IVPCB 26

Chapter 26

“Wai—……!”

“……She said she was curious about the new gardener’s face and greeted me warmly. So we just exchanged greetings, that’s all.”

“……!”

When I calmly told the lie, Chefka’s eyes went round. Seeing a mix of relief and puzzlement rise on her face, I gave her a sly grin.

‘You’re welcome, right? I’m about to die of humiliation myself, so let’s just let this slide.’

“Nanny? Is that true?”

“……It is, Young Master.”

Chefka, apparently not coming up with any sharp retort, readily admitted to my words.

Juran stared at her face for a moment. Then he turned his head toward me.

“Good. I was on my way back to the castle anyway, so let’s go together, Anis.”

“Yes.”

“……Then, I’ll be on my way to attend to my duties. Please take care.”

Chefka still wore an uneasy expression as she looked at Juran and me and bowed politely. I didn’t know what she was thinking, but I hoped her hostility would at least ease up a bit.

‘Well, we both traded words, and I didn’t tattle out of basic conscience.’

After that, with Juran guiding me, I was able to enter the castle.

A massive crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, a black bear pelt on the wall, embroidered carpets and ebony furniture, silver candlesticks on the table, grayish-white marble ornaments…….

The interior of Heliweca Castle was heavy, quiet, and dark. It was a stark contrast to the bright, elegant, and lively atmosphere of Count Porsha’s residence.

“I pay my respects to the small horn of Sidonie. And beside you must be Lady Anis.”

A maid waiting by the door greeted us politely. She took my basket with courteous movements and guided me and Juran inside.

‘Normally, it’s the butler’s job to greet and guide guests in Bergen’s noble households.’

It was a bit odd that a young maid who looked to be in her late teens was guiding us. But her steps and demeanor were graceful, as if she had been well-trained in hospitality.

‘Well, there must be reasons.’

Along the staircase, portraits of what appeared to be the successive heads of the Aldebaran family were lined up. They varied in gender and hair color, but all shared sharp facial features and amber eyes.

I wanted to take a closer look, but the maid and Juran walked quite quickly, so just keeping up was taxing. I hurried my steps while glancing at the portraits.

‘Times like this, it’s really sad that I’m about half a span shorter than the average Bergen Empire woman.’

As I walked with such idle thoughts, we soon reached the third floor.

There were nine rooms on the third floor, all with identical ebony doors on both sides, each engraved with two silver horn patterns, so it seemed difficult to tell which was which just by looking at the doors.

Given that this vast castle had only nine rooms, the third floor was probably used as the children’s quarters of the family head.

The maid walked ahead along the red carpet to the innermost room and opened the door silently.

The door looked heavy and large at first glance, as if it would creak if not careful, but her technique was quite skillful.

“Come in, Anis.”

And so, the view of Juran’s room that unfolded before me was, to put it nicely, simple—and to put it bluntly, bare.

Aside from the very thick carpet on the floor, the furniture consisted only of an ebwood bed, a mirror, a desk, chairs, a sofa, and a tea table.

It seemed there was a study and a dressing room attached, but with no decorations beyond the bare necessities, the spacious room felt simply empty.

For a typical noble, there would be at least a few personal luxury items on display—things they took interest in or found aesthetically pleasing.

Marble sculptures, model ships, porcelain dolls, stuffed animal heads, or at the very least a portrait of themselves or their parents, or perhaps a vase.

But there was none of that in Juran’s room.

‘Would it be rude if I asked why first?’

As I pondered for a moment, Juran approached the maid and gave instructions.

“Put the flowers this girl gave me in a vase and bring them here, and could you bring some refreshments? I’d like to have a conversation for a while.”

The maid looked briefly puzzled, but quickly erased her expression and said “Yes,” then withdrew.

“Here, you can sit across from me.”

Juran walked toward the sofa next to the tea table placed in the center of the room and said.

After we sat facing each other, an awkward silence flowed between us for a while.

It was Juran who broke the silence first.

“The room really has nothing to see, does it?”

‘Ah, did my constant looking around give me away?’

I swallowed my dismay inwardly. What was I supposed to say to that?

“It’s a bit like that, but I think this has its own beauty of empty space. It’s nice.”

At that, Juran let out a light “Pfft” laugh. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to be in a bad mood, so I added a little more.

“……But it is a bit disappointing. Usually, by looking at the things in a room, you can tell the owner’s tastes. I was curious about what you like.”

“What I like? Hmm.”

At my question, Juran stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment.

