NOVEL NEXT Side Story 28
“Khm.”
The Baron looked very awkward at the moment, but he smiled again as if he had overcome it quickly.
I said while looking at the baron's wistful face, which must have been strengthened by a long social life.
“While staying, please take care of me.”
“I look forward to your kind cooperation. It's an honour to have Your Excellency visit us.”
I, Ash and others will stay here, at the castle of Lord of Mahill, for two days today and tomorrow.
It was a pre-contact, and to add a little bit, the positive reply was very enthusiastic.
“Butler, I want you to take them to their place. Oh, I'll take you both.”
Baron Genem took the lead with me and Ash.
When I arrived in front of the room, the Baron suddenly opened his mouth.
“If you don't mind, I'd like to invite you two to lunch tomorrow.”
“Lunch?”
“We'll prepare for your convenience.”
I looked up at Ash.
Ash nodded slightly as if to do whatever I wanted.
‘Hmm.'
It's very close from here to Hidden, and the performance starts at 3 o'clock, so even if I leave after lunch, the time is not tight.
“I’d love to.”
I readily agreed.
It's not a proposal that has a reason to refuse anyway, and I owe him debt anyway.
“Thank you!”
However, the delighted Baron's response was more than expected. Thanks to it, I was a little confused.
Did I accept any great offers?
“I've prepared a bath in advance. If you need anything else, you can call the maid anytime. Then take a rest!”
Without any more time to think about it, the Baron poured out what to say and disappeared.
It also looked as if he was running away because he was worried that I would reverse the answer, so I tilted my head in wonder.
‘What so great about lunch?'
It's a mystery.
But I quickly turned off my mind. I don't usually know, but now I'm distracted by the Baron's unusual behaviour.
I yawned as soon as I entered the room.
A maid waiting on one side stopped by the clothing line.
Ash hushed her away and asked me, taking off my coat by hand.
“Are you tired?”
“A little bit.”
I admitted vaguely.
‘Did I play too hard…..'
It seems like it is, and it seems that it is not.
I don't know if I was tired because of walking too much on the street, or if it's because I played moderately, but my stamina just decreased.
Well, I hope it's not the latter. Because if it was the reason, then I’ll be treated as a glass patient who can't even walk down the stairs on my own…
“How about the bath?”
Ash's voice awakened my imagination.
Bath? Hmm. Come to think of it, did the Baron say he had prepared the bath ready?
What do I do? I think it's better to soak in the water before it cools down, but I'm too tired and want to skip it then go to bed…
“Shall we go in together?”
I'm done thinking.
I exhaustly told the maid who is not far away.
“Wait outside the room until I call you.”
“Yes, Duchess.”
It was not long before I heard the door closing behind my back. I looked up at Ash with a recalled face.
Suddenly, I thought it was a good thing that I would attend the luncheon tomorrow.
It's natural even if I don't have a schedule in the morning.
When I thought so, Ash lowered his head, skillfully loosening my dress's strap.
I lifted up my tiptoes and found Ash's lips more easily.
***
The next day, I attended the luncheon feeling a little drowsy after sleeping all morning.
And soon I came to my senses.
“Hurry up, hurry up.”
“There's not enough food over here. Move quickly!
“Get some more champagne here.”
The Baron urged the users who were busy carrying food with a calm tone.
The luncheon was spectacular.
Let me tell you how fancy it was.
‘Is tomorrow the last day of humankind?'
I could imagine the last luxurious meal I enjoyed ahead of the fall of humankind.
“Hmmm, I don't know if it's not enough.”
“No.”
‘Even the royal family will not say it's not enough.'
I reached for a glass of water with a reasonable guess and paused.
The glass of water is golden.
Besides, the outer surface is engraved with an ascendant dragon, and a red jewel is also embedded in the centre.
“……..”
A glass of water……?
I picked up a fine champagne glass, avoiding the burdensome object that I would have to call it as a ‘water glass-nim’ instead of a ‘water glass’.
It was a glass of alcohol-free champagne prepared at my request.
I thought, handing over a translucent liquid with a refreshing feeling to my throat.
