TSMMT Ch 38

Arrogant Revenge

Taillach began smoothly. The festival followed the footsteps of Tali, the Goddess of Winter. Following the path of the winter goddess who once wielded a ruthless spear to purge all evil, the travelers walked along the snowy walkway.

Dianna, wearing a red fur hat, looked toward the window. Snowflakes fell, one by one, then two by two. The sky already wore an ink-black hue.

[Dianna] "Aren't you cold?"

She asked Guiscard, who stood beside her. Dianna wore a costly, bright red fur hat, whereas his attire looked pitiful by comparison. A fur-lined cloak and tattered quilted clothes covered his frame.

Observing clothes far too humble for a bodyguard, Dianna resolved to give him fine garments once they arrived.

[Dianna] "Guiscard?"

He didn't answer. He stared at her face, his expression as cold as ice.

Is he angry with me? Why? A slave angry at his master? No, I shouldn't think this way.

But the situation remained entirely impossible to understand. She carefully reviewed her memories to find the source of Guiscard's foul mood.

[Dianna] "Don't tell me Emil beat you?!"

She reached out toward him. His hand pulled forward limply. Even after pulling up his sleeve, no bruises appeared on his skin.

Could there be bruises further up......?

As if reading her thoughts, he pulled back to cover his body.

[Guiscard] "Nothing happened."

[Dianna] "......."

[Guiscard] "I wish to remain quiet. If you require conversation, please give an order."

Dianna nodded at the chilling request to leave him alone. Even so, an uncomfortable feeling lingered. She spoke while looking at him.

[Dianna] "You will participate in the upcoming monster hunt as well."

[Guiscard] "......."

[Dianna] "Earn merits. Don't bring shame to my name."

[Guiscard] "Understood."

He spoke coldly. Dianna continued to study his reactions.

Will Taillach be alright?

---

The castle of the Brienne Duchy, visited after a long time, loomed much larger than remembered. The Duke, who had arrived first, stepped out personally to greet his children. After giving Dianna a tight embrace, he clicked his tongue.

[Duke] "It is a pity about Alexa."

[Emil] "She caught a cold, after all."

Emil spoke with a tone of lingering regret. The Duke stared at him with cold eyes, then shifted his gaze toward Guiscard standing behind Dianna.

[Duke] "This slave is......"

[Dianna] "I trained him as a swordsman. He is my bodyguard now."

She spoke with a smile. Surprise crossed the Duke's face before the corners of his mouth curved upward.

[Duke] "Yes, I heard rumors that the slave possessed excellent swordsmanship. You know how to utilize people well, Ann."

[Dianna] "......."

[Duke] "I am highly satisfied. Well done. You managed to make him useful in the end."

The Duke patted her hair as he spoke. Her father's praise tasted bitter. His words made a human sound like a mere object.

[Emil] "From what I saw, his skills are exceptional."

[Guiscard] "......."

[Emil] "He is skilled enough to join the monster subjugation this time."

What is wrong with Emil?

Yet, this was exactly what she desired—for Guiscard to win glory.

[Dianna] "That is right. He can do it."

She spoke while looking at Guiscard.

Guiscard, I am sorry. But this is the stage to showcase your abilities.

[Dianna] "I will participate as well."

[Duke] "What absolute nonsense!"

The Duke gasped in sheer shock.

[Duke] "A young lady shouldn't speak so recklessly."

Dianna responded calmly to her father's stern reprimand.

[Dianna] "Father, this winter festival takes place in the Brienne territory. How can the eldest daughter remain idle?"

[Duke] "......."

[Dianna] "I don't mean to roam around wielding a sword like a knight. I only wish to see how my knights and my brother fight."

[Duke] "......."

[Dianna] "Though I am a helpless girl, I want my slave to contribute his strength. I will stay in the safest possible location."

Confronted with Dianna's stubbornness, the Duke sighed in utter defeat.

[Dianna] "The princes promised to attend in person. Furthermore, every influential family is watching us. I want to show everyone that the Brienne name doesn't belong to cowards."

She stared at the Duke, who fell into deep thought. He was yielding to her persuasion.

[Emil] "She is right. It is not as if Ann is stepping onto the battlefield herself; her slave will fight in her stead."

[Duke] "True."

[Emil] "Granting him this opportunity is a wise choice."

At his decisive words, the Duke nodded.

Dianna looked at Guiscard. Perhaps the slave detested the idea of going to battle, for his expression remained cold as the boy kept his eyes cast downward.

---

A bright smile broke across Dianna's face. The royal carriages had arrived—specifically, the carriages of Philip and Ferdinand. Because the preparations for Taillach had kept her from seeing Philip for a long time, she sprinted toward the vehicles.

[Ferdinand] "It has been a long time, Lady Brienne."

Ferdinand was the first to step down, his gaze sweeping over her as he spoke. She smiled while holding the hem of her skirt.

[Dianna] "I greet Your Highness."

She lifted her head to look at the boy looking down at her. Ferdinand, with his prominent cheekbones, closely resembled his appearance from her past life. The prince exuded an anxious, sensitive energy, looking as though the slightest touch would ignite his fury.

