12. Predestined future.
I was speechless for a while. This is because the unexpected background came out here.
A pattern engraved with a black horse with a white mane.
The family of Karthus, France’s fiancée. It was a Persian pattern.
After clearing all the quests in the game, I didn’t know this for the first time. It’s surprising that Frances was attacked on the way to the party, but it was the Persian duke who was behind it.
“… ….”
Are you sure you tried to kill me here? No, it could be someone doing something to stir up alienation. That’s right, a family like the Duke of Persia would never send assassins like these amateurs.
‘I’d rather not tell Frances for now.’
She will be shocked if I tell the truth.
I put the pattern on my chest and went back to the carriage.
“Hey slave.”
“What happened?”
“What’s going on, you’re a short-talking bastard. Did you find anything?”
“No.”
“You speak plainly to the end.”
Is it because of my skills? The knights no longer found fault with my actions. Well, they showed the state of letting the sword flow, but they must know that if you mess around, you will die.
Because only Frances can control me.
Goed into the wagon. Frances was waiting with a bored expression on her chin.
“Have you dealt with the assassins?”
“Yes.”
“Did you find out who was behind it?”
“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t find it.”
“So what?”
France’s face didn’t show the slightest movement. He didn’t seem very curious about those who tried to kill him. Even though he had just been threatened with his life.
From noble mtl dot com
‘Am I not motivated to live? Or did he not put a value on his own life?’
Whatever it is, it’s really sad. Humans, by nature, value their own lives more than anything else.
At that time. The voice of the coachman leading the carriage came.
―Now that we are ready, let’s go!
It’s rattled. The wheels of the wagon moved and rattled.
“Aren’t you uncomfortable?”
“Not really.”
Is there anything more to say?
“If there is anything else you want to say, please feel free to tell me. I will listen.”
After I finished speaking, Frances looked at me.
“I must have had good slaves. Power is strong and being considerate of me is worth 500 million won. I like it.”
France showed a faint smile. I’m glad she helped. However… ….
This feeling keeps tickling my heart.
‘What is it?’
The emotions I have felt so far are sympathy, anger, and sadness. And her protective instinct to protect her and her desire to save her from her fate as the villain.
However, the emotions I feel now are not those. This feeling, which I felt the other day, was like a ball of thread that got stuck together and didn’t think about unraveling. I feel uncomfortable for some reason.
“Your expression is not good. Did you get hurt in the fight earlier?”
“I can’t be hurt that much.”
“Then I’m glad.”
Frances said that and looked back through the window of her carriage.
“Don’t get too close to her window. They said they removed the shards of glass, but they could hurt you.”
“… Are you so worried about me?”
“What kind of slave doesn’t worry about his master?”
France’s eyebrows twitched.
“There is something I want to ask you. Aren’t you resentful of the Empire? They destroyed your country and made you a slave. I am a noble of that empire. I understand taking orders, but I don’t think there’s any reason to be so loyal.”
Well. I’m not sure either. Originally, after I showed you a good future and unlocked my slave imprint, we only hoped for good results for each other, but how did this happen?
‘Has there been a change of heart?’
Hearing her story moved her heart. Now that she’s starting to look like France, a human living an odd life, rather than just a villain in a game.
‘It would be correct to say that it has changed.’
When the end of the journey approaches, will I be able to abandon you?
France Descartes.
What do you think of me? Is it just a piece of chess that can be replaced at any time?
“… ….”
Let’s stop thinking like this. I’m not some kind of unrequited boy. I just need to move for a purpose.
“I just don’t dwell on the past.”
“… I don’t think it’s something you should say as a member of the royal family.”
Francese, who had been quietly staring at the window, continued her words.
“You look tired.”
“How about sleeping?”
“… Are you watching me sleep in a chair right now?”
“Why not?”
“It’s not something you should do as a noble lady.”
“… ….”
It’s not something you should do as a noble lady. I think that statement is contradictory. The treatment she receives from her family is not the treatment she deserves as a noble lady.
“I know you worry about me. That said, I won’t lie down to sleep. I’ll just lean back in my chair and close my eyes.”
“Sleep well.”
France’s eyes, sparkling emerald, were hidden by her eyelids. I just quietly looked at her face.
* * *
The carriage stopped. It must have arrived at the Marquis of Eldas.
“Master.”
“Ummm… ….”
“Master. Time to wake up.”
Frances opened her eyes. Puffy eyes. But her eyes were still shining.
“I don’t think I slept, but you’ve already arrived.”
“It took quite a while.”
“… So?”
I opened the carriage door and got out first. I stood by the stairs and held her hand as she cautiously descended.
“You can escort me without having to tell me anymore.”
France laughed. Then. I’ve done it once, so I’ll do better next time.
“Let’s go.”
