ITMWG 38

Chapter 38…

Just two days

The meeting ended in a chaotic atmosphere. The aristocrats who had initially gathered in count Gillan’s estate with excitement went back to their respective homes, whispering among themselves, and the Aylesford party also started moving among the people leaving. Nadia didn’t know much about the situation outside because she locked herself in the carriage and was trying to organise her thought, but thanks to what Marie told her, she was able to guess the situation a little.

“I think it will be difficult to hold a meeting in the East for a while.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Since such a big incident happened… they will be put under scrutiny for a while.”

“Good. We can stay quiet for a while.”

As I looked out the window and replied gloomily, Marie cautiously opened her mouth.

“About that…madame.”

“Hm?”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be by your side when it was important. I should have been with you…”

“No, what are you talking about? The maids were all waiting in different places, so how could Marie stay by my side?”

Marie, known for being calm, was unusually fumed and energetic. A small giggle burst out as Marie tried her best to ease Nadia’s mood. the maid’s face softened a little when she saw that. However, as soon as Nadia turned to see the person’s reflection outside the window, the faint smile on her lips was erased. Marie, who followed her gaze to discover Altair, fidgeted with her hands awkwardly.

“When I asked Sir Cain, the lord really put the madame’s safety first…”

“I know. I understand the situation too. But I still feel upset.”

When Nadia muttered, looking out the window, Altair, who was driving the horse looking ahead, turned to the carriage and their gazes met. In a fleeting moment, before she became conscious of it, her hand moved and drew the curtains on the small window. Instantly, her vision was blocked, and she could only feel the silent air inside the carriage.

“Madame…”

Marie, who was observing the situation, called her with a little bafflement.

O-Oh my God…

Nadia’s heart skipped a beat, not understanding how she could have done such a bold thing. Altair’s gaze, which had been staring at her until the very end, still remained vivid in her mind.

“…I guess I need some time to pull myself together.”

“Right. The lord will surely understand.”

“But you know it would be a problem if it takes too long, right? Once you get used to these awkward times, you might forget how to be a harmonious couple again.”

“A harmonious couple? Do I and Altair look like that?”

When Nadia asked with widened eyes, Marie blinked in surprise, as if asking if she truly did not know.

“How many noble couples do you think share a bed every day?”

“That’s just… in the capital, though…It’s normal here…”

“It’s not just sharing the bed, is it? Did you spend good nights together?”

“That-, that’s because Altair wants a successor…”

“Is that really all?”

Marie drove Nadia away from trying to evade with a series of questions. She was right. If it was simply to have an heir, they would have spent the night arguing about the best days to conceive. But Nadia had never thought about such a thing while spending the nights with the Altair. Perhaps Altair felt the same way.

“So don’t just avoid it and listen to what the lord has to say. Tell him your thoughts. Communicating is the best way to resolve a situation.”

T/n: Marie iz ma grlllll

Marie’s advice made Nadia think a lot. The biggest weakness of timid and weak people was communication. Her heart pounded and cold sweat broke out whenever she faced people, so it was difficult to have a proper conversation. That’s why she was used to guessing and drawing conclusions on her own. Even though she had been living like that, there was no big problem because she didn’t have a long relationship with anyone.

Altair and her were a married couple. It was not a relationship meant to be short-lived. Like Marie’s advice, she needed to resolve the situation through communication.

Communicating…but how?

Even back in the tent, when their eyes met for a moment, Nadia ruthlessly turned away from Altair first.

How do I start a conversation now?

No matter how hard Nadia wrecked her head, she couldn’t come up with an easy way. As she grunted and pondered, Marie moved to her side with a small smile and gently wrapped her shoulder.

“I didn’t mean to tell you to think about it right away. It’s true that the lord made you feel sad, so it’s okay to be angry for a few days.”

“Is-, is that so? How many days it should be exactly? A day? Or two?”

When she asked about the length of period, Marie’s expression became subtle.

“…three days?”

Thinking that it might be too short of a period, Nadia made up her mind and suggested a three-day time. At that, Marie burst out laughing and hugged her tightly.

“I guess I was worried for nothing! I told you in advance in case you stayed like this for 15 days, but turns out, you intended to get rid of your anger in only one day?”

Nadia’s eyes rounded at the unexpectedly long period of time. In response, Marie shook her head and backed away from her master.

“That’s not it. You should do whatever your heart desires.”

“Then…I’ll be upset for just two days.”

Mary smiled and nodded, putting her mind at ease. Marie didn’t say anything, but her smile seemed to tell Nadia that she wasn’t doing anything wrong.

“I’m glad Marie is by my side. If it wasn’t for that, I would have kept grumbling to myself like an idiot. Just like back in the Marquis of Vine..”

When Nadia recalled the Marquis family after her parents died, her heart sank. Marie also closed her mouth tight, as if she was reminded of a similar memory.

