North x Northwest

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The maids were preoccupied with putting clothes and books into a chest, while Lil, all prepared and dressed, went down to the ground floor with Levi. They set foot outside of the building and saw Ed and Linhardt already out at the bottom of the front stairs. A carriage, servants, wagons, and carts surrounded the two men.

Lil briefly looked up at the sky. The weather was clear and the feathery clouds were vivid. The cool autumn wind blew slightly.

Descending the steps, Lil put on her riding gloves and looked at Ed, who was holding the reins of a horse with large, clear eyes. It was the first time Lil had seen it at the residence.

“Isn’t it pretty?”

“..?”

Ed handed her the reins.

“I mean, you of course.”

“…me?”

“It took some effort to bring him here on time for today.”

The animal blinked meekly as Lil stood to its side and stroked its mane. Its short fur was very soft and shone along the curves of its strong muscles. Lil, who had been soothing the animal for a while, belatedly looked back at Ed.

“Thank you.”

Seeing Lil being preoccupied with the horse and Ed caught up in his gaze towards Lil, Levi smiled and approached Linhardt.

“Aren’t they so cute?”

However, Lindhardt seemed to have a different opinion.

“Maybe that’s not Edgar, but some other guy wearing his skin.”

After some more harsh words, Lindhardt escorted Levi to the carriage. They were tailed by two of Levi’s maids who also entered the carriage after her. The coachman soon walked around to inspect the carriage, while Linhardt saddled his horse and tightened the strap.

Lil climbed onto the saddle and held the reins tightly. Ed rode up beside her as he adjusted his hat.

“What do you think?”

“He has good posture and seems pretty strong, too. I like him. He reminds me of Koud Bhan.”

“I carefully selected him based on my memory.”

“No wonder!”

Lil laughed out loud. It felt to her as though she had reunited with Koud Bhan. Whereas Ed’s focus was still on Lil, Lil was absorbed in getting to know her horse. She was so into it that she was unconsciously pursing her lips while tucking a strand of its hair that had fallen to the side behind its ear. Lil then decided to pace the horse back and forth in front of the main entrance while the last pieces of luggage were being loaded on the wagon.contemporary romance

“I’m going to name him Lumiere because he has a lot of brilliance, whether it’s in his eyes or his mane.”

“…But you look more brilliant to me…”

Ed mumbled something quietly, but Lil didn’t hear him because she was alternating between pacing and trotting. She soon got used to Lumiere and suddenly drove her horse beaming in joy as if she was unable to control her emotions. When Ed followed suit, Lil sped up their pace.

With the sound of the hooves of two horses galloping through the garden growing more distant, Levi opened the carriage window. Resting her arms on the frame, she smiled happily. Meanwhile, Lil and Ed raced along the garden and passed through the iron bars of the main gate. As the tails of the two horses swayed cheerfully, dust rose beneath them.

Levi said to Linhardt as they followed after them.

“It’s all so new to us, isn’t it?”

Linhardt’s face exhibited that of pure shock with his mouth falling wide open.

“I can’t believe I’m looking at Edgar engaging in such an unexpected chase of love.”

“Why, it’s a bit childish, but also pleasant to see.”

“No, it’s absolutely disgusting.”

“Love is inherently childish, Linhardt.”

Linhardt looked at Levi with suspicion.

“It isn’t…”

Levi squinted her eyes while she smiled.

“It is. You’re like that, too.”

“…”

Levi rested her chin on the window frame and stretched out her arm to him. Linhardt then let go of the reins and held Levi’s hand. Levi shook his hand as she held it. The shadows of the garden trees passed over the backs of their hands at regular intervals.

“I told you to just head back. How far are you going to follow me?”

“I won’t be able to see you for another few months, so I have to follow you as far as I can.”

As they neared the residence’s main gate, Levi let go of his hand, and Linhardt reined his horse downhill.

There was a small forest down the hill where the Retiro’s private residence was based, and passing through it was the beginning of a residential and commercial district. The city, lined with five and six-storey stone buildings, was located along the lower reaches of the Po River, which sparkled with waves.

