Chapter: 140
Standing at the forest’s edge, the Four-Horse Carriage was a work of art in itself. Carved intricately from deep, rich-colored wood, its surface was polished to a glossy shine. The tiger emblem engraved on the carriage door radiated an intense presence, capturing everyone’s gaze.
The delicately drawn tiger was so lifelike that a few children took a step back in fear. Its eyes were embellished with gems more splendid than amber, sparkling as if they were alive in the light. A golden band intricately entwined around it, enhancing the carriage’s magnificence and nobility.
The horses pulling the carriage were no ordinary beasts either. Their black fur shone smoothly like silk, and they were larger than any horse Lian had ever seen.
The flamboyant carriage clearly indicated it belonged to a powerful Noble House. As it rolled through the streets, people would feel admiration for the family’s wealth and status. For some, it might have been a great honor, but for Lian, it was just burdensome.
‘Is this what it feels like to be a poor lady?’
Wasn’t there always a scene like this in morning dramas? A rich son shows up in a flashy carriage, calling out, “Hey, hop in!”
He completely understood the flustered expressions of heroines caught off guard in front of such extravagant vehicles.
‘Is it really okay for someone like me to get in?’
The Knight realized he hadn’t been mistaken in his expectations when he saw Lian approaching the carriage.
With a belt cinched around his waist and sturdy adventurer boots, dressed practically as any mercenary or adventurer would, Lian should have looked out of place next to the flashy carriage, but his beautiful appearance and the grace that exuded from him made it seem oddly fitting.
‘Ah, indeed! A child of a tiger can only be a tiger!’
The Knight’s eyes shimmered with awe before being struck by a curious sense of duty.
‘I must serve him properly!’
With calm confidence, the Knight approached the carriage. As he drew near, Lian subconsciously took a step back, feeling the nervousness rising.
Clack.
When the Knight confidently opened the carriage door, Lian fluttered and trembled as though Pandora’s box had been opened.
“Please, step inside.”
“Uh, y-yes…”
It felt as though he had just stepped into a clothing store where the clerk greeted him with a bright smile. What an immense burden! Lian awkwardly smiled and boarded the carriage.
The interior of the carriage matched the exterior’s splendor and was tastefully decorated with meticulous attention. It boasted ample space adorned with luxurious velvet and soft silk, offering the highest comfort and elegance to its passengers.
The seats were wide and covered in plush cushions that guaranteed ultimate comfort even during long journeys. The colors of the seats were a deep black featuring golden embellishments that emphasized their noble quality.
The windows were small but well-designed, each adorned with heavy curtains to ensure privacy when needed.
On one side of the carriage was a small desk, next to it was a stylishly designed cabinet. This cabinet had been furnished with space to store various items and documents that might be needed during the journey.
“This is my seat!”
Jess followed Lian into the carriage, purring as she flopped down into the plush seat, curling up and rolling around. Thankfully, there was enough space for her to do so.
“Jess, remember, we all need to share this space, so don’t roll around too much.”
Noah, who boarded after her, warned Jess with a serious face, and she immediately straightened up with a soft “Hehe…” Her droopy ears looked adorable.
“Are you not sitting, oppa?”
“Uh? Oh, yeah, I should sit.”
Realizing it was time to take a seat, he plopped himself down in a corner. Then…
“Um… Iris?”
“Yeah?”
“With all this space next to me, why don’t you sit here?”
Iris effortlessly sat down on Lian’s lap. Had she grown so much that she now matched his eye level instead of just reaching his chin?
“Is it okay if I sit here…?”
“Ugh..”
Looking up at him with teary eyes, she prompted a soft groan from Lian as he slightly bit his tongue.
“Not okay…?”
It wasn’t until he realized how close their physical distance had become that he noticed just how beautiful her face was right in front of him. Those eyes, as stunning as a golden sunset embroidered across the summer sky, left him spellbound.
Just as he was about to stutter out a response, something squeezed itself into the space between him and Iris.
“Uh?”
A hand, roughened with calluses and small scars, Noah’s hand, slipped right between them. Lian’s gaze slipped over to the owner of the hand.
“What are you guys doing?”
Noah’s face turned as red as a fire. Looking at that face triggered flashbacks of scenes from the past. Lian’s face began to heat up just as much.
Tap.
