing her turn around weakly and walk down the stairs, Allen added, feeling sorry.

“Instead, she said she would come out once in the next few days, so I’ll let you see her face then.”

“…Yes, I understand…”

After confirming that the old maid had disappeared down the stairs, Allen gently opened the door. He frowned slightly at the smell wafting from inside, and carried the food to the bed.

“Countess, it’s time for your meal.”

“Ugh… um? Sir Allen… Has it already been that long?”

Countess Marie Mountberne, the wife of Henry, the current Head of the Family and Count, was on the bed. She was on top of her husband, completely naked, and seemed to have come to her senses when Allen entered, as she was blankly lying on top of him, resting. The Countess’s skin, flushed red and beaded with sweat from the intense exercise, exuded a strange, sweaty smell.

He couldn’t show her to outsiders like this, with something white and sticky smeared between her legs and her eyes half-open. He placed the meal on the table next to the bed and opened the window to ventilate the room. Marie slid off and began to eat.

“An old maid asked to see you earlier, Countess.”

“Ah… I’m sorry about that. She must be worried.”

Marie said, as if she immediately guessed who it was. Allen felt even more sorry for the old woman after hearing those words, but he thought it couldn’t be helped. One of the Family’s retainers might have ordered the maid to find out what the Countess was doing. Even if the maid was still loyal to the Countess, a few simple questions would be enough to extract the desired information.

If it was a month later, they wouldn’t have bothered until then, but why are they so curious about what the Countess is doing? Allen had already chased away several servants who were trying to find out, so it was a reasonable suspicion for him.

“Is the goal going well?”

“Um, I’m working hard. My husband seems to be putting in the effort too…”

Marie wiped the white substance from her crotch with a towel. The dried liquid contained a small amount of Henry’s semen as well.

“Even though he’s like that, he’s already given me his essence twice. The rest was all from my body, though.”

Allen sighed inwardly. This was why those who were aiming for the Count title knew that Marie didn’t have a child, but didn’t dismiss it as a lie and could wait leisurely. The fact that she had a child would be revealed as a lie after a month anyway. How could she make a child with a husband who was in a vegetative state in a month? They were taking the attitude of, “I’ll acknowledge that much effort.” The more he thought about it, the more he disliked it, but all Allen could do was cheer her on.

“Countess, you must have a child.”

“…Yes. I know.”

Marie smiled bitterly. She seemed to know that the chances were slim herself.

“…Come out and take a bath tomorrow or the day after.”

“I will.”

Leaving those words behind, he left the room and stood guard in front of it again. Another time for the only conversation between Allen and Marie had passed. Her loyal escort knight would simply fulfill his original duty again.