Leon headed toward the east gate of the city, where the noblewoman was expecting him. A carriage stood ready, as if in anticipation of a significant arrival.
"Halt! What brings you here? Who are you?" demanded a woman clad in knight armor, radiating stunning beauty. Her long, golden hair shimmered in the sunlight.
"Uh, I'm here on a request from the adventurer's guild."
"A request? We haven't submitted any request to the adventurer's guild." The knight eyed Leon suspiciously. "You seem suspicious. If you don't leave immediately, I won't hesitate to arrest you."
"Wha—? But I came here because there's a request on the adventurer's guild bulletin board about guarding a noblewoman on her journey. H-here, look at this." Leon handed over the envelope, its crease showing it had been folded in his breast pocket.
The knight eyed him suspiciously for a moment before taking the envelope. She opened it, scrutinized the contents, and then put the paper back into the envelope, handing it back.
"This seems legit. It has the official seal of the Adventurer's Guild," she said, maintaining her suspicion. "But still, this is news to me. I don't recall making a request, and even if I did, why would I need only one C-Ranked adventurer?"
It was a valid question—why would a noblewoman hire only one C-Ranked adventurer for a guarding quest?
"I don't know, to be honest," Leon admitted. "But it's legit. You said it yourself, and yet you're still suspicious of me?"
"Why wouldn't I? I mean, I don't even know if you have the capability of guarding us. I don't even know if I can have my back to you."
Certainly, that's a valid concern. Even Leon couldn't trust his back to others if he didn't know them.
"Cease your doubts, Diana," uttered a young woman as she gracefully exited the carriage. "I've enlisted an adventurer from the Adventurer's Guild to ensure my safe journey home. Does that assuage your suspicion?"
Her features were delicate, exhibiting a heart-shaped face framed by cascading waves of resplendent golden-blonde hair that glimmered in the sunlight. Adorned with a few subtle flowers, the hair fell gracefully over her shoulders, evoking an aura of sophistication. Crystal-blue eyes sparkled with a blend of determination and kindness.
She donned an attire so elegant that it practically proclaimed nobility. The gown seamlessly blended pastel blues and whites, adorned with intricate floral patterns that danced along the fabric. The sleeves flowed gracefully, culminating in soft, ruffled cuffs, and the neckline boasted a modest yet elegant design, fitting for a woman of noble stature.
A sash of sky-blue silk cinched the dress around her waist, accentuating her slender figure. A pendant hung delicately from a silver chain around her neck.
"Lady Mellissa, you're the one who...? Why?"
"Because I want to see what adventurers look like," she said with a smile. "I take it you're the one who picked up the request I posted on the bulletin board?"
"Yes, I was," said Leon, attempting to sound formal due to the noblewoman's presence but coming off somewhat awkward.
The noblewoman giggled, "No need to be overly formal with me. It's fine," she said.
"Lady Mellissa, you're not supposed to do this. Madam would be livid if she found out that you did this. She's not fond of adventurers, right?"
"Yes, she's not particularly fond of adventurers, but I'm certain she will take a liking to this man," said the noblewoman with a suggestive tone. What was she implying? The knight, who apparently went by the name Diana, and Leon tilted their heads in confusion.
"D-Does that mean I can take on this job?"
"Of course. I did request help, didn't I? Besides, it's not like you alone can protect me from the potential dangers that may ambush us on the way, right, Diana?"
"I've trained enough that bandits are no match for me. That, I'm confident of."
"But still, one more set of hands is certainly better than just one, right?"
Diana finally acquiesced, feeling that if she argued further, she would only provoke another retort from the noblewoman named Mellissa. "Fine," she said begrudgingly. She then turned to Leon. "Just for your information, I'm not pleased about this. I'm only tolerating it because Lady Mellissa insisted, okay? If you make a mistake and put the Lady in danger, I promise you'll regret it."
"…Right."
It appeared that this Diana woman didn't hold Leon in high regard, but he didn't bother trying to appease her or win her over. It wasn't necessary. This was merely a job, and there was a possibility he might not encounter this woman again.
"Now then, I'm certain Mother is awaiting my return in the city of Rusuan. She might be displeased with me for not accompanying her back home after the dinner party we attended. It's time for us to depart, Diana."
"Yes, Lady Mellissa."
With that, Diana moved to the front of the carriage, taking her position to handle the reins of the two horses.
"You. Get in here," said Diana, gesturing to him with a nod towards the extra seat behind her where he could sit. "Any inappropriate behavior, and I'll hold you accountable, understand?"
"Yes, ma'am."
With all that being said, the carriage finally set off towards the city of Rusuan.
***
Melissa gazed out of the carriage window, humming a tune to herself. Her maid, Lillian, regarded her with an impassive expression.
"Lady Melissa, why did you lead that adventurer to yourself?"
"What do you mean, Lillian?"
"Don't play innocent with me. Ever since I shared the information I gathered about that young man, you've shown a keen interest in him."
Melissa looked at Lillian mischievously. "And why shouldn't I? This man is the reason my mother found joy in coming to this city. Naturally, I am intrigued."
"If you approach a flame too closely, you risk getting burned, you know?"
"Oh, no. I have no intention of getting too close to the flame. I merely wish to observe how it consumes everything."
Melissa turned her gaze back outside, maintaining that mischievous smile. She came to this city because she noticed a change in her mother's demeanor after visiting here. Her mother, typically reserved, had become unusually cheerful. This shift was particularly noteworthy given the lack of genuine affection between her parents, who were united in an arranged marriage. While her father indulged in numerous concubines, her mother remained neglected.
It seemed acceptable, for her mother didn't truly love her father. However, a woman of her age, starved for male attention, was bound to reach a breaking point. Particularly so, given that her mother had likely experienced intimacy only once — the occasion of conceiving Mellissa.
As the years elapsed, Mellissa discerned a lingering dissatisfaction in her mother's countenance. At that juncture, a friend discreetly alluded to an establishment in the city of Ceveral where her mother could potentially alleviate her pent-up frustrations. Acting upon this suggestion, she ventured to the said establishment and spent an entire night there. Upon her return, she emanated a discernible radiance; not metaphorically, but quite literally glowing.
Subsequently, her mother became a regular visitor to the city, presumably frequenting the mysterious establishment. Mellissa could perceive the ecstatic and content expression on her mother's face each time she embarked on this journey. Mellissa surmised that the establishment harbored a man who had captivated her mother's affections — the only plausible explanation. Her mother took on the demeanor of a maiden in love when selecting her attire for these clandestine excursions.
Hence, when her mother attended a dinner party at another noblewoman's residence in Ceveral City, Mellissa decided to accompany her. She tasked her maid with the mission of uncovering the frequented location of her mother and identifying the individual who had captured her affections. Through diligent investigation, the maid discovered her mother's visits to a specific pub, engaging in conversations with a young man who appeared to be a waiter. Armed with this information, Mellissa instructed Lillian to delve further into the young man's background. Further inquiries by Lillian unveiled that this young man was, in fact, an adventurer, exclusively undertaking quests ranging from E to C difficulty.
Motivated by the desire to understand the man who brought happiness to her mother, Mellissa devised a plan to attract him closer. Unaware of the nature of their relationship, she felt compelled to acquaint herself with him to ascertain whether he could provide enduring joy to her mother. Mellissa held no qualms if her mother chose a life with this young man; her paramount concern was her mother's happiness. "I wonder about mother's current state," she mused to herself.
As the sun began its descent, the carriage Mellissa was riding suddenly came to a halt.