Chapter 62

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: The Shadow Supply Line
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Come to think of it, Diello had only taken a few sips of his tea since the tea time began; he hadn't touched any of the sweets.

Even Redius was on his third cookie and was looking at him with curiosity. It was then that I subtly put some distance between us again.

“Croire?”

Diello turned to look at me.

I ended up holding up my hand to stop him as he tried to move closer.

Do we really have to act like a sweet couple in front of Sir Redius?

“Sir Redius already knows about our arrangement, doesn't he?”

That's why we're all sitting together so comfortably on the fourth floor.

Diello nodded naturally at my words.

“Yes, he does.”

“So do we still have to act?”

Diello was silent for a moment.

Then, he smiled beautifully, his bewitching blue eyes crinkling.

“The more natural it is, the better, don't you think?”

Well, I suppose that's true, but...

For some strange reason, my heart kept fluttering.

I had no choice but to lower my head, pretending to sip my tea.

I was sure I had bowed my head.

But it felt as if his intense gaze never left the top of my head.

* * *

“The more natural it is, the better, don't you think?”

The faintly smiling Diello Argenta seemed like a completely different person.

That smile was different from the one he wore when he was playing the part of the ‘gentle Diello Argenta,’ and different from the one he wore as the ‘real Diello Argenta.’

Redius Argenta felt like he was dreaming.

What am I seeing right now?

Is this really the Master I know?

He wasn't one to smile like that, even as a child.

Redius briefly recalled Diello’s short childhood.

But from then until now, Diello Argenta had never shown such focused attention on a single person.

No, it was more than just giving attention—he was practically craving it.

And above all, those blue eyes.

Redius Argenta had known for some time that the Master's loss of emotional control had already ended.

“……”

When their eyes met, the bewitching blue gaze settled on him, chilling him to the bone.

It was, of course, a cold stare, as if from a different person than the one who looked at Croire.

This was the ‘real Diello Argenta’ he knew.

‘Don't say a word.’

A gaze that seemed to command him so was directed at Redius.

Unable to speak the truth, Redius watched his Master turn back to Croire, his blue eyes smiling at her once more.

To go so far as to pretend to have lost control—it was clear he was after something.

By pretending to have lost control, he intended to reveal more of his heart.

Oh...

Redius Argenta swallowed in admiration.

He's truly fallen for the Madam.

“...Diello.”

The problem was Croire Argenta, who accepted the Master’s light kisses with a small smile.

While she accepted Diello’s courtship, she believed it was all just an act—playing the part of a sweet, newlywed couple.

The Master is going to have a hard time.

But is it really okay for the Master to give his heart away like this?

It was then.

“Your Grace, I have an urgent matter to report.”

An urgent voice came from outside the door.

Diello narrowed his eyes.

“Sir Rick?”

He should know we're having tea.

It must be something truly urgent. Croire looked at the door, then back at Diello.

“You should go.”

“Excuse me for a moment.”

In the end, Diello left his seat with an apologetic look.

A gentle smile directed only at Croire accompanied his departure.

—Thud.

The door closed, and Redius’s eyes gleamed.

It was the perfect opportunity.

“Madam.”

A presumptuous but necessary task. Testing the Madam.

He turned to Croire.

* * *

While Diello was away, Redius suddenly brought up a matter concerning the knighthood.

Fortunately, it wasn't a topic I couldn't offer an opinion on.

I had thought about the deployment of troops several times before.

The question was why he had specifically brought this to me.

“I've heard that while Argenta's knights are individually skilled, they are consequently difficult to command.”

To be precise, I heard that their performance varies greatly depending on the individual commander's leadership.

I listened to the concerns Redius was voicing.

“Yes. So in the field...”

Watching Redius lay out the problems, I quickly realized what was happening.

He was testing me.

To see if I understood the characteristics of Argenta's forces.

To see if, even for a short while, I was someone who could be entrusted with the lives of Argenta as its lady.

Though he might not show it, Redius was an Argenta through and through.

His attitude toward Argentas and non-Argentas was distinctly different.

If I could prove to him that I wasn't an enemy of Argenta, but a helpful asset, it would make things easier for me even after I leave.

“First, regarding this issue—”

I was just about to give my answer.

“Master, Madam!”

An urgent voice called out.

“?”

Does no one know that Diello left?

Did they just miss each other?

But it's been a while since Diello left.

“What is it?”

At my words, Redius stood up and opened the door himself.

The knight standing outside the door bowed his head in apparent confusion. I raised an eyebrow at him.

He's even a knight.

He doesn't know where Diello is? A knight trusted enough to come up to the fourth floor?

But the knight's next words wiped all questions from my mind.

“The shadow supply line has been attacked.”

“What?”

My eyes widened.

The knight bowed his head and reported quickly.

“According to those who barely escaped the attack to report, the assailants were disguised as bandits, but...”

“There's no way Argenta would be defeated by common bandits.”

I frowned.

The Argenta shadow supply was a crucial lifeline for those who had risked their lives for Argenta and their families.

As such, the escorts were proven Argenta members, their skills and identities verified.

There's no way they would fall to mere bandits.

“Yes. They say they didn't seem like ordinary bandits.”

“Hmm.”

Just when I thought Cartiel had quieted down, trouble stirs up from another direction.

“As a result, it seems we will have problems starting with the herbal supplies.”

The knight continued his report. I froze at his words.

“Wait, herbs?”

Who dared to attack the shadow supply line was an important question, but the mention of herbs signaled an even bigger problem.

“Then what about the supplies headed to the northwest?”

In the northwest of Argenta, bordering the 7th sector of the Infinite Sea, lived many people who required a constant supply of special herbs.

They were mostly those who had retired after working for Argenta, or those who had been injured.

They had chosen to remain in the northwest, wanting to protect the sea until the very end.

Because of that, they were special even within Argenta.

Having handled their paperwork several times, I couldn't help but feel for them.

But if there's a problem with the herb supply, it would be a critical issue for those who regularly received herbs for chronic illnesses or painkillers.

“The herbs used in the northwest are difficult to store.”

The knight bowed his head at my words.

“Not all supply routes are blocked, so we can procure some, but...”

That meant the quantity would be insufficient.

“First, explain the situation to those receiving shadow supplies in other regions, and divert the herbs to the northwest. In exchange, provide the other regions with more food.”

I said quickly, getting up from my seat.

After looking at the map of Argenta on the wall, I turned my gaze to the knight.

“And the bandits—”

I trailed off, my eyes narrowing.

What are the chances that bandits attacking at this timing are actually bandits?

More importantly.

“You said the bandits didn't take all of the goods, right?”

“Yes.”

The knight's words confirmed my suspicion.

If they were real bandits, their goal would be to steal goods for profit. Why would they leave some items behind to be returned?

To leave them enough to get by?

What kind of merciful bandits are there?

“Where are those supplies now?”

“They were distributed after being checked for any issues.”

“Checked?”

The knight bowed his head at my words.

“Yes. To see if there was anything wrong with the supplies...”

Of course, they would have checked.

But why do I have such a bad feeling about this?

I was suddenly reminded of the people who had subtly poisoned my dress.

“Are there any supplies left?”

The knight hesitated at my question.

“Yes. There are some that haven't been sent out yet—”

“Take me there.”

I stood up. The knight seemed a little flustered.

So did Redius.

“Madam?”

“Just in case.”

I doubt that people disguised as bandits would leave perfectly good items behind.