Encounter with Marius
“Ahh..I’m looking forward to it so much. There are bound to be new encounters in the capital. The man who will love only me….I want to meet him quickly. Don’t you think so too, Hanna?”
一 Maidervant Hanna, who is accompanying me, has been staying single all this time despite already being 24 years old, saying that she wouldn’t leave me till I got married. With light brown hair that’s been kept together at the back and hazel-colored eyes, she’s an older sister figure giving out a calm feeling that’s always with me.
“That’s right, Milady. I’m sure there’s a wonderful meeting waiting for you.
Right now, we’re shaking in a stagecoach, that’s heading towards the capital. In addition to us, there were about other seven passengers so the the carriage was packed full. We met those people at the inns, where we stayed during the nights till we reached the capital.
For the sake of security, one person is sitting with the coachman. I esteemed that the person doing this job would be an former soldier. I figured out that he was a soldier from the 3rd division by the tattoo on his right hand. Besides him, there was also a married couple and the family with two children. Along with the young couple, there was a man who came aboard alone.
Hmm, how interesting. Judging by his muscles he should be someone whose specializes is battles. Sword calluses on his fingers also seem to prove that idea. But he has calluses on both hands. Ordinary soldiers aren’t allowed to use dual swords…meaning that he must have a quite unique profession.
Maybe an assassin? A disturbing thought crossed my mind, but I immediately denied it. Let’s continue observing for a bit longer. Straight black hair and unfathomable black eyes. The clothes he’s wearing don’t stand out, they look like something any ordinary traveller would wear. But that actually makes the man look even more suspicious.
“You’re always looking at me and thinking about something, aren’t you?…Just what exactly are you looking at so much?”
Ah….damn it. I was immersed in observation too much, so my unnatural gaze got discovered. We just finished eating lunch so everyone is sitting on the grass, smoking and taking a break.
“It is nothing.”
While feighning calmness as much as possible, I answered the man sitting opposite me with crossed legs. I averted my eyes but without paying heed to my actions, the man looked straight at me with eyes that seemed to see through me.
“Weren’t you watching me?…”
“You are imagining things.”
“What were you thinking about?…”
“Is it okay? For me to say everything I’m thinking about?”
Because a young lady with supposedly noble upbringing that was travelling with her maid returned his gaze with provocative words, he opened eyes wide in astonishment. Then he raised a corner of his mouth and asked as if very intrigued.
“Yeah…I don’t mind. Go ahead and say it.”
“I was observing you to try and guess your occupation. And right now I’ve just come to the conclusion.”
“Oh…my occupation, huh…”
“At first I thought that you were an assassin. But assassin wouldn’t ask such questions to a female that they met in a stagecoach. That’s why, there is the only one possibility left.”
“….and, what is it?”
“Frankly speaking, you are our kingdom’s secret agent, aren’t you? Most likely you also hold a title of a knight. Perhaps it’s the leftover from the past but you’re walking while slightly dragging your left leg that’s supposed to be armed with a sword. Now you are using twin swords so you’ve hidden a dagger inside that cloak, right? After all, it’s too suspicious that you won’t take off your cloak even on a hot day like this.”
“You are…pretty interesting… – What’s your name? You are the first person to discover my true identity just by looking at me.”
“Is it not good manners to introduce yourself first if you want to hear someone else’s name? You should have a full grasp of gentleman’s etiquette, right?”
The man was pretending to be a normal traveller so he was acting ill-mannered, but he still couldn’t hide the slight actions during eating, that hinted at his good upringing .
“Hahaha…if you already know that much, you can become even better spy than me. My name’s Marius. There was a time when I was attending nobles’ meetings but now I’m working as informer for the kingdom.”
“Oh my, it did not occur to me that you would admit it right away. Is it okay to reveal your identity during the mission?”
“Why do you think that I’m still on duty? Couldn’t I just be returning to my workplace after vacation?”
“In that case you would use your private carriage instead of this stagecoach, right? Excuse me, but I took notice that you have enough financial assets for that. Since there didn’t seem to be a target person within the passengers, you’re either going to do something on the way or you have to meet someone…something like that. Well, I’d like to ask you not to involve us. I have to go to the royal capital no matter what, .”
Actually, I waited for a chance and sneaked a peek at twin swords inside his cloak. They were so well-made that even I, who’s isn’t knowledgeable about swords, figured out their worth.
“I’m glad that you aren’t an enemy. What business do you have in the royal capital? From what I’ve seen, you’re a nobleman’s daughter, aren’t you?”
“I’m going to the capital to find the man of my destiny. The person who will like me the way I really am…But despite everything, men always choose docile, obedient and frail females. This world is unfair, isn’t it?”
“Well, it doesn’t seem like a normal man would be able to manage you. Where did you acquire that kind of insight?”
“Who knows…maybe it’s better to say that I’m interested in people. That’s why I also know that three men have been following this carriage since yesterday. ”
“What a minute! What do you mean?!!”
Suddenly Marius’ eyes got sharp and I felt a terrible pressure coming from his body, so I told him everything I knew. Since yesterday’s afternoon meal, three men have been following this carriage while maintaining distance,
“They’re keeping a safe distance from this carriage while riding on horses. They’ve been diguising themselves by changing their clothes everyday but there’s no mistake. I am capable of recognizing people by the shape of their ears, after all. Besides, horses can’t be disguised. From what I’ve seen, all three are quite skilled. Will you be alright?”
“Tch!! For me to not notice at all! I will be leaving here. I can’t afford to trouble you, after all. By the way, what’s your name?”
“I am Julia. I don’t think we’ll ever meet again so you don’t have to remember my name. Those people are probably from the southward of Gurusuk so watch out for smoke bombs. It’s a specialty of Gurusuk’s people. I can recognize them with the bone structure.”
With half the body out of the door of the carriage, Marius said refreshingly with a blooming smile on his face.
“I appreciate your advice…If we meet again I’ll definitely thank you. See ya, Julia. Don’t get tricked by a weird man in the capital.”
After saying that, he disappeared somewhere. I wonder if he’s planning to fight those men? or maybe he’s trying to run away? Well it does not matter to me, but I am still a little worried.
—-
Notes
I know I said that I wouldn’t do another chapter but I had this done few days ago so I thought I might as well publish it.
Julia randomly turned into Sherlock Holmes but that was unexpectly interesting to read about. I still can’t figure it out.
I’ve not had anyone pr this chapter and some sentences are most likely mistranslated because of vagueness but who cares, this is just a fap-novel anyway.
Stagecoach is this btw.
P.S Last Witch’s new chapter will probably come next week because I’m a bit busy
meanwhile I might throw in random chapters from any short novel I can find to refresh myself or I’ll probably get super bored with only doing one story day after day.
literally did 4 different novels at the same time yesterday lmao, didn’t finish any of them tho