Chapter 152 - UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER (3)

Gossip could travel fast.

Rumors about Jude and Cordelia had widely spread beyond the north and even reached the country’s capital where the royal family lived.

‘No! Why?! What happened?!’

Because it was something strange and unusual.

Lovers who loved each other but were forced to break up due to the opposition of their families so they run away at night with their lover – such a setting was exclusive to sad romance stories.

But two people who were already engaged would still have a nighttime runaway of love?

The two of them had the full support of their families since they had already been engaged since birth, yet they still did that?

The reactions of those who heard the rumors about Jude and Cordelia were largely the same.

“What did you say?”

“Eh? What the hell did you just say?”

A story that was hard to understand.

That was why they were curious about the whole story.

Moreover, the story of Jude and Cordelia were so filled with attractive things that spiced it up.

“Have you heard about the letters Lady Cordelia left behind…”

“Oh my gosh, how bold.”

Cordelia’s letters expressing her love for Jude were quite direct and straightforward.

“I guess they wanted to have some time alone.”

“Ah…I think I somehow understand why.”

“Isn’t it?”

It was difficult to create a situation where two unmarried people of the opposite sex were alone with each other, even if they were engaged, of noble lineage, or belonging to the 12 northern families.

Because a lot of people would follow right behind them for this and that, such as their exclusive maid or escort knight.

“How could they do that…those two have gone too far.”

“Indeed…Lady Cordelia must still maintain the dignity of a noble young lady.”

“To be honest, I’m a bit disappointed in her.”

“She must have read too many romance novels. Hohoho.”

One way or another, a scandal was a scandal.

Just like Emma Ficus, there were many people who said bad things about Jude and Cordelia since this was the perfect opportunity for them.

And as always, bad rumors were bound to spread more widely than good rumors.

“But…isn’t it a bit envious though?’

“In fact, me too…”

“I’m a bit envious.”

The story of the two wasn’t simply a scandal where they could criticize and look down on the two.

Because it contained elements that were yearned for by young girls and even women who were quite old or those who already have multiple children.

“The two must really love each other, right?”

“Like those in love stories.”

For nobles, most marriages were arranged by their families.

A political marriage.

A marriage with an unknown partner.

A sudden engagement with someone they thought was someone else until yesterday.

A forced marriage with no love on both sides.

But Jude and Cordelia were different.

Despite being engaged since birth, the two strongly loved each other – they were truly in love like the main characters of romance stories.

They would be lying if they didn’t felt envious.

“And…have you heard about the rumors of Mr. Bayer? He’s really handsome, right?”

“Lady Cordelia has been famous for her beauty for a long time.”

“Count Chase is a bit too…”

“Hey, it’s been rumored too that Lady Adelia would have been the most beautiful woman in the north if she just shut her mouth, right?”

“I remember that.”

The two shined as an incomparably beautiful girl and an absolutely handsome boy even when considered separately, so how great would the two shine now when they are a couple?

In any case, the rumors about Jude and Cordelia quickly spread beyond the north and even to the capital because of these reasons.

And in fact, the rumors had already spread to the south, so the whole kingdom knew about the story of Jude and Cordelia.

From a fantasy couple to a couple of the century.

The love story of two people that was recognized by the entire kingdom.

‘F*ck, what is this… What in the world is this?’

Cordelia felt dizzy when she heard their story from Princess Darianne’s mouth, while Jude nodded with a very happy face.

“It’s a very exciting story. I really envy you, Lady Cordelia.”

“Th-thank you.”

As Princess Darianne’s eyes brightly sparkled in admiration, Cordelia was forced to smile and acknowledge it.

‘How did this happen?’

It clearly began as an excuse to avoid Dahlia and Maja’s watchful gaze.

The next thing she knew, the whole kingdom – no, perhaps the entire continent had publicly recognized them as a lovey-dovey couple.

“By the way, Your Highness.”

“Yes, Mr. Bayer.”

“Has the second story…not spread yet?”

“Second story?”

“It’s the secret story behind me and Cordelia’s journey. Our connection with the Guardians of the Holy Cross…”

Princess Darianne blinked her eyes at Jude’s words, and Sir Cornwell who was listening next to her coughed and opened his mouth.

“The reason why the two fled at night was to actually help with the mission of the Guardians of the Holy Cross. Count Hr?svelgr, the head of the Jackdaws, had reported that they were also very active in the military operations in the barbarian lands.”

