episode_0036

But the ‘mansion’ Robert-nim spoke of was different. An elegant house with a large garden, and stairs and pillars made of pure white marble. It was the kind of house that seemed to come straight out of a fairy tale.

I, a commoner, was invited to such a magnificent place? It was certainly a tempting offer. As a novice who knew nothing about Deseo, I could stay safely under Robert-nim’s protection. And it was also a chance to observe the life of a noble, something I might never experience otherwise. But… should I really stay in Deseo? The goal of this journey was ‘to get the medicine myself and wake Ritsu.’ What would be the point if I didn’t return to Breezedon?

As I walked, deep in thought, I eventually saw the prostitute unnies. I hadn’t seen them all day, and when I finally showed my face, the Madam welcomed me warmly.

“Tia!”

“Hehe- I’m here.”

“I saw the knight riding with you on his horse. How was it, did you have fun?”

“Yes. Thanks to him, I learned a bit about riding.”

“My goodness. It seems the knight truly likes you.”

Another unnie said, as if it were a novelty. “I’ve never seen that man so excited while following the tribute procession, until now.”

“Right? Everyone was in an uproar. The knight, whose face was hard to see for a whole month, suddenly rode around wildly on his horse.”

“I wonder if he’ll charge at a windmill like that. *giggle*.”

Everyone said in unison that ‘today was unusual.’ Tia, having only joined the tribute procession five days ago, didn’t know much about it, but it seemed Robert had been quiet, without a word or action, since the procession began. For such a person to suddenly ride wildly across the prairie on a horse… Even the camp followers trailing the procession were said to be extremely scared, thinking something extraordinary had happened.

The Madam asked. “What did you talk about with the knight?”

“How to ride a horse- I also learned how to eat hardtack- and I heard how the knight lives. I also heard old stories about my Master who taught me swordsmanship- um- and he asked me what I was going to do in Deseo…” Tia’s voice trailed off. She had actually come to find the unnies to ask about this very thing.

“He said he wanted to invite me to his mansion.”

“Oh my!” Everyone covered their mouths in surprise.

“Really? He invited *you*?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my. Oh my. What is going on!”

“Congratulations, Tia!”

Suddenly, the unnies grabbed Tia’s hands and seemed to jump for joy. Was it really something to celebrate that much? Tia laughed, “Ahaha,” not understanding why, when one unnie said with an envious expression.

“Last night, they were drawing swords and growling at each other- this morning, they were suddenly riding horses together amicably- and in the evening, you received a marriage proposal-? Not even a bard would exaggerate like that!”

“Our Tia has a talent for captivating even nobles, doesn’t she? Tell us your secret! How did you manage to get a proposal out of him?”

“Wh-wh-what-? A marriage proposal?” Tia didn’t understand what the unnies were talking about. There had been no talk of anything like that at all.

“The knight just invited you to his mansion, didn’t he! What else could that mean- it means he wants to marry you! Everyone in Deseo says so.”

“N-no, that’s a joke, right? Why would Robert-nim want me…”

“How would I know? But I have heard rumors. The reason that knight hasn’t married yet is because he hasn’t found a bride all this time. They say he’s rejected all marriage proposals? Since he’s from such a famous family, it seems he’s very picky. But maybe Tia seemed incredibly attractive even to such a noble’s eyes?”

“No way. Ahaha…”

According to the unnies, among the nobles of Deseo, there’s a custom of inviting someone to one’s home when proposing marriage. It meant inviting them to a castle or mansion, treating them with utmost hospitality, introducing the family, and flaunting one’s wealth. Unlike commoners who lived together in one village, noble men and women often lived far apart, which is how this custom supposedly arose.

“Anyway, that’s great! Whether it’s true or not, you absolutely have to accept the invitation! It’s an invitation from a noble, of all people! If you even get married, you’ll become a noble’s wife! This is such a joyous occasion-!” The unnies fussed as if it were the greatest happiness, but Tia couldn’t be happy. No, she wasn’t happy at all. Her heart only felt more complicated.

So… Robert-nim proposed marriage to me? Oh, no. That can’t be. Our statuses are different from the start, I was born in a mountain village, with no family or wealth, just inheriting the surname ‘Anshier’ from my parents, that’s all. What would a noble who values bloodline and honor lack that would make him desire someone as insignificant as me?

He probably just invited me because I’m my Master’s disciple… because he wanted to talk about my Master. Yes. That must be it. Robert-nim’s kindness was truly appreciated. Thanks to him, I had the rare experience of riding a horse like the knights and blowing a horn.

However. It might be a presumptuous thought, disrespectful to Robert-nim, but. If he invited me to the mansion with ‘that meaning’ in mind. I have to refuse. Because I… promised to marry Ritsu.

*Squeeze.* She firmly gripped her ruby necklace.

Although it was brief, she felt a sense of closeness developing while talking with Robert-nim. But at the same time, she felt another wall. That the common sense of his world and the common sense of her world were different.

For instance, he took it for granted to spread butter on hardtack and eat it, but for commoners, that was a luxury they might do once or twice a year. Even if she admitted it tasted good, how could he spread such precious ‘butter’ on hardtack as tough as stone?

It was the same when eating dinner. He always used a knife and fork, while she could just wash her hands clean and pick up anything to eat. Robert-nim wasn’t someone who cared much about such differences.

