The Reason Why the Forsaken Fake Returned Chapter 120

The days in the North were quiet, but they were perfect. Declen treated his younger sister as if she were a baby bird in his hands, careful and gentle. He did go a bit overboard at times, though.

 

“A horse?”

 

“Yes. I want to go past the outer wall and ride around outside for a bit.”

 

“I’ll go with you.”

 

“No. I want to ride alone. You’re busy, Brother.”

 

Shailoh motioned with her eyes toward the stack of documents laid out in front of the seated Declen. They were the work that had piled up while he’d been away from his desk. He had the vassals handle most matters, but anything important that required the lord of the North’s judgment was dealt with personally.

 

“I can do this tonight.” Declen rose from his seat, ignoring Shailoh’s refusal.

 

Just then, a low voice made him pause.

 

“Your Grace.” The solemn voice belonged to his close aide Kianan, who had been working at a desk a little ways away. “If you intend to go like that, then please take my head first.”

 

“…” Declen’s expression clouded for a moment. “Even if it’s just for a little while?”

 

“Last time, you said you were just stepping out for a bit, and you were gone for ten days.”

 

Shailoh quietly studied her brother’s aide. Kianan Dunn was a handsome man with reddish-brown hair and mysterious golden eyes. In the North, where the lord’s word was practically law and faith itself, he was the only person who could speak to Declen that way. That wasn’t all. He was also the only outsider working in Duke Declen’s castle, an exceptional case who had set foot here a few years ago and risen quickly thanks to his keen mind and talent. Even the castle folk who had once been wary of him for being from outside had ended up being won over by his good nature.

 

“I’m sorry, Sir Kianan. I’ve disturbed your work for no good reason.”

 

“Not at all, Milady.” Kianan gave Shailoh a bright, easy smile. With that same expression, he then presented Declen with two options. “Your Grace needs only to choose. Either return to your work, or cut down your aide and go outside.” His tone was calm, but he meant every word.

 

Declen pressed his fingers to his forehead and sat back down. “Enough already. I only wanted to get a bit of fresh air.”

 

“Once you finish the urgent matters, you may enjoy as much fresh air as you like. After handling the repairs to the weather-worn and crumbling walls, the pest infestations, the tax issues, and the court cases.”

 

The more Kianan spoke, the darker Declen’s expression grew. Anyone could tell that wasn’t work you could finish in a day. But while he’d been away, the work Kianan had taken on must have been at least as heavy, if not heavier.

 

Declen let out a low sigh and turned his head toward Shailoh. “Make sure you always have guards with you.”

 

“I will. Then I’ll see you at dinner.” Shailoh gave him a small, bright smile.

 

Kianan rose and bowed to her. “Then please take care on your way, Milady.”

 

“Don’t work too hard, Sir Kianan.” Shailoh dipped her head slightly and left the office.

 

A heavy silence fell. Of the two men who resumed their work, it was unexpectedly Kianan who spoke first.

 

“Wasn’t that a bit too easy an approval just now?”

 

“What was?”

 

“The lady’s outing. I heard the king is desperately searching for her with bloodshot eyes.”

 

“There are no outsiders in the North anyway. The king’s eyes don’t reach this far, and she won’t be going far.”

 

“Well, that’s true, but still…” Kianan nodded, then made a slightly uneasy face. “You never know what might happen. It’d be better if she stayed quietly in her room.”

 

“Kianan.” At his repeated worrying, Declen set down the quill he was holding and answered seriously. “I didn’t bring my sister here just to lock her in another cage.”

 

“…”

 

“So I intend to grant Shailoh whatever she wants, even if it means taking on some risk. Anything that isn’t actually dangerous.”

 

“Have you always been like this?”

 

“What kind of person did you think I was?”

 

“Well… cold, blunt, lacking warmth, someone who separates business from personal matters so thoroughly it’s almost chilling. Sometimes I wonder if you were even a human…” As he continued to speak, the look in Declen’s eyes became as sharp as a northern gale. Kiana subtly changed course. “…But it seems you are, after all, a devoted older brother who loves his sister dearly. I’m glad to have seen another side of you.”

 

It was to the point of seeming overprotective. Of course, the people here regarded Declen Yesiol as light, truth, and faith itself, so they thought little of it.

