Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Strike When They're Relieved (7)
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"This is all because of Young Master Abel."
"...What do you mean by that?"
"You're displeased that you can't go as the Lord's proxy."
Philip gave a wry smile and shook his head.
"You're interfering so Sir Yonas can't depart on time. If he can't pay his respects to you, the departure will be delayed even further."
"......"
"As I mentioned earlier, I prepared for this possibility in advance. You'll be able to set off soon."
Yonas had nothing to say, so he just stared at Philip silently.
'They called him an irredeemable wastrel, but this level?'
Both the Young Master Abel who calmly pulled off something like this, and the butler who anticipated it and prepared in advance—neither seemed right in the head.
'That's why the Lord sent me as proxy instead.'
Yonas finally thought he understood Diego's intentions.
If he'd sent Abel instead, who knows what would have happened...
"Wait."
In that moment, a thought flashed through Yonas's mind.
Yonas hurriedly rummaged through his inner pocket. He pulled out the pouch he'd carefully tucked away inside.
An exclamation of shock burst from his lips.
"It's gone!"
"W-What do you mean, sir?"
He didn't even have the presence of mind to respond to Philip's urgent question. He could only hope it was a mistake and rummage through the bundle again.
But no matter how many times he sifted through it, or even turned it inside out and shook it vigorously, what he was looking for didn't appear.
"...It's really gone."
The Lord's seal, which Diego had earnestly entrusted to him with strict instructions, had vanished.
"The seal... it's gone..."
Yonas slid down onto the bed.
His vision seemed white, or black—no, it felt like everything was spinning wildly.
"The seal is gone? You don't mean Lord Diego's seal, do you?"
Philip broke out in a cold sweat beside him. His gaze turned to the pouch clutched in Yonas's hand.
"That pouch from yesterday. Surely Sir Yonas had it safely..."
Color drained from Philip's face in an instant. He seemed to have realized something, his expression one of dawning comprehension.
"...N-No way?"
Yonas shot to his feet and grabbed Philip by the collar.
"Gurk!"
Ignoring Philip's reddening face, he growled.
"The incense."
"Khuk, what?"
"What did you do to the incense? Tell me right now!"
His eyes already rolled back in fury, he'd even dropped his polite speech. Philip choked out words with difficulty.
"I-I heard it was just... incense to aid sleep."
"Don't make me laugh!"
Yonas snapped harshly.
"No mere incense would make me sleep this deeply! I even slept with that pouch tucked in my bosom!"
"Y-Your bosom?"
"Yeah! To think someone could take it without me waking—that's no ordinary incense!"
Under Yonas's sharp grilling, Philip squeezed his eyes shut, his face flushed beet red.
"I-It was incense given by Young Master Abel. I couldn't... go against his orders..."
Yonas glared at him murderously before releasing his grip.
"Khuk!"
Finally free from Yonas's grasp, Philip coughed harshly. Yonas glared at Philip, spitting out each word deliberately.
"Do you realize what you've done?"
"......"
"Young Master Abel is going to impersonate the Lord's proxy!"
He pressed his feverishly hot forehead. Heat surged from his eyes—he was on the verge of losing it completely.
"What a mess this is! How am I supposed to face the Lord!"
"That's... impossible."
At Philip's strained words, Yonas raised an eyebrow.
"What did you say?"
"No, I mean... what you just said is impossible."
"What are you talking about?"
Philip continued, clutching his throat.
"The Young Master's right arm is broken. So what you're suggesting can't happen."
He spoke in a now-calm voice.
"The Young Master is just playing a nasty prank."
"A nasty... prank?"
Yonas blinked, doubting his own ears. It seemed like the butler had lost his mind and was spouting nonsense.
"Yes, a prank."
But Philip spoke earnestly, word by word.
"To him, all this is just a game. He's probably enjoying watching us fret and panic. He'll have hidden the seal somewhere, no doubt."
"...Ha!"
They said absurdity could make you laugh, and this was exactly that.
Yonas gazed at the distant mountains and took a deep breath.
To be toyed with like this by some immature young master's antics—his chest burned with rising fury.
In a voice grown rougher, he asked,
"Then where is the Young Master right now?"
"He's either hiding in the castle or somewhere in the territory."
"Good."
Yonas spat the word through gritted teeth.
"First, prepare a fresh horse and provisions for me."
"Yes."
"Send the servants to comb everywhere and find the Young Master. We'll depart as soon as the seal is found."
Philip nodded, rubbing his reddened neck.
"He couldn't have gone far."
❖ ❖ ❖
"Prrrrngh!"
With a resounding neigh, Blackstar charged forward vigorously.
It seemed like reckless galloping, but Blackstar's movements had a delicate precision.
