Chap 16

Listening to the gentle sound of the waves on the deserted terrace, I felt a refreshing sensation in my chest.

To some extent, I felt, 'It's not like I'm going to die if I don't go to the academy, right?'

The Earl pointed out that I was too obsessed with the constraint of being a bastard, but the only one in the world who would say such a thing was the Earl.

If I wanted to be independent, I had to accept my limits in this world. The limits that looked as distant as the wall of the Academy's annex.

But I quickly realized that bringing worry to this beach was a foolish act.

While my future problems wouldn't resolve themselves, I had decided to live just for today, so I decided to enjoy the moment.

I changed into comfortable shoes and went to the beach.

I dipped my hands in the lukewarm seawater and also picked out beautifully worn seashells from the white sand.

Walking along the narrow sandy beach, a rock wall appeared. The layered, inclined strata looked like coastal ornaments in itself.

I climbed up along it to the top of the rock hill. At the end of the rock was a man sitting, dressed in a shabby cloak.

Even when sitting sprawled out on the rock, his straight back and robust shoulders stood out. But I could see a fatigue on his shoulders that I couldn't quite describe.

He carelessly moved his arm, feeling for the sword hilt at his waist, but ended up grasping at nothing since he was unarmed.

It was a habitual action one would expect from a swordsman.

He probably was a knight who had recently returned from the Amata battle.

Since the empire was praising them as heroes, those who had participated were busy attending all sorts of parties, from commanders to soldiers.

Being here alone in such a resort, he must have been injured, or he was escorting a master who had come to heal an injury.

But he wouldn't be sitting like that if he were here for work, so it must be the former.

When I thought I should leave, the man turned his head sensing my presence. At the same time, the wind blew and whipped off his cloak hood.

A silverhaired handsome man with a sharp look in his slender face glared at me. It was difficult to tell whether the irritable atmosphere was an aftereffect of the war or his natural temperament.

"What are you doing here?"

His gruff tone at our first meeting made me respond in kind.

"'What is she doing here?'"

"...What?"

"It's 'she', not 'he'."

"...Ha."

The man looked incredulous.

I didn't intend to disturb his rest, so I was a little offended. I'm busy relaxing, too.

I turned to cross over to the other rocky hill. After walking there and returning to the hotel, it seemed like the time would coincide with the Earl finishing his business.

"Hold on."

I grabbed my hair, tossed by the sea breeze, and turned around.

"Why?"

"Are you staying at the hotel too?"

"Why?"

The man frowned at my displeasure and hurriedly pulled his hood back on.

"Fine. I'll change the question. Who are you?"

"...Ha!"

I couldn't believe it, so I put my hands on my hips.

"What are you doing, throwing such a heavy existential question at me on our first meeting?"

He let out an uncomfortable groan, struggling with irritation.

"You have a habit of stumping people with your words."

Despite being dressed like a countess's daughter today, this man was blatantly informal with me. I guess my commoner vibe cannot be hidden.

But what's the difference, one way or the other.

I was about to respond informally, but seeing that he seemed older, I decided to show some respect. It was also a courtesy to a returning warrior.

"Have you come back from Tunbar?"

I saw a brief twitch in his eyebrows.

"Does it look like it?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

He asked, looking highly suspicious.

Such a suspicious person.

I began to tire of this conversation with this man.

"I saw you fumbling with your sword to check if it was all right on the way up here. Are you a knight?"

"Similar."

"You must have received many war awards. That hotel is expensive."

Of course, I didn't know how much the hotel stay cost. I only guessed that it would naturally be expensive since the count selected it.

The man chuckled softly.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm looking for an answer to a question similar to yours. But much more practical than 'who am I'."

"Aha."

The man laughed, but hardly made a sound, just shook his body.

I turned and greeted him.

"I hope you enjoy 'now' in Jebron. Goodbye."

At my casual remark, the man's eyes suddenly sharpened. Wow, what a surprise.

"What do you mean?"

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