Chapter 97: You should have gone when they said they would send you. (1)
The next morning, Anna was anxiously looking around in front of the inn.
She wore a panicked expression as if searching for someone.
With a 500 gold note in her hand, she stamped her feet, almost in tears.
Next to her stood Gordon and five mercenaries.
After exchanging a few words with Gordon, Anna grabbed his arm and sat down.
Desperately pleading, but Gordon just continued to shake his head.
Ultimately, she burst into tears.
Claude, who had been watching from a distance, smiled bitterly.
Belinda asked with narrowed brows as if she couldn’t understand.
“Can’t you just go with her? She’s searching so desperately.”
After a moment of silence, Claude replied with self-deprecation.
“To be honest, Anna knows it’s not my fault either. We’re all victims here.”
“So, they can just live happily together in the future! Our territory has good air and water!”
Claude slowly shook his head.
“I love Anna, but every time I see her, painful memories resurface. Anna probably feels the same.”
“She knows it’s not your fault. It’ll be okay.”
“Even if Anna says it’s okay… What right do I have to stay by her side after causing her teacher’s death?”
“You had no choice, right? That was just because they were foolish… Oops, sorry.”
Belinda covered her mouth, surprised by her own slip of the tongue.
Claude didn’t get angry; he just chuckled softly.
“True. I’ve always been foolish. My teacher wanted me to live and become a great scholar of the kingdom… But instead, I’ve turned into a loser and a gambling addict.”
“But escaping like this isn’t the answer. It’s better to do well in the future.”
Despite Belinda’s accusation, Claude bowed his head and let out a faint sigh.
After a long silence, he whispered softly.
“Let’s just bury each other in our memories… and maybe someday we’ll grow used to that pain. I just hope Anna can too.”
Belinda turned away, dissatisfied.
From a distance, she could see Anna still crying with her face covered.
Despite her displeasure, she understood what Claude was saying.
No matter how much you love someone, can you really live your life seeing the face of the man who caused your father’s death?
Even if you think it’s okay, those moments of resentment can’t just be stopped.
Claude would also suffer guilt for the rest of his life.
It’s a pain that’s hard to imagine unless you’re the one experiencing it.
So she could no longer blame him.
Ghislaine, quietly looking out the window, asked,
“Regretful?”
“Of course, I regret it every night, vowing never to live so foolishly again. I won’t fall for such shallow schemes anymore.”
“I’m regretting everything. I won’t fall for such a shallow scheme ever again.”
“That’s enough. I felt the same way.”
“So, even the Lord has gone through something like that? I guess you caused quite a few accidents, huh? Your face says it all.”
“Well, I’m trying to correct those regrets now. Doing my best, that is.”
Claude shrugged and made a cheeky expression as if asking when he ever looked bitter.
“Oh dear, the mood has dropped too low. Honestly, I’m not the type to ruin the atmosphere.”
Ghislaine chuckled and nodded in agreement.
“I know. You’re quite the complainer, but that means you do your job well. Look forward to the future.”
“I don’t know what you’re banking on with that expectation. Even if you ask me to backtrack later, I can’t do it. I’m broke.”
“Don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to milk some cash.”
“That’s terrifying.”
Claude chuckled as he watched Anna and the mercenaries leave.
Anna would dedicate her life to compiling the history book of the Seiron Kingdom.
It was also her late mentor’s and father’s wish.
Originally, Claude had been involved in this work too…
And now he regretted not being part of it.
But he didn’t worry too much.
There were many professors at the Academy who respected her mentor.
They would take good care of Anna.
“I’m feeling lighter. I think I can finally take a step forward now.”
Claude glanced at Anna’s receding figure and turned away.
He hoped she would be happy and that he would be forgotten.
He slowly let go of his memories and regrets.
*
As soon as Anna left, Ghislaine’s group set off for the Penris Territory.
It had been a while since they left the territory unattended, so they needed to return and tidy things up as quickly as possible.
Claude pulled himself together, imagining the territory he would live in from now on.
‘If they can dish out thousands of golds casually, they must be from a very wealthy family.’
He stole a glance at Ghislaine’s back.
‘Plus, he became a lord at such a young age. He must have gotten it handed down from his family, which means the Lord’s father is at least a Count. Maybe even a Duke?’
Even if not a Duke, he certainly had to be a great lord.
Claude shook his head as he recalled names he knew among the high-ranking nobles of Ruthania.
‘That’s intimidating. If it’s such a prestigious family, there must be plenty of talented people around.’
Although a bit worried, Claude didn’t feel scared.
