You, Who's Kind Only To Me - Chapter 17
“I’m sorry. I was startled, all of a sudden…”
“I touched the lady’s body without permission, so you’re fine.”
The man, who smirked as if he should be the one to apologize, didn’t seem to care about straightening his crumpled shirt. Instead, he looked outside where the dim light was brightening.
He straightened his back and stood up.
The carriage was spacious, but with the tall adult man stepping in, the inside that had seemed vast now felt cramped with just his presence.
As he took a seat across from her, Ren also stood up.
“We’ll reach Daverid Castle shortly.”
Their gazes met. He spoke first.
As the carriage door closed and the wheels slowly started rolling, it wasn’t a long distance, but there had been two breaks from the port to here.
The departure of the knight and the Duke himself meant there was much to be organized and examined.
“Castle?”
“That’s where I live.”
After he said that, Ren caught onto the bouncing word in her mind and asked,
“Is there a bed there?”
Her eyes asked the question. Lucas pondered the slightly incomprehensible conversation.
‘It’s hard when I can’t understand what’s inside her.’
Conversations with people whose exterior and interior don’t match, or those whose dirty and foul interiors are blatantly visible, make him feel nauseated.
His curse always came with such pain. Therefore, he found this woman’s transparent and pure appearance intriguing and captivating, but perhaps it was also because of her seemingly unguarded nature.
“There should be at least a hundred or so.”
Ren was genuinely amazed at Lucas’ words. With that description, she could almost imagine her small attic bed.
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
The sound of hooves and the rolling of wheels could be heard. Gradually, the darkness of the night receded, and the light of dawn began to fill the enclosed space.
The rising sun illuminated the darkness. Ren turned her gaze away from the dispersing remnants of her dream.
Ah, she murmured softly.
“That’s Daverid Castle over there.”
The timely explanation from the other side reached her ears, making her widen her blue eyes.
‘Daverid’ was not only the name of the vast estate encompassing the southern region, but it was also the name of the central castle.
It was a place where the history of the never-setting sun had left its mark for hundreds of years. Serving as the central command of the southern front. The first gathering place where numerous resources and people extended toward the sea.
The wind blew, carrying the scent of warm sunlight and the moist humidity in the air.
Daverid Castle was uniquely situated with an unusually wide moat surrounding it. The gentle waves enveloped the castle, and to enter the castle, one had to cross the only bridge.
Connected to the city outside the castle was a large river. The buildings erected around it were all equally impressive and beautiful.
Through the window, she glimpsed the swiftly passing scenery where people were traveling on the river on boats. On the bridgem minstrel sang of prosperity and glory, and the faces of all the people walking the streets were filled with abundance.
She gazed at the enormous castle basking in the warm sunlight, resembling a place that mirrored the brilliant hues of the sun bouncing off the waves.
This is the Water Castle, Daverid.
* * *
“Duke, this is not appropriate.”
The first words Lucas von Daverid heard as he stepped off the carriage were not welcoming greetings but a sharp reprimand.
“Godmother?”
“Bringing a precious young lady here without proper preparation. Have I not taught you better, Duke?”
An elegant and dignified lady folded her fan with a snap.
…..Lucas instinctively knew that there would be an etiquette lesson disguised as tea time, so he tightly shut both of his eyes. When he opened them, he glared fiercely at the group of attendants standing to one side.
‘Who brought the Godmother out?’
‘Madam came out personally. How could you bring the young lady in such an inappropriate manner?’
Johann emphasized with his gaze.
‘You brought this to yourself.’
“Moreover… Duke, did you really let the lady go out in that chemise? I never knew the Duke had such… questionable taste….”
“…..”
Ren was currently dressed in her original chemise, with the shawl and low-heeled shoes that Lucas had newly gotten from the port.
To explain this, Ren would have to clarify that she was originally wearing the chemise attire. He decided to remain silent rather than tarnish the other person’s honor.
Although there were some impertinent glances, including those of Johann, saying , ‘I can’t believe His Excellency’s taste was beyond redemption…’
Lucas chose to keep his mouth shut.
“Duke, it seems like you should have a drink with me. Ah, Miss. I apologize for any inconvenience. If it’s alright, can you have a rest today and meet tomorrow evening?”
Sensing the strange atmosphere and realizing that numerous gazes were now focused on her, Ren, who had hesitated and stayed on the carriage, decided to do what she did best in such situations.
“Yes-”
She glanced at Lucas with a slightly puzzled look, and he responded with a smile as if to say she had done well.
Ren’s eyes widened slightly as the elegant, dignified, and strict lady tapped the Duke’s arm with her fan.
Whack, Ren flinched as if her own arm had felt the sting.
After the Madam turned away, the Duke gestured to an attendant to take care of Ren and then turned his back. As Ren had been gazing at the lingering image of the red eyes that had passed by, Johann approached her.
“Hello, Miss. I am Johann Sheppard, Duke Daverid’s first aide.”
“Yes, hello.”
“Your visit was rather sudden, so a room for you has been prepared on the second floor of the main residence. Please follow me.”
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