The procession passed a small stone bridge. As the horses, carriages, and wagons passed one after another, children playing ball on the side of the road raised their heads and looked at Lil, who cast a shadow on the children’s cheeks, their ball made of cloth, and their guns carved from wood.

The fountain in the central square spouted water that dazzlingly reflected the sunlight. Merchants starting their business walked up and down the streets, and carriages and horses moved in their own order. Patrolling guards stood upright, and the people had bright expressions.

The procession decided to stop to pick up fresh ingredients from the market and soon the servants pulled a cart into the market alley. Linhardt disappeared off to somewhere, saying he had to stop by the government office, and Levi, upon stepping out of the carriage, happened to come across an old patient.

As Ed got off his horse, he opened his arms wide towards Lil.

“Liloa!”

Lil looked down at Ed and laughed.

“What? You want me to jump into your arms?”

“Exactly.”

‘What kind of nonsense is he playing at in a square during broad daylight?’

Lil completely ignored Ed and landed on her own two feet. She looked back at him to implicitly tell him to behave, but he sneakily put his arm around her from behind.

“What are you doing?”

“I just want to hug you.”

Lil struggled, but Ed didn’t release her. As a result, her entire body was slowly buried in his coat. Knowing she couldn’t beat the city’s lord in a square populated by his subjects, Lil gave up and approached a boy selling newspapers with Ed still clinging to her back. As she walked, Ed waddled in time with her steps.

Lil made a groaning noise before speaking irritably.

“I’m going to die from discomfort this way.”

“Why do you say that? It feels good.”

“I’m telling you because I’m afraid you may have forgotten, but all these people who pass by and look at us strangely are all your people.”

“Who would recognise me as their lord when I’m acting like this?”

‘Hm… that’s true…’

Being at a loss for words, Lil simply handed the boy a coin.

The boy looked surprised at Lil and Ed, who was resting his chin on the top of Lil’s head, before handing them a copy of the newspaper.

‘It surprises me that Sesbron’s newspapers can even be found in this far western land.’

“I can’t believe this newspaper is available here.”

“That’s because trade information needs to circulate quickly.”

“It’s amazing that there’s so much literacy that there is a need for papers.”

“Emerging aristocrats live together in Roahn. Prominent figures from the southwest who have bought some land come and live here once their income stabilises.”

“So, your tax revenue isn’t small then?”

“It depends on what kind of tax it is.”

“Oh, I see.”

“…”

Lil shrugged her shoulders. She wasn’t particularly interested in the details of other people’s financial circumstances, so she lowered her eyes to the newspaper. She read the headline article at the top of the first page.

“Bandits have become rampant along the major trade routes. I presume they originate from the Risch Mountains?”

“I received a report about this a while ago. Not much is known about them at this point.”

Lil and Ed had planned to travel inland via the Great Trade Route for now, so Lil asked back with mild concern in her voice.

“So, you knew?”

“That’s the reason why we’ll have more escorts this time around.”

“..?”

Just then, Ed pointed to their procession. Lil glanced sideways at the young men in casual clothing crowding around Levi’s carriage. Judging by their posture and atmosphere, they were definitely soldiers. They were busy checking the wagons and carts, and seemed to be dividing responsibilities and arrangements among them.

Ed, noticing Lil’s gaze, let go of her and explained.

“They’ll be our guards. While it’s rare for me to be escorted, there’s also Levi. There’s no harm in being careful.”

With the addition of the escorts, the procession became larger than expected. One of the escorts, a man with short-cut black hair, approached Levi and said hello. Levi greeted him warmly as if she knew him, before he proceeded to approach Lil and Ed.

“Shail Lehmann, my lady.”

Lil just nodded and turned her eyes back to the newspaper. Sensing the other person’s gaze still fixed on her, Lil rolled her eyes to look up at Shail again. When their eyes met, he cried out in embarrassment.

“Oh… oh my, uhm, hmm… you are so beautiful, I have to ask you to please excuse my rudeness!”

He then quickly looked ahead again. For some reason, it seemed like his earlobes were turning red. Shail then cleared his throat audibly and spoke to Ed.

“Sir Edgar, Sir Linhardt is looking for you.”

– – – – –

done.co