C61
Bianca's heart was pounding. Bianca tried to stay calm. When was the last time she kissed Zachary in her last life? In the past, the couple had only reluctantly kissed in bed, and the kisses were very intermittent.
Come to think of it, she had never kissed him before his return. How will she react when his lips touch? Will she be disappointed if she seems aggressive? It would be nice if she ended with a cute reaction other than disappointment.
Bianca's eyelashes fluttered with tension. She felt as if Zachary's lips were about to touch hers. Just as Bianca was getting anxious, an unexpected voice came through the silent carriage.
“I brought the food… oh, ma'am.
The moment Yvonne's voice was heard, the breath and body temperature of the fingertips that had touched Bianca's face disappeared at the same time. It was an instant. When Bianca blinked in surprise, it was already too late.
What touched Bianca's gaze was the darkness of the night that landed in the carriage, and by then Zachary was already far away. It seemed like they were close just now, but it was surprising when they were so far apart.
Zachary's face revealed his agitation. An absurd and bewildered expression that could not hide his surprise. As if his steely reason, his logic and his stubbornness should never have allowed him to fall into the current situation.
Bianca turned to Yvonne, who brought the food. She too seemed dismayed to realize that she had made a serious mistake. Being ignorant is a great sin as a servant. As if she understood Bianca's displeasure, she shivered with a determined expression on her face.
But how could Bianca say anything to Yvonne? Bianca sighed softly and nodded at Yvonne.
-It's okay. Bring it here.
“…Then I'll go.
As if Yvonne's appearance was an opportunity, Zachary bolted from the carriage as soon as Bianca turned her head toward Yvonne. The appearance of her back as she hurriedly ran away seemed puzzled. As if she had almost made a mistake, even the sense of relief was clear in her steps.
Yvonne, who was watching the situation with bated breath, asked cautiously.
"Was I too careless...?"
-Nope. You came at the right time. I was hungry.
Bianca answered with a straight back.
He said the time was right, but it was a blatant lie. She couldn't have been more careless than this, but she too quickly gave up because she didn't do well all day.
Also today is not the only day.
Bianca decided to relax, throwing away the food Yvonne had brought her, she casually took a bite of the bread, but the crumbling bread in her mouth was exceptionally dry.
* * *
About 10 days after leaving Arno's estate, the capital was just around the corner. The servants looked at each other's faces as if they couldn't believe that they had arrived in the capital so quickly.
From the Arno estate to the capital, it takes three days on horseback. A week on foot. And it takes about 10 days for more than 50 people to mobilize.
It was a normal speed, neither slow nor fast, but the servants couldn't hide their embarrassment.
Two and a half weeks were proposed for this trip.
Why was such a long trip planned? It was because of the variable named Bianca.
It was not uncommon for young noblewomen to complain that they could not bear the arduous journey. During the journey, there was no choice but to eat poorly, and as comfortable as the carriage was, it was not as good as the castle. It was common to cry after three days, and you've heard about the huge scheduling disruption this can cause.
Also, the person they serve is “that” lady. Someone who is demanding and luxurious… When they found out that the lady would travel with them to the capital, they were scared.
“What if we can't find a place to stay?”
"What should we do if he gets angry because there are a lot of insects when we travel through the mountains?"
“What if he says the carriage shakes…?”
Servants and soldiers expressed concern about traveling with the lady, full of useless excuses. However, as Mr. Zachary decided, his wife Bianca agreed, and the commanders had no complaints about it, they couldn't reverse the decision.
They had no doubt that this trip to the capital would be the longest and most terrifying nightmare they had ever had. But it was funny that they raised their voices in such a fuss, and none of the things they were so worried about happened.
Bianca had been in the carriage all day, except for a brief walk around the area in the morning before the group left.
From time to time, Bianca's maid Yvonne would come and go to run Bianca's errands, but Bianca never showed her face.
The trip went smoothly. Far from being awkward, the servants and other gentlemen were stunned by Bianca's deadly calm appearance in the carriage. They wanted to hide in a mouse hole thinking about their earlier comments that they said it would be a hindrance to their journey. They seemed to have made a useless ruckus.
There was much talk among the servants as to why Bianca did not go out, and whether or not the lady was ill.
"I heard he's weak... He is okay?
"If she's sick, she should say so." He's not someone who can take that.
-Yes that's how it is.
And as they went about their duties, the servants' eyes fluttered with anxiety. Bianca's silence made them uneasy.
Contrary to her concerns, Bianca was feeling fine in the carriage. She continued to lie in the carriage, on the pretext of nausea and dizziness. But the motion sickness wasn't too bad.
Bianca also knew that being picky about motion sickness would only increase the length of the trip. It was better for Bianca to get to the capital as soon as possible, rather than trying to make herself as comfortable as possible in an uncomfortable carriage. She enjoyed her free time with fresh fruit.
It was thanks to Bianca's cooperation, that they arrived at the capital sooner than they thought.
Lahoz, the capital of the Sevran Kingdom, was not comparable to Arno's estate in scale.
If Arno Castle was built on flat land, Sevran Castle was a fortress built on a high hill and cliff.
Rising like a mountain, Lahoz was surrounded on three sides by sheer cliffs. In the only peaceful place without cliffs, moats and high walls were built, and the only way to enter Lahoz was through a drawbridge. It was a blessed land that did not allow any foreign invasion.
The impregnable white citadel, where you can feel the power that has stood between the Kingdom of Aragon and the Kingdom of Castile for more than a hundred years, was splendid as if showing off its majesty. At the tip of the citadel's spire fluttered a flag bearing the emblem of the House of Sevran. The pattern in which the golden light of the sun forked behind the red rose contrasted with the blue sky.
The watchman who found the Arno family flag on the tower yelled down.
"Black wolf!" That's the Arno flag!
Before long, the procession from Arno reached the gates of Lahoz. Zachary, who was at the head of the procession, shouted towards the castle.
"I am Earl Zachary of Arno!" I have been called by his Majesty, open the door!
"Lower the drawbridge!"
As soon as the soldier who confirmed Zachary's identity yelled, the heavy door collapsed with the sound of chains moving. With a loud noise, the drawbridge lowered in front of Zachary.
Zachary was the first to cross the drawbridge. All the soldiers in the capital looked at Zachary in astonishment. Thanks to Zachary's repeated victories in the war against the Kingdom of Aragon, the soldiers of the capital were able to stretch out and sleep in a safe place. For them, not only as soldiers, but also as people of the Kingdom of Sevran, Zachary was a savior hero.
Merchants and officials passing by the small drawbridge stopped at the word Arno and watched the procession of the Arno family blankly. In this way, the Arno family entered the capital city of Lahoz with praise.
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