“Don’t you have any hobbies either?”

“Sometimes I shoot arrows or ride horses.”

“Wait. Is horse riding a hobby?”

At Juran’s words, my eyes lit up and I cut in.

“Yeah. Why? Do you like riding horses too?”

Juran asked with wide, surprised eyes.

Anais had not only learned horse riding as a basic skill for noble ladies but was also quite talented at it.

How do I know?

Among the quests I’d done in the second round, there was one that required me to beat Luna in a horse riding competition held among noble ladies.

‘This quest is insane? My only riding experience is the carousel at Everland.’

When I received that quest, I was immediately intimidated.

‘Shouldn’t I buy something like a skill book? What if I fall off?’

At that time, the system had answered with a blue window like this:

[Tip. Trust the memories of ‘Anais’ that reside within your body. She didn’t enjoy riding, but she had considerable talent.]

Half-believing and half-doubting the system’s window, I entered the riding competition.

I swept that competition. The moment I took the reins, my body moved on its own.

I drifted in front of Luna’s horse to kick up dust and obstruct her vision, I veered my horse sideways to clip Luna’s mount—employing all sorts of dirty and flashy techniques to interfere with Luna and snatch first place.

It was a little frightening to have my body move on its own, but the acrobatic riding at that time was quite exhilarating.

Of course, the riding talent within my body seemed to apply only to horses. Unlike horses that stay on the ground, Pipi’s acrobatic flying high above was truly terrifying.

“I like it. And I ride well. I’m probably the best among the noble ladies my age in Floran.”

I said proudly, based on what I’d learned from the second round’s experience. Whether my claim was true or not, even the system didn’t bother to object.

“Really? That’s unexpected. I assumed someone with such a delicate frame wouldn’t have any interest in physical activities.”

Juran said, casting a glance at my thin wrists, exposed because I was wearing a seven-sleeve top.

“Hmm, if I had to put it, it’s more like a ‘talent’?”

I added with a sly grin.

The innocent Juran nodded seriously at my words. Then, suddenly looking as if something had come to mind, he opened his mouth.

“Anis. If you like riding, would you like to ride with me sometime?”

“Euh? Ride?”

It was a sudden proposal I hadn’t expected at all.

“Yeah. One of the horses raised in the castle’s stables just recently reached a ridable age. The stablemaster has broken it in, but I wanted to check how well it runs.”

At Juran’s proposal, I hesitated for a moment.

“But if it’s a horse that’s just been broken in, wouldn’t it be dangerous?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve seen it myself, and it’s a very gentle one. And…….”

Juran paused abruptly. Judging by his downcast eyes and the movement of his Adam’s apple, he seemed about to say something serious.

I leaned toward Juran and perked up my ears to let him know I was ready to listen.

“……I’m the best horseman among the Sidonie knights.”

Juran confessed in a low whisper, as if sharing a grave secret.

“It probably won’t happen, but if you’re in danger, I’ll help you.”

Juran’s gaze as he said that was deeply assured. He seemed confident.

But a faint blush lingered on his ears that he hadn’t managed to hide.

‘What? I said I was the best rider among Floran’s noble ladies my age, and he’s just responding in kind, right?’

I had thought he was just a brusque person, but I didn’t know he could do such adorable things. Juran was so endearing that my lips curled up involuntarily.

But if I laughed here, I might never see this side of him again, so I forced my expression straight.

“So when are we going? To ride.”

In case Juran might feel embarrassed, I subtly changed the subject.

“I think I’ll have time in about 11 days. Should we make plans for after that?”

“11 days? Are you that busy?”

I tilted my head and asked back.

That was because 11 days was quite a long time to make a simple appointment between acquaintances.

“Yeah. Exactly 10 days from now, I have to take the Bergen Empire Higher Education Course graduation exam.”

“Higher Education Course graduation exam? Isn’t that the exam usually taken at nineteen? The incredibly difficult one covering politics, history, literature, and so on.”

Bergen’s education system was divided into three stages: Elementary Education, Higher Education, and University.

Elementary Education was roughly a mix of elementary and middle school in Korean terms. Most nobles, including Anais, only graduated from Elementary Education.

On the other hand, Higher Education—the course for those with academic aspirations to enter university—was at a level equivalent to Korean high school education plus various university foundational liberal arts.

“It’s not that difficult.”

Seeing my surprised expression, Juran shook his head.

“You’re doing university-level studies at fifteen, and you say it’s not difficult?”

I stared at Juran blankly, wondering if he was showing off, then opened my mouth.