What should she say? She felt that the ‘freedom’ they enjoyed was different. Nobles enjoyed wealth but seemed bound by certain formalities. While they, though not well-off, were free to do as they pleased.

The more she talked with Robert-nim, the more she missed Ritsu. Ritsu understood everything. She didn’t have to worry about what to say. They could understand each other’s thoughts just by their eyes, without speaking. He was someone who offered his shoulder when she was tired, someone who listened when she wanted to talk, and someone who silently hugged her when she was sad. Just being by his side made her feel good and comfortable.

“…” Unbeknownst to her, tears had welled up slightly in her eyes. She wiped away the tears and composed herself.

She decided she had to speak frankly to Robert-nim. That for her beloved, she would return home immediately once she obtained the Dienbus. He would surely understand. Because he was a good person.

*Hoooorn sound.* The horn blew, and the tribute procession halted. The sun began to set. It was as she was about to turn back to attend the invited dinner banquet.

“She’s gone missing again…” The Madam, checking on the unnies one by one, frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

“Eilli isn’t here. It’s about time she came back. I’m sorry, but could Tia help out?”

“Yes. I’ll look for her too.”

There was a little time. Tia asked people nearby if they had seen Eilli. After asking around, she got a testimony that Eilli unnie had gone up the mountain with a certain man. The mountain was a low one, adjacent to the road where the tribute procession had stopped. Compared to Dragonez’s rugged cliffs, it was merely a hill, but it was densely wooded, and perhaps because it was autumn, the mountain interior was very dark. For her unnie to have gone into such a place… She had to find her quickly and bring her back before nightfall.

“Eilli Unnie!” She climbed the mountain, calling out her unnie’s name. She went up a little further. By the time the tribute procession looked tiny below.

“Tia! Over here!” Fortunately, she could hear Eilli’s voice from around the middle of the mountain.

Her unnie was frantically coming down, her face filled with terror. “H-help me!”

“What happened?”

“A strange man… asked for help, so I followed him for a bit, but suddenly I felt like I’d come too deep… I got scared and tried to run, but it was too dark to see the way…”

“Calm down, Unnie. See over there?” Tia pointed to the tribute procession below the mountain. Fortunately, people were starting to light bonfires one by one, so the lights were clearly visible.

Eilli nodded. “Uh, uhm… I see it.”

“You can go down there. Watch your step so you don’t slip.”

“Thanks, Tia. …But what about you?”

“I’m going to find out who that man is.”

“He’s over there! He was a stammering, fat man.”

“Ah. *Sigh*…” Tia clutched her head. As soon as she heard the all-too-clear description, a strong urge to turn back right then and there surged within her, but she remembered the Madam’s request. The Madam had asked her to scold that man if he bothered the unnies.

“I’ll follow right after you. Please go down first.”

“Okay. Got it. You need to come quickly too, Tia?”

“Yes!”

Tia looked up the mountain. Not far away, there was a large shadow. “…” Tia’s eyes, which had just been softly smiling, turned cold. As the distance grew shorter, the obese figure became clear.

His arms were swollen like a fattened pig’s, his lower belly protruded like a pot. And his hair was sparse, like an old chicken missing its comb… it was Fosao.

For a man over forty, that appearance was common. Unless he was a knight or mercenary roaming battlefields, it was natural for hair to thin and a belly to protrude, whether noble or commoner. Nevertheless, an unbearable feeling of repulsion surged within her whenever she was in front of ‘this man.’

Because she knew. Because she had personally seen that man’s ugly side.

“Ti-Tia…” With that stammering voice. She remembered him seducing a girl who was too young to know anything.

“…Ugh.” Her whole body trembled. Even thinking about it now made her feel so ashamed that she wanted to draw a sword immediately.

All this time. And even now, the reason she didn’t was because he wasn’t even worth it.

She barely managed to calm her bristling skin and asked in an emotionless voice. “Why are you in the tribute procession?”

“I also h-had business in Deseo… so I came. To g-get a contract…” It wasn’t a very trustworthy statement. No, most of what that man said was suspicious from the start.

Everything was full of questions. For what reason was he living separately by himself? He was too lazy to even touch cleaning tools, yet he tried to run a shop. And now it seemed he had no customers, so how on earth was he making a living? And why was his belly getting bigger day by day?

But she had never seriously considered it. She just hated the very thought of him, and didn’t want to find out. All she felt was a desire for him to disappear forever.

“What were you trying to do by calling Eilli unnie?”

“I-I asked her to h-help me dig this.” Fosao took something out of the bag he was holding. It was hard to see in the dark, but Tia knew those distinctive leaves well. Loobus Herb. It was a plant Ritsu often used, effective for healing and pain relief.

“Why are you digging that?”

“Because many people got h-hurt in a gang fight… I wanted to h-help them…” She had heard there was a fight among the lowlifes two days ago. Was that why? Anyway, it was none of her concern.

Tia warned him firmly. “Don’t lay a hand on the unnies ever again. Don’t talk to them. Don’t even come near them.”

“N-no- Tia, but…”

“Don’t even pretend to know me.”

She said only that much and immediately turned around, intending to go down the mountain. From behind her, she heard Fosao’s voice.

“Tia. A-are you still… do you still hate me?”