Even though he had somewhat wasted his life gambling like a loser, he was now free from all shackles.
From now on, he only had to focus on work.
There was no need to lose confidence this early.
Claude tried to ask various questions about the territory to gather some knowledge, but Ghislaine brushed him off, saying he would understand once he saw it.
He subtly asked Belinda as well, but she reacted the same way.
“Oh, it’s just a nice place with good water and fresh air.”
“Please give me a bit more detail. I’m looking forward to how great the territory is.”
“Hmm, just go see it yourself. I don’t know that well either.”
Belinda seemed uncomfortable with his persistent questioning and quickly made her escape.
Claude let out a hollow laugh.
‘What do you mean you don’t know? It seems they expect me to be surprised by how rich the territory is……. Do they think I’m a rural bumpkin?’
It’s a cliché. They clearly want to see the rural guy’s astonishment at a grand and affluent territory.
‘Their confidence is something else. Let’s see just how extraordinary it is.’
Claude clenched his fist and focused his gaze.
“Ah, what a relief!”
As Belinda stretched and made her exclamation, Ghislaine shot her a glance.
“What’s up with you?”
“Just felt like that’s what I needed after listening to these two. They get all fired up over nothing!”
Claude, oblivious to their exchange, continued to devise his ambitious plans.
He turned on the lights and shouted with relief.
“Wow, we’re almost there!”
Claude, who had been babbling with spittle flying everywhere, abruptly turned to her with a strained neck.
“What do you mean we’re almost there?”
Belinda replied, puzzled.
“I’m saying we’re about to arrive at the Lord’s Castle. Since we crossed the border, it’s been our territory; didn’t you know? I mean, it’s a bit wide since it combines three baronies.”
“Is it really here?”
Belinda nodded silently.
Claude looked utterly bewildered and asked again, “Why?”
“Because this is our territory, so when I say it’s our territory, why are you asking why…?”
Claude, now looking completely downcast, turned to Ghislaine.
“Are you… kidding me right now?”
“No, this is indeed my territory.”
Ghislaine grinned.
With that annoying expression, Claude exploded in frustration.
“Oh, that doesn’t make any sense!”
“What doesn’t?”
“How can the Lord have so much money if the territory is this poor? Are you saying it’s the Lord who’s squeezing the residents dry?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Claude glanced around at the party in a panic.
Belinda, Gillian, and the mercenaries all stood there, staring blankly at him.
It didn’t feel like a moment for joking.
He tried not to show it, but his voice trembled.
“Um… what does your father do, my lord?”
“Our father is the Marquis of Perdium, further north than here.”
Claude felt a bit relieved.
Being a Marquis means he’s a high-ranking noble.
Marquises often hold more powerful military and administrative authority than many lords.
“A marquis… then Perdium must be more developed than this territory, right?”
Ghislaine stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment before breaking into a bright smile.
“It’s better than here, but it’s also famous for being poor. It’s tough to develop because of the Forest of Monsters and the barbarians.”
Claude finally realized what Belinda meant.
— Ah, it’s just a nice place with good water and air.
‘Of course the water and air would be good since there’s nothing else!’
Cold sweat streamed down Claude’s back like a waterfall.
Thinking the territory was wealthy wasn’t the problem.
It was a bit embarrassing, but it was a reasonable misconception.
What was problematic was that he’d blurted out nonsense about wanting to behead the wicked lord in front of everyone because of that misconception.
‘Ah, I still have a long way to go.’
He thought he’d understood the scary things in the world well enough, but it seems he still lacked training.
Claude awkwardly smiled and began to back away slowly.
‘In times like this, the best thing to do is to run. The gambling hall would be better than here. Anna, wait! I’ll be back soon!’
Ghislaine noticed his intentions and grinned.
Although he heard insolent talk about how the territory was ruined and about killing the lord, he wasn’t really angry about it.
He agreed it was truly a miserable place.
‘But I can’t forgive you for trying to run away.’
With a gesture from Ghislaine, the mercenaries discreetly moved to surround Claude.
If he tried to slip left, Gillian would block him, and if he tried to veer slightly right, Belinda would stand in his way.
Claude broke out in a cold sweat. There was absolutely no escape in sight.
Ghislaine approached him nonchalantly and threw an arm around his shoulder.
“I heard your thoughts loud and clear. Your enthusiasm really pleases me. Let’s do well together going forward.”
With a voice like the whisper of a devil, Claude hung his head low.
‘I should have left when they said they’d let me go. I miss you, Anna.’
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