Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Stabbed in the Back When Off Guard
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"Please tell the Young Master that I had to leave in a hurry due to time constraints."
"Yes, I understand."
The two men exchanged looks of mutual understanding.
In truth, it was only natural to report to the castle's highest authority, Abel Kindriel himself, upon visiting.
But Yonas had already heard from Lord Diego, so he decided to quietly rest and then depart without fanfare.
"You can stay here."
The room Philip guided him to was impeccably tidy.
"How would you like your meal?"
"No, that's fine. I just plan to bathe and sleep."
"I see. Then I'll have the kitchen prepare some light refreshments in the dining hall before your departure."
Yonas nodded, then paused abruptly.
"You're not telling me the head chef is still awake, are you?"
"Of course. Lord Diego instructed us to spare no effort in welcoming Sir Yonas."
At those words, Yonas felt a mix of embarrassment and pride.
He had volunteered for this mission largely to catch Lord Diego's eye, and the thought that the lord had recognized that intent thrilled him.
"Above all, Sir Yonas is going to the capital as Lord Diego's representative. It's a shame we can't treat you more grandly."
Hearing Philip say that made the reality of acting as the lord's proxy truly sink in.
"Ahem."
Yonas cleared his throat to dispel his bashfulness.
"...Understood. Then I'll gratefully accept."
"Yes. Now, how would you like to handle your bath? Shall I assign an attendant?"
When Philip gave a subtle smile, Yonas waved him off firmly.
"I'll handle it myself."
"...Very well. Warm water is already prepared. Spare clothes are inside the wardrobe...."
Philip stopped mid-sentence, scanning Yonas's frame with a sharp gaze. He stroked his chin and continued.
"You're bulkier than expected, so the current clothes might not fit. I'll fetch something suitable."
"That's not necessary...."
"No, no. Even for a few hours, we can't have Sir Yonas inconvenienced."
Faced with Philip's unyielding tone, Yonas nodded as if conceding.
"I'll be right back. Please bathe comfortably."
Philip hurried out of the room with quick steps. Left alone, Yonas scratched his head for a moment, then
"Ah."
noticed the thick dirt caked on his fingertips. He shrugged and headed into the bathroom.
"Oh ho."
It was a far cry from the shabby public baths at the border. Above all, the large tub for soaking appealed to him greatly.
Yonas methodically stripped off his clothes and pulled a pouch from deep within his pocket.
Rummaging through it revealed a hard, seal-shaped object.
"Lord Diego's seal."
The core and purpose of this journey.
Arrive in the capital with this seal and faithfully fulfill the role of Lord Diego's proxy.
"I absolutely can't lose it."
Yonas reaffirmed his vow as he caressed the seal. He carefully placed it atop his clothes to keep it dry, then approached the tub.
As he sank into the water,
"Uwaaah."
a groan escaped him.
His languid limbs and fatigued muscles melted away in the hot water.
Yonas closed his eyes, fully submerging himself. How long had he been relaxing like that when
Knock knock.
"May I come in? I've brought the clothes."
Philip's voice came from beyond the door.
"Come in."
Yonas called out loudly, and the door opened. A wooden partition separated the tub from the door, blocking Philip's view.
"I'll leave the clothes here."
He heard the sound of thick garments being set down, then
"Shall I take your worn clothes for laundering?"
the rustle of them being gathered.
"Ah, thank you."
Yonas answered absentmindedly, then quickly added,
"Wait."
"Yes?"
"Don't touch the pouch on top of the clothes."
Despite the commanding tone,
"Understood."
Philip assented without question. He gathered the clothes with more rustling, then approached the door.
"If you need anything, just call. Pull the bell cord in the room."
The door opened and closed again with the sound of retreating footsteps.
"...."
Yonas waited a beat, then stood and peered beyond the partition.
"Ah."
The pouch containing the seal sat untouched atop the new clothes.
"Of course not."
He let out a wry chuckle at his needless worry.
Yonas leisurely finished washing. After changing, he returned to the room and noticed a scent he hadn't before.
"Hmm."
Inhaling deeply filled his nostrils with a subtle, soft fragrance.
"Incense?"
It came from a candle by the bedside. Philip's thoughtfulness improved his mood even more.
"I wonder if I can get about four hours of sleep."
It was a shame to enjoy such lavish hospitality for so little time.
Yonas approached the bed, feeling the plush mattress, which doubled his regret.
"Can't be helped with an early start."
He muttered to console himself.
If he completed this mission successfully, even greater rewards awaited.
"Compared to outpost duty where I'd get only one or two hours sometimes."