[Ferdinand] "I believe you have passed your thirteenth year."

[Dianna] "Yes."

[Ferdinand] "You have grown beautiful. Give it one more year, and every eye in high society will be fixed upon you."

[Dianna] "You flatter me, Your Highness."

[Ferdinand] "And modest, too."

He pulled her hand to his lips. Dianna wished to wrench her hand away and wipe it immediately, but unfortunately, such an action was impossible.

[Ferdinand] "I shall speak to my mother so we can meet more often at the royal palace. It is rather embarrassing to be so distant from the lady who might become my bride."

[Dianna] "I am perfectly fine, Your Highness. The seat beside the future ruler is coveted by everyone. It would be improper for me to covet it greedily for myself."

She meant every word. Ferdinand was the absolute worst fiancé imaginable.

[Ferdinand] "That exact trait of yours pleases me the most."

He chuckled, studying her face. Just then, a voice echoed.

[Philip] "Ann!"

Dianna turned her head toward the sound. Ferdinand scowled.

[Ferdinand] "Philip. What insolence is this in public? How dare you use her nickname so casually!"

[Philip] "What of it? We are friends."

Dianna beamed at Philip's response.

[Dianna] "We crossed paths frequently due to Her Highness Princess Ionia. I asked Prince Philip many questions to ensure nothing was amiss in my service to her."

[Ferdinand] "My dear Lady, I am not trying to reprimand you. I am merely speaking of this fellow's rudeness."

Ferdinand glared at Philip. The princes offered their greetings to Emil and the Duke before following Dianna into the castle.

---

Guiscard watched their retreating figures from behind.

Whenever he observed Dianna, one realization always struck him. Despite her young age, she appeared incredibly skillful during massive events like this. She showed no signs of nervousness.

The only time that young girl grew anxious was right in front of Guiscard.

Even though he did nothing, Dianna always walked on eggshells around him. Yet, despite her caution, she declared those words.

I can't set him free. It is only right that he remains a slave for now.

She claimed she couldn't free him. Why did she believe he belonged in chains? Was it because his actions were vulgar? Because he was inherently lowborn? He found Dianna entirely impossible to comprehend.

Perhaps he had desired her praise.

That was why he had stood before her door. He thought Dianna would rejoice over his achievements as if they were her own...... hoping that if Barot praised the boy, she would share in that joy.

[Emil] "What is the matter, insolent slave?"

Emil, who happened to be at the estate, walked over and spoke. His silver-gray eyes sank into the darkness, a devilish, chilling smile playing on his lips.

As Guiscard attempted to ignore the young noble, he spoke again.

[Emil] "Hey, do you have any interest in working under me?"

[Guiscard] "......."

[Emil] "Hmm? I am offering to grant you your freedom."

[Guiscard] "......."

[Emil] "The condition is this......"

[Emil] "Make sure she ends up crippled."

[Guiscard] "......."

[Emil] "Or better yet, leave an indelible scar across her face."

[Guiscard] "......."

[Emil] "It is not as if I am asking you to kill her. I have no desire to murder my own sister. But if things continue like this, we will clash forever."

---

Guiscard stood watching Dianna.

The exterior of the Forest of the Abyss resembled any ordinary woods. Unlike animal hunts where beaters drove the game forward, this hunt required only the beating of drums to draw out monsters eager to devour humans from within the thicket.

In the past, casualties were common, but such danger no longer existed. A massive army and a large contingent of mages from the Magic Tower provided heavy support. Furthermore, massive monsters rarely appeared. Perhaps for that reason, every single knight guarding Dianna ventured deep into the forest.

Guiscard remained on the outskirts, left to deal with the smaller beasts escaping the woods.

Dianna watched the carcasses. With her red fur hat pulled low, she exuded the peaceful aura of someone out for a stroll rather than a noble participating in a military campaign.

Suddenly, a white snowflake drifted down onto her eyelashes. She quickly brushed it away with her hand, letting it melt.

Guiscard watched her, the memory of a past conversation flashing through his mind.

Shaking off the memory, he noticed a white rabbit hopping out of the woods. Its fluffy fur resembled the texture of Dianna's hat. Rather than the long-bodied rabbit he expected, the creature looked like a perfectly round sphere. And it wasn't alone......

At that exact moment, a powerful force shoved him, sending him tumbling to the ground. Simultaneously, the round rabbit tore its mouth wide open, revealing jagged fangs. He watched the creature spring toward Dianna.

A Lepus!

He had heard tales of monsters masquerading as adorable baby rabbits. They posed an extreme threat because they hid their lethal nature behind a harmless exterior and always swarmed in massive numbers.

This made no sense.

He believed his choices were limited to two: either he would save Dianna, or he would let her get hurt as Emil requested. Yet, this woman saving him instead broke every rule. It was completely unimaginable.

Dianna, who refused to grant his freedom, had thrust him out of harm's way and chosen danger without a single moment of hesitation because her slave was in jeopardy.

[Guiscard] "My Lady!"

A sickening crunch echoed, and blood sprayed into the air.

---

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