episode_0144

In the mountainous region of the northwest in the Kingdom of Herbor, there was a small town named Bainen.

A small town surrounded not by stone walls but by wooden fences.

It was such a small town that it lacked even the common regular diseases, with a vigilante group gathering idle young men from the village to guard the fences.

Despite each one of them fiercely exuding a wolf-like aura as if they would wrestle wolves barehanded, ultimately, it was all just a facade.

With a faint sense of feebleness and pitifully inadequate equipment levels, even the attack of a few bears would cause chaos, making them scatter in all directions as if fleeing for their lives.

“Living well in a place like this. It must be quite a shock moving from the capital to here.”

A bitter laugh escaped involuntarily.

No matter where you looked, it was hard to believe that this city, where knights close to the status of high-ranking knights resided, was a remote village.

“Wouldn’t it be nice to live quietly together…? Buying a small brick house…and living there with me, just the two of us…hehe.”

On the other hand, Friede seemed to somewhat enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of Bainen.

Being able to wander around with me all day without caring about others’ gazes?

Of course, what I considered wandering and what she meant by it were vastly different.

Should I say it’s as different as chalk and cheese?

Just looking at her expression, I can tell for sure.

Friede’s words meant she wouldn’t let me sleep for three days and nights straight like a bedsheet on the bed.

In the quiet corner of the rural area, even if a tragedy unfolded for three whole days, turning the bed into a waterbed, no one would bat an eye.

…Alright. If I ever get the chance to finish everything and live quietly in seclusion, I should choose a bustling and noisy city with many people.

People should sleep when it’s time to sleep.

Of course, even if I wander around for three days straight, it won’t torment me to the point where I can’t catch a wink of sleep…

When resting, one should rest properly.

I’d rather have a peaceful sleep in a cozy and warm woolen bed than soak in a sea of lemon-scented bodily fluids.

To secure my right to sleep, it seemed I had to choose a lively neighborhood with noise pollution, flooding, heatwaves, and enough commotion for complaints from next door for three days.

◆◆

On the outskirts of Bainen, in a secluded corner of the quiet city with hardly any transient population, stood a two-story brick mansion separately.

At first glance, there were roughly about seven rooms.

It was too small and rugged to be called a nobleman’s mansion, yet it had the feel of a villa that seemed somewhat extravagant for commoners to reside in.

That was the residence of Veleren Esther.

“Hmm….”

I stood in front of the wall, stroking my chin and gazing at the exterior of the mansion for a moment.

It seems quite spacious for a single woman to live alone. Did she originally live here with her daughter?

If so, it seemed best to avoid contact with the villagers. If I happen to meet someone who was friends with Veleren’s daughter, they might discover that I am not her.

“It’s bigger than I thought. Does this knight, Esther, live alone in a place like this?”

“Well, she probably has some servants, right?”

It takes a certain level of skill to manage a single woman’s life as a commoner.

It would be difficult for a knight who has never caught anything other than a sword in his life to manage a seven-room mansion alone, so there must be servants to help with cooking and cleaning.

…Or perhaps, the mansion itself may just look presentable on the outside but could be a complete mess inside.

“Let’s go inside for now.”

Regardless of which it is, it’s unknown until we check. I walked up to the mansion’s door, lightly knocking to announce my arrival.

“Is anyone there-?”

Having knocked on the door about three times, the old and quaint wooden door creaked open, revealing someone’s face peeking through.

“…Who might you be?”

A woman in her mid to late twenties, with dull brown hair wrapped and tied up in a cloth, wearing a simple everyday outfit with an apron over it.

Just by looking at her, one could tell she had a rural vibe, which definitely wasn’t Belloran herself… Perhaps just any local woman hired to take care of household chores for a wage.

“Pardon me. I have come to meet Belloran Esther Kyeong here… Is she available right now?”

I pushed back the hood of my cloak, nodding my head in greeting. My dark hair, dyed black with henna, flowed out from under the helmet.

“Oh, were you the one expected to come this time…?”

The servant, who eyed me warily, nodded slightly. It seemed like they had been forewarned that I would show up around this time.

