Chapter 45
Noel had been eyeing the robed woman suspiciously. The red hair peeking out from under the hood and the shape of her face seemed familiar. But he didn’t seem to realize it was actually Sue, because he too widened his eyes when their gazes met.
“We’ll head to the barracks now. Keep up.”
“Wait a moment, Lieutenant Lionel.”
Noel called out, his voice urgent.
“Raines, what is it?”
“…I know her.”
I know her. There was only one person who could fit that description in this place.
The knights’ gazes instantly focused on Sue. Even the guard in front of her looked back at her in shock.
“You, you know the Imperial Knight?”
“Raines, you have acquaintances outside the capital? How curious.”
One was surprised that Sue knew an Imperial Knight, and the other was surprised that Noel knew a mere merchant’s daughter.
“I’m… surprised myself.”
Noel didn’t seem to want to reveal Sue’s identity, his voice strained as he continued.
“…Lieutenant Lionel, I apologize, but may I speak with her for a moment?”
“What?”
He could have just ignored her. No, that would have been the smarter choice. Everyone present would agree. But for some reason, Noel couldn’t just walk past her. He pleaded again,
“I’ll send her back and return to the barracks immediately.”
“Raines, this isn’t your playground. Save your socializing for when we’re back in the capital.”
A female knight standing in front of him scolded him for his unreasonable request. But Lionel, who knew Noel’s current state, just sighed.
‘He went AWOL, took a leave of absence, and even after returning, his mind is somewhere else. I put him on the inspection team to get him to focus, but… He’s still young.’
Noel was a talented and well-mannered junior, so he was fond of him. And that was why Lionel was lenient with him.
“…Fine. I understand. On the honor of the Knights Order, I shall ensure the lady’s safe return.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant Lionel.”
Lionel’s squad left for the forest where the barracks were located, leaving Noel behind. As Noel dismounted and approached Sue, the two guards quickly moved away.
“Byron.”
“Noel, it’s been a while.”
It was an unexpected encounter. Sue was happy to see him, but she couldn’t deny the strangeness of the situation.
Noel frowned at Sue’s awkward smile.
What is she doing here?
A heavy silence fell between them as they walked along the dirty path towards the beach. Sue kept opening and closing her mouth, but no words came out. The air felt thick.
“Byron, what are you doing here?”
Noel finally spoke.
“Just… a visit. Emnon has a beautiful sea. I wanted to see it.”
Sue replied, taking off her hood. It was true that she had come to Emnon because she was curious about Halo, but it was also true that she had wanted to see the sea properly.
But Noel’s reaction was strange.
“The sea? You came all the way to the edge of the empire, without any guards, just to see the sea?”
A strong sea breeze blew. The sound of the waves intensified. The sun was setting.
Noel’s blue eyes, as deep as the sea, stared at her intently. Sue averted her gaze, uncomfortable as always.
‘Why is he angry?’
She bit her lower lip.
No, is he even angry?
She couldn’t tell. She didn’t know Noel well enough to understand his thoughts.
But his usual cheerful smile was gone.
‘I was just happy to see him. Did I do something wrong?’
“I’m not alone. I came with my maid.”
Sue replied, trying to defuse the situation, her smile fixed on her face.
“Just one maid…”
Noel’s mind was in turmoil as he looked her up and down. Her red hair was braided in a single plait, as always. She was wearing an ordinary dress under her brown robe. No, it was a little worn out.
“…What’s that?”
He pointed at the large brown bag she was carrying. He had been curious about the strange lump she had been carrying ever since they met at the bridge.
“Ah, this? It’s clothes. I bought them at the shopping district in Emnon.”
Sue was relieved to see Noel’s expression soften. She confidently untied the tightly knotted string of the bag.
“…It’s really clothes.”
“Of course it is.”
The bag indeed contained clothes, just like Sue had said. But they weren’t the flamboyant dresses noble ladies usually wore, but plain clothes made of rough fabric. There were also some other miscellaneous items in the bag.
