Chapter 327
“Even if the carriage is practically shouting for bandits to rob it, nothing will happen so long as the escorts are competent. Especially when the one guarding it is the empire’s most powerful Duke.”
His low voice rippled through the quiet air. A brief silence followed, and just as Balak was about to speak, Dehart swung open the carriage door.
“Well then, shall we get going?”
With a courteous gesture, Dehart helped Sebelia into the carriage and calmly took the seat beside her. As if waiting for that moment, Eli urged the coachman forward.
“The sun will set soon. Is this really the time to be taking things slow?”
“A–ah! N-no, sir, it’s just—”
Startled by the sudden rebuke, the coachman shot Balak a desperate glance. He clearly wanted to point out that the leader of the entourage still hadn’t boarded.
Then Dehart cast a lazy glance out the open window.
“Very well. We’ll depart as soon as the ambassador is ready.”
With that smooth line, he shut the window and drew the curtain. It all happened so swiftly that neither Balak—left standing outside—nor Sebelia—already seated inside—had the chance to object.
“…Ha!”
And just like that, with Balak’s exasperated sigh, their journey to Lockwood began. His grand plan to secure private family time? Naturally, it failed spectacularly.
“Perhaps I was too hasty.”
Anyone else would have been bitter after such a carefully crafted plan fell apart, but Balak wasn’t the petty type.
Sitting in the lead carriage, he rested an arm on the window frame, pretending to admire the scenery while focusing all his attention on the carriage behind him.
“At least he’s quick-witted.”
He grumbled, but deep down he was satisfied. A man of that caliber was exactly the kind who deserved to stay by Sebelia’s side.
“Tsk.”
Still—whatever else is true, truth is truth.
Balak had not forgotten that Dehart once tormented his beloved cousin to the brink of collapse, drove her into despair, and pushed her to fake her death and flee. That level of shamelessness could not simply be forgiven.
“Don’t expect a comfortable trip.”
While Balak was plotting, the man infamous for being “the shameless one of the century” was busy fending off Sebelia’s questioning with a perfectly calm face.
Inside the carriage, tension hung in the air. Sebelia’s blue eyes fixed sharply on him.
“Start talking.”
“About what, exactly?”
“What did Balak do?”
Dehart shrugged as if he genuinely had no idea, which only made Sebelia narrow her eyes.
“Suspicious…”
“Nothing happened.”
Lie.
As much as she adored him, Sebelia could not pretend Dehart was some gentle, easy man. To anyone but her, he was cold and prickly. Still, he wasn’t the type to lash out for no reason—whether with sharp words or hostility.
Even that little argument in the garden—he’d had an excuse at least: she hadn’t taken care of her health.
So Sebelia was certain something had happened between him and Balak—something she didn’t know yet.
“There’s definitely something.”
She studied him closely, eyes narrowing. But as always, Dehart was a step ahead. Only hours earlier he’d looked exhausted from overwork, but now his expression was back to its usual brazenness.
“Your stare is hot enough to burn. My cheek itches.”
“Probably just dust. Now tell me—how is Balak tied to your sudden increase in work?”
When she pressed him, Dehart suddenly leaned in and brushed her lips with his thumb.
“Oh dear. It seems there’s dust here as well.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Would you mind checking for me?”
He dipped forward as if seeking a kiss, and Sebelia pushed him away with a frown.
“Enough.”
She let out a sigh and moved to the opposite seat.
“I swear, you’re impossible.”
She muttered and a soft laugh echoed through the carriage.
“Don’t waste energy on nonsense. Try to sleep—you were up all night preparing for this trip.”
He pulled out a blanket and draped it over her lap as if he had been waiting for it. Soft and warm, just like always.
As she fidgeted with the blanket, Sebelia murmured,
“You didn’t sleep at all either.”
“And how would you know that?”
“You think you’re the only one who gets reports on my every move? I have informants I trust too, you know.”
Her triumphant tone made Dehart’s eyes soften with amusement.
“Well then, we have nothing to do here—so why don’t you sleep as well?”
Still watching her as if she were the cutest thing in the world, he smiled.
“Alright.”
With that, Dehart began checking the carriage curtains himself.
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