It avoided gravel that would shake its body, stepping only on firm ground to maintain speed without faltering.
Though the surroundings were dim, Blackstar moved as if it were bright noon. Thanks to its vision several times superior to other animals.
"Prrrng! Prrrng!"
Blackstar snorted repeatedly, powerfully pumping its legs. Its lush mane fluttered in the wind.
"The rascal's excited."
I grinned and gripped the reins tightly. Then I raised my left hand to scratch behind Blackstar's ear once.
"Hiiing!"
Blackstar let out an adorably pleased whinny. And it picked up even more speed.
"Yeah, yeah. Good job."
I gripped the reins with both hands again.
"I wonder if the others are doing well."
The 'others' I meant were the horses.
The one Yonas had ridden in on, the one he was supposed to ride, and the ones I'd led out a few hours ago and released into the forest.
"By now, they're probably grazing freely."
If unlucky, maybe devoured by some passing monster? Or perhaps they'd retraced their steps back to the territory.
"Well, it'd be too late by then anyway."
I chuckled and gripped the reins firmly.
"Wonder if they've figured it out by now."
I gazed at the distant sky where faint light began to gleam. In the heart of autumn now passing, sunrise came later and later.
"They probably planned to depart around dawn."
By now, Philip was likely bustling to wake Yonas.
"He seemed to have some inkling."
Philip had always tried to figure out my schemes. Even while preparing the incense as I ordered, he'd secretly moved in case of contingencies.
Observing his anxious fidgeting was quite amusing.
"He probably thought it was just to hinder Yonas."
My ultimate goal was the Lord's seal. To steal it and go to the capital in Yonas's place.
"He's probably searching diligently for me, thinking I'm hiding somewhere."
Because he'd assume my arm was still injured. He'd think I could only release the horses and hide the seal.
But both my arms were perfectly fine.
Fine enough to tame this ferocious Blackstar and ride it like this.
"Well then, good luck to them."
I cackled. Thinking of Philip and Yonas's futile efforts made it impossible not to laugh.
Meanwhile, the scenery whipped past beside me. Blackstar, thrilled after so long without a run, charged ahead without restraint.
It was a speed you couldn't feel on a normal horse. My body jolted roughly up and down, which was tiring.
"Jeez. How did old man Vent plan to use a beast like this as a warhorse?"
Riding this thing around would snap your shinbones in no time. Even if he wanted a capable horse, this was too reckless.
"Breeding it in the first place would be impossible."
Normal horses couldn't even approach Blackstar. If they barely got close, they'd lose their groin and reproductive functions.
"Ugh, gruesome."
I shuddered and focused on the ride. Before long, dawn gradually broke, brightening the surroundings.
"Whoa, whoa."
Spotting a pond midway, I pulled the reins.
"Prrrngh!"
Blackstar slowed but tossed its head side to side. A hint of petulance mixed in its neigh.
"Want to keep running?"
I smirked and brought it to a full stop.
"If you want to run more, you need to hydrate. Drink up, then we'll go."
"Prrng."
Blackstar obediently halted by the pond, as if understanding. The more I watched, the smarter it seemed.
"Here goes."
I hopped down from Blackstar. Leaving it to drink, I stretched my numb legs.
"Hmm, not bad at all."
After loosening up sufficiently, I pulled a map from my saddlebag.
"Whereabouts are we now?"
People usually traveled long distances using the main roads radiating east, west, south, and north from the imperial capital.
It was the fastest and safest way to move between territories.
Thus, to head to the capital, I needed the eastward main road.
But.
"Hmm... around here? I've been following the ridgeline straight."
My finger pointed to the southeast mountains on the map, tracing along them.
"Down this way... yeah, here should do."
I tapped a small territory at the end of the mountains. It was quite far from the main road linking the western territories to the capital.
"Bezerc."
Taking this route would achieve what I wanted.
I scanned the map meticulously one last time before stowing it. Then I grinned.
"Even if Yonas chases, he won't catch me."
Philip and Yonas would soon realize I'd completely vanished from the territory. They'd come after me with fire in their eyes.
"On the eastward road."
But I hadn't taken that path from the start. Instead, I'd loop around via the road less traveled—southeast.
"Still, I'll reach the capital faster than Yonas."
Yonas would be slowed by scouring for my tracks. Meanwhile, on Blackstar—far faster than any normal horse—I could go twice as quick.
"Poor guy."
A pleasant smile spread across my lips as I muttered. Imagining Yonas striking out and raging made me feel great.
"This is all thanks to you."
I carefully combed Blackstar's mane.
"Prrng."
Blackstar rubbed its nose against my palm. After the long run, it seemed pleased, acting quite affectionate.