‘Is the Baron had a lot of money?'
Obviously, even if that ‘water glass-nim’ was taken out, the castle itself was splendid overall.
The material and the decorations, I could see that it was all expensive even if I didn't know it well.
‘Is the Baron had any diamond mine?'
And the secret was solved during the meal.
“When I took the estate here, I was really surprised.”
“Take over this estate?”
“Yes, I took over this estate last year.”
Baron Genem said, tilting a sparkling glass of alcohol that flashes as much as a glass of water.
“It's hard to call this as a castle back then…… It took me half a year to change it.”
“Aha.”
‘It would have taken that long to order that glass of water.’
“In fact, it is difficult to say that since it is still rotted compared to my family castle, but…… Still, I have to be satisfied with it. What can I do?”
The Baron laughed as if he emphasized his modest mindset.
I understood right away.
‘He has a lot of money in his family.’
Also, I could guess why the Baron suddenly took this castle last year.
The other brother inherited the family, and he bought the right title and estate with money and got married.
It's not uncommon. I think that's about it, but Dylan suddenly opened her mouth.
“Baron, may I ask you a question?”
“Well, do it.”
“What do you think of Hidden?”
“If it's Hidden, the village….”
“The village with gambling house.”
Dylan said without hesitation.
Sir Davery gave her a quick look, and soon cut the meat, which he had been cutting, showing that it had nothing to do with him.
“Gambling? Ah.”
“What do you think of the Hidden?”
“If that's the case……”
Baron Genem answered brightly as if it was not difficult because it was a topic that he had always thought about.
“Hidden's speciality.”
“…….”
“Hidden's speciality is being hidden. Isn't that right?”
The Baron smiled and asked for consent, but the atmosphere was rather lame.
Dylan laughed at an angle that would not be seen from the Baron's seat.
It was a face that she knew enough with that answer what kind of person the new master of this estate was.
“Have you two been to Hidden?”
“I’m not interested so….”
I took a glass of champagne to my mouth and answered back to myself like I was talking to myself.
It was a signal to change the subject if he was sensible.
Fortunately, the Baron was sensible.
He looked around at the awkward spot, coughed and turned away.
“Oh, I'm so jealous to see you guys walking around so affectionately.”
“Is that so?”
“I want to, but I can't. Because my wife turned away from the world last year…….”
“Oh, my God.”
I was a little flustered.
The changed topic is too solemn.
The Baron spoke in an exaggeratedly bright tone as if he wasn't going to make the atmosphere subside.
“I understand that your romance once caused a stir in the capital. But it's as good as romance in the world.”
“Aha, romance…….”
“I fought a war of territories to get my wife.”
“…….?”
I looked at the Baron's calm face.
He mentioned romance so proudly that he had fought for his wife.
“My wife was trapped in a small, stuffy cage at the time, and there was no other way but a war to get her out of it.”
“……You mean you started a war?”
“Haha, yes.”
I was speechless because it was amazing.
‘What are you saying?'
No, what romance?
War romance?
The war I know is the surest and most effective way to kill innocent people.
No matter what story he posted, it was not something that could be wrapped up in romance.
‘Even in fictional novels, there are always modifiers in front of characters who start wars because of women.'
It's “Crazy”.
Crazy emperor, crazy tyrant, etc.
The crazy baron couldn't even read the atmosphere and kept talking.
“Well, that's all when I was in high spirits. When was that already, maybe 25 years ago…….”
“Baron.”
Then Sir Davery's voice first cracked the table.
“Excuse me, where is it?”
“Hmm?”
“Where was the village that the Baron had to fight for the sake of your wife?”
At this time, I found out that Sir Davery's voice was different from usual.
Not only that but his expression.
“The village. Even if I say it, the knights won't know anyway. It's a small village somewhere in the west.”
“Is that Binhen?”
“Huh?”
“The name of the village, is it Binhen?”
The Baron blinked and replied.
“How did you know?”
Clink!
“Sir!”
I jumped up in surprise.
The glass of champagne shattered.
In Sir Davery's hand, not anywhere else.
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