OPDPS 126

Was her heart weakened from struggling alone for so long? Or was it simply comforting that, unlike her own faction that only ever advocated for conflict, Aeryl spoke of peace?

She didn’t know. Even though she was nothing more than a shrimp caught in the clash of whales, she somehow trusted him. It was a strange shift, even to herself.

“Let’s do that, then.”

Lady Merel agreed without much hesitation.

“You’re agreeing pretty easily, aren’t you?”

“Feels like you’ll find a way to help, somehow. You’re a suspicious one, doctor.”

“Why are you saying that again when I just said I’d help?”

“I’m not blaming you.”

Lady Merel’s suspicion that Aeryl was hiding something stemmed purely from the sense of incongruity he gave off. Though he claimed to be frim a fallen noble house, he seemed perfectly at ease with the luxury of gilded teacups. His posture was proper, and he carried himself with refinement. His skill suggested he had devoted himself to medicine, yet he was also fluent in the refined conversation of the nobility.

Having seen his upright character, she had already dismissed the idea that he might be someone’s kept man. Still, it was clear he had not lived the life he claimed. Perhaps he had ties to the imperial family—why else would the emperor’s envoys want to meet with him?

“Since I’ve decided to accept your help, I won’t pry into your secrets any further.”

“Haha. I’m telling you, there’s nothing to dig up.”

Aeryl laughed it off.

“His Grace is confronting things sincerely. I imagine your day to be honest will come too. When that day arrives, I suppose I’ll find out what your secret is.”

Lady Merel smiled smoothly, lifting the corners of her mouth. She had already returned to her usual self, as if that moment of openness had never happened.

“Haha…”

Aeryl laughed awkwardly. To think she’d take his own words of advice and turn them into a teasing jab—she really was someone you couldn’t let your guard down around.

‘Still, I’ve managed to get a chance to bring some harmony to the Grand Duke’s family.’

All he’d meant to do was follow Sorel and join in on a meal, and now he found himself entrusted with something far more important. Every day was a whirlwind.

“You’ve said you’d help me, so I suppose I should return the favor somehow.”

At Lady Merel’s generous suggestion, Aeryl’s eyes lit up.

There was something he wanted to find out!

***

Completely drained by his conversation with Lady Merel, Aeryl didn’t get to rest. He headed straight to the infirmary, announced that he was going for a walk, and then slipped outside.

He began walking at a relaxed pace, but once he entered the woods and confirmed he was hidden from view, he took off at full speed. His destination was the town.

He had to leave the Grand Duke’s estate in secret!

Derbas!

Aeryl panted, cursing the name of the one responsible.

He had promised Derbas to check on Valbean’s condition and report back. There was no real need to treat him—just a quick report on his state would have been enough.

But Derbas, unable to approach the Grand Duke’s estate, had insisted Aeryl come down to the town. The problem was that sneaking off alone was no easy task.

Ever since the kidnapping incident, Aeryl’s escort had been strengthened. There was no way he’d be allowed to wander around on his own. If things went badly, the Grand Duke himself might come after him.

Thankfully, Lady Merel had secretly taught him how to reach the town. And since he had just visited her, people’s attention was scattered—this was the perfect opportunity.

Still, if he didn’t want anyone to find out he’d left the estate, he had to run like mad under the pretense of taking a walk.

Lady Merel had offered to say she’d been with him, but he’d refused—if she did that, the Grand Duke would surely come looking.

‘Ugh, I just have to bear it this once! Should’ve made Derbas come up himself!’

Regretting everything, Aeryl sprinted through the woods. Soon, he came upon the first wall. As Lady Merel had described, there was an iron door concealed beneath some vines.

He found the hidden key beneath the door, unlocked it, and slipped out, then ran again. After passing through two more doors in the same fashion, he was finally free of the estate.

‘He said it should be around here…’

Panting, Aeryl glanced around. Then he spotted a small hut. Running over, he found a pony and a cart. There was a hood and a cloak on the cart, which he quickly threw on.

So this is how she smuggled the maids out?

Understanding Lady Merel’s method firsthand, Aeryl urged the pony forward. Getting down the mountain was easy now that he had a ride.

He soon reached the village below the estate. He left the pony and cart at the first stable he saw. The owner accepted them without a word.

‘I really owe Lady Merel for this one.’

The ease of travel made it clear just how much effort she’d put into building this secret route. Thanks to that, he’d made it to the town. But now the real problem began.

‘Where am I supposed to go?’

Derbas had said he’d make contact once Aeryl was in the towb. What he planned to do, Aeryl had no idea. He could only assume the mage would use some kind of special means.

