episode_0009

“Marie, who was the person outside looking for you?”

“Oh, it was Master Chugyek who sent a letter to you.”

In response to Rotose’s question, I handed him the letter.

“He sent a letter to me, not to Aramis?”

“Perhaps… he wanted to maintain security by sending it to an unexpected person.”

“Well, who would send important documents to Rotose? It seems Master Chugyek is not an ordinary person either.”

Aramis, who was listening to our conversation, nodded.

“Master Chugyek sent the letter himself?”

Laurent, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, asked us in surprise.

“Wasn’t this supposed to be discussed where that friend is?”

“Doesn’t matter, if he’s a guy who can win against Dushak, Master Chugyek will welcome him too.”

Rotose, thinking Aramis’s answer made sense, nodded.

“Alright, let’s open this.”

When I pointed to the envelope, the other three nodded.

After opening the envelope and taking out the letter, I started reading the contents slowly.

“Come to receive the grace of the Lord. And if there is a lamb to be led, bring them along.”

“Hmm…”

After reading the letter, I looked at Laurent.

“Why are you looking at me like that…?”

“No, you guys should read it too.”

Aramis, Rotose, Laurent, and I took turns reading the letter.

“He’s not a fortune teller or anything…”

“He just… wants to bring along anyone useful, I suppose.”

“Then there’s no one else but that friend.”

When Rotose pointed at Laurent, Laurent grinned.

“Can I go?”

“Well… if you’re an enemy of Duke Orleang, you’re a friend, so it shouldn’t matter.”

“Understood.”

Aramis closed the book and stood up.

“I can’t just sit here waiting for the wine to come when Master Chugyek is calling.”

“Right, let’s go.”

We quickly put on our clothes and headed outside.

“Hey?! Hey? My lords!”

Flanche, staggering with a bunch of wine jugs, approached us with a smile.

“Where are my lords going?”

“We have some business to attend to, so don’t think about drinking and keep the wine safe. One, two, three, four…”

After counting the jugs, Rotose patted Flanche on the shoulder.

It seemed like Flanche was disappointed that we caught him trying to drink secretly while we were away.

“Flanche, straighten your face.”

“Ahaha!”

At Rotose’s command, Flanche forced a smile.

“Alright, now go back home, my loyal servant.”

“Alright, I understand.”

Flanche bowed to us with a grimace and staggered back towards Rotose’s house.

“First, let’s go to my house and take the carriage to the cathedral.”

“Why walk all the way to your house and then take a carriage to the cathedral? Why not use a pigeon instead?”

At Aramis’s suggestion, Rotose subtly proposed using a pigeon.

“A pigeon? As far as I know, pigeons can only return to one place.”

When Laurent asked, everyone smiled knowingly.

“Well, it seems you didn’t know that, country boy.”

Aramis explained to Laurent while patting his shoulder.

“Training pigeons to deliver messages through simple repetition is a story from over 200 years ago when the Britons were fighting.”

“So now magicians control them?”

“Exactly.”

“What?”

“Why are you so surprised? We’re the ones who should be surprised.”

Laurent, who had unexpectedly guessed the answer, looked at Aramis with his mouth agape.

“Then let’s send a pigeon.”

The sun was setting in the middle of the sky, tilted towards the west, so the streets were not as crowded as before.

It didn’t take long for us to arrive at the pigeon shop.

“Welcome.”

As we entered the shop, the staff nodded politely in greeting.

Inside the shop, people were busy writing letters to be sent by pigeon.

When the four of us entered, the people writing letters turned their attention towards us.

“Is this the first time they’ve seen a woman’s chest…?”

Especially, I felt the most eyes on me, and among them, there was someone staring at my chest intently.

“Are there many people waiting?”

“No, as soon as you give us the letter, we’ll send it out.”

In response to Aramis’ question, the staff shook their head.

“Really? Then it won’t take long. Please give me some paper, a pen, and ink.”

“You can sit over there and write.”

There was a young man in the corner who kept glancing at my chest, making me feel uncomfortable.

“Since it’s narrow in here, I’ll wait outside.”

“I find it amusing to watch the pigeons fly, so I’ll stay here.”

Rotus chuckled as he recited a spell while holding a pigeon and threw it out the window, watching the magician who was casting spells.

I went outside the building and sat on a bench where the waiting customers were seated.

Basking in the warm sunlight, I stretched my body, feeling relaxed.

“Ah…”

As I raised my hands above my head, my chest protruded forward, asserting itself.

Passersby who saw this gesture coughed awkwardly and walked past.

“Why does it take so long to write a letter?”

I absentmindedly looked up at the sky instead of looking at the door.

While watching the fluffy clouds floating leisurely in the blue sky, someone called out to me.

“Excuse me.”

I turned to see who was calling me.

A man in a red coat stood in front of me.

“What can I do for you?”

“Ahem! I was wondering if the line was long since you were sitting here.”

The man who met my eyes coughed softly and spoke.

“My companions went in a while ago to write a letter. There is no line… so they should be able to send the pigeon right away.”

“Thank you, sir.”

The man took off his red feathered hat, bowed to me, and extended his right hand.

‘What is this? Is he offering a handshake?’

I hesitated for a moment before reaching out my hand to shake his.

“I didn’t mean to shake hands, but you are quite unique. Well then, goodbye.”

