Chapter 10 (2/2)

“I will entrust the escort of the Prospective Saint, Freya Futor, to the preliminary holy knight, Astein Dandellion, to attend today’s banquet as a partner to protect the Saint. Auntie wrote this?”

Both men’s eyes trembled. They must have felt betrayed because it was a letter from the Holy Woman.

Astein watched them leisurely and smiled at them. Waiting with a shrug of his shoulders, he came before me with a confident step.

“I look forward to your kind cooperation, Lady Freya.”

He reached out his hand to me. I looked at his big hand. I wanted to put my hand on it right away, but I couldn’t do it because I could see the Futors glared at me.

Can I really reach out my hand to his?

“Wait, sister! What nonsense is this order? Does it make sense that the temple dares to intervene with the will of our family?”

It seemed that Euteran wasn’t able to accept it.

“Stay back because there’s information that some people are aiming at the prospective Saint so I have to protect her.”

There were those who are aiming for me? Was this propaganda? I had never known of this before my return.

“What do you mean?” Marquis asked with suspicious eyes.

“There are some people who tried to assassinate Lady Freya with the illegally traded weapons.”

Was the target of the assassination operation that the Marquis was preparing turned to me?

Marquis’ face became a bit complicated and distorted.

The current situation seemed to be incomprehensible. At the same time, I seemed to realized the meaning of the situation I was going with Astein.

“That’s impossible! They will never aim for Freya….!”

The Marquis stopped talking and looked at Astein. But Astein wasn’t the man to lose that gaze. He took the gaze at ease and continued his business-like remarks to the Marquis.

“For the sake of emergency, all the knights of the Grand Duchy have consulted with the temple by escorting the prospective Saint. Also, this was requested by the Emperor and the Empress.”

There was power in Astein’s words that the Marquis didn’t have. Not frivolous, not hasty. He just wanted to follow orders.

There was an uneasy murmur spread between the Marquis’ servants and knights.

“Father, can a prospective saint go with a random man? If this leads to a scandal…!”

Euteran couldn’t continue his speech because Astein had pulled out his white sword.

“Grand Duke!”

“What on earth is this?”

Astein’s voice was low and spread to the Marquis coolly as he said, “Can you even insult the prospective Saint and say that you are the successor of the Futor family?”

In the end, the words silenced the Marquis.

“I can’t believe you’re the Empress’ and the Saint’s brother. It’s good to see what you usually do, in front of me as an outsider.”

The silent Marquis meant Astein’s victory. Euteran and the Marquis remained silent, unable to find a rebuttal.

Now that this happened, I was worried that he might try to kill Astein who came into this house alone. Marquis Futor wouldn’t let Astein who had insulted him go.

Astein didn’t even know that.

“Now that we’re done talking, I’ll take the Saint with me. Knights of the Grand Duchy are guarding around the mansion.”

The Marquis shut his mouth tightly at the words the knights of the Grand Duchy were coming. When his father shut his mouth, Euteran had to vent his anger with only a harsh breath.

I saw them with a little strange eye.

For me, they were infinitely scary and the ones I wanted to avoid earnestly. I couldn’t believe they’re stuck with Astein’s words.

I felt cool and anxious. Obviously, they were not the ones who would step down like this. Especially Euteran. He was a cunning snake more than the Marquis.

“Then let’s all meet at the Imperial Palace. Lady Freya?”

Astein reached out to me.

I pondered for a moment in front of the two who were staring at me as if they would eat me if I held his hand.

I’m afraid I’m going to upset Astein again.

Then suddenly, Astein’s hands and eyes waiting for me caught my eye.

I could trust him. It’s Astein.

Then, I put mine on his big hand. His hands were a little hotter than I thought. It felt good somehow. Astein’s rough hand, with a little callus, drew me to his hide.

I went by his side, I always had a lilac scent wrapped around me softly.

“Sister, please don’t do anything wrong.”

Euteran warned me in a slightly pent-up voice. Astein snorted as if he was laughing, and led me down the stairs.

Through the path opened by the knights, we walked quietly to where the carriage was.

Just a prospective saint and a prospective holy knight. Bound by a deity with nothing more or less.

To those people who saw us, I hoped that we would appear to be just faithful servants of God.

A carriage was already waiting outside the building, enduring the attention of people.

“Here it is.”

The carriage of the Grand Duke of Dandellion. It was as if it had shaped Astein into a carriage. Purple decorations carved on a silver background. And it was as big and spacious as he was.

It would give you a sense of stability and comfort like Astein.

“Are you uncomfortable with the seat?”

“Not at all. Like the Grand Duke… it’s comfortable,” I spoke curiously.

Astein, who was sitting opposite me, smiled at my answer. And he gave a war voice that was different from what he used to the Marquis.

“It’s an honour to have Lady Freya in my carriage and to be a partner for the banquet.”

I blushed slightly at his words. I felt like I had become a common aristocrat and went to a banquet. For the first time, a normal routine was given to me.

The deviation was unfamiliar to me. Also my partner, the man I care about.

“Me too.” I answered shyly and hid my excitement.

“They say it’s going to be more colourful than usual today because it’s a celebration of the Imperial family’s descendant.”

The moment I heard him, I suddenly felt a pain in the back of my head. The ordinary banquet had been turned into a celebration of the Empress’ pregnancy. I forgot about it.

“Excuse me, Grand Duke? Today’s banquet, were you planning to come?”

It couldn’t have been comfortable to celebrate the once-lover having another man’s child.1

“If I don’t go when His Majesty has invited me, I’ll be damned. I’m just going to show my face.”

Yeah, you didn’t want to be there, but because of me…. I was not considerate. That he might be uncomfortable.

In the first place, being with the Emperor itself would’ve been painful.

“Then come back early with me. I’m sorry, you must be uncomfortable. It’s because I’m asking for a partner.”+

Astein’s eyes widened at my words. But soon his eyes narrowed.

As if what I said was nonsense.