~Chapter 49~
Eileen didn’t know how to respond to Cedric’s endless questions, so she just stared at him.
“…Having high status is good, right?”
Her answer was simple and objective. The higher your status, the better. Although power comes with responsibility, it’s rare to find someone willing to give up their power because of the heavy responsibility.
Cedric made a subtle expression and gave a vague response.
“Is it?”
“Of course. You can live however you want.”
“I can’t live however I want.”
“Well, that’s because you’re in a tricky situation right now. Once you become a Duke, you’ll be fine. You’ll like it.”
“I don’t like it at all. Sometimes, I even wish I could just give it all up.”
Cedric leaned back in his chair and said this casually, though his face showed a hint of exhaustion. He looked as if he expected Eileen to scold him, but he still added with a grimace:
“But I guess I can’t, right?”
“You know that already.”
Eileen realized that Cedric was someone who lacked ambition for power but had an abundance of responsibility. He wasn’t someone who wanted power, but he felt he couldn’t avoid it.
“…If I gave everything up, you wouldn’t care about me, would you?”
“Considering our loyalty, I might still tolerate living off of you.”
Eileen lifted her chin, speaking proudly, and Cedric let out a soft laugh.
Loyalty. That was probably the best word to describe their strange relationship.
“Right. I’d be a mercenary protecting a rich noblewoman who inherited a gold mine.”
“Is there any reason you have to stay by my side? Honestly, with your skills, you could easily live anywhere.”
“Do you not want me around?”
“It’s more about whether there’s a reason for us to be together.”
Eileen was being practical, but to Cedric, it seemed like she didn’t really want him included in her life.
‘Eileen…’
It dawned on him that he had never asked her what she wanted to do with her life.
“What do you want to do in the future?”
“I never had any big dreams. My wish didn’t come true.”
“What was it?”
Cedric moved forward, his body leaning towards her as if inviting her to share.
Eileen smiled bitterly.
“To live happily with my family.”
Cedric’s face, once full of anticipation, faltered at her words. His hand, which had been resting on his knee, tightened.
Eileen tried to sound cheerful to hide the mood that had suddenly darkened.
“It doesn’t sound like much of a wish, does it?”
“…It doesn’t.”
Cedric had never expected to hear something like this from her. If it were anyone else, Eileen would have probably changed the subject. She didn’t like showing weakness, and it felt like a vulnerability.
But with Cedric, she felt it was okay to share it. She had always been tied to him by a sense of loyalty.
***
Later, during dinner:
“Lord Rotner. I hope you’ll forgive the rudeness of not greeting you properly.”
“It’s alright, Lord Rotner. I can’t ask you to get up when you’re unwell.”
Cedric stopped Lord Rotner, who tried to stand, and led him to the table where dinner had been laid out.
Lord Rotner’s stiffness didn’t go unnoticed by Eileen. He had been acting strangely ever since they arrived. She guessed it had something to do with the message he received earlier. The way he looked at her told her everything.
She recalled his recent contact with the kingdom’s liaison, so it wasn’t hard to guess what was going on. But Lord Rotner seemed to think his behavior was rude.
“I hope I haven’t caused too much trouble by making you come all the way here…”
“No, not at all. I came to settle something for Arwyn. I, too, wish for this transaction to succeed.”
Lord Rotner seemed relieved, and his gaze turned towards Eileen.
“Lady Cashier.”
Eileen took Lord Rotner’s hand with a slight bow, feeling some tension in his expression. He quickly smiled and spoke.
“I may not be the host here, but please, sit down. Let’s discuss the matters after the meal.”
Eileen noticed the empty seat, the one meant for the lord of the land. His absence was due to a delay, caused by the snowstorm.
“Lord Noheel seems to be delayed returning.”
The place they arrived was not a city, but a large village. The steward at the entrance had looked anxious and informed them that the lord had been inspecting the site for damages caused by the snowstorm.
Cedric recalled meeting Lord Noheel before and explained, “He’s a strict, principled man. He must have stayed behind to inspect everything thoroughly.”
Dinner proceeded with Cedric and Lord Rotner leading the conversation. Theorn nodded occasionally, but for the most part, he was quiet.
Later, after the meal, Lord Rotner quietly approached Eileen.
“Lady Cashier, could I ask you to come with me for a moment?”
After some small talk, he mentioned that someone wanted to meet her.
“A countess wants to meet you.”