They must have been informed by Argantir, perhaps as a messenger or courier. Despite having a somewhat prickly personality, he was a reliable person when it came to handling tasks.

“Do you have the letter of introduction with you?”

“Yes, here it is.”

I handed her the introduction letter written by Argantir.

The introduction letter meant to be shown to Belloran Esther. I had no idea what it said since it was sealed with wax on the outside and couldn’t be opened.

Hopefully, it didn’t contain anything like “Cut off the neck of the person delivering this letter and bury them”… Well, it probably didn’t say something like that.

“Thank you. Since it’s chilly outside, please come in first. If you wait in the parlor, Esther will come down to meet you.”

Taking the introduction letter, the servant opened the door wide and ushered us inside.

◆◆

The interior of the mansion was austere and bleak. While it seemed to be maintained, it barely met the minimum standards of decency.

The corridor was dim and cold, devoid of any decorations like paintings or sculptures on the walls.

Whether this was a house where people lived or an ancient ruin, it was hard to tell. One would think even a girl in her prime wouldn’t want to live in such a place and might run away.

“You may sit here.”

At least the parlor looked somewhat decent.

A wooden table and a leather sofa were neatly arranged on a carpet on the floor, and near the fireplace on the opposite wall, there were some decorations.

It seemed like they hung a sword on the wall in case someone was a former knight or something.

With two crossed swords and a round shield in front of them, and even a longsword laid horizontally on a stand.

Seeing three swords hanging there, one might think they weren’t knights but pirates.

“Please wait a moment. I will deliver the introduction letter to Lady Esther and then bring tea.”

“Oh, sure. Thank you.”

“Not at all.”

The servant, smiling faintly as if it were a matter of course, took the introduction letter and went upstairs. That’s where Belloran Esther’s personal study was located.

I sat on the sofa with Prider, waiting for Belloran Esther, the woman who would become like a mother to me.

“I’m a bit nervous…”

“Me too.”

Amidst the rising tension and faint anticipation.

“You’ve been waiting long. Lady Esther will be down shortly. She said she would prepare tea for the welcoming ceremony, so please bear with us.”

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

The returning servant poured red tea into a cup and offered it to me. I took a sip.

Slightly bitter and sour taste. The tea leaves seemed to be chosen just for show, not for quality. Maybe the servant’s skills were lacking.

Well, this was no place to complain. Thirst is the best sauce, as they say. I blew on the hot cup of tea and quenched my thirst with the bitter tea.

After a few minutes.

– Creak.

Finally, as if all preparations were complete, someone descended the stairs from the second floor.

“Nice to meet you for the first time, Sir Sigfrid. And your companion as well.”

Leather boots, black pants. A somewhat large pelvis, whether from childbirth or horseback riding.

A woman in a beige blouse, her slim waist cinched with a leather corset, looked down at us.

Her long black hair was braided and draped over her shoulders, with mismatched earrings adorning her ears. A slender figure. The small teardrop tattoo below her left eye was striking.

“The owner of this mansion is Veleren Esther.”

Her sharp features appeared slightly weary under the deep shadows, her blue irises holding a mineral-like hardness.

“I apologize for the lackluster hospitality. It’s been a long time since anyone has visited this mansion. I wonder if Mari has caused any inconvenience.”

“Um… Nice to meet you for the first time.”

“Oh, hello…!”

Freide and I quickly rose, exchanging awkward greetings. We couldn’t hide our surprise. Frankly, it was more than a bit – no, extremely bewildering.

Well, that’s understandable…

“…Thirty-eight years old, you say. With that face?”

The woman who revealed herself before us as Veleren Esther, looking remarkably young, seemed barely in her twenties.

The only hint of her thirty-eight years was a faint wisp of a wrinkle nestled lightly on the inner corner of her eyes.

She had a face that seemed more fitting to call sister rather than mother – no, even older sister. She was quite a beauty, too.

“……”

In Freide’s alternating gaze between me and Ms. Veleren, a subtle sense of wariness crept into her eyes.

It was a lion meeting a hyena kind of look.