Standing still would look suspicious, so he just started walking wherever his feet led him.

The town was busy preparing for the winter festival. Decorations symbolizing the celebration hung everywhere—painted wooden boards of snowmen and snowflake-shaped ornaments caught his eye.

The festival’s really happening. How many days are left again?

With chaos unfolding almost daily, he’d lost all sense of time. He’d promised to watch the festival with the Grand Duke, but now he wasn’t sure if he could keep that promise.

‘Ugh, it’s cold.’

Even though Aeryl had layered on every piece of clothing he owned, the air still felt icy. It had been autumn until now, but the sudden drop in temperature made it clear that winter had truly begun.

If he told Connie, she would prepare more clothes for him, but for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to ask. He was toughing it out with what he had. It felt awkward to receive new clothes when he might not even spend the winter at the Grand Duke’s estate. Just… emotionally, it felt strange.

‘Still, maybe I should’ve at least asked for a coat.’

Maybe because he was cold, everything that caught his eye was a winter item. Aeryl gazed into the display window of a tailor shop. A hat that could cover the ears, a fur-lined coat, and thick leather boots all looked incredibly warm. That’s the kind of thing he should’ve been wearing.

In truth, Aeryl’s outfit wasn’t too different from the locals’. By northern standards, what he wore was perfectly suitable for this level of chill. Connie had picked out the appropriate attire. The problem was that Aeryl was from the south. His body had never experienced this kind of cold—not even in the dead of winter.

‘When is Derbas going to show up?’

Aeryl grumbled inwardly. If he had come out with permission, he could’ve just bought some clothes and deducted the cost from his wages later. But since he’d snuck out, he couldn’t even spend money.

‘So this is why people always carry money…’

As he learned yet another real-world lesson, the door of the tailor shop opened and the owner stepped outside.

“Hey there, young man. You’ve been staring at the display for a while now. Do you need some clothes?”

“Huh? Oh, no. I’m fine.”

“Come on now. You look cold. You’re not from the North, are you? Try this on. Someone as stylish as you will really bring out the best in this coat.”

The shop owner approached Aeryl with the same kind of coat that had been on display.

“No, I can’t afford that, sir.”

“Don’t worry about it. Money’s not the issue right now.”

“…Sorry?”

Aeryl thought, What else would matter to a shopkeeper if not money? But the tailor had a different idea.

“My clothes have finally met their match. If you walked around in this and spread the word about my shop, that would be enough.”

The owner, driven by both a craftsman’s desire to see his art worn beautifully and a merchant’s strategy to advertise via a handsome young man, kept trying to hand Aeryl the coat.

Aeryl was flustered. He’d snuck out, and if he wore such a stylish coat, he’d only draw more attention. Plus, people were starting to glance their way as the two continued to struggle.

“Really, I’m okay! I promise I’ll come back next time to buy something!”

Aeryl practically begged, gently pushing away the tailor’s hand—but then a chill crept down his spine. A new gaze had locked onto his back.

‘This isn’t good. I need to run.’

If it had been Derbas, he would’ve made himself known. And if it was someone from the Grand Duke’s side, they’d have started guarding him right away. This kind of secretive tailing screamed imperial knight.

‘He’s roaming the town? I thought he’d be targeting the inner quarter…’

Or maybe there was more than one imperial knight.

“I’m telling you, it’s a gift! Why would you spend money? Do you just not like this coat? I’ve got others!”

“I’m really fine.”

“Stubborn, aren’t you! What, don’t like my clothes? Huh? You think they’re no good? This is one of my finest pieces!”

“It’s not that…”

“Then what are you wearing now? Let’s see the label!”

Aeryl needed to run, but the tailor refused to let go, now tugging at his collar to check the tag.

This is no time for this!

It wasn’t just his imagination—he could feel the sharp gaze drawing closer with every passing second.

Half a step away.

Aeryl pleaded internally.

“I promise I’ll come back. I’ll try on every outfit in your shop next time. But please, let me go for today. I’m really in a rush.”

“Really? Well then…”

Right then, Aeryl felt someone half a step behind him. Even without looking, he knew a hand was reaching for him.

‘I have to dodge!’

Just in time, the tailor finally let go, and Aeryl darted forward—only to collide awkwardly with the tailor, who hadn’t fully moved aside.

“Ugh!”

He hit the ground, but driven by sheer will to escape, he scrambled back up like a crawling animal.

‘You said you’d approach me yourself, you bastard!’

This was all Derbas’s fault! Aeryl would make him pay for this!

Just as he gritted his teeth and took off again, a pair of hands slipped smoothly beneath his arms and lifted him up in one swift motion.

“There you are, darling. What took you so long?”