When The Count’s Illegitimate Daughter Gets Married - Chapter 52

The knights had to show their respect toward Laritte at Redra’s signal.

Laritte beckoned Redra, who stood behind her.

“Let’s finish this quickly.”
“Please wait a moment.”

Redra wanted to straighten out their discipline. She was going to set an example today even if she had to punish someone for that. They were the first to cross the line.

“I hope you’re alright……”
“It’s alright. I’m fine. So let’s just proceed. Can you ask them to finish?”

Laritte appreciated Redra’s concern. She herself just had a different understanding of the situation she was in.

“…..As you wish, Madam.”

Redra held out her sword from her waist. Sunlight reflected off the blade as she shouted.

“Raise your sword!”

The knights lined up, grumbling at Redra’s command.

“She’s telling us to raise our swords.”
“To an illegitimate girl? That’s too much.”

When they reluctantly took out their swords, a stout woman walked over the hill where the mansion was located. The keen sight of the knights helped recognize her.

“That’s the nanny. Why does she look so angry?”

Obviously, her anger was directed towards the knights.

Minutes passed as more knights started to notice her.

However, Laritte, who was standing on the podium, did not notice Ava standing behind her.

“Well, I guess that’s enough, right?”

Laritte uttered, and as she began to descend down the podium, the demeanor of the knights gradually changed.

Life in the mansion would be difficult for Laritte if she weren’t in the nanny’s surveillance. Ava took care of everything in the mansion, from food and clothing to maintaining the living spaces.

“Are you saying Lady Ava is on her side? How could this happen?!”

The knights were quick to understand.

Shouldn’t they greet the Duchess properly, then?

But Laritte had already left the podium without receiving any.

‘W-Wait a minute!’

The knights shouted in unison.

Laritte was still unaware.

Any other illegitimate child would’ve been scared to ignore or even face the annoyed expressions of the knights. If such an occurrence were to happen, they would usually keep their gaze at the knights until proper behavior was shown.

The knights started to panic.

What a strange woman!

Laritte was on her way back to the mansion when her eyes found Ava.

“What are you doing here?”
“What else, Madam? When you’re old, your hands and feet get numb when you stay still, so you exercise. Hoho.”

Ava flashed a sweet smile towards her. There was no sign of that cold glare she was delivering to the knights minutes ago.

Laritte loved this friendly smile of hers. She nodded to Ava and turned to the mansion.

Ava turned her face back to the field with her jaw clenched.

“Ahem! Ahem!”

Her cough was full of discomfort. Meanwhile, the knights realized what mistake they had made.

*** 

A few days later at the Magee Plateau.

Ian was investigating the said area with a punitive force.

The vast region, which used to be home to many flora and fauna, had now turned into a barren land. Only small hills, similar to those in a desert, were stacked side by side.

For that reason, Ian expected to find the dragon quickly.

However, he’d traveled a rough ride for days, yet there was no sight of it.

As the sun went down, the weather became cold.

“Captain, it’s time to hit the barracks.”

Time to take a rest.

Ian ordered him to proceed before getting off his horse.

He held back his tired sigh. He took out a clean water bottle to drink water, while his mind slipped into a thought.

The runaway dragon was supposed to be in this area since they came here following its footprints. But it seemed to have left this area already.

However, history used to say otherwise.

It was said that despite the dragon being a runaway, it always had a faint sense of reasoning. Thanks to that, he could have fled to another place.

It hadn’t gone that far, had it?

If it had gone away, Ian would have known it. In that case, Laritte would be safe.

His thoughts changed to her.

What was she doing now? He wanted to be able to contact her at least.

‘I’m supposed to send a letter to the mansion every week, so I still have a few days.’

It was when he got lost in thoughts about Laritte. The knights shared a drink of whiskey with each other. If not, it would have been very difficult to beat the fierce cold of the night. One of them walked up to Ian.

“Captain. Here’s a sip of whiskey–”

Ian jolted out of his trance.

“Laritte?”
“Pardon?”

Ian’s response cut off the knight’s words, who had a bewildered look on his face.

Captain just said the Lady’s name, right?

Ian realized and glossed over his words.

“Oh, no. I meant….. I was worried if Laritte was safe.”
“Ah, I see.”
“You see, I don’t know what she’s been up to. I’m afraid she has destroyed a statue by now.”

He stopped when he realized he was speaking gibberish.

Ian left the knight with a dry response and entered a private tent.

He lifted the tent and saw a lamp tied with a string beside the wall of the tent. He sat down on the cot arranged beside the lamp.

It was him who chose to distance himself from Laritte. But he didn’t like the idea of leaving her alone.

‘That’s enough. Don’t think about it, Ian Reinhardt.’

He shook off the thoughts before lying down in his bed.

Time passed as his eyes became heavy. Gradually, he fell asleep.

Suddenly, he smelled something flowery in the dark.

— Wake up. My sleepy husband.

He opened his eyes.

It wasn’t the shabby tent he saw. It was the bed in his Duchess’ room.

Laritte was on top of Ian. His golden eyes vividly gazed at her.

Why was she here?

The Laritte from the dream smiled gently.

— How long are you going to sleep? If you want to sleep again, let me kiss you good night.

Ian didn’t realize it was a dream.

His brain, which created the virtual world, began to adapt to the scene playing. It felt so natural.

‘Ah, we are finally starting to become a sweet couple.’

— Ian?

Laritte was dressed in a white nightgown.

She swept the hair strands away from his face as her frill wrist touched his lips.

— You’re not sick, are you? If that’s the case, you mustn’t get up today.

At a loss for words, Ian finally spoke.

— No, I’m not sick.

He touched Laritte’s lips with his fingers.

— Today feels different. I think it’s the first time you’ve felt so warm.

Laritte grinned like a puppy.

In reality, this wouldn’t have happened because they used a separate room.

The Ian in the dream smiled gently, unaware of the meaning behind her words.

— Why are you laughing?
— Hmm… maybe because you want to kiss me?

He raised his head and gave her a light kiss on her lips.

— How did you know?

The quilt rustled between them, to reveal his tanned chest to Laritte.

— You know, Ian. My love.
— Yes. Go ahead.

Her hand touched his chest. Her fingers were white compared to his dark skin.

Ian couldn’t help but think her nails looked so beautiful.

Seconds passed as their breathing became faster.

Laritte maintained a distinctive faint smile.

— You know. Ian.

Ian replied,

— That’s the second time you’ve said it.

At that moment, the sunlight that was shining through the window disappeared.

— You know.
— ……Laritte?

Something felt strange, so he sat up.

It was when he was getting out of bed with Laritte in his arms that the Laritte in the dream kicked her tongue.

— Wake up.

Ian jolted up from his sleep in reality.

Clueless, he looked around.

He was still in his tent on the Magee Plateau.

The morning sun was already up.

“God damn it.”

He muttered without realizing it.

He couldn’t believe what he just dreamt of.

Laritte appeared in his dream with him. The subtle atmosphere……

He punched the wall with no further thought. The tent made of wood, leather and cloth shook, unable to withstand the impact.

Clicking his tongue, Ian got up from the cot.

He started rationalizing his dream.

It was normal for people to dream about things like that, right?

He was worried about Laritte, that’s why he kept thinking about her. And now, he even dreamed of her.

He shook his head at the thought that he actually believed what happened in that dream.