Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 78

However, when Gella brought it up cautiously, Eirik’s response was, “It’s fine. I was just about to suggest it.”

Both Miesa, who had been very nervous, and Gella, who was ready to apologize, were taken aback.

“The garden has become dangerous, so you won’t be able to go out there until next spring,” Eirik explained.

“How dangerous could the garden be that she can’t even step into the front yard?” Gella wondered, sighing inwardly with pity for Miesa.

“Going out would be better. But this time, just take a drive around the city without stopping anywhere,” Eirik continued.

“Really?” Miesa asked, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

Miesa seemed pleased, but staying in the carriage wasn’t much different from her bedroom. Gella couldn’t hold back and interjected, “Then, master, since meeting people is the issue, how about I take her to a park for a while?”

“No, that’s even more dangerous. Miesa, it’s autumn now, and the types of birds around have changed,” Eirik replied firmly.

He added, “In summer, it was easy to herd the birds into the backwoods because of their habits, which is why the garden was safe until now. But now, as the autumn migratory birds return, it’s best not to go near any wooded areas.”

“Yes, yes,” Miesa nodded enthusiastically.

Gella knew that Miesa was afraid of birds. But how severe was this fear that birds seemed like the devil’s spawn to her? The master’s overprotection was severe, and the madam herself was very fearful.

“From now on, you may only move around inside the mansion and the greenhouse. Understood?”

“Yes. That’s fine. Good,” Miesa agreed.

Seeing Miesa respond so readily, Gella thought that she must indeed be resigned to staying in enclosed spaces. Watching the master and madam’s conversation, Gella quietly sighed to herself.

“An outing, once more, sir?” Cullen was dumbfounded by the commander’s instructions.

“Yes. Ensure she stays inside the carriage the entire time. No matter what Gella says, do not let the lady step out.”

“Understood. Just a circuit around the city then…” Cullen suppressed his quickening heartbeat. “Should I familiarize myself with any particular district?”

“Bring me a map,” Eirik instructed.

Eirik pointed out suitable areas and roughly outlined a route. He watched Cullen memorize the paths with a somber gaze.

By winter, Eirik planned to send Miesa to the estate. How many years it would take, he couldn’t say, but until the grand plan was complete, her location had to remain a secret. Not even the former Margrave and Margravine of Cladnier, who would already be at the estate, could know.

He couldn’t send many people to the small house halfway up the mountain, far from even the nearest village. Only a minimal number of trusted individuals could accompany her.

After much deliberation, Eirik realized there was no one to replace Cullen. Despite missing two fingers on his right hand and wielding a sword with his left, Cullen was still considered the best in the Order. Moreover, he had proven his loyalty by not divulging any secrets even under torture during the war.

And Cullen has feelings for Miesa. This gave Eirik confidence that Cullen would protect her life at all costs. Yet, the thought of Miesa and Cullen together for an uncertain number of years…

“……”

Eirik watched Cullen in silence.

He didn’t doubt Cullen’s loyalty, and he knew Miesa was afraid of him. But what might happen between a young man and woman confined together for so long? His father, whom he had once trusted implicitly, had also been led astray, endangering the family.

If Miesa could survive unscathed, Eirik could overlook everything else. Even if the two of them had a child, there would be ways to manage it. As long as she was alive. Eirik planned to survive by any means necessary, so Miesa had to live.

Cullen, who had looked up to see Eirik’s face, was startled. “Um… Commander…?”

Eirik simply stared at Cullen’s flustered expression, feeling a creeping unease.

“Did… Did I make a mistake…?” Cullen asked nervously.

“No. You may go.”

Cullen hurriedly left the office. Watching him go, a hollow laugh escaped Eirik’s lips.

Turning his head, he saw the family crest hanging on the wall. The sight made him laugh even more. What use are righteousness, justice, and ideals? Just moments ago, he had been contemplating how to tear Cullen apart.

Honor and loyalty are meaningless. For the first time, Eirik willingly acknowledged that he harbored feelings he couldn’t justify, even to himself.

***

On the verge of departure, Eirik was giving firm instructions to the two in his study.

“If Miesa desires anything, it’s fine to stop the carriage and you, Gella, fetch it.”

“Yes, understood, master,” Gella replied respectfully.

Inside her veil, Miesa beamed brightly. She was simply overjoyed at the unexpected outing.

Hearing her small giggles, Eirik, with a bittersweet smile, handed another pouch of money to Gella. After a moment of scrutinizing her, he asked, “By the way, do you know how to cook?”

“Pardon? Oh… I can handle basic chopping and boiling,” Gella replied, a bit startled.

“Do you know how to handle wild game?”

“Well, as I mentioned, I used to live opposite a slaughterhouse, so I’ve seen it done many times.”

“Good. From now on, every evening, learn to cook a dish that Miesa likes.”

“…Yes?” Gella felt uneasy.

The last time he asked if she knew how to handle a knife, they were soon after attacked. As Gella hesitated, Eirik nodded, speaking as if to himself. “A few months of practice should be sufficient.”

“Why does Gella need to learn cooking?” Miesa, adjusting her veil, asked with wide eyes.

Eirik gave a pre-prepared excuse. “If you add certain herbs to the food, it can be healthier.”

“Oh, I see.”

Excited about the outing, Miesa didn’t think too deeply about it. Gella gave Eirik a puzzled look but soon slipped out through the fireplace without a word.

“Gella, over here.”

As soon as Cullen saw the lady again, he felt his heart start to race. She’s a fellow knight’s wife, he reminded himself. But no matter how many times he repeated it, the sight of her walking towards him made his heart pound so loudly in his ears that he wanted to cut them off.

“Sir Cullen, if I tap the carriage wall like this, twice, please stop the carriage.”

“The madam cannot disembark.”

“What? But she’s not… she’s not a madam, she’s a miss, isn’t she?” Gella’s face flushed with confusion.

“Ah, yes. I misspoke about the lady. Just get in. The commander wants us back in three hours.”

Cullen trailed off, unsure of how much Gella knew. But judging by her surprised expression, she seemed to know quite a bit already. Cullen felt guilty for having to divulge such confidential information, and ashamed that he still couldn’t sort out his own feelings even after hearing it.

As he wrestled with his emotions, Gella muttered a brief acknowledgment and hurriedly climbed into the carriage.

“Madam, what should we do… Sir Cullen seems to have noticed something about you. Did you know?” Gella bombarded Miesa with questions as soon as the carriage door closed.

Miesa, smiling, pulled Gella close and whispered in her ear, “I just heard. But it’s not what you think. Cullen believes I’m the wife of someone in the Order.”

“Ah, that makes sense, that’s why he addressed you a madam. So, how did he figure it out? Why did you become the wife of someone from the Order?”

“He guessed from the hand signals. He thinks I’m a stand-in for myself,” Miesa giggled softly.

Their cautious whispers were fortunately drowned out by the sound of the carriage wheels, keeping their conversation from reaching the driver’s seat.