‘…She really came all the way here just for a visit?’
His confused mind was now in complete disarray. Sue, oblivious, suddenly had a good idea and started rummaging through the bag.
“Noel, here’s a gift.”
She pulled out a worn piece of cloth.
…No, it was something wrapped in cloth. Noel stared at it blankly. Sue, putting on a proud air, said,
“It’s a music box. A shell-shaped music box. I bought it at the shopping district. Put your ear to the hole. You can hear music, I swear. It’s fate that we met here, so I’ll give it to you. It’s a bit cheap, but…”
She excitedly explained the wonders of the shell-shaped music box. Noel watched her for a while, then looked back at the music box in his hand.
“…What are you thinking?”
He muttered. The words slipped out unintentionally. Before he could take them back, Sue asked,
“What do you mean?”
But for some reason, she felt like she understood. She had sometimes wanted to ask Noel the same question. What are you thinking?
In the strange atmosphere, Sue finally met his gaze. His face was shadowed, devoid of his usual cheerfulness.
“…It’s nothing.”
Noel brushed it off and changed the subject.
“Byron, it’s not my place to tell you what to do, but coming all the way here alone is suicidal.”
“….”
She knew. She knew how dangerous it was for a Skia to be alone, especially someone like her who had no talent in magic or martial arts. That was why she had been hiding her identity.
She didn’t have to listen to his advice, but she nodded in understanding.
“I’m sorry. You were worried.”
A faint smile appeared on her face.
Noel blinked, as if dazed.
“Well then, I should be going.”
It’s getting late.
Sue pulled up her hood again, looking at the darkening sky.
“Ah… Let me walk you back, Byron.”
Noel, snapping out of his daze, spoke in a hurried tone. Sue shook her head.
“No, you have to go back to the Knights. The people in this village think I’m just a merchant’s daughter. Nothing dangerous will happen. I’ll be back in the carriage before anything can happen.”
Sue grunted as she lifted the bag of clothes.
“Oh, right, Noel. I sent you a letter.”
“A letter?”
“Yes. I told you, I’d write to you sometimes.”
“….”
“Check it when you get back. It’s nothing special, really.”
Sue laughed awkwardly.
“…Wait, let me ask you one thing, Byron.”
Noel tightened his grip on the music box. He finally voiced the question that had been on his mind.
“Have you… changed since last year?”
The sound of the waves echoed again. Silence fell. Sue smiled faintly under the shadow of her hood.
“Noel, if that’s how you feel, then I guess I have.”
“Oh, Noel, you’re back early?”
Rabin, a squire, was sipping his stew when his junior, Raines Noel, returned to the barracks. Noel greeted him briefly and took off his armor.
“Noel, what was with that woman earlier?”
Rabin, who had been watching Noel in silence, finally asked about the incident while putting away his stew bowl. He wasn’t really curious about the woman, but about why Noel had acted so impulsively.
“How did you even meet a commoner woman?”
“Well, I’m not sure myself.”
Noel replied evasively. But Rabin, annoyed by his vague answer, decided to provoke him further.
“She was quite cute. Is she your girlfriend?”
“No, she’s not.”
This time, his answer was immediate. Rabin chuckled, watching Noel frown.
“But you seemed pretty concerned about her. Don’t tell me you were skipping out on duty to meet your girlfriend?”
“That’s… also not true.”
Noel suppressed a sigh. But Rabin continued to tease him relentlessly.
“Then what’s your relationship with her?”
“She’s just… an acquaintance.”
“Sigh, how boring. …Hey, what’s that?”
Rabin pointed at something on Noel’s sleeping bag. Noel turned around, wondering what it was. It was the shell-shaped music box.
“Ah, this.”
Noel hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“It’s nothing. I’m going to throw it away.”
i knew it. noel, you disqualified as ml