The Tyrant Covets The S*ave - Chapter 9
The dress was made of red fabric and was double layered. The hem of the dress was sewn straight with white lace, and the sleeves of the dress were dolman-sleeved, making it look easy to move around. In addition, there was a lacy hat that she had never worn before.
Beher’s mouth dropped open when she saw how quickly the dress had been made. The designer’s face looked serene, as this seemed to be a common occurrence.
“Come on! Miss, let’s try it on.”
Beher liked to wear light clothing. Training clothes and men’s clothes were more comfortable. Since coming here, she had no choice but to wear dresses, but she wondered if those clothes would even look good on her.
‘I don’t like it…’ Beher wanted to say, waving off the many stares at her.
Sure, she was going to draw a clear line and say no, but when she saw the look in Lucy’s eyes, her mouth moved on its own.
“It’s a very… beautiful dress.”
It was just a useless, sparkly dress in her eyes, but she couldn’t say so. She could see how much effort everyone went through to make this dress, so Beher had no choice but to wear it.
***
Beher, who was in a carriage led by a black horse, tried to take off her hat, but Lucy dissuaded her.
“Miss, I don’t think you should take off your hat today.”
The thin, red lace that matched the dress was strewn across the hat and down to her neck.
The face could be seen in it, which was the purpose of the hat, or something. It was inconvenient to attend a banquet with a hat as if wearing thorns.
“It’s uncomfortable.”
“You’ll have to get used to it. You will have to adorn yourself with something more glamorous and lovely than the dress you are wearing now. Make sure you wear accessories next time.”
Lucy pursed her lips in disappointment that she had conceded a hundred times. Beher felt like an idiot for finding that look cute instead of annoying.
The square they arrived at was crowded with people. The people were so lively that it could not be said to be a winter country. A man selling various medicinal herbs and a girl offering a flower. Also, there were even people drinking and talking with each other.
“It’s pretty lively.”
Beher muttered to herself, but Lucy didn’t miss it and answered.
“Yes. Before His Highness the Grand Duke took over the territory, it was a dull place and hard for people to come and go, but thanks to the killing of all the demons around the territory, traders started coming and going. Thanks to this, the place became lively. It’s more like spring than winter here.”
Lucy spoke with satisfaction, which warmed Beher’s heart as well.
On the one hand, it was strange to see the love that had been put into the place. It was a sensibility she couldn’t understand, as she was so desperate to get out of even the place where she was born and raised.
“I hope they all know that His Highness Lucai is a really nice person…”
Lucy muttered to herself.
The hero who saved the empire, the shameless murderer of his parents. These two images combined, and some people did not have a good perception of Grand Duke Lucai.
Truth be told, Beher didn’t really know what kind of person he was either.
He just seemed like an arrogant, handsome man.
***
“Miss, please be careful getting out.”
Beher grabbed her dress and got out of the carriage, and Lucy wrapped the cloak around Beher’s shoulders. This time there was no lace, only warm fur and fabric, which was fortunate.
In the square where they arrived, there was a fountain in the shape of a long haired Goddess. She thought the water would freeze and there would be no such thing as a fountain, but the fountain ran powerfully in spite of the cold.
When Beher looked at the fountain curiously, Lucy gave her a quick answer as if she knew exactly what Beher wanted to know.
“Do you see the red stone that the genie is holding?”
Lucy pointed to a small red stone. Ben knew that it was a magic stone, but she didn’t think that they would leave a hard to find item like that in plain sight.
Looking at the sign below it, she understood why people didn’t take them.
“Death penalty for those who steal the magic stone.”
Somehow Grand Duke Lucai’s face appeared in her vision along with the words. But she didn’t think his words were scary.
“It’s a fire magic stone, it’s what keeps the water from freezing.”
Beher gave a small nod.
Perhaps it was because she had always lived in a hurry, the scene around her was very distant. She could feel people glancing at her, which only added to the feeling.
“Lady! Come this way. I’ve picked out a list of dessert stores for you, so you can look at them one by one before you choose.”
As Beher recalled, they just spoke today… How could she have chosen the list in such a short time?
No way.
Beher thought of Lucai. Perhaps he gave Lucy instructions…however, she soon shook off the thought.
‘It can’t be.’
Beher pictured him frowning in annoyance. Knowing full well that he was not a man who would be that considerate, Beher just assumed that Lucy’s abilities were superior.
The first dessert shop they stopped at was mainly chocolate. After tasting each one and choosing only the unconditionally sweet ones, Beher smiled with satisfaction.
She probably would have had a lot of trouble choosing if she hadn’t received the hint that the Emperor liked very sweet things.