Iris, narrowing her eyes while glancing back and forth between her brother and Noah, swatted away the obstructing hand. Then, mischievously hugging her brother’s shoulder, she said with an innocent face,
“We’re just sharing sibling love!”
“What the heck! What kind of siblings cling to each other like that?!”
Noah, well aware of how ridiculous that reasoning was given his own sibling relationship with Nero, was utterly flabbergasted. He stumbled over his words, completely at a loss, when Jess made her move.
She sprang up onto the seat, lying down like a dog, her pupils dilating and then rapidly expanding.
At the end of her gaze was her clumsy-looking master, Lian. She licked her lips like a cat gleefully preparing to pounce on its prey, swaying her shoulders.
Pow!
“Lian-nim!”
“Whoa!”
“…!”
Jess leapt to tackle Lian in a hug, breaking the perfect triangle they’d formed. Just then, Lily and Nero, who were about to climb into the carriage, quietly stepped back, sensing the chaos brewing.
“We should use another carriage.”
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea…”
“There’s another carriage that’s bigger, so the four of you can ride in this one while the rest take the back carriage. It might get dangerous with too many of us squished in here.”
As Lily pointed out, they hadn’t just arrived in a single carriage. There were actually two. Though both appeared similar, Lian’s carriage was slightly more ornate. The front carriage was also spacious and lavishly adorned.
Thanks to magical items, the interior of the carriage had been designed to exceed physical limitations, making it capable of accommodating nearly twenty passengers. Most of the organization members onboard either admired the glamour or squirmed in discomfort for not having the luxury of a seat.
“Okay, let’s set off!”
The Coachman accompanying the carriage called out loudly, flanked by the mercenaries who surrounded it. The Knight thought about the ten mercenaries with a passing glance.
‘The Brown Wolf Mercenary Group—they’re known for their loyalty and great skill, not to mention their high fees, but… considering this is a situation escorting the young master, it feels way too humble. Why did they send mercenaries instead of knights?’
Given the letter he had sent, he was certain such an extravagant carriage couldn’t have been arranged without the Lord’s hand. He found it hard to understand why they’d sent mercenaries instead of knights, even after locating a long-lost child. However, he was a deeply loyal knight.
‘There must be a reason for this.’
He nodded heavily and climbed onto the horse drawn by the mercenaries.
With a deep rumble.
The massive black horse, with muscles rippling and not of an ordinary size, was the Knight’s partner. It seemed happy to see him again, shaking its mane playfully. The Knight affectionately patted the horse’s mane.
Clatter clatter.
The carriage and horses began to move slowly forward, with the mercenaries mounted as well, so they weren’t moving slowly at all.
“Farewell!”
“Boo-hoo, Lian-nim…”
“May the light be with you!”
“Hey you, did you sell your life already?!”
“Get lost, agents of death!”
From behind the departing carriage, shouts of life and death clashed as they reverberated in the air.
Inside the carriage, while Lian tried to prevent Jess, who was bouncing around like a dog out for a walk, from starting a fight with Noah and Iris, the outside sounds reached his ears, causing him to lean against the carriage wall and sigh. Suddenly, Jess paused her chaos, and the two squabbling stopped completely.
He cautiously lowered his hand.
“L-Lian, where are you hurt? If you’re hurt, just say so, and I’ll have the carriage stop immediately…!”
“Oppa, where does it hurt? Who hurt you?”
“Sniff, sniff, Lian-nim, are you in pain? Should I lick it better?”
Realizing Lian’s condition was fine through her keen senses, Jess put on an innocent puppy face as she subtly tried to fulfill her wishes. Surrounded by three beautiful women inching closer, Lian’s head started spinning.
‘Wait, hold on a second. Why are we the only ones in this carriage?’
It struck him that something was off, but the carriage had already set off without him noticing.
Author’s Note: Thank you for reading, Ilham Senjaya! I appreciate your support and wish you a happy day :3
I caught a cold and was a bit late with this. Sorry! ㅠㅠ
I’m feeling a bit better this dawn, so I’ll be visiting the hospital today (I couldn’t go yesterday because I was feeling awful…)
Everyone, please be careful with colds! ㅠㅠ
I’ve prepped the illustration for Iris’s mother with AI.
If there’s a character illustration you want to see, let me know, and I will work on the most requested ones first :3
Recommendations and supports are love!
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