DZN Ch 13

Ruan beckoned to the troublesome bunch who were huddled together instead of working during the busiest time. They hesitantly shuffled over.

“His Highness has called for you. Go in and assist him with dressing. And prepare breakfast. Quickly now.”

“Will the Captain be staying here from now on?”

“Yes.”

“Until when?”

“Until the Founding Festival.”

“Two whole months?”

Ruan lightly pinched the cheek of the blond attendant, the prettiest and most air-headed in Esche Castle. He was clearly overstepping his bounds with that question.

“Don’t even think about causing trouble, just do your work. There will be many visitors to Esche Castle for the Founding Festival preparations, so stay sharp.”

“Then please increase the staff. We’re busy too.”

“Why are you telling me that?”

Tell your direct superior, Ruan retorted, bewildered. The huddled attendants swarmed him like a pack of puppies.

“The Head Servant said no, so we’re asking you. Please use your influence, Captain. We’re too delicate for hard labor.”

Ruan looked at the whining attendants, complaining about chopping firewood and carrying water buckets. He thought, And who else is supposed to do it besides you?, but decided to hold his tongue.

“I’m busy, so move. Stop with the nonsense and go to work.”

Ruan waved them away dismissively like he was shooing flies. As he pushed through them, he saw Finn waiting in the distance and beckoning him over. He had something to say.

Ruan gestured for him to wait downstairs. Finn, understanding perfectly, immediately descended the stairs and disappeared.

Looking around the castle, which was slowly coming to life, Ruan entered the lower corridor. Finn, holding a rag, discreetly beckoned him closer.

Ruan approached, and Finn, on tiptoe, whispered something in his ear.

After listening, Ruan asked, still somewhat incredulous, “…Are you sure about that?”

“Yes.”

“…All of it?”

“Yes, all of it.”

Finn confirmed that it was fresh, hot-off-the-press information. Ruan paused in thought.

“…So that’s what’s happening…”

“What should we do now?” Finn asked, adding, “This won’t be easy.”

Ruan pointed at the rag in Finn’s hand.

“You, drop that rag and go straight to Vierke Castle.”

“Right now?”

“Yes. Tell them I sent you, and find Adele, one of Her Majesty the Queen’s maids.”

She’ll know what to do, Ruan explained. Finn’s eyes lit up.

“It’s my first time going to Vierke Castle!”

Ruan genuinely worried about Finn’s future, seeing him excited about visiting the Queen’s castle. He was the fourth son of a fairly decent noble family, but the boy was… so naive and thoughtless.

How would he survive in this harsh world?

“…Good for you. Now, go and deliver my message exactly as I told you.”

“Yes.”

Relieved by Finn’s quick wit and good memory, Ruan quickly relayed the message for Vierke Castle. His return to fieldwork after a long absence was simpler than expected.

✨⋆⁺₊✧

“What is this?”

In the exceptionally bright morning sun, Calix, upon seeing the prepared carriage outside Esche Castle, blurted out the question in a daze.

He knew how absurd the question was, but he couldn’t think of anything else to say. Ruan answered with a smile.

“As you can see, it’s a carriage.”

Instead of saying, Has all that skirt-chasing rotted your brain?, Ruan kindly explained the obvious, as if to a three-year-old.

Calix slowly turned his stiff neck to look at Ruan.

“…You did this, didn’t you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Ruan smiled and gestured for Calix to board the carriage, his brazen attitude leaving Calix speechless. Ruan pretended not to notice his reaction.

“Her Majesty the Queen specifically requested your presence at luncheon today. We’re short on time, so please hurry.”

Calix, who had been prevented from leaving his room all morning thanks to Ruan’s physical blockade, gritted his teeth and turned to Mel, the Head Servant.

“Prepare the horses.”

Ruan answered for Mel.

“There are none.”

“…What?”

“They’re all having their hooves trimmed. While checking the carriage for you today, I noticed the horses’ hooves were overgrown and could become bent, so I ordered them all to have their shoes removed and trimmed. We can’t have any problems while Your Highness is riding.”

“…So that’s how you’re going to play this?”

“Since you ordered all the carriages to be sent for repairs last night, I borrowed a carriage for you to use for the Queen’s luncheon. I’ve personally inspected it, and there are no problems, so please get in.”

The carriage Ruan gestured to was not the large, black carriage with the gold imperial crest that Calix usually used.

It was the Queen’s carriage, specifically the one used for ceremonial purposes, designed to be instantly recognizable from afar—tall, ornate, and glittering. Its wheels were larger than usual, making it even taller, and its frame was carved with floral patterns, painted red and yellow, and studded with sparkling jewels. It was impossible to miss.

Ruan didn’t flinch at Calix’s murderous glare, which clearly asked, You expect me to ride in that?

He had already heard from Finn that Calix had ordered all the carriages to be sent for repairs last night.

It was clearly a preemptive move, anticipating that Ruan would try to confine him to a carriage. Ruan had no choice but to respond in kind.

Provide a carriage, but get rid of the horses.

If there were no carriages, Calix would try to ride a horse, and if he rode a horse, he would inevitably bolt. Ruan had no other options.

So he ordered the removal of all the horseshoes and sent Finn to Vierke Castle to borrow a carriage. Specifically, the ceremonial carriage covered in floral carvings that Calix loathed the most.

“How cute of you, right after your return.”

“You flatter me. Please, get in.”

At Calix’s glare, which threatened retribution, Ruan politely extended a hand.

“Shall I assist you?”

Ruan offered his hand sarcastically, as if escorting a noble lady into her carriage. Calix swatted it away and climbed in.

By now, Calix understood. If he refused this carriage, Ruan would bring an even more flamboyant one.

Ruan was capable of bringing the towering parade carriage used only during festivals.

Calix looked out the window with a look that screamed, You’re dead today. But Ruan was used to that look and ignored him.

He had intended to be agreeable today, but there were limits.

The schedule had to be followed.

Calix would whine about this all afternoon, but Ruan could easily ignore him. He could simply pretend not to hear.

Having made preparations for the most important event of the day, the luncheon, Ruan closed the door and ordered the carriage to depart.

He wanted to lock it, but Calix would surely throw a tantrum about being treated like an animal, so he refrained.

Relieved to have at least contained the wild colt, Ruan mounted his horse, and the other knights followed suit.

“We’re short on time, so let’s pick up the pace.”

They were running late because Calix, sulking after being confined all morning, had delayed their departure.

But the appointment had to be kept no matter what, so Ruan increased their speed without hesitation.

He didn’t care if the ceremonial carriage rattled.

✨⋆⁺₊✧

It was a disaster.

Ceremonial carriages were for show, not for riding in. Ruan realized this only after they arrived, lamenting the current situation.

He shouldn’t have put Calix in that carriage.

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived.”

Ruan opened the door with a polite announcement. Calix emerged, his gaze sharp. His hair was disheveled, and he looked quite unwell.

Ruan had ignored Calix’s pleas to slow down because the carriage was shaking, dismissing them as whining. Now, even the coachman looked pale, and the attendants riding in front and back looked ready to vomit.

The carriage itself looked grimy.

Only then did Ruan realize that Calix’s complaints about the shaking weren’t a ploy to escape.

No wonder it had been so noisy…

He should have trusted Calix.