𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟕: 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐬
I can’t escape from my circular thoughts.
When the defeated soldiers attacked, I pulled the prince’s hand and ran because the enemy’s blade was about to reach him. The prince is not skilled enough to fight in actual combat. When the prince ran out of strength, I attracted the enemy soldiers and ran. I kept running to separate the enemy from His Highness.
Along the way, I hid the prince, but we encountered a river and a battle ensued. I had to cut down as many as possible, so I cut down several, severely injured the remaining enemies, but I was also cut in the abdomen.
The enemy ran away, but I thought it was over. After that, I was helped by a local girl, but when my wound became infected and I gave up thinking it was hopeless, I remembered Ellen-sama’s smile.
Around the time my consciousness started to fade occasionally, that beloved person came to find me in such a place. She fought the enemy alone to protect me, who couldn’t even stand up. That was enough.
Even though I managed to survive, I have to leave the Marquis Bowen’s house. Even though I’ve been honing my sword skills to protect Ellen-sama, and getting used to snake and spider venom to be useful to Ellen-sama.
To leave Ellen-sama’s protection to someone else.
I sincerely congratulated her when she got engaged to Samuel because I wished for Ellen-sama’s happiness. I was escorting her to and from the evening parties to find a marriage partner, thinking, “Please do your best for your happiness.”
If I have to leave here, I want to kidnap Ellen-sama and run away. But even if I do that, Ellen-sama can’t be happy. She wishes to live as a pharmacist above all else.
As a one-generation Baron, I don’t match the Marquis family or a top-class pharmacist. On top of that, I can no longer stay in this mansion.
“Being promoted to a Baron, it’s unnecessary.”
When I said that out loud, there was a knock on the door.
“Yes.”
“Stephan, are you awake?”
“I’ll open it now.”
At the sound of Danna-sama’s voice, I hurriedly got up from the bed and opened the door while holding my still slightly painful abdomen.
“Danna-sama. What can I do for you?”
“I have something to talk about. Can I come in?”
It’s very awkward not only because there are two big men in a small room, but also because I was just thinking about kidnapping his daughter and running away.
“I’m sorry for the late hour. There’s something I want to ask you. Stephan, do you have a woman you’ve promised to marry in the future?”
“No, I don’t.”
“I see. That’s… good. Then, what do you think about Ellen?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you want to marry her?”
“Eh…”
“It’s sudden, so it’s no wonder you’re surprised. Actually…”
Danna-sama crossed his arms and started talking, looking up at the ceiling.
“Ellen said she would find her own husband, but it doesn’t seem to be going well. I chose Samuel, so it can’t be helped, and I’ve been watching for a while. I think Ellen likes you. Please read this letter.”
Danna-sama said that and handed me a piece of paper. The letter contained Ellen-sama’s feelings about going out to find me, even considering death.
“Ellen, who was aiming to be a successor to the pharmacist, chose to risk her life to help you. But if you get promoted and leave this house, she might elope with you. Franca is also worried about that.”
“Elope with me… No, I don’t think that’s likely.”
“No. She’s the kind of girl who would head to a mountain where defeated soldiers are, all by herself. She’s too straightforward as a noble. More importantly, what do you think of Ellen?”
“Being married to Ellen-sama is something that is impossible for someone of my status.”
“Even if you become a Baron, if you, a guard, become the son-in-law of the Marquis family, the hardships will not be ordinary. You will be told various unpleasant things. You will have to bear seeing your own child suffer from drinking poison. It was hard for me too.”
Danna-sama suddenly closed his mouth. Now is the only time to tell the truth. I took a breath and confessed my true feelings to Danna-sama.
“Danna-sama. As a commoner’s guard, I have always kept my feelings for Ojou-sama under wraps. There is a significant difference in our social status, and above all, I thought Ellen-sama would be bothered if she knew someone like me had feelings for her. However, I have always cherished Ellen-sama since the first time I met her.”
“I see! I see. That’s fine then. I understand your character well enough. Ah, I’m relieved. No, I’m reassured. Leave the rest to me and Franca. There are some circumstances. We need to hurry your engagement.”
With that, Danna-sama cheerfully left my room. I was stunned for a while, but then I sat down heavily on the bed and wondered many times if this was really not a dream.
As I was thinking that I might still be in that hut, feverish and dreaming, the door was knocked again.
“Yes.”
When I opened the door thinking Danna-sama had returned, there stood Ellen-sama with a stern face.
“I have something I want to talk about. May I come in?”
“Please. What can I do for you?”
As soon as I offered the chair where Danna-sama had been sitting until a moment ago, Ellen-sama started talking.
“You see, Stephan. Do you have a woman you’ve decided on in your heart? If, if you don’t, there’s something I want you to hear.”
Like father, like daughter, they say the same thing… I couldn’t help but be impressed.
“I don’t have a woman I’ve decided on in my heart. Ellen-sama, it’s late tonight, so why don’t we go to the dining bar where we promised to go tomorrow? I’ll listen to your story there. Or would you prefer a more fashionable restaurant?”
“No. That restaurant! With a juice mix of distilled liquor! Ah, but you can’t drink alcohol yet.”
“Yes. I’ll have tea. Let’s order the sausage and stew that Ojou-sama liked.”
“Yes! I’m looking forward to it.”
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