This was downright luxurious by those standards.
Yonas smiled contentedly, pulling the soft blanket up to his chin.
"Got to push hard tomorrow too."
He closed his eyes, bracing for the grueling schedule.
❖ ❖ ❖
"Sir Yonas! Sir Yonas!"
A frantic voice shook his shoulder.
"Sir Yonas! Wake up!"
It was the butler's voice.
"-!"
Yonas jolted awake.
"What the...."
He clutched his throbbing head and sat up. His vision was hazy, his body heavy as if soaked.
"Sir Yonas."
Philip stood by the bed, face pale with alarm.
"What's going on?"
"I'm sorry."
Philip bowed once, then continued swiftly.
"When the one who needed to depart soon didn't appear, I took the liberty of entering your room."
"Did you enter without even knocking?"
At the mild rebuke, Philip looked apologetic.
"I did. Several times. But there was no response...."
"Me?"
Yonas gaped in bewilderment.
'I didn't hear the knocking?'
This had never happened.
He was a light sleeper by nature. Living where vigilance was routine had made it so.
And to sleep so deeply that someone had to shake him awake.
'Something's off.'
At the same time, he noticed Philip furtively watching him.
...The butler was hiding something.
"Butler."
Just as he opened his mouth,
"Butler! Butler!"
A servant burst into the room panting.
"What is it?"
"Th-that! It's gone!"
"What's gone?"
Philip's question made the servant stamp his feet.
"The horses, the horses are gone!"
"What are you saying?"
Yonas sprang from the bed. The servant shrank back as the imposing knight approached.
"Wh-what I mean is... the horse Sir Knight rode in on is gone."
"What?"
"And not just that! The spare horse for you to change into is gone too!"
Yonas felt like he'd been struck on the head with a hammer.
"How did this happen?"
He whirled on Philip with a fierce tone.
"Didn't you promise to take good care of them!"
"But I did, I swear."
The two were on the verge of arguing when
"Butler! Butler!"
Someone else rushed in.
Yonas grimaced and turned.
"Butler! There you are!"
It was a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed mustache, wearing the white garb typical of kitchen staff.
'Why's his uniform so baggy?'
The loose sleeves flapped oddly.
"Huff, huff."
The man leaned on his knees, catching his breath. Philip asked calmly,
"What's the sudden emergency, Max?"
"Big trouble!"
Max steadied his breathing and blurted,
"It's, huff, it's gone!"
"What now?"
"The food and supplies you requested, butler! You know!"
"What did you say?"
Yonas stormed toward Max in a rage.
"Oh dear, Sir Knight. Calm down."
"Do I look calm? The horses are gone, and now the prepared food and supplies too!"
Yonas glared at them with blazing eyes.
Philip averted his gaze slyly, while Max sweated profusely, waving his hands.
"Oh please, I prepped everything at dawn for your departure. How was I to know it'd vanish completely?"
"Could other servants have taken it?"
"What kind of nonsense is that? I warned everyone yesterday!"
"Ha, damn it."
Max sighed in exasperation.
Yonas was dumbfounded. He hadn't expected such sabotage right before this crucial task.
He tried to quell his boiling anger and asked,
"How long to prepare replacements?"
"Don't worry too much, Sir Yonas."
Unexpectedly, Philip replied reassuringly.
"I've prepared spare horses and food for such contingencies."
"Ooh, as expected of the butler! Always so thorough!"
Max gave a thumbs-up beside him. But Yonas had no time to join in the relief.
'Prepared for this?'
Philip's demeanor seemed suspicious, as if he'd anticipated this....
"Butler! Butler!"
Yet another servant came running, gasping.
'No, again?'
Yonas scowled. At this point, nothing would surprise him.
Philip asked wearily,
"What now?"
"Young Master Abel...."
The servant swallowed hard and said,
"He's gone! His room is completely empty!"
Philip pinched his brow and sighed deeply.
"I see. Everyone out."
He shooed all the servants away.
"Prepare the food and supplies again."
After dismissing Max too, Philip bowed wearily.
"I'm sorry, Sir Yonas. All my oversight."
Yonas asked without hiding his bafflement,
"Is it that shocking for the Young Master to wake at this hour?"
"Well, Young Master Abel is rather... carefree."
Philip euphemistically called him lazy.
"He usually rises late for brunch. He almost never wakes this early."
"Fine. But what do you mean 'prepared for this'?"
Philip's face took on a resigned look, as if expecting the question. He bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry, Sir Yonas. Allow me to apologize on his behalf."
Yonas was utterly dumbfounded.
"...On his behalf? Whose?"