“Please forget everything there from now-…”

Marie’s voice, which tried to calmly convey words of comfort, did not have the chance to end. The carriage, which had been running steadily, suddenly turned violently.

“Argh!”

Her body momentarily lost gravity and fell sideways along with the carriage.

N-no!

Marie’s head was about to hit the floor, so Nadia hurriedly wrapped her body around her. It was literally a reflex. However, it was only after her whole body was overcome with pain that she realized her body had directly hit the ground from covering for Marie like that.

It hurt so much that Nadia couldn’t even scream. For a moment, she was choked on her breath and the thought of dying like this filled her head.

“Madame!”

The moment she was about to lose consciousness, Marie shouted loudly and grabbed her by the shoulder. Thanks to that, her breathing, which seemed to take forever to return, filled her lung once again.

“(Gasp)!”

As she sagged to the ground, breathing heavily, Marie supported her head with panic, face turning white.

“W-w-wh-what should I do! Oh my god!”

Red blood was smeared on Marie’s trembling hands. It was probably blood from my head. The moment Nadia realized that, her head felt like it was going to break.

It hurts so much…I’m afraid to see blood…

Normally, she would have fainted out of disgust, but the current timing was not the most ideal to do that. Trying to catch her breath while appeasing her mind all at once drained her.

This…what on earth do I…oh dear god…

As Marie panicked and was at a loss for what to do, the door of the carriage swung open, revealing a man covered in blood from head to toe.

Marie screamed and wrapped herself around Nadia at the appearance of the mysterious man. She could sense that he would definitely protect her somehow, so even as her head was spinning a bit, a small smile couldn’t help but form.

“Calm down! It’s me! It’s me!”

The man’s urgent voice was heard over her screams. The voice was so familiar that Marie’s arms that were holding Nadia relaxed.

“S-sir Cain?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

Marie’s tension got relieved a little and she took a deep breath, glancing behind Cain’s back.

“What on earth is going on?”

“Some beasts suddenly attacked. When they fell, one of them crashed into the carriage…Are you hurt?”

“I’m okay. But the madame…”

“Yes? The madame is hurt?”

Cain’s voice, which was calmly explaining the situation, became urgent. As he jumped into the tattered carriage and inspected the situation, his eyes immediately widened.

“(Sob)… she got hurt badly while trying to protect me. I should have been the one to get hurt…Why did the madame…”

As Marie blamed herself, Nadia tugged her sleeve and shook her head.

No one should get hurt. How could you say that?

But the words in her head didn’t come out, since she no longer had the strength to open her mouth.

“For now, I think we should take the madame outside and give her first aid.”

“Yes!”

As Marie nodded vehemently, as if begging for help, Cain tore off the doors of the broken carriage with his bare hands, went inside, and lifted Nadia up. The carriage, which seemed spacious when Marie and her mistress were alone, suddenly felt very small when a tall man entered. It was not easy to get out because the carriage crashed and some parts were damaged. Cain’s back was also hurt by a scratch where the door was ripped off, but he just silently embraced Nadia and stepped out, probably not even feeling the pain. As soon as she got out of the carriage in Cain’s arms, she could sense the strong metallic smell of blood and the turbulent atmosphere. The corpses of huge monsters were scattered on the ground, and the knights were going around to check if the beasts were completely dead.

It’s a relief though.

None of their men appeared to be injured. All the blood on them seemed to be that of the beasts. Amidst all of that, Cain walked forward without paying attention to the tumultuous surroundings. Judging from the fact that Nadia couldn’t feel any shaking or rocking throughout the way, it seemed that he was trying his best not to put too much strain on her, who was injured.

Following Cain’s cry, she turned her head heavily, and Altair was at the end of her gaze. While he was busy cleaning up the scene, he turned his head at Cain’s voice and his eyes immediately bulged in shock, which was a rare sight. Found Nadia being held by Cain, Altair stiffened mid-way through giving orders, his mouth slightly agape. Cain then hurriedly approached and urged him.

“…”

“There will be a village around, so let’s get a doctor from there…No, since we’re not far from the Gillan county yet, it’s better to send someone there and ask for a doctor…”

“…”

Even as Cain rushed out with proposals, Altair remained motionless. Cain, noticing this, stomped his foot in frustration.

“My lord! Snap out of it! If it’s delayed any longer, it’s going to become a critical problem!”

Altair, who had been frozen, began to move at his words.

“…If we have someone call the doctor, it might be late.”

Sorting out his thoughts, Altair took off his coat and wrapped it around her bloody head. Though it might be a mistake on her part, Nadia thought she had felt Altair’s hands shaking a little while trying to stop the bleeding.

“After stopping the bleeding, let’s take her to the village.”

“The carriage is in that state…Is it possible?”

“I will take her.”

“My lord? In person?”

Listening to the urgent conversation, Nadia let go of the last concern in her heart.

Though I decided to be angry for just two days…

She thought it might be difficult to keep that resolution.