The second store they stopped at had plenty of sweet puddings.
As they were looking at the pale yellow pudding, Lucy chuckled and said something to the owner.
Beher had been walking around so much that before she knew it, she found herself with her hands full of desserts.
She wondered which of these she should give as a gift…
‘… it would be better to give everything, right?’
From what Grand Duke Lucai said, the emperor would be pleased if she gave him lots of sweet delicious desserts.
After walking for a while, she could see that Lucy was tired. It was inevitable.
“Lucy, why don’t you go over there and have a rest?”
Beher led Lucy, pointing to a quiet alley. Tossing the dessert in her hands onto the bench, Beher sat quietly and looked up at the cloudy sky.
“It’s a beautiful day.”
She said casually, and Lucy looked alternately at Beher’s face and the sky as if she did not understand her words.
No matter how much she looked at it, it was still cloudy.
Beher looked at the sky and reminisced about the past.
Nothing could wipe away the bitterness and blood of the dead on that sunny day. Those who had lost something precious screamed as they held the dead in their arms. It was ostensibly a peaceful day. At that moment, Beher ached as if a window had been opened in her chest, thinking, If it was rather gloomy weather, it would have hidden their faces.
Someone’s greed made innocent people shed tears. If she had the power, she could have defended those people, but…Beher ran away. At that moment, she had no power, no hope. She was in too much of a hurry to take care of herself.
She clenched and stretched her hands.
‘Someone’s life had been put in these hands.’
She was selfish. She was a failure who ran away because she was afraid of her father, afraid of war. So…she wasn’t going to run away this time. Once her work with Grand Duke Lucai was done, she had to confront her father with confidence.
To be honest, she was scared. She wanted to run away, and run away again, and be trapped in the darkness forever, never to see the light of day. But… when she thought of the blood on her hands… it was absolutely impossible.
“…Lady?”
“…….”
“Lady!”
Beher seemed very pensive. Lucy was offering her a cup of warm citrus tea.
“Lucy.”
Beher finally snapped out of the afterimage of her past and took the cup Lucy had given her.
“It’s warm.”
Perhaps it was because she had been thinking only of cold things earlier, but the tea she was given was very warm.
“What were you thinking about that you couldn’t hear my call?”
“Just…”
Beher said deceptively. Lucy didn’t say anything about it. She just had a bit of a sad look in her eyes.
After that, Lucy and Beher only talked about cheerful things. Not knowing that time had passed, when they checked, the sky was already dark, and the two finally stood up.
“I guess the ladies don’t have a companion.”
“…….”
There was a group of men in front of Beher and Lucy.
The rugged looking men fussed over the desserts that were placed around her.
“It looks like the aristocratic Miss has come for a walk.”
“Let’s go, Lucy.”
Beher ignored the crowd and lifted her luggage. There was no time to scuffle with these people. The only reason she was still here was because of her contract with Grand Duke Lucai. She decided to eliminate anything not related to that at once.
“Ah! We are lonely at night. Why don’t you join us?”
The man grabbed Lucy’s wrist. She wrinkled her brow in pain.
Five men circled around them.
“Let go of her hand.”
Beher warned with a glint in her eyes. Lucy could see that she was getting anxious and reached a point of anger.
“What if I don’t want to, Lady? Haha! It’s okay for one night, isn’t it? Huh? Many men are lonely.”
As the man spat insulting words at Beher, Lucy punched him in the face, throwing the package she was carrying. Finally freeing herself, she grabbed Beher’s wrist and started running.
“Lady! Run!”
Lucy threw her package and started running. She had only one small box in her hand.
After a while, however, the man grabbed her again.
“I was just trying to be cute!”
The man’s hand went up. At that moment, Lucy closed her eyes.
Beher hurriedly searched for her dagger, but she didn’t bring it because she was wearing this dress.
‘What should I do?’
Beher squeezed her eyes shut. If her power existed to protect something…
She remembered the many things Lucy had done for her so far. She had been there for her with warm encouragement and to make sure she wasn’t lonely. Lucy was a girl who looked at her with pure eyes.
She had to protect this kind girl, even though she was here for the contract with Grand Duke Lucai.
‘If I can’t even protect my own people, I might as well lose the power.’
A bluish light appeared around Beher’s body. It was a radiant, mystical glow.
“I summon you!”
Beher shouted loudly. Then a protective film formed around the fountain, and the water level increased. It was as if it was alive and began to attack the men, shielding Beher and Lucy.
“What is this? What is this? Arghhhh!”
Beher had no mercy. She could not escape her father with this power, but now she had it, and she was relieved.
Rare abilities that were few in the world.
Beher was a “spiritist”.