 

“Stop talking nonsense and get back to work.” Cutting off his aide’s foolish chatter, Declen picked up his quill again. For a while, the only sound in the office was the steady scratch of pens moving across paper.

 

* * *

Shailoh tightened her grip on the reins and looked around in awe at the stretch of wilderness unfolding before her eyes. “It’s really vast. I felt it on the way here, but still.”

 

“This is the fruit of the efforts of every lord, from the first duke all the way to the present.” Rose, who had accompanied her, explained proudly. “Originally, this was a land where outsiders raided so often there was hardly a day when blood wasn’t spilled. But now it has been reclaimed. There are pastures and farms. It only looks barren because of the season.”

 

“I actually like it better like this.” Having grown comfortable with Rose, Shailoh naturally spoke informally as she stroked her horse’s mane.

 

The North truly held onto an older way of life compared to other regions, especially the 체먓미. And she loved its rustic simplicity.

 

While Shailoh quietly savored the cold, clear northern air, Rose spotted something and pointed. “There are sheep over there in the distance. Looks like they’re out grazing.”

 

“You’re right.”

 

Their owner had apparently already sheared them. The sheep, now wearing crudely made little garments, were nibbling at the sparse grass.

 

“Just a moment. Please wait here, Milady.”

 

“Huh?”

 

With a flick of her reins, Rose suddenly urged her horse toward the sheep, then dismounted. She walked over to the shepherd, who was nodding off, and said something to him. When the shepherd nodded, Rose, her face flushed with excitement, climbed back into the saddle and rode back toward Shailoh.

 

“Milady, come over here for a moment. I’ll let you try something fun.”

 

“Something fun?” Puzzled, Shailoh followed Rose, dismounted, and approached the shepherd.

 

The man stood up, took off his hat, and bowed politely. “It’s an honor to meet you, Milady. My name is Tom. I’m the shepherd here.”

 

“Nice to meet you.” Shailoh accepted his greeting with a bright smile. While she did, Rose held a canteen for her. “What’s this?” She looked at Rose in confusion.

 

Tom grinned and pointed at one of the sheep. “Right. That one’s the gentlest. It’ll be easy to milk.”

 

“Milk it?” At the unexpected words, Shailoh tilted her head, and Rose answered in his place.

 

“Freshly drawn sheep’s milk is incredibly fresh and delicious. The milk from here doesn’t have a strong smell at all. They make cheese with it too, and it sells so fast they can’t keep up with demand.”

 

“Ah.”

 

“Come this way.”

 

Rolling up her sleeves, Rose took the lead toward the sheep Tom had indicated. She settled herself behind the animal and set a pail beneath it. Then she reached in, took hold of the two teats, and began to milk them in turn. As thick white streams burst forth like water from a broken dam, Shailoh’s mouth fell open before she knew it.

 

Once the pail held a fair amount of milk, Rose held out her hand. Understanding that she wanted the canteen, Shailoh passed it to her. Rose filled it with the freshly drawn sheep’s milk, then handed the canteen back. “Try it.”

 

“Okay.” After only a moment’s hesitation, Shailoh raised the canteen to her lips and drank the sheep’s milk down. It tasted a little unfamiliar, but it was close to the milk she knew, just slightly different, and she found it delicious. “It’s good.”

 

“Isn’t it?” Rose straightened up, smiling with the satisfied air of someone whose point had just been proven.

 

“You should have some too, Rose.”

 

“No, it’s fine. I’ve been drinking it since I was a child.”

 

It was just when Rose waved a hand, turning down the offer.

 

“Milady!” The guard who had been following at a distance suddenly shouted and spurred his horse toward them.

 

“What is it?”

 

Caught off guard, the two women froze. The guard swung down from the saddle in one swift motion, stripped off the hooded cloak he was wearing, and held it out to Shailoh. “Please put this on.”

 

“Out of nowhere?”

 

“Someone’s coming.” The guard pointed toward the horizon with a grave face.

 

Sure enough, a stranger on horseback was racing toward them at high speed. It was a courier holding a large flag in one hand. In a fluster, Shailoh threw on the cloak the guard had handed her and pulled up the hood. Heart pounding, she watched the courier draw closer and closer.

 

The moment the flag came into clear view, her heart dropped. It bore the royal crest.