“Wow, really?”

“I don’t know the other details, but that’s what I heard.”

Being the duke’s knight commander did not mean he could read the military reports that Count Hr?svelgr sent to the royal capital.

It was a rough story he gathered from exchanging information between his fellow knights.

“But…we might be able to find out the details now.”

Having spoken so far, Sir Cornwell looked at Jude who flashed a smile.

“I can’t tell you the details because it’s confidential…but the real reason why Cordelia and I ran away from home was to fulfill our mission from the Guardians of the Holy Cross.”

At Jude’s words, Sir Cornwell urged him to say a little more, but it was in vain.

Jude maintained his smile and Sir Cornwell just frowned as he couldn’t directly pressure Jude to say it.

Sir Cornwell was both a viscount and the knight commander of Duke Spencer’s knights, but he was not exactly in a position to order Jude on what to do.

‘Because he’s a noble too.’

Although Jude had no title and was unlikely to inherit the title because he was the second son, a nobleman was still nobility.

‘And perhaps…he’ll receive a baron rank sooner or later.’

Count Hr?svelgr had reported the contributions of Jude and Cordelia in the barbarian lands, so it was highly likely that they’d receive the higher-ranked title of baron and not the lower-ranked title of knight.

So Jude leisurely smiled again, and Sir Cornwell looked displeased as he couldn’t say anything to Jude.

But not for Princess Darianne.

Upon hearing the conversation between Jude and Sir Cornwell, her shoulders suddenly sank, and she spoke in a very disappointed tone.

“Then…was everything a lie?”

“What?”

“The love story between you two.”

She had longed for something like that and thought it was amazing, so she wished for that kind of love too.

‘Please say no.’

At Princess Darianne’s gaze, Jude turned to Cordelia who was visibly embarrassed.

‘W-what should I do?’

‘What do you mean? Let’s just do what we always do.’

‘Wait, what we always do?’

‘Then will you make Princess Darianne cry?’

Cordelia flinched at Jude’s question before she turned to Princess Darianne and flinched again when she saw the princess’ moist eyes.

“Princess Perdarianne.”

“Yes, Mr. Bayer.”

“What I said earlier… Do you remember that?”

Princess Darianne blinked her eyes and tilted her head at Jude’s question, and she soon brightly smiled.

“You said that it was a journey of love.”

“Yes, that’s right. Our runaway of love is over, and we are now on our journey of love. The reason that we ran away was because of the mission from the Guardians of the Holy Cross…but our love for each other is not a lie.”

“Wow…”

Princess Darianne said in admiration as her hands touched her cheeks and she looked back at Cordelia while looking like that.

And she attacked them with her eyes again.

She stared at them with her big and beautiful eyes that were moist but had a different feeling than earlier.

“J-Jude is right. We really…lo-love each other.”

Cordelia awkwardly affirmed it, and Darianne’s face brightened up.

“Then Lady Cordelia…no, Cordelia-unnie. Can I call you unnie?”

“Eh? That…yes, it would be an honor.”

Even if it was in private, it was uncommon for a princess to call someone ‘unnie.’

When Cordelia answered with difficulty, Princess Darianne slightly closed her eyes and giggled before she said.

“Then, that letter too…is that real? I always want to be together with my beloved Mr. Bayer…I don’t want to part with him… Even death will not be able to separate us…”

At the phrases she recited like a girl who was dreaming, Cordelia suffered an enormous mental blow, but she couldn’t do anything.

She couldn’t say no here.

‘No, wait! How did it become so exaggerated?!’

I certainly said that I want to be with my beloved Mr. Bayer, and that I didn’t want to part with him, but I never said that death blah blah!

But it was a rumor that had already spread, and the original rumor had become exaggerated when it spread.

“I thought it was really cool. Is it real? Cordelia-unnie?”

At the adorable Darianne’s question, Cordelia felt a cold sweat run down her back, but she was forced to smile and nod her head.

“It’s a bit exaggerated, no, a lot of it is…”

“Exaggerated? So you did not say that you love Mr. Bayer? You don’t want to part with him…”

“No, no. That’s true. T-that’s what I wrote.”

Alas, Cordelia. Alas, Cordelia.?(T/N: This is Jude’s thoughts.)

Her face and neck turned red, and sweat poured down as she was at a loss on what to do, but the knights and Hans in the counter thought the same at her appearance.