I walked along with Frances. The coachman went to take care of her carriage, and her eight knights followed her.
“I decided to meet the Duke of Persia here. It seems we arrived first.”
“… ….”
You’d better not expect the cow duke to come. He has no intention of coming here.
That’s not enough to tell you this. All sorts of inferences will begin, starting with how you knew. A secret that only I know is enough.
How much time had passed like that? The party had started a long time ago, but as I expected, Duke So did not appear.
“Master. Now is the time…….”
“I know.”
Even when she was persecuted by Eden and Rein, or attacked by assassins, France’s eyes that did not waver were shaken by an earthquake.
Fast. Frances gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.
At this rate, she would have to enter alone.
If an engaged man and woman do not enter the party together, it is more like a hint that something is wrong between them.
The cow duke…….
‘Doesn’t he intend to enter with France?’
This is also on schedule.
“Master.”
“Why is that?”
“Duke So will not come here.”
“… What does that mean?”
“I mean literally.”
“… How do you know that?”
“It’s just a feeling. Seeing that it hasn’t appeared yet…… “
“Stop.”
She cut me off.
“Stop talking. Because I know.”
A shadow fell on France’s face. She knew the truth she never wanted to believe. I just watched her quietly. And after a while Finally, Frances’ mouth opened.
“… Let’s go in.”
In the end, Frances entered alone. As an escort knight, I followed her and arrived in front of the party of the Marquis of Eldas.
The other knights decided to wait outside. Only escort knights were allowed to enter the party.
France took a deep breath. She must have known what was about to happen.
“Open the door.”
An article by El Das Hu, who was waiting, nodded her head. Rattle. A huge wooden arched door opened, and she entered.
―Princess Descartes enters!
Aristocratic gazes gather here all at once. They stared at Frances silently, their eyes shallow. Then they started whispering among themselves.
Due to the Sword Master’s keen senses, I could hear everything they were saying.
―Where did Duke So go and did he enter alone?
–Well. Is there something wrong between the two?
―It deserves it. In the first place, the engagement between the two was unilateral.
―You usually show off with a dress or accessories, but this is a really nice sight.
Is that really a conversation between nobles? From the beginning, all sorts of slander and gossip begin, but what about the future? I closed my eyes tightly.
Ttogak. The sound of shoes resonating widely in the momentarily solemn party hall. Frances entered. There was no movement on her face. Did the emotions die, or is it a big shock that Duke So did not appear?
“Go to the place where the escort knights are.”
“Yes.”
I followed her words and moved to a corner of the party hall. There, the nobles’ escort knights were gathered.
“Hey, is the food good today?”
“I like the taste of alcohol.”
“Do you like the Marquis of Eldas?”
“Let’s at least try to knit together.”
The escort knights chatting with each other. They are enjoying the party and clinking glasses. Picking up snacks and chatting. I didn’t have anything to say with them, so I sat in a chair and looked at Frances.
France clenched her fist.
No one approaches her. Frances also does not approach others. You probably know that talking about it now won’t do you any good.
“Ha ha.”
Is it because she learned about the past and how Frances was treated by the Descartes family? Seeing things like that just made my heart ache.
As I watched her silently, I heard the conversation of her nobles through her keen senses.
―Look at that expression. Are you a face that has lost the world?
―It must have been abandoned by Duke So.
-He is too kind. He wouldn’t have attended the party if you had told me in advance.
―What can I do? It was a unilateral engagement because Princess Descartes wanted it. Even if she is abandoned by Duke So, she has nothing to say.
The slander and gossip still continues. Will her words be heard by her?
…… I hope she didn’t hear.
Then it will hurt her even more.
I looked at her blankly even after her. Frances, sipping champagne, leaning against the pillars of her party hall. She couldn’t be bitter, so she felt sorry for her. Because her loneliness was palpable.
It was then.
―The Duke of Persia is entering!
He showed up after deeply wounding France. Again, there was no one beside him. Karthus, Duke of Persia, entered alone as if he did not even know her mind.
Jerbug. That buck Entering the party with long legs. This time, the gaze of the aristocrats was directed to one side.
―Duke So entered the hall alone, too?
―As expected, there is something between the two.
―No one thought this engagement would last, did it?
-That’s right. Princess Descartes needs to temper her temper a bit.
…… What had she been doing all this time?
‘I wanted to hear that she was a crazy b*tch, so she must have been tyrannical here and there.’
Because that was what she wanted and what she intended.
France looked at Karthus calmly and then moved in front of him. Their voices were also heard through the keen senses.
―The Duke of Persia.
―France Descartes.
―… Why didn’t you enter with me?
-Ah, is that the point? I tried to find it anyway, but it worked.
Karthus frowned and continued her words.
―France Descartes. I want to break up with you
