17. Only You Do Not Know, Milady
Lara declared that she would go to the Tarragon Empire. Through Isadora, her decision was delivered to Sebastian, passed through Konny and Valentine, to Eunice and Ximena, and finally reached Princess Sonnet.
She thought Isadora would oppose her decision, but Isadora surprisingly nodded gladly. Rather, it was Sebastian who was more shocked than her mother.
Early in the afternoon, Lara was having a late breakfast at the restaurant. However, she heard urgent footsteps in the hallway, followed by Sebastian's appearance.
"Milady!"
Sebastian roughly opened the door with a loud bang. When Lara and Konny opened their eyes wide and looked at him, he would not come closer and just started talking at the entrance of the restaurant.
"The Empire is a far away place. It's a dangerous country where war continues all year round. Even though it's a large country, barbaric customs still remain here and there… and…"
"Sebastian?"
"Even though it's a request from the Crown Prince, you have the right to turn him down. Why don't you just ask Demian and tell the Crown Prince to come to Hautean?"
Konny opened her mouth wide. All the food she was eating could be seen in her mouth. Lara reached out and closed Konny's mouth.
"Milady, you can tell the Crown Prince to come and go as you please?"
"I might get decapitated then."
Konny gasped and took a breath. Then, she began to tap her chest with her small fist, saying that she was probably having an upset stomach.
"Whew, you coward. I'm just kidding."
Lara mumbled. Looking at Konny's back as she ran to the kitchen, Lara calmly spoke to Sebastian.
"How can I tell the Crown Prince to come all the way here? You know that it's better for me to go there."
"I'll tell him on your behalf."
She knew why Sebastian was really opposed to her decision. Lara knew that he was the one who had been on business trips to the Tarragon Empire several times on behalf of Isadora. Each time, he was accompanied by the mercenary wolves in preparation for danger, and that he cared for her like his own daughter.
"Sebastian."
"Yes, milady."
"While I'm away, please take care of my mother."
"Milady."
"You're the only one I can trust."
"Haa…"
Sebastian drooped his eyebrows. Realizing that Lara's determination was firm and irreversible, he muttered, 'I need to prepare this and that.'
After Sebastian went back, Konny began her nagging. But the daring maid was not nagging Lara to change her mind or to take care of herself when she was in the Empire.
"What about me?"
She begged Lara to bring her along.
"Do you think you can go that far without me? I have asked everything to Valentine."
"Asked what?"
"He said that it takes more than a month from here to the Tarragon Empire's capital. Then, you're going to have to sleep on the street, eat birds, eat rabbits… You need to do all that! How can you do that?"
"Konny."
"How are you going to change your clothes and do your business in a place full of men? Someone needs to follow you and look after you!"
'That's so realistic?'
Lara was almost persuaded but came back to her senses.
"No, it's too dangerous. We might pass through the battlefield on the way and someone might even chase us."
"That's why I should follow you!"
"Kony, stop insisting. You can't even catch a chicken…"
"Then, if I can catch a chicken, will you take me?"
"That's not what I mean!"
"Wait for me!"
Their conversation did not work. She could persuade Isadora and Sebastian with words but she could not do the same with her stubborn maid. She thought that she had to leave secretly at dawn when Konny was sleeping. Lara made a firm decision.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
After hearing the news, Eunice and Ximena visited Lara after a long time. They dragged her around to all the parties they could find, saying that they should have fun before Lara left for the Empire.
As autumn was at its peak, many banquets were held here and there. The nobles still talked about Prince Sidhar, Princess Sonnet, and the fake saintesses whenever they gathered. Rumor had it that someone saw Prince Sidhar running away to the west, or that he was preparing for war by cooperating with the black sorcerers.
A few days ago, all the criminals that were captured were executed in front of the King, so some said that if a war broke out, the King could even personally take the lead. Still, the nobles were not very worried. For them, demons and demon worshippers were still a long way off.
A cheerful match rang out to announce the presence of autumn. People came out in dark-colored tailcoats and danced gracefully.
"Hmm, Lara."
Some of them showed interest in Lara.
"Yes?"
"Hello! Hmm… What you did back then was really refreshing. I can't even imagine doing that."
Lara opened her big eyes wide. A noblewoman, who looked three or four years older than her, approached closely and whispered in her ears.
"I'm sorry that I have misunderstood you. I mean, it is a misunderstanding, is it not? Anyway, I don't think I will ever forget the scene where you grabbed the fake saintess' hair."
Oh, she's talking about that.
Lara smiled awkwardly.
At that time, she was forced to use such a method because she was afraid that the black sorcerer and spies would notice that their attack was revealed and try to run away. But in the eyes of those who knew nothing, Lara was giving hell to the fake saintess.
"That bimbo could not have been the real saintess. I was completely fooled."
Together with a likable smile, the noblewoman walked away after asking Lara to come to her house next time.
"You have become more popular, Lara."
"Shut up."
"Are you still going to do that when you go to the Empire?"
Eunice asked. Lara looked at her with a face asking what she meant.
"Are you still going to pretend to be a villainess when the fact is you can't even do bad things?"
She did not think that was a bad idea. Lara picked up a liquor bottle and filled Eunice's glass.
"Living as a villain is comfortable."
"That's right."
"Being a villainess is more fun."
"Whew…"
Eunice, who liked liquor more than bread, left the glass untouched. She only gave a brief look at the glass that Lara poured at and gave it to Ximena.
"Drink it."
"What's wrong?"
"I lost my appetite."
Eunice's lips quivered and she turned her head. Ximena looked closely at her. Then, she laughed out loud and told Lara.
"Lara, Eunice said she could not live without you and that she'll become sad and lonely."
"Hey!"
"She said that she'll miss you every night, so much so that she might cry. She said she has never had a friend like you in her life. Make sure to…"
"Oi, just shut up!"
"She said she's grateful that you considered troublemakers like us as your friends."
"You s-"
Trying to curse Ximena with a flushed face, Eunice realized that Lara was watching and barely continued her sentence.
"…ish, seriously."
Lara laughed and asked.
"Sish?"
"I said bish."
"No. You said sish."
"Ah, seriously!"
What kind of saintess like this?
Eunice only mouthed it. She did not even drink, but her face was flushed.
What a cute friend.
Lara did not hesitate. She now decided not to hesitate anymore when expressing her feelings.
"Hey, hug me."
Then, she approached Eunice first and held her in her arms. She thought Eunice would push her away, but she did not. Rather, she held Lara tightly in her arms and suddenly cried. Ximena laughed out loud once again and hugged them all at once.
"Lara, have a safe trip."
"Yeah."
"Don't forget us."
"Yeah…"
"You bad bish."
They kept laughing. Though she also felt disappointed that they had to bid farewell, Lara kept smiling with her heart feeling ticklish at the same time.
"It's only been two seasons since we became friends. There are so many things we haven't done together yet. We have to have a pajama party in the winter, go on a picnic in the valley in spring, and go to the beach to hit on men in the summer. You bad bish, how can you go somewhere so far that I can't even visit you…"
Words of resentment constantly flowed out of Eunice's mouth. Lara hugged her harder and whispered in her ear.
"Sish."
"I didn't say that!"
Lara would really miss them. If she had to choose one of the most important things that she realized after returning to the past, she would say this without hesitation; love was something that should not be hidden, but to be taken out and showed off at.