He put on his hat and went back into the shop.

I remembered the meaning of the action that the gentleman had tried to do just now.

‘Ah! It wasn’t a handshake… it was…!’

It was a gesture where he would hold my left hand and pretend to kiss the ring finger while greeting.

“Haha…”

Every time I made such a small mistake, I felt like I needed to quickly adapt to the fact that I was a woman.

‘I wonder if Master Chugikyeong knows the way.’

It was a sad fact that there was no one else to rely on besides Master Chugikyeong.

Creak-

When the door opened, I thought three people were coming out, but it was one of the nobles who had been staring at my chest from the corner.

He looked at my chest with a piercing gaze before turning his attention to my face.

“Excuse me.”

I leaned on the armrest, ignoring him as I gazed down the street absentmindedly.

“Young lady?”

Even though I gestured that I wasn’t interested, the boy still approached me.

No matter how uninterested I was, if someone approached me first, it wasn’t noble etiquette to simply ignore them, so I turned my head to look at him.

Looking at his face, he seemed to be around the same age as Laurent.

Key was much smaller than Laurent, and his skin was so pale that it seemed like it would break and fall off if I were to hit him once.

“What’s the matter?”

Upon hearing my voice, he chuckled.

“It’s nothing. I just fell for you at first sight when I saw you earlier. May I know your name, by any chance?”

“It’s fine.”

“Young-ae.”

As I turned my head to decline, he called out to me again.

I sighed and looked at him.

“Hello. My name is Musang Le Conti. I am the eldest son of the Le Conti family, a noble family living in the capital under the king’s service, unlike Laurent’s family, which operates estates in the provinces and surrendered all rights to the king during the bankruptcy of the family during the 30-year war 5 years ago.”

“Le Conti family…”

Although it was clear that this little guy had some ill intentions towards me, I had to show courtesy, so I stood up from the bench.

Recalling the memories of helping my younger sister learn etiquette when she was young, I awkwardly greeted him as well.

“I am Marie de Roanne, the daughter of Armand Jacques de Roanne, the court magician of the Elance Kingdom.”

I curtsied by pivoting on my left foot and extending my right leg slightly back, lifting the hem of my dress and bowing my head slightly.

“Ro… Roanne?!”

His face turned pale at the mention of the name Armand had given me.

“Roanne.”

I looked at him with a blank expression.

Honestly, even if I had used my previous status name, he would have run away in fear, but mentioning Roanne, a name several levels higher, was sure to elicit such a reaction.

He swallowed dryly and grabbed my wrist tightly.

“You… Young-ae!”

“Eek?!”

Startled by the sudden grip on my wrist, I unintentionally let out a girlish scream.

He tried to drag me somewhere by pulling my wrist.

But the difference in strength was so great that I remained seated on the bench with my arms outstretched.

“Yiik!”

He tried to drag me away with all his might, but I remained seated on the bench, unmoved.

Clang!

“Young-ae!”

As the shop door opened, Laurent rushed out.

Seeing Musang trying to forcibly drag me away, Laurent drew his rapier.

“You… insolent brat! How dare you try to forcibly take a lady away?!”

Laurent’s fiery gaze seemed like it would shoot lasers at any moment.

“Yikes! Calm down… calm down!”

The sudden commotion caught the attention of passersby, who stopped and stared at us.

“I, Laurent de Bastogne, cannot forgive those who try to force Young-ae!”

Laurent raised his rapier in a defensive stance.

“N-no… I mean…”

Seeing Laurent ready to strike him at any moment, Musang broke out in a cold sweat and looked at him.

“Laurent.”

“Yes.”

“Enough, put the sword down.”

“Understood.”

At my words, Laurent looked at me, nodded, and sheathed his rapier.

I stood up and released Musang’s hand.

“Musang.”

“Young-ae?”

“I’ll let it slide this time because of Laurent’s rudeness, but…”

I grabbed Musang’s neck and pressed my thumb against his windpipe.

“Cough! Gasp! Cough!”

As his throat was constricted, I released my grip as he coughed.

“If you dare to mock another woman in such a manner elsewhere, you will eventually incur my wrath. Be careful with your actions from now on.”

“I-I’m sorry!”

Having received my warning, Musang ran off in embarrassment.

Clap clap clap clap

The passersby applauded us.

“Bravo! Bravo!”

When did Rotos and Aramis suddenly start applauding us in front of the door?

“Don’t applaud, it’s embarrassing.”

“Someday you’ll make me angry….”

“Hey! Didn’t I tell you to stop…!”

“Hehehe!”

I grabbed Rotos’ cheek firmly, following the advice I had given to Mushuang, and pulled it hard.

“Ouch! That hurts, Mary!”

“It hurts when you pull like that!”

“Alright, that’s enough.”

Aramis grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back, reprimanding me.

After the situation was sorted out, the four of us sat side by side on the bench, waiting for Grimor to come pulling Aramis’ carriage.

“Phew, the line is long. How long do we have to wait inside the shop?”

A man with a look of pity at us sitting on the bench asked.

“There’s no line inside, just go in.”

“There’s no line inside.”

“Just go in and send your letter. That’s what I did.”

“Just go in and send your letter.”

We all answered his question simultaneously.

“Oh… Th-thank you.”

The man nodded in confusion and went into the shop.