‘Lovely. I want to kill him.’

The first one was for Cordelia. The last one was for Jude.

And Jude who was the direct cause of all these events and one of the parties involved, did his best to hold back his laughter.

‘Ah, Cordelia, please. Why are you so cute?’

But it was at that moment he thought that.

‘Hey! Help me!’

‘Yes, Madam.’

Jude immediately responded to Cordelia’s SOS signal as he opened his mouth to change the current situation.

“By the way, Your Highness.”

“Yes, Jude-orabeoni. Can I call you?orabeoni?”

“Of course. Thank you for this great honor.”

“Hehehe, thank you for allowing me too. But what’s the matter? Oh, do you have more love stories to tell?”

“Of course, we have a lot of stories to tell but… I think we should postpone that for now.”

Having said that, Jude glanced back at Sir Cornwell and spoke again.

“The reason Cordelia and I stopped by this village was to actually get medicinal herbs.”

“Medicinal…herbs?”

“Yes, it’s a medicinal herb called the Seven-Colored Herb that grows in the wild at Archmage Arkeman’s Dungeon.”

As soon as Jude’s words were spoken, the atmosphere in the inn changed once again.

Sir Cornwell’s eyes turned fierce, and the hesitant knights also quickly changed their gazes and posture.

‘As expected.’

This reaction.

It’s clear that Princess Darianne and her group also came to this village to look for the Seven-Colored Herb.

If so, how will they respond to my current remarks?

Jude looked at Princess Darianne who couldn’t hide her feelings like that of a child.

She clasped her hands tightly and seemed to be restless as she turned to Sir Cornwell.

“Sir Cornwell.”

When she asked him on what to do while staring at him with those eyes, Sir Cornwell sighed before nodding his head.

“It can’t be helped. They’re children of the 12 northern families, so I think we can discuss it.”

To be exact, it was because the two were children from the 12 northern families that they had to talk about it with the two.

If they were commoners, they would have driven them out or in extreme cases, eliminate them, but that was impossible if they were children from the 12 northern families.

“Jude-orabeoni.”

“Yes, Princess Perdarianne.”

“Please call me Darianne. Because it’s my nickname.”

“Yes, Princess Darianne.”

Jude corrected his address, and Princess Darianne bit her lips once before she smiled and said again.

“Sir Cornwell and I also came to get the Seven-Colored Herb.”

“You mean…the Seven-Colored Herb?”

“Yes, I’ve also heard the story that it grows in the wild in Arkeman’s Dungeon.”

She did not disclose her source of information, and Jude did not ask her.

The important thing was that they both wanted the Seven-Colored Herb.

‘Wait, we want the Seven-Colored Herb? What we want is something else.’

‘Yes, that’s right. But I want Princess Darianne and Sir Cornwell to think it so.’

Cordelia blinked her eyes and soon understood Jude’s hidden intention.

‘Wow, a real scammer.’

‘Thanks for the compliment, Princess.’

Jude’s hidden intention.

The future scheme of Jude.

“Jude-orabeoni, please join us. We’ll get the Seven-Colored Herb together and then share it.”

At the suggestion of Princess Darianne, Jude shouted bingo in his mind but didn’t make it obvious. Instead of accepting it right away, he asked in a cautious tone.

“Will that…be fine?”

He directed the question not only to Princess Darianne, but also to Sir Cornwell. And in fact, the answer was already decided.

‘Because it was decided by Princess Darianne and they don’t have a reason to refuse it.’

They had already identified the two as Jude and Cordelia.

Moreover, Sir Cornwell also knew that Jude and Cordelia had made a contribution in the barbarian lands.

In other words, he knew that the two were not ordinary nobles nor innocent children.

‘It’s more like our power increased rather than our number of escort targets increased.’

Naturally, it wouldn’t be pleasant for them if others intrude even if the outsider’s identities have been proven and were invited by the princess. But he had no reason to refuse it strongly, so just accepted it.

“I’ll be counting on you.”

“Thank you, Sir Cornwell.”

Jude smoothly answered and looked back at Princess Darianne.

And the moment he faced Princess Darianne and her group, he told them about his plan.

“Princess Darianne, I have one suggestion.”

It was a win-win plan of one stone hitting three birds where everyone here would be happy, though Jude and Cordelia would naturally be happier.

Jude then began to talk.